Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many pacer trains will be taken out of service by 1 January 2020.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The first Pacers are due to be withdrawn from service in August and operators are working to remove all of them by the end of the year. People across the north are starting to see the first of the new trains operating on the Northern network.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what sanctions will be taken against franchise holders who fail to remove all pacer trains from their rolling stock by 1 January 2020.
Answered by Andrew Jones
We are closely monitoring industry progress on this issue and would deal with any failure to deliver contractual obligations according the normal processes under the terms of that Franchise Agreement. Note that Transport for Wales are responsible for the management of their operator, Transport for Wales Rail Services. Wherever Pacers are phased out, they will make way for new or fully-refurbished trains that will transform the journey experience for passengers.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make representations to Northern Rail to install CCTV equipment at Bramley Station in Leeds in response to reports of increased criminal activity around that station.
Answered by Andrew Jones
There is a CCTV camera already installed at Bramley station which now covers the cycle storage, the approach and the car park.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that there is adequate (a) lighting and (b) CCTV coverage at (i) Bramley Station and (ii) all local rail stations.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Arriva Rail North has a station investment programme and will be spending around £60 million over the length of the franchise to improve the quality of their stations on the network. The work includes LED lighting, improving accessibility, rainwater harvesting and plans for redundant buildings. Under the plan, Bramley will receive new seating, new signage, and LED lighting has already been installed.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) women and (b) men his Department has appointed to each of his Department's non-Departmental Public Bodies in each of the last five years.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Commissioner for Public Appointments completes and publishes an annual data survey of all new appointments and reappointments made to boards of public bodies by Government including the overall gender diversity.
Data on the gender diversity of new non-executive appointees to public boards for 2012 to 2015 is published on Gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/diversity-in-public-appointments.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost of subsidies and financial incentives provided from the public purse has been by scheme for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in each of the last five financial years.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The cost of the plug-in vehicle grants* covering the period from 2013/14 to 2017/18 is set out in the table below:
| 2013/14 | 2014/15 | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | Total |
Cost (£) | 21,187,337 | 94,359,000 | 226,087,000 | 95,602,000 | 165,519,278 | 602,754,615 |
Vehicles supported | 5,146 | 22,838 | 39,196 | 30,621 | 51,500 | 149,301 |
The Government incentivises the purchase of electric vehicles with a grant for consumers to offset the cost of this technology, this approach provides both environmental and industrial benefits. In March 2016, the Plug-in Car Grant was reduced from £5,000 to £4,500 for eligible electric and fuel cell electric vehicles and from £5,000 to £2,500 for qualifying plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The changes in grant level led to a short term increase in take-up prior to the new rates being implemented, particularly for plug in hybrids.
*includes Plug-in car, van, motorcycle and taxi grants
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with local authorities on the provision of funding in revenue support grants for infrastructure to support electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Government officials regularly engage with local authorities in relation to support for electric vehicle infrastructure provision. Through the Government’s On-Street Residential Charging Scheme, grant funding is made available (75% capital costs, up to £7,500 per chargepoint). The Energy Savings Trust are funded by the Government to administer the scheme, providing bespoke resource to support local authorities in developing charging infrastructure plans.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral contribution of 29 November 2017, Official Report, column.350, when he plans to meet the hon. Member for Leeds West to discuss the frequency of train services at Kirkstall Forge station in Leeds.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
As the Minister for Rail, such meetings are my responsibility and I am always happy to meet with my honourable colleague; my office will be in touch to arrange a suitable date.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Long Term Economic Plan for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, published in February 2015, what progress has been made on assessing the case for providing the required infrastructure for new East Coast InterCity Express trains to run at 140 mph.
Answered by Claire Perry
The complex infrastructure requirements for 140mph operation on the East Coast Main Line are being assessed by Virgin Trains East Coast and the wider rail industry as a potential scheme for the longer term. Nicola Shaw’s recent report promoted greater private sector financing for railway enhancements and my Department will be interested to see these proposals from the industry in due course.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress has been made on selecting a route for high speed rail across the Pennines.
Answered by Andrew Jones
In the recent 2016 Northern Transport Strategy Spring Update, Transport for the North published some of the emerging options for Northern Powerhouse Rail, including new lines and major upgrades across the Pennines.
By the end of the year, Transport for the North and the Department for Transport will have established a more detailed view of the potential route options for Northern Powerhouse Rail, their capabilities, and their costs and benefits, providing the evidence base for prioritising route options.