Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to backdate the six months extension period for vehicle MOT tests to 23 March.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has no plans to amend the period set out in the Motor Vehicles (Tests) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they have given to (1) airlines, and (2) shipping companies, operating out of the UK on preventative measures they should take to stop the spread of Coronavirus.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
DfT is working closely with the transport sector and PHE to ensure that Port Health measures and health advice reflect the needs of the sector. DfT is in regular contact with Public Health England to ensure that the latest health guidance is made accessible to the transport sector.
PHE and their counterparts in the devolved administrations are responsible for determining and publishing health advice in relation to Covid-19. On 14th February PHE published guidance for staff in the transport sector which was made available on the GOV.UK website. DfT will continue to work with PHE to ensure this remains up to date.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect highway improvements to the Air Balloon roundabout in Gloucestershire will be completed.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The A417 missing link between Brockworth and Cowley is an important project to improve safety and air quality and ease congestion in the area. Highways England announced a preferred route for the scheme in March 2019 and is now preparing for statutory consultation later this year ahead of a Development Consent Order planning application. Delivery of this project is subject to confirmation of funding within the second Road Investment Strategy, which will cover the period 2020 to 2025, due to be published later this year.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the reasons for the recent fall in sales of low-emission vehicles.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
So far in 2019, sales of battery electric vehicles have increased significantly, up by 60% over the same period in 2018. Our Road to Zero Strategy sets out a clear pathway to zero emissions, to give clarity and certainty to both industry and motorists. In 2018 the UK was the second largest market for ultra-low emission vehicles in the EU. The UK is also global leader in the development and manufacture of electric vehicles; in 2018 a fifth of battery electric cars sold in Europe were made in the UK.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to introduce long-term incentives to increase sales of low-emission vehicles to help meet carbon reduction targets.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Government grants for plug-in cars, vans, taxis and motorcycles will be available until at least 2020, reducing the upfront purchase price of electric vehicles. The plug-in car grant was first introduced in 2011 and the other schemes in the years since. Purchasers of ultra-low-emission vehicles also receive other benefits, including lower tax rates and grants towards the installation of charge-points. A number of local authorities also provide additional incentives, such as free parking or exemption from the congestion charge. We stated in our Road to Zero strategy that consumer incentives in some form will continue to play a role beyond 2020. We also set out ambitions for the uptake of ultra-low-emission vehicles in the UK. We remain on track to meet these ambitions and will review progress by 2025.
In addition, as announced this week, to accelerate the shift to zero-emission cars, all zero-emission models will pay no company car tax in 2020-21, 1% in 2021-22 before returning to the planned 2% rate in 2022-23 – a significant tax saving for employees and employers.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Society of Motor Manufacturers’ statement that the Government's decision to abolish the Plug-in Car Grant three weeks early at the end of 2018 has caused a reduction in sales of low-emission vehicles.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has not abolished the Plug-in car Grant (PiCG). The plug-in car grant continues to provide £3,500 to support the cleanest vehicles and will continue to exist in some form until at least 2020.
The PiCG was introduced in 2011 to support the early market for ultra-low emission vehicles. Through the PiCG we have supported the purchase of over 200,000 plug-in vehicles, including around 100,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles. Last year, in light of increased demand and decreasing prices, we reviewed the PiCG to focus on the cleanest vehicles. While sales of plug-in hybrids have decreased since the grant was reviewed, sales of zero emission cars are up by more than 60% in 2019, than for the same period in 2018. Overall, sales of all alternatively-fuelled cars have increased this year, compared to the same period last year.
The Government’s ambition is for the UK to be a world leader in zero emission vehicles. We are investing nearly £1.5bn between April 2015 and March 2021. The Government’s Road to Zero strategy was published last year and details how this funding is providing grants for plug-in cars, vans, lorries, buses, taxis and motorcycles, as well as schemes to support charge point infrastructure at homes, workplaces and on residential streets.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage the use of powered cargo bikes by families.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises the contribution that electric powered bikes, including cargo bikes, can make to delivering the aim of double cycling as outlined in the 2017 Statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS). The CWIS, and the CWIS Safety Review Government Response published in November 2018, set out how all types of cycling will be supported through appropriate investment in good quality infrastructure, behaviour change initiatives and safety measures.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of any benefits resulting from the use of cargo bikes in the Netherlands for reducing carbon emissions and obesity.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises the opportunity for cargo bikes to improve air quality and reduce congestion in urban areas. As part of its Last Mile Delivery Review call for evidence in 2018, the Department consulted stakeholders, including European cargo bike groups, to understand how best to support the development of the electric cargo bike sector in England, and in April 2019 it launched a £2 million e-cargo bike grant programme to support their uptake.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the advantages, and (2) the disadvantages, of the use of powered cargo bikes.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
In March 2019, the Department for Transport published the Government response to its call for evidence on ‘The Last Mile – Delivering Goods More Sustainably’. The response included a summary of the opportunities and challenges identified by respondents for using electrically powered cargo bikes in towns and cities.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will reconsider introducing a statutory definition of (1) plying for hire, and (2) pre-booked, as recommended by the Task and Finish Group on taxi and private hire vehicle licensing.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The response to the report by the Chair of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing issued on 12 February committed to bring forward legislation to enable national minimum standards in licensing, enable greater enforcement powers for licensing officers and to establish a national licensing database to assist in the sharing of relevant information. Legislation will be brought forward when time allows.
Taxis and private hire vehicle drivers are all subject to a ‘fit and proper’ assessment; any driver who poses a risk to public safety should not be permitted to hold a licence. Drivers are permitted to undertake pre-booked work outside of the area in which they are licensed. As set out in the Government’s response, the Government will consider how restrictions on out-of-area journeys might work in practice, with a view to legislating.
The Government response to the Task and Finish Group report explained that, since the Law Commission concluded in 2014 that a statutory definition of plying for hire would not be a practical improvement on the current position and there being no change in the legal situation, the Government would not take forward that recommendation.