Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on delivering the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government’s most recent assessment of progress towards delivering the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy was set out in the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy report to Parliament in July 2022, a copy of which is available in the House Libraries.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's publication entitled The second cycling and walking investment strategy, published 10 March 2023, what progress his Department has made on completing its objective of increasing walking activity to 365 stages per person per year by 2025.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government’s most recent assessment of progress towards meeting its active travel goals was set out in the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) report to Parliament in July 2022, a copy of which is available in the House Libraries. The most recent National Travel Survey statistics for 2021 show that the number of walking stages per person per year fell to 279 stages following impacts from the pandemic. The previous (CWIS1) objective of 300 stages per person had consistently been achieved from 2015 to 2019, with an average of 331 stages per person per year across this period, which is why the objective was made more ambitious in CWIS2. The latest statistics for 2022 are due to be published in September 2023, and the Department will provide a further assessment in its next report to Parliament in due course.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many successful Levelling Up Fund bids were assessed by Active Travel England in the last 12 months.
Answered by Jesse Norman
In August 2022, Active Travel England assessed all bids relating to active travel that were submitted as part of the second round of the Levelling Up Fund. This included 20 successful bids from local authorities containing active travel measures.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of how much Brazilian hardwood Network Rail has used for railway sleepers in each of the last five years.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The amount of Brazilian Hardwood Network Rail has used for railway sleepers in each of the past three years is listed below. Network Rail do not hold the information for the years 18/19 and 17/18.
Hardwood timber sleepers and bearers originating from Brazil:
| Cubic Metres | ||
Year | Sleepers | Bearers | Total |
19/20 | 1404 | 1422 | 2826 |
20/21 | 1506 | 2259 | 3765 |
21/22 | 1670 | 2026 | 3696 |
By way of context, below are the percentages of hardwood sleepers originating from Brazil purchased against all sleeper types (concrete, steel and timber):
19/20 | 20/21 | 21/22 |
3.1% | 3.4% | 3.5% |
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has for new infrastructure at ports to enable additional checks on vehicles and goods arriving from the EU from 1 January 2021; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
HMG will be engaging with ports, airports and other stakeholders at key border locations over the next few months to understand local constraints and opportunities and how the government can best support planning for operational readiness.
The Department for Transport has already committed £10 million, as part of the Port Infrastructure Resilience and Connectivity (PIRC) competition, to help deliver upgrades which will enhance capacity and maintain trade flow.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the members of the Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise were selected.
Answered by Michael Ellis
Commissioners for the Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise were selected via a public appointments process in accordance with the Public Appointments Code of Practice.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he took to secure political impartiality when selecting members of the Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Michael Ellis
All appointments to the Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise (ICCAN) have been made following an interview process based on the principles of merit, openness and fairness, in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. The recommended candidate for Head Commissioner was asked to step down from his position as an elected councillor before being appointed to ICCAN. The 7 principles of public life apply to all members of the Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many members of the Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise are (a) supporters of political parties other than the Conservative party (b) women (c) from ethnic minorities and (d) below retirement age; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Michael Ellis
No member of the Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise has declared any political interest which is material and relevant to the work of the body.
On the points relating to ethnicity, gender and age, in order to prevent the association of specific personal information with individuals, the Department does not release disaggregated personal data to the level that the right honourable member has requested.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria he used in selecting members of the Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The criteria used in selecting individuals for appointment to the Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise were a demonstration of knowledge of issues pertaining to aviation, noise and the aerospace industry; proven ability to demonstrate to all stakeholders that they are capable of independence; a track record of achieving results and providing strategic vision to lead a high-profile public organisation; and to maintain a commitment to high ethical standards of integrity and honesty – in accordance with the values of Nolan’s Seven Principles of Public Life.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he undertook a review of security at Sharm El Sheikh Airport during the Prime Minister's recent visit to Egypt; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The UK Government continues to work closely with its Egyptian counterparts, sharing our expertise in establishing effective security arrangements at all Egyptian airports including Sharm el-Sheikh. We look forward to achieving the return of flights once we can be assured that the necessary security requirements can be sustained.