Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what further progress they have made towards making the use of roll bars on quad bikes mandatory.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
There are no plans to make the use of roll bars on quad bikes mandatory. Research by the Health and Safety Executive on quad bikes used in the workplace is that Roll Over Protection Systems, which includes roll bars, may lead to an increased risk of injury in the event of an overturn by either preventing the operator from separating from the machine or striking the operator as the machine overturns.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what contingency planning they have undertaken to manage any disruption to the availability of goods resulting from a lack of shipping crew eligible for the Frontier Worker Permit.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for Transport has not undertaken contingency planning regarding a lack of seafarers being eligible for the Frontier Work Permits causing disruption of availability of goods to / from Northern Ireland. These policies are held by the Department for Business and Trade and the Home Office respectively.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take, if any, to introduce regulations which enable the provision of roll bars on quad bikes.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The technical requirements for quad bikes depends on their intended use. Road or agricultural bikes must be type approved, while those classed as machinery need to meet the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008.
Following research by the Health and Safety Executive in Great Britain (HSE) the advice for quad bikes used in workplace settings is that ROPS are not recommended. It was shown that ROPS may lead to an increased risk of injury in the event of an overturn by either preventing the operator from separating from the machine or striking the operator as the machine overturns.
The Government plans to consult on replacing the current, interim, approval scheme for road and agricultural quads, with a full type GB scheme. Any new evidence supplied during this process will be given consideration.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the safety of quad bikes.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The technical requirements for quad bikes depends on their intended use. Road or agricultural bikes must be type approved, while those classed as machinery need to meet the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008.
Following research by the Health and Safety Executive in Great Britain (HSE) the advice for quad bikes used in workplace settings is that ROPS are not recommended. It was shown that ROPS may lead to an increased risk of injury in the event of an overturn by either preventing the operator from separating from the machine or striking the operator as the machine overturns.
The Government plans to consult on replacing the current, interim, approval scheme for road and agricultural quads, with a full type GB scheme. Any new evidence supplied during this process will be given consideration.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take, if any, to support ferry operators in terms of the recruitment of crews for work on vessels which operate between (1) Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and (2) Great Britain and Ireland.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Recruitment is the responsibility of operators. However, to capitalise on future growth areas and attract a diverse range of talent into the industry, my Department promotes maritime skills and careers across the UK. Additionally, we remain committed to improving working conditions for seafarers by boosting their welfare and protection from exploitation.
The Home Office is also engaging with vessel operators serving the routes between Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the recruitment of overseas labour through the Frontier Worker Permit and Skilled Worker visa.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the relative potential for (1) Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) biofuel, and (2) electric vehicles, to decarbonise road transport, as compared to diesel in each of the next three years.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has not produced specific estimates of the potential CO2 savings for Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) biofuel or electric vehicles to decarbonise road transport, as compared to diesel in each of the next three years.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made any assessment of (1) the RTFO-type subsidy, and (2) reductions in mineral oil Excise Duty for biofuels, in the Republic of Ireland; and what plans they have, if any, to implement equivalent policies in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The United Kingdom’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme, introduced in 2008, is not dissimilar to the Biofuel Obligation Scheme (BOS), introduced in the Republic of Ireland in 2010.
The RTFO scheme has been successful for more than a decade in supporting a market for biofuels and is continuously reviewed to ensure that it delivers cost-effective carbon savings. Biofuel suppliers operate in a global market and the Department considers changes to the RTFO in the context of support schemes offered by the UK’S global partners. As the administrator of the RTFO, the Department also participates in the Renewable Fuels Regulators Club, which includes counterparts in the Republic of Ireland, and facilitates the sharing of best practice.
The tax treatment of fuels will not form part of our post implementation review of the RTFO scheme later this year. As with other taxes, His Majesty's Treasury is responsible for fuel duty, which is kept under review. There are currently no plans to change the tax treatment of biofuels. The Chancellor takes decisions on tax rates at fiscal events.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that (1) freight, and (2) passenger, services between Larne and Cairnryan ports are reinstated.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We have worked closely with the Devolved Administrations on this. Other ferry companies have stepped up to provide the ferry capacity that has been abruptly taken out of the market by P&O Ferries. We have been able to obtain assurances that the further vessel and additional capacity Stena has put in will mitigate the P&O vessel being out of service.