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43575

	registered interest
	date	17/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for how many days the (a) Colne to Blackpool South and (b) Skipton to Leeds lines were closed in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Pendle
	tabling member printed	Andrew Stephenson
	uin	192427
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2014 answer text This is not information that is held by the Department for Transport. This is a matter for Network Rail, who own and operate Britain's rail network. answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 24/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson

44228

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce a register for patients taking medications which are included in the list of specified controlled drugs that will be covered by the new drug-driving legislation.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Masham of Ilton
	uin	HL6177
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Government published the summary of responses to the consultations on its proposed drugs and limits to be specified in regulations on 27 March 2014, which is available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/drug-driving-proposed-regulations" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/consultations/drug-driving-proposed-regulations</a>. Copies have also been placed in the libraries of the House.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The new offence includes a statutory defence for any driver who may have a specified drug in their body over the specified limit if they have been lawfully prescribed it and have taken it in accordance with the advice of a healthcare professional.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The consultation response also sets out further action which the Government proposes to take in relation to those patients who may be driving after being prescribed or supplied medicines that include the controlled drugs we propose to specify in forthcoming regulations. This action includes amending Patient Information Leaflets and the Summary of Product Characteristics for medicines which are affected; asking the DVLA to inform patients who report medical conditions to them of the new offence, where the patients may be affected; providing guidance to healthcare professionals and patient groups on the new offence; and writing to the National Roads Policing lead for roads policing to make them aware of the impact of the offence on patients taking medication. This will ensure that the delivery of healthcare is not compromised.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The above publication also refers to the evaluation contract the Government has in place to monitor the effectiveness of the new offence, which will include if there is any impact on those driving on affected medicines.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Kramer grouped question UIN HL6178 HL6179 question first answered 03/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1557 label Biography information for Baroness Kramer
	tabling member	1850 label Biography information for Baroness Masham of Ilton

44229

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the impact of the new drug-driving legislation on patients on prescription medication, following the full implementation of the full offence.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Masham of Ilton
	uin	HL6178
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Government published the summary of responses to the consultations on its proposed drugs and limits to be specified in regulations on 27 March 2014, which is available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/drug-driving-proposed-regulations" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/consultations/drug-driving-proposed-regulations</a>. Copies have also been placed in the libraries of the House.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The new offence includes a statutory defence for any driver who may have a specified drug in their body over the specified limit if they have been lawfully prescribed it and have taken it in accordance with the advice of a healthcare professional.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The consultation response also sets out further action which the Government proposes to take in relation to those patients who may be driving after being prescribed or supplied medicines that include the controlled drugs we propose to specify in forthcoming regulations. This action includes amending Patient Information Leaflets and the Summary of Product Characteristics for medicines which are affected; asking the DVLA to inform patients who report medical conditions to them of the new offence, where the patients may be affected; providing guidance to healthcare professionals and patient groups on the new offence; and writing to the National Roads Policing lead for roads policing to make them aware of the impact of the offence on patients taking medication. This will ensure that the delivery of healthcare is not compromised.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The above publication also refers to the evaluation contract the Government has in place to monitor the effectiveness of the new offence, which will include if there is any impact on those driving on affected medicines.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Kramer grouped question UIN HL6177 HL6179 question first answered 03/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1557 label Biography information for Baroness Kramer
	tabling member	1850 label Biography information for Baroness Masham of Ilton

