Tag: Lord Berkeley

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2015-11-04.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are investigating whether price-dumping contributed to the closure of UK steelworks.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe

Imports of low cost steel are one of the major challenges facing the steel industry. Formal responsibility for investigation of – and implementing measures against – dumped imports lies with the European Commission, based on complaints made to them by industry. The Government is keepingin close contact with the industry and the Commission to help ensure claims of dumping are investigated promptly and any justified measures against dumping are implemented as soon as possible.

In response to global issues with over-supply we secured an emergency EU Council meeting which took place on 9th November to discussdumping and other issues affecting the steel industry.We will continue to press for firmer faster action against unfair trade practices affecting the industry.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2016-02-10.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to consult on any recommendations contained in the Shaw Report on the future of Network Rail due to be published in March.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Nicola Shaw has been asked to produce an independent report into the future shape and financing of Network Rail and her work will look at all the options. Government has no pre-determined view of the right outcome and will not be dogmatic about the future shape of Network Rail as we want the right outcome for passengers and taxpayers. Government looks forward to receiving the final report and will respond in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2016-03-21.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 17 March (HL6898), how many road tunnels worldwide there are of a comparable length to road tunnels planned underneath the Peak District; and for each of those (1) how long they have been in operation, (2) what traffic speed they operate at, (3) how many lanes there are and whether they have a hard shoulder, (4) what levels of air pollution are found within them, (5) what their construction cost was, and (6) whether they were delivered on time and on budget.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

We are currently examining a number of corridors to identify potential links between Manchester and Sheffield. At this stage the precise length of any tunnel is unknown. The initial findings on the construction and maintenance of a potential tunnel were published in the Interim Report in November 2015. The next stages of the study will examine shortlisted options in more detail and will include the consideration of international best practice. The conclusions will be published later this year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2016-04-25.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government who was responsible for the maintenance of the access ramps to the mezzanine deck on the St Helen ferry at Fishbourne, Isle of Wight, which collapsed on 18 July 2014 causing several injuries; whether any prosecutions are planned; and who would be responsible for any resulting prosecutions.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Maintenance of all parts of a vessel is the responsibility of the ship owner or operator.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) examines significant breaches of safety and environmental aspects of Merchant Shipping legislation to determine what action is appropriate, which may include prosecution.

The MCA is considering the circumstances of this particular incident in light of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch’s report.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2016-07-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 6 May (HL7878), when the Marine and Coastguard Agency will institute a prosecution of those responsible for that incident.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) will not be instituting any prosecution following the collapse of the mezzanine deck on the ST HELEN ferry at Fishbourne, Isle of Wight.

Before a prosecution is commenced the matter must pass the two stage test as outlined in the Code for Crown Prosecutors. The MCA has confirmed that it will not pass both stages and have decided that it would not be in the public interest to pursue this further at this time.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2015-11-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures the Department for Transport has taken to ensure that the appointment of the Managing Director of ScotRail Alliance to the Network Rail Executive Committee does not give a commercial advantage to Abellio in respect of future franchise bids across the UK.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The Managing Director of the ScotRail Alliance has now also been appointed as Managing Director Scotland within Network Rail and, as part of his new role, will sit on Network Rail’s Executive Committee. He is an employee of Network Rail in both roles, but continues to report to the head of Abellio UK in his capacity of running the ScotRail Alliance only.

It is for Network Rail and any individual concerned to ensure that no conflicts of interest are allowed to affect the conduct of the company’s business.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2016-02-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which organisations are responsible for enforcing security of aircraft against incidents with drones, and what means they have to disable such drones and identify the owners.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Working alongside other agencies in the intelligence and law enforcement communities, the Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority are responsible for assessing and managing the risks to and from civil aviation, including remotely piloted aircraft systems. There are regulations in place that require users to maintain direct, unaided visual contact with their drone and to not recklessly or negligently allow a drone to endanger any person or property; these regulations have recently led to successful prosecutions for misuse. Work is ongoing to identify appropriate and effective mitigations from point of sale to incident resolution.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2016-03-21.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the publication of the Departmental Minute by the Department of Energy and Climate Change on 21 October 2015 Notification that the Secretary of State may approve the entering into of contracts regarding the Hinkley Point C Power Station that could give rise to liabilities, whether the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs published a similar Minute in respect of its liabilities in connection with the Thames Tideway Tunnel.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble

Defra did not submit a Departmental Minute on the Government’s contingent financial support package for the Thames Tideway Tunnel because the Secretary of State has statutory authority to give financial assistance for major water or sewerage infrastructure projects under section 154B of the Water Industry Act 1991. This is consistent with the approach set out in HM Treasury’s guidance, Managing Public Money.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2016-04-21.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Bridges of Headley on 19 April (HL Deb, col 543) on government grant agreements, whether an academic research institution which is also a charity and is in receipt of government funding from research councils will be covered by the proposed anti-lobbying clauses expected to be introduced in grant agreements from 1 May.

Lord Bridges of Headley

As the Minister for the Cabinet Office the Rt Hon Matthew Hancock made clear on 27 April, we are committed to protecting taxpayers’ money from being wasted on government lobbying government. We are pausing the implementation of this clause into grant agreements, pending a review of the representations made.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2016-07-20.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to publish their latest rail freight strategy.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The Government will publish its Rail Freight Strategy in due course.