Every parliamentary written question tabled by Peter Fortune this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 20 · Department for Transport
How much their department spent on X and xAI since July 2024.
Paid advertising on X was suspended in April 2023 following a SAFE Framework assessment. X is currently used only for organic (non-paid) content to communicate policies and public services. The Department for Transport has spent £783.30 with X since July 2024. This includes X Premium and X Premium +, for monitoring of news coverage and discourse, analytics and digital output.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of installing ticket barriers at Hayes station in Kent to help tackle (a) fare evasion and (b) anti-social behaviour.
Since coming into public ownership in 2021, Southeastern Trains have invested significantly in actions to tackle fare evasion and anti-social behaviour, including extra security trained staff at key locations, intelligence led revenue protection exercises, increased onboard ticket checks and increased gate line hours. Southeastern now have one of the lowest levels of ticketless travel across the country.Installing a new gate line at an ungated station is expensive and therefore train operators prioritise stations that have higher levels of fare evasion and anti-social behaviour. Currently Southeastern Trains are focussing on projects to install gates at Ramsgate and Margate which will be delivered over the next 12-18 months. Southeastern Trains have conducted a high-level survey at Hayes which concluded that the station is suitable for the installation of ticket barriers, however further work is required over the coming months to develop the business case for future gating schemes.
Whether she plans to provide step-free access at Shortlands rail station.
Shortlands rail station already has step free access into the station and to and between each platform via lifts.
Whether she plans to provide step-free access at Bickley rail station.
This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. Since 2006, the Access for All (AfA) programme has delivered step free access at more than 260 stations across Britain. In 2022, the previous government sought nominations from train operators and transport authorities for potential upgrades through the AfA programme. Bickley was not nominated. The hon member may wish to engage with Transport for London and Southeastern to make that case that Bickley station is a priority in any future rounds of funding.
What assessment she has made of potential impact of increasing the Dart Charge on the number of daily crossings.
Initial assessments suggest fewer car journeys and more goods vehicle journeys will be made than would have been the case if charges had been left unchanged. Revenue from the charging scheme, net of costs, must be spent on transport projects.
What her policy is on investment in the Dartford Crossing.
The Dartford Crossing is one of the most important roads in the UK, used by an average of 150,000 vehicles daily, of which almost 40% are freight vehicles: a much higher proportion than for other major roads. Consequently, significant annual expenditure (£42.2million in 2023/24) goes on operating, maintaining and improving the Crossing, particularly in relation to the older tunnels, which require increasingly intensive maintenance to, for example, the ventilation, electrical and drainage systems.Additional capacity across the River Thames east of London will be provided by the Lower Thames Crossing, complementing the Dartford Crossing which will remain an essential part of the London Orbital road.
What steps she is taking to reduce public spending on Southeastern Railway.
The Government is busy delivering on its plan to overhaul the railways through the creation of Great British Railways, uniting train and track with the focus of delivering for passengers and freight. In June this year, Southeastern and Network Rail Kent route united under a single leadership team known as South Eastern Railway – a significant step towards the creation of Great British Railways. This more collaborative approach is resulting in greater efficiency with better, faster decisions for customers and taxpayers, and reducing the subsidy required to operate Southeastern.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed Bakerloo Line extension to the London Borough of Bromley on Southeastern rail services in Hayes.
We recognise the socio-economic benefits that the proposed Bakerloo Line Extension could offer regionally and nationally, and we want to improve transport and services for passengers. As transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London, it is for them to make decisions on the merits of investment including any upgrade to the Bakerloo Line.
What steps she has taken to encourage bus and train operators to reduce levels of disability hate crime on their services.
