Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to evidence given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Roads, Buses and Places to the Transport Committee at Question 423 on 29 June 2022, what progress has been made in implementing multi-operator ticketing for buses in England outside London; and what stage his Department’s planned procurement process to develop a technical solution for multi-operator ticketing and automatic revenue apportionment has reached.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
My Department is working with representatives from the bus industry, through the Project Coral consortium, as well as Transport for the West Midlands and Midlands Connect, to develop a technical solution for multi-operator ticketing and automatic revenue apportionment for buses in England outside of London. Procurement is planned later this year.
We are also encouraging local authorities in England, through Enhanced Partnerships, to pursue low-cost, interim measures whilst the national system is being developed. For example, through paper-based, multi-operator tickets and mutual acceptance of return tickets, where different operators serve the same corridor.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Bus Services Act 2017, when he plans to issue the guidance and regulations on audio-visual next stop announcements.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Bus Services Act 2017 incorporates powers to introduce an Accessible Information Requirement, mandating the provision of audible and visible information on local bus services in Great Britain.
We are currently working with stakeholders to develop the detail of the requirement, including timescales for its implementation, with a view to consulting publicly in 2018. Following consideration of the consultation responses, we expect to publish Regulations and accompanying guidance when the Parliamentary timetable permits.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to increase penalties for drivers of internal combustion engine vehicles who park in bays reserved for electric vehicle charging.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Secretary of State is responsible for parking penalties outside London, where local authorities can already penalise the parking of vehicles in restricted places with penalties of up to £70. There are no plans to raise them at present.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what cost-benefit analysis his Department carried out on the measures to restrict pavement parking in the Pavement Parking Bill 2015.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department for Transport did not undertake a formal cost-benefit analysis of the measures contained in the Pavement Parking (Protection of Vulnerable Pedestrians) Bill 2015-16. The Department does not routinely undertake cost-benefit analysis of Private Members’ Bills.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what cost-benefit analysis he has made of the High Speed 2 rolling stock procurement of a (a) mixed fleet of classic compatible and captive and (b) single fleet of classic compatible trains.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
A full economic appraisal has been carried out by HS2 Ltd. for the evaluation of the Phase 1/2a rolling stock fleet mix options in line with the HS2 Business Case modelling framework. The cost-benefit analysis confirmed the procurement of a single fleet of classic (or conventional) compatible trains is expected to deliver similar value for money to that of a mixed fleet solution.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the costs and benefits of the UK remaining a member of the European Aviation Safety Agency after the UK has left the EU.
Answered by John Hayes
The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including the implications for the continued participation in the European Aviation Safety Agency system.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what meetings he has had with Network Rail in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord McLoughlin
I and my ministerial team regularly meet with senior officials of Network Rail to discuss a wide range of key issues facing the company.
We recently discussed progress against the recommendations made by Dame Colette Bowe. In my letter to her on 25 November 2015, I committed to publishing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department and Network Rail. This is the formal framework which resets the rail enhancements framework. It will improve and strengthen the governance and day-to-day management of the process for planning and overseeing rail enhancements, providing clearer accountability for associated costs and project management. It is deposited in the libraries of the House and available on the GOV.UK website.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what contribution the Road Investment Strategy has made to increasing the housing supply.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Road Investment Strategy (RIS), announced in December 2014, is the biggest upgrade to England’s motorways and major ‘A’ roads in a generation. As part of the RIS, a new £100 million fund dedicated to Growth and Housing was announced. This allows Highways England to help accelerate the progress of key housing and mixed-use sites that have secured planning consent but are not progressing due to the strategic road infrastructure improvements they require.
In addition, many of the major schemes announced in the RIS support economic and housing growth. These include the A5-M1 Link Road, a new Junction 10a on the A14 at Kettering and the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon scheme. Together, these two A14 schemes support delivery of over 20,000 homes.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what contribution the New Stations Fund has made towards increasing the housing supply.
Answered by Claire Perry
The New Station Fund has already delivered two new stations at Pye Corner in Wales and Newcourt in Devon. Three more new stations will be delivered as part of the fund at Ilkeston in Derbyshire, Lea Bridge in London and Kenilworth in Warwickshire. All of these new stations will be a catalyst for new housing as they make transport easier between communities and employment. Specifically the stations at:
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what contribution the Local Pinch Point Fund has made towards increasing the housing supply.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department is providing £263 million through the Local Pinch Point Fund, targeted at traffic congestion hot-spots, which when combined with local authority and developer contributions is funding schemes costing around £500 million.
Based on estimates from the promoting authorities, many of the schemes awarded funding encourage housing and commercial development around them, with the potential to support around 150,000 new homes and 200,000 jobs.