Ruth Cadbury

Throughout this crisis, the Government has sought to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods across the UK, support businesses, and public services. The Government has spent over £280 billion to do so this year.

If a business is not able to access the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, the British Business Bank offers a range of other support including:

• Individuals who are starting a new business or who have been trading for less than two years can apply for a Start Up Loan, which offers loans (from £500 to £25,000, at 6% interest) alongside free mentoring and support.
• Businesses with a turnover of less than £45 million, and looking for up to £5 million in finance, can apply for a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.
• Larger businesses with a group turnover of more than £45 million, looking for up to £200 million in finance, can apply for a Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme.
• The Future Fund issues convertible loans to innovative UK companies with good potential that typically rely on equity investment and are currently affected by Covid-19.
• To help small businesses understand and identify suitable finance options available, the British Business Bank’s website and Finance Hub offer a wide range of information on finance options.

The support available through the British Business Bank is one part of an unprecedented range of measures to back business. Full details on the support available for businesses can be found on the GOV.UK website, or through contacting our business support helpline.

On 20 January 2020, the department launched a new scheme which makes free period products available for state-funded primary schools, secondary schools and colleges in England. The scheme remained in operation during partial school and college closures, and these organisations are still able to order a range of period products and distribute them to learners.

This scheme is in place to ensure that no learner misses out on education due to their period, and we continue to work with our delivery partner, phs, to encourage engagement with the scheme. Schools and colleges should have period products available should learners need them, and they may choose to order products through this scheme or through an alternative route.

Each eligible organisation has been allocated a budget for the scheme in 2020 based on 35% of the number of learners whose legal gender is female and who, based on age, are likely to have started their period. 35% is an assumed take-up rate, reflecting the fact that not all learners will have a need for products all of the time. This mirrors the assumed take-up rate used in the scheme to provide learners in Scotland with access to free period products. The total amount spent through the scheme will depend on the value of period products ordered by schools and colleges.

We are continuing to monitor the scheme closely and we will make information available about any extensions or changes to the scheme in due course.

On 20 January 2020, the department launched a new scheme which makes free period products available for state-funded primary schools, secondary schools and colleges in England. The scheme remained in operation during partial school and college closures, and these organisations are still able to order a range of period products and distribute them to learners.

This scheme is in place to ensure that no learner misses out on education due to their period, and we continue to work with our delivery partner, phs, to encourage engagement with the scheme. Schools and colleges should have period products available should learners need them, and they may choose to order products through this scheme or through an alternative route.

Each eligible organisation has been allocated a budget for the scheme in 2020 based on 35% of the number of learners whose legal gender is female and who, based on age, are likely to have started their period. 35% is an assumed take-up rate, reflecting the fact that not all learners will have a need for products all of the time. This mirrors the assumed take-up rate used in the scheme to provide learners in Scotland with access to free period products. The total amount spent through the scheme will depend on the value of period products ordered by schools and colleges.

We are continuing to monitor the scheme closely and we will make information available about any extensions or changes to the scheme in due course.

On 20 January 2020, the department launched a new scheme which makes free period products available for state-funded primary schools, secondary schools and colleges in England. The scheme remained in operation during partial school and college closures, and these organisations are still able to order a range of period products and distribute them to learners.

This scheme is in place to ensure that no learner misses out on education due to their period, and we continue to work with our delivery partner, phs, to encourage engagement with the scheme. Schools and colleges should have period products available should learners need them, and they may choose to order products through this scheme or through an alternative route.

Each eligible organisation has been allocated a budget for the scheme in 2020 based on 35% of the number of learners whose legal gender is female and who, based on age, are likely to have started their period. 35% is an assumed take-up rate, reflecting the fact that not all learners will have a need for products all of the time. This mirrors the assumed take-up rate used in the scheme to provide learners in Scotland with access to free period products. The total amount spent through the scheme will depend on the value of period products ordered by schools and colleges.

We are continuing to monitor the scheme closely and we will make information available about any extensions or changes to the scheme in due course.

On 20 January 2020, the department launched a new scheme which makes free period products available for state-funded primary schools, secondary schools and colleges in England. This is an important step to ensure that menstruation does not present a barrier to learning and that no-one is held back from reaching their potential.

