Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Irish government on the joint operation of the UK and Irish coastguard services.
Answered by John Hayes
No recent discussions have been held at a Ministerial level with the Irish Government. However, officials, including the Chief Coastguard, maintain close liaison with the Irish Coastguard on matters relating to joint search and rescue.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what reports he has received of operational difficulties arising from the Belfast Coastguard's expanded area of coverage.
Answered by John Hayes
I am aware of Parliamentary Questions and correspondence from some Honourable Members of this House about staffing levels at Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre since its area of operation was expanded. I meet regularly with the Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and senior Coastguard officials who provide me with assurance on Her Majesty’s Coastguard matters.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on how many occasions he has met representatives of the insurance industry in the last 12 months; and what issues were discussed at those meetings.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Secretary of State has not personally met with the insurance industry in the past year. However, I regularly meet with insurers to discuss road safety and how we can make motor insurance more affordable to the public.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the cycle to work scheme in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Department does not retain data on the uptake of the Cycle to Work scheme. Independently of Government, the Cycle to Work Alliance have published reports containing information on take up of the scheme. This is available at www.cycletoworkalliance.org.uk/news.html.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what level of uptake there has been for the cycle-to-work scheme in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Scotland.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Department does not retain data on the uptake of the Cycle to Work scheme. Independently of Government, the Cycle to Work Alliance have published reports containing information on take up of the scheme. This is available at www.cycletoworkalliance.org.uk/news.html.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Goods Vehicle Levy in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The levy is supported by a majority of hauliers in Northern Ireland, all of whom pay it alongside their Vehicle Excise Duty. Hauliers from Ireland must also pay before they use roads in Northern Ireland. A typical large HGV from Ireland visiting Northern Ireland twice a day, as would be the case for a round trip, would effectively pay only £1.28 per visit if they had purchased an annual levy. Smaller vehicles pay less, and those under 12 tonnes pay nothing. These represent small amounts compared to the running cost of a UK HGV of £80,000 to £100,000 per year, and much less than the tolls a typical Northern Ireland HGV would face doing a round trip to Dublin at around £8. Parliament has already debated the exempting of some border roads in Northern Ireland, totalling around 7 miles. These exemptions are a practical measure meaning that vehicles entering Northern Ireland for a short distance do not have to pay the levy, and exempting them simplifies enforcement.
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 Competition Commission's inquiry into the car insurance industry to report.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Competition Commission is required to publish its final report by 27 September 2014.