Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is taking steps to help increase mobile phone connectivity on trainlines in the South West.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Complimentary Wi-Fi is available on all trains in the South West of England.
Good progress has recently been made by the Department in understanding the technical barriers of ensuring improved mobile phone connectivity, including in tunnels and rural areas. Research has been conducted to evaluate the characteristics of different tunnels, how they block signal and what technical solutions could be implemented to extend mobile coverage into tunnels. Additionally, research has been undertaken to look at the effect train carriage walls have on signals, which often impair the level of connectivity passengers can access.
These reports are both available to read via the following links:
Report on Mobile Connectivity in rolling stock –radio frequency attenuation characteristics
Report on GB Rail Tunnel Signal Propagation & Wireless Connectivity Options
The Department is continuing to work closely with Network Rail, Department for Culture Media and Sport, and other Government departments to reduce the commercial and technical barriers to improving mobile connectivity along the entire rail corridor.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many areas submitted a letter of interest for participation in his Department's trials of noise cameras.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
73 letters of interest were received for participation in the Department’s roadside trials of noise camera technology. From these applications, four sites in Keighley, Kingswood, Great Yarmouth and Bromsgrove were selected to host the trials.
Successful applicants were chosen based on a sufficiently wide range of road types to test the noise camera technology.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in which constituencies the successful applicants to his Department's pilot for noise cameras are located.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
73 letters of interest were received for participation in the Department’s roadside trials of noise camera technology. From these applications, four sites in Keighley, Kingswood, Great Yarmouth and Bromsgrove were selected to host the trials.
Successful applicants were chosen based on a sufficiently wide range of road types to test the noise camera technology.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to First Greater Western Limited, (a) whether her Department has approved the £33 million dividend payment which is described as awaiting its approval in that company's 2020-21 accounts filed at Companies House and (b) what total amount of dividend payment her Department approved for that company in (i) 2019-20 and (ii) 2020-21.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Dividend applications are a matter for First Greater Western Limited and its owning group.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2022 to Question 47650 on Blue Badge Scheme: EU Countries, what recent progress he has made in his discussions with EU countries on the continued recognition of the UK Blue Badge.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Informal discussions continue with several countries.
It would not be appropriate to provide commentary on the progress of ongoing discussions.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had recent discussions with First Rail Holdings Ltd on the overdue submission of their latest accounts to Companies House; and if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the financial position of that company.
Answered by Kevin Foster
This is a matter for Companies House to take up with First Rail Holdings Ltd.
The Department has financial support arrangements with the ultimate parent company First Group plc (the parent of First Rail Holdings Ltd) so does not foresee the need for any assessment of this issue.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with his EU counterparts on ensuring UK blue badges for disabled drivers are accepted in the equivalent schemes in EU countries.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Department for Transport has undertaken discussions with individual countries regarding continued recognition of the UK Blue Badge across the EU.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has plans to ban parking on a pavement for roads outside residential properties that are only one car wide.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department consulted on measures to address pavement parking and received over 15,000 responses. Ministers are carefully considering the options in the light of the consultation findings, including the issue of parking on narrow roads. We will publish the formal consultation response and announce next steps as soon as possible.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people have faced enforcement action for failing to pay the £0 cost of car tax for electric or low emission vehicles in the past five years.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) issues renewal reminders to the registered keeper of the vehicle. These reminders make clear that it is a legal requirement for a vehicle to be licensed annually even where no duty is payable. This helps ensure that the keeper information held on the DVLA’s record is accurate and reminds the keeper that if they do not intend on licensing the vehicle then it must be kept off road and a statutory off road notification must be made. The following table shows the number of electric or low emission vehicles with a nil rate of duty that were identified for potential enforcement action over the last five years as the vehicle had not been licensed on time.
Year | Number of vehicles |
2017 | 34,303 |
2018 | 38,464 |
2019 | 35,692 |
2020 | 13,650 |
2021 | 40,168 |
2022 (up to 22 Feb) | 4,902 |
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Great Western Railway and Hitachi on the failure of IET trains at Dawlish after coming into contact with waves; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Wendy Morton
GWR and the train manufacturer, Hitachi, are working on further solutions for issues caused by sea water on electrical equipment on the roof. My Officials are working with GWR and Hitachi to ensure that any lessons learned are fully understood and recommendations implemented.