Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall and Camberwell Green)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure the safety of women and girls on public transport.
Answered by Huw Merriman
As part of the cross-government Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, the Department appointed two independent Violence Against Women and Girls Transport Champions, who published 13 recommendations as part of a review in March 2022. The Department is working closely with the Home Office and with the Department for Education to respond to the review to improve the safety of women and girls on transport. Since 2019, the British Transport Police has enhanced its approach to combatting VAWG, complemented by the Chief Constable’s own personal commitment.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall and Camberwell Green)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to introduce a voluntary exit programme for civil servants serving in his Department.
Answered by Huw Merriman
There is currently one small-scale targeted exit scheme in progress, impacting up to 10 staff. There are no plans to widen this approach at this time.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall and Camberwell Green)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department spent on external recruitment consultants in 2021.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Due to the financial reporting system in the department it is not possible to separate out spend associated with external recruitment constancy services from all other consultancy spend for the majority of departmental recruitment.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall and Camberwell Green)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if they will publish the payments made to officials in their Department for relocation to government offices outside London in 2021.
Answered by Katherine Fletcher
The total of all claims made under this policy during 2021 was £18,083.14.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall and Camberwell Green)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce the impact of the red weather warning for extreme heat on our rail infrastructure.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Extreme heat can cause disruption on the railway due to issues such as overhead powerlines sagging in the heat, the increased likelihood of lineside fires, and rail buckling (when rails expand and curve).
The Department continues to support the rail industry as they work to ensure mitigations, such as emergency speed restrictions, are implemented to protect infrastructure and ensure both passenger and staff welfare.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall and Camberwell Green)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what emergency mechanisms are in place to ensure the safety of passengers during red weather warnings for extreme heat.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The safety of all passengers and rail staff remains our top priority. The rail industry is working to ensure mitigations are in place to ensure both passenger and staff welfare.
Extensive passenger communications have been issued, with advice to carry water and to only travel if necessary on the hottest days.
Many stations have prepared additional water supplies, and some major stations are equipped with free water dispensers. Wherever available, air conditioning will be in operation on trains to reduce in train temperatures.