Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Royston Smith and Chris Heaton-Harris

Thursday 2nd July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Royston Smith (Southampton, Itchen) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to encourage people to use electric cycles.

[The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Chris Heaton-Harris)]

The Government have simplified their cycle to work scheme guidance to help employers to access e-bikes at a discount.

[Royston Smith [V]]

Southampton has received Government funding for additional cycle lanes, many of which lie unused for most of the day. My constituency is surrounded by hills, which is quite a deterrent for people on cycles. E-bikes and e-scooters could make a significant difference. I welcome the news that e-scooters will become legal this weekend, but without relaxing the regulations for privately owned e-scooters, a city centre hire scheme will make little or no difference in Southampton. Will my hon. Friend look again at privately owned e-scooters to encourage more of my constituents out of their cars?

[Chris Heaton-Harris]

My hon. Friend is right to say that we need to capitalise on the unprecedented growth in active travel that we have seen recently, especially on bicycles and e-bicycles. He is completely correct about e-scooters; these trials will only include rental scooters. This will allow them to take place in a controlled manner while we assess the safety and other impacts. A wide range of e-scooters are available, building to different standards. I would like to think that the trials will demonstrate how useful they are in the mix for active travel.