The scheme remained in operation during partial school closures, and schools and colleges were still able to order a range of period products through the online portal and distribute them to students.

All eligible schools and colleges were automatically registered for the scheme and were sent a welcome email in January. There have since been further email campaigns to all eligible schools and colleges, encouraging them to engage with the scheme.

Our delivery partner, phs Group, reported that since the scheme launched, almost 40% of eligible organisations have placed orders for period products.

I meet the Ofqual Chief Regulator regularly as do our officials. Given the current unprecedented circumstances, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has also issued a direction to Ofqual to help shape its work in developing calculated grades for students in place of exam results, ensuring outcomes are as fair as possible.

The Government supports various campaigns to encourage people to walk and cycle, all of which help to promote and unlock the benefits of active travel. They include the Big Bike Revival programme delivered by Cycling UK, the Walk to School Outreach programme delivered by Living Streets, and local programmes delivered by local authorities through the Department’s £20 million per annum Access Fund. There are no plans for a national communications campaign, but Government will continue to work with stakeholders to consider the best ways of promoting the benefits of active travel.

Work is underway on drafting the regulations needed to bring the Part 6 powers into force. It is not possible at this stage to say exactly when in 2021 the powers will be available to local authorities, but as set out in the previous answer, we expect it will take several months to complete the process.

The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, as the bridge owner, took the decision to close Hammersmith Bridge to river traffic in August 2020, as advised within the Case for Continued Safe Operation. Public safety is the top priority and the Governments wants to see the bridge reopened to pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic as soon as it is safe to do so.

As you may be aware the Government has established a Taskforce – led by Baroness Vere – to bring together both local Councils, Transport for London and the Port of London Authority to assess and determine next steps.

The Department for Transport and the Port of London Authority continue to hold constructive discussions with Hammersmith and Fulham on the possibility of revisiting the Case for Continued Safe Operation to allow controlled and limited river traffic; any changes will be dependent on expert engineers determining that any risks are adequately controlled.

The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, as the bridge owner, took the decision to close Hammersmith Bridge to river traffic in August 2020, as advised within the Case for Continued Safe Operation. Public safety is the top priority and the Governments wants to see the bridge reopened to pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic as soon as it is safe to do so.

As you may be aware the Government has established a Taskforce – led by Baroness Vere – to bring together both local Councils, Transport for London and the Port of London Authority to assess and determine next steps.

The Department for Transport and the Port of London Authority continue to hold constructive discussions with Hammersmith and Fulham on the possibility of revisiting the Case for Continued Safe Operation to allow controlled and limited river traffic; any changes will be dependent on expert engineers determining that any risks are adequately controlled.

The Government takes the impact of traffic noise on health, wellbeing and the natural environment seriously. Vehicles are required to meet strict noise limits before being placed on the market and police already have powers to act if they suspect an exhaust has been altered to increase noise.

The Department is continuing to research whether noise enforcement can be made more effective using acoustic camera technology. A review of the current vehicle noise legislation may need to be considered if acoustic camera systems prove to be a reliable and efficient enforcement method.

The Department for Transport has been in regular contact with airlines, airports, ground handlers and unions to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the companies and their workers. It would be inappropriate to comment on discussions held with individual companies.

The Department for Transport has been in regular contact with airlines, airports, ground handlers and unions to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the companies and their workers. It would be inappropriate to comment on discussions held with individual companies.

The aviation sector is essential to the UK economy, and companies can draw upon the unprecedented package of measures, including: schemes to raise capital, flexibilities with tax bills, and financial support for employees. If airlines find themselves in trouble because of coronavirus, and have exhausted the measures already available to them, the Government is prepared to enter discussions with individual companies seeking bespoke support as a last resort, having exhausted all other options.??Any intervention would need to represent value for money for taxpayers.

The Department for Transport is in regular contact with HM Treasury regarding the challenges facing the aviation sector as a result of COVID-19. The sector is crucial to the UK’s economy and businesses across the industry are able to draw on the unprecedented package of economic measures we have put in place during this time.

