Asked by: David Lammy (Labour - Tottenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will meet the hon. Member for Tottenham to discuss (a) the funding of the Tottenham Hale link bridge and (b) correspondence from that hon, Member dated (i) 27 February and (ii) 25 June 2020.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
My door is always open for the Hon Gentleman and my office will hopefully have contacted his to arrange such a meeting before this answer is published.
Asked by: David Lammy (Labour - Tottenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many officials in his Department have been seconded away from their normal duties to work on the UK's withdrawal from the EU; and what effect that secondment of staff has had on the effectiveness of his Department.
Answered by Chris Grayling
The Department has not historically collected information on the internal movement of staff to work on EU Exit and therefore does not hold this information centrally.
The Department continually reviews workforce plans, reprioritises and assesses changing needs, which includes identification and cessation of non-priority work where appropriate to ensure the effective delivery of both EU Exit work and wider organisational priorities.
Asked by: David Lammy (Labour - Tottenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the transport, housing and economic benefits of Crossrail 2 for (a) Tottenham constituency and (b) the London Borough of Haringey.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Crossrail 2 Strategic Outline Business Case, submitted to the Department by Transport for London, is currently under consideration by the Government to ensure it is a robust investment and delivers value for money. This includes the detailed assessment of the potential benefits of the scheme. No final decisions have yet been taken on the Crossrail 2 route.
Asked by: David Lammy (Labour - Tottenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of the Civil Service workforce in his Department dedicated to planning for (a) the UK leaving the EU and (b) projects relating to the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The whole of the Government is preparing for the UK to make an orderly and successful exit from the European Union. The Department for Exiting the European Union is doing detailed work with Departments to prepare for the upcoming negotiations by understanding the risks and opportunities of leaving the EU and coordinating planning. Staff within the International and Regulatory Reform Directorate of the Department for Transport lead on providing advice to Ministers on EU Exit and exit-related issues. Members of staff across this Department also provide advice and analysis on EU Exit issues as required. Given the interactions between EU Exit work and the Department’s other priorities, it is not possible to give an accurate figure.
Asked by: David Lammy (Labour - Tottenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to ensure that Euston Station can cope with the additional volume of passengers expected as a result of High Speed 2.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The new Euston station will be an interchange fit for the 21st century and designed to handle the ever increasing demands on our rail network.
To ensure the expanded Euston station is able to manage the additional passengers, we will be upgrading the existing underground interchange. There will be new direct access between high speed rail platforms and the Underground, new circulation areas to relieve overcrowding, new routes down to the Victoria and Northern Lines, new underground access to Euston Square Station (Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City Lines) and new access to the Northern line Charing Cross branch.
In addition, we estimate that one third of HS2 passengers will use Old Oak Common as their connection hub rather than Euston, accessing Crossrail and Great Western Mainline services to get to central London, Heathrow and the South West.
Asked by: David Lammy (Labour - Tottenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many members of staff who ceased to be employed by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies in the last three years have subsequently been re-employed by his Department on a temporary basis or as a third-party contractor or consultant.
Answered by John Hayes
A total of 54 members of staff, who have ceased to be employed by the Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies in the last three years, have returned either on a temporary basis or as a third party contractor or consultant. This number includes those who were originally employed on a fixed term basis.
Asked by: David Lammy (Labour - Tottenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Crossrail 2 strategic outline business case will be approved by Spring 2017.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government is pushing forward with plans for Crossrail 2. Officials are working closely with Transport for London and Network Rail to develop a robust Strategic Outline Business Case and funding plan. This work includes examining ways to improve the scheme’s affordability and helping to ensure that the non-transport benefits, such as housing, are realised.
Asked by: David Lammy (Labour - Tottenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to ensure that local communities are (a) kept informed of and (b) consulted on proposals for Crossrail 2; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Consultation is essential to keep people well informed and allow them to have their say on Crossrail 2. Working closely with Transport for London and Network Rail, we must ensure that we are achieving value for money, which requires a robust business case and funding plan. As the Crossrail 2 scheme progresses and as the business case is presented, we will ensure there are further opportunities for the public to be consulted.
Asked by: David Lammy (Labour - Tottenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that hybrid legislative proposals for Crossrail 2 will be ready to be brought before Parliament in 2019; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
A robust business case and funding plan will provide the foundations to allow Crossrail 2 development to progress at pace before, during, and after a Hybrid Bill. An extensive programme of work is being undertaken to prepare to deposit a Hybrid Bill, in line with recommendations made by the National Infrastructure Commission, subject to Parliamentary time allowing and approval of the business case.Asked by: David Lammy (Labour - Tottenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of new river crossings in East London on the economy of that area.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
Under devolution, East London river crossings are primarily a matter for the Mayor and Transport for London. In designating the Silvertown Tunnel as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, this Government has recognised the importance of river-crossing infrastructure to the effective functioning of the strategic road network, and the continued successful development of East London's economy.
The Government has made no assessment of new river crossings on the economy of East London. However, Transport for London has published information to support a consultation currently underway on the Silvertown Tunnel, which sets out the value of that scheme to the local economy. The recently concluded consultation on options for new crossings further east included a similar assessment. Both can be found on Transport for London’s consultation website: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/