Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many penalties have been issued for (1) e-scooters, (2) e-bikes, and (3) bicycles, in each of the past three months for the road traffic offence of riding on a pavement.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office does not hold the information requested.
The Home Office collects and publishes data on Fixed Penalty Notices and other outcomes for motoring offences as part of the “Police Powers and Procedures: Other PACE powers” statistical bulletin. The most recent data, for 2021, are available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1118166/fixed-penalty-notices-and-other-motoring-offences-statistics-police-powers-and-procedures-year-ending-31-december-2021.ods
However, data are not collected on the type of vehicle involved in the offence. Additionally, the Home Office does not hold information on the number of e-scooters confiscated.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of amending the classification of tricycles in the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (Amendment) Regulations 2015 to account for the need for greater motor wattage for tricycles when climbing hills.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published in July 2022, reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to making walking, wheeling and cycling the natural choice for millions more journeys. Equal access for disabled people is at the heart of this and the Department is keeping the prospect of changes to regulations on electric cycles, including tricycles, under review.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February to Question 150416 on Bicycles and Electric Vehicles: Safety, whether he plans for those regulations to include provision for the use of electric bikes operated with a hand throttle for people who are unable to use peddles due to disability.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published in 2022, reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to making walking, wheeling and cycling the natural choice for millions more journeys. Equal access for disabled people is at the heart of this and the Department is keeping the prospect of changes to regulations on electric bikes operated with a hand throttle (known as “twist and go”) under review.
In the meantime, it may be helpful to clarify that twist and go e-cycles are legal to use on the roads provided that they have been through a “type approval” process to ensure that they comply with various technical standards.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the areas in the (a) England and (b) Liverpool where air pollution has been increasing; and what steps are being taken by central Government to reverse that process.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Assessment of air pollution concentration changes across the UK is reported annually in "Air Pollution in the UK" and the latest report covering 2020 can be found here: Annual Report 2020 Issue 1 Online Viewer - Defra, UK.
Assessment of changing emissions across the UK is also reported annually and the latest report covering 2020 can be found here: Emissions of air pollutants in the UK - Summary - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Local assessment is carried out by Liverpool council as part of its statutory Local Air Quality Management function.
NOx concentrations recorded by two Automatic Urban Rural Monitoring sites in Liverpool have been on a downward trend, though we recognise there is more to be done. That is why the Government has taken a range of steps to tackle air pollution, including:
· Publishing the Clean Air Strategy (2019) which focuses on the actions we will take to reduce emissions of the five most damaging air pollutants: ammonia, fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, non-methane volatile organic compounds.
· Setting two new targets for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) under the Environment Act 2021. Our dual-target approach will tackle the highest concentrations and ensure continuous improvement across the country.
· Continuing to take action to protect people from pollutants released from domestic burning by bringing forward regulations to ensure people use cleaner fuels and solid fuel stoves.
· Working to provide a coherent regulatory framework for the setting, updating, and enforcing of standards for air quality emissions from the full range of industry sectors. This includes the development of the UK 'best available techniques' (BAT) framework, which will enable regulators and industry to work together to identify and apply up to date, challenging standards.
· Publishing our 2017 UK Plan for tackling nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations and its 2018 supplement, which set out our approach to bringing NO2 air pollution to within statutory limits. This includes placing requirements on a number of local authorities, including Liverpool City Council, to develop local air quality plans. This is supported by £880 million dedicated funding to help local authorities develop and implement their plans, and to support those impacted by these plans. This Government is also taking action across transport by supporting the switch to electric vehicles with over £3 billion of investment, and £2 billion in funding for cycling and walking over this Parliament.
We continue to make significant investment in transport in the Liverpool City Region, including a £710 million City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement over 5 years to transform local transport networks, alongside £37.52 million from the Levelling Up Fund to improve local transport, including high quality segregated walking and cycling routes.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve air quality in British urban areas.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Latest published figures (which go up to the year 2020) show that air pollution has reduced significantly across the UK since 2010. Air quality is a devolved policy. The UK Government and the devolved administrations work collaboratively and consult on actions needed to improve air quality across the UK.
In England, the Clean Air Strategy sets out our ambitious programme of action to reduce air pollution from a wide range of sources. This includes setting two stretching targets for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) under the Environment Act 2021. Our dual-target approach will tackle the highest concentrations of PM2.5, usually found in urban areas, and ensure continuous improvement across the country. Our modelling shows that achieving these targets would significantly improve public health, resulting in 214,000 fewer cases of cardiovascular disease, 56,570 fewer strokes, 70,000 fewer cases of asthma and 23,000 fewer cases of lung cancer.
We have provided £880 million to help local authorities develop and implement local nitrogen dioxide (NO2) reduction plans and to support those impacted by these plans. This government is also taking action across transport by supporting the switch to electric vehicles with £2.8 billion of investment, and £2 billion in funding for cycling and walking over this Parliament.
