Asked by: Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what regulations exist to protect electronic scooters from cyber threats.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department is currently developing technical standards for the construction of e-scooters. Protection against cyber threats, and its merits, will be considered as one of the requirements in these standards. Knowledge gained from the e-scooter trials as well as relevant evidence from other sources will be taken into account.
Asked by: Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the development renewable transport fuel obligation scheme will include non-biogenic waste.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Fuels made from non-biogenic waste are not currently eligible for support under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). The Department is working to determine whether it is appropriate to amend the RTFO to include incentives for fuels made from non-biogenic waste. It is important that any fuels being considered for inclusion in the RTFO deliver carbon savings, and ultimately contribute to the UK’s climate change commitments.
Officials have been working closely with industry and held a workshop in November 2018 where the issues relating to these fuels were discussed. Any proposal to include fuels from non-biogenic waste in the RTFO would be subject to a public consultation and the Parliamentary process.
Asked by: Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Network Rail on the implications of section 85 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 for the placement of overhead line equipment in areas of outstanding natural beauty.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Consultations with the relevant local communities are planned for January and February 2017, where residents will view the output of the Landscape and Visual Appraisals undertaken alongside potential design and mitigation measures that could be employed.
It would not be appropriate for the Department to pre-empt the outcome of that consultation process.
Asked by: Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether (a) public and (b) Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) consultations will be held on potential visually appropriate designs for the Great Western Mainline modernisation of overhead line equipment through AONB.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Consultations with the relevant local communities are planned for January and February 2017, where residents will view the output of the Landscape and Visual Appraisals undertaken alongside potential design and mitigation measures that could be employed.
Network Rail has been working with Natural England and the Conservation Officers for the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) & North Wessex Downs AONB already affected by works as part of the Great Western Mainline modernisation. They will develop a package of suitable retrospective mitigation measures including Overhead Line Electrification designs to ensure due regard is given to protecting the visual amenity of the AONBs.
Asked by: Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister of State of 26 October 2016, Official Report, column 136WH, when he plans to begin consultation on the study of safety on the A34.
Answered by John Hayes
On 26 October 2016, the Secretary of State for Transport tasked Highways England to carry out a safety study on the A34.
Highways England wrote to West Berkshire Council, Oxfordshire County Council and Thames Valley Police on 27 October 2016 inviting them to collaborate as part of this study. A further series of meetings have been arranged with key stakeholders in November to consider the scope of the safety study.
I will of course be meeting with the Hon Member and other Members whose constituencies are affected on 22 November to discuss further the safety of the A34.