Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the financial effect of the forthcoming Drone Registration Scheme on model flying clubs.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Government has tasked the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with developing and operating the Unmanned Aircraft Operator Registration and Education Scheme to improve the accountability of all users of small unmanned aircraft, whether they be drones or model aircraft, and their awareness of how to fly them safely. The CAA has recently published its consultation on the proposed charge to cover the cost of running this service. The proposed charge balances keeping the charge for registration as low as possible and ensuring that the scheme funds itself. Consultation responses will inform the CAA’s final decision on the charge, which will be taken in July 2019. The proposals will be in line with forthcoming requirements from the European Aviation Safety Agency.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that the aviation industry can continue without disruption after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Chris Grayling
The Government and EU have agreed the text of a Withdrawal Agreement which includes provision for a transition or implementation period after we leave the EU. During this period flights will continue as now. We have also agreed a Political Declaration on the broad terms of our future relationship with the EU. This confirms that the future relationship for aviation will be set out in a Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement which will provide for market access for UK and EU airlines.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps his Department has taken to expand the Oyster card system beyond London.
Answered by Andrew Jones
We have invested £80m so that passengers have a smart option for almost all journeys across the network by the end of the year; this is in addition to our £150 million commitment to smart ticketing in the North. Our goal is to ensure that across regional and urban commuter areas smart ticketing is able to deliver the kind of pay as you go structure used in London.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Rail Review announced on 11 October 2018 on the timing of the East Midlands franchise process; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
When the Rail Review was announced on 20 September 2018 the Government made clear in its statement that, with the exception of the Cross Country franchise, all other ongoing franchise competitions (including the East Midlands franchise) and other live rail projects are continuing as planned.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the consultation document on East Midlands rail franchise, published in July 2017, whether his Department has considered the effect on the local economy of an increase in the number of fast trains from London to London Luton Airport to four an hour.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department is still undertaking a process of information gathering to develop the specification for the next East Midlands rail franchise.
All options for future East Midlands services are subject to analysis of the potential benefits and consultation with stakeholders, which is currently ongoing. We are considering the case for additional services to Luton Airport and are working collaboratively with Luton Airport to understand their proposals. Any outcome will seek to secure the best value for money for the taxpayer, be in the best interests of passengers and the decisions will be taken using economic analysis, which includes social and environmental impacts.
The formal public consultation continues until 11 October and will inform the specification, I would strongly encourage the honourable Member to make his views known through the consultation process before it closes.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether consultation on the East Midlands rail franchise will take into account the volume of air passengers at London Luton Airport; and what assessment he has made of the (a) economic, (b) social and (c) environmental merits of improved rail services related to that franchise to that airport.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
All options for future East Midlands services are subject to analysis of the potential benefits and consultation with stakeholders, which is currently ongoing. This consultation explicitly raises the issue of services to Luton Airport Parkway.
The formal public consultation continues until 11 October and will inform the future franchise specification.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of an increase in the number of stopping services on the East Midlands Line to Luton Airport.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Further to the previous question (UIN 68732) on this same topic that was raised by the Honorable Member last month, I can confirm that the Department is currently undertaking a process of information gathering to develop the specification for the next East Midlands rail franchise. All options for future East Midlands services are subject to ongoing analysis of the potential benefits and consultation with stakeholders. We are considering the case for additional services to Luton Airport and are working collaboratively with Luton Airport to understand their proposals. Any outcome will seek to secure the best value for money for the taxpayer and the best interests of passengers.
We are due to begin a formal public consultation soon to inform the specification and I would strongly encourage the Honorable Member to make his views known through the consultation process when it opens.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what account his Department has taken of the volume of air passengers from London Luton Airport in its work to define the scope of the forthcoming East Midlands rail franchise consultation; and what assessment he has made of the potential (a) economic, (b) social and (c) environmental benefits to that airport from improved rail services related to that franchise.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department is currently undertaking a process of information gathering to develop the specification for the next East Midlands rail franchise. All options for future East Midlands services are subject to analysis of the potential benefits and consultation with stakeholders. We are considering the case for additional services to Luton Airport and are working collaboratively with Luton Airport to understand their proposals. Any outcome will seek to secure the best value for money for the taxpayer and be in the best interests of passengers.
We are due to begin a formal public consultation soon to inform the specification and I would strongly encourage the honourable member to make his views known through the consultation process when it opens.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department has spent on improving surface access to each airport in the South East of England since 2010; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by John Hayes
This Government’s multi-billion investment programmes for our national road and rail networks, and funding for local authority transport improvements, includes many transport schemes that benefit people travelling to and from an airport.
However, due to the number of schemes and the mixture of capital and resource funding, information on total spending on surface access schemes improving accessibility to airports in the South East of England airports is not readily available in the format requested.
Government has, however, provided significant investment for projects which improve access to airports in the South East, for example, the £14.8 billion Crossrail scheme which will serve Heathrow airport; the £6.5 billion Thameslink Programme which increases capacity and improves reliability for passengers travelling to Gatwick and Luton airports, along with a new £53 million platform at Gatwick airport station; and the over £300 million investment on the M1 between junction 10 and 13, and the £30 million enhancements to junction 10a of the M1 that improve access to Luton airport.
Investment has also been committed for upgrades to the M4 motorway (around £750 million) near Heathrow, as well as up to £250 million on improvements to sections of the M23 serving Gatwick, and up to £25 million on improvements to the M11 improving access to Stansted airport.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much each of the 10 National B Interchanges identified in the Better Rail Stations review as in need of priority funding have received since 2009; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The following amounts of capital funding have been provided from a variety of sources at each of the ten stations named since 2009.
Manchester Victoria Station
Amount/Comment: 44.7m (from a number of sources) on station redevelopment (completed 2015) (made up of Access for All (AfA), National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP) and Station Commercial Project Facility (SCPF) funding).
Clapham Junction Station
Amount/Comment: £13.1m AfA funding (2011).
Crewe Station
Amount/Comment: £7m franchise funding; £6.2m SCPF funding.
Warrington Bank Quay Station
Amount/Comment: £8.4m franchise funding; £690k NSIP funding
Barking Station
Amount/Comment: By the end of 2019, £5.5m will have been invested through the franchise, plus £350k of NSIP funding.
Preston Station
Amount/Comment: £14m of franchise funding; £710k NSIP funding.
Wigan North Weston Station
Amount/Comment: £10.4m franchise funding; £535k NSIP funding.
Luton Station
Amount/Comment: £5m of Local Sustainable Transport Funding was allocated to Luton Borough Council as a block; DfT does not hold information on how much was allocated by the Council to the railway station, but this money part-funded the High Town footbridge, the bus interchange and station forecourt enhancements, removal of old station footbridge and provision of new staircase at front of station. £180k delivered through franchise funding. £1.9m NSIP funding (recently deferred). These figures exclude 12-car platform extensions and new multi-storey car park (delivered by Network Rail).
Liverpool Central Station
Amount/Comment: Funding at Liverpool Central station is a devolved matter for Merseytravel, and DfT does not hold complete information. However, £1m AfA funding was provided in CP4.
Stockport Station
Amount/Comment: £5m franchise funding; £11.6m SCPF funding.