To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Shipping: Crew
Wednesday 6th July 2022

Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether key worker status remains available for all foreign crews of ships visiting UK ports; and whether those crews will be allowed to go ashore unless there are known specific health risks.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has ensured the UK has remained open for seafarers of all nationalities throughout and post pandemic – whether that’s to take shore leave, receive vaccines, or be repatriated. The UK is proud that it has treated all seafarers properly in line with established international conventions. The government remains committed to the welfare of seafarers, and work continues to strengthen legislation in this area.

Key workers provide essential services which keep the country functioning. Seafarers are regarded as key workers due to the critical work they carry out to keep our maritime trading routes open. Whilst COVID related restrictions in the UK ended in April 2022, seafarers retain key worker status.


Written Question
Russia: Navtex
Wednesday 30th March 2022

Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures (1) they, and (2) the International Maritime Organization, are taking to prevent Russia using the NAVTEX system to spread false information.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

NAVTEX is a maritime communication system and is a conduit for safety messages enshrined in the Safety of Life at Sea international convention devoted to the perseveration of life at sea.

The UK is deeply concerned with the Russian Federation’s use of NAVTEX for disinformation messaging with regard to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The misuse of NAVTEX to broadcast propaganda endangers merchant shipping operating in the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It is another example of the Russia Federation ignoring the responsibilities and behaviours a respectable nation state should demonstrate.

On 18 March, the UK wrote to the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation to protest at this wholly inappropriate use of NAVTEX and urged IMO Member States to condemn Russia’s actions.


Written Question
Gulf of Guinea: Piracy
Monday 24th January 2022

Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are providing to the Gulf of Guinea Declaration on the Suppression of Piracy; and what plans they have to support the International Labour Organisation to reduce the number of ships abandoned in ports across the world.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

We are committed to building maritime security capability in the region through the implementation of the Yaounde maritime security architecture. In 2021 the UK was co-chair of the G7++ Friends of the Gulf of Guinea, deployed HMS Trent to the region and supported the launch of the Gulf of Guinea – Maritime Collaboration Forum. Together, these initiatives are building the capacity of regional navies and industry to address maritime insecurities and prosecute incidents of maritime crime.

The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) has provisions to protect seafarers in the case of abandonment. In July 2021 the Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organisation called for guidance for Port State and Flag State authorities on how to deal with and prevent reoccurrence of abandonment cases. The UK is contributing to the development of those guidelines.


Written Question
Shipping: Coronavirus
Thursday 20th January 2022

Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change; and what steps they will take to (1) recognise seafarers as key workers, (2) ensure they have access to COVID-19 vaccinations in UK ports, and (3) allow crews to have easy access to air flights.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

As one of the first states to declare seafarers as keyworkers we welcomed the Neptune Declaration and remain committed to working domestically and internationally to protect the health and wellbeing of crew of all nationalities. All seafarers, regardless of nationality, are and have always been eligible to receive COVID vaccines in the UK at no cost. As keyworkers, seafarers are exempt from many COVID related requirements when travelling to the UK during the course of their work.


Written Question
Spaceflight
Friday 23rd July 2021

Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they consider that space travel should be limited to scientific research, rather than space tourism.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

We are on the threshold of the new commercial space age, and this is a pivotal moment for the UK’s spaceflight ambitions.

The UK Government has put in place the legislation needed for operators to open spaceports which allows for a range of commercial spaceflight activities, including suborbital space-tourism. However, it will be up to the operators of the spaceports what services they seek to run from them. The immediate focus for the UK Government is enabling launch and supporting the small satellite launch market. These small satellites can support improvements to public services for all.

Growing our launch capability will help create new jobs and bring economic benefits to communities and organisations right across the UK, as well as inspiring the next generation of space scientists and engineers.

Access to space is also essential for improving understanding of climate change and our efforts to tackle it. Satellite measurements of Earth’s temperature, greenhouse gas emissions, atmospheric gases, sea levels, ice cover and other properties give the science community valuable data that can help us analyse and predict the impacts of climate change to enable effective strategies and decisions to be made. UK launch capability will enable the expansion and enhancement of earth observation and the gathering of environmental data, enabling a real and meaningful contribution to tackling climate change.


Written Question
Shipping: Coronavirus
Tuesday 22nd December 2020

Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent seafarers' employment contracts from being extended because of COVID-19.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK strongly supports the United Nation General Assembly’s resolution on international cooperation to address challenges faced by seafarers to support global supply chains and the International Labour Organization’s resolution on maritime labour issues, both in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has published an information note which aims to help address serious concerns about seafarer wellbeing arising due to COVID-19 restrictions. The MCA considers any request for an extension of a Seafarer Employment Agreement on a case by case basis. An extension will only be given if they are completely satisfied that any health, safety or wellbeing concerns are being addressed and only with the consent of the seafarer.


Written Question
Shipping: Coronavirus
Monday 27th July 2020

Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of vessels in British ports or territorial waters whose crews have been on board for more than eleven months; and what steps they are taking to ensure the repatriation of such crew members.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

For cruise vessels laid up in the UK, we are aware of 39 seafarers who have now gone over their 11 months. We continue to support operators in regard to repatriation and there are a number of planned repatriation flights over the next four weeks which should see many seafarers returning home. There are a small number of states where repatriation continues to be difficult or not possible and we are working with those States to seek solutions.

In regard to other vessels operating or calling at UK ports, we are not aware of any UK flagged ships in the UK territorial waters with seafarers who have been on board for more than 11 months.

With the exception of cruise vessels, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, as the port state authority, has not been made aware of any seafarers who have been working on board for more than 11 months on non-UK ships.


Written Question
Buses: Greater London
Monday 28th October 2019

Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, or intend to have, with Transport for London about the restrictions and limitations which exist for sight-seeing buses and coaches, in particular regard to (1) exhaust emissions, (2) travelling in central London during rush hours, (3) stopping and parking on double single yellow lines, and (4) using existing bus routes; and whether they will place a copy of any response in the Library of the House including details on the enforcement of any restrictions imposed.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and delivered by Transport for London. The Mayor is responsible for determining which types of vehicles are restricted from operating in Central London at certain times of day. The Mayor also determines the policy for the Ultra Low Emission Zone in Central London and the emissions levels for complaint vehicles. Ministers and officials at the Department for Transport have regular meetings with the Mayor’s office and Transport for London where a variety of topics are discussed, including emissions.


Written Question
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Wednesday 29th May 2019

Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when HS2 is (1) built to Birmingham, and (2) completed, what is their estimate of the tonnage of freight that could be diverted from the roads onto the existing south to north railways, over what period of years, and with what effect on air pollution and greenhouse gases.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

As a new rail line, HS2 will free up train paths on the existing railway which could be used to allow more freight to travel by rail. The freight operating companies will be able to apply for these additional paths in accordance with normal railway industry processes. The freight operators are independent commercial companies and the types of cargo, the tonnages and the routes will depend upon the demand that exists from their customers at that time. Any increase in the number of freight trains that results in a reduction in freight moved by road is likely to lead to a reduction in air pollution and greenhouse gases emissions.


Written Question
Taxis: Greater London
Thursday 28th February 2019

Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the financial impact on public and statutory services, and (2) the environmental impact of recent road blockages around Parliament Square.

Answered by Baroness Sugg

The Department has not made any assessment of the impact of recent road blockages around Parliament Square. In London, transport is devolved to the Mayor of London and delivered by Transport for London (TfL). Responsibility for managing London's road network is shared between TfL and the relevant London Borough, in this case the City of Westminster.