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Written Question
Schools: Buildings
Wednesday 20th October 2021

Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many schools are planned to receive pacer trains for classrooms by (a) region and (b) local authority.

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

The Department has no plans to convert any pacer train carriages into classrooms.


Written Question
Schools: Buildings
Wednesday 20th October 2021

Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many retired pacer trains are planned to become classrooms in how many schools.

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

The Department has no plans to convert any pacer train carriages into classrooms.


Written Question
Department for Transport: Apprentices
Thursday 4th February 2021

Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of the staff employed by his Department are apprentices.

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

The Department for Transport (DfT) remains fully committed to the Government’s apprenticeship agenda. Due to the diverse nature of our work, the central department (DfTc) and our executive agencies (DfT Group) have developed localised strategies to allow us to work towards the Government target.

As of 3rd February 2021, there were 302 staff across the Department who are apprentices. This figure includes apprentices across the central department (DfTc) and our four Executive Agencies (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Vehicle Certification Agency). This is 1.92% of the total staff employed across the DfT Group (headcount data taken as of 31 December 2020).

This figure is made up of apprentices who have been externally recruited as well as existing employees currently undertaking an apprenticeship. This figure does not include apprentices recently recruited by the Department who are waiting to start their apprenticeship programme.


Written Question
Motor Vehicles: Insurance
Wednesday 6th February 2019

Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to support British citizens driving in EU countries after 29 March 2019 who do not hold a green card.

Answered by Chris Grayling

If Green Cards are required from 29th March 2019, motorists should contact their vehicle insurer who will be able to provide them with advice on Green Card requirements and issue them with any relevant documentation. This still applies if an individual is in an EU country after exit day and does not hold a Green Card.

It should be noted that the UK will meet all the requirements for remaining part of the Green Card-free circulation zone on our exit from the EU and we continue to urge the European Commission to issue an implementing decision that would ensure UK motorists can drive in the EU without a Green Card and vice versa.


Written Question
Motor Vehicles: Insurance
Tuesday 29th January 2019

Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance he plans to provide to EU officials charged with administrating the green card rules on the rules governing the use of digital cards in place of a physical cards.

Answered by Chris Grayling

A Green Card is an internationally recognised document issued for free by motor insurers that provides proof of third party motor insurance while driving abroad.

The Council of Bureaux, the managing organisation of the Green Card system and the Motor Insurance Directives, does not have an agreement with the UN allowing motorists to use digital Green Cards instead of physical ones. In the event of ‘no deal’, the guidance from the UK Government is that UK motorists driving in the EU may need to carry a physical Green Card.

It should be noted that the UK will meet all of the requirements for remaining part of the Green Card-free circulation zone on our exit from the EU and we continue to urge the European Commission to issue an implementing decision that would ensure UK motorists can drive in the EU without a Green Card and vice versa.


Written Question
Motor Vehicles: Insurance
Tuesday 29th January 2019

Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the unit cost of administering the distribution of a green card for driving in the EU in 2019; and projection his Department has made of the ongoing cost of administering that distribution.

Answered by Chris Grayling

My officials and I have engaged, and continue to engage, with the motor insurance industry and other relevant departments to ensure that both the Government and insurance sector are prepared for every eventuality.

We have discussed the need for any financial support with the motor insurance industry, in particular the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, in preparation for a ‘no deal’ scenario. However, the cost to the industry of providing their customers with Green Cards as proof of third party motor insurance while abroad in the event of ‘no deal’ is expected to be minimal and financial support offered by the Government has not been deemed necessary by the industry at this stage. Green Cards are provided to motorists free-of-charge by their insurers, although they may choose to reflect production and handling costs through a small increase to their administration fees depending on demand.

It should be noted that the UK continues to meet all of the requirements for remaining part of the Green Card-free circulation zone and we continue to urge the European Commission to issue an implementing decision that would ensure UK motorists can drive in the EU without a Green Card and vice versa.


