Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the level of compliance of airlines in compensating passengers for delayed or cancelled flights; and what steps he plans to take to increase compliance.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
There is a framework of legislation in place to protect consumer rights when travelling by air, including when and what compensation is due in the event of cancellations and long delays, and airlines are obliged to provide passengers about their rights in those situations.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as the Regulator for aviation, are responsible for the enforcement activities. They conduct assessments of industry and take forward action if breaches are found. The Government works closely with the CAA and will continue to do so.
We recently consulted on a range of consumer policy reforms, including additional powers for the CAA to enforce consumer rights and mandatory alternative dispute resolution for all airlines operating in the UK, to enable individuals to seek redress. We are currently reviewing all responses and will set out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the level of compliance of airlines with their obligations to supply passengers with (a) food and (b) other essentials in the event of delayed or cancelled flights; and what steps he plans to take to increase compliance.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
There is a framework of legislation in place to protect consumer’s rights when travelling by air, including a passenger’s right to care. In the event of flight cancellations and long delays, airlines are obliged to offer passengers free of charge meals and refreshments, and in certain cases hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and place of accommodation (hotel or other). Airlines are also obliged to provide passengers about their rights in those situations.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as the Regulator for aviation, are responsible for the enforcement activities. They conduct assessments of industry and take forward action if breaches are found. The Government works closely with the CAA and will continue to do so.
We recently consulted on a range of consumer policy reforms, including additional powers for the CAA to enforce consumer rights and mandatory alternative dispute resolution for all airlines operating in the UK, to enable individuals to seek redress. We are currently reviewing all responses and will set out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to increase tactile paving at railway stations to improve safety for visually impaired passengers; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Wendy Morton
We remain fully committed to fitting tactile surfaces on platforms across all mainline stations in Great Britain. Network Rail received an initial £10 million to install tactile paving at priority stations. We are committed to installing tactiles at the remaining stations as soon as possible.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to widen to three lanes the remaining two-lane stretches of the M18 motorway; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
National Highways will consider this stretch of the SRN within its South Pennines Route Strategy. The evidence identified through this process will be vital to allow informed decisions to be made on recommendations about future investment priorities, including improvements to the existing network and enhancement choices. We anticipate that National Highways will publish these strategies later in the year.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to reduce the time taken to reopen a motorway or major road after an accident; what his latest assessment is of the effectiveness of initiatives between his Department, the police and emergency services to achieve that aim; and if he will make statement.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
National Highways own and maintain the Strategic Road Network, made up of English motorways and principal A roads. Its priority is safety for road users on the network. Incidents on the road network are dealt with as quickly as possible to keep traffic moving.
National Highways lead the CLEAR initiative, which is a multi-agency approach involving blue light response, recovery operators and health, safety and well-being responders who work with National Highways traffic officers to respond to an accident. All agencies collaborate to examine, assess and design ways to clear our roads as quickly as possible.
Working in partnership with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and breakdown and recovery operators, National Highways leads the SURVIVE Group (Safe Use of Roadside Verges in Vehicular Emergencies) to improve safety for all road users.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timescale is for completion of the roadworks at Apex Corner on the A1; what interim steps are being taken to minimise delays and congestion to motorists travelling on, or seeking to access the A1; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Transport in London is devolved and is the responsibility of the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL). TfL estimates these essential works will continue until summer 2022, and provide status updates here: https://tfl.gov.uk/status-updates/major-works-and-events/a41-edgware-way-bridge?cid=edgware-way
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the southbound carriageway of the A1 between Newark and Grantham is schedule to be resurfaced; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The southbound carriageway from Newark to Gonerby Moor is due to be resurfaced in late 2023/24, National Highways are currently developing a programme to resurface the remaining sections once this work has been completed. In recent inspections, National Highways identified a need for a series of patching works between Newark and Grantham and an emergency scheme is due to start in this area in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of when the lane closures on and in the vicinity of Boothferry Bridge on the M62 will be removed and all lanes open to traffic.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Following routine investigations that identified a partial failure of a joint on the M62 Ouse Bridge eastbound carriageway, National Highways is currently undertaking further inspections and engaging with specialist providers, designers, and contractors to determine a programme for replacement or repair of the joint.
National Highways’ priority is to develop the right solution for the bridge whilst minimising the impact for road users. The current lane closures are anticipated to be in place into summer 2023. Further detail and progress updates can be found on the scheme page on National Highways’ website.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what further plans he has to improve the traffic flows and vehicle capacity of the A1079 between Hull and York.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
I refer my Right Honourable Friend to the answer I gave on 28th February which still reflects the current position on proposed improvements on the A1079 at Wilberfoss and the A164 Jock’s Lodge Junction Improvement Scheme which would improve the A164/A1079 junction. Any further plans for improvements to this road would be a matter for East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the reason for booths on the Humber Bridge not accepting cash payments; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
This is entirely a matter for The Humber Bridge Board, and the Department for Transport has no involvement in decisions of this sort.