Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to facilitate dialogue between the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers and Northern Rail.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Whilst disputes with Trade Unions are a matter for the Train Operating Company, the Secretary of State has met the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers on a number of occasions in an attempt to facilitate a resolution. In particular to this he has offered the affected members of the Union in Northern (and the other train companies where the union is also in dispute) guarantees of employment beyond the length of these franchises, if this will allow RMT to brings its disputes over Driver Controlled Operation to an end. Unfortunately, the trade union has not acted upon these offers.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many incidences of sexual assault have been recorded on public transport in Lancashire in the last five years.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Crimes such as sexual assault on the railway, are recorded by British Transport Police (BTP). The Department does not hold information on other forms of public transport.
Please see below the number of sexual offences recorded on the national rail system in Lancashire within the last five years.
The data has been split into two categories which are Sexual Offences on Trains and Sexual Offences On and Off the Trains; this includes trains, car parks and public toilets within the station.
Lancashire County On Train Sex Offence Crimes 2012 to 2017 | Lancashire County On and Off Train Sex Offence Crimes 2012 to 2017 | ||
Year | Crime Count | Year | Crime Count |
2012 | 7 | 2012 | 10 |
2013 | 6 | 2013 | 9 |
2014 | 5 | 2014 | 9 |
2015 | 7 | 2015 | 11 |
2016 | 6 | 2016 | 10 |
2017 | 6 | 2017 | 8 |
Grand Total | 37 | Grand Total | 57 |
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to publish maps showing disabled access to rail and bus stations and to other transport hubs.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Department agrees that it is important to provide clear, accessible information for passengers about disabled access to, and facilities at, transport hubs. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) have a programme that will produce a map of stations on the rail network that are step-free and have accessible toilets. Where train companies produce these, they are added to the Network Rail Stations Made Easy webpage. Bus stations and bus stops are the responsibility of local authorities, and the Department encourages them to make such information publicly available. Airports and ports are run by commercial operators who are required by legislation to make information on access provision available in accessible formats.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2018 to Question 133895, when his Department plans to respond to the Cycle Safety Review, published on 9 March 2018.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy Safety Review: Call for Evidence was published on 9 March 2018 and will close on 1 June 2018. The Department for Transport intends to publish a summary of responses and next steps in the Autumn.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the report of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, Building for Equality: Disability and the Built Environment, published on 25 April 2017. what plans his Department has update Local Government Note 1/11 published in October 2011 to take into account the recommendations on shared space schemes.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government published its response to the Women and Equalities Select Committee report on 14 March 2018. It can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-and-the-built-environment-government-response-to-select-committee-report.
The response welcomed the Committee’s contribution to this important debate and is absolutely clear that the needs of the whole community, including disabled people, need to be considered by councils looking to introduce any public realm scheme, including shared space.
The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation has now reported to the Government on its review of shared space. It published “Creating better streets: Inclusive and accessible places” in January 2018.
http://www.ciht.org.uk/en/document-summary/index.cfm/docid/BF28B40D-9855-46D6-B8C19E22B64AA066
The review has considered many of the issues raised by the Committee, and the report made recommendations for further work, including on guidance. The Government is considering those recommendations and will respond formally in due course.
The Department for Transport is aware of and understands the issues raised around navigation within shared space. Local Transport Note 1/11: Shared Space already stresses the importance of engaging with groups representing disabled people during the development of any shared space scheme. It also refers to the need for authorities to ensure their designs are inclusive and reminds them of their duties under the Equality Act 2010.
Local traffic authorities are responsible for the design of streets in their care, and do not have to seek Department for Transport approval to install street design schemes, whether they incorporate shared space or not.
With regards to the driving test, both the theory and practical test are periodically updated to ensure the tests are kept up to date. There are no plans currently to include shared space.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to amend the driving test to take into account shared space schemes.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government published its response to the Women and Equalities Select Committee report on 14 March 2018. It can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-and-the-built-environment-government-response-to-select-committee-report.
The response welcomed the Committee’s contribution to this important debate and is absolutely clear that the needs of the whole community, including disabled people, need to be considered by councils looking to introduce any public realm scheme, including shared space.
The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation has now reported to the Government on its review of shared space. It published “Creating better streets: Inclusive and accessible places” in January 2018.
http://www.ciht.org.uk/en/document-summary/index.cfm/docid/BF28B40D-9855-46D6-B8C19E22B64AA066
The review has considered many of the issues raised by the Committee, and the report made recommendations for further work, including on guidance. The Government is considering those recommendations and will respond formally in due course.
The Department for Transport is aware of and understands the issues raised around navigation within shared space. Local Transport Note 1/11: Shared Space already stresses the importance of engaging with groups representing disabled people during the development of any shared space scheme. It also refers to the need for authorities to ensure their designs are inclusive and reminds them of their duties under the Equality Act 2010.
Local traffic authorities are responsible for the design of streets in their care, and do not have to seek Department for Transport approval to install street design schemes, whether they incorporate shared space or not.
With regards to the driving test, both the theory and practical test are periodically updated to ensure the tests are kept up to date. There are no plans currently to include shared space.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits enabling people with autism to qualify as Blue Badge holders.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department met the National Autistic Society prior to going out to public consultation in early 2018 on whether to extend the Blue Badge scheme to people with non-physical disabilities whose health or safety may be at risk when making a journey. Responses to the consultation are being analysed, and a decision will be made later this year.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps have been taken by (a) his Department and (b) agencies of his Department to (i) protect and (ii) support hedgehogs since his appointment as a species champion for the native hedgehog.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
HS2 Ltd has worked closely with the Royal Parks and the Zoological Society for London on the development of an Ecological Mitigation Plan with the aim of lessening the impact on the local wildlife population. HS2 is the first project of this kind to have developed measures aimed at protecting hedgehogs.
In addition, the Department for Transport is currently exploring the options for a traffic sign to make drivers aware of the presence of hedgehogs and other small animals in the road ahead, in locations where there have been a high number of animal casualties.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has plans to bring forward legislative proposals to tackle cyclists riding dangerously on (a) footpaths and (b) pavements.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The current dangerous and careless cycling offences apply to the road. This includes the pavement.
Last year the Government announced a cycle safety review consisting of two phases. The first part of the review considers the case for creating a new offence similar to that of causing death or serious injury by careless or dangerous driving, to help protect both cyclists and pedestrians. This is the focus of an independent legal report which was published on 9 March. The Department will issue a response to that report in due course.
The independent legal report is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cycle-safety-review
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for his Department to operate trains with retention tanks, to be emptied in rail depots, to end the dumping of excrement on railways.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
By 31 December 2019, all Department for Transport franchisees will have ceased the discharge of effluent onto railway tracks. This will be achieved though the modification of existing trains by fitting toilet retention tanks or by the introduction of new trains that do not discharge on to the tracks.