Grant Shapps: The UK is working tirelessly to preserve stability in the Middle East and as such I have regular discussions with regional partners and our international allies including with NATO. These discussions cover a range of topics, including the conflict in Gaza and requirement for humanitarian assistance to our work with partners on protecting and deterring Houthi attacks against international...
Grant Shapps: UK defence spending is at its highest level in history and increasing in real terms. We have increased the budget for our Equipment Plan and set out our longer-term aspiration to invest 2.5% of GDP on defence. We continue to meet all operational commitments, including participating in every single NATO mission and tackling attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
Grant Shapps: I have overall responsibility for the business of the Department. All Ministers within Defence are responsible for policy and delivery areas. Teams across the Department will be conducting horizon-scanning and ensuring current work is aligned with long-term priorities. In addition, and pursuant to the answer of 13 September 2023 to Question 198126, there are approximately 113 officials in...
Grant Shapps: I am in the process of formalising my visit programme following my recent appointment. I look forward to visiting members of the Armed Forces around the UK and abroad, as I am keen to highlight the fantastic work they do to protect the nation and help it prosper.
Grant Shapps: The Secretary of State's Office for Net Assessment and Challenge currently has 30 staff members and aims to have 37 staff members by the end of this financial year. They are split as follows:Civilian - currently 20 staff members, with the aim to have 27 staff members by the end of this financial yearMilitary - currently 10 staff members
Grant Shapps: Powering Up Britain sets out the policies that enable our carbon budgets to be met. It demonstrates we are world leaders delivering on both energy security and net zero - two sides of the same coin.
Grant Shapps: Based on my dairy for the period, I was present in Great Minster House on the 1st, 15th and 21st July. I was also present at the Houses of Parliament on 2nd, 6th, 14th and 20th July. I was in self-solation following my return from Spain from 29th July to 12th August.
Grant Shapps: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 14 February 2020. The correct answer should have been: Highways England employed 61 staff on a base salary of £100,000 or more in 2018-19 2019-20. I have committed in the House to addressing this issue.
Grant Shapps: Highways England employed 61 staff on a base salary of £100,000 or more in 2018-19 2019-20. I have committed in the House to addressing this issue.
Grant Shapps: A White Paper based on the Williams Rail Review’s recommendations will be published in due course.
Grant Shapps: On 22 January, we announced that our new Veterans Railcard would be available from 11 November this year. Passengers will be fully appraised of the railcard’s validity before it goes live, and this will include how to apply and the detailed terms and conditions.
Grant Shapps: Great Western Railway’s (GWR’s) withdrawal from easitNETWORK is a matter for the operator, and the Department has therefore made no assessment of its effect on traffic congestion or air quality and has had no discussions with employers in Oxford about this. Any support for users of the easitNETWORK discount travel scheme when GWR withdraws from that scheme is also a matter for GWR.
Grant Shapps: We have made no specific assessment of the role of easitNETWORK in achieving new zero emissions by 2050. We are committed to improving the attractiveness of rail, having recently introduced the 16-17 Saver and 26-30 railcards, with a commitment to introducing a new railcard for veterans later this year.
Grant Shapps: The Office of Rail and Road has made the Department aware of the market study, but there have been no substantive discussions with DfT Ministers or officials.
Grant Shapps: The length of rolling stock leases is a commercial matter for the train operating companies to negotiate with rolling stock owners to meet their particular business needs. The Department makes available public register versions of franchise agreements, which set out the lease periods in the relevant schedules. They can be seen at www.gov.uk/government/collections/public-register-of-rail-pa...
Grant Shapps: We will be able to confirm the completion date once detailed designs are complete, and construction scheduled to ensure minimal disruption to passengers.
Grant Shapps: In accordance with Regulation (EU) No 376/2014, safety-related events which endanger or which, if not corrected or addressed, could endanger an aircraft, its occupants or any other person have to be reported to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The Regulation requires that the reporting, analysis and follow-up to such occurrences remain confidential. However, the Regulation does permit...
Grant Shapps: The Government’s guidance on the procurement of steel was published in November 2015 and subsequently updated in December 2016. All major government projects are required to take cognisance of the Crown Commercial Service Procurement Policy Note 11/16: “Procuring Steel in Major Projects - Revised Guidance” (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-poli...
Grant Shapps: The Wendover Mined Tunnel was considered in detail during the passage of the Phase One Bill in both the Commons and Lords committees. Cost comparisons of the consented scheme and the tunnelled alternatives were considered in evidence to both committees during the Bill process and the primary conclusion was that the now consented scheme would be less expensive than the tunnelled alternatives....
Grant Shapps: The Environmental Statement assessed the impact of the scheme on Water Resources (Volume 5 WR-002-010) in the Wendover area and specifically the impact of the green tunnel construction on water receptors. https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140613022805/ht tp://assets.dft.gov.uk/hs2-environmental-statement/volume-5/ water/vol5_CFA10_Water_resources_and_flood_risk_ass_Water_re...