This includes a Bank of England scheme for firms to raise capital and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme which facilitates access to finance for businesses affected by the outbreak. HMRC is also ready to help all businesses and self-employed individuals, experiencing temporary financial difficulties due to coronavirus.?You can access their “Time to Pay” arrangements, which eases restrictions with tax bills and VAT deferrals.

The Government is also ensuring financial support for employees through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme covering 80% of furloughed employees’ usual monthly wage costs, up to £2,500 a month, alongside the associated Employer National Insurance contributions and pension contributions.

The government recognises the challenging times facing the aviation sector as a result of COVID-19 and the unprecedented impact it has had on global travel, with flight numbers down significantly year on year throughout the crisis. The government is monitoring the impact of the pandemic on the UK aviation sector, including passenger airlines operating in the UK, and will continue to keep the impact on competition in the sector under review.

The Government wants to ensure step free access for as many passengers as possible. It remains committed to transforming our railways and building on Keith Williams’ evidence-based priorities, including to deliver improved accessibility. We want to create a railway that puts passengers first, delivers better value for money and supports the nation’s recovery from Covid-19.

Covid-19 struck when the Williams Rail Review was in its final stages. We believe the priorities that Keith set out remain the right ones and we are working with him now to consider how best to deliver reform in light of these unique challenges.

The Department regularly reviews the level of accessibility including data from Rail Delivery Group and passenger demand. We also require the industry to meet current accessibility standards whenever they install, replace or renew station infrastructure and to provide free alternative transport for anyone unable to use a particular station. By the end of 2024 more than 100 additional stations will also receive accessible routes under our Access for All programme.

The Department for Transport regularly engages with Network Rail on improving accessibility at stations. This includes frequent formal and ad hoc meetings as part of the governance of the Access for All programme and advising Network Rail on their legal obligation to meet accessibility standards whenever they install, replace or renew station infrastructure.

The DVLA's vehicle excise duty collection and enforcement activities are funded by the Department for Transport. The DVLA is required to cover all other operating costs through statutory fees and wider commercial (non-statutory) charges.

The quickest and easiest way to renew a driving licence is to do so online. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online services continued to work as normal throughout the pandemic and there are no delays for applications made in this way.

While the DVLA has remained open throughout the pandemic, the 6,000 staff are based predominantly in one building in Swansea. This means the DVLA has had a greatly reduced number of staff on-site at any one time due to social distancing requirements in Wales and this has led to delays in dealing with paper applications as these have to be dealt with in person on site. The DVLA has implemented measures to increase the number of staff on-site so paper applications can be processed as quickly as possible, including reconfiguring its office space to safely accommodate more operational staff.

A well maintained transport system helps goods and people move around the country and contributes to economic performance. Whilst impacts vary from case to case, well planned maintenance and renewals work has been demonstrated to deliver very high value for money and amongst the highest returns for investment in transport. Data on the value for money of investments is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/percentage-of-dft-s-appraised-project-spending-that-is-assessed-as-good-or-very-good-value-for-money

The Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG) provides guidance on the transport appraisal process that allows decision-makers to be presented with a comprehensive account of all relevant impacts of a proposed transport investment. A range of impacts relating to quality of life are typically considered in scheme appraisals including congestion/crowding relief, journey quality, housing availability, air quality, noise, landscape, safety, security, physical activity, accessibility, and affordability.

As set out in last year’s Appraisal and Modelling Strategy, the Department is also progressing work in several areas that collectively serve to highlight the relationship between transport investment and quality of life, including the potential role of wellbeing analysis in transport appraisal.

The Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG) provides guidance on the transport appraisal which provides a comprehensive account of all relevant impacts of a proposed transport investment. There is no prior weighting applied to any specific impact or group of impacts, with their importance determined by their scale and evidence on how society values these impacts. Environmental impacts considered include noise, air quality, greenhouse gases, landscape, townscape, historic environment, biodiversity, and water environment. Social impacts considered include accidents, physical activity, security, severance, journey quality, option and non-use value, accessibility, and personal affordability.

TAG also recommends the use of distributional analysis – the impacts of a proposal on more vulnerable groups of society. Where these distributional impacts are relevant to the scheme, a qualitative assessment of the extent and the vulnerable groups affected should be reported.

