Written questions by Foy.

What steps she is taking to improve rail services on the East Coast Main Line.

The Department has invested £4bn in route-wide upgrades – including new trains and improvements to platforms, tracks, signals and junctions. This will deliver journey time, reliability and capacity improvements, with more than 60,000 extra seats across the route each week, faster services between London and Edinburgh, and London to Leeds, and a third train per hour to and from London and Newcastle. This will all form part of the new timetable in December. The Department are now working closely with Network Rail and industry stakeholders to develop a long-term strategy for the route.

Whether her Department has issued guidance to local authorities on the weight that should be given to quality of life issues when assessing local speed limits.

Traffic authorities have the power to make speed limits on the public roads which they manage.  English authorities are asked to consider the best practice guidance ‘Setting Local Speed Limits’, designed to make sure that speed limits are appropriately and consistently set while allowing for flexibility to deal with local circumstances.  This lists important factors that may be taken into account which include, among other things, the composition of road users including existing and potential levels of vulnerable road users, and the road environment such as the level of roadside development and the possible impacts (for example, severance, noise or air quality) on residents.  This could include effects on the curtilage of neighbouring properties.The final decision is for the traffic authority, working with the police who would carry out any enforcement.The Department’s guidance to English traffic authorities can be viewed at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/publications/setting-local-speed-limits/setting-local-speed-limits.

Whether her Department has issued guidance to local authorities on considering the hierarchy of road users when assessing local speed limits.

Traffic authorities have the power to make speed limits on the public roads which they manage.  English authorities are asked to consider the best practice guidance ‘Setting Local Speed Limits’, designed to make sure that speed limits are appropriately and consistently set while allowing for flexibility to deal with local circumstances.  This lists important factors that may be taken into account which include, among other things, the composition of road users including existing and potential levels of vulnerable road users, and the road environment such as the level of roadside development and the possible impacts (for example, severance, noise or air quality) on residents.  This could include effects on the curtilage of neighbouring properties.The final decision is for the traffic authority, working with the police who would carry out any enforcement.The Department’s guidance to English traffic authorities can be viewed at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/publications/setting-local-speed-limits/setting-local-speed-limits.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring local authorities to consider the curtilage of properties when assessing local speed limits.

Traffic authorities have the power to make speed limits on the public roads which they manage.  English authorities are asked to consider the best practice guidance ‘Setting Local Speed Limits’, designed to make sure that speed limits are appropriately and consistently set while allowing for flexibility to deal with local circumstances.  This lists important factors that may be taken into account which include, among other things, the composition of road users including existing and potential levels of vulnerable road users, and the road environment such as the level of roadside development and the possible impacts (for example, severance, noise or air quality) on residents.  This could include effects on the curtilage of neighbouring properties.The final decision is for the traffic authority, working with the police who would carry out any enforcement.The Department’s guidance to English traffic authorities can be viewed at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/publications/setting-local-speed-limits/setting-local-speed-limits.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of making the wearing of cycle helmets a legal requirement for cyclists.

The Department for Transport considered the case for mandating the wearing of cycle helmets as part of a cycling and walking safety review in 2018. The review concluded that the safety benefits were likely to be outweighed by the fact that this would put some people off cycling. This would, in turn, reduce the wider health and environmental benefits. The Department recommends that cycle helmets should be worn and this is set out in The Highway Code, but does not intend to make it a legal requirement.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reforming the regulation of cross-border taxi hiring.

Legislation allows taxis and private hire vehicles to operate outside of the area in which they are licensed. Taxis can only ply for hire (pick up passengers at taxi ranks or be hailed in the street) in the area in which they are licensed. Pre-booked work by private hire vehicles and taxis can be undertaken anywhere. This allows the sector to work flexibly to meet the needs of their passengers.The Government however recognises concerns around out-of-area working and is considering options to strengthen the regulation of the sector.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing flexible railway ticketing.

Flexible Season Tickets are available across all contracted train operators. They offer most commuters who travel two or three days per week better value compared to both day tickets and other season tickets. All TOCs offer anytime and off-peak tickets for flexible travel through the day. While LNER have removed off-peak tickets on a small number of trial routes, passengers can still purchase flexibility on these routes with the semi-flexible ticket. This ticket allows passengers to travel 70 minutes either side of the booked journey.

What steps her Department is taking to improve road safety in County Durham.

Local authorities are responsible for the management of local roads, within the rules set by Government. It is for the local council to decide what measures may be appropriate in their local areas. The Safer Roads Fund is an innovative, non-competitive programme that provides funding for the most high risk rural ‘A’ roads in England. To date 99 roads have been funded amounting to £185.8 million - including £2.94 million this year for the A690 in County Durham. These 99 schemes can include designing new junctions and roundabouts, improving signage and road markings, landscape management, road resurfacing, improved crossings, and cycle lanes. The Safer Roads Fund schemes are estimated to save approximately 2,600 lives and serious injuries throughout their 20-year economic life, as well as reducing congestion, improving journey times, and lowering emissions. The safety of our roads is an absolute priority for this Government and will support our health mission. We are committed to delivering a new Road Safety Strategy – the first in over a decade. We will set out next steps on this in due course.

What steps she is taking to improve safety for (a) cyclists and (b) pedestrians in County Durham.

Between 2020/21 to 2023/24, almost £4,000,000 of capital funding has been invested in County Durham for new and improved schemes to improve safety and boost walking, wheeling and cycling, including on the National Cycle Network. In addition, the North East Combined Authority has been awarded over £5,600,000 of revenue funding since 2021/22. Active Travel England has been working closely with the North East Combined Authority and its constituent local authorities to boost officer capability to design schemes that improve safety of cyclists and pedestrians. Durham also receives support through national training and engagement programmes that improve safety, including Bikeability cycle training, Walk to School Outreach and Big Bike Revival.