Asked by: Jackie Doyle-Price (Conservative - Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with the devolved Administrations on a UK-wide restart of the ocean cruise sector from 17 May 2021.
Answered by Robert Courts
My Department engages regularly with the devolved administrations on the UK-wide restart of the cruise sector through monthly official-led cruise restart meetings. We seek an aligned UK-wide approach wherever possible on international travel. We continue to work closely with the Scottish Government, Welsh Government, and Northern Ireland Executive to put in place clear rules and guidance to help keep people safe.
Asked by: Jackie Doyle-Price (Conservative - Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the devolved Administrations on a UK-wide restart of the ocean cruise sector from 17 May 2021.
Answered by Robert Courts
My Department engages regularly with the devolved administrations on the UK-wide restart of the cruise sector through monthly official-led cruise restart meetings. We seek an aligned UK-wide approach wherever possible on international travel. We continue to work closely with the Scottish Government, Welsh Government, and Northern Ireland Executive to put in place clear rules and guidance to help keep people safe.
Asked by: Jackie Doyle-Price (Conservative - Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether countries given green status under the covid-19 traffic light system will be open to cruise travel as well as aviation.
Answered by Robert Courts
The Global Travel Taskforce (GTT) report confirms that international cruises will restart alongside the wider restart of international travel in line with the “traffic light” system. Operators will need to take account of the country traffic light system when planning itineraries. The restart of international cruises will be subject to continued satisfactory evidence from domestic restart and cruising in other countries. This will be considered at each of the GTT checkpoint reviews, with the next taking place on 28 June. International restart is also subject to the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the UK government and industry covering the cost and liabilities of repatriation.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice is a separate matter for the Foreign Secretary. My officials and I continue to work closely with the cruise industry, the FCDO, UK Health Security Agency and across Government to ensure a safe restart of international cruises from the UK.
Asked by: Jackie Doyle-Price (Conservative - Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to remove his Department's advice against travelling on cruises for countries that are given green status under the covid-19 traffic light system.
Answered by Robert Courts
The Global Travel Taskforce (GTT) report confirms that international cruises will restart alongside the wider restart of international travel in line with the “traffic light” system. Operators will need to take account of the country traffic light system when planning itineraries. The restart of international cruises will be subject to continued satisfactory evidence from domestic restart and cruising in other countries. This will be considered at each of the GTT checkpoint reviews, with the next taking place on 28 June. International restart is also subject to the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the UK government and industry covering the cost and liabilities of repatriation.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice is a separate matter for the Foreign Secretary. My officials and I continue to work closely with the cruise industry, the FCDO, UK Health Security Agency and across Government to ensure a safe restart of international cruises from the UK.
Asked by: Jackie Doyle-Price (Conservative - Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of amending his Department's covid-19 advice on travel for cruising so that it aligns with advice for the aviation sector.
Answered by Robert Courts
The Global Travel Taskforce (GTT) report confirms that international cruises will restart alongside the wider restart of international travel in line with the “traffic light” system. Operators will need to take account of the country traffic light system when planning itineraries. The restart of international cruises will be subject to continued satisfactory evidence from domestic restart and cruising in other countries. This will be considered at each of the GTT checkpoint reviews, with the next taking place on 28 June. International restart is also subject to the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the UK government and industry covering the cost and liabilities of repatriation.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice is a separate matter for the Foreign Secretary. My officials and I continue to work closely with the cruise industry, the FCDO, UK Health Security Agency and across Government to ensure a safe restart of international cruises from the UK.
Asked by: Jackie Doyle-Price (Conservative - Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what evidential threshold will be used when reviewing the travel status of foreign countries under the covid-19 traffic light system.
Answered by Robert Courts
Decisions on red, amber and green list countries are taken by Ministers, who take into account risk assessments produced by the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC), alongside wider public health factors.
Key factors in the JBC risk assessment of each country include:
A summary of the JBC methodology used to produce risk assessments is published on gov.uk.
Asked by: Jackie Doyle-Price (Conservative - Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the additional investment which would be required at junction 30 of the M25 for the Lower Thames crossing options A and C.
Answered by John Hayes
The Department for Transport’s initial estimate of the additional investment that may be required at junction 30 of the M25 for the Lower Thames crossing options A and C was published on 15th July 2014, and is available on the Department’s website at:
Asked by: Jackie Doyle-Price (Conservative - Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on traffic flows along Thurrock's local road network of option A and option C for the Lower Thames crossing.
Answered by John Hayes
The review report (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-lower-thames-crossing-options-final-review-report) of location options A, B, C and Cvariant for the new Lower Thames crossing, which was published alongside the options consultation on 21st May 2013, considered the potential impacts on the surrounding local road networks. Following the Secretary of State’s announcement of 15th July 2014, these and many other potential impacts will now be examined in greater detail at both remaining location options A and C - and further consultation is expected to follow in late 2015 or early 2016.
Asked by: Jackie Doyle-Price (Conservative - Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the consequences for air quality in Thurrock of options A and C for the Lower Thames crossing.
Answered by John Hayes
The Department for Transport’s initial comparative assessment of the potential consequences for air quality in Thurrock of options A and C for the Lower Thames crossing was published on 15th July 2014, and is available on the Department’s website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/324374/module-1.pdf
Asked by: Jackie Doyle-Price (Conservative - Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on proposals for new East London river crossings and the effect of such crossings on the Dartford to Thurrock crossing.
Answered by John Hayes
It is for the Mayor and Transport for London to decide which schemes in London to develop and promote.
The Secretary of State for Transport has regular meetings with the Mayor of London at which various matters are discussed. Other Ministers regularly discuss London issues with Ministerial colleagues and others, including senior officials from Transport for London. Possible new Thames river crossings in East London have not been raised at recent meetings.