Small Boat Deaths: Cranston Inquiry Report
Debate between Lord Dubs and Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill(2 days, 9 hours ago)
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The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill) (Lab)
My Lords, this was a sobering report setting out the circumstances that led to the tragic loss of over 30 lives. Our sympathies remain with all those affected. Significant improvements have been made since 2021, including more people and assets, new technologies and strengthened departmental oversight. However, we must learn from the inquiry and do everything we can to prevent anything like it happening again. We are carefully considering the report and plan an interim response by the end of May.
Lord Dubs (Lab)
I am grateful to my noble friend—he has answered half my question already. The report has highlighted that there are very serious deficiencies in our ability to rescue people at sea and that we compare unfavourably with Italy and Greece, which have more and better-equipped boats. The RNLI and Border Force do a wonderful job in trying to save lives, but they are not well equipped with their boats to do so. I hope the Minister will do all he can to implement as much of the Cranston report as possible as quickly as possible before the summer comes along and more people are liable to drown in the channel.
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)
My Lords, the first thing to say is that crossings of the English Channel in these circumstances are extraordinarily dangerous. Notwithstanding that, more than 152,000 people have been successfully rescued since November 2021. There are now five dedicated Border Security Command vessels in the channel available for search and rescue tasking; these successfully conduct approximately 93% of the rescues in the channel and are supported by RNLI vessels when required. I pay tribute, as I am sure the House also does, to the RNLI volunteers and indeed all those who contribute to life-saving in the English Channel and elsewhere. The Government recognise the gravity of the matters Sir Ross Cranston has reported on and are determined to take all actions necessary following his report.
E-scooters, E-bikes and Pedal Bikes: Legislation
Debate between Lord Dubs and Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill(9 months, 1 week ago)
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Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)
Last time the noble Lord said that to me, I repeated the answer I gave him on 1 April, which is that
“I do not … care to be lectured about drift by somebody who represents a party that did an experiment in 2021, published some results in 2022 and then did nothing”.—[Official Report, 1/4/25; col. 117.]
That answer is still the same. The Government, as the noble Lord heard in answer to the Question asked by the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh, are considering what to do. It is a complex problem. I have explained to the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon, among others, that we have to make some decisions about what needs to be in legislation. It is not a simple thing to do, and it is a great shame that his Government did not contemplate and do something about it.
Lord Dubs (Lab)
My Lords, somebody has to speak up on behalf of pedal bikes. I say that as somebody who cycled from London to Vienna and back many years ago, when I was younger, and somebody who was also knocked down by a pedal bike two or three years ago. Is it not the right policy to encourage the widest possible use of pedal bikes? It is healthy and good for the environment.
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)
I thank my noble friend. I have cycled only as far as Amsterdam on a pedal bike, so I admire him for going to Vienna and back. I am not sure that I could do it now.
The reason why I answered the original question the way that I did is that it is very important not to put people off a mode of transport that is environmentally friendly and safe and, when done in the right way, is a huge benefit to our society. That is why registration and insurance of pedal bikes is such a difficult issue, because it would undoubtedly put people off cycling. But we also have to recognise that there are behaviours about cycling in general, and the use of e-bikes and e-scooters, that are very threatening and damaging to pedestrians and can cause very serious accidents and death. That is why the Government intend to introduce appropriate offences to the Road Traffic Act 1988 about the more serious offences caused by dangerous, careless and inconsiderate cycling.
Newly Qualified Young Drivers
Debate between Lord Dubs and Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill(1 year, 4 months ago)
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Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)
The Government are, of course, completely committed to ensuring that motorcyclists are equipped with the specialist skills necessary to stay safe on the road. I will write to the noble Baroness with further details of what might be proposed in the future to improve the competence of motorcycle drivers.
Lord Dubs (Lab)
My Lords, is the Minister sympathetic to the argument that there are quite a number of older drivers who are driving beyond the point when they are fit to be safe on the roads—
Lord Dubs (Lab)
Nobody here.
Could that be dealt with? Granted, there is a difficulty in having enough driving tests at the moment, but would it not be a good aim for people, say, over the age of 75 to do a driving test again every couple of years?
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)
I thank my noble friend. I am afraid I am already one of those people who is subject to the more rigorous requirements; as a vocational licence holder over the age of 70, I have to have a medical every year. The current driving licence arrangements take into account the risks that an individual poses to road safety. They are designed to be fair and proportionate to all drivers who remain fit and competent to drive, regardless of age.