Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West and Pudsey)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost of subsidies and financial incentives provided from the public purse has been by scheme for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in each of the last five financial years.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The cost of the plug-in vehicle grants* covering the period from 2013/14 to 2017/18 is set out in the table below:
| 2013/14 | 2014/15 | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | Total |
Cost (£) | 21,187,337 | 94,359,000 | 226,087,000 | 95,602,000 | 165,519,278 | 602,754,615 |
Vehicles supported | 5,146 | 22,838 | 39,196 | 30,621 | 51,500 | 149,301 |
The Government incentivises the purchase of electric vehicles with a grant for consumers to offset the cost of this technology, this approach provides both environmental and industrial benefits. In March 2016, the Plug-in Car Grant was reduced from £5,000 to £4,500 for eligible electric and fuel cell electric vehicles and from £5,000 to £2,500 for qualifying plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The changes in grant level led to a short term increase in take-up prior to the new rates being implemented, particularly for plug in hybrids.
*includes Plug-in car, van, motorcycle and taxi grants
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West and Pudsey)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with local authorities on the provision of funding in revenue support grants for infrastructure to support electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Government officials regularly engage with local authorities in relation to support for electric vehicle infrastructure provision. Through the Government’s On-Street Residential Charging Scheme, grant funding is made available (75% capital costs, up to £7,500 per chargepoint). The Energy Savings Trust are funded by the Government to administer the scheme, providing bespoke resource to support local authorities in developing charging infrastructure plans.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West and Pudsey)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral contribution of 29 November 2017, Official Report, column.350, when he plans to meet the hon. Member for Leeds West to discuss the frequency of train services at Kirkstall Forge station in Leeds.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
As the Minister for Rail, such meetings are my responsibility and I am always happy to meet with my honourable colleague; my office will be in touch to arrange a suitable date.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West and Pudsey)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Long Term Economic Plan for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, published in February 2015, what progress has been made on assessing the case for providing the required infrastructure for new East Coast InterCity Express trains to run at 140 mph.
Answered by Claire Perry
The complex infrastructure requirements for 140mph operation on the East Coast Main Line are being assessed by Virgin Trains East Coast and the wider rail industry as a potential scheme for the longer term. Nicola Shaw’s recent report promoted greater private sector financing for railway enhancements and my Department will be interested to see these proposals from the industry in due course.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West and Pudsey)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress has been made on selecting a route for high speed rail across the Pennines.
Answered by Andrew Jones
In the recent 2016 Northern Transport Strategy Spring Update, Transport for the North published some of the emerging options for Northern Powerhouse Rail, including new lines and major upgrades across the Pennines.
By the end of the year, Transport for the North and the Department for Transport will have established a more detailed view of the potential route options for Northern Powerhouse Rail, their capabilities, and their costs and benefits, providing the evidence base for prioritising route options.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West and Pudsey)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department has invested in transport in Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire since 5 February 2015.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Information on transport spend in Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire is not available for this period. The latest data from HM Treasury’s Country and Regional Analysis identifies Department for Transport investment of £898 million in Yorkshire and the Humber (which covers the same area) in 2014/15.
Over the period from 5 February 2015, Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire has benefitted from significant investment in transport schemes, for example £16.4m to support the Leeds Inner Ring Road essential maintenance scheme, £10.3m for the Leeds Rail Growth scheme for two new stations at Apperley Bridge (now open) and Kirkstall Forge (due to open in June), £10.3m for the Leeds Station Southern Access Scheme, and £18.1m from the Cycle City Ambition scheme to deliver a cycling ‘super highway between Leeds to Bradford (due for completion May 2016).
This month the Department for Transport informed Leeds Council that it was accepting the independent Planning Inspector’s decision, which said the Leeds Trolleybus system promoted by the council is not suitable for development, and not providing consent for their Trolleybus scheme to go ahead. We have however agreed in this instance that £173 million of DfT funding will be retained so the right public transport scheme in Leeds can be developed as quickly as possible.