Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether an impact assessment regarding safety on trains following Royal Assent of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership Bill) has been undertaken.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has not undertaken a specific impact assessment of the safety implications of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill following Royal Assent, as the safety regime is not changing. However, the Government continues to monitor safety across the rail network, tracks emerging issues, and conducts five-yearly post-implementation reviews of rail safety regulations to ensure these remain fit for purpose. As we establish Great British Railways, arrangements are in place to ensure that this transition is managed and implemented safely. These include rigorous validation processes overseen by the Office of Rail and Road, supported by expert advice from across the industry, to ensure that any changes are introduced safely and effectively.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the future funding arrangements for the British Transport Police in the context of rail nationalisation; and whether responsibility for its funding will transfer to central Government.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The British Transport Police’s (BTP) budget is set annually by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA), following proposals from the Force and views from industry. BTP's costs are passed on to individual Train Operating Companies, Network Rail, and all other bodies who provide railway services. This is set out in the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.
We are not planning any changes to this primary legislation and so the cost of BTP will continue to be passed on to the rail industry.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department will produce a specific passenger focused plan on train travel post rail-reform as recommended by the Public Accounts Committee.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Public Accounts Committee recommendation referred to the draft legislation of the previous Government. This Government has been clear it is committed to a relentless focus on passengers, as set out for example in the response to the consultation on the Railways Bill in November 2025. Through this Bill we are putting in place a clear passenger-focused framework for the reformed railway, including new duties on the Great British Railways (GBR) to promote the interests of users and potential users of railway passenger services. The Bill also provides for the Secretary of State to issue a Long-Term Rail Strategy, that will set out the overarching vision for the railway, and GBR will then reflect this in its business plan that will cover both track and train. The combined effect of the Long-Term Rail Strategy, the integrated business plan, statutory passenger duties - plus the creation of a new Passenger Watchdog - together provide a comprehensive and coherent passenger-focused framework.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support local councils in dealing with emergency road closures by utilities companies; and whether she plans to allow highways authorities to extend working hours in such situations.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that emergency street works by utilities companies are managed efficiently and with minimal disruption to local communities. Highway authorities already have effective powers under the current legislative framework to coordinate and oversee such works, including emergency road closures. We continue to review and strengthen these regulations to ensure they remain proportionate and effective, and we remain committed to working closely with local authorities, utilities, and stakeholders to deliver a modern and accountable street works regime.
Emergency works are undertaken under an immediate permit to address or prevent circumstances that are existing or imminent and pose a risk to people or property. These works must commence without delay, at any time, and are exempt from the standard working hours that apply to planned works.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to increase local authorities powers to prevent disruptive works by (a) utility companies and (b) Highways England.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Utility companies have a right to access the public road network to repair and maintain the services on which we all rely, as well as to meet the requirements of regulators, for example, to restore services to customers. Utility companies must send a permit to the relevant local highway authority within 2 hours of being on-site and the authority can assess and agree the necessary duration of the works with the company to ensure disruption to road users is minimised. National Highways operate their own arrangements for agreeing access for utility companies to the strategic road network.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to take steps to improve traffic management on the M20.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Kent & Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF) is responsible for operational decision making on traffic management measures in response to disruption at Eurotunnel and/or the Port of Dover. The KMRF have well-practised tactical plans in place, including Operation Brock.
While these measures help to mitigate against the worst of any disruption, the Department still recognises the impact disruption has on local residents, businesses, hauliers, and passengers. Therefore, the Department is working with the KMRF and other local stakeholders to continually improve how traffic management plans operate.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to reallocate funds allocated to HS2 in the South East to projects in Maidstone and the Weald constituency.
Answered by Huw Merriman
We are investing in transport across the country, with £6.5bn of reallocated HS2 funds being invested outside of the North and Midlands. This includes the extension of the £2 bus fare cap until the end of 2024 and billions to fix potholes in our roads, as well as road and rail upgrades and improvements.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking with train operating companies to ensure that planned ticket office closures do not disproportionally affect (a) disabled and (b) elderly passengers.
Answered by Huw Merriman
When proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours, including closures, train operators were required to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of all passengers including those who are disabled, vulnerable or have protected characteristics; and to include this in the notice of the proposal sent to other operators and passenger groups. When consulting, operators should have also clearly considered other equality-related needs.
Following the end of the consultation period the independent passenger bodies (Transport Focus and London TravelWatch) are engaging with train operators on the basis of the consultation responses they have received and the criteria they have set out. We expect train operators to work collaboratively with passenger bodies in the coming weeks, to listen to concerns raised, such as the impacts on vulnerable people, and to refine their proposals accordingly.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the timely implementation of the City Thameslink Service from Maidstone East before the end of 2019.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The rail industry is currently considering proposals regarding the introduction of the new Thameslink service between Maidstone East and Cambridge.
The disruption following the timetable change in May 2018 was completely unacceptable and the Government is committed to ensuring that future timetable changes are comprehensively planned and managed to avoid the risk of passenger disruption.