Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of airspace modernisation in the UK.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Airspace Modernisation Strategy sets out the overarching approach through nine elements that will modernise aircraft-based navigation and airspace management. The Strategy aligns with International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Global Air Navigation Plan to ensure interoperability with neighbouring countries.
Parts 1 and 2 of the refreshed Strategy were published in January 2023 and set out strategic objectives and delivery elements. Part 3, which focuses on the deployment of the design elements, was published in July 2024 and outlines the delivery plans over the next 2 plus 5 years, and a new iteration will be published annually in line with the CAA’s Annual Report.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish their response to the Creating a UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS) consultation, which ran from 22 October 2024 to 17 December 2024.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The consultation on the proposed UK Airspace Design Service has now closed. The Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority are carefully considering the responses received to help inform the next stages of this project. The Government will set out its plans and the next steps later in 2025.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Civil Aviation Authority and NATS Holdings about the delays and cancellations at Edinburgh Airport on 15 December.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Air Traffic Control tower at Edinburgh airport is operated by Air Navigation Solutions (ANSL). Air Traffic Control tower operations are commercial agreements between the Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) and the airport concerned. Neither the Government or the Civil Aviation Authority has any involvement in the awarding of these contracts.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Civil Aviation Authority, airline carriers and authorities of the main airports about the operation of the air traffic control system following technical failures at Edinburgh Airport on 15 December; and what assessment they have made of the operation of air traffic control technology.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Air Traffic Control tower operations at UK airports are commercial agreements between the Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) and the airport concerned. The Government, Civil Aviation Authority and airlines do not have any involvement in these agreements.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Motorcycles in bus lanes consultation outcome, published on 21 November, what assessment they have made of the compatibility of their statement that they have "no policy to promote greater uptake of motorcycles" with a multi-pathway approach to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
This Government is committed to delivering greener transport to help achieve net zero by 2050, kickstart economic growth, make Britain a clean energy superpower and improve public health.
Mode shift away from more polluting vehicles plays an important role in delivering greener and more active transport and the Government will be ambitious in encouraging journeys by public and shared transport, and active travel. The Department aims to do this by transforming infrastructure and improving public transport to deliver more choice for freight and passengers.
At present, the Government has no policy to encourage or discourage greater use of motorcycles. The Government supports the purchase of zero emission motorcycles with the plug-in motorcycle grant for those who want to switch to an electric motorcycle. This is available until at least March 2025 and since 2016 has supported the purchase of over 14,000 mopeds and motorcycles.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport on 11 September (HC4346), what assessment they have made of the report A Licence to Net Zero, published by the Motorcycle Industry Association on 16 October 2023, and the implications for their policies of its proposals on the licensing regime for mopeds.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport continues to work with the Motorcycle Industry Association and in response to their report A Licence to Net Zero, requested additional road safety evidence to demonstrate that any potential reforms would be safe for all road users including mopeds. This has now been received and will be analysed in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Zemo Partnership’s Delivery Roadmap for Net Zero Transport, published on 5 December, particularly in the light of their statement that they have "no policy to encourage greater use of motorcycles".
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
This Government is committed to delivering greener transport and accelerating net zero and will study Zemo Partnership’s roadmap with great interest. The Government is supporting the increased uptake of zero emission motorcycles through the plug-in motorcycle grant until at least March 2025.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Motorcycles in bus lanes consultation outcome, published on 21 November, what further research they have planned, if any, to determine whether allowing motorcycles default access to bus lanes would improve road safety for vulnerable road users.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department has no plans at present to carry out research into the safety impacts of allowing greater access to bus lanes.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to have discussions with British Airways regarding the late announcement of the cancellation of flights between Belfast and London.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
I recognise the importance of connectivity between London and Belfast and welcomed the recent Urgent Question on this issue earlier this month.
The Department meets regularly with airlines, including British Airways, to discuss a variety of topics. This includes operational performance and regional connectivity. The Department will continue to meet with airlines to discuss these topics going forward.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of ongoing air connectivity between Belfast and London.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We recognise the importance of maintaining a thriving and competitive aviation sector in the UK that supports and strengthens Union connectivity.
Passengers between Belfast and London are well served with a choice of between 22 and 35 flights per day, depending on the season, between Belfast’s two airports (Belfast City and Belfast International) and five London airports (Gatwick, Heathrow, City, Luton and Stansted).