Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what part of the West Yorkshire Mass Transit System will be the focus of the first phase of the plan.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government wants to work with and support West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) as they further develop and start work on their plans for a West Yorkshire Mass Transit System. The development of route options will be led by WYCA.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has for Featherstone and Normanton in the context of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority mass transit scheme document.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government wants to work with and support West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) as they further develop and start work on their plans for a West Yorkshire Mass Transit System. The development of route options will be led by WYCA.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands, published by his Department on 18 November 2021, whether the new rail line expected under the West Yorkshire Mass Transit System are planned to have any stations in Hemsworth constituency.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government wants to work with and support West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) as they further develop and start work on their plans for a West Yorkshire Mass Transit System. The development of route options will be led by WYCA.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much local taxpayers will be expected to pay to support the capital costs of the West Yorkshire Mass Transit System as set out in the Integrated Rail Plan.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government wants to work with and support West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) on further developing and starting work on their plans for a West Yorkshire Mass Transit System. Funding contributions will be considered as plans are further developed.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of residents in Hemsworth constituency who are in the process of selling their properties after receiving a compulsory purchase order relating to HS2.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
HS2 Ltd does not have compulsory purchase powers for the Phase 2b scheme. These are conferred by an Act of Parliament authorising the construction of each phase of HS2. Therefore the company has not acquired, nor is in the process of acquiring, any properties in the Hemsworth constituency under such powers.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has made for the provision of legal advice and financial support to people who have already sold their homes after receiving a compulsory purchase order relating to the now cancelled Phase 2b of HS2
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No compulsory purchase orders have been issued in relation to Phase 2b of HS2. Where property has been acquired for HS2 Phase 2b, we have paid full compensation in accordance with the Compensation Code and the additional schemes that go beyond what the law requires and which we have set up as part of the HS2 programme. The HS2 Ltd Helpdesk is available to assist anyone who owns property on the route and is uncertain about their next steps.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made for the number of people residing in Hemsworth constituency who sold their homes after receiving a compulsory purchase order relating to HS2.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
HS2 Ltd does not have compulsory purchase powers for the Phase 2b scheme. These are conferred by an Act of Parliament authorising the construction of each phase of HS2. Therefore, HS2 Ltd has not acquired, nor is in the process of acquiring, any properties in the Hemsworth constituency under such powers.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of people waiting for their driving licence to be renewed by the DVLA; and what that estimate was for each of the last five years.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online services are the quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their driving licence within a few days. However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application for a driving licence. The DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day which must be dealt with in person. Industrial action by members of the Public and Commercial Services union, along with having fewer staff on site to ensure social distancing in line with Welsh Government guidelines, has led to delays for customers who make paper applications.
There are currently around 638,000 paper applications for a driving licence awaiting processing. This includes those applying for a driving licence for the first time and those renewing an existing licence. It should be noted that the large majority of applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed. Information for each of the last five years is not available.
The DVLA continues to look into opportunities to reduce the backlog and has been developing additional new online services and recruiting additional staff. The DVLA is urgently exploring the possibility of securing extra office space to house more staff to help reduce backlogs.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the average length of delay at each UK port in January 2021.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
As yet, it is too early to use observed information to predict whether any disruption may occur later in January and if so to what degree. However, alongside the Border and Protocol Delivery Group we shall continue to monitor the situation.
We have always been clear that some change is to be expected now that we have left the EU’s custom union and single market. Full compliance with the new rules is vital to avoid disruption, and the best way to ensure readiness is to follow the guidance on gov.uk and use the ‘Check an HGV’ service.
We stand ready to help keep goods flowing smoothly as we adjust to our new relationship with the EU and ensure we take advantage of the opportunities it brings.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that plans are in place to enforce social distancing measures on public transport between 23 and 27 December 2020.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Travel restrictions across the UK and between tiers will be lifted over the Christmas period, allowing up to three households to come together between 23 and 27 of December in Great Britain and between the 22 and 28 for those travelling to and from Northern Ireland.
The pandemic will undoubtedly make journeys more challenging, longer and busier than usual over the Christmas period. We have therefore been working closely with delivery partners to devise a series of measures focused on supporting passenger and staff safety, reducing disruption wherever possible and helping people travel with confidence. Sir Peter Hendy has also been asked to scrutinise the plans of all rail, road, coach, maritime and aviation operators to ensure a collective focus across the transport industry on minimising disruption and supporting passengers.