Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding he is providing for (a) walking, (b) wheeling and (c) cycling in Greater Manchester in financial year 2023-24.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
In February 2023, Active Travel England announced £200 million of funding to local authorities for active travel infrastructure. Allocations to individual local authorities will be announced later in 2023.
In addition, Greater Manchester Combined Authority is receiving £1.07 billion between 2022 and 2027 through the Department’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), of which £215.5m will be paid in the financial year of 2023-24. The funding will deliver improvements to local transport networks, including investment in active travel infrastructure.
As set out in the written ministerial statement made by the Secretary of State on 9 March 2023, the Government will invest at least a further £100 million of capital funding for active travel during this spending review period. This will include funding for local authorities such as the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many public consultations his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) responded to within 12 weeks of their closing since 12 December 2019.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department, its executive agencies and arm’s-length bodies publish a large number of consultations and calls for evidence, so collating the information requested would come at a disproportionate cost for the Department. Consultations and calls for evidence are accompanied by other forms of engagement with the public and stakeholders. The Department always aims to publish government responses to consultations in a timely fashion, in line with the Government Consultation Principles, and to keep stakeholders updated on progress.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many consultations that closed before the 31 December 2020 are awaiting a response from his Department.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department, its executive agencies and arm’s-length bodies publish a large number of consultations and calls for evidence, so collating the information requested would come at a disproportionate cost for the Department. Consultations and calls for evidence are accompanied by other forms of engagement with the public and stakeholders. The Department always aims to publish government responses to consultations in a timely fashion, in line with the Government Consultation Principles, and to keep stakeholders updated on progress.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many full time equivalent staff in his Department are working on the response to the Managing pavement parking consultation.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The number of staff working on this issue has varied over time, and will continue to do so, depending on the stage of the project.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of mobile network coverage on long distance rail routes.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The Department for Transport is continuing to work closely with Network Rail to reduce the commercial and technical barriers to improving mobile connectivity along the entire rail corridor. We are also currently working with Ofcom and Network Rail to baseline existing Mobile Network Operator signal coverage on the railway through the installation and maintenance of signal measurement equipment on Network Rail’s yellow maintenance trains.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average waiting time was for a Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency practical driving test in (a) Greater Manchester and (b) West Didsbury test centres in the last 12 months.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is working hard to provide as many practical driving test appointments as possible at all test centres. As a result of the measures already taken by the DVSA, overall, since April 2021, an estimated 813,000 additional test slots have now been created. On average, the DVSA is creating approximately 35,300 extra test slots each month.
The average time between booking and taking a practical car test in Greater Manchester and West Didsbury test centres over the last 12 months is 15.2 weeks and 15.6 weeks respectively. As of 27 March 2023, there are 1,847 driving tests available in Greater Manchester and 465 available at West Didsbury.
To prevent the booking and re-selling of driving test appointments, the DVSA has:
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has taken recent steps to help prevent approved driving instructors selling practical driving exams for a profit.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is working hard to provide as many practical driving test appointments as possible at all test centres. As a result of the measures already taken by the DVSA, overall, since April 2021, an estimated 813,000 additional test slots have now been created. On average, the DVSA is creating approximately 35,300 extra test slots each month.
The average time between booking and taking a practical car test in Greater Manchester and West Didsbury test centres over the last 12 months is 15.2 weeks and 15.6 weeks respectively. As of 27 March 2023, there are 1,847 driving tests available in Greater Manchester and 465 available at West Didsbury.
To prevent the booking and re-selling of driving test appointments, the DVSA has:
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to make a decision on the future of the rail contract with TransPennine Express.
Answered by Huw Merriman
TransPennine Express’ (TPE’s) current contract expires on 28 May 2023. The Department in partnership with Transport for the North will make an announcement in due course.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will visit Levenshulme railway station to meet with users who struggle to access that station.
Answered by Huw Merriman
I am committed to improving accessibility at stations and we will be seeking further funding for the Access for All programme. A nomination has been received for Levenshulme and I hope to announce successful projects later this year.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to announce the successful applications for Access for All bids made for Levenshulme station by Transport for Greater Manchester.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The Department is assessing over 300 nominations for Access for All funding beyond 2024, including the nomination for Levenshulme station. We hope to announce successful projects later this year.