Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data his Department holds on the number of passengers (a) embarking and (b) disembarking UK passenger cruise ports in each of the last five years.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The Department for Transport publishes monthly UK international cruise passenger movements by direction, as part of its annual sea passenger release. This information can be found at the following link in table SPAS0107, column H - Pleasure Cruises Sea passenger statistics: data tables (SPAS) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Numbers in the table represent the number of international cruise passengers in thousands.
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
Arrivals | 1,105 | 1,090 | 60 | 88 | 1,002 |
Departures | 1,103 | 1,082 | 46 | 94 | 992 |
Total | 2,208 | 2,171 | 107 | 181 | 1,994 |
The number of domestic cruise passengers can be found in table SPAS0201, Sea passenger statistics: data tables (SPAS) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed A66 expansion on (a) (i) health, (ii) safety and (iii) the environment at Brough Hill and (b) the cultural role of Brough Hill Fair for gypsy and traveller communities.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
National Highway’s application for a Development Consent Order for the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project is currently subject to a determination by the Secretary of State. Following a 6-month examination of the application, a recommendation report was submitted to the Secretary of State by the Planning Inspectorate on 7 August 2023. The statutory deadline for a decision is 7 November 2023. I can reassure you that careful consideration will be given to the recommendation and all matters raised on this application before a final decision is made. The reasons for any decision will be set out in the decision letter. However, as this is a live application I am unable to comment further.
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Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how often the Cruise Industry and Government Forum has met since its establishment.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The Cruise Industry and Government Forum (CIGF) was formed in 2022 to build on the collaborative relationship developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. It meets bi-annually at the beginning and end of the cruise season (spring and autumn). It has met three times since its formation, in October 2022, April 2023 and September 2023.
The strategic focus of the forum is set at how to enhance the UK's competitive advantage in the international cruise sector. This focus sees the CIGF discuss a range of topics including decarbonisation, skills, and security. There are currently no plans to publish conclusions from these discussions, as they form part of on-going interactions between government and the sector on policy development.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Cruise Industry and Government forums plans to publish conclusions from its discussions.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The Cruise Industry and Government Forum (CIGF) was formed in 2022 to build on the collaborative relationship developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. It meets bi-annually at the beginning and end of the cruise season (spring and autumn). It has met three times since its formation, in October 2022, April 2023 and September 2023.
The strategic focus of the forum is set at how to enhance the UK's competitive advantage in the international cruise sector. This focus sees the CIGF discuss a range of topics including decarbonisation, skills, and security. There are currently no plans to publish conclusions from these discussions, as they form part of on-going interactions between government and the sector on policy development.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made with the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the contribution of the sea going passenger cruise industry to the economy.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The Department fully recognises that the cruise sector brings significant economic benefits to the UK, particularly coastal communities. A Maritime UK study published in 2019 showed that in 2017 cruise directly and indirectly contributed £9.4 billion to the UK economy and supported 82,000 jobs.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to take steps to support Passenger Cruise Ships to increase embarkation, disembarkation and visits at UK ports.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Pre-pandemic cruising was one of the fastest growing tourism sectors worldwide and the industry is confident that cruise visits to the UK in 2023 will surpass the record levels seen in 2019.
In 2022, as the industry recovered from the pandemic, the Department set up the Cruise Industry and Government Forum to discuss longer-term strategic issues and priority areas, including the growth of the cruise market in the UK.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the demographic spread of people who use railway ticket offices.
Answered by Huw Merriman
When proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours, including closures, operators are required to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of all passengers; and to include this in the notice of the proposal sent to other operators and passenger groups.
We would also expect operators to consider other equality related needs and make this clear in the notice sent to other operators and passenger groups.
Together with the rail 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, and train operators will ensure staff are well located to meet passenger needs in future.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of closing ticket offices on older rail workers' ability to purchase tickets at privilege rates.
Answered by Huw Merriman
We recognise that not all rail staff privilege rates are consistently offered online or at ticket vending machines at this time. Industry is considering how to address this. However, as part of the proposals put forward by industry, some of the country’s busiest ticket offices will initially remain open to help passengers gradually get used to the changes they will see at stations around the country.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a facilities taskforce for HGV drivers.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The quality and availability of lorry parking and driver welfare facilities remain a priority for DfT and the wider Government.
The Department continues to engage with stakeholders including the freight industry associations, National Highways and local authorities to encourage the development of safer, more secure, high-quality lorry parking.
Existing groups including the Freight Council and regular working level industry engagement provide opportunities for industry input and discussion.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to commemorate the bicentenary of the Stockton and Darlington railway in 2025.
Answered by Huw Merriman
Network Rail is leading “Railway 200” – the railway industry’s exciting plan for a year-long series of coordinated national and international events, activities, and campaigns. The Department for Transport will be working closely with Network Rail and the Great British Railways Transition Team to champion this important initiative across Government.