Asked by: Gordon Henderson (Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to monitor the security of the SS Richard Montgomery and prevent terror attacks on it.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
Medway Port Authority, which guards the wreck under contract to the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, provides: 24 hour surveillance of the wreck, both visually and by radar; patrols of the area around the wreck; and an initial response to any potential incursions into the prohibited area. Incursions, and incidents likely to result in an incursion, are reported immediately to the Police and to HM Coastguard so that appropriate specialist support can be provided.
Asked by: Gordon Henderson (Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to monitor the condition and safety of the SS Richard Montgomery; and when he plans to publicise the results of such monitoring.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) carries out regular surveys of the wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery. These are generally multibeam sonar surveys and, in recent years, they have also included laser scanning of those parts of the wreck’s structure which are visible above the waterline. Survey reports, and background information about the wreck, are published at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-ss-richard-montgomery-information-and-survey-reports
In addition, Medway Port Authority guards the wreck under contract to the MCA. The Authority provides: 24 hour surveillance of the wreck, both visually and by radar; patrols of the area around the wreck; and an initial response to any potential incursions.
Asked by: Gordon Henderson (Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that public transport operators reduce fares to pass onto passengers the benefit of falling petrol and diesel prices.
Answered by John Hayes
I am aware that my Rt Hon Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury recently wrote to the five largest UK bus operators seeking their assurance that they are doing all they can to ensure passengers benefit from the fall in oil prices.
The bus market outside London is deregulated, with the vast majority of services provided on a commercial basis by private sector bus operators. Decisions on the level of fares are a commercial matter for individual bus operators.
Asked by: Gordon Henderson (Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the consequence for his policies of the decision in the Appeal Court in the case of Doug Paulley v First Bus Group.
Answered by John Hayes
The Government believes that disabled people should have the same access to transport services and opportunities to travel as other members of society. I have noted the Court of Appeal’s recent judgment in respect of Mr Doug Paulley and First Bus Group and will continue to follow this ongoing legal action closely.
There are currently no plans to amend domestic legislation or to alter the current arrangements relating to the accessibility of buses on local or scheduled services.