Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to regulate the use of automated robots used for supermarket deliveries to ensure their safety, particularly regarding (1) pedestrians, (2) motorists, and (3) other road users.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government has no current plans to legislate in this space. However, we are determined to seize the opportunities of emerging micromobility and tackle any negative impacts which may arise. We are actively monitoring the industry, new vehicle types, and new business models, and we will keep under review the case for legislative change.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the results of the pilot schemes for renting e-scooters.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department monitors how the e-scooter trials are running on a continuing basis to ensure they are operating safely and developing the evidence base that will inform our future decisions on e-scooters.
A second national evaluation of e-scooter trials will start early this year. This will look to understand what journeys are being replaced by e-scooter journeys and how they integrate with public transport; their safety for users and for others; and examine accessibility impacts of e-scooters. It will also explore changing travel patterns since the coronavirus pandemic, when the trials were initially set up, and as e-scooters have become more embedded in public life.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to regulate the operation of privately owned e-scooters in public spaces, and (2) to introduce mandatory insurance for them.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government understands the need to resolve the longstanding question of regulating micromobility devices such as e-scooters. We are carefully considering next steps on this.
As part of policy development, we are working with local authorities and industry through our e-scooter trials to inform options for future regulation. Any option requiring users of private e-scooters to have insurance will require careful consideration. No decisions have been made on the future regulation of e-scooters and the Government will consult before any regulations come into force.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to put road traffic offences for bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters on an equivalent basis to other vehicles.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
This Government takes road safety seriously, and we are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. We are currently considering policy options in this area.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support under Railway 200 there will be for Heritage Rail.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Railway 200 is a partner led initiative to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. Network Rail are leading the initiative in partnership with industry, Government and a wide range of other partners including the Heritage Railway Association. Many heritage railways are playing an active part with events planned throughout the year and advertised on the Railway 200 website under the Railway 200 banner.
The programme is encouraging all heritage railways across the country to join the celebrations with a ‘whistle off’ at midday on 1 January 2025 and Visit Britain are a key partner, encouraging more tourists to visit events throughout the year.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the status of the land which was purchased as part of HS2 and is no longer required; and whether that land will be returned or rented to previous owners to enable them to continue to farm it.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
This government is carefully reviewing the position it has inherited on HS2 and wider rail infrastructure and will set out detailed plans in due course. These will include our plans for a disposal programme for land and property acquired for HS2 that is no longer required.
Where any land and property asset has been acquired compulsorily, or via statutory blight and is no longer required, then it will be sold subject to the Crichel Down Rules. These require government departments, under certain circumstances, to offer back surplus land to the former owner or the former owner’s successors at the current market value.
In the majority of cases, where agricultural land acquired for HS2 is not required operationally, former owners are offered the opportunity to continue to use and farm the land. This is documented by way of either a licence or Farm Business Tenancy depending on the circumstances and proposed use of the land.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to making insurance cover for pedal bikes, e- bikes and e-scooters compulsory; and what assessment they have made of the benefits that could be gained.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Those who cycle on public roads are encouraged, but not required, to take out some form of insurance, and many cyclists have insurance cover through their membership of cycling organisations. Any change requiring cyclists to have insurance before cycling on the public highway would be likely to have unintended consequences such as putting many people off cycling. This would have adverse impacts on health and congestion.
It is illegal to use privately owned e-scooters on public roads, cycle lanes and pavements, and rental e-scooters can only be hired in e-scooter trials areas. The e-scooters used in the rental trials are covered by full motor vehicle insurance policies.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) serious injuries, and (2) deaths, of pedestrians occurred as a result of dangerous or careless cycling on pedal bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters in each of the past three years.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The information requested is not held by the Department.
Statistics on road casualties reported to police, including where pedestrians are injured in collisions with pedal cycles or e-scooters, are published annually.
However, this data does not attribute causation to collisions which means that it is not possible to determine in how many cases deaths or injuries to pedestrians were the result of dangerous or careless cycling.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made on the impact on the Motor Insurers' Bureau of accidents caused by pedal bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters in the absence of any insurance cover.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We have made no assessment of the impact on the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) of incidents involving e-bikes and e-scooters. However, pedal cycles and Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPCs) do not require insurance, so they have no impact on the MIB.
The Government regularly meets with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau to discuss issues around micromobility insurance.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent inappropriate cycling on pavements by pedal bikes, electric bikes and e-scooters.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Cycling on the pavement and on footpaths is an offence under Section 72 of the Highways Act 1835, other than in designated areas such as on bridleways and shared use paths. This applies to all cycles, whether electrically assisted or otherwise. The enforcement of cycling offences is a matter for the police.
It is illegal to use private e-scooters on public roads, cycle lanes and pavements, and rental e-scooters can only be used in national rental e-scooter trial areas. As with cycling offences, enforcement is a matter for the police.