Asked by: Thelma Walker (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's timescale is for bringing forward legislation to ensure that disability equality training for taxi drivers becomes mandatory.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The Government is taking robust action and will introduce National Minimum Standards including mandatory disability awareness training when Parliamentary time allows. In 2020 we plan to consult on revised best practice guidance for local licensing authorities, including strengthened recommendations on the provision of disability awareness training for drivers.
Asked by: Thelma Walker (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria his Department uses to assess which train stations are eligible for disabled access upgrade.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The Access for All programme provides accessibility improvements over and above those required by the industry. Stations are selected for this funding against a range of criteria including annual footfall, the incidence of disability in the area, and the availability of third party funding for the project. We also take into account local factors such as proximity to a hospital. Stations are also chosen to ensure a fair geographical spread of projects across the country.
Asked by: Thelma Walker (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the document entitled, Bus Services Act 2017: accessible information, published by his Department in July 2018, when he plans to publish the steps his Department will take in response to the responses received to that consultation.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The Government understands the importance of accessible on-board information in helping bus passengers to travel with confidence, and in Summer 2018 published a public consultation on proposals to require its provision on local bus services throughout Great Britain.
We continue to analyse responses to the consultation and expect to announce our next steps regarding the making of Regulations and publication of guidance later in the year.
Asked by: Thelma Walker (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for the national roll out of the 26-30 railcard scheme.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Department continues to liaise closely with the rail industry as it runs its trial of the railcard to understand the potential commercial impacts. This represents a good example of the public and private sectors working together to bring about an initiative that both benefits passengers and brings about growth in rail travel. We expect the industry to confirm arrangements for a full roll out in due course.
Asked by: Thelma Walker (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his oral contribution of 4 June 2018, Official Report, column 69, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of Trans-Pennine Express on accessibility for disabled passengers on trains since that date.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
TransPennine Express (TPE) will not now introduce any Mark 3 trains into passenger service. The first of TPE’s brand new Nova trains are on track to enter service from autumn 2018.
Asked by: Thelma Walker (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral contribution of 5 July 2018, Official Report, column 491, when the improvement works to the Manchester to Leeds railway line will commence.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The government is investing nearly £3bn in this upgrade between 2019 and 2024, one third of our expected investment in rail enhancements in that period. It will be a rolling programme of enhancements including both major civil engineering and electrification. And we are working with Network Rail and Transport for the North to determine the best way to achieve major improvements for passengers. We will make further decisions later this year.
Asked by: Thelma Walker (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of implementing the new community transport guidelines for charities and other community transport providers; and if his Department will alleviate those costs.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government consultation on the use of section 19 and section 22 permits for road passenger transport in Great Britain closed on 4 May 2018. The consultation focused on proposals to ensure domestic legislation and guidance are aligned with EU Regulation 1071/2009 on road transport operators. A number of workshops were also held during the consultation period. Charities and other transport providers submitted responses and participated in the workshops.
An initial impact assessment looking at the impact on community transport providers, including charities, was published alongside the consultation. To help build a stronger evidence base in relation to the potential impacts of the proposals, the consultation requested information from those providing community transport services as to how they operate.
In general, the Department believes that, with the exception of a small number of large operators who may in effect be genuinely competing on commercial terms with commercial bus operators, community transport operators should not be affected by future clarifications of law.
The Department remains committed to supporting the community transport sector. To that end it has made available £250,000 to help community transport providers who find they are no longer able to operate under the section 19 and 22 permit system, to meet relevant EU requirements.