Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number of premises constructed through Special Purpose Vehicles which may not be covered by the proposed extension of the Defective Premises Act 1972 regulations from six to fifteen years.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government's proposed changes to the Defective Premises Act 1972 as part of the Building Safety Bill will more than double the time available to seek compensation for substandard building work from six to 15 years. These new measures will provide a legal route to redress that previously would not have been possible for hundreds of buildings, benefitting thousands of leaseholders.
There are various limitation periods set in the Limitation Act 1980 for different types of civil claim. These range from 12 months (for defamation or the late payment of insurance claims) to six years (for claims relating to some types of contracts) to a long stop of 15 years for cases involving negligence. A 15-year limitation period has been chosen to bring the Defective Premises Act in line with other types of serious civil claim.
The Government has been clear that those responsible must pay towards the cost of remediating defective buildings. It is fundamental that the industry that caused this issue contributes to setting things right. Some parts of the industry have done the right thing, funding remediation of serious historic defects, but this is not happening in all cases. In many cases, those who caused the problems are evading responsibility. That is why we are taking action, providing a route to redress so that those who caused these problems can be held accountable.
Along with retrospectively extending the limitation period under the Defective Premises Act, going forward we are also expanding the Defective Premises Act to include refurbishments, and we will be commencing section 38 of the Building Act 1984. These measures will also be subject to a 15-year limitation period. Together, these increased rights to redress will enhance accountability, with stronger incentives against shoddy workmanship, further reinforcing the culture change in the construction industry that the Building Safety Bill will drive.
These reforms are supported by more than £5 billion in direct grant funding for the remediation of dangerous cladding on high-rise buildings, where the risk to multiple households is greater when fire does spread; a significant proportion of this is funding the delivery of construction works now, or has funded work which has finished.
Asked by: Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to reply to the letter of 16 April 2021, addressed to the Secretary of State for International Trade but transferred to his Department, from the Rt hon. Member for New Forest West on his constituent and the import and export of historic vehicles.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
I apologise for the delay in responding to the important points raised by the Rt Hon Member on behalf of his constituent. Lord Agnew responded to this letter on 6 July 2021.
Asked by: Darren Henry (Conservative - Broxtowe)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has plans to reconsider the taxation of historic cars so that the date the law is calculated from is the registration date on the V5 document rather than the date the car was manufactured.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
In recognition of the important role that historic vehicles play in the country’s heritage, the Government announced at Budget 2014 that it would introduce a rolling 40-year Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) exemption. This means that from 1 April each year, vehicles constructed 40 years before the 1 January of that year are automatically exempt from paying VED.
The Government uses the construction date of the vehicle as the main eligibility criteria for this VED exemption as it is most suited for determining the age of the vehicle. However, where a vehicle’s construction date is not provided on the vehicle’s record, the date of first registration is used to determine the vehicle’s eligibility for the exemption. There are no current plans to amend the basis of this VED exemption from vehicle construction date to vehicle registration date, but as with all taxes, VED is kept under review.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 June 2021 to Question 12965 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, on what dates the Ajax Scout Gateway Reviews 1, 2 and 3 took place.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Following the preparation of an answer to the right hon. Menber’s Question on the timing of the Ajax Scout Gateway Reviews 1, 2 and 3, further questions have come to light and further work is required to provide a comprehensive answer.
Ajax has been a protracted programme and Ministers have asked the MOD Permanent Secretary to commission an urgent review into the governance steps taken and associated records.
I will write to the right hon. Member in due course with a comprehensive answer to his question, and I will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
As part of this review of the historic governance record a confirmatory check will be undertaken for any references being made to vibration issues prior to December 2019.
Further to my answer of 14 June 2021 to the right hon.Member's Question 12965 I wish to inform him that at the request of Ministers the MOD Permanent Secretary has also commissioned a Health and Safety Review on actions taken on the project since December 2019 (and any pertinent prior events) to confirm the timeline, actions taken and ongoing work.
The vibration trials at Millbrook Proving Ground to which I made reference in the same Question response are ongoing but I have been updated that we will start to receive data in July and August this year with a final report expected to be delivered in September.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
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 ensure that Portsmouth City Council bring forward an Order for a restricted Byway at the Camber.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Public rights of way are a local issue and this matter is the responsibility of the local County Council. We are unable to comment on specific cases, to avoid prejudice should they come before a Government Minister or Planning Inspector for a decision. I can, however, offer some general advice which I hope you will find helpful.