44230

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it will be possible for drivers who are on specified drugs as medication to carry some form of identification so that they are not prosecuted under the new drug-driving legislation.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Masham of Ilton
	uin	HL6179
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Government published the summary of responses to the consultations on its proposed drugs and limits to be specified in regulations on 27 March 2014, which is available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/drug-driving-proposed-regulations" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/consultations/drug-driving-proposed-regulations</a>. Copies have also been placed in the libraries of the House.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The new offence includes a statutory defence for any driver who may have a specified drug in their body over the specified limit if they have been lawfully prescribed it and have taken it in accordance with the advice of a healthcare professional.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The consultation response also sets out further action which the Government proposes to take in relation to those patients who may be driving after being prescribed or supplied medicines that include the controlled drugs we propose to specify in forthcoming regulations. This action includes amending Patient Information Leaflets and the Summary of Product Characteristics for medicines which are affected; asking the DVLA to inform patients who report medical conditions to them of the new offence, where the patients may be affected; providing guidance to healthcare professionals and patient groups on the new offence; and writing to the National Roads Policing lead for roads policing to make them aware of the impact of the offence on patients taking medication. This will ensure that the delivery of healthcare is not compromised.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The above publication also refers to the evaluation contract the Government has in place to monitor the effectiveness of the new offence, which will include if there is any impact on those driving on affected medicines.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Kramer grouped question UIN HL6177 HL6178 question first answered 03/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1557 label Biography information for Baroness Kramer
	tabling member	1850 label Biography information for Baroness Masham of Ilton

42916

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government in what areas they operate drones; and for what use.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	uin	HL5981
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2014 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence operates Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) globally for operational surveillance, precision attack and for training purposes.　 Reaper RPAS is the only armed system.　 It operates only in Afghanistan, and professional, qualified pilots follow the exact same Rules of Engagement as pilots of other aircraft types.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not used any RPAS, its Centre for Environment Fisheries &amp; Aquaculture Science, Food &amp; Environment Research Agency, Environment Agency, Natural England and Royal Botanic Gardens have used small RPAS to support work on flood defence and coastal erosion, and the monitoring of crops, plants and nature reserves.　 All flights were carried out within the UK except for an aerial plant survey in Peru carried out by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office does not itself operate RPAS and the only police force operationally using a system (albeit very occasionally) is Staffordshire. This system is mostly used for patrol sweeps of car park and camping areas at V Festival, security sweeps for VIP events at the National Arboretum, they have also carried out some missing person, search and rescue, and counter-poaching tasks.</p><p> </p><p>Sussex Police have completed formal training and are now in the process of gathering experience with their own RPAS system – although if an important operational task came up RPAS would be deployed. The formal start date for the trial is in the near future.</p><p> </p><p>Kent Police, as part of the 2 Seas project, have hosted some RPAS trial flights to assess the performance of the system. They are planning to host an event about the project in July.</p><p> </p><p>　</p> answering member printed Baroness Kramer question first answered 25/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1557 label Biography information for Baroness Kramer
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

44827

	registered interest
	date	24/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2014, Official Report, column 693W, on bus services: disability, how many public service vehicles (a) in each region and (b) operated by each operator have been issued with PSVAR certificates.
	tabling member constituency	Houghton and Sunderland South
	tabling member printed	Bridget Phillipson
	uin	193342
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>I refer the Honourable Member to my answer of 20<sup>th</sup> March 2014. As indicated there the Department for Transport's annual bus statistics (published in September 2013) show that 78% of buses in England have been issued with PSVAR certificates, while 92% of buses are low floor.</p><p>The following table provides a breakdown of PSVAR certificates for each region:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Region </strong></td><td><strong>Buses with certificates </strong></td><td><strong>%Buses having certificates </strong></td></tr><tr><td>East Midlands</td><td>1,400</td><td>72%</td></tr><tr><td>East of England</td><td>1,970</td><td>67%</td></tr><tr><td>London</td><td>8,880</td><td>97%</td></tr><tr><td>North East</td><td>1,370</td><td>73%</td></tr><tr><td>North West</td><td>3,900</td><td>76%</td></tr><tr><td>South East</td><td>2,690</td><td>71%</td></tr><tr><td>South West</td><td>1,950</td><td>63%</td></tr><tr><td>West Midlands</td><td>2,730</td><td>77%</td></tr><tr><td>Yorkshire and the Humber</td><td>2,800</td><td>69%</td></tr><tr><td><strong>England</strong></td><td><strong>27,680</strong></td><td><strong>78%</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The figures in this table are compiled from annual operator returns to the Department for Transport, which are not broken down by region. To compile the regional level estimates, each operator has been assigned to its main region of operation.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The returns are made under the Statistics of Trade Act 1947, and figures for individual operators are therefore considered as commercially confidential.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 02/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	4046 label Biography information for Bridget Phillipson

