To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Shipping: Conditions of Employment
Thursday 28th March 2024

Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to help ensure greater job security for seafarers in the last two years.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In July 2023 we launched the Seafarers’ Charter, which among other measures requires that operators who obtain full Charter status do not use voyage contracts except in exceptional circumstances. This means that seafarers aboard ships run by a Charter operator can be confident that in most cases after their period of time aboard a vessel has ended, they will continue to have work without needing to reapply. I am pleased that 5 of the 6 major international ferry companies operating from the UK have now committed to meeting the Charter requirements.

Examples of ‘exceptional circumstances’ might be if a seafarer has been taken ill and the operator needs to bring someone onboard at short notice to cover the position, or if a piece of machinery has broken and they brought an additional seafarer onboard to fix it while it the vessel was underway.

We continue to work to improve seafarer protections in the UK and around the world.


Written Question
Avanti West Coast: Contracts
Thursday 28th March 2024

Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the decision of the Transport for the North Board to write to him requesting the end of the Avanti West Coast contract.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The challenges faced on the West Coast will remain regardless of the operator, including longstanding restrictive working practices which require the agreement of unions to amend. To place West Coast Partnership under the Operator of Last Resort would remove the opportunity to retain private sector expertise in both the West Coast as an operator and in the HS2 Shadow Operator function. A full response will be provided to the Transport for the North Board in due course.


Written Question
Public Transport: Tickets
Thursday 28th March 2024

Asked by: Anna Firth (Conservative - Southend West)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his planned timetable is for introducing contactless ticketing in Southend West constituency.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

We have announced that Contactless Pay as you go (PAYG) ticketing will be rolled out to Chalkwell and Leigh-on-Sea in during 2024. This is part of our commitment to rollout contactless PAYG to more stations across the south east. Further details on the exact date for launch will be announced in due course.


Written Question
Railways: Finance
Thursday 28th March 2024

Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 25 November 2020 to Question 120953 on Network Rail: Finance and pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2024 to Question 18100 on Railways: Finance, what assessment he has made of the causes of the differential in the rail enhancements budget for 2019 to 2024.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The answer provided 25 November 2020 to Question 120953 on “Network Rail: Finance” referred to the budget for rail enhancements during the years 2019-2024. The answer provided 12 March 2024 to Question 18100 on “Railways: Finance” referred to the spend on rail enhancements in each year of that period. The comparison is therefore of a budget, stated as £9.4bn after Spending Review 2020, to the spend against that budget estimated at £8.63bn over the same period. There is no differential in the rail enhancements budget implied by that comparison. The difference in the figures comes from a degree of underspending against budget in each year of the first 4 years of the period.


Written Question
Motorcycles: Licensing
Wednesday 27th March 2024

Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will announce a timeline for a full-scale licensing review for mopeds, motorcycles and other powered light vehicles, and if so when, .

Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government welcomes and is open to discussing ideas for reform of the existing licensing regime for powered light vehicles known as L category vehicles where they do not compromise safety standards.

While there are not currently any plans to reform L category licenses, Ministers and officials have met with motorcycle stakeholder representatives to listen to and discuss various motorcycle initiatives, including ideas for reform. The Minister for Road Transport will meet with the MCIA and other motorcycle stakeholders in a roundtable format on 8 May to this and other issues.


Written Question
Large Goods Vehicles: Europe
Wednesday 27th March 2024

Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the roads good vehicles travelling to Europe statistics for April 2023 to March 2024; and when this series will conclude.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Road Goods Travelling to Europe statistical series is currently undergoing a quality review due to a potential supplier data issue. We are working with our data supplier to assess this issue, and updates to this statistical series will resume once the matter has been resolved. Dates for future publications will be communicated via our release calendar (available at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport/about/statistics) as soon as possible. There are no immediate plans to cease this statistical series, and any future variation would be consulted on as per Code of Practice for Statistics.


Written Question
Oxford Station: Access
Wednesday 27th March 2024

Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) Network Rail and (2) Oxfordshire County Council to ensure appropriate access from West Oxford to Oxford Station for disabled and elderly passengers, including travel by bus.

Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I am advised that Network Rail continue to work closely with Oxford County Council and consult with local accessibility groups in planning the works at Oxford station. Disabled parking is available near the station, marshals are on hand to assist passengers and extra buses are providing accessible transport from Botley Road to the city centre during the period of the road closure.


Written Question
Motorcycles: Licensing
Wednesday 27th March 2024

Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Motorcycle Industry Association and Zemo Partnership report Realising the Full Potential of Zero Emission Powered Light Vehicles: A Joint Action Plan for Government and Industry, published in February 2022, what steps they are taking to simplify the licensing regime for mopeds and motorcycles.

Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government welcomes and is open to discussing ideas for reform of the existing licensing regime for powered light vehicles known as L category vehicles where they do not compromise safety standards.

While there are not currently any plans to reform L category licenses, Ministers and officials have met with motorcycle stakeholder representatives to listen to and discuss various motorcycle initiatives, including ideas for reform. The Minister for Road Transport will meet with the MCIA and other motorcycle stakeholders in a roundtable format on 8 May to this and other issues.


Written Question
Motorcycles: Licensing
Wednesday 27th March 2024

Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proposals to simplify the licensing regime for powered light vehicles contained in the Motorcycle Industry Association report A Licence to Net Zero: Unleashing Our Potential, License Reform Essential: L-Category Licensing Reform Proposals, published in October 2023.

Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government welcomes and is open to discussing ideas for reform of the existing licensing regime for powered light vehicles known as L category vehicles where they do not compromise safety standards.

While there are not currently any plans to reform L category licenses, Ministers and officials have met with motorcycle stakeholder representatives to listen to and discuss various motorcycle initiatives, including ideas for reform. The Minister for Road Transport will meet with the MCIA and other motorcycle stakeholders in a roundtable format on 8 May to this and other issues.


Written Question
P&O Ferries: Pay
Wednesday 27th March 2024

Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with P&O Ferries regarding the wages currently paid to its staff, following reports that those are below the National Minimum Wage; why the provisions of the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 have not yet been implemented; and when they expect that to happen.

Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We welcome P&O Ferries’ recent commitment to working towards the requirements of the Seafarers’ Charter, joining Britanny Ferries, Condor, DFDS and Stena Line in doing so. Officials have begun technical discussions with the company about compliance with the Charter, which requires paying seafarers an equivalent to the UK National Minimum Wage throughout their engagement.