Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department offers to seafarers' stranded vessels as a result of their employer's liquidation; and what steps he is taking to reduce incidences of ships being detained in UK ports due to financing problems.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) undertakes Port State Control inspections on foreign-flag ships when in UK waters. This includes enforcing the requirements of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 which covers payment of seafarers’ wages and repatriation. In the case of failure of the shipowner or the flag-State of the ship to undertake their responsibility, the MCA may assist in the repatriation of seafarers to their home country, when requested by the seafarer if they have become stranded due to liquidation of the shipping company.
The Government cannot intervene in the financial position of shipowners and has no control of the financial situation of ships visiting UK ports.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the recently published Civil Aviation Authority statistics on incidence of smoke or fumes in aeroplane cabins.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
No such assessments have been made. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) monitors the frequency and severity of such smoke or fume events through the Mandatory Occurrence Reporting Scheme (MORS). Its objectives are to ensure that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is advised of any hazardous, or potentially hazardous, incidents and defects (occurrences), and that appropriate action is taken.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will reduce rail fares in line with current levels of inflation.
Answered by Claire Perry
We know that passengers are concerned about the cost of fares. That is why we have capped regulated fares at the level of the Retail Price Index (RPI) for two years running, and will continue to do so for the life of this parliament. It is also why over the past two years we have reduced the level of non-cumulative ‘flex’, by which operators could in each year increase individual regulated fares above the permitted average, from the 5% introduced by Labour to 2% in 2014 and 0% in 2015, and will continue this 0% policy to stop operators increasing individual fares above the now permitted average level of RPI for the life of this parliament. The fares rise for January 2016 will be based on July 2015’s RPI. The cost to the Government of capping regulated rail fares at RPI+0% for the next five years is estimated to be around £700m (in nominal prices).
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost to the public purse will be of keeping rail fare rises below the level of inflation until the end of this Parliament.
Answered by Claire Perry
We know that passengers are concerned about the cost of fares. That is why we have capped regulated fares at the level of the Retail Price Index (RPI) for two years running, and will continue to do so for the life of this parliament. It is also why over the past two years we have reduced the level of non-cumulative ‘flex’, by which operators could in each year increase individual regulated fares above the permitted average, from the 5% introduced by Labour to 2% in 2014 and 0% in 2015, and will continue this 0% policy to stop operators increasing individual fares above the now permitted average level of RPI for the life of this parliament. The fares rise for January 2016 will be based on July 2015’s RPI. The cost to the Government of capping regulated rail fares at RPI+0% for the next five years is estimated to be around £700m (in nominal prices).
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which policies contained in the 2010 Coalition Agreement and falling under his Department's responsibilities have not yet been implemented; and what the reasons are for each such policy's non-implementation.
Answered by Claire Perry
The vast majority of the policies within the 2010 Coalition Agreement and falling under the Department for Transport's responsibilities have either been implemented or will be implemented within the duration of the current Government.
One policy – to grant longer rail franchises – has been subject to a change already agreed and announced by Ministers. In June 2013 the Government published its response to the Brown Review of the Rail Franchising Programme, accepting the Review’s recommendation that the basis for future franchises would be to assume a 7 – 10 year length, adapted to fit the best needs of each franchise.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish evidence held by his Department supporting the conclusion that passengers on Great Western services do not wish to have buffet cars on the new Intercity Express Programme trains.
Answered by Claire Perry
The catering provision in the Great Western Inter City Express fleet reflects the preferences of the operator who are closest to their passengers’ priorities. It is a matter for First Great Western whether they wish to release the information supporting the decision.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to sign off the Great Western direct award.
Answered by Claire Perry
We currently expect to conclude negotiations with First Great Western, and finalise the second Directly Awarded franchise contract during March 2015, for the provision of services from September 2015.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what total amount his Department has spent on consultant fees for the Great Western direct award to date.
Answered by Claire Perry
The total amount the Department has spent on consultancy fees for the Great Western Direct Award (DA) from November 2012 to date (January 2015) is approximately £1.6m. This amount is inclusive of VAT.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what total amount his Department has spent on consultant fees relating to the Intercity Express Programme to date.
Answered by Claire Perry
From 2005 to October 2009, £21m was spent. Since then further spend has been incurred taking the total as at February 2015 to £46m.