Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it remains his Department's policy to deliver the High Speed 2 rail line.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The Prime Minister has appointed Douglas Oakervee to chair an independent review of HS2 to consider whether and how we proceed with the project. The review will consider all existing evidence on the project and consider a number of aspects of the programme, including its benefits and impacts; affordability and efficiency; deliverability; and scope and phasing, including its relationship with Northern Powerhouse Rail. The Review’s full terms of reference are available on gov.uk.
A final report will be sent to the Department in the autumn to inform the Government’s decision on the next steps for the project. We will publish this Review and take decisions on the HS2 project once we have considered the findings.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is Government policy to support the construction of a third runway at Heathrow airport.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The Airports National Policy Statement was designated as government policy in June 2018 following a vote in the House of Commons.
It sets out that there is a need to increase airport capacity in the South East of England by 2030 by constructing one new runway and that this need is best met by the Northwest runway scheme at Heathrow airport.
The government is clear that expansion cannot come at any cost, and must be in the interest of the consumer. The Airports National Policy Statement includes strict environmental requirements which an applicant for development consent must demonstrate it can meet.
The Court of Appeal has granted permission to hear from appellants in October this year. This follows the High Court’s decision to dismiss all 26 grounds raised in the judicial review of the previous Secretary of State’s decision to designate the Airports National Policy Statement.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of restricting cross border hiring by taxis and private hire vehicles; and whether representations from external stakeholders are being taken into account in that assessment.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing considered the regulation of the industry, including the issue of cross border hiring. The report of the Task and Finish Group was published on 24 September 2018.
On 12 February 2019 the Government published a response to the recommendations made by the Chair of the Task and Finish Group - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/taxi-and-private-hire-vehicle-licensing-government-response-to-independent-report.
As indicated in the response, the Government will consider further, with a view to legislation, the Chair's recommendation around tackling cross-border working, including how it might work in detail.
The Task and Finish Group was made up of external stakeholders and the Group sought and received representations from a range of stakeholders within the taxi and PHV sector. The Department will continue to liaise with stakeholders on any cross border proposals.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to support World Car Free Day 2018.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department supports the principles behind World Car Free Day, of encouraging an increase in cycling and walking for short journeys to reduce traffic congestion and emissions from road transport, as well as increasing health benefits from more active lifestyles. It is for cities and local authorities to determine if, and how, they choose to participate as part of World Car Free Day. The Government’s statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published in April 2017, outlines £1.2 billion of funding that may be invested in cycling and walking in England over the period to 2021.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to encourage, the continuing trials of semi-autonomous, ground based Personal Delivery Devices; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Through its world-leading Code of Practice for testing, the Government is encouraging the trialling of automated vehicle technologies in the UK. The Code is clear that trials must comply with all UK law. It is for testers to satisfy themselves that they are in full compliance, and they should speak to the relevant road owners and enforcement agencies. The Government has no plans relating to any specific current trials of semi-autonomous, ground based Personal Delivery Devices.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish an updated Code of Practice for the operation of autonomous vehicles: and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles will be engaging with the public and developers on the planned update to the Code of Practice in early 2018, with a view to publishing the updated version in Summer 2018.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that contractors working in the construction industry are in possession of all appropriate licenses before being allowed to operate in public areas and walkways.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
This is a matter for local highway authorities as they are responsible for issuing licences or permits for temporary work on their roads. Developers need to apply to them for the relevant licences and permits under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, the Highways Act 1980, the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Traffic Management Act 2004, as appropriate.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Government plans to respond formally to the Law Commission's report on taxi and private hire services.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Government is considering the Law Commission’s comprehensive report on reforming taxi and private hire vehicle legislation. In line with the protocol that exists between the Government and the Law Commission, the Government will formally respond to the Law Commission and announce its intentions once this scrutiny is completed.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what further devolution is being considered to the Mayor of London; and how his Department is working with the Mayor to tackle rail challenges facing the capital.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked the Mayor of London to submit a business case for running London suburban rail services. This was submitted on Friday 14 October. We will now consider this and decide whether it will improve services for all passengers, including longer distance commuters. We will also need to understand how the Mayor intends to fund his proposals. A decision will be made in due course.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the cycling and walking investment strategy will include investment for the proposed cycling and pedestrian bridge linking Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The draft Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy sets out the Government’s plans for increasing cycling and walking in England. It is a high level document, with a long term ambition up to 2040, supported by a target and a number of objectives.
The Strategy outlines how Government will work with local bodies and business to develop expertise and support, the tools and policies Government will deliver to support them in increasing walking and cycling in local communities, and how this work will enable progress towards our national objectives and target. It does not set out details of individual schemes as that is a matter for local bodies.