Gareth Bacon MP: written questions 2024
51 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Shipping: TrainingDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19817More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to provide funding for support for maritime training beyond March 2025.
Answer: Funding for the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) scheme will be determined as part of the ongoing departmental business planning process for the financial year 2025/26. We will share more when we are able to do so.
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordShipping: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19816More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to publish her Department’s plans to decarbonise (a) shipping and (b) the wider maritime sector.
Answer: Maritime has a key role to play in supporting the Governments missions, from clean energy, to growth, and supporting public health through tackling air pollution. We will shortly set our next steps for reducing the emissions from both shipping and the wid...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: Employers' ContributionsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19812More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2024 to Question 18188 on Railways: Employers' Contributions, whether she plans to increase regular contract payments in line with the cost of changes to employer National
Answer: Regular contract payments will take account of the increase in the cost of changes to employer National Insurance contributions made at the Autumn Budget 2024.
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Data ProcessingDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18201More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2024 to Question 12975 on Department for Transport: Data Processing, what the operational scope is of her Department's Organisational AI programme; and which Departmental a
Answer: The Department for Transport’s Organisational AI Programme, sets out a holistic framework for the adoption of AI within the Department itself, and shares learning across the wider operational agencies and arm’s length bodies. It is led and coordinated out...
Answered 13 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHigh Speed 2 Line: ConstructionDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18200More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2024 to Question 13063 on High Speed 2 Line: Construction, what information her Department holds on levels of compliance by contractors with the HS2 Environmental Minimum R
Answer: The HS2 Environmental Minimum Requirements contain a range of controls to ensure compliance with (amongst other things) the environmental provisions in the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Act. More information is available in the HS2 Information ...
Answered 13 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordTrain Operating Companies: FinesDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18199More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what penalties can be applied to rail operators for failure to provide adequate support for disabled passengers to access train services; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introd
Answer: We know that too often assistance for passengers falls short of what they need and what they deserve. Train and station operators are required by their operating licences to establish and comply with an Accessible Travel Policy (ATP) which must be approve...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNorthumberland LineDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18198More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the planned timetable is for opening (a) Bedlington, (b) Blyth Bebside and (c) Northumberland Park station on the Northumberland Line.
Answer: Following the opening of Ashington and Seaton Delaval on 15 December, the final four stations on the Northumberland line at Newsham, Blyth Bebside, Bedlington, and Northumberland Park are expected to open next year.
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNorthumberland LineDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18197More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the planned timetable is for reopening the Northumberland Line between Newcastle and Ashington.
Answer: Passenger trains will return to the Northumberland Line from Sunday 15 December 2024. The stations at Ashington and Seaton Delaval will open from that date with regular services to and from Newcastle. This is a major boost to the region and for the local ...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: Payment MethodsDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18196More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to ensure that cash payment remains an option for rail passengers.
Answer: Ensuring accessibility for all passengers is at the heart of our passenger-focused approach. As modern ticketing and payment methods roll out more widely on the railways, we will ensure that all passengers, including those who need to use cash or do not h...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: CybersecurityDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18195More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps National Rail is taking to ensure the adequacy of cyber security at train stations.
Answer: The government is committed to working with Network Rail and train operators to enhance cyber security and resilience across railway stations and the wider rail network. Within Network Rail and train operating companies there are dedicated security teams,...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRolling Stock: LeasingDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18194More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has for the future of rolling stock leasing agreements.
Answer: The Secretary of State currently has no plans to change the way rolling stock is leased. The private sector play an important role in the rolling stock market in Great Britain. We expect rolling stock owners to continue to use their commercial, engineerin...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordStansted Airport: ConstructionDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18193More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed expansion of Stansted airport on regional airports.
Answer: The Government has been clear that it is not opposed to airport expansion as long as it provides economic growth and is compatible with strict environmental standards. This Government recognises the importance of maintaining a thriving and competitive avi...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: ScotlandDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18192More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has (a) met and (b) had discussions with her counterpart in Scotland since July 2024.
Answer: The Secretary of State has not held discussions or met with her counterpart in Scotland since her appointment on 29th November. Louise Haigh held discussions with her Scottish counterpart.
Answered 13 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Welsh GovernmentDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18191More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions (a) she and (b) her predecessor has had with her counterpart in the Welsh government since July 2024.
Answer: The Secretary of State has not held discussions or met with her counterpart in Wales since her appointment on 29th November. Louise Haigh held discussions with her Welsh counterpart.
Answered 13 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBus Services: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18190More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on the number of people who have made journeys using the £2 cap on bus fares.
Answer: The Department for Transport does not hold data on the number of people that have used the fare cap.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: FreightDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18189More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is taking steps to use rail freight to help support the building of new homes.
Answer: Rail freight is a highly efficient way of transporting goods and it will be critical to supporting the Government’s target to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this parliament.The mode used to transport materials for housebuilding is a commercial deci...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: Employers' ContributionsDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18188More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to provide additional funding to publicly-owned rail operators for the cost of changes to employer National Insurance contributions made at the Autumn Budget 2024.
Answer: In line with the contracts, the Department receives revenue collected and pays most operating costs incurred by TOCs through a regular contract payment.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordGambling: Economic SituationDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10782More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the contribution of the betting and gaming industry to the economy.
Answer: Official statistics from a range of sources provide the Government with insights into the economic contribution of the betting and gaming industry, including estimates for gross value added (GVA), employment generated and tax revenue raised.The latest hea...
Answered 7 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGaming Machines: Excise DutiesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10781More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes in the level of machine gaming duty on high streets.
Answer: The government will consult next year on proposals to bring remote gambling (meaning gambling offered over the internet, telephone, TV and radio) into a single tax, rather than taxing it through a three-tax structure. This will aim to simplify, future-pro...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGaming Machines: Excise DutiesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what modelling her Department has done to assess the potential impact of an increase in machine gaming duty on bingo halls.
Answer: The government will consult next year on proposals to bring remote gambling (meaning gambling offered over the internet, telephone, TV and radio) into a single tax, rather than taxing it through a three-tax structure. This will aim to simplify, future-pro...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGambling: TaxationDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10779More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing gambling taxes on employment in (a) high street bookmakers, (b) high street adult gaming centres and (c) bingo halls.
Answer: The government will consult next year on proposals to bring remote gambling (meaning gambling offered over the internet, telephone, TV and radio) into a single tax, rather than taxing it through a three-tax structure. This will aim to simplify, future-pro...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordProstate Cancer: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8895More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the National Screening Council plans to review its advice on Prostate Specific Antigen testing.
Answer: The UK National Screening Committee’s (UK NSC) evidence review for prostate cancer screening is already underway, and plans to report within the UK NSC’s three-year work plan. The evidence review includes modelling the clinical cost effectiveness of sever...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTextiles: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8894More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to introduce an extended producer responsibility scheme for the textile sector.
Answer: The Secretary of State has asked his department to convene a taskforce of experts from across Government, industry, academia and relevant non-governmental organisations. The Taskforce will help to develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England and a seri...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: Annual ReportsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5667More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Department is taking to improve the requirements for annual reporting for small and mid-sized quoted companies.
Answer: The Government is reviewing non-financial reporting requirements and company size thresholds to simplify, streamline and reduce reporting obligations for all companies. Small quoted companies will benefit from the removal of unnecessary and duplicative re...
Answered 7 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: AuditDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5666More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Department is taking to ensure audit requirements are (a) accessible and (b) affordable for small and mid-sized quoted companies.
Answer: Audit standards for UK companies are adopted and set by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), with reference to internationally-agreed standards. The law sets other requirements, such as which companies require audit.The Government will publish a draft A...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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