Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which commercial aviation routes are being prioritised as part of the Government's plans to support the restart of the aviation sector in response to the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Government recognises the challenging times facing the aviation sector?as a result of?COVID-19 and is committed to tackling this virus while enabling a sustainable and responsible return to travel.
Commercial air transport routes are a matter for airlines, and therefore decisions on how soon to operate a route after a period of inactivity is a matter for those airlines.
Since 10 July under the Travel Corridor policy, passengers arriving from a number of countries and territories are no longer required to self-isolate on arrival unless they have visited or transited through a non-exempt country or territory. Ministerial decisions on Travel Corridors are informed by risk assessments provided by the Joint Biosecurity Centre, working closely with Public Health England, using a methodology endorsed by the 4 Chief Medical Officers of the UK.
As a further measure in support of international travel, the Test to Release scheme was launched on 15 December. This provides passengers arriving in England with the option to shorten the self-isolation period by up to half following a negative COVID-19 test.
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 planning to take to support the aerospace sector under his Department's Aviation Recovery Plan.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Covid pandemic, and the need for the Government to respond to it, have clearly impacted the aviation and aerospace sectors.
The Government has therefore announced through the Global Travel Taskforce, a number of measures to assist the sector to restart over the winter period. This includes the ‘Test To Release for international travel’ (TTR) scheme, which was launched on 15 December and will boost consumer confidence in air travel.
Following the successful implementation of these measures, the government will then put forward its strategic framework for the medium and long term recovery of the aviation sector.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether grandfathered driving rights driving licenses issued by the Driver and Vehicle Agency Northern Ireland are recognised if that driver transfers to a DVLA license.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Driving entitlements held as grandfather rights on licences issued in Northern Ireland before 1997 are recognised when those licences are exchanged for a GB licence.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on the scoping report on a road transport link between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Prime Minister has announced we will carry out a study of all future road, rail, air and cross-sea links between our all our four parts of the UK. We are currently in the process of formally appointing a reviewer to undertake this work. We expect to launch the review shortly.
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 temporarily extend the 12 month driving license exchange period for people that hold a non-EU driving license during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
There are no plans to extend the twelve-month licence grace period for people that hold a non-EU driving licence. Drivers should either exchange their licences if they are eligible or take a driving test. Those who continue to drive, do so illegally.
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 wiil revise his Departments guidance on safer travel guidance for passengers to include motorcycles as an allowed mode of transport during covid-19.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Department’s guidance issued on 12 May refers to “Private cars and other vehicles” as an alternative to using public transport, and encourages the public to “consider all other forms of transport before using public transport”. This would include private vehicles such as motorcycles and mopeds where the journey to be made is appropriate.
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 DVLA officially recognises Temporary Exemption Certificates issued by the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
Answered by George Freeman
Motorists who have been issued with a Temporary Exemption Certificate by the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland will be able to license their vehicles as normal.
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 potential merits of establishing free ports throughout the UK.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Freeports will be established after we leave the EU and will play a significant role in boosting trade. They will attract inward investment and drive productive activity across the UK, which will help rejuvenate deprived communities across the country through increased employment opportunities.
The Government is engaging with industry experts and economists to ensure we make Freeports a success, by developing an extremely ambitious and attractive offer to businesses interested in investing in our Freeports
The Government is committed to working with the DAs to ensure a Freeport policy that works for the whole UK. Specific locations for Freeports will be chosen in due course according to a fair, transparent and robust bidding process. The Government is keen to ensure that the bidding process is fair and open, and that the government is not seen to show favour to particular areas over others.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to conduct a feasibility study on a (a) bridge or (b) tunnel connecting the islands of Ireland and Great Britain.
Answered by George Freeman
A feasibility study has not currently been commissioned.
However, as you would expect, government regularly commissions work to examine the feasibility of potential projects, so that position is subject to regular review.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding from the Highways England Innovation Fund has been (a) allocated and (b) spent on developing of automated traffic cone machines and any associated technology.
Answered by George Freeman
Highways England has one project regarding “Automated Cone Laying” which seeks to develop a first generation fully automated cone laying vehicle which requires no personnel on the back of the vehicle. £1.133m is forecast to be spent in 2019/20 from a total approved allocation for the project of £1.27m. There is a break point at the end of this financial year after completion of live testing of the automated cone laying vehicles. No funding was spent in previous financial years on automated traffic cone machines.