Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the measures in place to protect ferry services across the UK from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We announced on 24 April a package of support for up to 31 critical Roll On, Roll Off (RoRo) freight routes between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and mainland Europe, which will help to maintain capacity on these routes. We also announced a package of support to safeguard the vital lifeline services to the Isle of Wright and the Isles of Scilly.
We will continue to keep these schemes under review so that vital ferry routes are supported during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures have been put in place to protect the safety of passengers (1) travelling to airports, (2) in airports, and (3) on aircraft.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has recently published safer travel guidance for passengers, including advice on social distancing and face coverings. Public Health England advises that there are some circumstances when wearing a face covering may be marginally beneficial as a precautionary measure. The evidence suggests that wearing a face covering does not protect you, but it may protect others if you are infected but have not yet developed symptoms.
If you choose to wear one, it is important to use face coverings properly and wash your hands before putting them on and after taking them off.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the resilience, and (2) the financial situation, of airlines which operate in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We recognise that airlines are facing a number of challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. They have seen unprecedented falls in demand which have had a significant impact of their financial position. To this end we are maintaining a regular dialogue with airlines across the sector to understand the positions they are in and to encourage them to draw on the unprecedented package of cross-economy financial support measures which the Government has made available.
This engagement sits alongside the work of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in its role as independent regulator of the UK aviation sector. The CAA is responsible for the assessment of UK airlines under the formal licensing regime, and the financial health of airlines is taken into consideration throughout this process.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of COVID-19 on connectivity between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Officials are in regular contact with officials from the relevant Northern Ireland government departments.
Maintaining an airbridge between Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI) during the current COVID-19 situation is critical for lifeline services, including the connectivity of key workers and repatriation.
A temporary support package has been agreed and is being funded jointly by the UK government and the Northern Ireland Executive (NIE). This package will ensure continuation of two lifeline passenger services – Derry to London and Belfast to London, including financial support to ensure the relevant airports remain operational to support those services. We will continue to monitor NI-GB connectivity as part of the Department’s work on restart and recovery of the sector.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what support is available to UK residents seeking to travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has announced a £5.7million funding package of measures, supporting two airlinks, from Belfast and Londonderry to London, alongside both City of Derry Airport and Belfast City Airport.
The funding package will ensure that lifeline connectivity services continue to both Belfast and Derry during the COVID-19 pandemic. These routes provide critical connectivity for key workers, repatriation, and access to healthcare services.
This approach was taken to ensure in the immediate term the continuity of service for passengers and specifically places an obligation on the operators to ensure the services continue at a minimum appropriate level. We will continue to monitor Northern Ireland – Great Britain connectivity as part of the Department’s work on restart and recovery of the sector.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure the safety of passengers and crew on ferries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Public Health England has published guidance advising on measures that everyone should be adopting to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Additional advice was developed specifically for the maritime sector and this applies to all vessels including ferries. Additionally, the Department has been working with Public Health England and the public health bodies in the devolved administrations to engage with the industry and has supplemented the online guidance with a series of FAQs, expanding on specific issues raised by the sector.
Furthermore, on Sunday 10 May, the Prime Minister outlined the Government’s roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions and informed the public, that if they unable to work from home, then they can now go back to work as long as appropriate measures are put in place to protect the health of all employers. The Department understands that the transport sector will be instrumental in getting people back to work and therefore on 12 May 2012, issued further guidance for both transport operators and passengers, including guidance in relation to workforce planning and protecting workers, social distancing measures and face coverings where social distancing may be difficult.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the preparedness of UK ports of entry to facilitate international trade after the transition period.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has confirmed that it plans to introduce full import controls on EU goods at the border after the transition period ends on 31 December 2020. That will involve the need for customs declarations and will mean that goods are newly subject to checks.
Her Majesty’s Government is continuing to engage with ports, airports and other stakeholders at key border locations to understand local constraints and opportunities and how best to support planning for operational readiness.
In September 2019, the Department also announced that 16 ports would receive a share of £10 million in order to improve port resilience.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to ensure that the DVLA will not refuse tax renewals for those people in Northern Ireland who have not been able to have MOT assessments in Northern Ireland because of any ongoing difficulties in Motor Testing Centres there.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
It is a legal requirement for customers to license their vehicles if they are being used or kept on a public road.
Motorists who have been issued with temporary exemption certificates by the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland will be able to license their vehicles.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the Marine Accident Investigation Branch's report on the collision between the stern trawler MV Karen and a dived Royal Navy submarine in the Irish Sea on 15 April 2015 to be published.
Answered by John Hayes
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch’s report of its investigation into this accident is due to be published in mid-October.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he has made in respect of the introduction of regulations for international seafarers in the fishing industry.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is working with industry representatives, fishing vessel owners and fishermen, to develop UK proposals to implement the ILO Work in Fishing Convention (ILO 188). A public consultation on those proposals is due early in 2016.