Asked by: Lord Brady of Altrincham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many properties situated less than 120 metres away from the proposed line of route for phase 2b of High Speed 2 will not be eligible for compensation because they fail to meet the criterion that at least 25 per cent of the land must be within the designated Rural Support Zone.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Any property where the dwelling is situated within the designated Rural Support Zone will meet the location eligibility criteria for this scheme. Due to the complex nature of property boundaries the Department does not hold information on the number of properties where some property, but less than 25% of the total area of the property, is within the Rural Support Zone and so don’t meet the eligibility criteria for this scheme.
Asked by: Lord Brady of Altrincham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take to ensure that bus service levels are maintained during the transition period before the introduction of a bus franchise.
Answered by Andrew Jones
We have given careful thought to the practical implications of the transition period and the possible safeguards that can be built in to the Bill to help maintain bus service levels for passengers. The Bill is still being drafted and it is therefore too early to confirm the detail of the process that may be proposed through the Bill.
Asked by: Lord Brady of Altrincham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria he plans that local authorities will be expected to meet in order to justify bus franchising in their areas; and whether he plans that assessment will be subject to independent assessment.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Buses Bill will introduce new powers for local authorities to franchise their local bus services. The Bill is still being drafted and it is therefore too early to confirm the detail of the process that may be proposed through the Bill.
Asked by: Lord Brady of Altrincham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the costs of bus franchising outside London.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The actual costs and benefits will depend on how franchising is implemented at the local level. The potential impacts of the Buses Bill proposals will be set out in the Impact Assessment which will accompany the introduction of the Bill.
When considering the costs of bus franchising it will be important for the authority to consider alternatives as well as the costs and benefits of proposals.
Asked by: Lord Brady of Altrincham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the effect of bus franchising on the vehicle manufacturing sector.
Answered by Andrew Jones
My Department has not yet entered into discussions with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the effect of bus franchising on the vehicle manufacturing sector. My officials have, however, discussed proposals with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.