Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding his Department has provided (a) for the provision of £2 single fares and (b) in total for bus services in each (i) local authority and (ii) parliamentary constituency since March 2020.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The Government is providing up to £135 million to help over 140 operators covering more than 5,000 routes in England outside London cap single fares at £2 from 1 January to 30 June. The majority of funding is paid to commercial operators, and the amount each individual operator receives is commercially sensitive. A small number of Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) have received funding for a particular type of service to participate in the scheme.
The Government has also provided over £2 billion in emergency and recovery funding to bus operators and all English LTAs outside London since March 2020. LTAs have been allocated around £282 million of this funding. Where LTAs have received allocations for the £2 fare cap or through emergency and recovery funding grants, they are free to publish information on their funding allocations. Funding to commercial operators is not currently recorded in a way that allows it to be easily reported by local authority or by parliamentary constituency.
The Department for Transport also provides around £250m every year through the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) to bus operators and LTAs help support services. £42 million of this funding is provided to LTAs and details on yearly allocations can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bus-service-operators-grant-payments-to-local-authorities-from-2013-onwards.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take further steps to support hydrogen combustion engine technology.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Hydrogen combustion engines offer the potential to decarbonise part of the transport sectors where battery electric is not t a viable solution. The Government has recently supported JCB, for example, to test new hydrogen combustion machinery on the public highway, as well as supported research into the liquid hydrogen combustion for aviation engines.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to (a) complete e-scooter trials and (b) publish the report on the outcomes of e-scooter trials.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The current e-scooter trials, which are live in 25 areas across England, have been extended from November 2022 to 31 May 2024.
The Department published the findings report of the national evaluation of e-scooter rental trials in England on 15 December 2022.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to undertake a review of the restrictions on (a) access to the rail network and (b) the ability to stop at specific stations applicable to open access train operators.
Answered by Huw Merriman
Access to the rail network is a matter for the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) in its role as independent regulator for the rail industry. The ORR will continue to play a central role in ensuring industry processes and applications for track access are treated fairly and transparently going forward. The ORR’s role includes approving access contracts and access appeals in relation to open access operators. The ORR works with Network Rail to assess suitability of proposed station stops, and decisions are made on the basis of available capacity. The Government remains committed to exploring the scope for open access where spare capacity exists to make best use of the network and grow new markets for rail.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent consideration he has given to progressing the Darlington Northern Link Rd plan.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
National Highways and Tees Valley Combined Authority have worked closely on developing proposals for a Darlington Northern Link Road, connecting the A66 and Junction 59 of the A1. The work to date will form part of the wider body of evidence informing the Investment Plan for the third Road Investment Strategy or future road periods beyond 2025.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she will take to support bus companies in Darlington with recruitment and retention of bus drivers.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
The Department for Transport engages with bus and coach operators, and the Confederation of Passenger Transport regularly on many issues, including driver shortages. We have increased the capacity of vocational driving tests, including through the recruitment of additional driving examiners. These measures will make it easier for operators to recruit and train bus and coach drivers up and down the country, including in Darlington.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what additional support her Department will provide to bus services in Darlington.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
The Government has provided almost £2bn in emergency and recovery funding since March 2020 to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on bus services, alongside routine funding to the sector. Funding for Bus Services in Darlington is provided to the Tees Valley Combined Authority, as well as directly to commercial operators. Since March 2020 Tees Valley Combined Authority has received additional bus emergency and recovery funding totalling £350,088. Tees Valley Combined Authority will also receive £310m as part of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements.
The Department is considering what, if any, additional support may be required from April 2023.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the adequate provision of roadside facilities for hauliers in the North East of England.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring hauliers have access to appropriate services and facilities.
That is why we are investing £52.5 million in roadside facilities in England for HGV drivers on the road. The funding will go towards supporting operators to make improvements such as improving security, sanitary and eating facilities as well as possibly increasing parking spaces for lorry drivers.
We have commissioned a ‘National Survey of Lorry Parking’ which commenced in January 2022 and will be used as our primary evidence base to understand what improvements are most needed and where they are needed. The North East of England is included in this survey and its output will be used to set criteria for government funding. In addition, once published, the Survey will be available to support planning applications for new lorry parking.
The Department continues to engage with key stakeholders to encourage the development of more safe, secure, and high-quality lorry parking to improve driver welfare.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing compulsory insurance and DVLA registration for (a) off road bikes and (b) 4x4s to help tackle anti-social behaviour; and what discussions she has had with the Home Secretary to develop a national strategy on this matter.
Answered by Katherine Fletcher
The Government keeps compulsory insurance and registration requirements and the vehicles that are covered under review. Currently there are no plans to introduce a change to require compulsory insurance and registration for these vehicles.
Whilst there have been no discussions with the Home Secretary to develop a national strategy on this matter, DfT and Home Office officials are in regular discussion on tackling anti-social behaviour on our roads.
The police do have powers under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Police Reform Act 2002 to seize vehicles being used illegally without a valid driving licence or insurance or in an anti-social manner respectively. Decisions on when to use these powers are operational matters for Chief Constables in conjunction with local policing plans. They are best placed to understand how to meet the needs of local communities.