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 interruptions to flights from several airports in the UK on 8 September due to issues with national air traffic control services.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government apologises to passengers across the United Kingdom who faced significant disruption as a result of the issues that impacted NATS’ operation on 8 September, resulting in delays and cancellations for a large number of passengers, as well as the disruption that it has caused for industry. Let us be clear that disruption of this kind is absolutely unacceptable.
Department for Transport officials worked closely with NATS, airports and airlines throughout the incident and recovery period to monitor impacts and provide support where necessary. The Department also provided night flight alleviations, where required, to assist airports in recovering operations.
The Secretary of State asked NATS to provide a report by Wednesday 16 September setting out the cause of the incident and the actions taken in response and has also asked the CAA to conduct an independent review into this matter immediately. The Department will continue to work closely with NATS and the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure the root cause is fully understood, lessons are identified, and appropriate steps are taken to minimise the risk of similar disruption occurring in future.
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 the effectiveness of the Plug-In Motorcycle Grant
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Between 2016 and grant closure, the Plug-in Motorcycle Grant supported over 15,500 zero emission vehicles.
Ending the ÂŁ500 per vehicle Plug-in Motorcycle Grant is not expected to have a significant impact on uptake of zero emission motorcycles or on riders. The Government, working with industry, will continue to monitor the development of the zero emission motorcycle market and the need for any further interventions on an ongoing basis.
The Government continues to focus available funding to the areas where it can have the greatest impact.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government why they have made the decision to end the Plug-in Motorcycle Grant.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Between 2016 and grant closure, the Plug-in Motorcycle Grant supported over 15,500 zero emission vehicles.
Ending the ÂŁ500 per vehicle Plug-in Motorcycle Grant is not expected to have a significant impact on uptake of zero emission motorcycles or on riders. The Government, working with industry, will continue to monitor the development of the zero emission motorcycle market and the need for any further interventions on an ongoing basis.
The Government continues to focus available funding to the areas where it can have the greatest impact.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they have taken to carry out targeted outreach to increase the number of women in the rail industry.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government continues to work with arm’s length bodies and industry partners to deliver targeted outreach to increase women’s participation in rail careers. This includes early career engagement programmes, apprenticeship pathways, and outreach in schools and universities to promote rail as an appealing career choice.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of workers within the rail industry are women; and what steps they are taking to encourage women into that industry.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
According to the National Skills Academy for Rail 2025 Annual Workforce Survey, 18.9 per cent of the UK rail workforce is female.
The rail industry is expanding access for women through school and university outreach, targeted recruitment, improved welfare and facilities and more inclusive policies. There are also industry initiatives to help attract, retain, and progress women into skilled and leadership roles, including apprenticeship schemes and mentoring and leadership programmes from Women in Rail and Rail Unites for Inclusion, which continue to see record engagement.
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 (1) the number of women who leave the rail workforce before retirement, and (2) the reasons why women leave the industry.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We do not hold official data on attrition of women in the rail industry. However, industry insights highlight a range of factors that can influence retention including representation in senior roles, inclusive workplace culture and access to flexible or job share opportunities.
Through the creation of Great British Railways, we are actively establishing a more inclusive, modern culture, increasing representation to better attract and retain a diverse workforce.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of why women are less likely to enter the rail industry.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Yes, working with the industry the Government has assessed the factors influencing women’s participation in the rail industry and has identified areas to broaden participation. Areas include, for example, representation in leadership roles, flexible working patterns and increasing awareness of the range of rail careers available. Research in this area continues to guide the Government’s work with the rail sector to ensure a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether shipping businesses operating out of Northern Ireland will be able to access the decarbonisation support funds made available under the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition and the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure competition.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
UK SHORE funding is open to organisations in all four nations of the UK, including Northern Ireland which is subject to the Windsor Framework. There has been at least one project involving businesses from Northern Ireland in each round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competitions, and we anticipate Northern Irish businesses will apply for both the seventh round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC7) and second round of the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure competition (ZEVI2). For full details of the subsidy control and eligibility criteria, prospective applicants will be able to seek further information from Innovate UK who are running roadshow events on the funding across the UK, including in Northern Ireland.
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 the compatibility of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition and the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure competition with the Windsor Framework’s rules on state aid.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
UK SHORE funding is open to organisations in all four nations of the UK, including Northern Ireland which is subject to the Windsor Framework. There has been at least one project involving businesses from Northern Ireland in each round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competitions, and we anticipate Northern Irish businesses will apply for both the seventh round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC7) and second round of the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure competition (ZEVI2). For full details of the subsidy control and eligibility criteria, prospective applicants will be able to seek further information from Innovate UK who are running roadshow events on the funding across the UK, including in Northern Ireland.
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 the impact of illegal e-bikes and e-scooters on the L-Category sector; and what steps they are taking to ensure a fair, safe, and properly regulated micro-mobility market.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department continues to engage with the Motorcycle Industry Association to better understand how the micromobility and L-category sectors interact and can best support people in making the journeys that matter to them in a safe, efficient and cost-effective way.
The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles when parliamentary time allows. This will create safe, legal routes for people to use new transport technology, and help the police to crack down on those who use them in an irresponsible or anti-social way.