London Heathrow Airport sought the views of the department on its proposal to move temporarily all of its operations to the northern runway before this took place on 13 July 2020. In view of the current air traffic demand and its reduced environmental impacts, and the long-term benefits to the airport from repairing its southern runway, the government endorsed the airport’s decision to operate solely for a limited period from the northern runway.

The Government expects London Heathrow Airport to assess the potential operational, safety and environmental consequences of any change to its operations before implementation. The specific format of any such assessment, and the level of detail to be included within it, are the responsibility of London Heathrow Airport and will need to be undertaken in compliance with its legal and regulatory obligations.

The government’s longstanding policy is that mixed mode operations at London Heathrow Airport on its two runways should not be undertaken other than in agreed circumstances such as when the airport operates in Tactically Enhanced Arrivals Mode (TEAM). Any proposal by London Heathrow Airport to operate both runways on a permanent mixed mode basis would need the government’s consent as well as satisfying all legal requirements.

London Heathrow Airport sought the views of the department on its proposal to move temporarily all of its operations to the northern runway before this took place on 13 July 2020. In view of the current air traffic demand and its reduced environmental impacts, and the long-term benefits to the airport from repairing its southern runway, the government endorsed the airport’s decision to operate solely for a limited period from the northern runway.

The Government expects London Heathrow Airport to assess the potential operational, safety and environmental consequences of any change to its operations before implementation. The specific format of any such assessment, and the level of detail to be included within it, are the responsibility of London Heathrow Airport and will need to be undertaken in compliance with its legal and regulatory obligations.

The government’s longstanding policy is that mixed mode operations at London Heathrow Airport on its two runways should not be undertaken other than in agreed circumstances such as when the airport operates in Tactically Enhanced Arrivals Mode (TEAM). Any proposal by London Heathrow Airport to operate both runways on a permanent mixed mode basis would need the government’s consent as well as satisfying all legal requirements.

London Heathrow Airport sought the views of the department on its proposal to move temporarily all of its operations to the northern runway before this took place on 13 July 2020. In view of the current air traffic demand and its reduced environmental impacts, and the long-term benefits to the airport from repairing its southern runway, the government endorsed the airport’s decision to operate solely for a limited period from the northern runway.

The Government expects London Heathrow Airport to assess the potential operational, safety and environmental consequences of any change to its operations before implementation. The specific format of any such assessment, and the level of detail to be included within it, are the responsibility of London Heathrow Airport and will need to be undertaken in compliance with its legal and regulatory obligations.

The government’s longstanding policy is that mixed mode operations at London Heathrow Airport on its two runways should not be undertaken other than in agreed circumstances such as when the airport operates in Tactically Enhanced Arrivals Mode (TEAM). Any proposal by London Heathrow Airport to operate both runways on a permanent mixed mode basis would need the government’s consent as well as satisfying all legal requirements.

The Government’s recognises that night flights have material value to the economy, and that the aviation industry connects people and UK businesses with the world. In particular, we recognised the importance of early morning arrivals from long-haul routes such as the Far East and America, volume of onward connections supported in this early morning period, and the contribution flights in the shoulder periods make to delivery of essential freight, both dedicated and belly-hold.

The economic value of night flights at Heathrow is considered in the Department's decisions relating to night flight restrictions at the airport. The last impact assessment was published in July 2017 to inform the current night flight restrictions, which run until October 2022.

The Department has made no assessment of the adequacy of the protected cycleways designed and built between 1934 and 1941. Local Authorities are responsible for assessing and identifying investment priorities for local transport infrastructure, including for cycling and walking. The Government intends to publish the updated version of the Department’s cycle infrastructure design guidance imminently.

On the 9^th May the Government announced a £2 billion package of funding for cycling and walking over the next five years. £225 million will be available to local authorities this financial year. for immediate measures including new cycle lanes, wider pavements and safer junctions. Decisions on the remainder will be for the Spending Review in due course.

The Department has been working with interested groups to conduct a review of The Highway Code focused on improving safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse-riders. We are hoping to consult on the proposed changes shortly.