44494

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 2.42 of Budget 2014, whether the Regional Air Connectivity Fund will only be available to new domestic routes; which regional airports will be eligible; when funding is likely to become available; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne North
	tabling member printed	Catherine McKinnell
	uin	193243
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Chancellor announced in this year's Budget that funding to maintain existing air connectivity to London – first announced in the 2013 Spending Round last June – will increase from £10million to £20million per year. The Chancellor also announced that support from this funding will be provided for start-up aid for new air routes from UK regional airports. European Union aviation State aid guidelines allow for start-up aid to be provided under certain conditions to facilitate the development of new routes from airports which handle fewer than five million passengers per year. This currently includes Newcastle Airport. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department for Transport is working with the Treasury to develop guidance that will clarify how the Government will ordinarily expect to interpret the European Union State aid guidelines, and explain how the funding process will operate.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 26/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	4125 label Biography information for Catherine McKinnell

43856

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to ensure provision of adequate rolling stock to serve the Hull-Manchester train route from April 2015.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
	tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
	uin	192519
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2014 answer text <p>The Department is working with train operators and the rolling stock companies to ensure that adequate rolling stock is available to provide continued levels of service to passengers on the route.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 24/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

43857

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy that the new Transpennine Express franchise due to begin in 2015 maintains hourly direct services between Hull and Manchester.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
	tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
	uin	192520
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2014 answer text The new directly awarded franchise for TransPennine that begins in April 2015 will aim to provide train services at the same level as is currently available to passengers today until the start of the new competed franchise, expected in February 2016. answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 24/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

44515

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects new trains to run on the electrified Liverpool to Manchester line.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Riverside
	tabling member printed	Mrs Louise Ellman
	uin	193227
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>We expect the electric powered rolling stock to begin services on the electrified Liverpool to Manchester line from the December 2014 timetable.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 26/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	484 label Biography information for Dame Louise Ellman

44516

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what date orders were placed for rolling stock to operate on the electrified Liverpool to Manchester line.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Riverside
	tabling member printed	Mrs Louise Ellman
	uin	193229
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The electric powered rolling stock being supplied for the operation on the electrified Liverpool to Manchester line will be cascaded rolling stock. We are currently in negotiations with the current operator with regard to this matter, and will confirm full details in due course.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It will be for bidders for the new long-term franchise beginning in February 2016 to propose new rolling stock beyond that date. </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 26/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	484 label Biography information for Dame Louise Ellman

44548

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects training for train drivers to operate rolling stock on the electrified Liverpool to Manchester line to begin.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Riverside
	tabling member printed	Mrs Louise Ellman
	uin	193234
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Northern have informed the Department that the process for such training began last year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 26/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	484 label Biography information for Dame Louise Ellman

43862

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to improve the rail infrastructure on the North Kent rail line.
	tabling member constituency	Sittingbourne and Sheppey
	tabling member printed	Gordon Henderson
	uin	192670
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Government is working with Network Rail, train operators and Kent County Council to progress the case for journey time reductions between Ashford and Ramsgate by 2019 through infrastructure improvements. Funding is available for this, subject to a satisfactory business case.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 25/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	4050 label Biography information for Gordon Henderson

44837

	registered interest
	date	24/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects to appoint the working group to assess the impact of the Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations 2011 in the shipping industry; what the terms of reference will be for that group; and what the expected timeframe will be within which it will report its findings to Ministers.
	tabling member constituency	Blackpool South
	tabling member printed	Mr Gordon Marsden
	uin	193494
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Discussions have already been held with government, association and union representatives and we have a broad understanding. A meeting of interested parties will be convened within the next two months and will focus that understanding into formulating the terms of reference and to agreeing the membership of the group. The review will be fully compliant with Section 6 of the Equality Act 2010 (working on ships and hovercrafts) 2011.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Another action of that meeting will be to set the timeframe in which the Group will report back. Members of the Group will be asked to give consideration to their own timescales that will be necessary to deliver their contributions to the Group. Therefore while Section 6 sets an absolute deadline of 17<sup>th</sup> July 2016 it would be expected for the working group to publish it report before then.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 27/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	465 label Biography information for Gordon Marsden

