Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent cost-benefit analysis has been undertaken of the options for improvements or realignment of the A1 in Bedfordshire.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The first Road Investment Strategy (RIS), published in 2014, committed to examining the case for improvements to the A1 between the M25 and Peterborough. Following an initial study of the whole stretch, work focused on the sections between junctions 10 (Stotfold) and 14 (Alconbury), where the challenges on the route are most acute.
The findings have shown that improvements, including some new alignment, would offer poor value for money. However, as recognised in the second RIS, published in March 2020, substantial plans for future local growth could change that assessment. Therefore, we expect there will be opportunities to re-examine the case for potential improvements along this section, particularly as proposals for the Oxford to Cambridge Arc, including East West Rail, develop.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on the number of journeys on the A1 in Bedfordshire of the opening of the East West Rail line.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The first Road Investment Strategy (RIS), published in 2014, committed to examining the case for improvements to the A1 between the M25 and Peterborough. Following an initial study of the whole stretch, work focused on the sections between junctions 10 (Stotfold) and 14 (Alconbury), where the challenges on the route are most acute.
The findings have shown that improvements, including some new alignment, would offer poor value for money. However, as recognised in the second RIS, published in March 2020, substantial plans for future local growth could change that assessment. Therefore, we expect there will be opportunities to re-examine the case for potential improvements along this section, particularly as proposals for the Oxford to Cambridge Arc, including East West Rail, develop.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to (a) increase flexible season ticketing options and (b) increase the cost effectiveness of travel for rail users who are required to travel but with less frequency as a result of the covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a fundamental change in working patterns and that this could have long-term effects on commuter behaviour. As we move from lockdown to recovery, it is important that we get the balance right in the short and medium term between managing demand and ensuring that we provide better value for money for passengers going forward. The Department is working with industry to explore already available options for flexible commuters, such as carnets, and what steps could be taken quickly to make these as useful and convenient for passengers as possible.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's announcement entitled, £2 billion package to create new era for cycling and walking, published on 9 May 2020, when he plans to publish the (a) criteria for eligibility and (b) date of commencement of the cycle repair voucher scheme.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
On 23rd May the Secretary of State announced £25 million of funding to provide up to £50 to members of the public wanting to get their old cycles roadworthy again.
The Government is working with representatives from the cycle industry to design a scheme that can support up to half a million cyclists over the age of 18, including those using adapted cycles, who want to get their old bikes back in working order.
We are also working to enable and encourage as many competent mechanics to participate as possible, to ensure there is sufficient repair capacity and so that independent shops can benefit from the scheme.
We aim for the scheme to launch for members of the public by the end of June, and we will release eligibility criteria for customers at this time. In advance of this we will be opening the scheme to bike shops and mechanics to register and will provide further information on participation at this point.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide details of the accessibility criteria for stations on the National Rail Accessibility Map; and whether he has plans to update those criteria in each of the next 12 months.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Rail Delivery Group are responsible for collecting and publishing accessibility data on stations in Great Britain and for keeping this up to date on the National Rail Enquiries website. Details of the accessibility criteria used will also be held by them.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the definition of step-free access used by the Network Rail Access Map only includes stations with cross-platform accessibility.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Network Rail publish a map showing stations in the Access for All programme which, where feasible, receive an accessible step free route into the station and to and between each platform. The information and maps on the National Rail Enquiries website is published by the Rail Delivery Group, the industry body representing the train operating companies. They are responsible for collecting data on accessibility at each station across the network.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether there is independent validation on station classification for the Network Rail Access Map.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Rail Delivery Group are responsible for collecting and publishing accessibility data on stations in Great Britain and for keeping this up to date on the National Rail Enquiries website. Details of any independent verification will also be held by them.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he plans to introduce changes to the Blue Badge parking scheme to provide eligibility for applicants with temporary disabilities or conditions.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department currently has no plans to extend eligibility to people with temporary disabilities or conditions. With around 2.3 million badges already on issue in England, a further widening of the criteria could place undue pressure on the scheme. It is important that the Blue Badge scheme remains sustainable and protects preferential parking facilities for those who rely upon them for their long-term independence.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the number of electric vehicle charging points in (a) North East Bedfordshire constituency, (b) Bedford Borough Council local authority area and (c) Central Bedfordshire local authority area.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The figures requested are in the table below. Figures are accurate as of 1st January, 2020.
Public Charging Devices1 | Grant Awards for Private Charging Devices2 | |
Area | ||
(a) North East Bedfordshire Constituency | 12 | 372 |
(b) Bedford Borough Council Local Authority | 34 | 391 |
(c) Central Bedfordshire Local Authority | 37 | 711 |
1) Source: Zap-Map
2) Data on private charging devices comes from three Office for Low Emission Vehicle grant schemes: the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) for businesses; the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) and its predecessor, the Domestic Recharge Scheme (DRS) for private domestic charging devices.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to increase the funding of the On-Street Residential Grant Scheme, and how many grant applications for that scheme (a) have been approved since that scheme began and (b) were successfully made in Bedfordshire in each of the last two financial years.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
We have already doubled the funding available for the On-Street Residential Grant Scheme (ORCS) over the last two years (to £5m in August 19, up from £2.5m, and to £10m for 2020/21, up from £5m) to ensure that more local authorities and residents can benefit from the scheme.
We have approved 73 grant applications since the scheme began, including one successful application from Luton Borough Council in 2018/19. We have not received any other applications from local authorities within Bedfordshire.
The scheme has supported over 60 local authorities to deliver over 2,000 chargepoints for residents who do not have off-street parking. Uptake of the scheme increased rapidly in 2019/20. In October, the Secretary of State wrote to all local authorities encouraging them to send their strategies for infrastructure deployment and to take advantage of ORCS funding.
We are currently consulting on bringing forward an end to the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars and vans from 2040 to 2035, or earlier if a faster transition appears feasible. This includes looking at the package of measures that are required to support an earlier date, such as support required for those who do not have off-street parking. Budgets for ORCS beyond 2020/21 have not yet been set, but responses to the consultation, especially from local authorities, will help to inform our understanding of what might be required.