We also have recently awarded £11.6 million from Defra’s annual Air Quality Grant Scheme to 41 local authorities in England for local projects to tackle air pollution. The scheme will reopen for applications later this year, building on more than £38 million investment so far since 2010.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health for Social Care on implementing a cross-departmental strategy to tackle the impact of poor air quality on people’s health.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Latest published figures show that air pollution has reduced significantly since 2010. However, we absolutely recognise that there is more to do to protect people and the environment from the effects of air pollution, which is why we are working across Government to take the range of action set out in the Clean Air Strategy.
On 16 March my Noble Friend Lord Kamall referenced in a debate on the Health and Care Bill that the next meeting of the Health Promotion Task Force would have a focus on air quality.
I recently held a round table meeting with Ministers and officials from other Government departments to discuss the range of cross-Government policies that affect air quality and its impact on public health, with a particular focus on targeting action where people are most likely to be exposed to poor air quality.
The Government recently launched a consultation on our two proposed targets for fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) - a pollutant of significant harm to health:
This dual-target approach will tackle the highest concentrations and ensure continuous improvement across the country. The population exposure reduction target will drive action even where concentration targets have already been achieved. We plan to set out our pathways to delivering these targets through the Environmental Improvement Plan in January 2023.
The Government has allocated £880 million to tackle nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exceedances under the 2017 NO2 Plan. We are also taking action across transport by supporting the switch to electric vehicles with £2.8 billion of investment, and £2 billion in funding for cycling and walking over this Parliament.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to mitigate the impact of high levels of air pollution on the health of people living in affected urban areas.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Latest published figures show that air pollution has reduced significantly since 2010. However, we absolutely recognise that there is more to do to protect people and the environment from the effects of air pollution, which is why we are working across Government to take the range of action set out in the Clean Air Strategy.
On 16 March my Noble Friend Lord Kamall referenced in a debate on the Health and Care Bill that the next meeting of the Health Promotion Task Force would have a focus on air quality.
I recently held a round table meeting with Ministers and officials from other Government departments to discuss the range of cross-Government policies that affect air quality and its impact on public health, with a particular focus on targeting action where people are most likely to be exposed to poor air quality.
The Government recently launched a consultation on our two proposed targets for fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) - a pollutant of significant harm to health:
This dual-target approach will tackle the highest concentrations and ensure continuous improvement across the country. The population exposure reduction target will drive action even where concentration targets have already been achieved. We plan to set out our pathways to delivering these targets through the Environmental Improvement Plan in January 2023.
The Government has allocated £880 million to tackle nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exceedances under the 2017 NO2 Plan. We are also taking action across transport by supporting the switch to electric vehicles with £2.8 billion of investment, and £2 billion in funding for cycling and walking over this Parliament.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to give further financial support to local authorities tackling rising levels of toxic air.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Latest published figures show that air pollution has reduced significantly since 2010. Emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by 44% - and are at their lowest level since records began, sulphur dioxide emissions have fallen by 70% and fine particulate matter emissions are down 18%. However, the Government recognises that there is more to do to protect people and the environment from the effects of air pollution.
We are providing £880 million to help local authorities develop and implement local air quality plans and to support those impacted by these plans. This government is also taking action across transport by supporting the switch to electric vehicles with £2.8 billion of investment, and £2 billion in funding for cycling and walking over this Parliament.
We have also recently awarded £11.6 million from Defra's annual Air Quality Grant Scheme to local authorities in England for projects in local communities to tackle air pollution and reduce emissions affecting schools, businesses, and communities. The scheme will open for applications again later this year.
We also plan to provide local authorities with funding for measures introduced through our landmark Environment Act 2021 to improve the enforcement and management of smoke emissions in smoke control areas in England.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to mitigate the impact of air pollution on new-born children.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Clean Air Strategy sets out the measures we are taking forward to reduce emissions of air pollutants from many sectors. In line with our duty in our landmark Environment Act, we will set a target to reduce concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) alongside a further long-term population exposure reduction target. This dual-target approach will tackle the highest concentrations and ensure continuous improvement across the country for all citizens, including pregnant women and new-born children.
We continue to work with local authorities to deliver legal levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), supported by £880 million of funding to develop and implement local air quality plans. This Government is also taking action across transport by supporting the switch to electric vehicles with £2.8 billion of investment, and £2 billion in funding for cycling and walking over this Parliament.
We are undertaking a comprehensive review of how we communicate air quality information to ensure that the public and vulnerable groups have what they need protect themselves and understand their impact on air quality.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to mitigate the impact of poor air quality on pregnant women.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Clean Air Strategy sets out the measures we are taking forward to reduce emissions of air pollutants from many sectors. In line with our duty in our landmark Environment Act, we will set a target to reduce concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) alongside a further long-term population exposure reduction target. This dual-target approach will tackle the highest concentrations and ensure continuous improvement across the country for all citizens, including pregnant women and new-born children.
We continue to work with local authorities to deliver legal levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), supported by £880 million of funding to develop and implement local air quality plans. This Government is also taking action across transport by supporting the switch to electric vehicles with £2.8 billion of investment, and £2 billion in funding for cycling and walking over this Parliament.
We are undertaking a comprehensive review of how we communicate air quality information to ensure that the public and vulnerable groups have what they need protect themselves and understand their impact on air quality.