Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
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 - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
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 (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
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 - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
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 (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
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
Figures on rail passenger compensation paid by train operating companies for 2022/23 are due to be published imminently.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
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
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 (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
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
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 (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of closing train station ticket offices in Weaver Vale on the (a) safety and (b) accessibility of passenger rail travel in the North West.
Answered by Huw Merriman
Under the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, when proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours (including closures) operators 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 (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the (a) Benefit-Cost Ratio and (b) value for money of the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
National Highways is developing the Full Business Case for the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project, which will confirm the Benefit-Cost Ratio and Value for Money assessment. Once complete, this will be assessed, and any decision is contingent on the final planning decision.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which schemes within the third Road Investment Strategy rated as poor value for money according to the Government Benefit-Cost Ratio are still being progressed.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Decisions on which schemes are to be progressed in the third road investment strategy will be made later in the RIS setting process, once the level of funding for RIS3 is known.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July 2023 to Question 191486 on A66: Repairs and Maintenance, what updates he has received from officials in his Department on the progress of this scheme against National Highways' delivery plan for (a) timeline and (b) budget.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
National Highways officials and DfT officials keep Ministers updated on delivery of the roads portfolio.
Key project milestones are detailed in National Highways Delivery Plan, available here: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/media/nu1jnm4l/delivery-plan-2022-23-july-8.pdf
The Department does not hold any such data in relation to early warning notices.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July 2023 to Question 191485, what data his Department holds on early warning notices relating to the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine scheme.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
National Highways officials and DfT officials keep Ministers updated on delivery of the roads portfolio.
Key project milestones are detailed in National Highways Delivery Plan, available here: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/media/nu1jnm4l/delivery-plan-2022-23-july-8.pdf
The Department does not hold any such data in relation to early warning notices.