Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of closing train station ticket offices in Leeds East on the (a) safety and (b) accessibility of passenger rail travel in Yorkshire.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
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 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: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to protect staff (a) employed by Northern Trains and (b) employed at Leeds City Station from contracting covid-19 during the course of their employment.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Comprehensive guidance has been issued and updated throughout the pandemic. Our priority is the safety of staff and passengers and our operators remain committed to ensuring their stations are safe for everyone.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what enhancements have been made to cleaning regimes at (a) Leeds City Station and (b) all Northern Trains stations in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Northern Trains Ltd (NTL) has received and confirms that it has followed Rail Delivery Group guidelines on the cleaning of its stations and has carried out a robust cleaning schedule since the outbreak.
In addition to routine cleaning regimes, NTL’s process is that all stations are treated at least once per week with a long-lasting broad spectrum; anti-bacterial; anti-viral, anti-fungal; and anti-algal cleaning product either by static cleaning staff or by mobile teams.
Once applied (by aerosol or by direct application) it bonds to surfaces and delivers persistent protection, even after regular washing and cleaning. The protective layer or “invisible shield” attracts and kills organisms mechanically, removing the risk of cross contamination, resistance or mutation.
The teams target high-touch areas like ticket vending machines. NTL has also worked with its services contractor, ISS, to recruit and train additional staff and provide additional transportation to facilitate this heightened cleaning regime
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the provisions of the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 and Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, what steps he is taking to consult on matters relating to covid-19 with safety representatives at (a) Leeds City Station and (b) all Northern Trains stations.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Engaging on health and safety matters at Leeds station is the responsibility of employers and service providers amongst others on the site as well as the station operator, Network Rail. Northern Trains Ltd has similar responsibilities as employer and operator of its own managed stations.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the number of Northern Trains staff employed at the Leeds City Station travel shop who have tested positive for covid-19.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department does not hold specific information on rail operator employees.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the highest hourly rate was that (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's arms-length bodies paid for legal advice in 2018.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department consists of the central Department and four executive Agencies as follows:
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)
The highest hourly rate that the Department paid for legal advice in 2018 is £640.00.
The highest hour rate that each of the Department’s arms-length bodies paid for legal advice in 2018 as follows:
Highways England | £360.00 |
Transport Focus | £350.00 |
British Transport Police Authority | £400.00 |
Northern Lighthouse Board | £250.00 |
Trinity House Lighthouse Service | £400.00 |
High Speed 2 Ltd | £446.74 |
Network Rail | £690.00 |