Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding he plans to allocate to the extension of the third rail electric train network.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government is committed to electrification where it delivers passenger and environmental benefits and delivers value for money. We continue to expand the electrified rail network, using the most appropriate form of technology.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to (a) encourage and (b) support UK companies to bid to be the West Coast Mainline provider.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Bids have already been submitted for the West Coast Partnership competition but the Department continues to encourage UK entrants into the rail franchising market. All rail franchise bidders are UK tax registered firms and far from taking money out of the system, foreign operating companies are paying tax in the UK and investing millions in improving services and buying new trains for British passengers.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Government plans to respond to the recommendations on tackling discrimination against guide dog owners using taxis in the September 2018 report of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and PHV Licensing.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Government responded to the report of the Chair of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing on 12th February. The response can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/government-response-and-consultation-on-taxi-and-private-hire-vehicle-licensing
As the response sets out, disability awareness training can provide taxi and PHV drivers with the skills and knowledge to assist disabled passengers appropriately, and the Government supports licensing authorities which require all drivers to complete it. When legislative time is available, the Government will reflect this requirement in National Minimum Standards.
In the meantime, the Government committed in its 2018 Inclusive Transport Strategy to undertake research to understand why some drivers continue to refuse passengers with assistance dogs, and what measures are available to challenge such unacceptable behaviour.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that baggage handlers at UK airports are trained to handle wheelchairs.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government seeks to ensure equal access to air travel for all. Through the recently launched Aviation 2050 consultation the Department is considering a new Passenger Charter that will raise standards and enhance services for passengers, including disabled people and those with reduced mobility. This includes increased uptake of disability awareness training programmes for ground handlers, and improving the storage standards for wheelchairs in the hold.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the level of discrimination experienced by disabled people when travelling by taxi.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) have a statutory duty to advise Ministers on the transport needs of disabled passengers, and we have discussed with them the challenges that disabled people face when using taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs).
Ministers are considering the recommendations made in the report of the Chair of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing, including those intended to improve accessibility. A Government response will be issued in due course.
We also intend to commission research to understand more clearly the experience of passengers who have been refused service by taxi and PHV drivers on account of using a wheelchair or assistance dog, and the levers available to Government to help eliminate such unacceptable behaviour.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions his Department has held with bus companies on disability awareness training for all bus drivers.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Bus and coach operators must ensure that drivers subject to the EU Regulation 181/2011 requirement to complete disability awareness training receive appropriate instruction. As part of the 2018 annual bus statistics survey, we sought data on whether operators were compliant with these new duties, and we are considering the results published on the 30th January. We also intend to publish best practice guidance on disability awareness training in the spring.
We are committed to developing a framework for the monitoring and enforcement of relevant training requirements, and continue to liaise with Regulators and the bus industry to ensure that operators understand fully their responsibilities.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Strategic Transport Plan, published by Transport for the North, if he will make it his policy to support that organisation's plan for rail and road investment.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Transport for the North conducted a public consultation on its draft strategic transport plan between January and April of this year. It has been analysing the responses and is preparing a final version of its plan. The Government is providing active support to Transport for the North towards its aim to produce a final plan which is both ambitious and realistic.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve rail services (a) on the Southport to Manchester line and (b) to and from the West Lancashire constituency; and if he will make an assessment of the effect of recent national timetable changes on commuter services in those areas.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Department and Transport for the North each expressed concerns over the rate of recovery of performance and in particular the readiness of the industry for service re-introduction. This has led to the creation of a working group with representatives from Northern, TransPennine Express and Network Rail. That group is charged with identifying any initiatives that might assist with performance recovery and identifying any underlying structural weaknesses in the timetables in operation.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 3.14 of his Department's consultation on the use of section 19 and section 22 permits for road passenger transport in Great Britain, whether the West Lancashire Dial A Ride services will be considered as only occasional and therefore exempt under EU and UK regulations on PSV.
Answered by Jesse Norman
I refer the Honourable Member to my answer of 15 May UIN 142802.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's consultation on the use of section 19 and section 22 permits for road passenger transport in Great Britain, whether the West Lancashire Dial A Ride services will be considered as only as only for short distances and therefore exempt under EU and UK regulations on PSV.
Answered by Jesse Norman
There are wide variations between different community transport organisations and the work that they do. This Department cannot advise on whether or not a specific community transport organisation can continue to provide the services it currently operates in reliance on permits instead of an operating licence. I would encourage community transport providers who are unsure about their position to seek independent advice. The Community Transport Association’s Advice Service may be able to help. They are available on: 0345 130 6195, between 10:00 - 16:00, on Monday to Friday.
The Department’s consultation on how Regulation 1071/2009 applies to permits under the Transport Act 1985 has now closed and over 500 responses have been received. The Department will analyse the responses fully and provide a summary response before summer recess.