Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of aviation fuel is sourced from sustainable sources in the United Kingdom; and what are the most common sources from which this fuel is produced.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) Mandate – which came into effect at the start of this year - is the UK’s key policy to decarbonise jet fuel. It obligates the supply of an increasing amount of SAF in the overall UK aviation fuel mix; starting at 2% in 2025, reaching 15% in 2035 and 22% in 2040. Targets beyond 2040 will remain at the same level (22%) but will be kept under review – and can be increased as the market develops.
The UK is already making significant progress in the supply of SAF. 97 million litres of SAF were supplied in 2023, equivalent to 77 kilotonnes or 0.7% of all jet fuel supplied in the UK that year, and double the amount in the previous year. In 2023, 99.6% (96.3 million litres) of SAF was from used cooking oil and 0.4% (0.3 million litres) was from food waste.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what changes are forecast in the use of sustainable aviation fuel in the next (1) 10, and (2) 20, years.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) Mandate – which came into effect at the start of this year - is the UK’s key policy to decarbonise jet fuel. It obligates the supply of an increasing amount of SAF in the overall UK aviation fuel mix; starting at 2% in 2025, reaching 15% in 2035 and 22% in 2040. Targets beyond 2040 will remain at the same level (22%) but will be kept under review – and can be increased as the market develops.
The UK is already making significant progress in the supply of SAF. 97 million litres of SAF were supplied in 2023, equivalent to 77 kilotonnes or 0.7% of all jet fuel supplied in the UK that year, and double the amount in the previous year. In 2023, 99.6% (96.3 million litres) of SAF was from used cooking oil and 0.4% (0.3 million litres) was from food waste.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to reports of fraud in the letting of development contracts for Euston station by the Department for Transport to Lendlease, whether the Cabinet Office has any plans (1) to undertake an investigation, (2) to void the existing contract, and (3) to retender the development work at Euston station, in accordance with government procurement rules.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport do not recognise the reports of alleged ‘foul play’ in the letting of these contracts. HS2 Ltd acted as agent on behalf of Network Rail and DfT in procuring the Master Development Partner for the Euston Over-site Development. I have been assured that HS2 Ltd had in place rigorous procurement processes, which were aligned to all necessary legislation and best practice on public procurement, including in respect of the identification and management of conflicts of interest. The contracting approach and contract award were further scrutinised and approved by the department. Given this, the Department has no cause to further investigate or void the contract.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their latest estimate of the (1) completion date, and (2) overall capital cost at 2023 prices, of (a) HS2 London to Birmingham, (b) the upgrades to TransPennine infrastructure, (c) East West Rail, and (d) Network North.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
a) The Secretary of State has asked HS2 Ltd CEO, Mark Wild, to undertake an assessment of the current position on cost, schedule, capability and culture. While the Company is undergoing this reset, it will not be possible to state a meaningful Estimate at Completion. Work is continuing with HM Treasury and HS2 Ltd to reset the price base and report the costs of the programme in 2025 prices as part of the second phase of the Spending Review. The forecast date for initial HS2 services between Birmingham Curzon Street and Old Oak Common remains within the range of 2029 to 2033.
(b) The total Anticipated Final Cost of Transpennine Rail Upgrade is £10.4 - £11.2bn. Government has committed £6.9bn to date, equivalent to 60% of the anticipated final cost projection with an expected completion date of 2036–2041. So far, the programme has performed well and remains on schedule and within budget.
(c) £1.3bn has been provided towards the delivery of East West Rail Connection Stage 1 which will provide services from Oxford to Bletchley and Milton Keynes from 2025. The capital cost estimate for Connection Stages 2 (Oxford-Bedford) and 3 (Oxford-Cambridge) is £5bn-£6bn in 2021 prices. Connection Stage 2 will provide services from 2030, and Connection stage 3 will provide services from the mid-2030s.
(d) The previous Government made a series of funding promises in its Network North plan, the affordability of which my ministerial colleagues have had to re-examine. In December, the Chancellor launched the second stage of the Spending Review. This is a zero-based Spending Review, to ensure every line of spending – including the transport infrastructure portfolio – delivers the Plan for Change and provides good value for taxpayers. We expect the Spending Review to conclude by June 2025.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to place in the Library of the House a copy of the confidential document referred to in the Daily Telegraph on 18 December 2024, about the MV Ruby and its cargo of ammonium nitrate, as well as all correspondence with the Health and Safety Executive on this subject and any modelling of the dispersal of the chemical in sea water and its effect on marine life.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The MV Ruby has completed the successful discharge of her cargo and is currently undergoing repair in dry dock. The document referenced by the noble Lord was an internal briefing note and thus not prepared for publication, and we do not intend to provide any further documentation.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to ensure that its legal obligations to reduce nitrogen dioxide are met.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Officials from the Defra/Department for Transport Joint Air Quality Unit have been in regular contact and discussion with those in Greater Manchester Combined Authority, through Transport for Greater Manchester, throughout their development. We are currently considering the Greater Manchester proposals and will respond shortly.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what are the rules for All-Party Parliamentary Groups requiring them to advertise their future meetings; and who is responsible for monitoring and enforcing any non-compliance.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The arrangements for All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are set out in the The All-Party Parliamentary Groups Guide to the Rules. This states that the chair of the relevant APPG is responsible for the publication of certain meetings at least a week in advance in the All-Party Notices. The meetings which require a notice are an annual general meeting; an extraordinary general meeting; or any other meeting where a vote is to be held or a decision taken, or where there is an outside speaker. The notice in the All-Party Notices must include the details of a parliamentary contact and, if relevant, the name of the outside speaker.
The Guide to the Rules was approved by the House of Commons Standards Committee following a resolution of the House of Commons.
Paragraph 10 of the House of Commons Code of Conduct provides that an MP who is the chair and registered contact of an APPG must ensure that the APPG complies with the rules on APPGs. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards may investigate alleged breach of those rules. Members of the House of Lords are not permitted to be named as the chair and registered contact of an APPG but may be an office holder.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on developing the Avenue Verte cycle route launched at the UK–France Joint Leaders' Declaration in March 2023.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Avenue Verte cycle route was put in place in advance of the 2012 London Olympic Games, using existing National Cycle Network paths for the British section of the route. At the UK-France Joint Leaders’ Declaration, both nations agreed to promote the route in support of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. The Department of Transport commissioned Sustrans to deliver a series of promotional activities along the British side of the Avenue Verte walking and cycling route over 2024 and this is now complete. Sustrans is also assessing the feasibility of improving sections of the route as part of the Paths for Everyone programme.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 31 October (HL Deb col 1217), whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of any information or advice received from the Health and Safety Executive.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
HSE’s advice on the risks associated with the MV Ruby contained information relevant to national security. It is currently preparing a redacted version of the advice. As soon as it is available I will ensure a copy is placed in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 18 December (HL3382), whether they will publish a cost estimate for the construction of HS2 tunnels from Old Oak Common to Euston before construction work starts; and before its destination and design is published and approved, as required by government procurement rules.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Euston tunnels' scope is being delivered as part of the SCS Main Works Civils contract, and there are no plans for a new procurement process for this work. Due to commercial sensitivities, the department is unable to provide a specific cost breakdown for the Euston tunnels.
Previously published cost ranges for HS2 Phase One included the costs associated with the Euston tunnels. The Department is currently working with HS2 Ltd to review the Estimate at Completion (EAC) for HS2 Phase One. The results of this review, which include considerations of the Euston tunnels, will report to Parliament in due course.