Public rights of way exist in four categories: footpaths for use on foot (or with mobility scooters); bridleways for use on horseback or bicycle as well as on foot; restricted byways for use of carriages in addition to the above; and byways open to all traffic for use of motor vehicles in addition to the other types.
A public right of way is added to the network by either proving the way existed through historic evidence or proving the public has used the route for 20 years. The use needs to be at the appropriate level. For example, a bridleway would not be added if there is no evidence it has been used by horses or bicycles. Whether the route is amenable to local residents is not considered at this stage as it is an evidence-based process only.
Once a route is recognised as part of the network, a public path order may be made to change the status of the route by agreement with the local authority. Here convenience, safety and other such concerns are taken into consideration. In both instances, the public has the right to object to the proposed changes to the network and the local authority advertises the changes in order to give residents the opportunity to give their views.
The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) administers rights of way cases on behalf of Defra. They deal with cases where the decision has been challenged.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what changes he proposes to introduce in 2021 to the display and use of vehicle number plates and the information to be required or allowed to be displayed thereon; for what reason he plans to make each change; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
There are three changes to the regulations governing the display and use of vehicle number plates that will come into force in 2021.
Since 1 January 2021 it is no longer legal to display the European Union symbol on new number plates fitted to vehicles from that date. A GB sticker should be displayed on the rear of the vehicle when travelling abroad, but those vehicles which have both the letters “GB” and the Union Flag on their number plate do not need to display a separate GB sticker when travelling in the EU unless they are travelling to Spain, Malta or Cyprus.
Since 1 January 2021 it is also illegal to display an old style, pre-1973 black and silver number plate on vehicles recorded as historic i.e. vehicles that are 40 years old and over but were manufactured after 1 January 1980.
From 1 September 2021, it will also become mandatory for all new number plates fitted to vehicles to meet the revised technical standards contained in the British Standard for Retroreflective Number Plates (BS AU 145e). The new standard replaces BS AU 145d and introduces significant improvements to both the durability and readability of number plates.
Asked by: Earl Attlee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the exemption for vehicles defined as historic under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 are applicable to such vehicles if they are operated with a load at a significant proportion of their gross (1) vehicle, or (2) train, weight; and if not, why not.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The vehicles operated by the Ministry of Defence are within the scope of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2020.
Vehicles that were originally built as heavy goods vehicles but have been converted to be a living van (under the C&U regulations definition) are within the scope of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2020.
Vehicles of historical interest, as defined in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, will be exempt from these regulations irrespective of the load. However, if such a vehicle is being used commercially, it is not exempted from these regulations, as it is important to balance the granting of any exemptions with the safety of all road users.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2019 to Question 274650 on Large Goods Vehicles: EU Countries, which bilateral agreements he expects to be (a) revived and (b) reinstated.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
It is our view that, in the absence of an EU agreement, 21 historic bilateral agreements would revive in full on exit as they have not been expressly terminated. Agreements with Ireland, Denmark, Spain, Belgium and Italy have terminated, but offer a good basis for future discussions.
Some of the revived agreements may need some amendments to make them fit for purpose, which can be done by an exchange of notes between the Parties.
For those agreements that are no longer in force, we would expect to conclude new treaties in the absence of EU-wide arrangements.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2019 to Question 285042 on Large Goods Vehicles: EU Countries, which historic bilateral agreements are (a) most and (b) least likely to be carried over after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The UK has historic agreements with all EU Member States except for Malta (for reasons of geography). It is our view that, in the absence of an EU wide agreement, 21 historic bilateral agreements would revive in full on exit as they have not been expressly terminated. Agreements with Ireland, Denmark, Spain, Belgium and Italy have terminated, but offer a good basis for future discussions.
Some of the revived agreements may need some amendments to make them fit for purpose, which can be done by an exchange of notes between the Parties.
For those agreements that are no longer in force, we would expect to conclude new treaties in the absence of EU-wide arrangements.
Asked by: Peter Dowd (Labour - Bootle)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many claims were made for Vehicle Excise Duty exemption under the Exemption for Historic Cars relief in 2018, what the average amount was of those claims; and what the average income was of the claimants.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s vehicle records show there are currently 651,297 vehicles licensed within the historic tax class. This includes 245,970 vehicles where a statutory off-road notification (SORN) has been made. For cars and vans, the exemption is worth between £155 and £255 per year. In 2017-18, HMRC estimate the average exemption for a vehicle in the historic vehicle class was worth £230. The government does not collect information relating to the incomes of registered keepers of vehicles.