Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2024 to Question 12854 on Large Goods Vehicles, if he will publish post-trial operation guidance for hauliers not included in the trial; and how those hauliers will have to prepare for implementation of post-trial operations.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The guidance referred to in the previous answer of 9 February 2024 to Question 12854 is applicable to operators who did not take part in the trial of longer semi-trailers (LSTs), as well as to those operators who took part. Steps to be taken by operators who wish to utilise LSTs are set out in that guidance.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the trial of longer semi-trailers (LSTs) will end; how soon guidance on post trial operation for hauliers will be amended; and what timescale will be given to hauliers to allow them to prepare for implementation of post trial operations.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The trial of longer semi-trailers has closed to new entrants. This is further to regulations allowing the operation of LSTs post-trial which came into force on 31 May 2023. Guidance was published on 30 May 2023 and updated on 14 November 2023. For operators in the trial, the trial ends on 29 February 2024, having been extended from 30 November 2023. Advice continues to be available for hauliers on the trial preparing to implement post-trial operations.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of competition law on the viability of bus services in rural areas.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
It is for local authorities to determine if there is a need for a subsidised service in a particular area and, if so, are required to competitively tender for the provision of them.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department plans to take to help support fuel transition within the freight transportation sector.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Department is investing £200m into zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrators to provide the road freight industry with the evidence needed to make investment decisions and have the confidence to transition to zero emissions technologies sooner.
As some vehicles may take longer to transition, the Department has published a call for evidence to identify suitable exemptions to the 2035 phase out dates for these vehicles. A formal response will be published in due course. Furthermore, the Freight Energy Forum brings together the energy and freight sectors and government to prioritise the provision of the energy infrastructure required to achieve a net zero freight sector.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department plans to take to help support the decarbonisation of the road freight industry; and whether his Department plans to issue guidance on which technology the industry should be investing in.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Government is technology neutral on the technology best suited to decarbonise UK’s road freight, but understands that recharging and refuelling infrastructure is key to a successful transition.
The Department is working with industry stakeholders to develop a zero emission HGV infrastructure strategy for publication in early 2024. In parallel, the Department is investing £200m into zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrators to provide the road freight industry with the evidence needed to make investment decisions and have the confidence to transition to zero emissions technologies sooner. Winners of the competition will be announced imminently.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the inclusion of her Department's work on end-of-life considerations for recreational vessels in the Clean Maritime Plan Refresh.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Department intends to publish an updated version of the Clean Maritime Plan in late 2023. This update will set out the next steps for decarbonising the UK’s maritime sector.
Department officials are engaging across government, including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on all our developing interventions to drive the sector to net zero, to ensure relevant policies are consulted on.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a Government-backed leasing scheme to widen access to electric vehicles among lower-income households.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government is committed to ensuring that everybody can make the transition to zero emission vehicles. The Plug in Car Grant was in place for over a decade and successfully supported early market growth of the electric car market. Over 16% of new cars sold last year were fully electric.
Government incentives are targeted to where they will deliver the most impact and deliver the greatest value for money to the taxpayer. This currently includes supporting the rollout of charging infrastructure and the uptake of vehicles that are harder to decarbonise such as vans, trucks and wheelchair accessible vehicles.
The price of electric vehicles is continuing to fall and some on the used market are now lower than their petrol and diesel equivalents. Electric vehicle drivers also benefit from significant savings on the cost of fuel and lower maintenance costs. On a pence per mile basis, charging a medium-sized electric car at home equates to around half the cost of refuelling an equivalent petrol vehicle.
The Government continues to keep all policies under review to ensure the transition to zero emission vehicles takes place in an equitable and fair manner.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Government's response to the zero-emission vehicle mandate consultation will be published.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Responses to the technical consultation are being analysed and the Government will publish its response, and a full regulatory proposal and cost benefit analysis, in due course.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of installing electric vehicle charging signage on (a) motorways and (b) major A roads.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
No assessment has been made as regulations already provide for signs on motorways and major A roads to show electric vehicle recharging points.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2022 to Question 114799 on Bus Services: Disability, when the response to the accessible information consultation will be published; and what progress he has made on laying the Accessible Information Regulations before Parliament.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
We are currently finalising our response to the Accessible Information consultation, and plan to publish this and lay the Regulations later in 2023.