Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will review his departmental estate in order to reduce costs; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department for Transport reviews assets and land and property holdings on an ongoing basis. As and when appropriate any land or property holdings deemed surplus are promptly identified and disposed of in accordance with business needs.
This has resulted in reductions in the cost of the department estate and improved space efficiency as reported in the annual State of the Estate Report:
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |
| Total cost of the estate | £166,096,850 | £161,858,767 | £154,653,361 |
| Occupied space (m2) per FTE | 12.4 | 11.9 | 10.3 |
In addition the Department for Transport has contributed land capable of delivering 3,752 homes to the Public Sector Land Programme, we are continuing to rationalise our estate, delivering cost savings and better value for money for the taxpayer.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will estimate the annual cost to his Department of (a) stationery and (b) postage incurred when sending a ministerial reply to hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Claire Perry
The information is not held in the format requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has any plans to increase the number of replies within his Department's working day standard; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department aims to maintain or improve upon the current high levels of performance. In 2013 Ministers responded to 97% of correspondence from MPs and Peers within the Department’s working day standard. Officials responded to 97% of correspondence from members of the public within the working day standard in 2013/14.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will reopen closed railway lines to improve (a) rail capacity between London and the south coast and (b) rail connectivity between towns in Sussex; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Claire Perry
Following work recently undertaken by Network Rail, the emerging strategy for rail capacity on the Sussex route to 2024 envisages focussing investment on existing infrastructure, rather than reopening closed lines. Further detail can be found at:
This strategy will be further refined following the publication of the Sussex Route Study in 2015.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department gives to local authorities on (a) the number of times grass verges should be cut and (b) the quality of the cut; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
Local highway authorities have a duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the highways network in their area. This includes the cutting of grass, verges, shrubs and trees. It is for each individual local highway authority to decide on the number of times that grass verges should be cut and the quality of the cut based upon their local knowledge and other circumstances including taking into account safety, environmental and conservation considerations.
The Department for Transport encourages good practice in highway maintenance through channels such as ‘Well-maintained Highways', the Code of Practice for highway maintenance by the UK Roads Liaison Group. It is available at the following weblink: www.ukroadsliaisongroup.org. The Code advises local authorities on a wide range of highways maintenance issues, including grass cutting and highway verge management. Central Government has no powers to override local decisions in these matters.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if it is his policy to retain the capping of rail fares at the rate of RPI + 1, beyond 2015; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
Fares revenue is crucial to funding day-to-day railway operations and the massive upgrade programme we are delivering. However, I recognise concerns passengers have about impacts of fares on household budgets, which is why for the first time in a decade average regulated rail fares have been capped at inflation for 2014.
No decision has yet been taken on rail fares for 2015 onwards.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what improvements to Coastway East and the Brighton-Ashford Line have been proposed in the TSGN franchise to improve services between Brighton and Ashford International; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
The new TSGN franchise will begin 14 September this year (2014) and is vital to the delivery of the government's multi-billion pound investment in rail services in the South East of England through the Thameslink Programme. The franchisee will have to meet stretching targets for performance and customer satisfaction, which are linked to financial incentives.
A number of improvements have been secured in the contract, including for passengers on the East Coastway Line. The route will see improvements in services from December 2015 when new timetables are planned. These will reduce journey times between Hastings / Eastbourne / Lewes and central London on some off-peak services by about 5 minutes.
Passengers will also benefit from the retention of through services between Brighton and Ashford International and the retention of staffing from the first train in the morning to the last train at night at all stations where it is currently available. This first to last staffing will be extended to 4 further stations (Bexhill, Falmer, Portslade, Shoreham-on-Sea) during the new contract.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has received from groups supporting the development of the Brighton Mainline 2; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
In recent years the Department has received numerous and varied representations on different elements of wide ranging proposals, collectively known as “Brighton Main Line 2.” This has included individual stakeholders, local and national interest groups, as well as several Hon and Rt Hon members. In response, the Government commissioned Network Rail to undertake a capacity study of rail services between London and the Sussex coast, the findings of which can be found at:
The Network Rail study found that short to medium term investments along the BML should be focussed on improving existing infrastructure.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has considered funding in the 2019 to 2024 spending review for the Brighton Mainline 2; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
The Department has not yet begun the process of formally considering options for funding during railway Control Period 6 (2019 to 2024). When this process formally commences in 2015, it will likely identify a range of potential options for investment, some of which may include elements of the wide ranging proposals, collectively known as "Brighton Main Line 2."
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to increase the number of replies sent electronically to letters from hon. Members.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
I refer my Hon Friend to the answer given by my Rt Hon Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Hon Member for Horsham (Francis Maude) on Monday 7 July 2014 [Official Report, Columns 5-6W].