Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December to Question 117877, what assessment he has made of the effect on air quality of using bi-mode trains on the Midland Mainline on the basis that the line beyond Kettering will not be electrified.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
We are committed to improving journeys for passengers on the Midland Main Line, which is why we are delivering biggest upgrade of the route since it was completed in 1870. The upgrade will enable increased passenger capacity and reduced journey times, and will see modern trains introduced across the route, including a fleet of brand new bi-mode intercity trains from 2022. The Government has made this decision to deliver benefits for intercity passengers sooner than would otherwise be possible.
In addition to greenhouse gas emissions, the appraisal of the effect of using bi-modes considered the monetary valuation of changes in NOx emissions. The results of this appraisal show that compared to the do-minimum scenario, which was continued diesel operation with the existing fleet for 10 years and then the introduction of bi-modes in 2030/31, introducing bi-modes earlier to replace diesels delivers £6m of NOx emission savings over the 60-year appraisal period, whilst fully electric trains would have delivered £20m of monetised NOx savings over the same period.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2017 to Question 110602, what assessment he has made of the environmental effect of using bi-mode trains on the Midland Mainline on the basis that the line beyond Kettering will not be electrified.
Answered by Paul Maynard
We are committed to improving journeys for passengers on the Midland Main Line, which is why we are delivering biggest upgrade of the route since it was completed in 1870. The upgrade will enable increased passenger capacity and reduced journey times, and will see modern trains introduced across the route, including a fleet of brand new bi-mode intercity trains from 2022. The Government has made this decision to deliver benefits for intercity passengers sooner than would otherwise be possible.
In line with the Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) processes for appraising transport investments, an economic appraisal including the environmental impacts has been carried out, using the DfT’s Transport Analysis Guidance and incorporating DEFRA guidance on transport related environmental impacts. The results of the appraisal show that compared to the do-minimum scenario, which was continued diesel operation with the existing fleet for 10 years and then the introduction of bi-modes in 2030/31, introducing bi-modes straightaway to replace diesels delivers £11m of greenhouse gas emission savings over the 60-year appraisal period, whilst fully electric trains would have delivered £271m of greenhouse gas savings over the same period.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2017 to Question 110602, on Midland Main Railway Line: Electrification, how the estimate of the environmental benefits included in Table 8 – 5 were calculated.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The estimates of the environmental benefits included in Table 8-5 were calculated in accordance with the Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) processes for appraising transport investments. The economic appraisal, including the environmental impacts reported in Table 8-5, was carried out using the DfT’s Transport Analysis Guidance, where environmental benefits (including noise, local air quality, and greenhouse gasses) are monetised and assessed over a 60 year appraisal period.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2017 to Question 108734, if he will publish his Department's analysis of the environmental benefits of the electrification of the Midland Mainline.
Answered by Paul Maynard
In 2016 Atkins, on behalf of the Department for Transport, undertook analysis on the business case for electrification and other route enhancements of the Midland Main Line route from Bedford north to Corby, Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield. This document has previously been released following Freedom of Information requests, and a copy of this has been placed in the library of both Houses. We are happy to publish this document on the .gov.uk website. The analysis of environmental benefits can be found in chapter 8, with further detail in the appendices.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the environmental effect of scrapping the electrification of the Midland Mainline.
Answered by Paul Maynard
Passengers expect high quality rail services and we are committed to electrification where it delivers passenger benefits and value for money for the taxpayer, but we will also take advantage of state of the art new technology to improve journeys.
In line with the Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) processes for appraising transport investments, an economic appraisal including the environmental impacts has been carried out, using the DfT’s Transport Analysis Guidance and incorporating DEFRA guidance on transport related environmental impacts.
Using this methodology, environmental benefits (including noise, local air quality, and greenhouse gasses) are assessed over a 60 year appraisal period.CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre on Great Britain’s railways are now at a record low and have fallen by nearly 29% since 2005/06. We expect the new bi-mode trains to deliver a better environmental performance than the existing diesel trains on the Midland Mainline and therefore contribute to further improving this record.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the implications of the 2050 Pathways document conclusions on his Department's policy on reducing road traffic.
Answered by John Hayes
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Transport have been working closely with wider departments on the preparation of the emissions reduction plan which will set out how we can reduce carbon emissions through the 2020s.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the public consultation on local authority Best Practice Guidance for Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles will be published.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department for Transport is currently reviewing the Best Practice Guidance on taxi and private hire vehicle licensing. Following Royal Assent to the Policing and Crime Act earlier this year the Department for Transport will for the first time issue Statutory Guidance, this will include specific advice on practical measures to reduce the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse of children and vulnerable adults when using these services.
Both parts of the guidance will be consulted on shortly.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 February 2017 to Question 64552, what discussions his Department had with the Department for Exiting the European Union on the drafting of the White Paper entitled The United Kingdom's exit from and new partnership with the European Union, Cm 9417, published in February 2017.
Answered by Andrew Jones
I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 28 February 2017, to Question UIN 64552.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Department for Exiting the European Union on the contents of the White Paper entitled The United Kingdom's exit from and new partnership with the European Union, Cm 9417, published in February 2017.
Answered by Andrew Jones
We, and other Departments, are working closely with the Department for Exiting the European Union on all aspects of exiting the European Union.