Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the proposed closures of railway ticket offices on people who are (1) elderly, (2) deaf, or (3) blind or partially sighted; and what steps they will take in response to any such assessment.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
If a train operating company (TOC) proposes the closure of ticket offices, they must follow the process set out in the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement (TSA). This sets out how TOCs must consider the needs of all passengers when proposing alternative arrangements.
Together with industry we want to improve and modernise the experience for all passengers, giving staff more flexible roles allows them to better support the overall needs of elderly, deaf, blind or partially sighted passengers.
If called upon to make a determination on a specific ticket office proposal, the Secretary of State will follow the TSA process and comply with his own Public Sector Equality Duty by taking equality implications into account.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether National Highways was aware of the origin of the steel used in projects last year; if not, why not; and what steps they plan to take to ensure that all projects undertaken or overseen by the Department for Transport set targets for minimum use of UK-made steel.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Between 80-90% of steel used on National Highways projects is UK-made.
The Department for Transport does not plan to set targets for minimum use of UK-made steel but the Procurement Reform Bill, currently going through the House of Lords, seeks to make public procurement simpler and better able to meet the needs of this country, whilst still complying with our international obligations.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the origin of the steel procured for the HS2 project which is produced outside the UK.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Steel used on HS2 is procured through our supply chain, principally the Main Works Civil Contractors. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) publish data annually, the most recent covering FY20/21, on the origin of steel use across Government projects, including HS2.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to sign a reciprocal agreement on driving licences with the government of France.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for Transport has successfully agreed arrangements with France for the mutual recognition of photocard licences. As such, visitors with UK photocard licences will not need to carry an additional International Driving Permit when driving in France. We have also secured interim arrangements with the French authorities which will allow UK licence holders resident in France, to continue to use their valid UK licence until 1 January 2022. We are working with the French Government to finalise a permanent licence exchange agreement as soon as possible.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are considering extending the M11 using funds announced for road infrastructure in the Budget.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Government is using evidence gathered about local priorities for road investment, such as the proposal to extend the M11, to inform the development of the second Road Investment Strategy. Investment decisions, using the £25.3 billion announced at Budget, will be confirmed in late 2019.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have a general strategy for electric vehicles.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The coalition Government published a strategy for ultra low emission vehicles in the UK in September 2013. We will be publishing an updated strategy detailing Government’s role in the transition to zero emission vehicles and facilitating mass market for electric vehicles before the end of March 2018.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to promote the role of regional airports in stimulating the UK economy.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The government made clear in its Aviation Policy Framework, that airports across the UK make a vital contribution to the growth and recovery of regional and local economies and their role in helping to accommodate wider forecast growth in demand for aviation in the UK. The government recognises that regional air connectivity across the UK is also very important and announced in November 2015 that it will provide around £7million of start-up aid from the Regional Air Connectivity Fund over the next three financial years to support 11 new air routes from smaller airports. The Fund is also providing support to two Public Service Obligation routes from London to Dundee and Newquay. The UK government has also recently agreed in principle to support the air route between City of Derry Airport and London.