Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with Transport for the North on the feasibility of reopening (a) Golborne North and (b) Goldborne South railway stations.
Answered by Andrew Jones
As part of its GM 2040 Transport Strategy Delivery Plan, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is undertaking further study of the feasibility of opening a number of new stations in the Greater Manchester area. Work to date by TfGM has shortlisted those stations worth proceeding with, and Golborne has been identified as being one of three potential new station sites that could benefit the Hon. Member’s constituents.
The potential site being considered in Golborne is close to the site of the former Golborne South station on the West Coast Main Line, north of Golborne Junction. TfGM will be engaging with relevant stakeholders as this work progresses, including the Rail North Partnership (Department for Transport and Transport for the North) which manages rail franchises that could potentially call at a new station in this area.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2019 to Question 267348, whether hybrid HS2 trains will stop at Wigan Station.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
HS2 conventional compatible services will stop at Wigan North Western station from the opening of Phase One. The detail on the frequency and nature of these services will be part of future timetabling decisions.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether HS2 Hybrid trains will travel through Wigan station.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
HS2 Conventional Compatible trains will travel through Wigan in all phases of HS2. Wigan North Western station, will be served by HS2 trains following completion of HS2 Phase One in 2026, and by 2033 will be served by HS2 trains from London, Birmingham, Preston and Scotland.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many mandatory cyber security training sessions civil servants working in his Department are required to undertake.
Answered by Jesse Norman
All Department for Transport employees are required to undertake the ‘Responsible for Information’ e-learning course. This course is designed to make civil servants aware of their responsibilities when it comes to handling information, being alert to the dangers of fraud, ensuring information is protected and handled responsibly without preventing it from being shared appropriately, and how best to protect themselves and the information they hold when they are working remotely on online. All new starters are required to complete this training within 1 month of joining the Department.
All new staff with elevated access privileges are provided with enhanced, role-specific cyber and information security training and awareness.
Information security policies and procedures are kept updated, and all staff are required to undertake refresher security training at least every 3 years.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
What recent assessment he has made of the importance of transport connectivity to social mobility.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Good transport connectivity is critical for social mobility and allows people to access a wider pool of economic opportunities, from high quality jobs to education and training opportunities.
That is why we have committed record capital investment in the transport systems and why we have put more spending power in the hands of local communities who best know the needs of their area.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2018 to Question 150255, for what reasons no reference was made to the average level of local funding for High Speed 2 rail stations in receipt of local funding.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
All HS2 stations are unique, with differing requirements at each location in terms of; landscape, station construction, and local aspirations and connectivity. These requirements need different amounts of local funding. There is no reportable average because requirements and funding discussions are still evolving.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2018 to Question 146982 on High Speed 2 Railway Line, whether the level of local funding to the High Speed Two station at Manchester Airport is greater than the average level of funding for stations in receipt of local funding.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Other station places along the Phase 2b route, such as Leeds, are proposed to have one HS2 station. Greater Manchester is proposed to have two HS2 stations; Manchester Airport station is a unique case in that it was included as part of the proposed route following petitioning by Greater Manchester and only agreed to on the basis of a locally-led funding package. The local funding expected from Greater Manchester is in recognition of these key differences.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2018 to Question 145409 on High Speed 2 Railway Line: Manchester Airport, what proportion of the total cost of Manchester Airport HS2 Station will be sourced from (a) the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, (b) Manchester Airports Group and (c) other local partners.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The proportion of the total costs assigned to each of the interested parties highlighted is dependent on Greater Manchester organising and agreeing a locally-led funding package for the station. It is for Greater Manchester to lead; the Government continues to support Greater Manchester in reaching an agreement on this funding package.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2018 to Question 145409 on High Speed 2 Railway Line: Manchester Airport, how many other High Speed Two rail stations will receive funding from (a) local authorities and (b) local interest groups.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
There are several examples of third party funding being provided towards the costs of High Speed Two stations, including towards local connectivity, the details of which are under discussion and therefore commercially sensitive.
A station in the Manchester Airport area was included as part of the proposed High Speed Two route only when it was petitioned for by Greater Manchester (Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Manchester Airports Group and other local partners), and only on the basis of the local funding offer they made, in recognition of the benefits that a second High Speed Two station in Manchester would bring to the local area.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the funding that will be allocated by Greater Manchester Combined Authority to the High Speed 2 railway station at Manchester Airport.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Manchester Airports Group and other local partners made the case for a station at the Airport, with an offer of local funding to pay for its construction. The Government continues to work collaboratively with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Manchester Airports Group on the details of reaching an agreement on a locally led funding package for the High Speed 2 station at Manchester Airport.