Tag: Greg Knight

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Knight on 2016-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what changes the UK is discussing with its European partners to the EU Framework Directive in respect of commercial vehicle body building and conversion; what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to amend UK law on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones

The European Commission published its proposal for a new framework on motor vehicle type approval on 27 January 2016 and formal discussions with European partners have not started yet. This new proposal sets out a number of changes to the type approval system to bolster oversight of those undertaking the testing and assessment of new vehicles. The Government will be pressing to ensure that any new measures are proportionate and cost effective. The Department for Transport will consult widely on the changes being proposed. I have no plans to amend UK law until changes to the EU Framework have been agreed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Knight on 2016-04-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he was consulted before the imposition of a 40 mph speed limit on the A15 north Caenby Corner; what guidance is provided to highway authorities on imposing and varying speed limits; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones

Setting local speed limits is a matter for the local highway authority, as they are best placed to determine the speed limits for their areas, based on local knowledge and the views of the community. The Department for Transport (DfT) has issued guidance to help them determine the most appropriate speed limit in ‘Speed Limit Circular 01/2013 – Setting Local Speed Limits’.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Knight on 2015-11-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take to ensure that local highway agencies always give motorists sufficient and early notification of traffic delays, congestion and road accidents so that motorists approaching a black spot can use an alternative route; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones

Local authorities are responsible for managing their roads and are required through the Network Management Duty contained in the Traffic Management Act 2004 to do so in a way that provides safe, convenient and expeditious movement of traffic.

Providing timely and relevant information to road users is an important part of this, and it is for local authorities to decide how to ensure they provide this. They have a range of measures available to them, including CCTV to monitor the road network and identify incidents, variable message signs to show messages indicating road closures and diversions, and information provided through their website and to local radio stations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Knight on 2016-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the first on-road UK trial of zero-emission transport refrigeration units to take place; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones

Certain zero emission technologies for transport refrigeration systems are already in use on the road. The UK industry has recently announced plans for on-road trials in 2016 of a new technology using a ‘liquid-air’ engine.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Knight on 2016-05-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason several cameras are being installed on the A1 north of Colsterworth; how many accidents have occurred on the stretch of road being covered by those cameras in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones

Highways England are installing average speed cameras on the A1 north of Colsterworth as part of a safety improvement scheme. This is in response to safety concerns in the Stoke Rochford area. Monitoring has identified this site as having a high cluster of collisions resulting in injuries where speed was a contributing factor.

Validated accident data for this section of the A1 from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2014 show a total of 62 personal injury collisions:

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Knight on 2015-11-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to make greater use of flexible speed limits with electronic signs.

Andrew Jones

Average speed limits do not exist but Highways England uses variable speed limits on smart motorways to smooth traffic flow, reduce congestion and enhance safety. The variable limits are set locally in response to traffic flow levels or to help manage incidents.

The Department issued revised guidance in January 2013 aimed mainly at local traffic authorities who are responsible for setting speed limits on local roads. It includes guidance on the use of variable 20 mph speed limits with electronic signs. It has been designed to help explain to everyone why and how local speed limits are determined. This guidance was revised following full public consultation in Summer 2012 and is available online on GOV.UK

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Knight on 2016-03-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the Government has contributed to the World Health Organisation in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Jane Ellison

The Department contributes financially, on a calendar year basis, to the World Health Organization (WHO) in the form of the United Kingdom’s assessed contribution, and voluntary contributions to support areas of work such as dementia, tobacco control and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), including a contribution in 2015 to support the WHO Global Action Plan on AMR. The Department’s contributions for the last three years are set out in the table below.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Knight on 2016-05-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his latest assessment is of the effectiveness of the foreign lorry user charge; whether he has been in discussion with any representatives of the EU concerning the compliance of that charge with EU law; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones

Since the levy started in April 2014, 4 million levies had been purchased for foreign-registered vehicles, raising £96.22 million in receipts, by the end of March 2016. Compliance rates continue to run at about 95 per cent in Great Britain. My Department has been engaged in discussions with the European Commission since the early stages of development of the levy. British drivers regularly pay when they use the roads in other countries, and the Government policy is that it is fair that foreign HGV drivers should do the same here.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Knight on 2015-12-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the criteria are for authorising an average speed monitored stretch of non-motorway highway; what measures are in place to prevent an artificially low speed limit being implemented and then being made subject to an average speed limit camera check; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones

It is up to the Highways Authority and the Police to decide whether to use cameras and how they wish to operate them. Guidance was issued in 2007 entitled “Use of speed and red-light camera for traffic enforcement: guidance on deployment, visibility and signing”.This can be viewed on GOV.UK. This guidance is not mandatory but on 20 October 2015 we wrote to local authorities drawing it to their attention.

The Department issued revised guidance entitled “Setting local speed limits” in January 2013 aimed mainly at local traffic authorities who are responsible for setting speed limits on local roads. It has been designed to help explain to everyone why and how local speed limits are determined. This guidance was revised following full public consultation in Summer 2012 and is available online on GOV.UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Knight on 2016-03-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress his Department has made on implementing the recommendations of the whiplash reform programme.

Dominic Raab

Further reforms were announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement in November. Those reforms will remove the right to compensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenity from minor whiplash injuries, and reduce legal costs by raising the small claims limit for personal injury claims to £5,000. The government will consult on the detail of these reforms in due course, with a view to implementing them as soon as the necessary legislation is in place.