Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for the British Transport Police.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The British Transport Police’s (BTP) budget is set by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). It is the executive non-departmental public body that oversees the Force and is their employer. BTPA sets the BTP’s budget annually following proposals from the Force and views from industry. Set against a backdrop of wider public sector efficiencies and affordability by the rail industry it has agreed a budget increase for the financial year 2025/26 of 5.9%. BTP work closely with BTPA and industry operators to make final resourcing decisions with their agreed budget.
The cost of policing the rail network in Great Britain is primarily covered through the funding agreements that the British Transport Police Authority holds with Network Rail, the rail operators and Transport for London.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has for future funding arrangements for the British Transport Police (a) during and (b) after the transition to Great British Railways.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The British Transport Police’s (BTP) budget is set currently set by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). It is the executive non-departmental public body that oversees the Force and is their employer. BTPA sets the BTP’s budget annually following proposals from the Force and views from industry.
We anticipate that the level of funding for the BTP during the transition to and commencement of Great British Railways will similarly balance the needs of the industry and the force against public sector affordability.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will list the vessels certified by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for DFDS’s roll-on roll-off ferry services to Jersey from (a) Poole and (b) Portsmouth.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency currently do not certify any vessels operated by DFDS on services to Jersey from Poole or Portsmouth.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency are currently working with DFDS in relation to vessels taking up operations from these ports later in March 2025 and April 2025.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with harbour authorities in (a) Poole and (b) Portsmouth on the application of the Seafarers Wages Regulations 2024 on ferry services scheduled to operate from these ports in 2025.
Answered by Mike Kane
Department for Transport officials engaged with all harbour authorities with services in scope of the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 and Regulations 2024 to explain how the legislation applies, ahead of it coming into force. This included Poole and Portsmouth.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with trade unions on seafarer jobs providing DFDS services to Jersey from (a) Poole and (b) Portsmouth.
Answered by Mike Kane
Ministers and officials meet regularly with the trade unions to discuss seafarers. The issue of seafarer jobs on the new DFDS services to Jersey has not been raised.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps she has taken to help end discrimination against disabled people when travelling abroad.
Answered by Mike Kane
Discrimination on transport is not acceptable, and this Government is committed to making its UK transport network safe and easy to use, allowing disabled passengers to travel confidently and with dignity.
On travel abroad, the Government works through international bodies, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), to promote accessibility standards for air and sea travel.
The UK also fully supports and encourages alignment with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which includes provisions on accessible transport. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides travel advice for UK travellers overseas, and British Embassies and Consulates can offer support and advocacy.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that disabled travellers are not discriminated against when using (a) aircraft, (b) trains and (c) ferries and cruise ships.
Answered by Mike Kane
Discrimination on transport is not acceptable, and this Government is committed to making our transport networks safe and easy to use, allowing disabled passengers to travel confidently and with dignity.
Aviation must be accessible; everyone should be able to fly with dignity and ease. There is specific legislation that prevents discrimination against disabled passengers in air travel, which is enforced by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the UK’s aviation regulator.
The Department launched the Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group in November that is led by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, bringing together industry and consumer representatives to develop practical and achievable actions to improve aviation accessibility.
Similarly accessibility for all rail passengers is at the heart of our passenger-focused approach. Train and station operators are required by their operating licences to establish and comply with an Accessible Travel Policy (ATP) which must be approved by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). An ATP sets out, amongst other things, the arrangements and assistance that an operator will provide to protect the interests of disabled people using its services and to facilitate such use.
Accessible travel also extends to the seas, including crucial lifeline ferry services. Maritime officials and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) work together to understand passenger needs, through initiatives including the annual passenger surveys. As the designated regulatory National Enforcement Body, the MCA has powers to enforce compliance with the accessibility standards.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles plans to publish guidance on the options for the charging of electric vehicles.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government regularly publishes guidance for local authorities, industry and other key stakeholders on different aspects of electric vehicle (EV) charging, including the recent guidance on ‘cross-pavement solutions for charging electric vehicles’ and an online EV infrastructure ‘Knowledge Repository’ containing expert advice on all aspects of chargepoint delivery.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to encourage people to buy electric vehicles.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government offers several incentives to encourage people to buy electric vehicles. £120m of new funding was announced at the Autumn Budget to support the purchase of zero emission vans and wheelchair accessible vehicles through the Plug-in Vehicle Grants next financial year. Grants will also continue to incentivise the purchase of zero emission motorcycles, taxis, and trucks until at least the end of the 2024/25 financial year.
There are also several tax measures designed to encourage the adoption of zero emission vehicles. They are exempt from paying Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) until April 2025, after which they will pay the lowest first year rates of VED at £10. Favourable Company Car Tax rates have also been set out to 2030 and will continue to strongly incentivise electric vehicle uptake.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which authority is responsible for the recovery and disposal of boats that have sunk or are stranded near the shoreline when they do not present a navigation hazard.
Answered by Mike Kane
In the case of sunk or stranded vessels, the owner of that vessel is responsible for carrying out any actions required to mitigate environmental consequences under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. This may be carried out in conjunction with an insurance company.
Sunk vessels that are not hazards to navigation may be assessed for their potential environmental impact by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Secretary of State's Representative for Maritime Intervention and Salvage (SOSREP).
Where vessels are stranded near the shoreline, the responsibility for the removal of the vessel still sits with the owner. In some cases, it is not possible to trace an owner for stranded vessels on the shoreline. In these cases, the responsibility for remediation may fall to the landowner. The landowner may choose to instigate legal action against the vessel's owner where possible. Regulations such as the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (England and Wales) may apply. In such cases, the vessel could also be salvaged voluntarily, by any person, to prevent further damage and in return for a salvage fee from the owner, or insurer.