Asked by: Sheryll Murray (Conservative - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps to bring critical national infrastructure routes under his Department's control.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Department does not designate whole routes as critical national infrastructure, only certain systems, or key infrastructure points.
Both Network Rail and National Highways are government owned companies, operating the rail network in Great Britain and motorway and major A-roads in England respectively.
We regularly review the strategic road network extent to ensure it remains fit for purpose, most recently in the consultation process that will inform the third road investment strategy, between 2025-2030.
Asked by: Sheryll Murray (Conservative - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps to support motorists with road tolls.
Answered by Guy Opperman
Established government policy is that river and estuarial crossings will normally be funded by tolls, recognising the extra cost of their construction and maintenance, and also the substantial benefits for their users.
Other than such crossings and the M6 Toll motorway, the majority of the road network is free of tolls, and the Government has no plans to change this.
Asked by: Sheryll Murray (Conservative - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, to ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of tolls on major routes on the users of those routes.
Answered by Richard Holden - Opposition Whip (Commons)
The only charge for users of the current strategic road network managed by National Highways is at the Dartford Crossing, where evidence has shown that it helps manage congestion to provide more reliable journeys for users.
Asked by: Sheryll Murray (Conservative - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve the condition of roads in England.
Answered by Richard Holden - Opposition Whip (Commons)
During this Parliament the Government is investing over £5 billion in highways maintenance. It is up to the respective highway authority how best to spend this funding to fulfil their statutory duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980. The Department encourages good practice in highway maintenance through channels such as the Well Managed Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice produced by the UK Roads Leadership Group (UKRLG).
Asked by: Sheryll Murray (Conservative - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of changing Class E airspace to transponder mandatory zones on the operation of gliding clubs in the UK.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
There has been no assessment of the potential impacts of changing Class E airspace to transponder mandatory zones. Any such assessments are a matter for the independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
However, as the Government continues to modernise our airspace, it needs to be mindful of longer term changes that will have an impact on wider airspace management. This includes the increasing need to enable the safe integration, rather than segregation, of all aircraft. This is why, as part of the Aviation Strategy, the department is working with the CAA to explore a new policy on mandating electronic identification for all users.
All proposals to change the UK’s airspace design will need to be assessed according to the CAA’s own airspace change process which is set out in CAP1616. This includes the need to consult with all who may be affected by the proposal including members of the gliding community and other general aviation airspace users.
Asked by: Sheryll Murray (Conservative - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of changing Class E airspace to transponder mandatory zones on access to airspace for general aviation traffic.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
There has been no assessment of the potential impacts of changing Class E airspace to transponder mandatory zones. Any such assessments are a matter for the independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
However, as the Government continues to modernise our airspace, it needs to be mindful of longer term changes that will have an impact on wider airspace management. This includes the increasing need to enable the safe integration, rather than segregation, of all aircraft. This is why, as part of the Aviation Strategy, the department is working with the CAA to explore a new policy on mandating electronic identification for all users.
All proposals to change the UK’s airspace design will need to be assessed according to the CAA’s own airspace change process which is set out in CAP1616. This includes the need to consult with all who may be affected by the proposal including members of the gliding community and other general aviation airspace users.
Asked by: Sheryll Murray (Conservative - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of changing Class E airspace to transponder mandatory zones on access to airspace for general aviation traffic.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
There has been no assessment of the potential impacts of changing Class E airspace to transponder mandatory zones. Any such assessments are a matter for the independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
However, as the Government continues to modernise our airspace, it needs to be mindful of longer term changes that will have an impact on wider airspace management. This includes the increasing need to enable the safe integration, rather than segregation, of all aircraft. This is why, as part of the Aviation Strategy, the department is working with the CAA to explore a new policy on mandating electronic identification for all users.
All proposals to change the UK’s airspace design will need to be assessed according to the CAA’s own airspace change process which is set out in CAP1616. This includes the need to consult with all who may be affected by the proposal including members of the gliding community and other general aviation airspace users.
Asked by: Sheryll Murray (Conservative - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of changing Class E airspace to transponder mandatory zones on the operation of gliding clubs in the UK.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
There has been no assessment of the potential impacts of changing Class E airspace to transponder mandatory zones. Any such assessments are a matter for the independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
However, as the Government continues to modernise our airspace, it needs to be mindful of longer term changes that will have an impact on wider airspace management. This includes the increasing need to enable the safe integration, rather than segregation, of all aircraft. This is why, as part of the Aviation Strategy, the department is working with the CAA to explore a new policy on mandating electronic identification for all users.
All proposals to change the UK’s airspace design will need to be assessed according to the CAA’s own airspace change process which is set out in CAP1616. This includes the need to consult with all who may be affected by the proposal including members of the gliding community and other general aviation airspace users.
Asked by: Sheryll Murray (Conservative - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to roll out GPS technology at aerodromes to enable safer take-offs and landings for general aviation aircraft.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government recognises the importance of the General Aviation sector and its infrastructure. To this end, the Government has appointed Byron Davies as General Aviation Champion.
Mr Davies has been tasked with advising on the development of the sector, and of the role it plays within the UK’s economy and society. At the end of 2018 he will deliver a report on the state and future potential of general aviation. He is being assisted by York Aviation, which the Department has commissioned to carry out research on airfields of strategic significance.
The Civil Aviation Authority has published specific guidance on how an aerodrome should seek approval for airspace changes relating to the deployment of GPS-based technologies. This guidance, which is currently under review, includes the requirement for a safety case. The review is intended to align the guidance with CAP 1616 Airspace Design: Guidance on the regulatory process for changing airspace design including community engagement requirements, which was issued in December 2017.
Asked by: Sheryll Murray (Conservative - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the importance of general aviation to the UK's national infrastructure; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government recognises the importance of the General Aviation sector and its infrastructure. To this end, the Government has appointed Byron Davies as General Aviation Champion.
Mr Davies has been tasked with advising on the development of the sector, and of the role it plays within the UK’s economy and society. At the end of 2018 he will deliver a report on the state and future potential of general aviation. He is being assisted by York Aviation, which the Department has commissioned to carry out research on airfields of strategic significance.
The Civil Aviation Authority has published specific guidance on how an aerodrome should seek approval for airspace changes relating to the deployment of GPS-based technologies. This guidance, which is currently under review, includes the requirement for a safety case. The review is intended to align the guidance with CAP 1616 Airspace Design: Guidance on the regulatory process for changing airspace design including community engagement requirements, which was issued in December 2017.