Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of fires caused by batteries in electric bikes.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In February 2024, the Department published detailed safety guidance on how to buy, store and charge e-cycles and e-scooters. The Department for Business and Trade also launched a “Buy safe, be safe” campaign and further guidance in October 2024 to help users of e-cycles reduce the risk of battery fires. All of the information is readily accessible on gov.uk.
The Government has also introduced the Product Safety and Metrology Bill. This will create powers that will allow government to set specific product regulations, including on batteries used in e-cycles.
In the meantime, all e-cycles sold in the UK must comply with various product safety requirements, as must all mains battery chargers. The Department continues to work with other Government Departments and other stakeholders to understand why battery fires occur so that the Government can take any further action necessary to tackle the issue.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on the number of fires as a result of batteries in electric bikes reported to emergency services.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department does not hold information on the number of fires caused by batteries in electric bikes. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) published analysis of e-cycle and e-scooter fires in August 2024, which is available on gov.uk. It includes a summary of matters such as where these fires occurred; what types of e-cycle and e-scooter were involved; and how many fires led to fatalities.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of e-scooter use on the number of road related incidents in the last 12 months.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department collects road traffic casualty data for e-scooters using data reported by the police to the Department for Transport. In 2023 there were 1,292 collisions involving e-scooters, compared to 1,411 in 2022. There were 1,387 casualties in collisions involving e-scooters, compared to 1,502 in 2022, and of these 1,117 casualties were e-scooter users, compared to 1,154 in 2022.
Our best estimate, after adjusting for changes in reporting by police, is that there were 416 seriously injured and 965 slightly injured in collisions involving e-scooters, this compares to 441 and 1,049 respectively in 2022.
January to June 2024 provisional e-scooter personal injury collisions are due to be published at the end of November. January to December 2024 provisional figures are due to be published in Spring 2025.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has had discussions with the Mayor of London and Transport for London on improvements to the quality of service on the central line.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Transport in London is devolved and is the responsibility of the Mayor of London and TfL. Government has regular discussions with TfL on a range of issues, however, it is for them to assess the quality of their services and make decisions on investment.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is taking steps to help support individuals that wish to donate vehicles to Ukraine.
Answered by Guy Opperman
Yes. Whilst the Government does not provide direct assistance to individuals looking to donate their vehicle to Ukraine we are supportive of efforts to make routes to donation available.
Following the Transport Secretary's letter to the Mayor of London on 31 January, the Mayor has now announced vehicles can be donated to Ukraine through TfL’s ULEZ scrappage scheme.
This will give ULEZ scrappage scheme applicants the option to donate suitable vehicles to Ukraine instead of scrapping them, and still receive the grant payment.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent fatal road accidents in (a) rural and (b) urban areas.
Answered by Guy Opperman
Britain’s roads are some of the safest in the world, but we are always looking at ways to help keep drivers and all road users safe. To date, £147.5 million has been allocated to Local Authorities (LAs) in England via the Government's Safer Roads Fund. This has been targeted at improving the safety of over 80 of the most high-risk, rural, and urban ‘A’ roads.
The Department for Transport is working closely with Local Authorities (LAs) and the Road Safety Foundation to provide tailored safety interventions specific to each road’s risk; encouraging safe system principles and improving infrastructure for active travel. This scheme is expected to save 2,200 lives over the next 20 years and is already improving safety for all road users.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the ability of the rail industry to respond to recent storm events.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The Department is engaging regularly with Network Rail, train operating companies and the wider rail industry to ensure their seasonal preparedness plans are in place with clear mitigations outlined to minimise disruption due to storms.
Network Rail and train operators have well-established operational measures to manage services safely during incidents affecting railway operations, including extreme weather events.
In context, it has been a particularly stormy autumn and winter, with ten named storms this season so far.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of Westmorland and Furness Council's road safety policies on roads on which (a) major accidents and (b) fatalities have taken place.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Department for Transport takes road safety for all road users seriously. The Department's road safety flagship project, the Safer Roads Fund focuses on treating the highest risk A road sections. To date £147.5m has been invested in helping local authorities, alongside the Road Safety Foundation, improve the safety of England’s most high risk ‘A roads.
Cumbria County Council was awarded £1.9m in 2018/19 and £7.4m in 2020/21 from the Safer Roads Fund for improvements to the A684 and A592. The Department assesses the plans submitted for this funding and monitors progress on implementation for those that have been allocated Safer Roads Funding. However, the Department has not otherwise made a specific assessment of the council’s road safety policies because the local council has responsibility for making decisions about local roads, based on its local knowledge and taking into account local needs.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of Cumberland Council's road safety policies on roads on which (a) major accidents and (b) fatalities have taken place.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Department for Transport takes road safety for all road users seriously. The Department's road safety flagship project, the Safer Roads Fund, focuses on treating the highest risk A road sections. To date £147.5m has been invested in helping local authorities, alongside the Road Safety Foundation, improve the safety of England’s most high risk A roads.
Cumbria County Council was awarded £1.9m in 2018/19 and £7.4m in 2020/21 from the Safer Roads Fund for improvements to the A684 and A592. The Department assesses the plans submitted for this funding and monitors progress on implementation for those that have been allocated Safer Roads Funding. However, the Department has not otherwise made a specific assessment of the council’s road safety policies because the local council has responsibility for making decisions about local roads, based on its local knowledge and taking into account local needs.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) the Rail Delivery Group and (b) train operating companies on proposals to close train station ticket offices.
Answered by Huw Merriman
Together with the rail industry we want to modernise the passenger experience by moving staff out from ticket offices to more visible and accessible roles around the station. Department officials regularly engage with the rail industry including the Rail Delivery Group and train operating companies, to discuss a wide range of topics, including how best to operate stations and serve passenger needs in the most efficient and effective way.