Asked by: Lord Palmer (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government who is (1) accountable for the British Transport Police, and (2) responsible for making operational decisions regarding the deployment of British Transport Police officers on passenger trains across the UK.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The British Transport Police Authority (BTPA), an arm’s length body of the Department, is responsible for setting the BTP’s strategy, policing plans and budget, holding the BTP force to account, and ensuring its effectiveness and efficiency. The Chief Constable of the BTP is responsible for making operational decisions on the deployment of BTP officers on the rail network across England, Scotland and Wales.
Asked by: Lord Palmer (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is (1) the role, and (2) the total complement, of the British Transport Police.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The British Transport Police (BTP) is responsible for policing the rail network across England, Scotland and Wales, providing a service to rail operators, their staff and passengers. It also polices the London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, the Midland Metro tram system, Croydon Tramlink, Tyne and Wear Metro, Glasgow Subway and Emirates AirLine. The BTP has 3107 police officers, 303 police community support officers, 311 special officers and 1567 police staff (as at 31 March 2019).
Asked by: Lord Palmer (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what is the cost of the new clocks in the House of Lords Chamber.
Answered by Lord McFall of Alcluith
The new clocks in the House of Lords Chamber were procured together with new clocks for Grand Committee. Together the new clocks for the Chamber and Grand Committee cost £23,709.60. This includes the cost of the bespoke design, software, hardware and installation. It is inclusive of VAT.
The clocks are maintained by the same company that maintains the clocks in the House of Commons. Together the two Houses pay an annual maintenance fee of £3,596 per annum. The House of Lords pays 40% of this cost.
Asked by: Lord Palmer (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what was the total cost of the production of Issue 1 of the House of Lords Library magazine The Library, published in April; and what estimate he has made of the future costs of the publication of that magazine.
Answered by Lord Laming
The total cost of production for issue 1 of the House of Lords Library Magazine The Library published in April was £2,642.50 plus VAT (template and printing). The magazine is available in print and digitally, and the cost of future issues will therefore depend upon the demand for printed copies. Likely subscriber numbers indicate a cost for printing of £185 plus VAT per issue, and it is expected that The Library will be published approximately nine times per year.
Asked by: Lord Palmer (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Westminster City Council about the reasons for Parliament Square being regularly obstructed by black cabs; and what action that are taking as a result of any such discussions.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Department has not had any discussions with Westminster City Council about obstructions around Parliament Square. Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and managed by Transport for London (TfL). Roads in London are managed by TfL and the relevant London Borough. It therefore falls to TfL and Westminster City Council to deal with traffic management around Parliament Square.