Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of chicane barriers on the accessibility of (a) footpaths and (b) cycle routes.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The impact of chicane barriers on the accessibility of footpaths and cycle routes was assessed as part of updating Cycle Infrastructure Design Guidance in 2020 and Inclusive Mobility Guidance in 2021. These documents set out good practice on the design of access barriers. Active Travel England’s design toolkits include specific tests on the acceptability of barriers on new or upgraded routes.
Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on establishing the Great British Railways headquarters in Derby.
Answered by Huw Merriman
Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) are currently working with a specialist property agent to identify a suitable location to house GBR’s HQ. GBRTT have collaborated closely with Derby-based partners including the City Council to create a shared vision for the HQ which includes creating value for customers and supporting local communities in and around the city. On 15 April, GBRTT opened its second office in Derby to host innovation, collaboration, and engagement sessions with partners in the rail industry. The office will serve to establish a footprint in Derby before the launch of GBR.
Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the value for money it has achieved by investing in (a) all active travel schemes and (b) cycling schemes.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Value for money is one of several factors the Department considers when evaluating the effect of its investments. Investment in active travel schemes typically delivers high value for money.
Increased rates of active travel can deliver mental and physical health benefits, improvements to the quality of journeys made, and benefits associated with mode shift from motor vehicles, such as improved air quality and reduced congestion. Investment in active travel schemes also supports the government’s decarbonisation strategy by increasing the number of trips made using carbon neutral modes.
The average benefit-cost ratio, weighted by scheme cost, for Active Travel Fund 4 estimated that for every £1 of investment in active travel infrastructure schemes, there would be a return £2.40 of economic, social, and environmental benefits.
Behaviour change interventions funded by the Department have been estimated by our delivery partners to have a benefit cost ratio of 2.5 in 2021/22 for the Big Bike Revival and 5.5 in 2022/23 for Walk to School Outreach programmes.
Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Statement of 9 March 2023, HCWS625, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reducing the active travel budget for the remainder of the Parliament from £308 million to £100 million on his Department meeting its active travel goals.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department projects that around £3 billion will be invested in active travel over the five years to 2025, from a wide range of different funding streams, more than any previous Government has invested. The Government’s most recent assessment of progress towards meeting its active travel goals was set out in the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy report to Parliament in July 2022, a copy of which is available in the House Libraries. The Department will provide an updated assessment in its next report to Parliament in due course.
Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many votes each of the six shortlisted locations for the new national headquarters for Great British Railways received in the public vote conducted between 5 July and 15 August 2022.
Answered by Huw Merriman
We will announce the chosen location for the Great British Railways Headquarters (GBR HQ) before Easter. A number of factors are being considered, including the result of the public vote. The number of votes cast for each location will be made public when we announce the winner.
Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government provides financial support for the maintenance of the roads surrounding the Cluster Houses World Heritage Site in Belper.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
During the period 2022/23 to 2024/25 the Government is providing over £23.6 million to Derbyshire County Council towards the maintenance of the local public road network in their area including Belper. It is up to Derbyshire how best to spend this funding to fulfil their statutory duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980. The Department encourages good practice in highway maintenance through channels such as the Well Managed Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice produced by the UK Roads Leadership Group (UKRLG).