Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what financial penalties are in place in the 30-year contract with Connect Plus M25 in relation to litter-related performance.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The Design Build Finance and Operate (DBFO) contract with Connect Plus M25 does not outline that financial deductions can be made in relation to litter clearance. However, where Connect Plus M25 is in breach of its contractual obligations, it may be issued performance points. If points are accrued in sufficient numbers, contractual sanctions and financial implications for Connect Plus M25 are possible.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish National Highways most recent litter survey; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
In 2021/22 National Highways reported that 60.8% of relevant parts of the Strategic Road Network had no litter, refuse or detritus, or was predominately free of litter, refuse or detritus apart from some small items, per the Code of practice on litter and refuse. This is the most recent data available. This data is indicative of the motorways and major A-roads network over a year.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to the Answer of 14 November 2022 to Question 82246, on Motorways: Litter, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that National Highways meets its legal duty to ensure the motorways are kept clear of litter ahead of the commencement of the Third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) performance specification in 2025.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
As sent out in National Highways’ Litter Strategy, both the Department and National Highways recognise that more can be done to combat litter along motorways, and together we are working to achieve this in a number of ways. This includes working with National Highways to maintain continuous improvement in its partnership working with Local Authorities and working to trial and implement evidence-based anti-littering campaigns on and near motorways to positively influence littering behaviour. The Office of Rail and Road monitors National Highways’ performance against its litter performance indicator.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to the Answer of 14 November 2022 to Question 82246, on Motorways: Litter, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of including National Highways’ legal duty to ensure the motorways are kept clear of litter as a separate high-level Key Performance Indicator in the Third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) performance specification.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
As part of developing the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3), we continue to explore potential metrics for inclusion in RIS3 performance specification, as well as possible improvements to existing metrics such as litter. We are working to ensure that the targeted metrics in RIS3 – the Key Performance Indicators focus on the things that are most important to road users and contribute to wider government priorities. This process will involve considering the responses to the forthcoming public consultation on National Highways’ SRN Initial Report.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many fines for littering have been issued by National Highways and its predecessors since 1 January 2013.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
National Highways is not an enforcement organisation and so does not have the powers to issue fines for littering or other offences.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to enable primary schools to make effective use of PE and Sport Premium funding for 2023-24.
Answered by Nick Gibb
On 8 March 2023, the Government announced funding to support school sport during the school day and after school, encouraging all schools to deliver a minimum of two hours of PE and sport in their timetable.
This funding announcement included confirmation that the PE and Sport Premium would continue for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years, providing over £600 million to primary schools in England. The Government also confirmed £22 million of further funding for the School Games Organiser network for two years, until the 2025 summer term. The Government also confirmed up to £57 million in funding for the Opening School Facilities programme which will support increased after school sport and the provision of swimming.
To improve accountability for the PE and Sport Premium, the Department will issue updated guidance this summer to support schools to use their PE and Sport Premium funding more effectively. In addition, a new digital tool will be introduced for schools to report more easily on their use of the PE and Sport Premium.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the School Sport and Activity Action Plan will include a long-term funding commitment for (a) the PE and Sport Premium, (b) the School Games and (c) other aspects of PE and school sport.
Answered by Nick Gibb
On 8 March 2023, the Government announced funding to support school sport during the school day and after school, encouraging all schools to deliver a minimum of two hours of PE and sport in their timetable.
This funding announcement included confirmation that the PE and Sport Premium would continue for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years, providing over £600 million to primary schools in England. The Government also confirmed £22 million of further funding for the School Games Organiser network for two years, until the 2025 summer term. The Government also confirmed up to £57 million in funding for the Opening School Facilities programme which will support increased after school sport and the provision of swimming.
To improve accountability for the PE and Sport Premium, the Department will issue updated guidance this summer to support schools to use their PE and Sport Premium funding more effectively. In addition, a new digital tool will be introduced for schools to report more easily on their use of the PE and Sport Premium.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Primary PE and Sport Premium Research Key findings published by the Youth Sport Trust in February 2023, what steps she is taking to help ensure that schools do not cut back on after-school sport and top-up swimming lessons from September.
Answered by Nick Gibb
On 8 March 2023, the Government announced funding to support school sport during the school day and after school, encouraging all schools to deliver a minimum of two hours of PE and sport in their timetable.
This funding announcement included confirmation that the PE and Sport Premium would continue for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years, providing over £600 million to primary schools in England. The Government also confirmed £22 million of further funding for the School Games Organiser network for two years, until the 2025 summer term. The Government also confirmed up to £57 million in funding for the Opening School Facilities programme which will support increased after school sport and the provision of swimming.
To improve accountability for the PE and Sport Premium, the Department will issue updated guidance this summer to support schools to use their PE and Sport Premium funding more effectively. In addition, a new digital tool will be introduced for schools to report more easily on their use of the PE and Sport Premium.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the start and proposed end dates are of the obligations incurred by the West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust under the agreements with Watford Borough Council and the property company Kier signed in June 2013 in relation to the Watford Health Campus Partnership LLP.
Answered by Will Quince
National Health Service trusts and NHS foundation trusts own their own land and buildings and are responsible for the sale or disposal of identified assets. Trusts work with integrated care boards, including the local authority and NHS England, on planning and optimising their estate.
The NHS has advised that the arrangement between West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Watford Borough Council and Kier was signed in 2013 and has a termination date of 2033 unless otherwise agreed by the parties. The housing regeneration is ongoing, and the hospital redevelopment is now part of the New Hospital Programme.
The Trust will make contributions to infrastructure costs as the work progresses and details of these will be made public in the normal way. To date, a £7 million contribution has been made by the Trust to the development of Thomas Sawyer Way, an access road which has an ambulance-only section, as well as access for staff, patients, and visitors to the new multi-storey car park. There have been no subsequent legal agreements which have changed either the original obligations or the rights applying to the West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on potential benefits and costs (a) realised and (b) expected to be realised by the West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust as a result of the agreements with Watford Borough Council and the property company Kier signed in June 2013 in relation to the Watford Health Campus Partnership LLP.
Answered by Will Quince
The information requested is not held centrally. National Health Service trusts and NHS foundation trusts own their own land and buildings and are responsible for the sale or disposal of identified assets. Trusts work with integrated care boards, including the local authority and NHS England, on planning and optimising their estate.