Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which Ministers have given permission or asked drivers of Government Car Service cars to leave their engines running in New Palace Yard while the vehicle is stationary and waiting.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government Car Service (GCS) is not aware of any Ministers requesting or instructing GCS drivers to leave their engines running while parked in New Palace Yard.
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.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what communications they have had with HS2 Ltd as to whether derogations under EU law would be needed for any of their works.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to leaving the European Union on 31 October 2019. Regular discussions have been held between the Government and HS2 Ltd on whether derogations could be needed under EU law. We have assessed that the only matter of non-compliance which would require derogation under current EU law relates to the issue of platform heights. We will ensure that HS2 platform heights comply with the applicable legal framework in place when the platforms are placed into service in 2026.
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 Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 10 April (HL14857), what assessment they have made of whether derogations under EU law would be needed for any part of HS2 Ltd’s works in the event that the United Kingdom remains a member of the European Union at the time of those works being undertaken.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to leaving the European Union on 31 October 2019. Regular discussions have been held between the Government and HS2 Ltd on whether derogations could be needed under EU law. We have assessed that the only matter of non-compliance which would require derogation under current EU law relates to the issue of platform heights. We will ensure that HS2 platform heights comply with the applicable legal framework in place when the platforms are placed into service in 2026.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the construction of HS2 is likely to require drilling near, or in, the outer remediation and monitoring zone of the contaminated land site at Newyears Green Bourne.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Whilst test drilling has taken place as part of HS2 Ltd’s ground investigation programme, it has been concluded that no contaminated land is expected to be encountered. Throughout construction work continuous monitoring will take place to ensure that any previously unknown areas of contamination are identified.
During construction HS2 won’t be piling through contaminated land in this area and their activities will not affect the occurrence or movement of contaminated groundwater that may be associated with nearby landfill sites.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what guarantees or other representations, if any, they have made to Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd regarding compensation in the event of policy changes that may negatively impact their business.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has provided no guarantees or other representations to Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd regarding compensation in the event of policy changes which may impact on its business.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what communications they have had with airports and the airline industry regarding the inclusion of international aviation emissions in climate change emissions targets.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government engages regularly with the aviation industry at a Ministerial and official level on a number of issues including how we tackle emissions from international aviation.
Emissions from domestic flights are already covered by our existing domestic legislation and the Committee on Climate Change account for emissions from international aviation in their advice on setting our carbon budgets. This will continue to be the case for the new net zero target.
Action to tackle emissions from international aviation must be done globally to be effective. That is why we are working closely with the International Civil Aviation Organization, to ensure we and the rest of the world are taking ambitious action.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to introduce legislation that requires all electricity used at charging points for electric vehicles to be from renewable sources.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We want an increasing proportion of the electricity used at electric vehicle charging points to be from renewable and low carbon sources. We are taking steps to facilitate this by cleaning up the UK’s power generation and increasing the amount of renewable generation and ensuring electric vehicles play a helpful role in our future smart and flexible energy system.
The Clean Growth Strategy sets out steps the Government is taking to further decarbonise the power sector and the wider economy. Between now and 2050, the Government projects electricity grid emissions will continue to fall with increasing levels of low carbon and distributed renewable generation. To enable these changes in generation, the system is adapting to become more flexible and smarter in order to better manage the new flows in power. Electric vehicles have an important role to play in this transition – offering new opportunities for consumers and the power system. Smart charging will allow charging to happen at times when more renewable energy is available. The department plans to consult on smart chargepoint requirements shortly.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what derogations under EU law they (1) have made, and (2) contemplate making, in relation to HS2.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
We confirm we have not made any derogations under EU law in relation to HS2, and as of this date we are not anticipating making any derogations under EU law for HS2.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with companies running petrol service stations about the provision of electric vehicle charging and establishing a common signage to inform drivers that charging is available.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Government has had a number of discussions with companies running petrol service stations about the provision of electric vehicle charge points.
The Automated and Electric Vehicles Act gives the Government new powers to improve the provision of electric vehicle infrastructure. These proposals include powers to require provision at large fuel retailers. We have said we will monitor the market and only use these powers if the market fails to deliver the infrastructure required. The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 do not prescribe signs for petrol filling stations. An electric vehicle charging point symbol is available for use on traffic signs indicating service areas.
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 Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 7 December 2016 (HL3566), whether the development and design work to make Streatham rail station more accessible under the Access for All programme has been completed; and when they expect site work to commence.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
Option selection (GRIP 3 stage) has been completed at Streatham station. Funding will be available again from 1 April next year that will allow Network Rail to re-start the project to continue to the next stage. Projects will need to finish construction by 2024 at the latest, but I am expecting Network Rail to accelerate the work as much as possible to ensure the earliest possible delivery.