Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the risk of transmission of covid-19 (a) on public transport and (b) in other crowded public spaces; what recent assessment he has made of the efficacy of different types of facemasks in preventing such transmission; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave on 8 March 2021, to Question UIN 159378 regarding the risk of transmission of COVID-19 on public transport.
In regard to what assessment has been made of the efficacy of different types of face masks, in 2020 Public Health England’s rapid evidence review reported that the published literature indicated that face coverings of varying materials are more effective than no covering, and multi-layered coverings more effective than single-layer. Further information is available here: https://phe.koha-ptfs.co.uk/cgi-bin/koha/opac-retrieve-file.pl?id=5f043ca658db1188ffae74827fa650d9
A second review published in January 2021 corroborated the findings of the first review and found consistent evidence that the use of face coverings in community settings reduced the spread of COVID-19: https://phe.koha-ptfs.co.uk/cgi-bin/koha/opac-retrieve-file.pl?id=d86880bf65bd6b18eae21aa3bdaf2a4b
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department has issued to bus operators on the need to provide safe seating to ensure that people from different households do not sit next to each other on buses; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Department for Transport has issued safer transport guidance for operators, which aids transport operators to understand how to provide safer services for passengers. It outlines measures to assess and address the risks of COVID-19 on public transport.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the penalties are for train operators that have not provided the level of service that they are contracted to deliver; what compensation is available to passengers of Northern Rail that have not met contractual obligations services; what steps he is taking to improve the provision of rail services in Rochdale; and whether he plans to withdraw the franchise of operators which have not fulfilled their contractual obligations.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Under the terms of the Franchise Agreement there is a performance regime which deals with poor performance in the areas of cancellations, delays and reduced capacity. Under the Delay Repay scheme, Northern passengers are entitled to compensation if a delay to their train journey means they are delayed in reaching their destination by 15mins or more. Delay Repay for those journeys delayed 15mins or more was announced by the Secretary of State later last year and introduced by Northern on 16 December 2018. As part of this, the Secretary of State has tasked Richard George, an independent industry expert, to assist with railway industry performance improvement in the region covered by TfN. The Secretary of State has no hesitation in enforcing that any of his rights under the Franchise Agreement for operators not fulfilling their contractual obligations.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Answer of 11 June 2018 to Question 150572 on Members: Correspondence, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Rochdale of 11 April 2018, reference number IW/0060, on the age of road vehicle tyres.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The guidance issued by the Department for Transport concerning the use of older tyres continues to be implemented into the maintenance regime of the bus and coach fleet. Official analysis suggests it has been effective. Out of 28,524 roadworthiness inspections conducted by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, the Agency found that approximately 0.23% of vehicles failed to meet the legal minimum requirements for tyres, and approximately 0.03% had tyres older than 10 years.
The Department for Transport has also discussed with a Traffic Commissioner and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency how to reinforce the advice provided to vehicle operators in relation to the age of tyres. Enhanced procedures are expected be in place shortly.
Separately, as previously announced to the House, a programme of research is underway that will report at the beginning of 2019. This research should provide a deeper understanding of the effect of age on the various materials used in tyre construction. The Government does not rule out further measures once this evidence is available.
A response to the Honourable Member’s letter had been held by officials in draft pending review of recent evidence, and I apologise for the delay. I have now written to the Honourable Gentleman separately setting out in more detail what the Department has done to address these issues.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Rochdale dated 11 April 2018, reference number IW/0060, on the age of road vehicle tyres.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government has provided specific guidance to every operator of a public service vehicle on the importance of safety and to ensure that tyres are correctly maintained and their condition routinely monitored. They are also advised not to use tyres of 10-years of age or more on the steering axle of a bus or coach. This guidance has been reinforced during vehicle inspections by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
Ensuring compliance with the guidance is important and the Government made clear that it has not ruled out further measures.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has been made of the efficacy of the working practices relating to the smart motorway construction work on the westbound carriageway of the M60; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The M60 J8 to M62 J20 is a busy stretch of urban motorway and due to the complexities this scheme presented, it was became clear that creating long lengths of roadworks for the whole delivery of the scheme was not practical, and that phasing the works was a more appropriate approach. This assessment of working practices is currently being shared with future smart motorway projects.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the works on the westbound carriageway of the M60 will be concluded.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Highways England is opening the scheme is phases with two key sections already opened. Full completion is expected by the end of summer 2018.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the original anticipated date was for the conclusion of smart motorway construction work on the westbound carriageway of the M60.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
In Highways England’s Delivery Plan for roads period 2015-2020 the M60 Junction 8 to M62 Junction 20 Smart Motorway Scheme was forecast to be open to traffic in quarter 2 of the 2017/18 financial year. In August 2017, Highways England published their Delivery Plan Update (Supplementary Annex) and the construction programme for this scheme was extended so that additional works including flood mitigation and pavement resurfacing could be completed under the existing restrictions. This will help avoid the need for future additional network access in this location. Highways England is opening the scheme in phases. Junction 18 – 20 of the M62 and Junction 8 – 10 of the M60 are now open. Full completion is expected by the end of summer 2018.