Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
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 introducing legislation to limit the use of LED bulbs in vehicle headlights.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
All types of road vehicle headlamps are designed, tested and approved to internationally recognised standards to help prevent undue glare on a broad range of roads and environments. However, the Government is aware of concerns raised by members of the public in relation to headlamp glare and we are considering options for addressing this.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to announce the outcome of Northwich station's Access for All funding bid.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
As part of the Prime Minister's recent Network North announcement, the Government has confirmed £350m will be made available to improve the accessibility of our train stations. We are assessing over 300 nominations for Access for All funding from April 2024, including a nomination for Northwich station. If successful, the funding will create an obstacle free, accessible route from the station entrance to platforms. Successful nominations will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will hold discussions with Network Rail on the adequacy of the timetable to complete repairs at Northwich rail station.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The station building exterior is planned for substantial completion by 29 January 2024 with further work planned to fit out the interior. We are working with our colleagues at Northern to confirm shortly.
Some of the scope of the work is outside of Network Rail ownership and we are liaising with ArchCo and the local authority to plan the work needed.
The reopening of the building and waiting room will be announced when the programme for the internal specification is finalised.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to publish the Passenger Demand Forecasting Handbook.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Passenger Demand Forecasting Handbook is owned by the Passenger Demand Forecasting Council, of which the Department is a member. As per the Passenger Demand Forecasting Scheme rules only members and associate members of the scheme are granted a licence to the Passenger Demand Forecasting Handbook.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of applicants seeking a licence renewal who do not have a digital signature.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) can reproduce a signature from a passport on a driving licence if a digital record of a signature is held by Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO).
The DVLA is unable to estimate the number of driving licence applicants for whom HMPO does not hold a digital signature.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of car insurance prices in the last 12 months.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The setting of motor insurance premiums is a commercial decision for individual insurers based on their underwriting experience. The government does not intervene or seek to control the market.
That said, analysis suggests that leaving the EU and removing the impacts of the Vnuk decision from UK law, is likely to have saved motorcar policyholders an increase of around £50 in their premiums.
The Government is determined that insurers should treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with representatives from car insurance providers on the potential impact of insurance premiums on the number of new drivers on the roads.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
My officials regularly liaise with representatives of the motor insurance industry and discuss issues as they arise. However, it is the responsibility of individual motor insurers to set their premiums and the terms and conditions of their policies, and the Government does not intervene or seek to control the market.
That said, analysis suggests that leaving the EU and removing the impacts of the Vnuk decision from UK law, is likely to have saved motorcar policyholders an increase of around £50 in their premiums.
The Government is determined that insurers should treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the transparency data entitled Train operating companies: Passenger’s Charter compensation, published on 25 August 2022, if he will publish data on (a) traditional and (b) delay repay passenger compensation paid by train operating companies in the 2022-23 financial year.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Figures on rail passenger compensation paid by train operating companies for 2022/23 are due to be published imminently.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential health and safety impact of ticket office closures on Northern Rail lines.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Under the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, when proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours (including closures) operators, such as Northern, are required, amongst other things, to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of passengers. We would also expect operators to consider equality related needs of passengers and make this clear in the notice sent to other operators and passenger groups.
Together with industry, we want to improve and modernise the passenger experience by moving staff out from ticket offices to provide more help and advice in customer focused roles. No currently staffed station will be unstaffed as a result of industry changes. Train operators will ensure staff are well located to meet passenger needs in future.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact on rail users of ticket office closures on Northern Rail lines.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Under the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, when proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours (including closures) operators, such as Northern, are required, amongst other things, to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of passengers. We would also expect operators to consider equality related needs of passengers and make this clear in the notice sent to other operators and passenger groups.
Together with industry, we want to improve and modernise the passenger experience by moving staff out from ticket offices to provide more help and advice in customer focused roles. No currently staffed station will be unstaffed as a result of industry changes. Train operators will ensure staff are well located to meet passenger needs in future.