Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to minimise disruption to South West rail passengers in the context of the construction of the new High Speed 2 station at Old Oak Common.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department is working with Network Rail, HS2 Ltd, Transport for London and train operating companies to minimise disruption to South West rail passengers. Diversions of services to other London terminals, such as Euston, is under active consideration. This could provide Great Western Railway passengers access to a central London terminal with numerous onward travel connections. Passengers could alternatively use Ealing Broadway station, as they did successfully during the December 2023 engineering works.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an estimate of the projected number of weekend closures that will take place on the Reading and London Paddington in the next 12 months.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
I understand that Network Rail plans to close the Great Western Main Line in the Old Oak Common area on Sunday 17 November, Saturday 28 December and Sunday 29 December 2024 to enable both construction works for the new station at Old Oak Common as well as other essential works required in this area.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with representatives of the electric car manufacturing industry on (a) incentives and (b) infrastructure development to support the decarbonisation of commercial fleets.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
DfT Ministers have regular engagement with individual automotive manufacturers and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), to discuss the Government’s plans to reduce potential barriers to the adoption of zero emission vehicles.
The Government recognises the challenge of decarbonising car fleets, and the charging requirements of fleets. It has invested significant funding in the rollout of charging infrastructure, including £381m through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund and the £70m Rapid Charging Fund pilot. The Plug-in Van Grant also remains in place to support the uptake of vans, which can be used to support commercial fleets.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that cyclists are aware of Rule 64 of the Highway Code.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Highway Code is published by the DVSA, which promotes adherence with the code via direct communications to learner drivers and via accredited driving instructors.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has had recent discussions with local authorities on the transfer of Blue Badge (a) status and (b) applications between council areas.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport Blue Badge team communicates on an ongoing basis with local authority administrators of the Blue Badge scheme about a wide range of issues. People need to apply for a badge to the local authority in which they reside. Holders of Blue Badges who move should notify the issuing authority of their change of address so the details can be transferred.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has plans to increase the number of cycle routes in Slough.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government remains committed to the vision that by 2030 half of all journeys in towns and cities are walked or cycled. Over £11 million has been provided to Slough Borough Council to construct new cycling and walking routes through the Active Travel Fund since 2020.
Active travel capital grant funding is awarded to authorities on the understanding that scheme designs will be appropriately reviewed and inspected by Active Travel England (ATE). Authorities are required to work with ATE to resolve any critical safety issues that are identified. Future funding may be reduced if an authority fails to rectify identified design issues.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much and what proportion of the active travel budget has been allocated to Slough over the next two years.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Slough Borough Council has received £11,370,077 of dedicated active travel capital funding in total from 2020 to 2023. It also received £296,996 of revenue funding for capability building and engagement, from 2021 to 2023.
Local authority allocations from dedicated active travel budgets for 23/24 will be announced in due course. Allocations for 24/25 and 25/26 are dependent on future business planning and Spending Review decisions.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of his Department's communication of the option of a not for reassessment marker for the Blue Badge Scheme to (a) local authorities and (b) the public.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport issues non-statutory guidance to local authorities to help them administer the Blue Badge scheme. Each individual local authority is responsible for choosing an assessment approach that best supports their Blue Badge decision making process.
The Blue Badge Digital Service helps local authorities to administer the scheme. The Department works closely with the supplier of the service to identify ways to improve the application and re-application process for all users as part of its National Disability Strategy commitments. This includes acting on feedback from local authority administrators and citizen users of the scheme.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase safety for (a) cyclists and (b) pedestrians in towns and cities.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government has created a new agency, Active Travel England (ATE), to improve the safety, accessibility and quality of walking and cycling schemes. ATE reviews proposed schemes to ensure they comply with good practice design guidance. The Government is providing over £3 billion of funding to local authorities up to 2025 to increase walking, wheeling and cycling in towns and cities in England. In January 2022, the Government also updated The Highway Code to improve road safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the level of understanding among cyclists of Rule 64 of the Highway Code.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has not undertaken any such assessment.