Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when SAGE were consulted on the implementation of a 14-day quarantine period for people arriving at UK ports.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given to the hon. Member for Cardiff South and Penarth on 20 May 2020, PQ UIN 43656.
Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether there are criteria in place for lifting the proposed policy of 14 days' quarantine for inbound airline passengers to the UK.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Home Office will be introducing new health protection measures at the border, and details will be published soon. Further queries should be directed to the Home Office.
Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it remains Government policy to work with international partners on global common screening standards for international travel.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The UK is engaging with a number of key international organisations (including ICAO and IATA), and we are working with our international partners to drive forward a shared agenda on public health measures for international travel.
The Government has also established five ministerial-led taskforces to develop plans for reopening sectors which have been heavily impacted by COVID-19, including a taskforce on international aviation.
The Government aims to support industry in developing guidance on a baseline set of measures, based on the available evidence, and for these to become widespread and well-understood, thereby avoiding confusion and uncertainty for both industry and passengers.
Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to determine the list of exemptions to the proposed 14-day quarantine policy for inbound airline passengers to the UK.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Home Office will be introducing new health protection measures at the border, and details will be published soon. Further queries should be directed to the Home Office.
Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to amend the system of refunds for rail season tickets to ensure that commuters are not adversely affected when claiming refunds as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
All season ticket holders are entitled to claim a refund for time unused on their tickets in accordance with the National Rail Conditions of Travel.
We have worked with the rail industry to make the process for claiming season ticket refunds easier during this crisis, for example by allowing passengers to claim refunds remotely rather than returning their ticket to a ticket office. We have also allowed passengers to backdate their season ticket refund claim to 17th March, when ‘do not travel’ advice was first introduced, or the date their ticket was last used, whichever is later. The refund acceptance period for passengers has also been extended from 28 to 56 days.
Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the covid-19 outbreak, whether the Government has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a specific support package to (a) protect jobs in and (b) support the travel industry.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Chancellor has set out unprecedented support for workers - including those in the travel sector - to protect them against the current economic emergency. This includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.
These measures, and others available through the Government’s comprehensive support package, have been designed to ensure that companies of any size receive the help they need to get through this difficult time. Government is committed to helping the travel industry through this crisis and beyond.
Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of jobs at risk from the potential collapse of the UK travel industry as a result of the cessation of international travel in response to the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
No estimate has yet been made on the number of jobs at risk in the travel industry as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
We are aware that the coronavirus outbreak and related travel advice is significantly impacting all aspects of the travel industry. We are in close contact with stakeholders to monitor the situation. Our national priority is containing the spread of the virus. As soon as it is safe to do so, we will be encouraging people to book holidays and support travel companies once again.
The Chancellor has set out unprecedented support for business and workers - including those in the travel sector - to protect them against the current economic emergency.
Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will undertake a review of the effect on the safety of the hard-shoulder of the M23 smart-motorway works.
Answered by George Freeman
The Secretary of State for Transport heard the concerns about smart motorways and asked the Department to carry out, at pace, an evidence stocktake to gather the facts quickly and make recommendations.
While I would not want to pre-judge the results of that work, what I can say is that we will continue to prioritise improving safety – making conditions safer for everyone on our roads.
Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the planned completion date is of the M23 construction works.
Answered by George Freeman
The Secretary of State confirmed at Transport Parliamentary Questions on 30 January that all stretches of Smart Motorway that are currently being worked on will not be opened until we have the outcome of the stocktake.
Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January to Question 2479 on Aviation: Crew, if he will undertake a review of the licensing of pilots over the age of 65 who are fit and healthy in relation to UK domestic routes after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
We cannot commit to a formal review of the licensing of pilots over the age of 65 at this stage. However, we continually review matters of aviation safety, and are working closely with the CAA to fully understand the evidence base around this issue. This includes, but is not limited to, the EASA report referred to in the response to Question 2479.