Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether staff employed in the railway industry will be able to make complaints to the new rail ombudsman.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The new Rail Ombudsman is being established to investigate and rule on unresolved complaints by passengers.
Staff employed in the railway industry will be able to use the Rail Ombudsman if, as a passenger, they are unhappy with the response from the rail company to a complaint about their rail journey.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks to passengers from overcrowded trains in hot weather.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
All Train Operator Companies must comply with all relevant health and safety regulations. The Office of Rail and Road monitors and enforces compliance with the health and safety legislation on Britain’s rail network.
All passengers are being given hot weather advice announcements and train staff are giving assistance where necessary.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many International Driving Permits were in issued in (1) 2015, and (2) 2016.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
International Driving Permits (IDPs) in the formats specified in the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1926 Paris Convention which the UK is party to are currently issued under the authority of the Secretary of State by the AA and the RAC. The Department for Transport does not hold or collect year-on-year figures for IDP issuance, but understands that approximately 110,000 IDPs were issued in 2016 with almost 100,000 of these being issued via Post Office counters under a contract with the AA.
These figures cover both convention formats. The vast majority of IDPs are issued in the 1949 Convention format, as the 1926 Convention only currently applies in three countries.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the timescale for the reopening of the Oxford–Cambridge rail link.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn Budget reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the reopening of the Oxford-Cambridge rail link and the realisation of this important growth corridor’s full potential. A new East West Rail Company has been established to accelerate delivery, with the aim of completing the full route by the mid-2020s.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which local authorities have so far been allocated funds from the Pothole Action Fund.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
To date the Department has allocated £120 million from the Pothole Action Fund to all the local highway authorities in England, outside London, with the exception of Birmingham, Sheffield and the Isle of Wight as they have operational highway maintenance Private Finance Initiative contracts. Details of this funding can be found in the announcements of 7 April 2016 and 13 January 2016 on the Department’s website (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
Her Majesty's Government how they are working with van and truck manufacturers to improve vehicle safety.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The fact that the market for road vehicles is a global one has meant that safety standards are developed through international bodies, most notably the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The UK is actively engaged in such discussions at UNECE and, in advance of meetings and as a matter of routine, consults with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), who represent the UK industry.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice they are giving to farmers to reduce the number of incidents of mud getting onto the roads.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Vehicle operators, contractors and farmers who deposit mud on the road are potentially liable for a range of offences as set out in the Highways Act 1980 (as amended) and the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Whilst the Department for Transport does not provide specific advice to farmers, the National Farmers Union provides advice in respect to mud on the road to their members through their website.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of driverless car technology.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government recognises the transformative potential that Connected and Automated Vehicles technologies have for mobility and our transport system, and the significant opportunities that exist for UK industry in their development and commercialisation. The Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles was established in July 2015 between the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Transport, to lead on this agenda.