Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the funding required to meet the Government's goal for half of all journeys in towns and cities being cycled or walked by 2030; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The total amount of funding needed depend on a wide range of factors, including decisions on active travel and other policies taken by local authorities. Since the first ever statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS1) in 2017, the Government has made a great deal of progress. Over the course of this Parliament, it expects a total of around £3 billion from a wide range of funding streams to be invested in delivering safe and accessible walking and cycling infrastructure as well as other measures to enable more people to walk and cycle for more of their everyday journeys.
The Department will include an assessment of progress towards the 2030 goal in its next report to Parliament on the delivery of the statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the predicted (a) capital and (b) revenue funding for active travel is for the financial year 2023-24.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department will confirm this matter shortly. It has already confirmed that at least £100m of dedicated capital funding for active travel will be provided over the two-year period of 2023/24 to 2024/25.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December to Question 102818 on Railways: Concessions, for what reasons he has not held discussions with stakeholders on the impact on students in year 13 of the different level of concessions available in the same academic year; if he will make it his policy to hold such discussions; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
No discussions have taken place as we have no plans to extend or change the validity of the 16-17 Saver at this time. The 16-17 Saver provides young people with access to half-price rail travel to cover the period they are required to continue in education, employment or training. On turning 18, young people can then take advantage of the 16-25 Railcard offering up to a third off most rail fares.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will extend eligibility for the 50 per cent discount on train travel provided by the 16 to 17 saver rail card to students for the whole of the academic year in which they turn 18; whether he has discussed the impact on students of the different level of concessions available to students in the same academic year with the Secretary of State for Education; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We are not currently planning to extend the eligibility for the 16-17 Saver. The 16-17 Saver is designed to provide additional support for young people who are required to remain in education and/or training until they turn 18. The 16-25 Railcard is available to those who are no longer eligible for the 16-17 Saver.
Young people are eligible for half price child rail fares until they turn 16, and the 16-17 Saver provides all young people with access to those half price rail fares for a further two years. No discussions have taken place on the impact on students of the different level of concessions available to students in the same academic year.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on (a) steps to keep customers informed about and (b) requirements for providing information on the availability of advance rail tickets; if he will bring forward (i) legislative proposals and (ii) other measures to make travelling by train more affordable; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The Department holds regular discussions with the train operating companies (TOCs) who regularly market the benefits of booking in advance. Some TOC websites display remaining availability of advance purchase train specific fares at different prices, but it is a well-established principle that the further ahead the booking is made, the cheaper advance tickets usually are.
We are currently consulting on the legislative aspects of the Plan for Rail with a deadline for responses of 4 August. Legislation will be introduced when the parliamentary timetable allows.
Once established, Great British Railways will be accountable for delivering and improving the offer to customers.
There are a number of railcards available that offer discounts against most rail fares. More recently, we launched the Great British Rail Sale, the first ever nationwide rail sale. The Great British Rail Sale helped save families money and connect them with friends and families. Over 1.3 million tickets were sold, offering around £7 million worth of savings for passengers.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 19 April 2022 to Question 151053, on Local Transport Plans: Carbon Emissions, whether the additional guidance on quantifiable carbon reductions will take account of non-user emissions, such as from construction, power generation and manufacturing emissions, which are generated as a result of transport use.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The department is currently in the process of updating guidance on local transport plans.
We plan to also publish technical guidance for local transport authorities on quantifying carbon alongside the new local transport plan guidance to help local authorities make decisions on local transport interventions from quantitative assessment of carbon impacts at a strategic planning stage.
The scope of emissions for the technical guidance on quantifying carbon is currently being considered and will be subject to public consultation this summer.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 19 April 2022 to Question 151053, on Local Transport Plans: Carbon Emissions, whether he plans to consult on the additional guidance on quantifiable carbon reductions at the same time as he consults on the guidance for Local Transport Plans.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Yes, we will consult on both the Local Transport Plan and Quantifiable Carbon Reduction Guidance at the same time. The department is currently updating guidance on local transport plans. The new guidance will provide a holistic view of what the government is expecting local transport authorities to deliver including decarbonisation goals.
As per our commitment in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan (2021) to drive decarbonisation at the local level, future local transport plans will need to set out how local areas can deliver quantifiable carbon reductions in transport. We will publish technical guidance for local transport authorities on quantifying carbon alongside the new local transport plan guidance.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what advice has his Department given to National Highways on delivering on the Transport Decarbonisation Plan's strategic priority that people should use their cars less often.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
National Highways’ Net Zero plan, published in July 2021, sets out how it will make the operation, maintenance and enhancement of our strategic roads net zero. This aligns with the Department’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan, also published in July 2021, which sets out ambitious and accelerating plans to decarbonise all road traffic and will transform roads’ impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Alongside this, one of the strategic priorities in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan is “Accelerating modal shift to public and active transport" and the document sets out how this this will be achieved.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to (a) the Transport Decarbonisation Plan and (b) the Net Zero Strategy, how local transport authorities which are developing Local Transport Plans should proceed with developing locally based transport sector decarbonisation targets.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Transport Decarbonisation Plan committed to drive decarbonisation and transport improvements at a local level by making quantifiable carbon reductions a fundamental part of local transport planning and funding. Following a public consultation, the updated Local Transport Plan guidance will be published in 2022. Alongside this, we will publish additional guidance on quantifiable carbon reductions, to help local authorities make decisions on local transport interventions from quantitative assessment of carbon impacts at a strategic planning stage.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will be consulting on the guidance on Local Transport Plans; and when this guidance will be published.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department will consult on the draft Local Transport Plans guidance and is aiming to having the final guidance in place as soon as possible.