Asked by: Lord Condon (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to extend the use of smart motorways; and what criteria will be used to assess the safety and operational efficiency of the existing smart motorways.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Government is increasing road capacity as outlined in the Road Investment Strategy (RIS) for 2015 to 2020 and includes the ongoing conversion of the motorway hard shoulder into a running lane, known as the Smart Motorways. Following construction, all smart motorway schemes are monitored to assess their safety and operational performance by measuring changes in journey times, congestion and journey time reliability, as well as safety figures.
England’s motorways are among the safest roads in the world and Highways England is confident that smart motorways will maintain this. On sections of the most recently completed schemes on the M25, the monitoring shows that collision and casualty rates are down, congestion is reduced and there are fewer unexpected delays.
Asked by: Lord Condon (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to assist in the resolution of the industrial dispute between Southern Rail and some of its staff and their unions.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
This, like any other industrial dispute between a Train Operating Company and a trades union, is a matter for the union and operator to resolve. The Government condemns any industrial action that disrupts the travelling public. RMT has advised its members to accept the new On-Board Supervisor roles on offer. The Government’s strong opinion is there are no grounds at all for any further industrial action and these strikes must stop now.
Asked by: Lord Condon (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the disruption to rail passengers in Kent on 6 June, what action they are taking to ensure a more reliable service for rail passengers travelling between Kent and London terminals.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
My Hon Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Claire Perry MP, as Rail Minister, chairs a monthly meeting with Network Rail, train operators in the South East, Transport Focus, and Department for Transport officials. This group monitors performance and passenger experience and it is absolutely committed to identifying improvements and ensuring rail passengers see the benefits of these improvements being delivered. Network Rail and Southeastern both need to show much greater improvement in their ability to fix faults quickly and communicate with their passengers more effectively. The Department will ensure that lessons are learned from the disruption in Kent that day.
Asked by: Lord Condon (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in providing alternatives to Operation Stack in Kent in the event of further serious disruption to the operation of the channel ferries or the Channel Tunnel.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Government has listened to the communities and businesses of Kent and taken action to deal with the causes and effects of Operation Stack. In Autumn Statement 2015, the Chancellor announced up to £250m for an off-road lorry area.
Highways England completed a public consultation on proposals on 26 January 2016 and is now carefully assessing all the responses. Subject to the outcome of this assessment, the Government intends to make public its next steps shortly.
As an interim measure, the Government secured the use of a site at Manston in North Kent last summer. The Department for Transport and Highways England continue to work with Kent partners, including the county and district councils, emergency services, hauliers and ports to reduce the impact of Operation Stack on Kent should it need to be implemented.
Asked by: Lord Condon (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made with the first phase of research into how telematics can reduce accident rates among young drivers; and when the second phase of the research will begin.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Phase one of the telematics research project has been completed and a written report is currently being finalised for Ministerial consideration. Initiation of phase two research will be dependent upon the findings from phase one.
Asked by: Lord Condon (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to review the current driving test and the introduction of a graduated driving licence, in the light of changes to vehicle technology including navigation systems, assisted parking and mobile communications and the over representation of young drivers in serious and fatal accidents.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
Britain has some of the safest roads in the world. However, young drivers are disproportionately involved in collisions.
There is a difficult balance to strike between promoting young drivers safety and their freedom to access work and education.
We won’t rule out further measures, but at present we are focussing our efforts on technological solutions.
We commissioned research into how telematics can reduce accident rates among young drivers and the findings will help to shape future road safety policy. A description of the research requirement has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
We expect phase one to be completed in April 2015. The timing of phase two will be dependent on the first phase.
Asked by: Lord Condon (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to assess the effectiveness of "Operation Stack", the parking of lorries on the M20 Motorway, in the event of serious disruption at the Channel Tunnel.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
The Government are taking steps to assess the effectiveness of Operation Stack and on 22 January, My Rt Hon Friend, the Minister of State for Transport, the Hon Member for South Holland and the Deepings (John Hayes) met with a number of Honourable Members from the Kent area to discuss Operation Stack in more detail. As a result, officials are:
1) working with key partners to determine the feasibility of a number of lorry parks and any new or innovative approaches to reduce the impact of Operation Stack; and
2) investigating plans for additional parking capacity being undertaken by Dover Harbour Board, Eurotunnel and other developers.
Asked by: Lord Condon (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they are monitoring the growth in use of unmanned aerial vehicles ("drones"); and whether they consider the current legal framework is adequate for the purpose of regulating the use of drones.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
Operators undertaking commercial aerial work using Remotely Piloted Aircraft need the permission of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The CAA keeps a record of permissions given to those operators.
The regulation of small unmanned aircraft is specifically covered by two articles within the Air Navigation Order, which legislate for the ‘general’ flying aspects and the flight of those equipped for surveillance. However, as well as these specific articles, a more general article, which prevents a person ‘causing or permitting an aircraft to endanger the safety of any person or property’, also remains applicable.
We do not believe that any additional regulatory changes are needed to ensure adequate privacy and data protection.
Asked by: Lord Condon (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times since the permitting of ship to ship oil transfers off the coast of Southwold, Suffolk, in 2011, Maritime and Coastguard Agency surveyors, or other relevant staff, have boarded vessels engaged in ship to ship transfers to carry out a Port State Control Inspection.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
Maritime and Coastguard Agency surveyors, or other relevant staff, have undertaken a total of 38 Port State Control inspections in support of Ship to Ship transfer operations, during the period 1 January 2011 to 27 June 2014.