Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will establish a cross-departmental task force to tackle illegal motorcycling.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office has no current plans to establish a cross-departmental task force to tackle illegal motorcycling. Enforcement of road traffic law and how available resources are deployed is the responsibility of individual Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners, taking into account the specific local problems and demands with which they are faced.
The Government has established a joint Home Office, Department for Transport and National Police Chiefs’ Council Roads Policing Review to understand what can be done better to tackle road crime and improve road safety.
In addition, last year the Government launched the Anti-social Behaviour Action Plan (Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) ensuring the police, local authorities and other relevant agencies have the powers they need to tackle the blight of anti-social behaviour, including motorcycle nuisance, facing communities across England and Wales.
The plan is backed by £160m of funding and includes supporting an increased police and other uniformed presence to target anti-social behaviour hotspots. Initially we worked with 10 police force areas, including Durham Constabulary, but from April we are providing funding of £66m to every police force in England and Wales to support a hotspot enforcement approach for both anti-social behaviour and serious violence. Hotspot patrols could be used in areas where anti-social behaviour involving motorcycles is an issue.
The Government will continue to support the police to ensure they have the tools needed to enforce road traffic legislation, including in relation to offences involving motorcycles.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of driving under the influence of (a) drugs and (b) alcohol offences in (i) the South West and (ii) Bournemouth.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department approaches drink and drug driving enforcement from a national perspective.
We have tough penalties in place, with our highly respected and effective ‘THINK!’ campaigns reminding people of the serious consequences driving under the influence of drink can have on themselves and others.
Enforcement of road traffic law and how available resources are deployed is the responsibility of individual Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners, taking into account the specific local problems and demands with which they are faced
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to curb the illegal use of e-scooters.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Enforcement of road traffic law, including in relation to the illegal use of e-scooters, is an operational matter for Chief Officers who will decide how to deploy available resources, taking into account any specific local problems and demands.
The Government will continue to support the police to ensure they have the tools needed to enforce road traffic legislation, including those relating to offences involving e-scooters.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will allocate additional funding to local authorities to hire more civil enforcement officers.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
As per statutory guidance for local authorities in England on civil parking enforcement, this is a responsibility for local government. The statutory guidance can be found here.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to require (a) local authorities and (b) Transport for London to use any money acquired through Penalty Charge Notices for motoring offences to improve roads or public transport.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Regulation 27 of The Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022 already restricts the use of any income from civil enforcement of traffic contraventions in all English local authorities including Transport for London. It can only be used to fund enforcement costs; costs incurred by the local authority of other schemes to improve local transport and the environment, including local public transport schemes; highway or road improvement projects, and improvement measures to reduce environmental pollution.
Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Wirral South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 February to Question 136599 on Road Traffic Offences: Merseyside, if she will hold discussions with Merseyside police on the prevention of hit-and-run offences.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Enforcement of road traffic law is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police. The Secretary of State has no plans to discuss the prevention of hit and run offences with Merseyside Police.
Under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 there are requirements with which a driver must comply in the event of an accident involving injury to another person, or damage to another vehicle or certain animals, including dogs, or damage to property. The driver must stop and provide details to another person having reasonable cause to require them, or if he does not for any reason provide details must report the accident to the police and provide details within 24 hours.
Failure to stop after an accident and give details or report the accident carries a maximum penalty of an unlimited fine and/or 6 months’ imprisonment, plus discretionary disqualification and obligatory endorsement of 5 to ten penalty points.
Vehicle related theft is down 42% since March 2010 according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many highway authorities have applied to the Department for Transport for civil enforcement of moving traffic offences, as set out in Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004; and how many highway authorities have been granted these powers.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Designation Orders granting powers to civilly enforce contraventions of moving traffic restrictions outside London are being introduced in tranches reflecting applicant local authorities’ different states of readiness. The first Order came into force on 15 July 2022 in respect of 12 local authorities. A second Order is currently before Parliament and is due to come into force on 22 July 2023 in respect of a further 40 local authorities. All applications had to meet a list of prerequisites set by Ministers in statutory guidance.
Subject to approval of the Parliamentary Business and Legislation Committee, a third Order is planned for early 2024, for which the application deadline is 25 October. No formal applications have yet been received.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they plan to hold with the police regarding the enforcement of section 148(c) of the Highways Act 1980 (the offence of depositing anything whatsoever on a highway) with specific regard to e-bikes and e-scooters.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Law enforcement is an operational matter for the police, it is for them to enforce the law and investigate incidents using their professional judgement.
The Government will continue to support the police to ensure they have the tools needed to enforce road traffic legislation, including in relation to offences involving e-cycles and e-scooters.
Asked by: Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour (Co-op) - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the prevalence of lorry drivers live streaming while operating their vehicles; and if he will take steps to prevent drivers from using platforms such as Tiktok whilst on the roads.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
We keep offences and penalties under review.
If a driver is using a hand-held mobile phone while driving, this is an offence which attracts a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200. If the case goes to the magistrates court, the maximum fine for lorry drivers is £2,500.
The Highway Code reminds drivers of their obligation to concentrate and avoid distractions and drivers can incur enforcement action for engaging in irresponsible activities whilst driving. For example, wider road traffic law governs what drivers can view on a screen; and it obliges drivers to be in proper control of the vehicle and to drive with due care and attention. The police are responsible for enforcement.
Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Wirral South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with Merseyside Police on preventing hit-and-run offences.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Secretary of State has had no recent discussions with Merseyside Police on preventing hit and run offences. Enforcement of road traffic law is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police.