Ticket Inspection 2022-02-03
2022-02-03
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP questions the current effectiveness of ticket inspections on railways, citing personal experience showing that such checks do not reach 100% coverage.
What recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of ticket inspection by rail operating companies? I thank the Minister for her reply but my experience is that ticket inspection falls very far short of 100%. As she says, the cost ultimately falls on other passengers and the taxpayer. What further steps can she take to ensure that the companies bear the burden of their inadequacies rather than the taxpayer?
The Government have consulted on changes to penalty fares to ensure that deterrents against fare evasion are effective and fair. Fare evasion costs other rail passengers and taxpayers, who ultimately subsidise the journeys of those who deliberately travel by train without paying the correct fare. My hon. Friend makes an important point, and he is right to take this seriously. I can assure him that the Department continues to encourage train operators to prioritise revenue protection and ensure that revenue is maximised and fraud is prevented. He is right to say that it is the responsibility of train operators to follow Government guidance in relation to this.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific steps requested by the MP to make companies cover the costs rather than taxpayers were not addressed specifically.
Working With Partners
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP questions the current effectiveness of ticket inspections on railways, citing personal experience showing that such checks do not reach 100% coverage.
What recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of ticket inspection by rail operating companies? I thank the Minister for her reply but my experience is that ticket inspection falls very far short of 100%. As she says, the cost ultimately falls on other passengers and the taxpayer. What further steps can she take to ensure that the companies bear the burden of their inadequacies rather than the taxpayer?
The Government have consulted on changes to penalty fares to ensure that deterrents against fare evasion are effective and fair. Fare evasion costs other rail passengers and taxpayers, who ultimately subsidise the journeys of those who deliberately travel by train without paying the correct fare. My hon. Friend makes an important point, and he is right to take this seriously. I can assure him that the Department continues to encourage train operators to prioritise revenue protection and ensure that revenue is maximised and fraud is prevented. He is right to say that it is the responsibility of train operators to follow Government guidance in relation to this.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The specific steps requested by the MP to make companies cover the costs rather than taxpayers were not addressed specifically.
Working With Partners
Response accuracy