The government believes that everyone should be able to make journeys on public transport services without fearing that they will become a victim of crime. It is especially concerning that people should experience disability hate crime whilst using buses and trains, and operators must do all they can to challenge such unacceptable behaviour in partnership with relevant authorities. We introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill which focuses on delivering safe, more reliable bus networks. The Bill sets requirements for mandatory training on how to recognise and respond appropriately to incidents of criminal and anti-social behaviour, on buses for staff, including drivers and those who deal directly with the travelling public or with issues related to the travelling public. This Bill will also extend requirements for relevant bus staff to undertake training relating to disabled passengers.Provisions in the Bus Services (No 2) Bill would also give all local transport authorities the power to make bus byelaws, which can be enforced by local authority officers on vehicles and at bus stations and stops. This, combined with targeted enforcement, should lead to safer networks. Transport Safety Officers or Transport Safety and Enforcement Officers are also already operating in some areas, including those participating in the Department’s Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour on Transport pilots. The British Transport Police (BTP) are responsible for policing the rail network in England, Scotland and Wales. They take any reports of crime seriously, including disability hate crimes. The BTP works closely with the rail industry, including train operators, to target offenders across the network and ensure it remains a safe environment for passengers and rail staff. The BTP encourage crime to be reported via it is 61016 text number or in an emergency to call 999.
If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of the consultation on the Integrated National Transport Strategy: a call for ideas, published on 28 November 2024.
The Department for Transport launched the Integrated National Transport Strategy: a call for ideas on GOV.UK on 28 November 2024, with more information available at the following link - https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/integrated-national-transport-strategy-a-call-for-ideas/integrated-national-transport-strategy-a-call-for-ideas.The Call for Ideas document is published in line with the Government’s Publishing Accessible Documents guidance and is in HTML format, making it easier for users to read and navigate. The survey for users to respond to is also hosted on an accessible platform and the option to respond via post is provided.Any requests for an alternative format can be requested by emailing INTS@dft.gov.uk.
If she will make an assessment with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology of the adequacy of the accessibility of the consultation on Benchmarking operators’ performance in rail passenger assistance, published on 16 December 2024.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR), like the Department for Transport, follows Government accessibility standards for its online content - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/accessibility-requirements-for-public-sector-websites-and-apps. ORR outlines the steps it takes to make content on accessible in its accessibility statement https://www.orr.gov.uk/accessibility-statement. The statement also sets out how users can request alternative versions of website content; provide feedback on website accessibility; or make complaints about the accessibility of website content. For the Benchmarking operators' performance in rail passenger assistance consultation, https://www.orr.gov.uk/search-consultations/benchmarking-operators-performance-rail-passenger-assistance, ORR has provided alternative versions of the consultation document (including larger print and easy read versions) and alternative ways to respond (online form, email, post, easy read form).
If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of the consultation entitled Registering historic, classic, rebuilt vehicles and vehicles converted to electric, published on 9 December 2024.
The call for evidence on “Registering historic, classic, rebuilt vehicles and vehicles converted to electric” was published in line with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s accessible documents policy. This is available on https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-licensing-agency/about/accessible-documents-policy.The ‘How to respond’ section of the call for evidence, also offered a mailbox address to request the document to be provided in an alternative format, which includes a paper copy and an audio format.
If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of the consultation entitled RVAR 2010 exemption: Chiltern Railways passenger information system, published on 3 December 2024.
The Department for Transport considers the ‘RVAR 2010 exemption: Chiltern Railways passenger information system’ consultation to be accessible. Rail vehicle accessibility public consultations are published on GOV.UK in a format known as HTML which is accessible by default and easier for most people to use. The consultation offers two mechanisms, email and post, for consultees to respond via.
If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of the Consultation on the merchant shipping (vessels in commercial use for sport or pleasure) regulations 2025, published on 4 December 2024.
