Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with other countries regarding the development of automated vehicles, including in relation to developing common standards for such vehicles.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
UK officials actively participate in various international fora to discuss standards for automated vehicles.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations has been developing technical requirements for automated vehicles for over 5 years, and the Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety is considering wider safety implications.
The UK is an active participant in both fora, working to drive development of requirements to assure the safety of such vehicles.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with the devolved administrations regarding automated vehicles.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We are grateful to officials in the Devolved Administrations for the productive engagement that we have had so far on the Automated Vehicles Bill. The Automated Vehicles Bill implements the recommendations of a four-year review by the Law Commission of England and Wales, and the Scottish Law Commission.
In line with legislative processes, we will seek legislative consent from Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru where appropriate.
We are keen for Great Britain to share in the benefits of these planned measures and look forward to the support of the Devolved Administrations as this Bill moves through parliamentary passage.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect on climate change goals of the cancellation of the Birmingham to Manchester leg of HS2.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The cancellation of HS2 between the West Midlands and Manchester does not change our ambition to achieve the Government’s stated climate targets and objectives, and the Government remains committed to achieving Net Zero by 2050.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with Royal Mail about ways of addressing its labour shortages.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Operational decisions, including staffing and recruitment policies, are a matter for Royal Mail as a private business. The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s operational or commercial decisions.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many successful prosecutions of people-smugglers there have been in England and Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote the sharing of best practice in the provision of NHS services, including between (1) services in England, and (2) services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the governments of other G7 members or EU countries regarding bringing people-smugglers to justice.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Royal Mail concerning increases to the price of postage stamps; and whether the matter of delivery target failures was raised during those discussions.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As a private business, Royal Mail’s management sets the prices for its services and in doing so must work within the regulatory framework set by Ofcom, the independent regulator. The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s day-to-day commercial decisions.
It is for Ofcom to set and monitor Royal Mail’s service standards. Ofcom has powers to investigate and take enforcement action should Royal Mail fail to achieve its obligations without good justification.
Ofcom is currently undertaking an investigation into Royal Mail’s failure to meet its quality of service performance targets for 2022-23.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect a decision to be announced regarding the closure of railway ticket offices.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The consultation on ticket offices closed on 1 September. We are now in a period where the independent passenger bodies (Transport Focus and London TravelWatch) are engaging with train operators on the basis of the consultation responses they have received and the criteria they have set out. We expect train operators to work collaboratively with the passenger bodies in the coming weeks, to listen to the concerns raised and to refine their proposals accordingly.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what reassurances regarding employment they are providing to railway station staff in advance of a decision about the closure of railway ticket offices.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Whilst it is our expectation that no currently staffed station should be unstaffed as a result of industry changes, it is for train operators to decide on their staffing arrangements at each of the stations from which they operate services, so they can best meet the needs of passengers. As part of this train operators will discuss employment matters with trade unions as part of their own collective bargaining processes.