The Government is committed to delivering the aims and ambitions set out in the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, which was published in April 2017. This includes ensuring that there are appropriate staff resources in place to deliver the Strategy, as well as the new commitments on active travel that have been announced recently. Around twenty officials in the Department for Transport now work on cycling and walking issues, and this will be kept under review.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) will resume its statutory obligations to survey and inspect domestic passenger boats in the UK, including those operating on the Thames, on 20 July and will use a risk-based approach.

The details of the plans for resumption of these activities were made available to the maritime industry on 6 July.

The MCA has no plans to (a) reduce or (b) remove the fees for statutory inspections and surveys that their Marine Surveyors perform on passenger boats.

The Government has announced an unprecedented package of financial measures worth £350 billion to support companies of all sizes through the COVID-19 pandemic. My Department’s officials and I have been working closely with a wide range of operators, including passenger ferry operators, to understand how these measures can be applied and have continued to offer our support to them during this difficult time.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) will resume its statutory obligations to survey and inspect domestic passenger boats in the UK, including those operating on the Thames, on 20 July and will use a risk-based approach.

The details of the plans for resumption of these activities were made available to the maritime industry on 6 July.

The MCA has no plans to (a) reduce or (b) remove the fees for statutory inspections and surveys that their Marine Surveyors perform on passenger boats.

The Government has announced an unprecedented package of financial measures worth £350 billion to support companies of all sizes through the COVID-19 pandemic. My Department’s officials and I have been working closely with a wide range of operators, including passenger ferry operators, to understand how these measures can be applied and have continued to offer our support to them during this difficult time.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) will resume its statutory obligations to survey and inspect domestic passenger boats in the UK, including those operating on the Thames, on 20 July and will use a risk-based approach.

The details of the plans for resumption of these activities were made available to the maritime industry on 6 July.

The MCA has no plans to (a) reduce or (b) remove the fees for statutory inspections and surveys that their Marine Surveyors perform on passenger boats.

The Government has announced an unprecedented package of financial measures worth £350 billion to support companies of all sizes through the COVID-19 pandemic. My Department’s officials and I have been working closely with a wide range of operators, including passenger ferry operators, to understand how these measures can be applied and have continued to offer our support to them during this difficult time.

On 9 May the Government announced a £2bn package of funding for cycling and walking over the next five years. The Government intends to publish the updated version of the Department’s cycle infrastructure design guidance in the summer, and will make clear its expectation that the guidance must followed for all cycling schemes supported by Government funding.

On the 7^th February the Department published the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy Active Travel Investment Model structure and evidence base research paper and accompanying appendices. Publication of the cycling and walking insights part of the research has been delayed by other pressures, but the Department intends to publish it shortly.

On the 9^th May the Government announced a £2bn package of funding for cycling and walking over the next five years. This includes £250m in the current financial year for quick-win measures to help keep cyclists and pedestrians safe, as well as vouchers for cycle repairs and greater provision for bike fixing facilities.

The funding for cycling and walking infrastructure will be provided directly to local authorities, who are best placed to determine and prioritise where it should be spent. Initial funding allocations will be published shortly.

A total of around £1.2 billion was invested in cycling and walking over those three years, with roughly a quarter of this ring-fenced and three quarters non-ring-fenced. Details of this investment, including a year by year breakdown, were published on 7^th February alongside the first report to Parliament on progress made towards delivering the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS). Most of the investment benefits both cycling and walking, although some initiatives are focused more on one than on the other: further details are provided in the report.

Further details on all of these matters will be provided as part of the forthcoming Budget and Spending Review.

Our airports are national assets and their expansion is a core part of boosting our global connectivity. This in turn will drive economic growth for all parts of this country, connecting our nations and regions to international markets, levelling up our economy and supporting a truly Global Britain.

The Court of Appeal ruled on 27 February that when designating the Airports National Policy Statement, which was backed by Parliament, the previous Government did not take account of the Paris Agreement, non-CO2 emissions and emissions post 2050. We have always been clear that Heathrow expansion is a private sector project which must meet strict criteria on air quality, noise and climate change, as well as being privately financed, affordable, and delivered in the best interest of consumers. The Government has taken the decision not to appeal this judgment. The promoters of the scheme will be able to seek permission from the Supreme Court to appeal if they wish.

