Tag: Richard Burden

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a diesel scrappage scheme; and what analysis has been undertaken on different ways in which such a scheme could work.

Andrew Jones

In considering whether to introduce a national scrappage scheme for diesel cars, a high level cost estimate was carried out, looking at offering grants for scrappage of the dirtiest vehicles.

It was found that even if only offering the scheme to pre euro 4 diesel cars, the costs would run into billions. A national scrappage scheme would not target the areas where there is the greatest need to improve air quality, and the impact on emissions at a national scale would be minimal.

This option was therefore judged an ineffective use of resources. It would not have been proportionate to carry out more detailed analysis.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average waiting time for the driving theory test is in each region of England.

Andrew Jones

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has a target that 95% of candidates should be offered a booking for a driving theory test within two weeks of their preferred date. DVSA uses that target to measure the length of time candidates have to wait for a theory test.

At the time of writing, the national position, broken down by region, was as follows:

London and South East	97.12%
Midlands	99.46%
Northern	98.30%
Wales and Western	98.71% (figure includes England only)

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-05-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department is making on the procurement and appointment process for the construction of a new lorry park around junction 11 on the M20.

Andrew Jones

Highways England have appointed Mott MacDonald Sweco JV as designers and awarded the contract for the potential construction of a lorry area on the M20 to Balfour Beatty.

Following the recent consultation, the Secretary of State will make an announcement on the decision on the preferred site in the summer 2016.

Awarding the construction contract early will ensure that Highways England is in the best position to enable the earliest possible start of construction, following the announcement on the decision on the preferred site by the Secretary of State.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, of which correspondence groups the UK is a member within the International Maritime Organisation’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee process.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee established four correspondence groups at its 69th session dealing with Ballast Water, Fuel Oil Quality, Energy Efficiency and a Data Collection System for Fuel Consumption.

The UK is a member of all of these groups and is acting as the coordinator of the Ballast Water Group.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-07-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2016 to Question 41675, on shipping: exhaust emissions, what legal and technical barriers his Department has identified that could restrict the growth in green technologies in shipping.

Mr John Hayes

Given the international nature of shipping and with a ship’s life cycle being typically in the region of 25-30 years, the Government’s priority has been to ensure that appropriate international and regional standards are in place for green technologies in shipping. The Government is keen to promote the global application and implementation of technical and where appropriate legal standards, applied fairly across the board, and with industry given as much advance notice as possible of any new requirements. This delivers a level and competitive playing field and clarity of regulatory approach.

Currently, our focus has been on barriers which inhibit the development of abatement technologies and alternative fuels which control sulphur emissions. The lack of international technical standards for the storage, loading and the safe handling of liquefied natural gas and methanol is one factor which has discouraged ports and ships from investing in this technology. Uncertainty about whether the global 0.5 per cent sulphur cap will come into force in 2020, or be deferred until 2025 is another. As a consequence the UK is pressing for decisions to be taken as soon as possible to give industry as much time as possible to prepare for the new requirements.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-09-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK is currently using armed Reaper drones outside of Iraq and Syria; and if he will make a statement.

Mike Penning

The UK’s Remotely Piloted Aircraft System – Reaper, currently operates in the Middle East in support of the Iraqi Government and Coalition allies’ on-going operations to combat the threat of Daesh. I am unable to provide further information on the deployment of Reaper as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield of 16 August 2016, inviting him or a Minister in his Department to address the All-Party Parliamentary Motor Group on UK automotive priorities for future negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Robin Walker

A reply to the Hon. member for Birmingham, Northfield’s invitation has been sent and I can confirm I will be attending the event.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-10-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of global shipping tonnage was registered in the UK in each of the last five years.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The proportion of global shipping gross tonnage (GT) registered in the UK in each of the last five years is shown below:

	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015 to July 2015
World Fleet (million GT)	959.2	1036	1094	1134	1175	1193.0
UK Fleet (million GT)	17.5	17.9	17.6	15.1	13.8	14.2
UK % of World Fleet	1.8%	1.7%	1.6%	1.3%	1.2%	1.2%

These figures are for ships over 100GT. Figures for the size of the world fleet are not recorded by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and come from Clarksons.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-10-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the proportion of global shipping tonnage that will be registered in the UK in 2020.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Department has not produced estimates of the future size of the UK Ship Register (UKSR). The Government is committed to supporting the UK maritime sector and improving the UKSR. The Maritime Growth Study, published on 7 September 2015, contained a number of recommendations relating to the ship register.

The Government will respond formally to the report by the end of 2015, but is taking immediate action in response to some recommendations. This includes the establishment of a Ministerial Working Group for Maritime Growth and taking steps to support the improved operation of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) such as appointing a commercial director to lead the UKSR separately from the Agency’s regulatory functions and a business case exploring the costs and benefits of options for more significant reform of the MCA.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-10-26.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the minutes of all meetings of the Special Cabinet Economic Affairs (Airports) Sub-Committee; and if he will make it his policy to publish the minutes of future such meetings.

Mr Oliver Letwin

Information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees, including when and how often they meet and which Ministers have attended, is generally not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.