Tag: Richard Burden

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-04-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the average cost to (a) the public purse and (b) industry of training a seafarer (i) officer cadet, (ii) deck rating, (iii) engine rating, (iv) catering rating and (v) on-board services.

Mr Robert Goodwill

Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) is the Government’s financial support scheme for merchant navy training and is available to eligible shipping companies who sponsor eligible trainees that take approved courses.

The total amount that can be claimed per trainee is listed in the table below. SMarT funding is not available for on-board services trainees.

Type of Trainee	Maximum SMarT Funding Available (£)
Officer Cadet	18,156
Deck and Engine Room Rating (Traditional Route)	385
Deck and Engine Room Rating (MNTB/MCA approved route)*	1,032
Catering Rating (Ship’s Cook Rating)	385

* MNTB – Merchant Navy Training Board; MCA – Maritime and Coastguard Agency

The MCA does not collate information on the cost to industry of training a seafarer (i) officer cadet, (ii) deck rating, (iii) engine rating, (iv) catering rating and (v) on-board services.

The total cost of training to each shipping company would vary depending upon a number of factors such as the type of course the trainee has taken, the nautical college attended (where applicable) and associated tuition fees, the amount of any training allowance paid, accommodation costs, travel and uniform costs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-04-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s business case for its Survey and Inspection Transformation Programme.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s business case will be published following conclusion of all the pre-implementation activities, including, but not limited to, the consultation process, negotiations with relevant Trade Unions and communications with staff, customers and stakeholders.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-05-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Recognised Organisations for the purposes of survey and inspection of international shipping were certified by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) authorise the following six classification societies to act as Recognised Organisations (ROs) for the survey and inspection of UK registered convention size ships. These are: American Bureau of Shipping; Bureau Veritas; ClassNK; DNV GL AS; Lloyd’s Register; and RINA.

The one change within the past 5 years to the list of authorised ROs was in 2015 following the merger of Det Norske Veritas and Germanischer Lloyd to become DNV GL AS. The MCA separately authorised both of these organisations as ROs prior to their merger.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-05-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the implications are for the UK’s autonomous vehicle technology industry of the Declaration of Amsterdam signed by Transport Ministers on 14 April 2016.

Andrew Jones

The Declaration of Amsterdam aims to encourage the deployment of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) through setting the strategic agenda for the discussion on CAVs and ensuring interoperability is discussed at an early stage in the development process. The declaration, which is supported by the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders made specific calls to industry, asking them to work with government to highlight the barriers for deployment, and develop the technologies with interoperability in mind.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-06-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to engage with the European Aviation Safety Authority task force assessing the risk of collision between drones and aircraft.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority have regular interaction with the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) on the development of drone safety regulations. This includes engagement on the EASA task force studying the risk of collision between drones and aircrafts, which we expect will be consulting more formally across Member States this summer.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-07-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to include provisions in the Modern Transport Bill to (a) develop a licensing regime for the sale of safe driverless vehicles and (b) establish regulations for driverless vehicles in the testing phase.

Mr Robert Goodwill

At this stage, we have not developed plans for changes to primary road traffic legislation other than relating to motor vehicle insurance for automated vehicles. We have also announced plans to change the Highway Code and regulations to support the safe use of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles launched a consultation on these issues on 11 July.

We will consider further legislative, regulatory, and guidance changes as ADAS and automated vehicles continue to develop and reach the market, so that people and businesses can safely take advantage of the benefits that they offer.

We do not consider that legislative change is needed to facilitate testing of automated vehicle technologies; testing of automated vehicle technologies can be carried out on any UK road as long as carried out in line with UK traffic laws and guidance – further details are set out in the Code of practice for testing of automated vehicle technologies – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/automated-vehicle-technologies-testing-code-of-practice.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-07-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she has had discussions with her European counterparts on the letter signed in July 2016 by eight European Ambassadors to Israeli officials on the confiscation of EU-funded structures in Jabal al Baba; and if she will make a statement.

Rory Stewart

I have not had discussions with my European counterparts about the letter regarding EU-funded structures, and the UK Ambassador to Israel was not asked to sign this letter. I understand that a group of international donors to the Occupied Palestinian Territories UN Humanitarian Pooled Fund wrote to the Israeli authorities to note their concerns about confiscation of several humanitarian assistance projects. The UK is not part of this fund.

The UK remains extremely concerned at the large increase in demolitions and confiscations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since the start of 2016, compared to the monthly average in 2015, and continues to raise this with the Israeli authorities. Demolitions and the evictions of Palestinians from their homes cause unnecessary suffering, are harmful to the peace process, and in all but the most exceptional of cases are contrary to international humanitarian law.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-09-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to reduce obesity in (a) Birmingham, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England.

Nicola Blackwood

We launched Childhood Obesity: A Plan for Action on 18 August. Our plan focuses on actions that are likely to have the biggest impact on childhood obesity. We will continue to work with the National Health Service, local authorities and other partners to deliver the proposals in our plan.

Public Health England helps local authorities to identify excess weight through various programmes such as the National Child Measurement Programme and NHS Health Checks, and supports local authorities to provide evidence based and effective interventions to help those individuals manage their weight.

A copy of Childhood Obesity: A Plan for Action is attached and is available at:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/546588/Childhood_obesity_2016__2__acc.pdf

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what measures his Department uses to assess the effectiveness of security at (a) airports and (b) ports of other countries offering connections to the UK.

Mr John Hayes

A) Airports

Under international treaties administered by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), all contracting states are responsible for the implementation of aviation security regimes in their own airports, to be applied according to a number of standards and recommended practices set out by ICAO.

However, implementation of these aviation security standards around the world does vary and can be less effective when compared to those in the UK. The Department for Transport therefore works closely with a wide range of overseas governments to first assess their implementation and then assist them where necessary, to build their capacity and strengthen their aviation security, governance and procedures. We also work closely with airlines to implement additional security measures, where judged appropriate.

B) Ports

Under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code it is the responsibility of the host state to implement effective security measures at their ports in accordance with the ISPS Code and based on that state’s assessment of the maritime security risks. The UK takes maritime security extremely seriously, and the Department has recently established an International Maritime Security Engagement programme to assess security standards at key foreign ports and to provide training in UK best practice to help raise standards.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-11-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 15 of the Office of Rail and Road’s report, Monitoring Highways England, published in October 2015, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of existing data on the delivery of the road investment programme.

Andrew Jones

A key element of the recent Roads Reform work was the appointment of the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) as the independent monitor of Highways England. The ORR will be working with Highways England to ensure that they have the necessary data and information to perform their role effectively.