As part of its judgment, the Court has declared that the Airports National Policy Statement is of no legal effect unless and until the government carries out a review under the Planning Act 2008. The Court’s judgment is complex and requires careful consideration. We will set out our next steps in due course.

Our airports are national assets and their expansion is a core part of boosting our global connectivity. This in turn will drive economic growth for all parts of this country, connecting our nations and regions to international markets, levelling up our economy and supporting a truly Global Britain.

The Court of Appeal ruled on 27 February that when designating the Airports National Policy Statement, which was backed by Parliament, the previous Government did not take account of the Paris Agreement, non-CO2 emissions and emissions post 2050. We have always been clear that Heathrow expansion is a private sector project which must meet strict criteria on air quality, noise and climate change, as well as being privately financed, affordable, and delivered in the best interest of consumers. The Government has taken the decision not to appeal this judgment. The promoters of the scheme will be able to seek permission from the Supreme Court to appeal if they wish.

As part of its judgment, the Court has declared that the Airports National Policy Statement is of no legal effect unless and until the government carries out a review under the Planning Act 2008. The Court’s judgment is complex and requires careful consideration. We will set out our next steps in due course.

Our airports are national assets and their expansion is a core part of boosting our global connectivity. This in turn will drive economic growth for all parts of this country, connecting our nations and regions to international markets, levelling up our economy and supporting a truly Global Britain.

The Court of Appeal ruled on 27 February that when designating the Airports National Policy Statement, which was backed by Parliament, the previous Government did not take account of the Paris Agreement, non-CO2 emissions and emissions post 2050. We have always been clear that Heathrow expansion is a private sector project which must meet strict criteria on air quality, noise and climate change, as well as being privately financed, affordable, and delivered in the best interest of consumers. The Government has taken the decision not to appeal this judgment. The promoters of the scheme will be able to seek permission from the Supreme Court to appeal if they wish.

As part of its judgment, the Court has declared that the Airports National Policy Statement is of no legal effect unless and until the government carries out a review under the Planning Act 2008. The Court’s judgment is complex and requires careful consideration. We will set out our next steps in due course.

Our airports are national assets and their expansion is a core part of boosting our global connectivity. This in turn will drive economic growth for all parts of this country, connecting our nations and regions to international markets, levelling up our economy and supporting a truly Global Britain.

The Court of Appeal ruled on 27 February that when designating the Airports National Policy Statement, which was backed by Parliament, the previous Government did not take account of the Paris Agreement, non-CO2 emissions and emissions post 2050. We have always been clear that Heathrow expansion is a private sector project which must meet strict criteria on air quality, noise and climate change, as well as being privately financed, affordable, and delivered in the best interest of consumers. The Government has taken the decision not to appeal this judgment. The promoters of the scheme will be able to seek permission from the Supreme Court to appeal if they wish.

As part of its judgment, the Court has declared that the Airports National Policy Statement is of no legal effect unless and until the government carries out a review under the Planning Act 2008. The Court’s judgment is complex and requires careful consideration. We will set out our next steps in due course.

The Government is committed to meeting the aim of doubling cycling by 2025, as set out in the statutory 2017 Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, and to ensuring that sufficient funding is available for this. A significant proportion of the £5 billion will therefore be allocated to cycling and walking, with further details to be announced at the forthcoming Budget and Spending Review.

The research has been completed and the Department is planning to publish the technical report, which summarises the key evidence considered, alongside the first report on progress made towards delivering the aims and ambitions set out in the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS). The levels of investment for cycling and walking in future years will be matters for the forthcoming Budget and Spending Review, further details of which will be announced in due course.

The Airports National Policy Statement sets out that there is a need to increase airport capacity in the South East of England by 2030 by constructing one new runway and that this need is best met by the Northwest Runway scheme at Heathrow Airport.

Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) have confirmed that they intend to submit an application for development consent in 2020 which, if approved by the Secretary of State, following a report from the Planning Inspectorate, would allow for the construction and the opening of a third runway between early 2028 and late 2029.