44838

	registered interest
	date	24/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to enforce the Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations 2011 in the shipping industry; and which regulatory body is responsible for such enforcement on (a) UK and (b) overseas-flagged vessels in UK ports.
	tabling member constituency	Blackpool South
	tabling member printed	Mr Gordon Marsden
	uin	193495
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>A contravention of the Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations can be notified either to the port State authorities or directly to the appropriate enforcement team. For example, a breach of National Minimum Wage regulations could be reported directly to the HMRC Enforcement Team or gender discrimination could be reported to the Equal Opportunities Commission</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Enforcement action for a contravention occurring where the Regulations are applicable on UK flagged vessels would be undertaken by the relevant enforcement team (as per above) for that infringement. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Enforcement action for a contravention on board a foreign flagged vessel, which whilst more complex in its application, would similarly be undertaken where the Regulations are applicable to either that vessel or an individual concerned. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 27/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	465 label Biography information for Gordon Marsden

44469

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what grants have been approved under the Regional Air Connectivity Fund since its launch.
	tabling member constituency	Blackpool South
	tabling member printed	Mr Gordon Marsden
	uin	193176
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>As part of the 2013 Spending Round announcement on 27 June 2013, the Chief Secretary of the Treasury announced that £10million would be made available in each of financial years 2014-15 and 2015-16 to maintain regional air access to London through the establishment of a Public Service Obligation (PSO), where there was the probability that an existing air service would be lost. The Department for Transport is in detailed discussions with regional councils regarding two routes that might qualify for support through a PSO under these conditions. Of these, Dundee Council are currently tendering for an airline to operate a service between Dundee Airport and London.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Chancellor announced in this year's Budget that funding to maintain existing air connectivity to London would increase from £10million to £20 million per year. The Chancellor also announced that support will be provided for start-up aid for new air routes from UK regional airports. European Union aviation State aid guidelines allow for provision of start-up aid to facilitate start up of new routes from airports which handle fewer than five million passengers per annum. This currently includes Liverpool and Newcastle airports, but not Birmingham and Manchester airports. The Department for Transport is working with the Treasury to develop guidance that will clarify how the Government will ordinarily expect to interpret the European Union guidelines, and explain how the funding process will work.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill grouped question UIN 193175 193177 193178 question first answered 25/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	465 label Biography information for Gordon Marsden

44470

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether (a) Manchester Airport, (b) Newcastle Airport, (c) Birmingham Airport and (d) Liverpool Airport will meet the requisite passenger number specifications to receive the Regional Air Connectivity Fund.
	tabling member constituency	Blackpool South
	tabling member printed	Mr Gordon Marsden
	uin	193177
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>As part of the 2013 Spending Round announcement on 27 June 2013, the Chief Secretary of the Treasury announced that £10million would be made available in each of financial years 2014-15 and 2015-16 to maintain regional air access to London through the establishment of a Public Service Obligation (PSO), where there was the probability that an existing air service would be lost. The Department for Transport is in detailed discussions with regional councils regarding two routes that might qualify for support through a PSO under these conditions. Of these, Dundee Council are currently tendering for an airline to operate a service between Dundee Airport and London.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Chancellor announced in this year's Budget that funding to maintain existing air connectivity to London would increase from £10million to £20 million per year. The Chancellor also announced that support will be provided for start-up aid for new air routes from UK regional airports. European Union aviation State aid guidelines allow for provision of start-up aid to facilitate start up of new routes from airports which handle fewer than five million passengers per annum. This currently includes Liverpool and Newcastle airports, but not Birmingham and Manchester airports. The Department for Transport is working with the Treasury to develop guidance that will clarify how the Government will ordinarily expect to interpret the European Union guidelines, and explain how the funding process will work.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill grouped question UIN 193175 193176 193178 question first answered 25/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	465 label Biography information for Gordon Marsden

