Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Callanan on 25 October (HL Deb, cols 950–951), when the regulations associated with the EU Package Travel Directive 2015 will be published.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
Following on from the recently closed consultation on updating the Package Travel Regulations and the successful passage of the ATOL Bill, the Government will publish the proposed regulations that will implement the EU Package Travel Directive 2015 (PTD) into domestic law as soon as possible. The updated ATOL regulations that implement the PTD for package holidays which include a flight, will be published for consultation by the end of this year.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Callanan on 25 October (HL Deb, cols 950), when they expect to publish their description of a linked travel arrangement; and whether Ministers have met with, or intend to meet with (1) online companies including online providers, and (2) consumer organisations, before determining their description of a linked travel arrangement.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Government has published the definition of a Linked Travel Arrangement (LTA) in the recently closed consultation on the updated Package Travel Regulations. The definition has been taken from the EU Package Travel Directive 2015 to ensure harmonisation across Europe. The forthcoming consultation on ATOL regulations, will set out how this will be transposed into UK regulations for holidays that include a flight. The practical points for implementation and operation will be published in the Civil Aviation Authority’s Guidance that will accompany the updated ATOL regulations and the Package Travel Regulations.
In developing these proposals and bringing them in to law, Ministers have a full programme of engagement, which includes online companies, tour operators and consumer organisations. In addition, travel companies and organisations such as the European Technology & Travel Services Association (ETTSA), Trading Standards and ABTA, have attended the PTD implementation workshops.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to maintain equivalence with standard EU driving test requirements following the UK's exit from the EU.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) current driving test exceeds the standard EU driving test requirements; we aim to ensure this remain the case in the future, irrespective of EU membership.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to maintain the mutual recognition of driving licences with EU member states following the UK's exit from the EU.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Government has made clear that we wish to minimise any disruption for both UK citizens and those of EU member states. This applies equally to motorists travelling between the UK and the EU. Mutual recognition of driving licences will be an important issue for the negotiations.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that any change in the rights of EU citizens living and working in the UK will have on (1) the aviation sector; (2) the rail sector; (3) the road haulage sector; and (4) the maritime sector.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK and the EU are both clear that we want to protect the broad range of rights and entitlements currently enjoyed by both EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU. The Prime Minister recently reiterated this in her open letter to EU citizens.
The Government is undertaking a wide range of analysis covering the entirety of the UK economy in order to support negotiations. This includes more than 50 sectors as well as cross-cutting areas.
In addition, I understand that a number of transport sector stakeholders have responded to the Migration Advisory Committee’s call for evidence on EEA workers in the UK labour market, which the Committee intends to publish in due course.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential loss of cabotage rights within the EU for UK airlines following the UK's exit from the EU.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK is entering negotiations with the EU from a position of complete harmonisation with EU regulations. This will be the foundation upon which the UK will negotiate a bespoke relationship. We do not want to simply adopt a model already used by other countries, like Switzerland.
The importance of air services to the UK economy is recognised across Government and we continue to work closely with the aviation sector to ensure its ongoing success. Securing liberal market access to EU and global markets is a high priority for the Department for Transport.
My officials are in discussion with third countries regarding post-Brexit air services arrangements. They are on course to reach an understanding with each of those countries well before the UK leaves the EU.
The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including upon cabotage rights, and plans to negotiate the best possible relationship between the UK and EU in the field of aviation. It will be in the interests of both sides in the negotiation to maintain closely integrated aviation markets.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the length of time that it would take to negotiate aviation agreements between the UK and third party countries following the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK is entering negotiations with the EU from a position of complete harmonisation with EU regulations. This will be the foundation upon which the UK will negotiate a bespoke relationship. We do not want to simply adopt a model already used by other countries, like Switzerland.
The importance of air services to the UK economy is recognised across Government and we continue to work closely with the aviation sector to ensure its ongoing success. Securing liberal market access to EU and global markets is a high priority for the Department for Transport.
My officials are in discussion with third countries regarding post-Brexit air services arrangements. They are on course to reach an understanding with each of those countries well before the UK leaves the EU.
The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including upon cabotage rights, and plans to negotiate the best possible relationship between the UK and EU in the field of aviation. It will be in the interests of both sides in the negotiation to maintain closely integrated aviation markets.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that leaving the European Common Aviation Area and making new aviation agreements with the EU and other nation states will have on UK connectivity to (1) the EU; and (2) the rest of the world.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK is entering negotiations with the EU from a position of complete harmonisation with EU regulations. This will be the foundation upon which the UK will negotiate a bespoke relationship. We do not want to simply adopt a model already used by other countries, like Switzerland.
The importance of air services to the UK economy is recognised across Government and we continue to work closely with the aviation sector to ensure its ongoing success. Securing liberal market access to EU and global markets is a high priority for the Department for Transport.
My officials are in discussion with third countries regarding post-Brexit air services arrangements. They are on course to reach an understanding with each of those countries well before the UK leaves the EU.
The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including upon cabotage rights, and plans to negotiate the best possible relationship between the UK and EU in the field of aviation. It will be in the interests of both sides in the negotiation to maintain closely integrated aviation markets.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the suitability of an agreement between the UK and the EU based on the EU–Swiss Air Transport Agreement following the UK’s exit from the EU.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK is entering negotiations with the EU from a position of complete harmonisation with EU regulations. This will be the foundation upon which the UK will negotiate a bespoke relationship. We do not want to simply adopt a model already used by other countries, like Switzerland.
The importance of air services to the UK economy is recognised across Government and we continue to work closely with the aviation sector to ensure its ongoing success. Securing liberal market access to EU and global markets is a high priority for the Department for Transport.
My officials are in discussion with third countries regarding post-Brexit air services arrangements. They are on course to reach an understanding with each of those countries well before the UK leaves the EU.
The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including upon cabotage rights, and plans to negotiate the best possible relationship between the UK and EU in the field of aviation. It will be in the interests of both sides in the negotiation to maintain closely integrated aviation markets.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the UK's exit from the EU on the availability of EU funds for rail infrastructure projects in the UK; and whether this will affect any specific rail projects.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
On 13th August last year, my Right Honourable Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer made an announcement[1], outlining the Government position on EU funding schemes, including those relating to transport infrastructure.
We are determined to ensure that people and businesses have stability and certainty in the period leading up to our departure, and that we use the opportunities that our EU Exit presents to determine our own priorities. The Department for Transport is working closely with HM Treasury and stakeholders to that end.
[1] The following is a link to the announcement:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-philip-hammond-guarantees-eu-funding-beyond-date-uk-leaves-the-eu