Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what additional highway funding Kent county council is able to access to tackle increased pressure on the county road network as a result of its proximity to mainland Europe.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department for Transport has allocated Kent county council a total of £34.45m of additional funding in the last two years in recognition of the particular pressures on the County’s road network due the flow of freight traffic to the short strait crossings. This funding was allocated in particular in the context of the development of the Operation Brock traffic management plan, and it has enabled work to improve the resilience of roads that could come under increased pressure in the event of cross-channel disruption.
We will continue to work closely with the Kent resilience forum and other local resilience forums to monitor the situation, including reviewing any additional funding requirements.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that a direct train service operates from West Malling and Borough Green to London Bridge from December 2019.
Answered by Andrew Jones
We are working with the current operator of Thameslink, Govia Thameslink Railway, and with the industry to realise the full benefits of the Thameslink Programme as part of the new timetable process. We have been absolutely clear that our main priority is delivering the reliable services that passengers expect.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what measures will be included in the forthcoming Southeastern franchise agreement for the successful franchisee to ensure that as few services as possible are run with short formations.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The forthcoming South Eastern franchise agreement includes a Short Formation regime in Schedule 7.1 where there is a financial incentive to ensure the franchisee meets the train formations agreed, which varies depending on the level of failure. Any income from this regime has to be invested in the franchise. In addition, poor performance in this area can be regarded as a breach in terms of the contract.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Southeastern rail franchise operates a daily cap on delay repay claims.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
No such cap exists.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what targets his Department sets to measure the performance of the Southeastern rail franchise.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The franchise agreement between the Government and each individual TOC includes benchmarks in three key areas – punctuality, cancellations and capacity. The Department monitors each train operator’s overall performance against these areas regularly and there are clear actions set out in the franchise agreement should performance drop below what is expected.
Further details can be find in the franchise agreement under Schedule 7.1, which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/london-and-south-eastern-railway-limited
In terms of the future franchise, the Department set out its expectations in the Invitation To Tender which can be found at
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with Southeastern on its compliance in delivering a minimum train length at all times on the Hastings Line, Paddock Wood Line and Maidstone East Line.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
My officials regularly meet with Southeastern to discuss performance. We monitor Southeastern’s performance against their contractual targets. These targets include thresholds for short formations during the morning and evening peaks. These are measured across the franchise as a whole, not by line or route.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will implement the recommendation in Appendix 5 of the Gibb Report on electrification of the Uckfield line.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is committed to improving services on the Uckfield Line. We recently completed a £19.2m project to enable longer 10-car trains to operate on the line, giving passengers much-needed extra seating and space. Further improvements will be further assessed in light of available funding, as part of the development of our infrastructure upgrade plans for Control Period 6, covering 2019–2024.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to ensure that bus companies undertake a public consultation with passengers before submitting the required 56 days' notice for route changes to the Traffic Commissioner for Great Britain.
Answered by Andrew Jones
There are no plans to make it a requirement for operators to undertake a public consultation before submitting notice to the Traffic Commissioner. The provision of bus services and how to consult with passengers before making any changes to routes lies with individual operators.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2017 to Question 65245, on Gatwick Airport night flying, when he plans to establish the Commission on Civil Aviation Noise; which groups he plans to consult on that Commission's remit; and what opportunities he plans to provide for public engagement.
Answered by John Hayes
We will establish an Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise (ICCAN) following consideration of the consultation responses regarding its function, structure and governance.
Any group or individual can engage with the consultation and provide responses to our proposals on ICCAN through our current UK Airspace Policy consultation. More details on how to submit a consultation response are available at the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reforming-policy-on-the-design-and-use-of-uk-airspace
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure companies are compliant with consumer law with particular regard to the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
It is the responsibility of individual transport businesses to ensure that they are compliant with their legal obligations.
In the rail sector, the Office of Rail and Road is a designated enforcer of consumer law and has been working with the Rail Delivery Group and individual train operators over the last year to raise their awareness of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and their obligations under it.