Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had recent discussions with National Highways on keeping motorways clear of litter in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The Department works closely with National Highways to combat roadside litter along our motorways and considers National Highways performance against its litter performance indicator. However, specific regional operational matters are the responsibility of National Highways and relevant local duty bodies.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will hold discussions with Highways England on improving drainage on the M54 motorway in Shropshire.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
I meet with National Highways regularly and will be happy to discuss any issues on the M54 motorway in Shropshire. National Highways are aware of minor recurring issues with drainage between the slip roads at M54 junction 3 on the eastbound carriageway, and the catch pit covers affecting both carriageways between junctions 3 to 4, and 6 to 7. These issues are present in extremely heavy rainfall, however, these locations are not recorded as flooding hotspots. These are recurring issues as they are prone to becoming blocked by straw blown off agricultural transport which uses this route very regularly.
National Highways regard the drainage system on the M54 as fit for purpose, and a routine maintenance regime is now in place to address the recurring issues on the route.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many dog attacks were recorded on public transport in the latest period for which data is available.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The Department for Transport does not record or hold this data centrally.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will hold discussions with transport providers on trends in the number of dogs, other than assistance dogs, permitted on public transport; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of dogs on public transport on (a) public safety and (b) carriage capacity.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The rules on the carriage of dogs on trains is set out in condition 24 of the National Rail Conditions of Travel. This states that up to 2 dogs can accompany the passenger free of charge. Train operating companies can allow passengers to take additional dogs onto the train but there may be a cost to the passenger for this.
This condition also stipulates that staff can ask that dogs be removed if they cause a nuisance or inconvenience to other passengers. On bus and coach, regulations state that animals are accepted onto bus services at the discretion of the driver. Bus and coach operators set their own conditions of carriage policies which may prohibit the carriage of dogs with the exception of trained assistance dogs.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will hold discussions with road safety and cycle representative groups on making it a legal requirement for cyclists to wear helmets on public roads.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department considered this matter at length in a comprehensive cycling and walking safety review in 2018 and held discussions with a wide range of stakeholders as part of that review. The safety benefits of mandating cycle helmets for cyclists are likely to be outweighed by the fact that this would put some people off cycling, thereby reducing the wider health and environmental benefits. The Department recommends that cyclists should wear helmets, as set out in The Highway Code, but has no intention to make this a legal requirement.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will hold discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on building greater resilience into the rail network as a result of climate change.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
My department takes resilience of the railway very seriously. The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail includes a priority for long-term investment in climate resilience supported by smarter forecasting, planning and technology. The Department is working closely with Defra and the Climate Change Committee to ensure infrastructure risks are identified and addressed. Defra is the lead government department for climate change adaptation and is regularly in contact with the Treasury on the associated costs.
Network Rail has made significant progress in developing its understanding of weather risks and how these will shift as the climate changes into the future. Network Rail has developed a Weather Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation (WRCCA) Strategy which has helped improve governance, knowledge and practices throughout its business. There are a number of mechanisms through which it identifies, records and controls its risks, including its updated Control Period 6 Route WRCCA Plans and recent Asset Management WRCCA Plan. Further information can be provided on this is required. Network Rail is also working on implementing the recommendations of the Mair and Slingo reports.
Furthermore, the third National Adaptation Programme is due in 2023. It will showcase the government’s strategy and plans to tackle the effects of climate change, including how to protect people, infrastructure and the environment in heatwaves. For transport, this means working closely with transport infrastructure operators to take meaningful and measurable action to address risks posed by our changing climate.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take into account the impact of reduced public transport in (a) The Wrekin and (b) other rural areas on levels of (i) rural peripherality and (ii) socio-economic deprivation as part of his assessment of (A) the Telford and Wrekin Sustainable Transport Package and (B) other integrated transport bids.
Answered by Karl McCartney
When assessing bids for local transport projects, the Department considers a range of factors including alignment to strategic priorities, local context, deliverability, as well as financial, economic and commercial cases.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on people's (a) socio-economic wellbeing and (b) job opportunities of waiting lists for a motorcycle theory test.
Answered by Karl McCartney
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency operates a six month forward booking window and tests are not available to book beyond this. All available theory test appointments are shown on the live booking system and any additional tests are added as soon as they become available. There is capacity available to book motorcycle theory test appointments within this window.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to help reduce waiting times for a motorcycle theory test.
Answered by Karl McCartney
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency operates a six month forward booking window and tests are not available to book beyond this. All available theory test appointments are shown on the live booking system and any additional tests are added as soon as they become available. There is capacity available to book motorcycle theory test appointments within this window.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his planned timetable is for making a decision on Shropshire Council's bid for Government funding for bus services across Shropshire as part of the Government's Bus Back Better strategy.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
At the Budget we announced £1.2bn of dedicated funding for Bus Service Improvement Plans as part of the £3 billion we have committed to improve bus services over the course of this Parliament. Our aim is to announce indicative funding allocations by end of February.