Written Question
Motor Vehicles: Insurance
Tuesday 29th January 2019

Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the insurance industry on the financial support they will receive to provide their customers with a green card in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Answered by Chris Grayling

My officials and I have engaged, and continue to engage, with the motor insurance industry and other relevant departments to ensure that both the Government and insurance sector are prepared for every eventuality.

We have discussed the need for any financial support with the motor insurance industry, in particular the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, in preparation for a ‘no deal’ scenario. However, the cost to the industry of providing their customers with Green Cards as proof of third party motor insurance while abroad in the event of ‘no deal’ is expected to be minimal and financial support offered by the Government has not been deemed necessary by the industry at this stage. Green Cards are provided to motorists free-of-charge by their insurers, although they may choose to reflect production and handling costs through a small increase to their administration fees depending on demand.

It should be noted that the UK continues to meet all of the requirements for remaining part of the Green Card-free circulation zone and we continue to urge the European Commission to issue an implementing decision that would ensure UK motorists can drive in the EU without a Green Card and vice versa.


Written Question
Motor Vehicles: Insurance
Tuesday 29th January 2019

Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Department for Exiting the European on the potential effect on the insurance industry of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Answered by Chris Grayling

My officials and I have engaged, and continue to engage, with the motor insurance industry and other relevant departments to ensure that both the Government and insurance sector are prepared for every eventuality.

We have discussed the need for any financial support with the motor insurance industry, in particular the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, in preparation for a ‘no deal’ scenario. However, the cost to the industry of providing their customers with Green Cards as proof of third party motor insurance while abroad in the event of ‘no deal’ is expected to be minimal and financial support offered by the Government has not been deemed necessary by the industry at this stage. Green Cards are provided to motorists free-of-charge by their insurers, although they may choose to reflect production and handling costs through a small increase to their administration fees depending on demand.

It should be noted that the UK continues to meet all of the requirements for remaining part of the Green Card-free circulation zone and we continue to urge the European Commission to issue an implementing decision that would ensure UK motorists can drive in the EU without a Green Card and vice versa.


Written Question
Motor Vehicles: Insurance
Tuesday 29th January 2019

Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking provide guidance to British citizens who may require multiple green cards to cover their vehicle and any trailers for driving in EU countries after 29 March 2019.

Answered by Chris Grayling

From 29 March 2019, if there is no EU exit deal and the European Commission does not make an implementing decision allowing the UK to remain a part of the Green Card-free area, we expect that motorists will be required to carry a Green Card as proof of their third-party motor insurance when driving in EU or EEA countries.

Guidance on Green Cards is available in the technical notice “Vehicle Insurance if there’s no Brexit Deal”, which was published in September last year.

This guidance highlights that multiple Green Cards may be required if:

  • You are a commercial operator and have fleet insurance (as you may need a Green Card for each vehicle);

  • You have a trailer attached to your vehicle (as some countries require separate trailer insurance);

  • You have two policies covering the duration of your trip (e.g. your policy renews whilst you are away).

Motorists should contact their vehicle insurer who will be able to provide advice on Green Cards requirements, and issue them with the relevant documentation.


Written Question
Motor Vehicles: Insurance
Tuesday 29th January 2019

Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of green cards the insurance industry will need to issue prior to 29 March 2019.

Answered by Chris Grayling

There has been no specific estimate of the number of Green Cards the insurance industry will need to issue prior to 29 March 2019.

However, it is estimated that between 2 - 4 million unique vehicles travel from the UK to the EU every year, which may require Green Cards should an agreement with the European Commission not be in place. This figure has been estimated using annual vehicle movements that cover the number of trips by UK private vehicles, coaches and HGVs travelling from the UK. There have been assumptions on the number of vehicles that make single trips, for example holiday makers, and those that make repeat trips, for example hauliers.

The UK is maintaining the requirement for third party motor insurance cover for travel to the EU and therefore meets all requirements needed to remain a part of the green card-free circulation zone after our exit from the EU. We continue to urge the European Commission to issue an implementing decision that would ensure that UK motorists can drive in the EU without a Green Card, and vice versa.