The consultations on the Merchant Shipping (EPIRB and PLB Registration) Regulations 2025 and the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 2025 are published on gov.uk in a variety of formats: the main consultation documents are published as an HTML webpage which allows document readers to read for the visually impaired. The draft Regulations, Code, M-Notices and De Minimus Assessments are, by their nature, lengthy and technical documents and as a result have been published as .pdf files to preserve formatting and technical content; however, these too are capable of being read by pdf readers for the visually impaired. The response documents are published as open document format (ODF) files that can be reviewed and edited in any word processing software such as Microsoft Word or similar. As well as publishing on gov.uk, links to the consultation documents were sent directly by email to a number of different stakeholders, industry representatives and member organisations and the devolved nations bringing this directly to their attention. This has subsequently then been shared with the wider membership of such organisations. There were also press releases from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) highlighting the launch of these public consultations, and they were shared on multiple official MCA social media channels, which were then shared further by the respective followers. The MCA understand the importance of accessibility to public consultations such as these and take their responsibility for promulgating information very seriously. I believe the MCA have taken every step to ensure the documents shared are in an accessible format and have clearly signposted how the public can input to the consultation process.
If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of the consultation entitled Consultation on the merchant shipping (EPIRB and PLB registration) regulations 2025, published on 5 December 2024.
The consultations on the Merchant Shipping (EPIRB and PLB Registration) Regulations 2025 and the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 2025 are published on gov.uk in a variety of formats: the main consultation documents are published as an HTML webpage which allows document readers to read for the visually impaired. The draft Regulations, Code, M-Notices and De Minimus Assessments are, by their nature, lengthy and technical documents and as a result have been published as .pdf files to preserve formatting and technical content; however, these too are capable of being read by pdf readers for the visually impaired. The response documents are published as open document format (ODF) files that can be reviewed and edited in any word processing software such as Microsoft Word or similar. As well as publishing on gov.uk, links to the consultation documents were sent directly by email to a number of different stakeholders, industry representatives and member organisations and the devolved nations bringing this directly to their attention. This has subsequently then been shared with the wider membership of such organisations. There were also press releases from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) highlighting the launch of these public consultations, and they were shared on multiple official MCA social media channels, which were then shared further by the respective followers. The MCA understand the importance of accessibility to public consultations such as these and take their responsibility for promulgating information very seriously. I believe the MCA have taken every step to ensure the documents shared are in an accessible format and have clearly signposted how the public can input to the consultation process.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact on motorists of pay-per-mile road charges.
The Department has not undertaken any such assessment since the conclusion of the road pricing demonstrations project in 2011.
How much new funding is available for pothole repairs excluding funding previously allocated following the cancellation of HS2.
The additional £500 million that the Chancellor has announced at the Budget for local highway maintenance for the 2025/26 financial year represents an increase of nearly 50% in comparison to the current financial year. This goes above and beyond the funding that had been provisionally earmarked for 2025/26 as part of the previous Government’s Network North programme and shows that this Government is serious about tackling the maintenance backlog on local roads.
Whether she plans to reallocate £8.3 billion of HS2 funding for road repairs.
The additional £500 million that the Chancellor has announced at the Budget for local highway maintenance for the 2025/26 financial year represents an increase of nearly 50% in comparison to the current financial year. This goes above and beyond the funding that had been provisionally earmarked for 2025/26 as part of the previous Government’s Network North programme and shows that this Government is serious about tackling the maintenance backlog on local roads.
What funding for pothole repairs is available to London boroughs.
Transport policy is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London. It is up to the Mayor to decide how much of the wider funding for London’s transport is passed down to the boroughs, who are also able to use other sources of locally raised income to fund highway maintenance activities in their areas. This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network. As part of this, it has a commitment to enable local highway authorities in England to fix up to a million more potholes a year. The Government will confirm funding allocations for 2025/26 to English local highway authorities in due course.
What plans her Department has for Southeastern.
Southeastern’s service level will be increasing with the introduction of an additional 44 services per day when the timetable is updated in December. We will continue to work with Southeastern, as we do with all train operators, to drive further improvements in performance and passenger experience while at the same time ensuring we maximise value for money for the taxpayer.