Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to increase staffing levels on trains to improve public safety.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The train operating companies, as employers, are responsible for ensuring there are adequate numbers of staff to suit their operational needs, which includes maintaining the safety of the public using their trains. The British Transport Police (BTP) is the national dedicated police force for the railways in England, Scotland and Wales. It also has responsibility for the London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, the Midland Metro tram system, Croydon Tramlink, Tyne and Wear Metro, Glasgow Subway and the IFS Cloud Cable car. We urge all passengers, to please report any incidents to the BTP either via its text-reporting service on 61016, its Railway Guardian App, online via its website, or in an emergency by dialling 999.
Mentions:
1: Mark Harper (Con - Forest of Dean) I have deposited copies of both of these documents in the Libraries of both Houses.The railways are a - Speech Link
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his latest estimate is of the recurring annual cost savings after an initial five year implementation period from reforms proposed in the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We're committed to reforming the railways and are getting on with delivering improvements for passengers, freight customers and the taxpayer. Industry experts’ suggested savings are set out in the Plan for Rail.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of guidance issued by his Department to (a) Network Rail, (b) National Highways and (c) the Great British Railways transition team on potential conflicts of interest.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport’s (DfT) Arm’s Length Bodies have a duty to manage public money responsibly and effectively and in a transparent way. This includes managing any potential conflicts of interest effectively through the implementation of an effective and appropriate Conflicts of Interest (CoI) policy, in line with the Cabinet Office’s Procurement Policy Note: Applying Exclusions in Public Procurement, Managing Conflicts of Interest and Whistleblowing (PPN 04/21).
As the Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) employs people from across the rail industry, DfT’s Rail Reform team has been working closely with them to maintain and improve current information sharing processes, including ensuring NDAs have adequate provisions to protect all parties where potential conflicts of interest exist. This includes ensuring GBRTT have adequate provisions in place when working with Train Operating Companies (TOCs) and contractors.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions (a) he, (b) the Minister of State for Rail and (c)HS2 have had with the Rail Delivery Group on industrial action on the railways.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State and I regularly meet with industry to discuss a wide range of topics, including industrial action. HS2 has had no recent discussions with the Rail Delivery Group regarding industrial action because they are not due to operate rail services until 2029-2033.
Nov. 09 2023
Source Page: The Railways and Freight Transport etc. (Revocation) Regulations 2024Found: The Railways and Freight Transport etc. (Revocation) Regulations 2024
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers on finding a resolution to industrial action on the railways since December 2022.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department has supported negotiations by facilitating discussions between trade unions and the employers, being represented by the Rail Delivery Group. On 8 November, the RMT agreed to put the Rail Delivery Group’s offer to its members which would see the current strike mandate removed. The Government welcomes this development and remains committed to resolving industrial disputes and ensuring the railways are reformed.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to pages 8 and 36 of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, CP423, published in May 2021, if he will publish the workings behind the £1.5 billion annual cost savings after an initial five year implementation period expected from reforms to the railway proposed in the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We're committed to reforming the railways and we are getting on with delivering improvements for passengers, freight customers and the taxpayer. Recurring annual savings set out in the Plan for Rail come from a new commercial model, improvement in fares ticketing and retail, a new industry structure and workforce reforms.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with rail service providers on tackling anti-social behaviour on railway services in Solihull constituency.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government takes anti-social behaviour (ASB) very seriously and published its ASB Action Plan in March 2023.
The British Transport Police (BTP) recorded 19 offences between April and December 23 in Solihull, made up of cycle theft, public order offences and theft of personal property. This figure (19) was the same for the same time frame last year.
BTP have worked with Chiltern Railways to get officers CCTV access remotely covering Solihull from Birmingham Moor Street.
Officers have attended Solihull College and delivered an educational input as well as advertising BTP and the recruitment process.
Plans are in place to install a knife bin in the carpark at Solihull Station after consultation with BTP, West Midlands Police and the local Policing and Crime Commissioner.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Statement of 20 February 2024 on Government response to the consultation on rail reform legislation and draft Rail Reform Bill, HCWS267, what estimate he has made of the savings available to the public purse from the Government's proposals on rail reform; and how that calculation was made.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Written Statement references the draft Rail Reform Bill. The Impact Assessment published alongside the draft Bill gives estimates of costs and savings related to the proposals for a new industry structure. We are committed to reforming the railways and we are getting on with delivering improvements for passengers, freight customers and the taxpayer. Industry experts’ suggested savings are set out in the Plan for Rail.