Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of digital rail freight technologies in the UK freight network.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The adoption of digital technologies, along with targeted conventional interventions, is a cost-effective way to potentially release additional capacity on the existing network.
Under the Future of Freight plan, the government has committed £7 million to the Freight Innovation Fund to drive the commercialisation of technology, including digital, across all freight modes. It has also provided early stage research and development funding through Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG), the latest awards included funding to develop a web platform for short notice freight train wagon booking to maximise freight capacity.
Government is also encouraging further innovation through the First of a Kind scheme. This year, bids were invited to address a range of potential challenges, including those where digital technologies could provide solutions, such as timetabling and scheduling, routing and tracking, automation of freight handling and modal interchanges, and asset maintenance.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to introduce unmanned aerial vehicle technology for general data acquisition on the rail network.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The use of drone technology for data acquisition is already prevalent on the rail network.
Network Rail drones gather data, videos and images of the railway for regular maintenance purposes. Drones can reach areas which are usually difficult to access, such as roofs, bridges, coastal areas, the overhead wires that power electric trains and communication masts.
Inspecting the railway in this way also means lines can be kept open to train services and keep workers safe as engineers are not out on the track unnecessarily.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to introduce double decker trains to the UK rail network.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government does not have any plans to introduce double decker trains to the UK national rail network.
Double decker trains would require significant civil engineering investment including modifications to station roofs, electrification equipment, signal gantries, bridges, platforms and many other structures close to the line which would be costly and disruptive to passengers.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with governments around the world regarding sustainable construction for large scale railway projects; and how these discussions will inform future infrastructure.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department regularly engages with foreign governments to identify areas for future trade and growth, closer collaboration and knowledge sharing on large infrastructure projects, and to identify opportunities to promote the UK rail supply chain.
Using international engagement as a key driver for growth, the Department also ensures that its priorities are reflected in discussions with other governments. These include decarbonisation, pursuing trade opportunities, promoting British business and knowledge sharing.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of any strike action of British Airways staff on travel at airports in the summer; and what plans they have to prevent any further travel disruption if such strikes take place.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The aviation industry operates in the private sector, therefore an industrial action is a matter for British Airways and the unions.
Ultimately, this strike action by Unite the Union and GMB has been suspended following a higher pay offer from British Airways. This offer will now be put to a vote of union members.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of electric charging points for vehicles in England.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Figures from 1 October 2020 show that there are 16,456 public charging devices in England.
The number of electric vehicle charging device grants, issued under various schemes are presented in the table below. It is possible that one grant can pay for more than one charging device. Figures are from 1 October 2020.
| Number of Grants Issued in England |
Private Domestic Charging Device Grants1 | 129,608 |
Workplace Charging Device Vouchers 1 | 3,159 |
On-Street Residential Scheme (ORCS)2 | 92 |
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the availability of biodiesel made from used cooking oil for vehicles in England.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
In 2019 54% of total renewable fuel supplied under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) was produced from used cooking oil (UCO), this comprised seventy nine per cent of biodiesel.
Estimates of future volumes of renewable fuel supply were included in “Cost Benefit Analysis: Amendments to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations Order” which accompanied the Renewable Transport Fuels and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations 2018. Appendix 3 of the cost benefit analysis includes estimates of total waste based biodiesel supply.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide support for adults to take up cycling, including for commuting to work.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
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 includes 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 includes a number of commitments which will provide support for adults to take up cycling including the roll-out of segregated cycle lanes in towns and cities and offering cycle training to everyone who wants to undertake it, whether free or at a nominal charge.
This support for adult cycling builds on the refreshed Cycle to Work Scheme Guidance published in 2019 which made it easier for employers to provide bicycles and equipment including e-bikes and adapted bikes worth over £1,000. The Department has also made funding available in the current financial year for adult cycle training, through both the Bikeability scheme and the Access Fund, and has paid £2m to Transport for London to allow cycle training to be delivered to adults in the capital.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the efficacy of the law in respect of drink driving.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to tackling drivers under the influence of alcohol and ensuring that all such drivers are caught and punished. We have a combined approach of tough penalties and rigorous enforcement along with our highly respected and effective THINK! Campaigns. This reinforces the social unacceptability of drink driving, and reminds people of the serious consequences that drinking and driving can have on themselves and others.
The UK has achieved reductions in drink driving over the last 50 years. In 1979, 26% of road deaths occurred in accidents where at least one driver/ rider was over the drink-drive limit. It has been below 15% each year since 2010. We are determined to continue to reduce this number further, through our THINK! campaign, enforcement and tough penalties.
The Government has no immediate plans to lower the drink drive limit in England and Wales. We believe that our current measures as outlined above are a more effective deterrent than changing the drink driving limit.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the biofuels market in the UK, and (2) that market's potential for growth.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government set out a fifteen-year strategy for renewable transport fuels in September 2017 which is available in the Libraries of the House. As part of that strategy we almost doubled targets for the supply of renewable fuels under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) between 2018 and 2020, with further increases to at least 12.4 per cent set for 2032.
The Cost Benefit Analysis which accompanied that strategy set out in Appendix 3 estimated the effect on renewable fuel supply in the UK. This suggested the increases in targets could result in a UK renewable fuel market of 2.237 billion litres in 2018, 2.568 billion litres in 2019 and 3.372 billion litres in 2020. In 2018 2.01 billion litres of renewable fuel was reported as supplied under the RTFO, and provisional data suggests 2.68 billion litres of renewable fuel was supplied in 2019. The Department continues to monitor and review the support schemes it has in place for low carbon fuels across several modes of transport, to ensure these deliver cost effective carbon savings now and in future.