Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if (a) he or (b) another Minister in his Department will meet with the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South and her constituent to discuss the effectiveness of the legislative framework relating to offences of drink- and drug-driving.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Drink and drug driving is unacceptable and has no place on our roads, and we as Ministers are aware of the trauma that results. If the Honourable Member for Houghton and Sunderland South writes to the Secretary of State requesting a meeting the invitation will be considered.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on plans for a future city region settlement in North East England to include an assessment of the potential merits of re-opening the Leamside Line.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
My predecessor as Rail Minister has provided feedback on the unsuccessful Restoring Your Railway bid to re-open the Leamside Line and advice on alternative funding routes to the Hon Member and her colleagues.
As stated in the Integrated Rail Plan, the case for re-opening the Leamside route would be best developed as part of any future city region settlement. The North East will be eligible for these settlements once appropriate governance is in place. Officials in the Department for Transport and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities continue to work closely together.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to bring forward plans for a future city region settlement to include an assessment of the potential merits of re-opening the Leamside Line.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Integrated Rail Plan published in November 2021 confirmed that the potential re-opening of the Leamside line would be best considered as part of a future city region settlement.
The Government has committed to investing £5.7bn in the transport networks for eight city regions in England, including the North East, through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements programme. The first settlement period will begin in April this year and will last for five years. As set out at the Spending Review, the North East will be eligible to access this funding once appropriate governance in in place.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if (a) the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State or (b) another Minister in his Department will visit the Leamside Line to discuss with stakeholders the case for its proposed reopening.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In January 2020 the Government pledged £500 million for the Restoring Your Railway programme to deliver on our manifesto commitment to start reopening lines and stations to reconnect smaller communities, regenerate local economies and improve access to jobs, homes and education. The bid for the Leamside Line to the third round of the Ideas Fund was unsuccessful. My predecessor as Rail Minister provided feedback on the scheme and advice on alternative funding routes to the Hon Member and her colleagues. As stated in the Integrated Rail Plan, the case for re-opening the Leamside route would be best developed as part of any future city region settlement.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the potential economic benefits to the (a) North East and (b) UK of reopening the Leamside Line.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
In January 2020 the Government pledged £500 million for the Restoring Your Railway programme to deliver on our manifesto commitment to start reopening lines and stations to reconnect smaller communities, regenerate local economies and improve access to jobs, homes and education. The bid for the Leamside Line to the third round of the Ideas Fund was unsuccessful. My Officials have provided feedback on the scheme and advice on alternative funding routes to the Hon Member and her colleagues
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the feasibility of expanding (a) rail and (b) light rail services on the former Leamside railway line.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
In January 2020 the Government pledged £500 million for the Restoring Your Railway programme to deliver on our manifesto commitment to start reopening lines and stations. The bid for the Leamside Line to the third round of the Ideas Fund was unsuccessful. My Officials have provided feedback on the scheme and advice on alternative funding routes to the Hon Member and her colleagues.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if (a) he or (b) another Minister will visit the Leamside Line to discuss the case for its proposed reopening.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
Having already been asked by the Hon Member for Sedgefield to come and visit I have asked my Officials to find a mutually convenient time to do so. I would be delighted to meet the Hon Lady and other promoters of the line on the visit.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to provide financial support to the Tees Valley Combined Authority in respect of the costs associated with Teesside Airport.
Answered by Robert Courts
We do not comment on the commercial or financial matters of private firms, because this information is commercially sensitive.
The Government recognises the challenging circumstances facing the aviation industry because of Covid-19 and firms experiencing difficulties can draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor.
This support includes the Airport and Ground Operations Scheme which provides eligible commercial airports and ground operators support towards permitted fixed costs subject to certain conditions. These eligible businesses can claim based on the equivalent of their business rates liabilities, or COVID losses, whichever is lower.
The Scheme originally opened for applications on 29 January for the 2020/21 financial year. In the March Budget, the Chancellor announced a six month renewal to the scheme from 1 April 2021. The renewed scheme opened for applications on 28 May 2021. £86.9m was awarded in grants under the first round of AGOSS, of which £65.1m was awarded to commercial airports. Applications for support under the second round of AGOSS are currently being considered. We continue to take a flexible approach and keep all policies under review.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has received a request from the Tees Valley Combined Authority for additional financial support in respect of the costs associated with Teesside Airport.
Answered by Robert Courts
We do not comment on the commercial or financial matters of private firms, because this information is commercially sensitive.
The Government recognises the challenging circumstances facing the aviation industry because of Covid-19 and firms experiencing difficulties can draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor.
This support includes the Airport and Ground Operations Scheme which provides eligible commercial airports and ground operators support towards permitted fixed costs subject to certain conditions. These eligible businesses can claim based on the equivalent of their business rates liabilities, or COVID losses, whichever is lower.
The Scheme originally opened for applications on 29 January for the 2020/21 financial year. In the March Budget, the Chancellor announced a six month renewal to the scheme from 1 April 2021. The renewed scheme opened for applications on 28 May 2021. £86.9m was awarded in grants under the first round of AGOSS, of which £65.1m was awarded to commercial airports. Applications for support under the second round of AGOSS are currently being considered. We continue to take a flexible approach and keep all policies under review.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the potential economic benefits to the (a) North East and (b) UK of opening the proposed Leamside South line.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
I refer the hon. Member to the Answer given on 14 June 2021 to Question UIN 12112.