The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Highways England traffic officers have moved heavy goods vehicles from live lanes to (a) hard shoulders and (b) emergency refuge areas in the last 12 months.
Andrew Jones
Highways England does not specifically record how many Highways England traffic officers have moved heavy goods vehicles from live lanes to hard shoulders or emergency refuge areas.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Highways England traffic officers have been (a) trained to move heavy goods vehicles from live motorway lanes on Smart motorways to emergency refuge areas and (b) not so trained but issued with an instruction manual to move such vehicles.
Andrew Jones
As at 6 June 2016, 910 Highways England Traffic Officers have been trained in the activity of carriageway clearance. This training is appropriate for all vehicle types as it is designed to provide specific criteria which Traffic Officers must follow to determine whether it is safe to remove any vehicle from a carriageway to a place of relative safety.
In addition, all Traffic Officers who work on smart motorway sections are trained in the specifics of that operational environment before they are designated as safe to operate. No operational activity is undertaken by Highways England Traffic Officers without appropriate training and supporting safe systems of work.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will commission a study into the potential merits of the use of E10 petrol.
Andrew Jones
The revised industry fuel standard for petrol (EN228), agreed and published by the British Standards Institution in 2013, allows up to ten per cent bioethanol content (known as ‘E10’). However, E10 is not yet on general sale in the UK and whether to supply it is a commercial decision for suppliers.
The Transport Energy Task Force, made up of experts from industry and environmental NGOs, reported its findings to the Department for Transport in March 2015. The report, which included recommendations relating to E10, is available on the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership’s website at:
http://www.lowcvp.org.uk/projects/transport-energy-task-force.htm
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department’s Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern contractual breach notice, dated 7 July 2015.
Claire Perry
A copy will be placed in the libraries of both Houses.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Knight on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he has made on his plans to limit motorway roadworks to no more than stretches of two miles.
Andrew Jones
We are undertaking the biggest investment in roads in a generation to deliver better journeys for motorists. Highways England’s top priority is maintaining the safety of all motorists and road workers whilst keeping disruption to a minimum.
Highways England, as a general principle, aim to reduce the lengths of roadworks to a maximum of 10 miles, shorter if possible and if safety allows.
They will also be carrying out trials to raise the speed limit through roadworks to 55mph where it is safe to do so in order to help minimise queues.
These changes could come into effect on many new schemes from 2017 depending on the outcome of the trials.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what penalties he is able to levy on the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchisee if the terms of that franchise are breached or its performance is judged to be inadequate; and whether any such penalties have been imposed since that franchise commenced.
Claire Perry
The “Enforcement Policy: Rail Franchise Agreements and Closures” sets out what actions can be taken; a copy of this is attached, and a copy will be placed in the libraries of both Houses.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to assess the case for the proposed Crossrail 2 Eastern Phase.
Mr Robert Goodwill
No final decisions have yet been taken on the Crossrail 2 route. We have safeguarded a route from Angel to Hackney Central, which could form an eastern branch of Crossrail 2 at a later phase of the project, should there be a good business case and funding available for it. However, this is not being assessed as part of the core scheme under current consideration.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential environmental and safety benefits of using single rather than double-decker buses during off-peak times on journeys with small numbers of passengers.
Andrew Jones
Whether to use single- or double-decker buses must be an operational decision for local bus operators. They are in the best position to understand and appreciate which type of vehicle to use on their bus routes, at which times during the day.
The Government is committed to helping local bus operators to operate more environmentally friendly buses. Measures such as the Green Bus Fund, awarded £89m from 2009-2014 for over 1200 low emission buses, including both single and double-decker buses. The £30m Low Emission Bus Scheme, announced last year, is available to fund both single- and double-decker low emission buses and supporting infrastructure.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thangam Debbonaire on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that cars and drivers for (a) Uber and (b) other private hire companies are adequately insured.
Andrew Jones
Taxis and private hire vehicles require insurance that covers their use for hire and reward activity. Driving without valid insurance is an offence, for which penalties, including fines and points on a licence, are ultimately a matter for the courts. Drivers for and cars used by Uber and other private hire companies must meet the requirements that are set by their local licensing authority in order to operate.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of flights in the UK North Sea oil and gas sector were undertaken by (a) Airbus EC225 and (b) AS332 helicopters airframes in each year since 2007-08.
Mr Robert Goodwill
As the independent aviation safety regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), only records information on flights above a certain weight threshold.
The CAA data below includes the number of departures and arrivals on both AS332 SUPER PUMA and EUROCOPTER EC225 (H225) aircraft operated between UK airports and Oil Rigs in each year since 2007.
|
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
|
AS332 |
38200 |
29855 |
23360 |
18269 |
16614 |
15867 |
19960 |
10551 |
2866 |
|
EC225 |
7785 |
10238 |
12008 |
14942 |
18154 |
14191 |
1183 |
12458 |
15418 |