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Written Question
Railways
Tuesday 9th December 2014

Asked by: Christopher Pincher (Independent - Tamworth)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on the future role of open access operators on the rail network.

Answered by Claire Perry

The Department is supportive of the principles and the benefits of competition that open access can bring, such as greater choice and lower fares for some passengers. Open access operators have helped to provide new services for passengers and grow new rail markets.

However, these benefits must be set against the need to reduce the overall cost of the railway to taxpayers and balanced against the potential to abstract passenger revenue from franchised operators.

Decisions on granting access rights to operate railway services are the responsibility of the independent Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). ORR does not normally approve access rights for new competing services, including open access services, which would not generate at least 30p of new revenue for every £1 abstracted from existing operators. ORR also takes account of the total amount of abstraction from franchised operators in order to consider the effect this may have on the funds available to the Secretary of State for the purposes of his functions in relation to railways and railway services.

The Department is continuing to develop the franchising approach and to engage with prospective operators about the opportunities within the railways in England and Wales. The pre-qualification process, which is the first stage operators face in the franchising competition process, is designed to ensure a field of appropriately qualified operators to meet the requirements of passengers and the Department; the process has been recently adapted to specifically encourage new entrants and partnerships.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 08 Dec 2014
Infrastructure Bill [Lords]

"I commend the hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston (Kate Green) for her brevity and much of the content of her speech, and I congratulate the Minister on his opening speech. Those who heard it will agree that the shade of Disraeli stands permanently at his shoulder. He made an …..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 01 Dec 2014
Road Investment Strategy

"I heartily welcome the investment in the M42, which will be good for commuters in my constituency and make Tamworth an even better place to live, work and bring up a family. Will my right hon. Friend have it in mind that after years of failure to invest in the …..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 28 Oct 2014
A5 Trunk Road (M42/M69)

"I am obliged to my right hon. Friend for giving way. May I say that, as a Transport Minister, he is also the people’s friend? In support of my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr Jones), may I pray in aid the A5, which is a very important route …..."
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Written Question
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Thursday 11th September 2014

Asked by: Christopher Pincher (Independent - Tamworth)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people likely to take up the alternative cash offer under the High Speed 2 compensation scheme.

Answered by Robert Goodwill

The Department recognises that the alternative cash offer is a new approach to compensating those who will be affected by the railway and we therefore do not have the evidence to estimate the number of people likely to take it up. We have instead modelled a range of possible take-up rates, up to 75%. In order to strengthen our understanding of the potential impact of this policy, we have commissioned an independent social research company to gather further evidence and we will also be able to draw upon responses from the current consultation.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 28 Apr 2014
High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill

"This debate is hugely important to the country, but the proposals put forward by the Government are of huge concern to many of my constituents who face the prospect of both phase 1 and phase 2 of HS2.

I was pleased to hear the Secretary of State say that he …..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 19 Dec 2013
Oral Answers to Questions

"T7. The Secretary of State made it clear yesterday that he hopes that Birmingham airport can expand. Currently, the 15-mile journey between Tamworth and the airport takes 45 minutes by rail. Does he therefore agree that infrastructure projects such as the Whitacre rail link, which would reduce the journey time …..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 19 Dec 2013
Oral Answers to Questions

"Will my right hon. Friend give further detail on any representations he has received under part 3 of the Bill on trade unions?..."
Christopher Pincher - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 07 Nov 2013
Oral Answers to Questions

"Pursuant to the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant), I know that the Secretary of State takes these matters very seriously, but does he agree that where mitigations are small scale, such as those proposed by my constituents in the Knox Grave Lane community, …..."
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 03 Jul 2013
High Speed 2 (Ancient Woodlands)

"I am sure my hon. Friend agrees that it is good news that the Government will reconsider the property bond, as we just heard from the Minister. However, does he agree that they must deal with blight now—because homes and, indeed, ancient woodlands are being blighted now—rather than in the …..."
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