Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to extend free bus travel to people in receipt of (a) employment and support allowance, (b) universal credit and (c) jobseeker's allowance.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Concessionary travel legislation gives local authorities the flexibility to offer discretionary local travel concessions, such as free travel to jobseekers.
The Jobcentre Plus offers a range of transport support for people seeking employment, including access to a Flexible Support Fund and a discount Travel Card.
It is also encouraging to see operator-led initiatives, such as Stagecoach’s ‘Back on Board’ scheme, which offers jobseekers half price single and return tickets.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on noise pollution over Camberwell and Peckham constituency of the construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Airports National Policy Statement sets out the Government’s expectations for a package of supporting measures to limit the effects of noise from an expanded Heathrow airport on local communities, including the provision of predictable periods of respite, the development of a noise envelope and a six-and-a-half-hour ban on scheduled night flights.
The Appraisal of Sustainability that accompanies the Airports National Policy Statement provides a strategic level assessment of the unmitigated noise effects of expansion, based on indicative flightpaths.
At this stage, it is not possible to identify the exact noise effects on specific communities after expansion as the scheme remains subject to the development consent order and airspace change processes, which will include public consultation.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a legally binding noise threshold at Heathrow airport.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Airports National Policy Statement makes it clear that any noise envelope at an expanded Heathrow should be tailored to local priorities and include clear noise performance targets.
The scheme promoter is expected to put forward proposals on how noise mitigation measures (such as a noise envelope) may be secured and enforced, including the bodies who may enforce those measures.
The precise design of a noise envelope, including the details of any monitoring and enforcement regime, will be decided upon through the planning process, in consultation with local communities and relevant stakeholders. These will then be considered by the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State in determining any Development Consent Order application.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of claims for compensation for delayed rail services made to Govia Thameslink Railway were successful in each of the last three years.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The following table shows the number of successful claims made to Govia Thameslink Railway and their proportion of the total.
Financial Year | Number Successful | Proportion of total |
16/17 | 750,859 | 85% |
17/18 | 915,806 | 84% |
18/19 | 315,714 | 89% |
Note: The Department does not hold this data prior to December 2016. In the table above, 16/17 is the period December 2016 to March 2017; 18/19 is the period 1 April 2018 to 23 June 2018, the latest date for which the data is currently available.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average length of time was for compensation to be paid to a claimant for delayed rail services by Govia Thameslink Railway in each of the last three years.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Department does not hold this data prior to December 2016 and does not yet hold this data after 23 June 2018.
Govia Thameslink Railway’s average response time has been as follows:
2016/17 (December 2016 to March 2017): 5.6 days
2017/18: 2.5 days
2018/19 (to 23 June): 2.3 days
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to extend the compensation scheme announced on 6 July 2018 to Govia Thameslink Railway passengers who are non-season ticket holders.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The compensation package has been designed to compensate the worst-affected passengers who travel using season tickets. However, passengers who travel less frequently can claim Delay Repay compensation for the disruption they have experienced, and we encourage them to do so.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many trains per hour stopped at Nunhead train station in June in each of the last three years.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Department for Transport does not routinely hold this information, but I have asked Govia Thameslink Railway to provide it to the Rt Hon and Learned Member directly.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the introduction of the new Govia Thameslink timetable in Camberwell and Peckham.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The performance of the Thameslink timetable through Camberwell and Peckham since 20 May has been unacceptable. As of 15 July, Govia Thameslink Railway have put in place an amended timetable which must provide passengers with the performance they expect.
Southern Metro services through Camberwell and Peckham (which are also run by Govia Thameslink Railway) have been performing very well and we expect this to continue.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July 2018 to Question 158209 on Govia Thameslink Railway, when his Department plans to conclude its review on whether Govia Thameslink Railway has met their contractual obligations.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The review of the Govia Thameslink franchise is continuing and will report to the Secretary of State in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to review the Highway Code to give pedestrians priority over turning traffic when crossing side streets.
Answered by Jesse Norman
As part of the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy Safety Review, the Government issued a Call for Evidence on improving safety, and perceptions of safety for cyclists and pedestrians. The Call for Evidence closed on 1 June with over 13,000 responses. We are considering responses, including suggestions to review the Highway Code and pedestrian priority, alongside the available evidence base and will set out a response in due course.