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Written Question
Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme
Tuesday 25th October 2022

Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many grants have been issued under the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme since its inception in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

As of 1st July 2022, the number of domestic charging devices installed under the Electric Vehicle Homecharge scheme in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland is as follows;

  • England - 282,675;
  • Scotland - 24,705;
  • Wales - 12,253;
  • Northern Ireland - 5,679.

Written Question
Large Goods Vehicles: Parking
Tuesday 25th October 2022

Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help increase the number of safe parking space for hauliers in the UK.

Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring hauliers have access to appropriate services and facilities.

That is why we are investing £52.5 million in roadside facilities in England for HGV drivers on the road. DfT officials are developing detailed proposals for £32.5m funding, including appropriate grant mechanisms and setting well evidenced criteria. More information will be publicly available in due course with an announcement expected in late Autumn. However, roadside service operators are being encouraged to apply for the National Highways £20 million fund immediately.

The funding will go towards supporting operators to make improvements such as improving security, sanitary and eating facilities as well as possibly increasing parking spaces for lorry drivers.

We have commissioned a ‘National Survey of Lorry Parking’, which was published on 29th September 2022 and will be used as our primary evidence base to understand what improvements are most needed and where they are needed. The survey and its output will be used to set criteria for government funding. In addition, the Survey is available to support planning applications for new lorry parking.

An update to the Strategic Road Network Circular 02/2013 went to public consultation in July. The circular sets out planning policy in relation to the strategic road network and roadside facilities.

The Department continues to engage with key stakeholders to encourage the development of more safe, secure, and high-quality lorry parking to improve driver welfare.


Written Question
Aviation: Lost Property
Tuesday 25th October 2022

Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of (a) the compensation process for missing airline luggage and (b) airline (i) processes and (ii) timescales for declaring luggage as lost to enable the payment of (A) compensation and (B) travel insurance claims.

Answered by Katherine Fletcher

The Montreal Convention 1999 is the international convention that establishes airline liability for delay, damage or loss of baggage. In the event of baggage being lost, damaged or delayed, passengers should contact their airline. In the event they cannot reach an appropriate conclusion with the airline, passengers can escalate complaints either through Alternative Dispute Resolution, or through the Civil Aviation Authority Passenger Advice and Complaints Team.

We published the Aviation Passenger Charter in July 2022, which sets out the rights and responsibilities of passengers at each stage of their journey, including what to do if things go wrong, such as lost baggage.


Written Question
Ferries: Irish Sea
Friday 22nd April 2022

Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that all those involved in the operation of commercial ferries crossing the Irish Sea have the neccesary qualifications.

Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

Ensuring that seafarers operating all ships have the necessary international recognised qualifications, showing that they are properly trained and have the required level of proficiency for their roles, is the responsibility of the maritime administration of the country that the ship is registered with, the flag State.

In addition, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency will inspect all non-UK registered ferries that operate out of the United Kingdom on an annual basis, as the port State, under the Port State Control inspection regime. In relation to ferries, other EU member states, including Ireland, will also inspect them annually as required by the European Ro-Ro Passenger Ship Directive. These are additional checks that only applies to ferries.


Written Question
Travel Restrictions: France
Friday 22nd April 2022

Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the French Government on the removal of travel restrictions for those wishing to visit France this summer.

Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

The Department for Transport and the British Embassy in Paris have engaged with the French government on border health measures throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so as passenger numbers increase.

The United Kingdom was placed on France’s ‘Green List’ on 31 March, meaning that fully vaccinated travellers who present proof at the border are no longer subject to any testing requirements, and unvaccinated travellers are only required to undertake a pre-departure test or present a certificate of recovery. These rules apply to passengers aged 12 and over.

The UK was one of the first major economies to remove all its remaining COVID-19 travel restrictions, from Friday 18 March.


Written Question
Motability: Electric Vehicles
Thursday 18th November 2021

Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps are being taken to encourage people on Motability to choose electric vehicles; and if additional support is available for the installation of an electric charge point for those with a disability.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

We are committed to ensuring an accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging network and that inclusively designed chargepoints are available for all consumers. That is why we are partnering with national disability charity Motability to commission the British Standards Institution (BSI) to develop accessibility standards for public EV chargepoints across the country. Guidance will consider aspects such as kerb height, adequate space between bollards and chargepoints being of a height suitable for wheelchair users. By ensuring consistent standards, drivers will be able to more easily identify which chargepoints are suitable for their needs.

We are consulting on introducing accessibility requirements at EV chargepoints via the Future of Transport Regulatory Review. Consultation will close on 22nd November.

Government is supporting consumers buying EVs through plug-in car grant which provides up to £2,500, or plug-in van grant of up to £3,000, towards an eligible vehicle.  Individuals with an eligible vehicle are also able to benefit from the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, a grant that provides a 75% (up to £350) contribution to the cost of one chargepoint and its installation.


Written Question
Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties
Thursday 27th May 2021

Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many cars were seized and destroyed for non-payment of road tax in each of the last three years.

Answered by Rachel Maclean

In the last three financial years, 159,192 vehicles have been seized and 42,177 vehicles have been destroyed for non-payment of vehicle excise duty. The table below shows the figures for the last three financial years.

Vehicles seized

Vehicles destroyed

2020/21

24,660

7,109

2019/20

68,991

18,566

2018/19

65,541

16,502


Written Question
Travel: Northern Ireland
Monday 30th November 2020

Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) ferries, (b) airlines and (c) other transport links are (i) available and (ii) affordable for people travelling between Northern Ireland and mainland UK over Christmas 2020.

Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department has worked to ensure that the lifeline air and sea routes across the Irish Sea remain open. We recognise the critical importance of maintaining this connectivity during the Christmas period and we will continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive, the other Devolved Administrations and operators to keep services running across the extended travel window for journeys to and from Northern Ireland, from 22 to 28 December.


Written Question
Cycling: Voucher Schemes
Thursday 17th September 2020

Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many applications have been made to the Cycle to Work Scheme in each month of 2020.

Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government does not hold this data. The Cycle to Work Alliance, an industry body which represents four of the leading providers of bicycles and equipment under the cycle to work scheme, has informed the Department that weekly applications to their members increased between the period May-July 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.


Written Question
Motorcycles: Safety Barriers
Monday 7th September 2020

Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve motorcyclist safety in relation to safety barriers installed on carriageways.

Answered by Rachel Maclean

The provision and maintenance of safety barriers on carriageways, for the protection of all road users, is a matter for the relevant Highways Authorities within England and Devolved Administrations.

The Department promotes Motorcycle safety awareness more generally through the THINK! Campaign.