44471

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Investing in Britain's Future produced by HM Treasury in June 2013, paragraph 8.8, how much of the £20 million referred to has been allocated already; and for what purposes such funding has been issued.
	tabling member constituency	Blackpool South
	tabling member printed	Mr Gordon Marsden
	uin	193178
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>As part of the 2013 Spending Round announcement on 27 June 2013, the Chief Secretary of the Treasury announced that £10million would be made available in each of financial years 2014-15 and 2015-16 to maintain regional air access to London through the establishment of a Public Service Obligation (PSO), where there was the probability that an existing air service would be lost. The Department for Transport is in detailed discussions with regional councils regarding two routes that might qualify for support through a PSO under these conditions. Of these, Dundee Council are currently tendering for an airline to operate a service between Dundee Airport and London.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Chancellor announced in this year's Budget that funding to maintain existing air connectivity to London would increase from £10million to £20 million per year. The Chancellor also announced that support will be provided for start-up aid for new air routes from UK regional airports. European Union aviation State aid guidelines allow for provision of start-up aid to facilitate start up of new routes from airports which handle fewer than five million passengers per annum. This currently includes Liverpool and Newcastle airports, but not Birmingham and Manchester airports. The Department for Transport is working with the Treasury to develop guidance that will clarify how the Government will ordinarily expect to interpret the European Union guidelines, and explain how the funding process will work.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill grouped question UIN 193175 193176 193177 question first answered 25/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	465 label Biography information for Gordon Marsden

44472

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the £20 million of annual funding for the Regional Air Connectivity Fund referred to in The Budget 2014, paragraph 2.42 is additional to the £20 million of funding to improve regional air links referred to in, Investing in Britain's Future, produced by HM Treasury in June 2013, paragraph 8.8.
	tabling member constituency	Blackpool South
	tabling member printed	Mr Gordon Marsden
	uin	193175
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>As part of the 2013 Spending Round announcement on 27 June 2013, the Chief Secretary of the Treasury announced that £10million would be made available in each of financial years 2014-15 and 2015-16 to maintain regional air access to London through the establishment of a Public Service Obligation (PSO), where there was the probability that an existing air service would be lost. The Department for Transport is in detailed discussions with regional councils regarding two routes that might qualify for support through a PSO under these conditions. Of these, Dundee Council are currently tendering for an airline to operate a service between Dundee Airport and London.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Chancellor announced in this year's Budget that funding to maintain existing air connectivity to London would increase from £10million to £20 million per year. The Chancellor also announced that support will be provided for start-up aid for new air routes from UK regional airports. European Union aviation State aid guidelines allow for provision of start-up aid to facilitate start up of new routes from airports which handle fewer than five million passengers per annum. This currently includes Liverpool and Newcastle airports, but not Birmingham and Manchester airports. The Department for Transport is working with the Treasury to develop guidance that will clarify how the Government will ordinarily expect to interpret the European Union guidelines, and explain how the funding process will work.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill grouped question UIN 193176 193177 193178 question first answered 25/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	465 label Biography information for Gordon Marsden

44513

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the number of bus services that have closed in the last 12 months; and what assessment he has made of the effects of changes to the concessionary travel scheme on the viability of local bus services.
	tabling member constituency	Beverley and Holderness
	tabling member printed	Mr Graham Stuart
	uin	193214
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>There have been 3,385 existing bus registration cancellations in 2013/14 to date (with 5 days of the reporting period remaining). This is a reduction on the previous two years. There were also 3,303 new bus service registrations processed by the Office of the Traffic Commissioner across the same 12 month period. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Concessionary travel should have no impact on the viability of local bus services as reimbursement to bus operators is not a means to support services which are not viable on a commercial basis. Legislation requires Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs) to ensure that bus operators are left &quot;no better off and no worse off&quot; as a consequence of taking part in the mandatory travel concession. In general, TCAs set their Schemes each year and they have discretion to decide whether or not to offer more than the mandatory concession in their own Scheme areas.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 27/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	1482 label Biography information for Graham Stuart

