Asked by: Lord Harris of Haringey (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of technical solutions to the enforcement around sensitive locations and sensitive events of no-fly zones relating to UAVs.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Across government there are a number of strands of work aimed at improving our defences against the potential misuse of drones, with a focus on sensitive and important locations and events; this includes consideration of solutions for technical enforcement. We are engaging directly with manufacturers of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), academia and industry on technical solutions such as geo-fencing, and trials and demonstrations have already taken place to examine the applicability of technological options to detect and counter drones. Further trials and demonstrations will take place this year, with Government involvement being overseen by the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure.
Asked by: Lord Harris of Haringey (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many complaints about UAVs have been recorded by (1) the police, and (2) the aviation authorities, in each of the last three years.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The number of complaints about unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is not collated across police forces.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) does not maintain a record of all complaints of drone misuse it has received, as in some cases, such as where advice was provided by telephone or where the complainant was referred to the police, records are not kept. Nevertheless, 213 complaints were recorded in 2014, 441 in 2015 and 291 in 2016. The Military Aviation Authority does not hold records of any complaints about UAVs.
The Department for Transport, the Home Office, the National Police Chiefs Council and the CAA signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 17 May 2016 to identify the roles and responsibilities of the signatories with respect to the investigation and prosecution of drone offences. Under the Memorandum, it is for the Police Service to carry out an assessment of reports of drone misuse and to decide whether or not to investigate; it is for the CAA to investigate and prosecute breach of aerial work permissions or offences relating to aviation safety.
Asked by: Lord Harris of Haringey (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to publish proposals to regulate and control the use of UAVs, following the recent consultation by the Department for Transport.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government’s consultation on the safe use of drones in the UK closed on 15th March. The Government will publish its response to the consultation in the summer of this year.
Asked by: Lord Harris of Haringey (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications for UK-based airlines of the Single European Sky when the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU for our aviation industry. This includes the implications for UK-based airlines relating to Air Traffic Management and the Single European Sky after the UK leaves the EU.
Asked by: Lord Harris of Haringey (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to Recommendation 67 of the Smith Commission Report and its implications for the British Transport Police.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
The UK Government has welcomed the Smith Commission Agreement and has committed to delivering draft clauses by 25 January 2015. The Government will now prepare draft clauses in order that the Agreement can be implemented. This includes the recommendation to devolve the functions of the British Transport Police. We are considering how these can best be devolved whilst ensuring that the security of the railway, its passengers and staff, is not compromised. Once the functions of the British Transport Police have been devolved it will be for the Scottish Government to decide how to police the railway network in Scotland.