Written Question
Thursday 24th July 2014
Asked by:
Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the draft Road Investment Strategy's four elements will take account of the need for design of the whole built environment.
Answered by Baroness Kramer
- Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
The government’s vision for the Strategic Road Network (SRN) is part of the Road Investment Strategy. The importance of good design, and the use of good design principles, is important and the government will want the company to make use of these principles when intervening to maintain, renew, or enhance the SRN. The expectation on the company in how it delivers its functions is set out in the licence and through which the Secretary of State for Transport can influence the company’s behaviour. The licence already contains requirements to conform to the principles of sustainable development and to have regard to government policy. We are considering further how good design principles are built into the governance framework.
Written Question
Thursday 24th July 2014
Asked by:
Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the strategic vision for the Road Investment Strategy will take account of the whole built environment.
Answered by Baroness Kramer
- Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
The government’s vision for the Strategic Road Network (SRN) is part of the Road Investment Strategy. The importance of good design, and the use of good design principles, is important and the government will want the company to make use of these principles when intervening to maintain, renew, or enhance the SRN. The expectation on the company in how it delivers its functions is set out in the licence and through which the Secretary of State for Transport can influence the company’s behaviour. The licence already contains requirements to conform to the principles of sustainable development and to have regard to government policy. We are considering further how good design principles are built into the governance framework.
Speech in Grand Committee - Thu 10 Jul 2014
Infrastructure Bill [HL]
"My Lords, following the eloquent advocacy of my noble friend Lady Andrews and other noble Lords, I would just briefly like also to register that it seems extraordinary that the Government should not take the opportunity of this new clause to put flesh on their announced intention to make new …..."Baroness Whitaker - View Speech
View all Baroness Whitaker (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Infrastructure Bill [HL]
Speech in Grand Committee - Thu 03 Jul 2014
Infrastructure Bill [HL]
"My Lords, in supporting Amendment 15, first, I apologise for not being able to speak at Second Reading. In the mean time, the Minister was kind enough to answer a Written Question from me on the design criteria to be employed by the successor to the Highways Agency. I declare …..."Baroness Whitaker - View Speech
View all Baroness Whitaker (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Infrastructure Bill [HL]
Written Question
Monday 30th June 2014
Asked by:
Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria with respect to good design they intend to establish in their new plans for the Highway Agency.
Answered by Baroness Kramer
- Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
It is government policy that our major road improvements should follow good design principles. For example, in "Action for Roads" we made it clear that any improvements to the network must be made in a way that supports the nation's overall quality of life. This means that our strategy for roads, and detail requirements will need to:
- Be designed to minimise environmental impacts and, where possible, tackle existing problems.
- Build on existing cooperation with organisations like Natural England to find the best solutions to environmental challenges.
- Continue to work in a planning framework which protects the wider environment.
We are establishing the first Roads Investment Strategy, which includes a performance specification for the new strategic highways company. This will aim to ensure that the company's design and delivery activities align with the overall goals that government has for the Strategic Road Network (SRN). Good design, including how the SRN interfaces with built environments and impacts on quality of life, will need to be an important element of both the process and the implementation.
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 27 Feb 2013
Growth and Infrastructure Bill
"My Lords, I agree with my noble friend Lord McKenzie’s inference from the responses to the consultation and welcome the direction of travel of the Minister’s amendment, but I shall argue for more specificity in the Bill. I speak to Amendment 10 in my name and that of the noble …..."Baroness Whitaker - View Speech
View all Baroness Whitaker (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Growth and Infrastructure Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 30 Jan 2013
Growth and Infrastructure Bill
"My Lords, in speaking to this group of amendments, I declare my interest as president of the South Downs Society, which co-ordinates NGO representations to the South Downs National Park Authority. The risks to our national parks were well rehearsed at Second Reading and I do not propose to repeat …..."Baroness Whitaker - View Speech
View all Baroness Whitaker (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Growth and Infrastructure Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 30 Jan 2013
Growth and Infrastructure Bill
"..."Baroness Whitaker - View Speech
View all Baroness Whitaker (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Growth and Infrastructure Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 30 Jan 2013
Growth and Infrastructure Bill
"On the basis of the discussion of consultation, I shall not move the amendment...."Baroness Whitaker - View Speech
View all Baroness Whitaker (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Growth and Infrastructure Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 06 Mar 2012
Gypsies and Travellers
"My Lords, one of the key points made by Dr Hammarberg in his letter to Mr Pickles was about the “significant hurdle” concerning the requirement that for planning permission, the applicant has to establish “Gypsy status” and demonstrate particular “working patterns”. Will the Government now dissociate the granting of planning …..."Baroness Whitaker - View Speech
View all Baroness Whitaker (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Gypsies and Travellers