Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's policy is on the regulation of electric bike conversion kits for pedal cycles.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Conversion kits of this sort are only legal for use on the public highway if, after conversion, the cycle meets in full the requirements of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983 (as amended), as well as conforming to all of the requirements of the Pedal Cycles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1983 (as amended).
If, after conversion, the e-bike does not comply with these regulations, it is classed as a motorcycle and is subject to vehicle registration, compulsory insurance and vehicle excise duty. The rider must have a driving licence and wear a motorcycle helmet.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the National evaluation of e-scooter trials: findings report, published in December 2022, what further data his Department is collecting from e-scooter trials; and how he plans to publish this data.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department continues to collect e-scooter trials monitoring data through e-scooter operators including on vehicle trips, distance and duration. Officials are currently considering how to share further learning and insight that is gathered from trials.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of publishing a plan to help support unpaid carers.
Answered by Helen Whately
The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of sustainable high-quality care and support services, including support for unpaid carers and local authorities are required to undertake a Carer’s Assessment for any unpaid carer who appears to have a need for support and to meet their eligible needs on request from the carer.
The enormous contribution made by unpaid carers is reflected throughout Next steps to put People at the Heart of Care published April 2023.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2023 to Question 189024 on NHS: Pay, for what reason no assessment was made of the full cost of passing on the non-consolidated awards for 2022/23 to all staff employed by NHS contractors.
Answered by Will Quince
The pay deal that was accepted by the NHS Staff Council on 2 May 2023 covered staff directly employed by NHS organisations. Independent providers, including not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises, are free to develop and adapt their own terms and conditions of employment. If they choose to utilise the terms and conditions of NHS staff on the Agenda for Change contract, it is for them to determine what is affordable within the financial model they operate and how to recoup any additional costs they face.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to hold discussions with G7 counterparts on memorandums of understanding for deep sea mining.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
In conjunction with the recent G7 Summit in Japan, the G7 Ministers for Climate, Energy and Environment met at the G7 Hiroshima Summit in April 2023 and agreed a Communique on 16th April which included mention of deep seabed mining, that the G7 will "continue to actively engage in the development of a regulatory framework on deep seabed mineral exploitation under International Seabed Authority (ISA) that ensures effective protection for the marine environment from harmful effects which may arise from such activities, as required under the UNCLOS". The full G7 statement on deep sea mining can be found at www.env.go.jp.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with interested parties to assess the potential merits of updating the cosmetics and chemicals regulations in the last 12 months.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat
On 17 May 2023, the Government introduced a licensing ban on animal testing of chemicals exclusively intended as ingredients in cosmetics.
The Home Office continues to engage relevant stakeholders and is working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Department for Business and Trade, who are responsible for the regulation of chemicals and cosmetics, respectively.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of proposals for high street rental auctions on community amenities in (a) Huddersfield constituency and (b) West Yorkshire.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 187515 on 12th June.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment his Department has made of the impact of proposals for high street rental auctions on pubs.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
I refer the Hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 186998 on 8th June 2023.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with international vehicle technical regulators on the approval of Ford’s BlueCruise technology.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Each application for approval of ‘hands-off’ technologies is considered on its own merits. The Vehicle Certification Agency evaluated the Ford BlueCruise system is at least as safe as existing ‘hands-on’ systems available in the market. This was in part due to more sophisticated camera-based driver monitoring being utilised that can better determine if the driver is paying attention to the road and warn them more promptly if not. It is expected that this will significantly reduce the risks of drivers inappropriately engaging in non-driving activities.
The Department for Transport is engaging with vehicle technical regulators at the UNECE’s World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations to develop new harmonised requirements for advanced driver assistance systems, including hands-free functions such as Ford’s BlueCruise technology.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the impact of hands-off driving technology in non-automated vehicle on (a) safety and (b) the frequency drivers conducting non-driving related activities whilst the vehicle is in operation.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Each application for approval of ‘hands-off’ technologies is considered on its own merits. The Vehicle Certification Agency evaluated the Ford BlueCruise system is at least as safe as existing ‘hands-on’ systems available in the market. This was in part due to more sophisticated camera-based driver monitoring being utilised that can better determine if the driver is paying attention to the road and warn them more promptly if not. It is expected that this will significantly reduce the risks of drivers inappropriately engaging in non-driving activities.
The Department for Transport is engaging with vehicle technical regulators at the UNECE’s World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations to develop new harmonised requirements for advanced driver assistance systems, including hands-free functions such as Ford’s BlueCruise technology.