Public Bus Collisions

Debate between Lord Watts and Lord Davies of Gower

Monday 13th May 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Davies of Gower (Con)]

My Lords, like all road users, cyclists are required to comply with road traffic laws in the interests of the safety of other road users. This is also reflected in the Highway Code. Dangerous cycling is completely unacceptable, and that is why there are already strict laws in place for cyclists who break the law. The police have the power to prosecute if these are broken.

[Lord Watts (Lab)]

My Lords, can the Minister say how many cyclists were prosecuted last year? My own background tells me that very few are.

Lower Thames Crossing: Development Consent

Debate between Lord Watts and Lord Davies of Gower

Monday 29th April 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Davies of Gower (Con)]

No, I am afraid that I cannot.

[Lord Watts (Lab)]

My Lords, does the Minister remember that, when the Conservative Government took power, they ended the concept of a national policy group that would look at major infrastructure schemes and make sure that Britain was able to deliver those schemes in a quick and meaningful way? Does he agree with me that that was a massive mistake and that they should look at this issue again?

[Lord Davies of Gower (Con)]

I hear what the noble Lord says and will take his views away to the department.

East Coast Main Line

Debate between Lord Watts and Lord Davies of Gower

Wednesday 24th January 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Davies of Gower (Con)]

My noble friend is right; we did spend many hours debating this. We now have the minimum services levels Act and, frankly, the department expects train operators to make use of the legislation wherever appropriate.

[Lord Watts (Lab)]

My Lords, is the decision by the Government to award Avanti another contract not rewarding failure? Do we not need a regulator that will put passengers first and the companies second?

Driving Licence: Young and Newly Qualified Drivers

Debate between Lord Watts and Lord Davies of Gower

Monday 15th January 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Davies of Gower (Con)]

Can I say that I agree with my noble friend? At the age of 70, drivers must renew their entitlement and, at most, every three years after that. To renew the entitlement, they must make a legal declaration that they can meet the standards required to drive and confirm that they have listed any medical condition. That is the important point: whether there are any new medical conditions.

[Lord Watts (Lab)]

My Lords, while I support reviewing the issue of young drivers, perhaps if the Minister is to do that, he will look at older drivers. As far as I know, there have not been any young drivers driving up motorways in the wrong direction.

[Lord Davies of Gower (Con)]

Again, I would say that it is about, every three years after becoming 70, making a medical declaration to ensure that a person is of sound mind and able to continue driving on our roads.

Refurbishing Trains: Contracts

Debate between Lord Watts and Lord Davies of Gower

Tuesday 12th December 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Davies of Gower (Con)]

The contract with HS2 and Alstom will go forward in terms of phase 1.

[Lord Watts (Lab)]

My Lords, the Minister says that there will be investment in the railways. We know that there is money being kept safe from the cancellation of High Speed 2; how much of that is going to be transferred to northern schemes, because it looks quite clear that the Government are transferring money intended for the north down to the south?

[Lord Davies of Gower (Con)]

If I am correct, I believe it was somewhere in the region of £30 billion to £34 billion.

Battery and Hydrogen-powered Aircraft

Debate between Lord Watts and Lord Davies of Gower

Thursday 30th November 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Davies of Gower (Con)]

There are security issues for the Prime Minister, which I am sure the noble Baroness will appreciate. It is still a free world and people can choose how they want to travel, and we must remember that although we are anti-emissions, we are not anti-flying. We must reduce emissions from aviation while retaining our ability to fly.

[Lord Watts (Lab)]

My Lords, may I suggest to the Minister that we build a high-speed rail connection to Manchester and then on to Sheffield, which might reduce the number of flights that are needed?

[Lord Davies of Gower (Con)]

A very popular suggestion from the noble Lord, and his point is made.