Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy that the Veterans Railcard should cost the same as the HM Forces Railcard.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We recognise the contribution of current and former members of the armed forces, with both the HM Forces Railcard and the Veteran’s Railcard offering excellent value for money. The Veteran’s Railcard is managed by the Rail Delivery Group whereas the HM Forces Railcard is administered by the Ministry of Defence. There are no current plans to change the cost of the Veteran’s Railcard.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he work with (a) Moray and (b) Aberdeenshire Councils to help ensure that the dualling of the A96 between Inverurie and Inverness goes ahead.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Roads within Scotland are the responsibility of the Scottish Government. However, the Department is willing to collaborate, where appropriate, on matters benefitting people across the United Kingdom.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to improve transport connections between the North East of Scotland and the rest of the UK.
Answered by George Freeman
The UK Government recognises the social and economic importance of improving connectivity across all parts of the UK. Whilst responsibility for transport infrastructure in Scotland lies with the Scottish Government, where there are areas of cross-border interest, my ministerial colleagues and I remain keen to collaborate with our Scottish counterparts. For example, the Dundee PSO study on Carlisle to Edinburgh line. We always stand ready to work with Members to develop new links.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to support Scottish civil aviation.
Answered by Paul Maynard
We are committed to expanding and liberalising air access to new and existing global markets, ensuring enhanced connectivity for Scotland and all of the UK.
The government has joint-funded an air route, alongside Dundee City Council and Transport Scotland, from Dundee to London through a public service obligation (PSO) since 2014. This protects an important connection from the Tay Cities region into the capital, allowing business passengers to complete a full day of work without the need for an overnight stay.
Last year, as part of the Tays cities deal, the UK Government invested £8.1 million in the Aviation Academy for Scotland, a Tayside-wide partnership project aimed at providing specialist training and skills in the aviation industry.
In addition, the UK government has also agreed and legislated to devolve powers over Air Passenger Duty (APD) to the Scottish Government. This will enable the devolved administration to design and collect revenue through its own Air Departure Tax.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the contribution of Aberdeen City airport to the UK economy.
Answered by Paul Maynard
AGS Airports who own and operate the airport, suggest that Aberdeen International Airport contributes more than £110 million a year to the local economy. Approximately 300 people are employed directly by the airport which supports 3,400 jobs across the north-east of Scotland.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Transport on cross border transport infrastructure.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The UK Government fully recognises the social and economic importance of improving connectivity across all parts of the UK. Where there are areas of cross-border interest, my ministerial colleagues and I remain keen to collaborate with our Scottish counterparts and the Department is currently contributing to discussions on the emerging transport proposals in the proposed Borderlands Growth Deal as well as ongoing work in relation to HS2 and the strategic road network.