Asked by: Julie Cooper (Labour - Burnley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the performance penalty to be paid by (a) Network Rail and (b) Northern Rail as a result of recent disruption to the network.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Network Rail is subject to the independent Office of Rail and Road’s regulatory regime. The calculation of any sums payable from or to the Northern franchisee that are incurred under the performance regime do not take place until after the end of each franchise year, which ends on 31st March.
Asked by: Julie Cooper (Labour - Burnley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing an enhanced compensation scheme for passengers affected by recent Northern Rail disruption; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Passengers are encouraged to claim delay repay compensation on all affected journeys. In addition to normal compensation methods the Secretary of State announced in the House that the rail industry will fund a special compensation scheme to ensure that regular rail users receive adequate redress for the disruption they have experienced. More detail of the eligibility requirements and how season ticket holders can claim will be announced soon.
Asked by: Julie Cooper (Labour - Burnley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 22.1 of schedule 6.1 of Part 1 on page 226 of the rail franchise agreement - Northern, whether Northern completed its systemic review of the values contained in the timetable planning rules by 31 March 2018; and whether it reported on that review to his Department.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Due to the impact the delays in infrastructure projects in the North West of England had on Northern’s timetable, a derogation to this obligation was granted with a revised delivery date of 31st March 2019.
Asked by: Julie Cooper (Labour - Burnley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps are being taken to ensure that fast chargers for electric cars are available in towns with populations under 100,000.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The UK already has more than 900 rapid chargepoints, one of the largest networks in Europe. The Government has put in place a range of grant schemes to support the installation of charging infrastructure - on-street, off-street and at workplaces. At Autumn Budget 2017, the Chancellor announced a new £400m electric vehicle Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund (£200m new Government investment to be matched by private investors). This funding could include supporting rapid chargers, and more detail on how the Fund will be administered will be published in due course.
Increasingly the private sector is seeing the opportunity of this new market, with chargers going in at destinations including hotels and supermarkets. We are also taking powers through the Automated and Electric Vehicle Bill to ensure the roll-out of electric vehicle infrastructure at key locations like motorway service areas and large fuel stations.
Asked by: Julie Cooper (Labour - Burnley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if the Government will take steps to reopen the Colne to Skipton railway line as part of its proposals in Autumn Budget 2017 further to invest in rail infrastructure.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The Department for Transport’s recently published strategic vision for rail includes some illustrative examples of potential schemes, but it is not an exhaustive list. The publication makes clear that these schemes require further development and any potential rail line re-opening would need to demonstrate a strong business case where they are seeking Government funding. In the case of the Colne to Skipton railway line, we have yet to see a sufficiently strong business case, and will take into account Transport for the North’s advice on the investment priorities for the North of England.
Asked by: Julie Cooper (Labour - Burnley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times he has attended public meetings of the Transport Committee since his appointment.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
Attendance at Committee meetings is a matter of public record. Transcripts of appearances can be found in Hansard and on Committee web pages.