Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he taking to help improve local bus services in England.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
In March the Government published England’s long-term National Bus Strategy, setting out its plans to deliver better bus services across the country. At the Budget we announced that there will be £1.2 billion of new dedicated funding for bus transformation deals to deliver services, fares and infrastructure improvements.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2020 to Question 62617 on Department for Transport: Public Inquiries, if he will publish the existing (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory public inquiries undertaken by his Department.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department does not have any statutory or non-statutory inquiries presently taking place.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department is making on responding to its consultation entitled Consulting on ending the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars and vans which closed on 31 July 2020; and how he plans to align the outcomes of that consultation with the Government’s ambition to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030 as set out in the Prime Minister's Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution published in November 2020.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government announced the outcome of the consultation in the PM’s Ten Point Plan. We are going further and faster to decarbonise transport by phasing out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, and, from 2035, all new cars and vans must be zero emissions at the tailpipe. Between 2030 and 2035, new cars and vans can be sold if they have the capability to drive a significant distance with zero emissions [for example plug-in or full hybrids]. The meaning of ‘significant zero emission capability’ will be defined by consultation in 2021. Alongside the new phase out dates government has pledged a further £2.8 billion package of measures to support industry and consumers to make the switch to cleaner vehicles. The Government’s written response to the consultation will be published in due course. We will publish a clear delivery plan in 2021.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department is making on bringing forward legislative proposals under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 to enable local authorities to enforce moving traffic contraventions.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The moving traffic enforcement powers under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 require a set of statutory instruments to be made covering enforcement, level of penalties, financial provisions, approved devices, adjudication and representations and appeals. This will take several months to bring into force, after which those local authorities with civil parking enforcement powers can apply for a designation order for moving traffic enforcement. Statutory guidance is being developed for local authorities on how to use the powers, including publicising their introduction in advance, to ensure that enforcement is carried out fairly.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory public inquiries being undertaken by his Department.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department will, as a matter of course, publish any inquiries it is required to do so as part of the terms of reference for that inquiry. For those where publication is not a requirement, Ministers will take a decision to publish on a case-by-case basis.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reopening the Maid Marion Line to passengers in Selston and the rural parts of Ashfield.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I can confirm that the Department for Transport has received the expression of interest for the Maid Marian line for the Restoring Your Railway Ideas fund. Full applications now need to be submitted by the deadline of 19 June 2020. All bids will be assessed on their merit.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to protect train conductors from abuse and harassment in their work environment.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The question of workplace safety and wellbeing is a matter for rail employers to address with their staff. However, the Department works with the British Transport Police (BTP), including on joint initiatives such as the secure stations scheme, to tackle crime on the railways in Great Britain.
As part of its work to tackle violent crime, BTP also undertakes activity to address violence against staff specifically and holds a work place violence group with industry representative to identify and share best practice on a national basis. This includes supporting the use of Body-Worn Video (BWV) by front line staff and establishing consistent conflict awareness training for staff.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve bus services in (a) Ashfield constituency and (b) the UK.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The bus market outside London is deregulated and decisions regarding service provision are primarily a commercial matter for bus operators. However, the Bus Services Act 2017 provides the tools local authorities need to improve local bus services and increase passenger numbers.
The Government provided £1,002,539 for Nottinghamshire County Council during 2018/19 to support vulnerable services.
In addition, we have announced a further £30 million for less commercial services. Nottinghamshire County Council has been allocated £648,608 which will be available from April 2020 if the funding requirements are met. This is from the £220 million Better Deal for Bus Users package to transform bus services. The Government’s ambition is to secure a long term, sustained improvement in bus services underpinned by a National Bus Strategy for England which will be accompanied by a long-term funding settlement.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-better-deal-for-bus-users/a-better-deal-for-bus-users
On 11 February 2020, the Prime Minister announced there will be £5 billion of new funding to overhaul bus and cycle links for every region outside London which may benefit bus services serving Ashfield.