Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he undertook a review of security at Sharm El Sheikh Airport during the Prime Minister's recent visit to Egypt; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The UK Government continues to work closely with its Egyptian counterparts, sharing our expertise in establishing effective security arrangements at all Egyptian airports including Sharm el-Sheikh. We look forward to achieving the return of flights once we can be assured that the necessary security requirements can be sustained.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many complaints his Department has received in each of the last five years on mini cab drivers refusing service to customers with guide dogs.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
Responsibility for investigating alleged instances of illegal discrimination by taxi and private hire drivers, and for taking further action where appropriate, rests with respective local licensing authorities, and the Government does not collate statistics on the occurrence of individual incidents.
We plan to undertake research to understand why some drivers continue to refuse passengers with assistance dogs, and what further steps could be taken to eliminate such unacceptable behaviour.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to ensure that services on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line continue at their published frequency after the trains running on the line are due to be withdrawn in March.
Answered by Andrew Jones
This is not a matter for the Department for Transport (DfT). The Gospel Oak to Barking rail line is run by Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London is therefore accountable for this service.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what checks his Department makes on the use of the chemical Dichloromethane by rail operators; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Jones
It is the responsibility of the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), as the safety regulator for Britain’s railways, to ensure that the rail industry meets its duties to manage health and safety, including the management of substances hazardous to health.
All rail operators are required by law to maintain a safety management system that must include, among other things, risk control measures for managing hazardous substances in the workplace. Rail operators’ safety management systems are routinely inspected by the ORR to ensure that they are fit for purpose.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the level of security of international passengers flying to Sharm El Sheikh airport.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
It is for each country to determine the security requirements they need to protect civil aviation from terrorist attack.
The UK Government continues to work closely with its Egyptian counterparts, sharing our expertise in establishing effective security arrangements at all Egyptian airports including Sharm el-Sheikh. However, it is long standing government policy not to comment in detail on security matters.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment the Government has made of the circumstances required to lift the ban on UK flights to Sharm El Sheikh airport in Egypt.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The security of British nationals is the Governments top priority. The UK took the decision to suspend flights from Sharm el Sheikh in November 2015 following the Metro Jet attack to protect the travelling public.
The UK Government continues to work closely with its Egyptian counterparts, sharing expertise in establishing effective security arrangements at all Egyptian airports including Sharm el-Sheikh.
It is for each country to define what security requirements they need to protect their citizens. However, it is long standing government policy not to comment in detail on security matters. We look forward to achieving the return of flights once we can be assured that the necessary security requirements can be sustained.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timeframe is for the (a) completion of the rebuilding work at Manor Park station to prepare it for Elizabeth Line services and (b) disruption to commuters at that station.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The timeline and progress of the improvement works to Manor Park station are a matter for Transport for London who are managing these works as part of their stations improvement programme.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of services on the London Overground Barking-Gospel Oak line.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London, and it is for him to consider what, if any, assessment is made of the adequacy of services on the London Overground Barking - Gospel Oak line.
Transport for London publishes a number of statistics on journey times and travel trends in its annual report “Travel in London”.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the availability of new trains on the London Overground Barking-Gospel Oak line, if he will direct Angel Trains to defer the transfer to West Midlands Trains of seven diesel trains currently subleased to Arriva Rail London.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
These diesel trains are leased by Angel Trains to West Midlands Trains (WMT). Transport for London is subleasing these trains from WMT until December, by when it expects new electric trains to be in service on the Gospel Oak to Barking line.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, he will direct Angel Trains to return to Arriva Rail London the diesel train previously sub-leased to that company for use on the Barking to Gospel Oak line until new electric trains are brought into service on that line.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
This diesel train is one of several leased by Angel Trains to West Midlands Trains (WMT). Transport for London is subleasing these trains from WMT until December, by when it expects new electric trains to be in service on the Gospel Oak to Barking line.