Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to support small travel businesses which have lost business due to the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Government recognises the challenges businesses in the travel industry face as a result of Covid-19. Firms, across all sectors, that are experiencing difficulties have been able to draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor. This includes support through loan guarantees, the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
The extension of Government-backed loans and furlough payments announced at the Budget build on the support package available and help ensure the travel industry, a vital part of the UK economy, is ready to bounce back in the wake of the pandemic.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he is having with the Rail Safety and Standards Board on the publication of the results of their fortnightly modelling of the risks of catching covid-19 on trains.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
My officials have had several discussions with the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) about its SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk model, including about the release of its modelled data. As an independent organisation and as the owner of this information, it is ultimately for RSSB to make decisions on disclosure of the data it holds, as it has a fuller understanding of the data and is placed best to take a judgement on the approach to publication.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the level of risk of catching covid-19 whilst travelling by train.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Since the beginning of the pandemic, my Department has closely monitored scientific evidence published in relation to SARS-CoV-2 transmission risks and available mitigation measures. Based on the analysis of a wide range of sources, including academic scientific publications, domestic and international policy documents, and technical briefs, our assessment is that there is no evidence that public transport is a major driver of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the UK.
Throughout the pandemic, the Government has provided advice to passengers and transport operators to help people to travel with confidence, recognising the importance of passengers making informed decisions. This includes our Safer Travel guidance aimed at passengers, and our Safer Transport guidance aimed at transport operators. We will continue to support passengers as they return to travelling by rail.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with Transport for London on financial support for London’s transport network.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government is committed to keeping London moving. In October 2020, the Government agreed an extraordinary funding and financing package for TfL worth up to £1.7 billion, in addition to the earlier May 2020 deal worth up to £1.6 billion.
The Department for Transport regularly engages with Transport for London, including in relation to understanding the impacts of Covid-19 on TfL’s finances and what further support may be required.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the value of Transport for London to the national economy.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
No specific assessment has been made. London’s economy represents 23% of UK GDP. Transport for London has continued to provide transport services over the last year, allowing key workers to get to their workplaces and other essential journeys to take place. It will play an important part in London’s economic recovery.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with his Department on the potential effect of rail infrastructure projects on reducing national carbon emissions.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I have had no recent direct discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy on this issue. Officials from both departments regularly discuss the role of the railway in delivering the Government’s commitment to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to introduce more flexible rail fares for commuters in (a) London and (b) England in response to an increase in remote and flexible working during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government recognises the change in travel patterns, the impact of COVID-19 and therefore the need to accommodate a more flexible style of working and travelling. We also understand concerns about the cost of some rail fares and the impact that this can have on people’s budgets.
The Department has proactively approached the rail industry and is currently considering proposals received from train operators who both operate services into London and those who operate elsewhere in England, that try to ensure better value and convenience for travellers. Train operators who already offer some form of flexible ticketing for commuting into London include c2c, Chiltern Railways, Gatwick Express, Greater Anglia, South Western Railway, and Govia Thameslink. Commuting within London falls under the responsibility of the Mayor of London.
These are unprecedented times and our immediate focus must be on ensuring that we keep the railway available and safe for those who need to rely upon it.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of (a) the UN's declaration of the second Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021-30) and (b) the Stockholm Declaration made at the Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety: Achieving Global Goals 2030 Stockholm, 19–20 February 2020; and what plans his Department has to review speed limits.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government takes road safety very seriously, and supports the aims of both of these to prevent 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries. The Government was active in the development of these important international documents, with Ministerial attendance to the Stockholm Ministerial Conference and officials actively working on the drafting of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety Declaration. The Government continues to support activities that promote road safety both domestically and internationally and support the aims of both the UN and Stockholm Declarations.
With regard to 20mph, local authorities have the power to determine speed limits on the local road network, and are asked to keep the limits under review with changing circumstances. There are currently no plans to review the English national limits.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times officials or ministers in his Department met with the Kent Resilience Forum to discuss Operation Brock in (a) 2018, (b) 2019 and (c) to date in 2020.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
I am responding to this question as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport. Official Kent Resilience Forum (KRF) meetings to discuss Operation Brock are divided into strategic and tactical working groups. These are the meetings where the whole KRF are in attendance and consist of Government Department officials, agencies and Kent stakeholders. In 2018 there were five strategic and five tactical meetings. In 2019, there were 22 strategic and 22 tactical meetings. In 2020, there have been nine strategic and eight tactical meetings to date.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the ability for passengers to maintain safe social distance at older railway stations that have not have platform extensions.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Rail operators are working hard to facilitate social distancing between passengers wherever possible, in line with Public Health England advice. Measures include making regular station speaker announcements, the installation of clear floor markings and the provision of extra staff to manage passenger flows and provide guidance to passengers. Operational plans are in place to facilitate this and continue to be reviewed.