Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) the Airports Operators Association, (b) Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd and (c) other major UK airport operators on timetables for the installation of new screening technology since 15 December 2022.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The implementation of the Next Generation Security Checkpoint (NGSC) is an important improvement to UK airports’ ability to detect threats and keep airports, aircraft, passengers and crew safe. The Department and Ministers have had regular discussions with airports and those in the aviation industry regarding the implementation NGSC and the new technology that will be rolled out. This includes governance and engagement through the National Aviation Security Committee, which includes representatives from industry, government and policing.
My officials have had close engagement with a number of airports including Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd, to discuss the rollout of the new screening technology. Officials are also in regular contact with the Airports Operators Association (AOA) and provide regular updates to the AOA at their quarterly meetings.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide a list of the UK airports that (a) had installed approved liquid explosive detection systems prior to 15 December 2022, (b) have installed approved liquid explosive detection systems between 15 December 2022 and 10 July 2023 and (c) are expected to have approved liquid explosive detection systems installed prior to 22 July 2023.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
All regulated UK airports have had the capability to screen for liquid explosives for several years, to ensure that items exempt from the restrictions introduced in 2006 can be safely carried on aircraft.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department spent on (a) IT and communications equipment, (b) chairs, desks and other furniture and (c) electronic fans, heaters and other equipment used for temperature control, to enable staff in his core Department to work from home during the financial years (i) 2020-21, (ii) 2021-22 and (iii) 2022-23.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Provision of suitable equipment is a health and safety requirement for all employers, including Government, businesses and political parties, to enable employees to work safely and comfortably.
Providing equipment to support home working allowed civil servants across government to continue to work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when much of this work was critical to public safety.
The Department for Transport has spent the following amounts to enable staff to work from home:
(i) Financial Year 2020-21 and April 2021 to July 2021-22: £631,446
(ii) Financial Year 2021-22 (August 2021 to March 2022): £51,050
(iii) Financial Year 2022-23: £121,393
The Department is unable to provide a further breakdown related to the specific categories of equipment set out in the parliamentary question.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has held discussions with representatives from (a) Network Rail and (b) other station operators in England on the potential merits of those organisations commissioning surveys to identify any railway station ticket offices and waiting rooms which may have been constructed with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The Department is aware of the risk of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in Network Rail operational property - as it is a well-known building industry risk. Network Rail has a number of control measures in place through its comprehensive building inspection standards, which would identify and manage the presence of RAAC and the associated types of building defect and degradation. Network Rail’s assurance processes, undertaken by competent individuals, provide additional levels of control to identify the risks presented by RAAC. The Network Rail building asset management community has been briefed on the risks presented by RAAC on a number of occasions.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many ministerial red boxes belonging to his Department have (a) been reported missing or lost or (b) had their security features removed in order that they can be purchased for personal use by former ministers from 1 May 2018 to 30 April 2023.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
None.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost to the public purse was of spending on external consultants by (a) High Speed Two Ltd., (b) Network Rail and (c) National Highways in (i) 2020, (ii) 2021 and (iii) 2022; and whether any of that spending related to the preparation of funding bids to (A) his Department and (B) HM Treasury.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Spending on external consultants by High Speed Two Ltd, Network Rail and National Highways is published in the DfT Annual Report and Accounts, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dft-annual-reports-and-accounts.
There has been no spend on external consultants by High Speed Two Ltd, Network Rail and National Highways relating to the preparation of funding bids to the department or HM Treasury.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department’s publication of government procurement spending over £500 for August 2022, for how many (a) individuals and (b) nights was accommodation purchased at the Regina Hotel on 29 August 2022; and what conference were those individuals attending.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
a) Two individuals attended the 71st European Civil Aviation Conference
b) 3 nights were booked at the Regina Hotel
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Department’s publication of government procurement spending over £500 for September 2022, what materials were purchased from Brit Shop on 13 September 2022.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
350 gift bags were purchased from Brit shop for participants at a UK hosted breakfast reception with international partners as part of the United Nations 41st International Civil Aviation Organisation Council.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department’s payment to K.I.T Group France on 10 August 2022 for attendance at the International Astronautical Conference 2022, how many nights’ accommodation were included in the cost of that payment; at which hotel was that accommodation provided; and for how many individuals.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The payment to K.I.T Group France covered the registration only for two members of staff for the International Astronautical Conference and did not include the cost for three nights' accommodation at the Citadines Maine Montparnasse Hotel in Paris, which was booked through the Department’s travel booking portal.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department’s payment to Petrospot Ltd. on 30 September 2022 for three people to attend the WISTA conference in October 2022, how many nights’ accommodation was included in the cost of that payment; and was that accommodation located within the main conference venue.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The payment to Petrospot Ltd was made for three standard conference tickets only. Accommodation was not taken at the main conference venue.