Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 2 March (HL Deb, col 436), whether any future airport expansion will be conditional on all new flight capacity being filled by zero-carbon aeroplanes.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Airport expansion is a core part of boosting our global connectivity and levelling up the UK. It is crucial that vital infrastructure projects, including airport expansion, drive the whole UK economy. This Government supports airport expansion, but we will permit it only within our environmental obligations.
This Government is committed to working with the aviation sector to make sure we deliver on the opportunities available to us, while meeting our environmental commitments, whether that is through modernisation of our airspace, innovation in sustainable fuels or research and technology.
On 27 February the Court of Appeal declared that the Airports National Policy Statement is of no legal effect unless and until the Government carries out a review under the Planning Act 2008. The Court’s judgment is complex and requires careful consideration. We will set out our next steps in due course.
The Government is supportive of airports making best use of their existing runways, subject to the assessment and consideration of their impacts, including consideration of their environmental impacts.
The Government recognises that the fight against climate change is one of the greatest and most pressing challenges facing the modern world. The Government’s net zero target shows the UK’s steadfast commitment to tackling climate change, and we recognise that aviation has a crucial role to play.
The Government is committed to setting a clear ambition for the aviation sector and is carefully considering the advice of the Committee on Climate Change.
We are planning to consult shortly to update the Government’s position on aviation and climate change. It is critical that we consider how aviation can play its part in delivering our net zero ambitions.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement the principles set out in the Stockholm Declaration, adopted by the Third Ministerial Global Conference on Road Safety in February; and in particular, changes to speed limits.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK supports the aims of the Stockholm Declaration on road safety. The UK is already committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and already adopts a safe system approach to road safety.
We recognise that speed limits play an important part in road safety, and we already encourage local authorities to consider 20 mph where it is appropriate
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of airspace reforms on the tranquillity of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The airspace issues surrounding National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) were considered in the Department’s airspace and noise project. The outcome of this work was reflected in the Air Navigation Guidance 2017, which the department issued to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in October 2017.
The guidance requires the CAA to have regard to the statutory purposes of National Parks and AONB when considering proposals for airspace changes. When airspace changes are being considered, it is important that local circumstances, including community views on specific areas that should be avoided, are taken into account where possible. However, given the finite amount of airspace available, it will not always be possible to avoid overflying National Parks or AONB.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what data they collect about air pollution at, and near to, airports.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has a national air quality monitoring network. In addition to this, local authorities undertake their own monitoring and have an obligation to review and assess local air quality and to take action where they have identified an air quality problem.
Different airports have different obligations for monitoring and reporting air quality, with some reporting requirements necessary by law through planning obligations. Results of this monitoring are shared with stakeholders and are available online.
In the Aviation Strategy, the Government is considering a broad range of national aviation-related air quality initiatives including proposals to improve the monitoring of air pollution around airports.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the source of their most recent data regarding the flow of groundwater near the HS2 Harvil Road site; and whether this data has been made public.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The source of the most recent groundwater flow data relating to the HS2 Harvil Road site is the ongoing measurement and monitoring of groundwater levels currently being undertaken by HS2 Ltd’s contractors. Measurement and monitoring at this site has been ongoing for 3 years. This data is not yet in the public domain.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce air pollution at, and near to, airports.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The management of air pollution at, and near to, airports and any restrictions to ensure compliance with limits are the responsibility of airports and the relevant local authorities.
In the Aviation Strategy, the Government is considering a broad range of national aviation-related air quality initiatives including potential requirements and guidance for airports to produce air quality plans.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy on airport expansion.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Airports National Policy Statement was designated as government policy in June 2018 following a vote in the House of Commons. It sets out that there is a need to increase airport capacity in the South East of England by 2030 by constructing one new runway and that this need is best met by the Northwest runway scheme at Heathrow Airport.
The Northwest runway scheme is to be fully funded and delivered by the private sector. It is for Heathrow to demonstrate that it can meet its environmental obligations, that the project can be financed and built and that the business case is realistic.
Beyond Heathrow, the Government is supportive of airports across the UK making best use of their existing runways as long as they address the economic and environmental impacts and proposed mitigations. As part of the planning process for airport applications it is expected that the relevant planning body will scrutinise whether a scheme is in-line with government policy.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reduce the incidence of road deaths and injuries.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to improving the safety of all road users. The Road Safety Statement – ‘A Lifetime of Road Safety’, published in July last year, describes in some detail the Department’s intention to undertake a set of actions in the coming years aimed at improving road safety. For example, one of those actions is for the Department to establish a rural roads working group to share experience on improving rural road safety and to work together to tackle the key issues.
The effectiveness of these measures will be kept under review.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what rates of (1) deaths, and (2) injuries, are recorded on roads, per capita, broken down by (a) region, (b) speed limit, and (c) mode of transport.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The number and rate per million population of people killed and injured in reported road accidents, by region, road user type, and speed limit in Great Britain in 2018 are shown in the tables attached.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the policy of the Government Car Service in relation to running their engines when stationary in New Palace Yard.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Government Car Service (GCS) drivers are given clear instruction not to keep their engines running while parked. Regular reminders are sent out on this subject.
GCS is moving towards low and zero emission vehicles to reduce carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions and the Department is working with them to speed this up.
Cars operated by the Metropolitan Police Service also park in New Palace Yard but I am unable to comment on the operational instructions given to their drivers.