Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his planned timetable is for the publication of the draft Rail Reform Bill.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We will be bringing forward a draft Bill on Great British Railways (GBR) for pre-legislative scrutiny in this session.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the projected passenger number were in the business case for each (a) new station and (b) reopened rail line in the last 10 years; and what the actual passenger numbers were in each case 12 months after they opened.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Benefit Cost Ratios (BCRs) within the economic case are only one element of decision-making on schemes and should be considered alongside the other cases in the five case business model used in Government (strategic, economic, financial, commercial and management cases). Therefore we do not routinely make BCRs available.
Details of Rail infrastructure and assets lists new stations opened in the financial year can be found here https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/infrastructure-and-emissions/rail-infrastructure-and-assets/ Not all of these were promoted by the Department.
Estimates of station usage contains annual estimates of the number of entries/exits and interchanges at each station in Great Britain https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage
In practice it can take a number of years for long term demand patterns to emerge for new stations. The Department (and bodies who promote their own schemes) have a long standing and established appraisal framework to help scheme promoters forecast passenger demand of new stations and lines. We are continuing to monitor our framework and use evaluation to understand the impacts of schemes.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an estimate of the actual benefit-cost ratio for each (a) new station built and (b) reopened line in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Benefit Cost Ratios (BCRs) within the economic case are only one element of decision-making on schemes and should be considered alongside the other cases in the five case business model used in Government (strategic, economic, financial, commercial and management cases). Therefore we do not routinely make BCRs available.
Details of Rail infrastructure and assets lists new stations opened in the financial year can be found here https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/infrastructure-and-emissions/rail-infrastructure-and-assets/ Not all of these were promoted by the Department.
Estimates of station usage contains annual estimates of the number of entries/exits and interchanges at each station in Great Britain https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage
In practice it can take a number of years for long term demand patterns to emerge for new stations. The Department (and bodies who promote their own schemes) have a long standing and established appraisal framework to help scheme promoters forecast passenger demand of new stations and lines. We are continuing to monitor our framework and use evaluation to understand the impacts of schemes.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the benefit-cost ratios were for each (a) new station built and (b) reopened line in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Benefit Cost Ratios (BCRs) within the economic case are only one element of decision-making on schemes and should be considered alongside the other cases in the five case business model used in Government (strategic, economic, financial, commercial and management cases). Therefore we do not routinely make BCRs available.
Details of Rail infrastructure and assets lists new stations opened in the financial year can be found here https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/infrastructure-and-emissions/rail-infrastructure-and-assets/ Not all of these were promoted by the Department.
Estimates of station usage contains annual estimates of the number of entries/exits and interchanges at each station in Great Britain https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage
In practice it can take a number of years for long term demand patterns to emerge for new stations. The Department (and bodies who promote their own schemes) have a long standing and established appraisal framework to help scheme promoters forecast passenger demand of new stations and lines. We are continuing to monitor our framework and use evaluation to understand the impacts of schemes.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with (a) Google and (b) other online providers of travel information on ensuring that information can be accessed on journeys that can be made involving demand responsive bus travel.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Bus Open Data Service (BODS) ensures national bus timetables, fares, and live bus locations are provided from one open-source platform. Relevant legislation requires that this data be published by operators to improve services and passenger experiences through the availability of real-time journey planning information from online providers such as Google.
The Department encourages the development of third-party applications and services that utilise the published data. Developers can create mobile apps, websites and tools that utilise bus data to offer passengers real-time information, route planning and more. This supports local passenger journeys by providing passengers with the tools and information needed to plan trips effectively, reducing information gaps and enhancing passenger satisfaction.
The Department has amended the BODS data standards profile to accommodate demand responsive bus travel. We are also currently working with bus operators, their agents and technology providers to support product development and data submission, through webinars and other forms of engagement.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 4 of the Sixth Special Report of the Transport Committee of Session 2022-23 on Implementation of the National Bus Strategy: Government response to the Committee’s Fourth Report, published on 6 June 2023, when he plans to publish guidance on social and economically necessary bus services.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We plan to publish new guidance on socially and economically necessary services (SENS) in this Parliament.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's response to the Transport Select Committee's report entitled Implementation of the National Bus Strategy, HC 1431, published 22 June 2023, what his Department's timescales are for the publication of new guidance on socially and economically necessary bus services.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We plan to publish new guidance on socially and economically necessary services (SENS) in this Parliament.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he was first informed of the Prime Minister's decision not to go ahead with the Birmingham to Crewe section of HS2; and when compulsory purchase of land for this section of HS2 ceased.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The issuing of compulsory purchase notices on Phase 2a of HS2 (West Midlands to Crewe) was halted following the announcement. Applications that are in progress will be handled on a case-by-case basis after consulting with the claimants.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will take capital gains tax into account when calculating the resale value of land bought by his Department under a compulsory purchase order for the Birmingham-Crewe leg of HS2.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is only paid by individuals and trusts, not by government departments.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what comparative estimate he has made of the quantity of carbon dioxide that will be emitted in the event that the zero emission vehicle mandate is introduced in January (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department recently consulted on the proposed ZEV mandate and published a cost benefit analysis of the proposals alongside this. The Department will take the responses of this consultation into consideration and will bring forward the response shortly, which will include a comprehensive cost benefit analysis and potential carbon savings of the regulatory framework.