Sue Robb of 4Children talks to Julie Laughton and Alison Britton from the Department for Education about the role of childminders in delivering the 30 hours free entitlement.
Bidder shortlist revealed for HS2 franchise
The government has announced the companies in the running for the new West Coast Partnership (WCP) rail franchise and the next South Eastern franchise.
he Department for Transport (DfT) said First Trenitalia West Coast, MTR West Coast Partnership and West Coast Partnership had all been shortlisted for the franchise, which will design and run the HS2 high speed services between London and Birmingham from 2026.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said the West Coast Partnership would help to ‘ensure that HS2 becomes the backbone of Britain's railways’.
Ambitions for the franchise include: creating more space for passengers on modern comfortable trains; increasing the reliability of trains by using the latest technology while reducing delays by encouraging the operator to work closely with Network Rail; improving passenger compensation arrangements and supporting smart ticketing; and improving customer service, with staff able to respond quickly and effectively, including during disruption.
Grayling said: “The West Coast Partnership will support growth and better services on the West Coast Main Line while helping to ensure that HS2 becomes the backbone of Britain’s railways. This will create more seats for passengers, improve connections between our great cities, free up space on existing rail lines and generate jobs and economic growth throughout the country. I look forward to seeing the bidders’ innovative ideas to put passengers at the heart of the railway.
“South Eastern is one of the busiest franchises in the UK, running almost 2,000 services every weekday. We want passengers to be at the heart of everything that the new operator does, enjoying modern, spacious trains on a more punctual and reliable service. We will listen to what passengers say in the current public consultation, and we will seek to make changes and improvements only with their support.
Latest News
25/04/2024 - 12:28
The Welsh government will work with councils to set out a three-phase plan to implement a 20mph limit.
25/04/2024 - 11:56
£11 million of grant funding has been confirmed for public sector bodies in Scotland.
25/04/2024 - 10:32
The Labour Party has announced that it would renationalise most passenger rail services within five years.
25/04/2024 - 10:13
An emergency meeting of the Scottish Cabinet was called this morning.
25/04/2024 - 09:48
A Scottish government-backed deep-water terminal connecting the Western Isles has been handed over to operators.
Company Focus
The Isuzu D-Max is a rugged workhorse that can fulfil a myriad of purposes as both a business and personal vehicle. Consequently, the D-Max is a particularly popular choice when it comes to farming, construction, and trade industries. Uncompromising in nature, the D-Max strives to be the ideal companion for many business needs.
Event Diary
UKREiiF has quickly become a must-attend in the industry calendar for Government departments and local authorities.
The multi-award-winning UK Construction Week (UKCW), is the UK’s biggest trade event for the built environment that connects the whole supply chain to be the catalyst for growth and positive change in the industry.
Supplier Profiles
At GeoEnergy Design, we're on a mission to disrupt the traditional way heating and cooling ha
Latest Features
Professor Harith Alani, director of the Knowledge Management Institute at the Open University explains how AI can be used for good and bad.
Alex Lawrence, head of health & social care, techUK sets out techUK’s Five Point Plan for CareTech.
