The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-11-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the total annual consumption of wifi data on trains operated by each franchise; and if he will make a statement.
Claire Perry
The consumption of data by on-train wi-fi varies by the commercial model and proposition offered by the train operating companies.
We have made no estimate of total annual consumption.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-11-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2015 to Question 16052, if he will estimate the number of vehicles likely to be tested; and what criteria is being used to decide which models will be tested.
Andrew Jones
The two Skoda cars tested are part of the Vehicle Certification Agency fleet. Their engines are of the type that VW has confirmed as being equipped with software that recognises test conditions. Our testing has confirmed differences in exhaust emissions when measured using the type approval tests and with an alternative procedure. However, it cannot be guaranteed that a single alternative procedure would identify defeat strategies on other vehicles and therefore our planned programme of work will involve a number of alternative tests, including real driving, to interrogate their emission behaviour.
Our programme will consider, without bias, approximately 40 vehicles that are representative of some 70 different models in the UK market. These have been selected based both upon the volume of sales over each of the last 5-years and the overall number of each model currently licensed for use on the roads of Great Britain.
We have agreed with ministers in France and in Germany to exchange knowledge and understanding as our respective programmes develop. This collaboration may allow our programmes to be rationalised to avoid duplication of testing and secure best value for the taxpayer.
An update on progress will be prepared early in the New Year and a full report will be issued at the conclusion of the work.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-11-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2015 to Question 16052, what steps he is taking to ensure that the two Skoda vehicles tested were representative of the affected models and manufacturers from the Volkswagen Group; and what steps were taken to validate the effectiveness of the test procedure for the wider programme.
Andrew Jones
The two Skoda cars tested are part of the Vehicle Certification Agency fleet. Their engines are of the type that VW has confirmed as being equipped with software that recognises test conditions. Our testing has confirmed differences in exhaust emissions when measured using the type approval tests and with an alternative procedure. However, it cannot be guaranteed that a single alternative procedure would identify defeat strategies on other vehicles and therefore our planned programme of work will involve a number of alternative tests, including real driving, to interrogate their emission behaviour.
Our programme will consider, without bias, approximately 40 vehicles that are representative of some 70 different models in the UK market. These have been selected based both upon the volume of sales over each of the last 5-years and the overall number of each model currently licensed for use on the roads of Great Britain.
We have agreed with ministers in France and in Germany to exchange knowledge and understanding as our respective programmes develop. This collaboration may allow our programmes to be rationalised to avoid duplication of testing and secure best value for the taxpayer.
An update on progress will be prepared early in the New Year and a full report will be issued at the conclusion of the work.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2015-11-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what variations his Department allows between security measures applied at airports.
Mr Robert Goodwill
All airports in the UK are, as a minimum, required to meet the statutory security requirements set out in the UK National Aviation Security Programme (NASP). This comprises of EU requirements and some UK specific more stringent measures. The airports are responsible for the implementation of the requirements. Security at the airports is multi-layered and may include a number of different screening procedures and equipment in order to deliver the required security standards. It is also open to airports to have in place security measures additional to those required by regulation.
For obvious reasons it would not be appropriate to provide details on the specific security measures being applied. We do however keep aviation security measures under constant review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2015-11-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department has published on the size of plastic bags used to carry liquids through airport security.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Department for Transport has published guidance for passengers and industry on the GOV.UK website on the use of plastic bags to carry liquids through UK airport security. This includes advice on the nature of the plastic bag required. Many UK airports also provide guidance on their websites.
The Civil Aviation Authority provides advice and guidance for airports on the definition of a liquid. The main regulation covering liquids, aerosols and gels, EU Regulation 185/2010 also sets out the rules and requirements.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2015-11-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department has published for the aviation industry on the definition of liquid.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Department for Transport has published guidance for passengers and industry on the GOV.UK website on the use of plastic bags to carry liquids through UK airport security. This includes advice on the nature of the plastic bag required. Many UK airports also provide guidance on their websites.
The Civil Aviation Authority provides advice and guidance for airports on the definition of a liquid. The main regulation covering liquids, aerosols and gels, EU Regulation 185/2010 also sets out the rules and requirements.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2015-11-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department has published on the use of plastic bags to contain liquids as passengers pass through aviation security.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Department for Transport has published guidance for passengers and industry on the GOV.UK website on the use of plastic bags to carry liquids through UK airport security. This includes advice on the nature of the plastic bag required. Many UK airports also provide guidance on their websites.
The Civil Aviation Authority provides advice and guidance for airports on the definition of a liquid. The main regulation covering liquids, aerosols and gels, EU Regulation 185/2010 also sets out the rules and requirements.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-11-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he intends to publish the Office for Road and Rail’s first Highways England Monitor.
Andrew Jones
The Office for Rail and Road’s (ORR’s) six month update on Highways England’s performance will be laid in the House at the end of November and then published by ORR. The first annual report will be due in summer 2016, after a full year of monitoring Highways England has been completed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-11-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the set of proposals sent to his Department during the summer from local authorities, industry bodies and others about a long term alternative to Operation Stack.
Andrew Jones
I am very grateful to the local authorities, industry bodies and other members of the European Gateway Strategic Delivery Group for their hard work developing the proposals which they put forward this summer. This has informed subsequent work my Department and Highways England have been doing, working closely with stakeholders, to consider in further detail options for a long term alternative to Operation Stack. This work is progressing and we will continue to take on board stakeholders’ views to broaden our engagement and fully understand their views.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-11-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive on the Airports Commission: Final report, published July 2015.
Mr Robert Goodwill
There have been no recent discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Airports Commission’s Final Report.