Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to allocate additional (a) funding and (b) resources to local authorities for the (i) installation and (ii) maintenance of new speed enforcement technologies.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport provides funds direct to local authorities which could be used for a range of road safety purposes. The use of any funds is a decision for the local authority, in discussion with the relevant police force.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of construction work being undertaken at Old Oak Common station on (a) local rail disruption and (b) businesses that support tourism in the South West.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department is working with Network Rail, HS2 Ltd, Transport for London (TfL) and train operators to minimise disruption.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department plans to take to help ensure stakeholders in (a) Wales and (b) the South West receive communications on the potential impact of Old Oak Common station construction work on (i) rail journey times and (ii) service disruption.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Similar to last year, public communications regarding the works are due to ramp up ahead of this year’s Christmas engineering works, in line with usual passenger communications timing. Network Rail is leading the development of a passenger communications strategy working closely with train operators and other industry partners, including Transport for London (TfL). My Department is working with Network Rail, HS2 Ltd, TfL and the train operating companies to minimise the impacts of disruption. The most extensive possessions will be in 2026 and 2028 and stakeholders and the public will be informed well in advance.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to minimise disruption to South West rail passengers in the context of the construction of the new High Speed 2 station at Old Oak Common.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department is working with Network Rail, HS2 Ltd, Transport for London and train operating companies to minimise disruption to South West rail passengers. Diversions of services to other London terminals, such as Euston, is under active consideration. This could provide Great Western Railway passengers access to a central London terminal with numerous onward travel connections. Passengers could alternatively use Ealing Broadway station, as they did successfully during the December 2023 engineering works.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an estimate of the projected number of weekend closures that will take place on the Reading and London Paddington in the next 12 months.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
I understand that Network Rail plans to close the Great Western Main Line in the Old Oak Common area on Sunday 17 November, Saturday 28 December and Sunday 29 December 2024 to enable both construction works for the new station at Old Oak Common as well as other essential works required in this area.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with representatives of the electric car manufacturing industry on (a) incentives and (b) infrastructure development to support the decarbonisation of commercial fleets.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
DfT Ministers have regular engagement with individual automotive manufacturers and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), to discuss the Government’s plans to reduce potential barriers to the adoption of zero emission vehicles.
The Government recognises the challenge of decarbonising car fleets, and the charging requirements of fleets. It has invested significant funding in the rollout of charging infrastructure, including £381m through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund and the £70m Rapid Charging Fund pilot. The Plug-in Van Grant also remains in place to support the uptake of vans, which can be used to support commercial fleets.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that cyclists are aware of Rule 64 of the Highway Code.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Highway Code is published by the DVSA, which promotes adherence with the code via direct communications to learner drivers and via accredited driving instructors.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has had recent discussions with local authorities on the transfer of Blue Badge (a) status and (b) applications between council areas.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport Blue Badge team communicates on an ongoing basis with local authority administrators of the Blue Badge scheme about a wide range of issues. People need to apply for a badge to the local authority in which they reside. Holders of Blue Badges who move should notify the issuing authority of their change of address so the details can be transferred.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has plans to increase the number of cycle routes in Slough.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government remains committed to the vision that by 2030 half of all journeys in towns and cities are walked or cycled. Over £11 million has been provided to Slough Borough Council to construct new cycling and walking routes through the Active Travel Fund since 2020.
Active travel capital grant funding is awarded to authorities on the understanding that scheme designs will be appropriately reviewed and inspected by Active Travel England (ATE). Authorities are required to work with ATE to resolve any critical safety issues that are identified. Future funding may be reduced if an authority fails to rectify identified design issues.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much and what proportion of the active travel budget has been allocated to Slough over the next two years.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Slough Borough Council has received £11,370,077 of dedicated active travel capital funding in total from 2020 to 2023. It also received £296,996 of revenue funding for capability building and engagement, from 2021 to 2023.
Local authority allocations from dedicated active travel budgets for 23/24 will be announced in due course. Allocations for 24/25 and 25/26 are dependent on future business planning and Spending Review decisions.