Asked by: Ruth Edwards (Conservative - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans for Active Travel England to be (a) established and (b) operational.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The Department is committed to establishing Active Travel England and is developing the right model for the body. It must be able to deliver its role effectively and value for money. We plan to make announcements on the body shortly, including on when it will be established and become operational.
Asked by: Ruth Edwards (Conservative - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the illegal use of electric scooters hired under the Government’s e-scooter rental trials.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Operators are only permitted to run trials if they have engaged with local authorities and the local police force to ensure that any issues regarding enforcement of e-scooter rules are dealt with swiftly. Additionally, all operators must have a plan in place to prevent riders using trial e-scooters on the pavement. Operators in trial areas utilise ‘geofencing’ technology to reduce speeds in busy, contested areas and creating ‘no-go zones’. They also provide a range of training options for users, both in-person and via online modules. They are able to suspend and also delete accounts where riders have failed to follow the rules of the trial.
The police will take action against rider behaviour, whether private or rental, for offences including drink driving; riding on the footway; contravening red traffic lights and using a mobile phone. Private e-scooters, being ridden illegally will be issued with fixed penalty notices for contravening cycle lanes, riding without insurance and/or riding without a driving licence.
Operators are required to cooperate with the police on these and other matters and provide information necessary to investigate any criminal offences raised by the local police force.
Asked by: Ruth Edwards (Conservative - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to support the recovery of the aviation sector.
Answered by Robert Courts
The Government recognises the challenging times facing the air transport sector due to COVID-19. The sector is crucial to the UK’s economy and businesses across the industry have drawn on an unprecedented package of economic measures which we have put in place. In total, we estimate that by the end of September 2021 the air transport sector (airlines, airports and related services) will have benefited around £7bn of Government support since the start of the pandemic.
The Global Travel Taskforce has worked with industry and international partners to develop a risk-based framework that can facilitate the return of international travel while managing Variants of Concern. There will be checkpoint reviews on 28 June, 31 July and 1 October 2021 to take account of the domestic and international health picture.
The Government is also working on a strategic framework for the future of the aviation sector. It will focus on building back better and ensuring a successful UK aviation sector for the future. This will be published later this year.