Asked by: Earl Attlee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Vallance of Balham on 3 December (HL Deb cols 1033–1034), whether they have an agreed retaliation doctrine for the cutting of UK undersea cables.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK Government constantly monitors and regularly assesses the security of critical national infrastructure, including energy and telecommunications assets in the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone. This is a whole-of-Government effort involving multiple Departments, including the Ministry of Defence.
While it is not appropriate for us to discuss the specifics of response options, our adversaries should be in no doubt of our ability to protect the UK and its interests, and that any deliberate attack on UK infrastructure would be met with an appropriate response.
Asked by: Earl Attlee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, they have made of requiring operators of mobile cranes to be licensed in a similar way to those licensed under the Goods Vehicles Licensing of Operators Act 1995.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Mobile cranes mounted on an HGV chassis are not exempt from the requirements contained in the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995. However, cranes which are specially built, or adapted for some lifting operations are exempt from operator licensing, and other regulations, covering Construction and Use, Authorised Weight, and Goods Vehicle Type Approval Regulations. These specially built vehicles are instead authorised to be used on the public highway by Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) Order 2003 (STGO). The rationale for the difference is that these vehicles are typically used for the purposes of construction and demolition and are normally only used on the public highway on a limited basis to move between sites.
The Department for Transport has previously considered bringing mobile cranes which are not based on an HGV chassis into the scope of operator licensing, most recently when undertaking a review of plating and testing requirements of heavy vehicles which are exempt from roadworthiness testing. At that time, it was not deemed proportionate to include them in the scope of operator licensing. This position is kept under review.
Asked by: Earl Attlee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how their proposed Great British Railways organisation will differ from the Strategic Rail Authority that was abolished in 2006.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) did not integrate track and train, nor was it intended to.
Great British Railways will integrate track and train at a route and operating company level, thus reducing costs, increasing revenue and improving performance, thus serving passengers, freight and the taxpayer.
Asked by: Earl Attlee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have received the report by the Earl Attlee, Harassment of the Heavy Haulage Industry by West Midlands Police, dated 10 May; and if so, whether they found it to be inaccurate, unfair or technically incorrect.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
I can confirm that the Department for Transport has received a copy of the noble Lord’s report. In common with other road traffic laws, policing of abnormal loads is an operational matter for the police. Any complaints about West Midlands Police’s handling of abnormal loads movements should be taken up with the Chief Constable.
Asked by: Earl Attlee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State granted one or more Special Orders under section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 which permitted the movement of long trams from the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre in Dudley to the Metro Maintenance Centre in Wednesbury on 15 February; and if so, whether the haulier who moved a tram on that date gave five clear working days’ notice to all the relevant authorities in accordance with the relevant Special Order.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
National Highways did issue a special order for the movement of ten trams from Dudley to Wednesbury.
Whilst the Department cannot respond on behalf of the other relevant authorities, the haulier did give five clear working days’ notice to National Highways for the movement on 15th February.
Asked by: Earl Attlee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Malvern Hills Trust, also known as the Malvern Hills Conservators, is considered to be a public body and, if so, for what purposes.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Malvern Hills Trust, also known as the Malvern Hills Conservators, is not considered to be a public body.
Asked by: Earl Attlee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government further to the remarks by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 9 February 2023 (HL Deb col 1425), whether it is their policy that the integrity of the money laundering regulations is to be prioritised over facilitating the export of armoured fighting vehicles to Ukraine under previously granted export licences.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Notwithstanding that the comments referred to were made by the previous government, this government’s policy is that the Money Laundering Regulations are a vital part of the UK’s comprehensive economic crime response and should not be a barrier to legitimate customers.
While the process of granting an export licence is thorough, it does not consider the source of funds related to the movement of relevant goods. It is therefore right that firms are required to carry out their own, risk-based due diligence when providing financial services to those engaged in the defence industry, regardless of any licences those customers may hold.
Asked by: Earl Attlee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many drivers hold (1) a Category C licence and (2) a Category C+E licence; and of each of these groups, how many hold a valid Driver Certificate of Professional Competence.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
As at 20 July 2024, the number of driving licence holders with (1) Category C and (2) Category C+E driving entitlement is shown below:
The number of these drivers who hold a valid Driver Certificate of Professional Competence is shown below:
Asked by: Earl Attlee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the (1) establishment, and (2) personnel strength, of each of the battalions of the Foot Guards, broken down by (a) commissioned officers, (b) senior non-commissioned officers, and (c) other ranks.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The table below shows the Trade Trained Regular Army Personnel within Foot Guard Battalions serving at Regimental Duty by Paid Rank, as at 1 January 2024.
I am withholding part (1) regarding the workforce requirement (establishment) as disclosure would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the British Army.
Paid Rank | 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards | 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards | 1st Battalion Scots Guards | 1st Battalion Irish Guards | 1st Battalion Welsh Guards |
Total | 530 | 490 | 540 | 390 | 410 |
Commissioned Officers | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
Warrant Officers | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Senior Non-Commissioned Officers | 50 | 40 | 50 | 40 | 40 |
Junior Non-Commissioned Officers | 140 | 110 | 170 | 100 | 100 |
Privates | 290 | 280 | 260 | 210 | 230 |
Source: Analysis Army
Table notes/caveats:
Asked by: Earl Attlee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many businesses, or their obvious subsidiaries, have been granted a Special Order under section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to move an abnormal load, or loads, at a gross weight exceeding 150 tonnes in the most recent 12-month period for which the figures are available.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
National Highways, who manage motorways and major A roads in England, between April 2023 and March 2024 issued 20 hauliers with a Special-Order permit for vehicles with a S.O. weight exceeding 150,000kgs. Data for roads managed by local authorities is not held by the Department for Transport.