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  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his consultation on drones expected to be published before summer will include options on the classification of drones generally; and whether he has assessed existing weight categories as appropriate.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Department for Transport (DfT) is currently working with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to develop consistent, EU-wide safety rules for drones.

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is developing new rules for all drones that are proportionate to the risk of their specific operation rather than based on weight categories.

    The Government will seek to ensure that UK regulation is consistent with this approach. EASA has conducted a consultation and impact assessment on the approach and therefore we do not currently intend to consult further on these measures.

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the measures in place in each EU member state to tackle nationality-based pay discrimination against seafarers.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    In 2015 my officials contacted all of the EU member states with a maritime sector to determine how they approached this issue. The responses we received suggested that the general approach harmonised closely with our own.

    To seek information from a broader base, as part of the Post Implementation Review of the Equality Act 2010 (currently being undertaken by my department) social partners have been surveyed about any evidence they may have which would indicate that nationality-based pay discrimination is prohibited in other member states. This review is due for publication in summer 2016.

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that all drone owners are aware of restrictions on their use and the risks they pose.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Civil Aviation Authority is undertaking activities to raise awareness of the basic safety requirements, including an ongoing ‘Dronecode’ safety awareness campaign, issuing safety leaflets at the point of sale, publishing an animated video on their website, and running ‘small UAS’ Risk and Hazard workshops with industry as part of the Mid Air Collision Programme.

    Officials from my Department are actively considering with the CAA the development of an expanded and diversified communication and education campaign, to include more mediums and supporting products, such as smart phone applications.

    The Secretary of State will be writing to the police to request their assistance in raising awareness of drone risks and restrictions.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which Road Investment Strategy schemes are due to begin construction in 2019-20.

    Andrew Jones

    The schedule for RIS schemes is set out in Highways England’s Delivery Plan 2015-2020 which is available at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/424467/DSP2036-184_Highways_England_Delivery_Plan_FINAL_low_res_280415.pdf.

    “

  • Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl McCartney on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the current length of time is between a penalty notice being issued under the Dart Charge scheme and the date of the offence.

    Andrew Jones

    The majority of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) are currently issued between 5 and 15 days from the time of contravention (midnight the day after crossing).

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what fee his Department agreed with Learndirect in connection with its negotiated exit from the Drive and Vehicle Standards Agency contract for provision of the UK Driving Theory Test.

    Andrew Jones

    The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and learndirect Ltd have concluded an exit from the contract for the provision of the UK Driving Theory Test, which was due to transfer to learndirect Ltd in September 2016.

    The supplementary agreement to that exit is subject to commercial confidentiality. The agreement with Pearson Vue, the current provider of the theory test, to extend their contract is expected to lead to overall net benefits of more than £8million over four years to the theory test service and its customers.

  • Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl McCartney on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward proposals to prevent Dart Charge payments made by drivers of leased vehicles being registered to previous drivers of the same vehicle who have not paid that charge.

    Andrew Jones

    All drivers have until midnight the day after crossing to pay the road user charge. This extended time period, which provides flexibility for the majority of users, makes it more complex to match payments for a crossing made by a previous hirer of the same vehicle. Highways England and the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association are working together to assess what more can be done to assist the small number of companies and their customers who may be affected by this.

  • Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl McCartney on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward proposals to prevent vehicle lease or hire companies receiving fines for non-payment of the Dart Charge in place of the driver of the vehicle.

    Andrew Jones

    As required by legislation, Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) are issued to the registered keeper of the vehicle, which can be lease and hire companies. Lease and hire companies are then able to transfer the liability for the PCN to the vehicle’s driver at the time the contravention occurred by providing Highways England with the relevant details.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding his Department provided for Bikeability in each year from 2007-08 to 2015-16 expressed in 2015-16 prices; and how much his Department plans to provide for that scheme in each year from 2016-17 to 2020-21 expressed in 2015-16 prices.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The amount of funding provided by the Department for Transport to support the delivery of Bikeability cycle training in each financial year from 2007/08 to 2015/16 is set-out in the table below:

    Financial Year

    2007/08

    2008/09

    2009/10

    2010/11

    2011/12

    2012/13

    2013/14

    2014/15

    2015/16

    £m

    1.11

    3.92

    5.94

    9.50

    11.48

    10.97

    11.71

    12.45

    11.19

    Funding expressed in 2015/16 prices £m

    1.30

    4.49

    6.67

    10.35

    12.25

    11.51

    12.05

    12.60

    11.19

    Footnotes: Figures provided in the table cover Bikeability training grant costs only. Funding expressed in 2015/16 prices was calculated using parameters in the Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG) data book.

    Between 2010/11 and 2015/16 this government provided an average of £11.66m per year in 2015/16 prices, compared to an average of £4.15m per year in the three years previously under Labour.

    The projected budget for the delivery of Bikeability in each financial year from 2016/17 to 2019/20 is set-out in the table below:

    Financial Year

    2016/17

    2017/18

    2018/19

    2019/20

    £m

    11.40

    11.59

    11.79

    11.99

    Funding expressed in 2015/16 prices £m

    11.22

    11.21

    11.19

    11.15

    Footnotes: Figures provided in the table cover Bikeability training grant costs only. Funding expressed in 2015/16 prices was calculated using parameters in the Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG) data book.

    Government funding for Bikeability in 2020/21 will be decided at a future Spending Review.

  • Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of improving metro services in the North East and extending such services into Easington constituency.

    Andrew Jones

    My Department is supporting Nexus in delivering an 11 year programme of works to renew and improve the Tyne and Wear Metro. This work is being funded with over £300 million of grant from DfT and includes refurbishment of the Metrocar fleet, modernisation of 60 stations, introduction of new ‘smart’ ticketing machines, barriers and technologies, and a new communications system. Nexus is also overhauling and maintaining structures such as bridges and tunnels, track and overhead power lines.

    As part of the North East Devolution Deal, Nexus will be submitting a business case shortly that covers the replacement of the existing rolling stock and signalling as well as any proposals for expanding the Metro network.