Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department has issued to teachers at 6th-form colleges on gaining timely access to pupils' previous school's test results in order to set meaningful targets for pupil improvement.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The government’s response to the Workload Advisory Group report ‘Making Data Work’ provides advice about proportionate use of data for pupil improvement including target setting. The report can be found at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/754349/Workload_Advisory_Group-report.pdf.
The department already provides digital systems that enable schools and colleges to access pupils’ prior attainment data.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 1 October 2019 to Question 291482, what the length of time was between the submission of a strategic outline business case by the relevant sub-national transport body and the communication of an initial assessment of the proposed scheme by his Department for the most recent scheme costing over £100 million for which his Department provided such an assessment.
Answered by George Freeman
All Strategic Outline Business Cases which were submitted to the Department on 31st July have gone through a robust assessment process over the summer. This followed guidance made available on gov.uk.
The Department has been in contact with Sub-National Transport Bodies (STBs), including Transport East, to discuss the outcomes of the assessment process for all regions’ Strategic Outline Business Cases, including that for the provision of a North Ipswich bypass. Formal advice on the scheme will be sent to Suffolk County Council shortly.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timeframe is for his Department to (a) consider the strategic outline business case for the provision of a North Ipswich bypass and (b) publish its response to that business case.
Answered by George Freeman
All Strategic Outline Business Cases which were submitted to the Department on 31st July have gone through a robust assessment process over the summer. This followed guidance made available on gov.uk.
The Department has been in contact with Sub-National Transport Bodies (STBs), including Transport East, to discuss the outcomes of the assessment process for all regions’ Strategic Outline Business Cases, including that for the provision of a North Ipswich bypass. Formal advice on the scheme will be sent to Suffolk County Council shortly.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will fund the improvement to junctions on the A14 with the A1156 (East of Ipswich) and A12 (North), the A1189, the A1214 and A12 (South) and the A1156 (West of Ipswich) as requested by the New Anglia LEP and associated organisations.
Answered by George Freeman
The Department is considering this and other proposals for enhancements to the Strategic Road Network as part of the second Road Investment Strategy. The Strategy, which will set out an investment plan for 2020 to 2025, is expected to be announced shortly.
Development work for improvements to Copdock Interchange (the junction between the A14 and A12(South)) is being supported with funding from the Port Infrastructure Fund, as announced on 26 September.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 1 October 2019 to Question 291480 on A14: Freight, whether Highways England has carried out a formal assessment of disruptions to freight traffic on any of the UK's strategic freight routes.
Answered by George Freeman
Highways England assesses the performance of, and constraints on, the Strategic Road Network for all road users in order to compile its route strategies, which help inform decisions on future investment. The most recent strategies were published in 2017. Highways England deals with incidents on the network every day and has robust contingency plans in place to minimise disruption.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has had from Suffolk County Council on the proposed North Ipswich Route in the last 12 months.
Answered by George Freeman
Suffolk County Council has developed a Strategic Outline Business Case for the provision of a North Ipswich bypass. Transport East, the sub-national transport body for the region, submitted this to the Department for consideration under the Major Road Network and Large Local Majors programme in July 2019.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on disruptions to freight traffic on the A14; and what estimate he has made of the cost of those disruptions to (a) hauliers and (b) other vehicles.
Answered by George Freeman
No formal assessment has been made by Highways England into disruptions to freight traffic on the A14 and they do not hold information in this form.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with Suffolk county council on the Ipswich northern route since 1 January 2019.
Answered by George Freeman
Department for Transport officials have had regular discussions with Suffolk County Council regarding the Ipswich Northern Route since January 1 2019. As well as regular engagement, the Department has offered analytical support to all scheme promoters as part of the Major Road Network (MRN) and Large Local Majors (LLM) programme.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average length of time was for his Department to respond to funding requests for new roads from local authorities.
Answered by George Freeman
The timing of ministerial decisions on funding, or not, for any particular road scheme depends on a range of factors. With significant funding involved, a key factor will be the assessment of value for money, but also how complex the scheme is and our confidence in it being delivered. It is not possible to give an average length of time for this process since business cases are submitted at different stages of development; some are highly advanced and others are still in their infancy.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions his Department has had with Highways England on the Ipswich northern route.
Answered by George Freeman
The Department has worked collaboratively with Highways England in assessing the Ipswich Northern Route due to the scheme’s proximity to the A14 which is on the Strategic Road Network. Highways England was actively involved in the assessment of all submitted Major Route Network/ Large Local Major schemes.