Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average time spent waiting in traffic was for a haulier waiting to board a ferry at Dover in each during (a) November 2021, (b) December 2021 and (c) January 2022; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department does not hold data on the average time spent by hauliers waiting in traffic to board a ferry at Dover. The Port of Dover operates a ‘turn up and go service’ meaning HGVs will be placed on to the first available ferry when they arrive at the Port. There may be an occasion when hauliers have to wait which may be due to peak periods of traffic at the Port. The Kent Resilience Forum (KRF) is responsible for traffic management in Kent.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has had any (a) financial contract and (b) meetings with (i) Clifford Chance LLP, (ii) FTI Consulting and (iii) Fenchurch Advisory Partners in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Based on the Department for Transport internal database, we have had financial contracts with Clifford Chance LLP to provide legal advice on specific work during this period.
We do not have any record of any financial contract with FTI Consulting and Fenchurch Advisory Partners in the last five years.
With regard to meetings, the Department has no central database of meetings so to try and obtain a complete list of any or all meetings with these three companies across the whole Department over the past five years would incur disproportionate cost. However, Permanent Secretary and Ministerial meetings with external organisations are routinely published on Gov.uk.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that (a) the culture and environment of the public transport network enables women to feel confident about their safety when travelling and (b) sexism, misogyny and harassment are challenged and eradicated on the public transport network; what steps his Department is taking to ensure that progress in both those areas is being monitored; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Everyone has the right to feel safe when travelling and using public spaces. The Department for Transport is working closely with Home Office on the Government’s cross-departmental strategy to address Violence Against Women and Girls.
The rail industry has a well-established strategy and programme of work to target sexual harassment. Tackling incidents of sexual harassment is also a policing priority for British Transport Police who have developed a significant programme of work in recent years. We are working hard to support these work streams and deliver best practice across the whole transport network.
However, we are keen that we do more to ensure everyone is safe when using public transport. This is why I was delighted with the appointment earlier this year of DfT’s first Violence Against Women and Girls Champions.
The Champions will be engaging with campaign groups, industry and Government to understand areas for improvement across the UK’s transport network. By January 2022 they will produce independent recommendations for the department and wider transport network on what best practice should be adopted to improve safety of the transport network for women and girls.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure (a) the implementation of a zero tolerance policy towards sexual harassment on the public transport network and (b) that all allegations of sexual harassment on the public transport network are taken seriously and investigated fully; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Everyone has the right to feel safe when travelling and using public spaces. The Department for Transport is working closely with Home Office on the Government’s cross-departmental strategy to address Violence Against Women and Girls.
The rail industry has a well-established strategy and programme of work to target sexual harassment. Tackling incidents of sexual harassment is also a policing priority for British Transport Police who have developed a significant programme of work in recent years. We are working hard to support these work streams and deliver best practice across the whole transport network.
However, we are keen that we do more to ensure everyone is safe when using public transport. This is why I was delighted with the appointment earlier this year of DfT’s first Violence Against Women and Girls Champions.
The Champions will be engaging with campaign groups, industry and Government to understand areas for improvement across the UK’s transport network. By January 2022 they will produce independent recommendations for the department and wider transport network on what best practice should be adopted to improve safety of the transport network for women and girls.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department has issued to airports and airlines on ensuring that social distancing measures are implemented while passengers (a) enter and exit aircraft and (b) wait in airport waiting rooms and lounges; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The government has introduced a range of measures such as social distancing and the wearing of face coverings to help reduce the risk of transmission on aircraft and at airports, as well as issuing clear guidance for both passengers and operators. Where social distancing is not possible, airlines are advised to carry out a risk assessment and implement appropriate risk controls. For example, wearing a face covering can play a role in helping us to protect other passengers, which is why it is mandatory to wear one on board aircraft.
Additionally, operators are encouraged to introduce clear signage and one-way passenger flows where appropriate. Arrangements may vary depending on the port or airport and the guidance is available to support port operators. The government continue to engage with the aviation sector to ensure they are supported in implementing best practices.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to require his Department and its agencies to provide a payroll deduction service to allow staff to save more easily with a credit union; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
There are no plans to require the Department of Transport or its agencies to provide a payroll deduction service as described.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to promote active travel to (a) school and (b) work; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
On 28 July the Prime Minister launched ambitious plans to boost cycling and walking, with the aim that half of all journeys in towns and cities are cycled or walked by 2030. This included a £2 billion package of funding for active travel over the next 5 years, which is the largest ever boost for cycling and walking, and will deliver transformational change. The plan included a number of steps which will support active travel to school and work including the roll-out of segregated cycle lanes in towns and cities; cycle training for everyone who wants to undertake it, whether free or at a nominal charge; and increasing the number of school streets.
The Department recently announced £2m to enable more children to cycle and walk to school. This will support the roll out of Doctor Bike clinics which will deliver cycle repair workshops in primary schools through Cycling UK’s Big Bike Revival programme and further expansion of the Walk to School Outreach programme delivered by Living Streets.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to (a) temperature test people (i) arriving at and (ii) departing from airports and ports for covid-19 and (b) introduce quarantine arrangements for people arriving at those airports and ports whose temperature indicates that they may have that infection; and if will he make a statement.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
Airports are following Public Health England’s (PHE) guidance on preventing the spread of COVID-19, as well as following their existing internal protocols on preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
The UK Government is not mandating arriving and exit health screening currently. This is under constant review and if there is a change in policy, all ports and airports will be notified accordingly.
The advice for travellers is the same as for the rest of the population: they are advised to reduce their social contacts by staying at home and following the same social distancing measures as the rest of the country. If they begin to show symptoms, they should self-isolate. All airports are required to identify specific isolation areas to be used in case a passenger becomes ill until the local health response arrives.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the risk of covid-19 infection on the Southern Rail, West Midland Trains and Chiltern Railway services that operate in Harrow West constituency.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
To help tackle the spread of Covid-19, Southern Rail, West Midland Trains and Chiltern Railway, along with other rail operators and Network Rail are taking steps to keep our trains and stations clean. High-touch areas, such as hand rails and ticket machine screens on trains and at stations are being cleaned intensively, and staff are ensuring toilets are stocked with soap. We have also published health guidance for staff and the transport sector, in line with Public Health England protocols. As part of the Government’s programme of enhanced engagement, 2,500 digital and printed posters have been displayed at railway stations. The rail industry is making sure their staff remain abreast the latest health advice, and are promoting best practice to the travelling public at stations and online, through websites and apps.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure the security of people's jobs in the aviation sector.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
Following the Chancellor’s recent announcement, we are working urgently to develop proposals to support the UK aviation industry - we are committed to ensuring the sector and its employees continue to thrive.