Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the powers of train conductors to tackle avoidable disruptive behaviour on trains.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Train Operating Companies are already able to seek additional powers for their staff, to tackle incidents such as anti-social behaviour, via the Rail Safety Accreditation Scheme operated by the British Transport Police.
The Department does not have any plans to increase the powers available through the existing scheme. Information on the scheme can be found here: Railway Safety Accreditation Scheme | British Transport Police.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of revenue lost to train companies from fare avoidance in 2024.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Rail Delivery Group estimated in 2014 that, £240 million a year is lost due to fare evasion on Great Britain’s railways. The Department is working with its industry partners to provide an updated figure and recognises the importance of reducing fraud.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish the total cost to the public purse for the provision of diversity, equality and inclusion courses for staff in her Department in 2024.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport provides an online training course entitled “Civil Service Expectations”. The course focuses on diversity and inclusion, The Equality Act 2010, Civil Service code, and Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. This course is provided by Government Campus and is free at the point of delivery.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much was spent on (a) translation and (b) interpretation for people contacting the DVLA in 2024.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In the financial year 2023-24 the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency spent a total of £28,403 on translation and interpretation services, including Welsh language and sign language translations.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) average waiting time for people phoning and (b) time people spent on hold for the DVLA was in 2024.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In the calendar year 2024, the average waiting time for someone telephoning the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to be connected to an advisor was 12 minutes 8 seconds.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of the proposed increase in employer National Insurance contributions for financial year 2025-26.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs only. This funding will be allocated to departments in the usual way, in line with the approach taken under the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allocating funding to the Vauxhall roundabout project in the context of the potential impact of that project on other infrastructure projects in Great Yarmouth constituency.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The A47 Great Yarmouth Vauxhall Junction scheme was cancelled due to a combination of cost increases and poor value for money. Great Yarmouth is benefiting from the Third River Crossing, a Norfolk Council scheme funded by DfT, and the National Highways scheme to improve Harfrey’s Roundabout. Given the poor value for money for the Great Yarmouth Vauxhall Roundabout scheme, there are no immediate plans for any funding allocation. Where areas are still experiencing issues with congestion, safety and the environment, we will continue to consider these issues in the context of other pressures and priorities for investment as part of future Road Investment Strategies.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she had with relevant local authorities on decisions relating to the MV Ruby in Great Yarmouth port.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Ministers and senior officials worked with their counterparts from the relevant local authorities throughout the time MV Ruby was docked at Great Yarmouth.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will clarify the decision making process behind the decision to transfer MV Ruby's cargo of ammonia nitrate into the North Sea; and who was responsible for that decision.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The East of England Environment Group comprising a range of scientific experts and regulators, considered the options, including socio-economic impacts, and a recommended site was agreed for disposal. This site is a live aggregate dredging area, over 20 metres deep with no anticipated impacts on sensitive habitats or ecosystem features.
The ship's master made the ultimate decision to discharge the ammonium nitrate due to force majeure and the risks posed to the crew and ship by an incoming weather front.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the MV Ruby's cargo of ammonia nitrate was tested for contamination.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The port provided the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) with the information required to verify the potential contamination and therefore no certification was required.