Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the average number of trains that will leave Crewe each hour following the construction of HS2 phase (a) 2a and (b) 2b.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
No decisions have yet been taken on the train services that will operate when HS2 opens. These decisions will be taken nearer the time of delivery, drawing on advice from the West Coast Partnership and Network Rail. These proposals will be subject to public consultation and will cover the high-speed services as well as the recommended use of the capacity that will become available on the West Coast Main Line.
The Department is clear that the high-speed and West Coast services will complement each other to seek to maximise the benefits for passengers across the region.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the average number of trains that will leave Edinburgh Haymarket each hour following the construction of HS2 phase (a) 2a and (b) 2b.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
No decisions have yet been taken on the train services that will operate when HS2 opens. These decisions will be taken nearer the time of delivery, drawing on advice from the West Coast Partnership and Network Rail. These proposals will be subject to public consultation and will cover the high-speed services as well as the recommended use of the capacity that will become available on the West Coast Main Line.
The Department is clear that the high-speed and West Coast services will complement each other to seek to maximise the benefits for passengers across the region.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the average number of trains that will leave Edinburgh Waverley each hour following the construction of HS2 phase (a) 2a and (b) 2b.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
No decisions have yet been taken on the train services that will operate when HS2 opens. These decisions will be taken nearer the time of delivery, drawing on advice from the West Coast Partnership and Network Rail. These proposals will be subject to public consultation and will cover the high-speed services as well as the recommended use of the capacity that will become available on the West Coast Main Line.
The Department is clear that the high-speed and West Coast services will complement each other to seek to maximise the benefits for passengers across the region.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the average number of trains that will leave Glasgow Central each hour following the construction of HS2 phase (a) 2a and (b) 2b.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
No decisions have yet been taken on the train services that will operate when HS2 opens. These decisions will be taken nearer the time of delivery, drawing on advice from the West Coast Partnership and Network Rail. These proposals will be subject to public consultation and will cover the high-speed services as well as the recommended use of the capacity that will become available on the West Coast Main Line.
The Department is clear that the high-speed and West Coast services will complement each other to seek to maximise the benefits for passengers across the region.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of changing the timetable for the High Speed Rail Bill to complete compulsory purchase orders.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The duration of powers for the compulsory acquisition of property was determined by Parliament to be five years for both Phase One (London – West Midlands) and Phase 2a (West Midlands – Crewe) of HS2. In light of lessons learned on Phase One in particular, the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill proposes that the equivalent powers should be of eight years’ duration for the Phase 2b Western Leg.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in how many and what proportion of compulsory purchase cases for HS2 had payment not been received by the former owners (a) two, (b) three (c) four and (d) more than four weeks after HS2 Limited had taken ownership of the property in each of the last 12 months.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
When a property is being acquired by compulsory purchase, HS2 Ltd will make payment of compensation subject to section 52 of the Land Compensation Act 1973.
When an Advance Payment Request (APR) is made, it must be done so in writing and usually will be submitted by the claimants’ Agent. Ninety-seven per cent of valid APRs in the six months to July 2023 were paid on time.
On Phase One, if a party makes a valid APR under section 52 of the Land Compensation Act 1973, payment must be made by either 3 months from the date of request, or, on the vesting date, whichever is the later.
On Phase 2a, if a party makes a valid APR under section 52 and the Secretary of State for Transport executes a General Vesting Declaration, then HS2 Ltd must pay:
- on the date the General Vesting Declaration is executed (or notice of entry is served), or,
- if later than this date, within 2 months of the date of the request (if full details were provided), or
- the date HS2 Ltd received the full details needed to make an assessment of compensation.
If HS2 Ltd can reach an agreement on the request, they will pay the full value of the advance payment request. If they cannot reach an agreement, HS2 Ltd will pay 90% of their estimate of compensation (this may be less than the claimant’s agent’s estimate).
If the owner identifies further reasons for compensation after the first advance payment has been received, they can send further requests.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Final Land Acquisition Boundary process for HS2 has been completed; and when he plans to publish those documents.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Final Land Acquisition Boundary (FLAB) process is a fixed process undertaken over several months to determine and assure each individual land requirement in advance of a notice being served. It is a collaborative process between all key stakeholders including construction partners to review the Land Request requirements, review progress of actions against any known complex issues, and ensure compliance with Undertakings & Assurances and mitigation of risks.
It is an iterative process and will be ongoing as the HS2 programme progresses.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that disabled people have equal access to public transport.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Government’s priorities for improving access for disabled people are set out in the Inclusive Transport Strategy (ITS), which aims to address Government’s ambition for disabled people to have the same access to transport as everyone else and to be able to travel confidently, easily and without extra cost.
The strategy included commitments and actions across all modes of transport, on which we are making good progress. Recent delivery progress includes:
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason larger local transport authorities have greater access to funding for disabled bus passes compared to smaller local transport authorities.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Funding for free concessionary pass holders is provided to Local Authorities by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ Settlement Funding Assessment which is allocated by His Majesty’s Treasury through a formula that supports a wide range of activities to ensure that each travel concession authority receives the funding that they need.
The funding is not ringfenced, which enables local authorities to make spending decisions that more closely match local needs and circumstances.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has provided guidance to local authorities on whether companies are required to provide notice to local authorities when digging up pathways.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Highway authorities have a duty to manage their networks effectively by co-ordinating works taking place on their roads under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and the Traffic Management Act 2004.
Before planning to carry out works on the highway, which includes the footway, utility companies must seek permission (a permit) from the highway authority and agree how long the works will take. If they take longer than expected, the highway authority can levy penalty charges against the utility. The Government does provide statutory guidance on the operation of permit schemes: www.gov.uk/government/publications/street-works-the-2007-permit-scheme-regulations-as-amended-in-2015