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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 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of drivers potentially affected by the extension of the radius from 50km to 100km from base within which vehicles are exempt from regulations limiting drivers’ hours.

    Andrew Jones

    The Department considers that the number of drivers potentially affected by the extension of the radius from 50km to 100km covering one directly applicable exemption and three national derogations from the EU drivers’ hours rules is likely to be relatively small.

  • 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 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which Government policies on ensuring the (a) security of UK ports and (b) identification and checking of containers for contraband, trafficked persons or other illegal activity are the responsibility of his Department; and which such policies which are the responsibility of another department his Department has a secondary role in.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Department for Transport (DfT) is responsible for ensuring that proportionate security measures are in place to protect ports, passengers and ships registered in this country. These measures are risk based and are designed to mitigate the threat from terrorism. This work involves close co-operation with other government departments, the Police and the maritime industry.

    The Home Office is responsible for the detection of contraband and trafficked persons at UK Ports. DfT works closely with the Home Office and other partner agencies to counter this type of illegal activity.

  • 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 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on measures to improve air quality; and what discussions he has had with Highways England on the level of priority it accords to issues of air quality.

    Andrew Jones

    Ministers and officials in the Department for Transport regularly meet with both Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Highways England on measures to improve air quality, public health and achieve compliance with EU air quality standards. On 17 December 2015 Government published the Air Quality Action Plan which sets out a comprehensive approach for meeting these goals. Air Quality is a clear priority for Highways England, backed up by a dedicated £100 million fund as part of the Road Investment Strategy published in December 2014.

  • 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 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the distinctions between Volkswagen’s practices (a) on the use of defeat devices and (b) in mitigating customer inconvenience in the US and the UK; and whether his Department has made an assessment of the reasons for those distinctions.

    Andrew Jones

    The Government takes the unacceptable actions of Volkswagen extremely seriously and our priority is to protect the public. In Europe, Volkswagen Group has developed a technical solution for the affected vehicles and is testing this with the relevant type approval authorities. For Skoda vehicles this is the UK’s Vehicle Certification Agency. We understand that the company is not in the same position in the USA as there is not yet an agreed technical solution. We are urging Volkswagen to complete swiftly the recall of the affected vehicles in the UK.

    In his appearance before the Transport Select Committee on 25 January, Paul Willis, the CEO of Volkswagen UK, reconfirmed that Volkswagen do not intend to offer compensation in the UK as they do not believe that vehicle owners have suffered a loss. In the USA they have offered their customers up to $1,000 in gift vouchers. It is for Volkswagen to justify to their customers the different approaches that they are taking in different jurisdictions, however the Government expects Volkswagen to treat its UK customers fairly and the Secretary of State continues to press Volkswagen on the issue of this discrepancy in compensation.

  • Valerie Vaz – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Valerie Vaz – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Valerie Vaz on 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the planned availability of toilet facilities is (a) on Crossrail trains and (b) at Crossrail train stations.

    Claire Perry

    The Elizabeth line, being constructed by Crossrail, will be a high-frequency metro-style train service, and will carry an estimated 200 million passengers a year.

    The vast majority of journeys will be of a short duration and on board toilets would take up a significant amount of space.

    It is therefore not intended that toilets will be provided on the new trains as these would displace approximately 600 passengers per hour. 80 per cent of stations on the Elizabeth line will have toilet facilities.

  • Chris Leslie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Chris Leslie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Leslie on 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government plans to introduce legislative proposals related to the agreement reached on the UK’s relationship with the EU at the European Council on 19 February 2016.

    Mr David Lidington

    At the February European Council, the Government negotiated a new settlement giving the UK a special status in a reformed EU.

    The Government’s view is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU. The UK does intend to pass domestic legislation where necessary to underpin this settlement, following a vote to remain in the EU in the referendum.

  • Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with Irish Ministers on the potential effect of a UK withdrawal from the EU on relations with Ireland.

    Mr Ben Wallace

    Government Ministers have regular discussions with Ministers from the Government of Ireland on a range of issues, including co-operation on security and other matters.

  • Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of a UK withdrawal from the EU on security in Northern Ireland.

    Mr Ben Wallace

    The Government’s view is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU. ‘The best of both worlds’, published on 22 February, sets out how membership of the EU enhances our ability to co-operate with other EU Member States to combat crime and terrorism and keep all parts of the United Kingdom safe, including Northern Ireland.

    The paper is available at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-best-of-both-worlds-the-united-kingdoms-special-status-in-a-reformed-european-union.

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  • Gregory Campbell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Gregory Campbell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the implications for border security arrangements of recent gangland-related murders in the Irish Republic.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    There are long-established and effective working relationships between the police and intelligence agencies of the UK and Ireland to mitigate threats in both countries. The UK Government takes protecting our border security very seriously and there is a high level of co-operation and on-going work with the Irish Government strengthening the external border of the Common Travel Area.

  • John Mann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    John Mann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Leader of the House, what discussions he has had with the House of Commons Commission on the potential effect on staffing and other costs and expenditure on repair and maintenance contracts of uncertainty about the dates of 2016 parliamentary recesses.

    Chris Grayling

    No substantive discussions have taken place. Agendas and decisions relating to meetings of the House of Commons Commission are available on their website at http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/other-committees/house-of-commons-commission/.

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