Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to (1) introduce, and (2) enforce, tougher environmental standards, such as mandatory insurance cover and compliance with International Maritime Organisation heavy fuel standards, for oil tankers entering UK territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The government has implemented, and enforces, a variety of mandatory environmental measures related to the use and carriage of oil, including heavy fuel oil, by sea. International standards are primarily set out in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), to which the UK is a signatory. Annex I of MARPOL makes provision for the prevention of pollution by oil from ships and includes mandatory requirements such as construction standards of oil tankers, limitations on size and arrangement of cargo tanks, damage stability requirements and a robust survey and certification regime. Compliance with these requirements is enforced by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) through surveys of UK registered ships and Port State Control inspections of non-UK ships when in UK ports. Non-compliance is managed through the detention of ships, prohibition notices and, where necessary, prosecution.
With regard to insurance, within certain tonnage limitations, UK ships and ships coming to or from the UK must have certificates to prove that they have the relevant compulsory civil liability insurance against oil pollution and liability insurance for the locating, marking and removing of wrecks in the event that the ship causes a pollution incident or is wrecked. Insurers must meet the UK’s criteria to provide appropriate cover and be approved by the MCA before a compulsory insurance certificate can be issued.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in addition to the £10.5 million of funding made available to Eurostar, Eurotunnel and Port of Dover for the introduction of the EU Entry-Exit System, what other projects and funding they have planned that can be expedited immediately to ease the potential disruption, not least to the Kent road network.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
DfT and Home Office have allocated £9m and £1.5m respectively to help enable the implementation of EES at Eurostar, Eurotunnel, and Port of Dover in a manner which minimises the risk of disruption. In addition, the Government is working closely with the relevant operators, the French and the European Commission to ensure implementation is optimised.
DfT continues to review contingency planning and traffic management in Kent in response to the additional risks to border throughput which EES poses, with additional contingency measures being planned in conjunction with Kent and Medway Resilience Forum to manage impacts to drivers and local communities in the event of any disruption.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when Hammersmith Bridge will re-open to traffic.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Hammersmith Bridge is expected to be reopened following the completion of the second, ‘Strengthening’ stage of works.
Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 7 August (HL344), how many staff in (1) the Department for Transport and (2) the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency are permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours; what is the percentage of overall working time they are permitted to spend on such network activity; how many hours are allocated in total; which networks are being funded; and whether they have any plans alter such funding.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Time allocation
The Department for Transport Core (DfTc) and the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) do not allocate a specified amount of time for staff to spend on diversity-related network activities. Civil Service guidance for diversity-related networks requires that time being spent on EDI activities by volunteers, where it is not part of an individual’s core role, is appropriate, reasonable and proportionate.
Funding
At present none of the networks within Department for Transport Core (DfTc) and the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) are funded. We are currently reviewing our staff networks and any future funding will align with the guidance on EDI Expenditure published on 14th May 2024.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to address (1) unregulated e-bike hire, and (2) illegal e-scooters.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the need to address the problems caused by unregulated e-bike hire schemes and illegal e-scooters. Ministers are carefully considering next steps and potential solutions. It is a matter for the police to decide what action is appropriate to deal with those who ride e-scooters illegally on the public highway.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effects of there being only one railway line between Salisbury and Yeovil on (1) the travelling public and (2) the carriage of goods.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We are aware of the issues between Salisbury and Yeovil and the lack of resilience due to the nature of this single line. Department officials continue to work with the South Western Railway and Network Rail in providing as much resilience as possible, including by increasing the Operator management resource tasked specifically to look at West of England line issues.
The Government recognises that the economic and environmental potential of rail freight is significant and is fully committed to supporting its growth. Under our plans to deliver the biggest overhaul of the railways in a generation, Great British Railways will have a duty and targets to grow the use of rail freight. Currently freight only operates between Salisbury and Worting Junction (Basingstoke).
There is no freight operation between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction. Network Rail is working with stakeholders and industry partners to understand the capacity and performance issues on the West of England Line and identify how these can be mitigated.
Asked by: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential role of rural taxi services in reducing pressure on bus services in low-population areas of the country, thereby improving environmental performance.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Taxi and private hire vehicle policy is a devolved matter in all UK nations. The role the trade can play in providing flexible transport services, especially in rural areas, is recognised in Department for Transport guidance issued to licensing authorities in England.
The Rural Mobility Fund demand responsive transport (DRT) minibus pilot, currently underway in 14 different local authorities, is exploring whether DRT can provide a solution in rural and suburban areas, either alone or in conjunction with other services. A comprehensive monitoring and evaluation process is in place, consisting of a process evaluation and an impact evaluation. The final process evaluation report is due next year.
Asked by: Lord Young of Cookham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many cars in the Government Car Service are (1) fully electric, (2) hybrid, and (3) petrol or diesel.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government Car Service currently has the following number of vehicles in its operational fleet:
36 fully electric.
51 Hybrid.
20 Petrol or Diesel.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of human resources and staff issues affecting the air traffic control provider at Gatwick Airport.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The provision of tower services at UK airports operates in a commercial market, with contractual agreements in place between the provider of air traffic control services and the airport concerned.
Neither the Government nor the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has regulatory oversight of these commercial arrangements which are agreed between private businesses.
My officials and the CAA will, however, continue to engage with Gatwick airport and airlines wherever issues arise, which could impact services.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to introduce a National Transport Strategy.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government will develop a long-term strategy for transport, as laid out in our manifesto. This strategy will set out the Government’s vision and plan for delivering a modern and integrated transport system which better meets the needs of people across the country.