Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to tackle illegal pavement parking.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
We undertook a consultation on the options to tackle pavement parking outside London. We are currently working through the policy options and the possible legislative opportunities for delivering them and as soon as those matters are certain we will publish our formal response. I can assure you this is a priority for us and that we will announce next steps for policy as soon as possible.
The formal consultation response will be available to view at: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/managing-pavement-parking.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1984, councils outside London have the power to prohibit pavement parking by introducing local laws through Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs); and the Department looks to local authorities to use these traffic management powers where problems occur.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
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 imposing a green levy on private jet flights.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The aviation sector, including business aviation, is important for the whole of the UK economy and supports connectivity, direct economic activity, trade, investment and jobs.
The Department is taking measures to reduce emissions from aviation. Its Jet Zero Strategy sets out how the sector can achieve net zero aviation by 2050 without requiring additional government interventions to limit aviation growth, by focusing on new fuels and technology.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing signage at level-crossings to help tackle vehicle idling.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Department has made no such assessment. Drivers are required to learn the Highway Code and rule 123 relates to unnecessary engine running. The rule states:
"You MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road. Generally, if the vehicle is stationary and is likely to remain so for more than a couple of minutes, you should apply the parking brake and switch off the engine to reduce emissions and noise pollution. However, it is permissible to leave the engine running if the vehicle is stationary in traffic or for diagnosing faults.”
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve safety for (a) road users and (b) pedestrians in Ealing Central and Acton constituency.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Local authorities should always make personal and public safety a priority as they develop and deliver their Local Transport Plans. Local knowledge is required to determine what safety measures are appropriate in individual cases, making local authorities best placed to do this. Roads in London are the responsibility of TfL and London Boroughs.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps to increase the provision of audio-visual announcements on local bus services for blind and partially sighted people.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
We plan to require the provision of audible and visible information on local bus and coach services across Great Britain and intend to introduce the Accessible Information Regulations shortly.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
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 bringing forward legislative proposals to provide (a) universal affordable access to bicycles and (b) grants for e-bike purchase.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department for Transport is currently monitoring and evaluating the impacts of the Fix Your Bike voucher scheme. The Department and Active Travel England will continue to work closely with the cycling industry to take forward any recommendations resulting from the evaluation.
There are no plans to bring forward additional legislative proposals. The Government already supports affordable access to cycles through the Cycle to Work scheme. Active Travel England continues to fund local authority-led cycle loan and share schemes, and is implementing an e-cycle programme to provide e-cycle loan opportunities.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of restarting the Fix Your Bike voucher scheme.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department for Transport is currently monitoring and evaluating the impacts of the Fix Your Bike voucher scheme. The Department and Active Travel England will continue to work closely with the cycling industry to take forward any recommendations resulting from the evaluation.
There are no plans to bring forward additional legislative proposals. The Government already supports affordable access to cycles through the Cycle to Work scheme. Active Travel England continues to fund local authority-led cycle loan and share schemes, and is implementing an e-cycle programme to provide e-cycle loan opportunities.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
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 providing free bicycle lights to cyclists under the age of 18 in England.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department has no plans to examine this proposal.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the (a) scope of and (b) eligibility for (i) free and (ii) discounted student travel in the context of the cost of living crisis.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Local authorities already have the powers to extend both the scope and eligibility of free and discounted student travel if it makes sense in their area.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to take further steps to increase the number of electric vehicle charging points.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Publicly available chargepoints have more than tripled in less than four years, and the Government expects this growth to continue. The Government is projecting the installation ofat least ten times more public chargepoints across the UK by the end of the decade,, bringing the number to 300,000 by 2030, as set out in the electric vehicle infrastructure strategy.