Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's timescale is for the delivery of a feasibility study on the electrification of sections of the Northern Ireland railway.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Transport is a ‘transferred matter’ i.e. devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive and thus the responsibility of the Executive. However, as outlined by the Secretary of State for Transport in his written ministerial statement of 7 December 2023, the UK Government is funding a feasibility study on the electrification of the railway line from Belfast to the border with the Republic of Ireland. The study is being conducted by Translink on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure, with a projected completion date of spring 2025.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled Union connectivity review: final report, published on 26 November 2021, what progress he has made in implementing recommendation 3.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Union Connectivity Review was an independent review, led by Lord Peter Hendy of Richmond Hill. We agree that high quality data across all transport modes in the UK are vital for managing capacity, ensuring safety and future transport planning. We are considering the current scope of data collection with a view to expanding it where possible and beneficial. This will include improving collaborative working with the devolved administrations on data sharing.
For example, improving the collection of UK-wide data was discussed at the Transport Inter-Ministerial Group in May. Ministers have asked officials from all administrations to conduct an audit of existing data sharing arrangements and look for areas of improvement and further collaboration.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland on the union connectivity review.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Officials from the Department for Transport regularly engage with their counterparts in Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure on the recommendations made by Lord Peter Hendy’s Union Connectivity Review (UCR). The UK Government’s response to the UCR was published on 7 December 2023 and outlined UK Government funding of £4.8m to support the recommendations made for improved rail connections in Northern Ireland, including £700k for a feasibility study on reopening the Antrim to Lisburn railway line with an additional stop at Belfast International Airport.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to provide funding to small hauliers to incentivise the transition to zero emission vehicles.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Government grants have been in place for over a decade to help reduce the up-front purchase price of electric vehicles. Since 2011, the Government has provided over £1.8 billion in grant funding to bring ultra-low emission vehicles onto UK roads, which has supported over 500,000 ULEVs. 355,000 of which are zero emission vehicles.
The Plug-in Van and Truck Grants remain available until at least the financial year 2024/25. Through these grants, customers can secure funds of up to £2,500 for small vans and £5,000 for large vans.
All Plug-in Vehicle grants are kept under continual review to ensure best value for money for the taxpayer.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the cost to the public purse of damage to pavements caused by pavement parking in each of the last five years.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is fully aware that pavement parking can pose problems for all pedestrians, including from damage to pavements. Local authorities are responsible for pavement maintenance and already have powers to tackle pavement parking by implementing Traffic Regulation Orders. The Department has consulted on further options to help local authorities outside London tackle this issue and will publish a formal response when final decisions have been taken. Any new measures will be accompanied by an impact assessment, which will include an estimate of the cost of damage to pavements caused by pavement parking.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to facilitate the recycling of marine and leisure vessels as part of the Clean Maritime Plan.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Department intends to publish an updated version of the Clean Maritime Plan in 2023. This update will set out the next steps to decarbonising the maritime sector.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to support regional airports that have lost a significant amount of income due to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
This government has renewed the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS) for a third time to support airports and ground handlers suffering losses as a result of COVID-19. The latest renewal of the scheme, which is open to eligible regional airports in England, will provide up to £4m of support towards permitted fixed costs, and represents a crucial funding and liquidity bridge through the typically challenging winter months for the sector, toward the increased stability that the summer season offers.
By the end of this financial year, this government will have in total provided up to £175m through the AGOSS scheme. This forms part of the around £8 billion of government support that the air transport sector has benefitted from since the start of the pandemic, demonstrating our commitment to safeguarding the sector.
Support for airports outside of England remains a devolved matter, with the support offered through AGOSS consistent with measures in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and new AGOSS funding attracting Barnett consequentials for the devolved administrations in the usual manner.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to help ensure that licences held by UK pilots are EASA recognised.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The UK Government places the highest importance on ensuring the opportunities arising from our exit from the European Union are realised. Withdrawing from the European Union means we have more autonomy to tailor aviation regulation according to the UKs competitive needs, whilst adhering to international standards.
UK licences are valid to fly UK registered aircraft in the EU. EU law requires that a licence issued or validated by an EU Member State must be held by a pilot to fly an aircraft registered in the EU – in line with the requirements of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
The procedures set out in Commission Delegated Regulation 2020/723 to obtain an EU licence continue to apply to UK license holders wishing to obtain a valid EU license. I should stress that receipt of an EU licence will not of itself provide a right to work in the EU.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what engagement his Department of Transport has had with the aerospace industry to identify measures that could (a) safely open up aviation and (b) increase consumer confidence in the context of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Government is working closely with the UK’s aerospace and aviation industries, including at sector level through the Aerospace Growth Partnership.
In addition, the Global Travel Taskforce has undertaken extensive engagement with the transport industry, including aviation and aerospace, and are putting in place a range of measures to support a safe and sustainable return to air travel and encourage consumer confidence.
On 15 December we introduced the ‘Test to Release for International Travel’ scheme in England, allowing arrivals from countries not on the travel corridors list to pay for a privately provided Covid-19 test and reduce their period of self-isolation if the test is negative.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Global Travel Taskforce is next scheduled to convene to discuss the outstanding recommendations from that Taskforce’s report of 24 November 2020.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Global Travel Taskforce has concluded its work. However, the Government is working closely and at pace with industry and our international partners to implement the taskforce recommendations and ensure a safe and sustainable return to international travel as quickly as possible.
The taskforce recommendations addressed three priorities: implementing effective public health measures; encouraging safe growth in demand; and driving a co-ordinated response with global partners.
As a first step, on 15 December the Government introduced the ‘Test to Release for International Travel’ scheme in England, allowing arrivals to pay for a privately provided Covid-19 test and reduce their required period of self-isolation if the test is negative.