Martin Vickers MP: written questions
53 published records · newest first.
Written questions
East Coast Main Line: CompetitionDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48389More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her polices of the Office of Rail and Road's statistics entitled Passenger Rail Usage, published on 20 March 2025, in the context of open access co
Answer: The Department recognises the wider benefits that can be provided by open access operators in the right circumstances, including increased competition which we have seen on the East Coast Main Line. We welcome the publication of Passenger Rail Usage stati...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordNetwork Rail: BuildingsDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47646More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when Network Rail last carried out an (a) audit and (b) inventory of its railway property estate to identify (i) sites and (ii) spaces suitable for residential development.
Answer: Network Rail regularly assesses its portfolio for opportunities and has active pipelines of existing sites that could be identified for residential development. Network Rail’s Regional and Group Property teams work closely together to identify sites to de...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordNetwork Rail: BuildingsDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47645More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when Network Rail last carried out an (a) audit and (b) inventory of its railway property estate to identify (i) sites and (ii) spaces suitable for commercial use.
Answer: As part of Network Rail’s strategic objective, to connect goods and people, Network Rail is continually assessing its portfolio by understanding passenger/customer needs in and around its stations and commercial estate. Network Rail produces an annual bus...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordNetwork Rail: Empty PropertyDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47644More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the amount of vacant property space on the Network Rail land estate which could be let for (a) retail and (b) commercial purposes.
Answer: Network Rail’s present commercial vacancy rate is 3.2%, across the 20 stations managed by Network Rail.
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordNetwork Rail: Business PremisesDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47643More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on the level of retail income received by Network Rail from commercial premises on its estate in 2018-19 and 2022-23.
Answer: Network Rail’s retail income in 2018/19 was £135.7m and in 2022/23 it was £107.3m.Network Rail's retail income is for the 20 stations that Network Rail manage, the other retail income from the remaining stations goes to the Train Operating Company respons...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRailwaysDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47642More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of open access rail operators on levels of (a) inward investment, (b) economic growth and (c) regeneration.
Answer: Whilst the Department recognises the wider benefits that can be provided by open access operators in the right circumstances, the Department has not carried out such assessments. Access to the rail network is currently a matter for the Office of Rail and ...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordEast Coast Main Line: Train Operating CompaniesDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47641More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of open access operators on (a) rail passenger growth, (b) passenger choice and (c) fare levels on the East Coast Main Line.
Answer: Whilst we have not carried out such assessments, the Department considers the likely impacts of all open access applications on a case by case basis in line with the standard industry process. This includes assessing the financial, operational and perform...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordWholesale Trade: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31841More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she plans to take to ensure that the business rates system supports the sustainability of food and drink wholesalers.
Answer: The Government published the ‘Transforming Business Rates’ Discussion Paper at Budget setting out priority areas for reform. This paper invites industry to help co-design a fairer business rates system that supports investment and is fit for the 21st cent...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordWholesale Trade: Business PremisesTreasuryTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31840More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential financial impact of the classification of wholesale premises as online retail warehouses on the food and drink wholesale sector; and what steps she is taking to reduce t
Answer: As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including those on the high street, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordWholesale Trade: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31839More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing targeted business rates relief for food and drink wholesalers.
Answer: The Government published the ‘Transforming Business Rates’ Discussion Paper at Budget setting out priority areas for reform. This paper invites industry to help co-design a fairer business rates system that supports investment and is fit for the 21st cent...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness RatesTreasuryTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31838More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the impact of the higher multiplier on properties with a rateable value of £500,000 and above on the costs incurred by retail, hospitality and leisure businesses (RHL) businesses.
Answer: As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including those on the high street, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordWholesale Trade: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31837More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the impact of the higher multiplier on properties with a rateable value of £500,000 and above on the food and drink wholesale sector.
Answer: As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including those on the high street, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCyprus: Missing PersonsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5568More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to the Cypriot authorities on both sides to reveal the locations of buried missing people.
Answer: We share the concerns of both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities over the missing persons following the events of 1974. We support the crucial work being undertaken by the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) by enabling them to wor...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCyprusForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5567More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking as Guarantor of Cyprus’s independence and territorial integrity to help reunite the island.
