Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have instructed Government Car Service drivers to turn off their engines while waiting in New Palace Yard to reduce air pollution, and if not, whether they intend to do so.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Government Car Service drivers are regularly reminded of the need to turn off the engine when parked to reduce air pollution and save fuel. A new reminder will be sent out immediately with particular reference to New Palace Yard and the Parliamentary Estate.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how Road User Focus and the Strategic Road Network Monitor, as described in <i>Setting the Road Investment Strategy: Now and in the Future</i>, will have regard to design achievement and effectiveness.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
The Strategic Road Network Monitor will be responsible for assessing the strategic highways company’s performance. This includes how it meets any requirements directed by government in the Road Investment Strategy or conditions in the licence as part of the company’s appointment. The licence document includes the need to support sustainable development. The monitor will need to take account of quality of design in assessing costs against outputs.
The purpose of Road User Focus is to act as a focal point for road users, gathering their views and surveying satisfaction and using this information to help shape evolving policy. Feedback gathered may include roads users’ views on aspects of design – particularly on elements that directly relate to the journey. We expect road user satisfaction will be influenced by scheme design and hence reflected in the findings of Road User Focus.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the proposed requirement in the section on Co-operation of the Strategic Highways Company: Draft Licence to "take account of local needs, priorities and plans in planning for the operation, maintenance and long-term development in the network" will take account of the need for well-being and good quality design.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
There is a strong link between quality design and quality of life and as stated in my response of 30 June it is government policy that our major road improvements should follow good design principles. The draft licence already makes it clear that the strategic highways company must comply with sustainable development; paragraph 4.3 of the licence’s aims and objectives defines sustainable development as including the need to improve the quality of life for current and future generations.
The licence has been published in draft to help understanding on the overall governance structure for the strategic highways company and in support of the measures in the Infrastructure Bill. Work is continuing on refining the content of the final document.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to Baroness Kramer’s remarks on 3 July (HL Deb, col GC 358), what the "significant further development" as stated in the prefatory note to the Strategic Highways Company: Draft Licence will include in its "robust requirements" in relation to the role of design.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
There is a strong link between quality design and quality of life and as stated in my response of 30 June it is government policy that our major road improvements should follow good design principles. The draft licence already makes it clear that the strategic highways company must comply with sustainable development; paragraph 4.3 of the licence’s aims and objectives defines sustainable development as including the need to improve the quality of life for current and future generations.
The licence has been published in draft to help understanding on the overall governance structure for the strategic highways company and in support of the measures in the Infrastructure Bill. Work is continuing on refining the content of the final document.