Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have carried out an impact assessment of the potential effect of lowering drink-driving limits on consumer behaviour in (1) rural communities, and (2) rural pubs.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
An academic study following the reduction in the drink drive limit in Scotland in 2014 showed no impact on the hospitality industry. All evidence received as part of the consultation process will be considered before any decisions are made.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government has a timetable for the electrification of the Chester to Manchester line.
Answered by Paul Maynard
Chester and Manchester are linked by two rail lines: via Warrington Quay (electrified east of Warrington) and via Stockport (electrified north of Stockport). The Government intends next year to set out its priorities for investment in train services and infrastructure in the next Control Period from 2019. This will be informed by advice from the rail industry, Transport for the North and other stakeholders.
The Government is committed to ensuring that every part of Britain benefits from our investment in the railways. Improvements in rail services can be delivered by new trains, electrification or other infrastructure improvements. The Government keeps under close review what options will ensure the maximum value to taxpayers, passengers and freight users.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government has set a timetable for the electrification of the Mid-Cheshire railway line.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The Government intends next year to set out its priorities for investment in train services and infrastructure in the next Control Period from 2019. This will be informed by advice from the rail industry, Transport for the North and other stakeholders.
The Government is committed to ensuring that every part of Britain benefits from our investment in the railways. Improvements in rail services can be delivered by new trains, electrification or other infrastructure improvements. The Government keeps under close review what options will ensure the maximum value to taxpayers, passengers and freight users.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with local authorities to encourage coordination between local transport plans and High Speed 2.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Working with the Department for Communities and Local Government, my Department has regular discussions with Local Authorities to support the development of their local growth strategies. These strategies set out their plans to catalyse the growth and regeneration benefits of HS2 in their area and can include details on how the benefits of HS2 will be aligned with the local transport plan ambitions.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs that will be created in (a) Cheshire and (b) the North West as a result of High Speed 2.
Answered by Andrew Jones
High Speed 2 Limited estimate that HS2 will support up to 100,000 jobs around HS2 stations. The western leg of Phase 2b is estimated to support 30,000 to 43,600 of these jobs. The government has not made an estimate of jobs created in Cheshire. Other organisations have produced their own estimates and ambitions for jobs supported by HS2. For example, the Northern Gateway Development Zone in Cheshire and Staffordshire have plans to help create 120,000 new jobs by 2040. They are currently preparing an HS2 Growth Strategy on how HS2 will contribute to supporting this number of new jobs in the area.
High Speed 2 Limited also estimate that around 25,000 private sector employment opportunities are expected to be generated in the process of building the HS2 railway, with a further 3,000 jobs to operate it once finished.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to promote cycling.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
This Government is committed to increasing the number of people cycling and to making it the natural choice for short journeys or as part of longer ones.
The Infrastructure Act 2015 places a duty on Government to produce a Cycling and Walking Strategy; I have instructed my officials to begin work on this and we will soon lay the secondary legislation required to commence the relevant section of the Act.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the clarity of the guidance given to local authorities on determining the eligibility for blue badges of community transport operators.
Answered by Andrew Jones
In accordance with the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) Regulations 2000, our guidance to local authorities makes clear the eligibility criteria for issuing an organisational Blue Badge.
Guidance issued by the Department is clear that some organisations, such as community transport operators, are unlikely to be eligible for a Blue Badge. To be eligible they must both care for and transport disabled people, who themselves meet the eligibility criteria for a badge. It is for the issuing local authority to decide whether there is a clear need for an organisational badge rather than using the individual badges of the people that are being transported.