43858

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the level of cross-subsidy between fare paying passengers and those using the Concessionary Travel Scheme (a) generally and (b) in rural areas.
	tabling member constituency	Beverley and Holderness
	tabling member printed	Mr Graham Stuart
	uin	192473
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>Concessionary travel schemes are considered to be public service obligations.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Legislation requires bus operators to accept statutory concessionary bus pass holders for free travel on off-peak journeys within England, and are reimbursed for doing so. Bus operators may not solicit or accept payment for such journeys.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Reimbursement is provided on the basis that operators are “no better and no worse off” for carrying concessionary pass holders, and we therefore do not believe this to constitute a subsidy.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes guidance to help authorities calculate appropriate reimbursement rates. We are unaware of any cross-subsidy between fare paying and concessionary pass holding passengers occurring in rural areas or elsewhere. </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 25/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	1482 label Biography information for Graham Stuart

43863

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of implementing the recommendations in the Civil Aviation Authority's safety review of helicopter operations in the offshore oil and gas industry on the annual number of passenger-carrying helicopter flights in that industry.
	tabling member constituency	Easington
	tabling member printed	Grahame M. Morris
	uin	192716
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>The primary concern of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the safety of the public, and the absolute focus of its recent Offshore Helicopter Review has been to make safety improvements in that sector. I am satisfied that implementing the recommendations in the CAA Review will lead to improvements in safety and that all the changes proposed are both realistic and achievable. The CAA is directly engaging with the oil and gas industry, helicopter operators and workforce representative groups through its new Safety Action Group. I do not see that recommendations contained in the Review will have any significant effect on the annual number of offshore helicopter operations.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 25/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

43865

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the current level of (a) use and (b) availability is amongst offshore helicopter passengers in the oil and gas industry of emergency breathing systems that meet Category A of the Civil Aviation Authority's relevant technical specifications.
	tabling member constituency	Easington
	tabling member printed	Grahame M. Morris
	uin	192715
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>There are currently no Category ‘A' emergency breathing systems (EBS) in use by, or available to, passengers on UK offshore helicopter flights. The EBS currently in use in the UK sector of the North Sea does not meet the Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) higher Category ‘A' specification contained in CAA Publication CAP 1034, primarily because it takes too long to deploy. The EBS used in the Norwegian sector also does not meet the Category ‘A' requirement, primarily as it cannot be deployed underwater.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>EBS that would likely meet Category ‘A' is commercially available. In particular the passenger short term air supply system (P-STASS) developed for the UK military, which the CAA understands is currently being considered by the industry, has previously been used for civilian operations (e.g. the Marine Incident Response Group).</p><p> </p><p><em> </em></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 25/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

43908

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what agreement his Department has reached with the Welsh Government regarding the funding of electrification of the Great Western Line to Swansea and the Valleys lines.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	192659
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>The Welsh and UK Governments agreed in 2012 to fund the electrification of the Valley Lines and the South Wales Main Line between Cardiff and Swansea. That agreement still stands and Network Rail is developing plans for electrification.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 25/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

43909

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to develop the North Wales line from Crewe to Holyhead in conjunction with the building of High Speed 2.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	192660
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>No such assessment has been made. The opening of High Speed 2 will release capacity for train services on existing lines, including on the West Coast Main Line. Precise details of stopping patterns will be resolved when the relevant rail franchises are let in due course.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In the meantime, we will shortly announce a transparent and participatory process to consider long-term issues, opportunities and options for rail services on HS2 corridors.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are also working with the Welsh Government who are developing a business case for the electrification of the North Wales Main Line.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond grouped question UIN 192658 192661 question first answered 25/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams