Asked by: Steve Rotheram (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the public purse of High Speed 2.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Spending Review in late 2015 agreed a funding envelope of £55.7 billion (2015 prices) for the delivery of High Speed 2 (HS2). I am committed to managing the cost of HS2 and ensuring maximum value for the taxpayer, and delivering within the funding available.
Asked by: Steve Rotheram (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost to the public purse has been of consultants working on High Speed 2.
Answered by Andrew Jones
HS2 Ltd element of consultancy expenditure, as defined by the Cabinet Office, is not readily available in the format requested and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.
As defined by the Cabinet Office, the Department for Transport (High Speed Rail Group) expenditure on consultancy (i.e. provision of advice) on High Speed 2 for the period April 2011 to March 2016 was £29.7m.
Asked by: Steve Rotheram (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will produce a cost impact assessment for users of the new Mersey Gateway.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Mersey Gateway Bridge scheme is being promoted by Halton Borough Council and it is for them to justify the costs for users of the new bridge. A range of discounts will be available for frequent users of the crossing.
In approving the scheme the Government considered the case for change, the economic case, and that the scheme is viable, affordable and achievable. In line with other estuarial crossings, and as there will be improved travel across the Mersey, users are expected to part fund the infrastructure.
Asked by: Steve Rotheram (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that all railway stations in (a) Liverpool Walton constituency, (b) Liverpool City region and (c) England and Wales are wheelchair accessible.
Answered by Claire Perry
Whenever the rail industry carries out infrastructure work at stations it is required to meet the latest UK and EU accessibility standards.
We have also extended the Access for All programme, which will have provided step free access at over 200 stations by 2019. In Liverpool Walton both Fazkerley and Orrel Park have been completed. In the wider Liverpool City area Liverpool Central, Sandhills, Birkenhead North, Formby, Hooton, Meols and Waterloo have also been included in the programme.
Asked by: Steve Rotheram (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which British and European tyre manufacturing experts have contributed to his Department's research into tyre ageing on buses and coaches since December 2013.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department has consulted with representatives of the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation, Michelin, Bandvulc Tyres, the British Tyre Manufacturers’ Association and the Retread Manufacturers Association.
Further research is being planned but has not yet been commissioned. The outcomes will be available next year.
Asked by: Steve Rotheram (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which individuals have been commissioned to undertake research into tyre ageing on buses and coaches; and when he will publish the results of such research.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department has consulted with representatives of the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation, Michelin, Bandvulc Tyres, the British Tyre Manufacturers’ Association and the Retread Manufacturers Association.
Further research is being planned but has not yet been commissioned. The outcomes will be available next year.
Asked by: Steve Rotheram (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of whether Merseyrail has an appropriate emergency response plan to deal with a terrorist attack on the rail network; and on what date the last Merseyrail emergency response drill was carried out.
Answered by Claire Perry
The National Railways Security Programme (NRSP) requires all Train Operating Companies, including Merseyrail, to have response procedures in place to respond to any security incidents on their station and trains and to review these contingency plans annually. It also recommends that they exercise these plans on an annual basis. The Department does not collect information on the frequency of exercises because this is a matter for decision by the rail operators within the framework set by the NRSP.
Asked by: Steve Rotheram (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what date he plans to publish the conclusions to research into tyre-ageing on buses and coaches that he commissioned in December 2013.
Answered by Claire Perry
My officials have consulted with experts from the British and the European tyre manufacturing industry who have provided consistent advice that chronological age is not an indicator of a tyre’s mechanical properties. Further research is currently being planned and the outcomes will be available next year.