Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to approve the Department for Transport component of the funding package for three new railway stations on the Camp Hill line; what financial contributions the project's partners will make; and what the timetable is for each partner signing off their final contributions.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
I have previously written to the Mayor of the West Midlands confirming that the government is willing to support a contribution to the development of the three new stations mentioned in the question. This is subject to West Midlands Rail Executive providing a robust, value for money business case and agreeing a reliable timetable for operating the services with Network Rail. This work is currently underway, and an update from WMRE is expected this summer. The proposal will then need to be considered by myself and my colleagues at HM Treasury.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, (a) what is the length of current tram networks in the West Midlands Metropolitan Area and (b) by how many miles is the tram network set to expand over the next ten years.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The current Midland Metro system is 21km long. This will be extended by 2km once the extension to Edgbaston, which is currently under construction, is open.
West Midlands Combined Authority, which owns and operates the system, have plans for further extensions.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many privately owned vehicles are registered in the West Midlands metro area; and how many of those vehicles are electric vehicles.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
At the end of September 2018, there were 1,210,559 vehicles registered to a private keeper at an address in the West Midlands Metropolitan County, of which 2,903 were battery electric vehicles, 885 were plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, 9,959 were hybrid electric vehicles, and 121 were range-extended electric vehicles.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on how many occasions West Coast Mainline services were suspended in (a) 2015, (b) 2016 and (c) 2017.
Answered by Paul Maynard
Information is not held by the Department in the form requested. However Network Rail has advised that for the main passenger train operators using the West Coast Main Line (Virgin Trains, London Midland, Trans Pennine Express) the number of days each year on which there was severe disruption involving cancellation of more than 25% of the services in any of those operator’s main service groups were as follows:
2015 = 23
2016 = 22
2017 = 24
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what meetings Ministers of his Department have had with representatives of the Legatum Institute in the last 12 months.
Answered by John Hayes
There have been no meetings between DfT Ministers and representatives of the Legatum Institute in the last 12 months.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to approve hydrogen cell technology to power taxis in England.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
We recognise that hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are a potentially important technology, alongside battery electric vehicles, for decarbonising road transport. The Government supports ultra low emission vehicle (ULEV) taxis through its Plug in Taxi Grant with support of up to £7,500 for a new purpose built ULEV taxi and through the Plug in Car Grant with up to £4,500 per vehicle. Both grants are technology neutral, and as long as the vehicle meets the eligibility criteria for the grant it is eligible for support.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that global opportunities for the Midlands provided by Birmingham Airport are highlighted in the Midlands connect strategy.
Answered by John Hayes
Midlands Connect is a regional partnership that is developing its transport strategy for the Midlands, due in Spring this year. In preparing the strategy, Midlands Connect has involved Birmingham Airport in discussions as part of its analysis of how Midlands travellers connect to international markets and possible initiatives to improve global connectivity for the Midlands to help drive forward the region’s economy.