Given that the delivery of any major infrastructure scheme is subject to uncertainty, prior to the designation of the Airports National Policy Statement, the Department for Transport undertook scenario and sensitivity testing which included an assessment of the impacts of a two-year delay on the delivery of the three schemes shortlisted by the Airports Commission, this was from 2025 in the case of Gatwick Airport and 2026 in the case of the two Heathrow schemes. The case for the Northwest Runway was not materially changed by such a delay. Furthermore, such a delay would serve to similarly reduce the schemes’ disbenefits, partially offsetting the reduction in direct economic benefits.

The Airports National Policy Statement was designated, following a vote in the House of Commons, in accordance with the Planning Act 2008 (the Act). The Act recognises that once a national policy statement has been designated, there may be a change in circumstances on the basis of which the policy was decided.

Section 6 of the Act imposes a duty on the Secretary of State to review each national policy statement whenever they think it appropriate to do so. Under the Act, in considering whether or not to review a national policy statement the Secretary of State must consider: 1) whether there has been a ‘significant change’ in any circumstances on the basis of which any of the policy set out in the national policy statement was decided; 2) whether this change was not anticipated; and, 3) whether the policy would have been materially different if that change had been anticipated (“section 6 considerations”). After review, a Secretary of State must either: 1) amend, 2) withdraw, or 3) leave the national policy statement as it is.

Ultimately, the decision on when, if ever, to review is a matter of judgement for the Secretary of State, who will consider any changes in the evidence base as part of the section 6 considerations.

Expansion at Heathrow is conditional on the implementation of a robust set of noise mitigations. These requirements are set out in the Airports National Policy Statement, which was designated following a vote in the House of Commons and include: minimising noise impacts so they are no greater than 2013 levels, a noise envelope, more predictable periods of respite and an expected ban of 6.5 hours on scheduled night flights.

It is now for an applicant for development consent to demonstrate to the Planning Inspectorate, with input from statutory consultees, that it can meet these requirements through a detailed assessment of all environmental impacts of their scheme, including demonstrating that noise mitigation measures will be effective.

The government continues to keep evidence on noise impacts under review through its expert group, the Interdepartmental Group on Costs and Benefits of Noise (IGCB(N)), and will consider carefully any recommendations from this process.

The Airports National Policy Statement sets out that it is for an applicant to demonstrate how it will improve surface access and mitigate the impacts of expansion at Heathrow. The expansion of Heathrow Airport will be fully funded and delivered by the private sector.

The proposed western rail link and southern access schemes to Heathrow are separate projects, which are subject to their own business cases. Where there are significant non-airport public user benefits from changes and enhancements to the infrastructure and services, the Government has made clear it would consider making a funding contribution to reflect these.

Transport in London is devolved and the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport for London. Decisions relating to River Thames operations and transport services are for the Mayor to take. The Department is always keen to see proposals for improved use of the Thames for passengers and freight traffic.

In accordance with the Cabinet Office guidance on consultation principles, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) conducted two public consultations on the implementation of the review of standards for older passenger ships from 6 November 2018 to 29 January 2019 and 29 May 2019 to 10 July 2019, and received 75 and 52 responses respectively. The consultations were published on gov.uk and notified extensively to stakeholders.

In addition, the MCA engaged widely with stakeholders through the Domestic Passenger Ship Steering Group, and held five workshops with industry on the proposals, three during 2016, another in 2018 and a further one in 2019.

The Port of London Authority (PLA) is the navigation authority for the tidal Thames. The Department for Transport therefore does not hold data on vessel movements on the Thames or intermodal connections.

The Port of London Authority (PLA) is the navigation authority for the tidal Thames. Vessel speed and frequency do not fall under the remit of the Department for Transport therefore no such assessments have been made.

Requests from exemptions against safety standards are considered on a case by case basis. Under proposed legislation for older passenger vessels, no new damage stability requirements are expected to be applied to older domestic passenger vessels which operate exclusively on non-tidal Category C Waters.

On tidal Category C waters, owners will be able to apply for exemptions against any new damage stability requirements if they can produce a risk assessment which demonstrates that their area of operation is one of low operational risk. These will also be considered on a case by case basis.