Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the economic value of the East Coast Main Line to the UK economy.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The Department has not made an assessment of the economic value of the East Coast Mainline as a whole. However, the impact of improvements to East Coast Mainline services are considered as part of their appraisal, including any wider impacts on the UK economy.
The East Coast Mainline is a critical service supporting economic activity, connecting cities and businesses across England and Scotland.
Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to announce a decision on the delivery of a new train fleet for the Tyne and Wear Metro.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department for Transport and HM Treasury officials continue to work with Nexus regarding their proposals for new rolling stock on the Metro.
Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's plans are for funding of the Tyne and Wear Metro after the current funding arrangement ends in 2021.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department for Transport is currently in discussions with Nexus about funding options for the renewal of the Metro fleet. These discussions include consideration of revenue and capital support for the existing network beyond the current funding arrangement.
Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with rail franchises in the North of England on improving the service to Sunderland rail station.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Given that the Northern and TPE franchises only started on 1st April 2016, no such discussions have yet taken place and would in any case be led by the devolved franchise management team based in Leeds.
Separately, Virgin Trains East Coast introduced a new daily service to Sunderland on 14 December 2015.
Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with colleagues and representatives from the automotive sector regarding the adequacy of the £600 million allocated in the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015 for the Plug-in Car Grant over the Parliament.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) comprises elements of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, Energy Climate Change and Transport and its work programme has cross-government support. The 2015 Spending Review settlement represents an increase of over £100 million on the Government’s manifesto commitment and means that the Plug-in Car Grant can run throughout the Parliament if there is a market need.
The government announced on the 17 December a long-term extension to the Plug-in Car Grant to encourage more low emission vehicles on Britain’s roads. The announcement confirms the grant will continue until at least the end of March 2018.
From next March, buyers of the greenest cars can save up to £4,500 off the price, bringing total funding for the scheme to £400m over the course of this Parliament. In addition the greenest vehicles will be exempt from the £60,000 price cap.
Ministers and officials frequently meet with representatives of both vehicle manufacturers and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to discuss the ULEV market. This helps to inform policy discussions about grant levels.
Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with colleagues and representatives from the automotive sector regarding whether the Plug-in Car Grant should prioritise Pure Electric Vehicles above Plug-in Hybrids.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) comprises elements of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, Energy Climate Change and Transport and its work programme has cross-government support. The 2015 Spending Review settlement represents an increase of over £100 million on the Government’s manifesto commitment and means that the Plug-in Car Grant can run throughout the Parliament if there is a market need.
The government announced on the 17 December a long-term extension to the Plug-in Car Grant to encourage more low emission vehicles on Britain’s roads. The announcement confirms the grant will continue until at least the end of March 2018.
From next March, buyers of the greenest cars can save up to £4,500 off the price, bringing total funding for the scheme to £400m over the course of this Parliament. In addition the greenest vehicles will be exempt from the £60,000 price cap.
Ministers and officials frequently meet with representatives of both vehicle manufacturers and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to discuss the ULEV market. This helps to inform policy discussions about grant levels.
Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the threat of legal action by the European Commission over UK levels of NOx on level of support required for vehicles that deliver zero real world tailpipe emissions.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Zero emission vehicles are a key component of any long term answer to urban air quality problems. The government will spend more than £600 million between 2015-16 and 2020-21 to support the uptake and manufacturing of ultra low emission vehicles in the UK which will keep the UK on track to meet our ambitious target that nearly all cars and vans will be zero emission by 2050.