Answer: The UK remains committed to supporting the UN efforts to reach a Cyprus Settlement and we are actively engaging all parties to encourage the flexibility needed to return to talks. In addition, we support a range of confidence building measures in Cyprus t...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordFamagustaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5566More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Turkish counterpart on the return of Famagusta to its former inhabitants on the 50th anniversary of its capture.
Answer: The UK supports the numerous United Nations Security Council Resolutions covering the issue of Varosha, Famagusta, alongside the related 2021 UNSC Statement. Property remains one of the most complex issues of the status quo in Cyprus. Ultimately, the most...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCyprus: Visits AbroadForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5565More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to visit Cyprus.
Answer: Cyprus is a key partner of the UK and our relationship has never been stronger. Our shared history, close people-to-people links and common values, including as members of the Commonwealth, lead us to co-operate across a broad range of priority areas. I s...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCyprus: TurkeyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5564More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Turkish counterpart on reducing the number of Turkish troops stationed in Cyprus.
Answer: The UK actively supports peace and stability in Cyprus as a leading troop contributor to United Nations Peacekeeping Force In Cyprus (UNFICYP) and through our support for the UN-led process to reach a comprehensive Cyprus Settlement. We believe this remai...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCyprus: TurkeyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5563More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Turkish counterpart on negotiations on a peaceful, comprehensive, and long-lasting solution to reunite divisions over Cyprus.
Answer: The UK is committed to supporting UN efforts to reach a Cyprus Settlement within the existing parameters of a Bi-zonal, Bi-communal Federation with political equality. We engage all parties in support of this. I raised this with my Turkish counterpart on ...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: Energy SupplyDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5562More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress Network Rail has made on the cost reviews taking place to deliver power supply improvements on the (a) West and (b) East Coast Main Line.
Answer: The Government is currently reviewing the position it has inherited on rail infrastructure and will consider how we address power supply issues. We will set out our plans in due course.
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLondon North Eastern Railway: SubsidiesDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the forecast subsidy to support London and North Eastern Railway in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.
Answer: LNER’s subsidy forecasts for 2024/25 and 2025/26 are commercially sensitive. Details of LNER’s accounts from previous years can be found in the published statutory accounts.
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLondon North Eastern Railway: PassengersDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5560More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with Network Rail on the (a) under-utilisation of some London North Eastern Railway services on the East Coast Main Line and (b) comparative potential merits of awarding those rails
Answer: The Department regularly monitors levels of passenger demand on LNER services which help inform timetable planning decisions on the East Coast Mainline. Network capacity is a matter for Network Rail to assess according to their criteria. The Secretary of ...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLondon North Eastern Railway: PassengersDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5559More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will ensure that seat utilisation of London and North Eastern Railway services on key routes are taken into account before permitting Network Rail to issue a restricted capacity notice for the East Coast
Answer: The Department regularly monitors levels of passenger demand on LNER services which help inform timetable planning decisions on the East Coast Mainline. Network capacity is a matter for Network Rail to assess according to their criteria.
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordEast Coast Main LineDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5558More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make (a) an estimate of the proportion of London and North Eastern Railway services with limited stops that operate with under 65% seat occupancy and (b) a comparative assessment of the potential me
Answer: The Department continues to work with the rail industry to ensure the design of timetable meets stakeholders needs and makes effective use of infrastructure. If an Open Access operator wishes to compete with a contracted operator, such as LNER, it is free...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTrains: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5557More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential role of newly approved open access services in supporting British train (a) manufacturing, (b) assembly and (c) supply chains.
Answer: Privately owned and run open access operators can play a significant role in supporting UK train manufacturers, assemblers and their UK supply chains and are an important source of potential orders, both for new and cascaded rolling stock. It remains a m...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLondon North Eastern Railway: PassengersDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5556More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the percentage seat utilisation per mile on London and North Eastern Railway services to (a) York, (b) Leeds and (c) Newcastle.
Answer: LNER services have a high rate of seat utilisation which is comparable to or better than other inter-city long distance franchised operators. However, seat utilisation varies throughout the day as LNER make effective use of track capacity by running longe...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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