Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans there are for an air transport agreement which seeks to maintain reciprocal liberalised aviation access between and within the territory of the UK and the EU alongside UK participation in EASA.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The UK and EU have agreed a Political Declaration on the broad terms of the UK’s future relationship with the EU. It signals the ambition of both sides to agree a Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA) that will provide for market access for UK and EU airlines, as well arrangements on ownership and control. It will also include provisions to facilitate cooperation on aviation safety, including the possibility of participation in the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2018 to Question 178358 on London-Brighton Railway Line: Fares, what progress his Department has made on simplifying the fare structure for rail services on the Brighton main line.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department remains committed to developing and considering options to simplify the Brighton Main Line fares structure, and work is ongoing.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will exempt Southern and Thameslink passengers affected by the disruption caused by the May 2018 timetable changes from the 3.1 per cent fare increase due in January 2019.
Answered by Andrew Jones
It is absolutely right that passengers are compensated for the disruption they have suffered. We have worked with GTR to establish a special compensation scheme, funded by industry, which is now being delivered. Over £15 million has been paid out so far to over 60,000 passengers. This is in addition to the normal delay repay scheme which, on GTR, compensates passengers for any delay of 15 minutes or more. This compensation provides the equivalent of up to 8% of the cost of an annual season ticket for those most severely impacted.
This compensation is more effective and targeted than a blanket 3.1% fares freeze, and benefits passengers more. This scheme means, for example, that a commuter from St Albans buying a monthly season ticket will have received around £350 in compensation, rather than saving around £120 on the cost of their season ticket.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure effective policies are in place to assist disabled passengers during episodes of disruption to train services.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
As a condition of their operating licence all train operators must have a Disabled People’s Protection Policy (DPPP). Within the DPPP, train operators are required to provide details of relevant policies and operational arrangements to ensure that during disruptions disabled passengers can continue their journeys and are not left stranded.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is responsible for the monitoring and enforcement of the DPPP requirements, and have the powers to take enforcement action where there are breaches of licence conditions.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason his Department has taken the decision to reduce the plug-in car grants for electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Plug-in Car Grant was first introduced in 2011 to help to stimulate the early market for ultra-low emission vehicles. So far, it has supported the purchase of over 160,000 new cars. The market share of these vehicles is now 2-2.5% of new car sales and growing.
Increased uptake of the grant, whilst positive, brings higher costs to the taxpayer, and the changes to the grant reflect the Government’s commitment in the Road to Zero strategy to deliver a managed exit from grant funding over time. Their effect is to allow the grant to support the purchase of 35,000 more of the cleanest vehicles.
With plug-in hybrid models becoming popular among consumers the Government is focussing its attention on zero emission models. Plug-in hybrid vehicles are among the cleanest on the road, and can deliver significant savings compared to petrol/diesel cars. These vehicles will continue to receive support through lower car tax rates, grants for charging infrastructure and local incentives (such as free parking). The Government has also separately extended its support for electric vehicles with a new scheme to support e-cargo bikes.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason his Department has taken the decision to abolish the grant scheme for new plug-in hybrid cars.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Plug-in Car Grant was first introduced in 2011 to help to stimulate the early market for ultra-low emission vehicles. So far, it has supported the purchase of over 160,000 new cars. The market share of these vehicles is now 2-2.5% of new car sales and growing.
Increased uptake of the grant, whilst positive, brings higher costs to the taxpayer, and the changes to the grant reflect the Government’s commitment in the Road to Zero strategy to deliver a managed exit from grant funding over time. Their effect is to allow the grant to support the purchase of 35,000 more of the cleanest vehicles.
With plug-in hybrid models becoming popular among consumers the Government is focussing its attention on zero emission models. Plug-in hybrid vehicles are among the cleanest on the road, and can deliver significant savings compared to petrol/diesel cars. These vehicles will continue to receive support through lower car tax rates, grants for charging infrastructure and local incentives (such as free parking). The Government has also separately extended its support for electric vehicles with a new scheme to support e-cargo bikes.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2018 to Question 178358 on the London to Brighton Railway line, what the timetable is for a decision on the options his Department is considering to simplify the Brighton mainline fare structure.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Department cannot set a timetable at this time. Our work must take into account both the options for the specification of the successor to the TSGN franchise and its broader fares policy, with the Rail Review charged with recommending the most appropriate organisational and commercial frameworks to be able to offer good value fares for passengers.
Simplification of fares on the Brighton Main Line, where historic competition has created a particularly complex fares structure, remains a key priority.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on simplifying the fare structure for rail services on the Brighton main line.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Department is keen to ensure that passengers can access the fares that are most appropriate for their needs. The Department remains committed to developing and considering options to simplify the Brighton Main Line fares structure, and this work is ongoing.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the results of his Department's work on simplifying the fare structure for rail services on the Brighton main line.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Department is keen to ensure that passengers can access the fares that are most appropriate for their needs. The Department remains committed to developing and considering options to simplify the Brighton Main Line fares structure, and this work is ongoing.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to assess whether (a) GTR and (b) Northern met their contractual obligations in the planning and implementation of the timetable change.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Work has commenced by officials to assess whether either franchise has been in breach of its contractual obligations as a result of the May 2018 timetable change.