Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to reduce the noise of motorbikes on public roads.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
There are already a number of measures in place to control motorcycle noise with manufacturers required to meet strict noise limits. We expect the European Commission to undertake a study of noise from new motorcycles and to make proposals for tougher limits that will apply from 2020. The Department for Transport will take an active role in future discussions, with the European Commission and Member States.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the coastguard boat based in Belfast was given an Irish Language name; and what steps they plan to take to ensure equality of cultures in any such namings in the future.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Her Majesty’s Coastguard does not have a boat based in Belfast.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to regulate bicycles to increase the safety of cyclists in built-up areas; and how they will ensure that any regulations are complied with.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
There are currently no plans for Her Majesty’s Government to further regulate bicycles. Bicycles are currently regulated under Statutory Instruments 2010 no 198, Consumer Protection, The Pedal Bicycles (Safety) Regulations 2010.
The enforcement of cycling offences is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police. Officers can issue verbal warnings, fixed penalty notices or report the road user for formal prosecution.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to make the wearing of safety helmets by drivers of quad bikes compulsory.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
There are no immediate plans to make the wearing of helmets compulsory for tricycles/quad bikes but we are keeping the position under review; there are a number of factors that will need to be taken into consideration such as, the level of use, the safety of riders in a collision and the availability or otherwise of seat belts.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the rules regarding disabled parking spaces on private land, such as hotels and supermarkets; whether there is a minimum number of such spaces required in each case; and if so, how that number is calculated.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Blue Badge Scheme does not apply to off-street car parks, whether these are provided and managed by a local authority or privately. The Department for Transport provides guidance on the provision of parking facilities for disabled people in Section 5 of ‘Inclusive Mobility: A Guide to Best Practice on Access to Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure’. However, it is ultimately a matter for car park operators to decide on the parking spaces that they make available to disabled motorists.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what checks they have carried out on the full-body scanners, built by L3 Communications Holdings, which are used at United Kingdom airports; when these checks were carried out, and by whom; what was the outcome of the checks with respect to safety; and whether that outcome was shared with the airport authorities.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
All security scanners (also known as body scanners) deployed in the UK use millimetre wave technology. The technology must meet the safety requirements set out in Commission Regulation (EU) No 1141/2011 and Council Recommendation 1999/519/EU for the protection of the health of workers and the general public. Manufacturers must ensure their Security Scanner equipment conform to these standards and that they also comply with requirements for electromagnetic compatibility to ensure they do not interfere with other electronic devices. This is conducted by independent third parties. To be used in UK airports Security Scanner must additionally comply with security performance standards as defined in UK regulations. Compliance with the security requirements is conducted by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) before being approved by the Department for Transport for operational use. UK Airports are informed of the results through an approved equipment list on the GOV.UK website.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kramer on 15 January (HL3977) about the Union flag being printed on driving licences issued to drivers in England, Scotland and Wales, whether licences issued to drivers in Northern Ireland will have that flag printed on them; and if not, why not.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
The Union flag will not be printed on driving licences issued to motorists in Northern Ireland.
Driver licensing is a devolved matter and is the responsibility of the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland. The UK Government is unable to take a decision to include the Union flag on licences issued to motorists in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether under the new arrangements for the design of the United Kingdom's driving licence the Union flag will appear on all driving licences.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
All driving licences issued to drivers in England, Scotland and Wales will display the Union flag from summer 2015.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps the Office of Rail Regulation is taking to improve and make more reliable the Gatwick Express train service.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
This is firstly a matter for Southern, the franchised train operator of the Gatwick Express service, working with Network Rail. In the event of continued under-performance by Network Rail, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), which is responsible for regulating its performance, will investigate, and take action as necessary. The Department for Transport understands that the ORR is working closely with Network Rail with the aim of resolving the current issues which are affecting performance on its Sussex route, which is used by the Gatwick Express service. In parallel, the Department is working with the train operator to ensure it delivers a good service to passengers in line with its obligations under the franchise.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how motorists in Northern Ireland obtain vehicle registration and licensing; what is their assessment of the success of the new system; and what changes to that system they propose, if any.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
Vehicles in Northern Ireland can be first registered by motor dealers using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s Automated First Registration and Licensing system. Alternatively, customers can send the relevant application form to the DVLA in Swansea. Any changes to the details of already-registered vehicles must be notified by the registered keeper completing the relevant part of the vehicle registration certificate and sending it to the DVLA.
Vehicles in Northern Ireland can be licensed online or by telephone 24 hours a day, seven days a week or at one of 175 Post Offices that offer the service in Northern Ireland.
The changes to vehicle registration and licensing services for Northern Ireland motorists were implemented on 21 July when more than 1.7 million Northern Ireland vehicle records were automatically transferred to the DVLA. A small number of records required additional processing but these were in line with expectations and the DVLA’s systems have operated very successfully since the migration. While no formal assessment has been made, the Government is confident that Northern Ireland customers are benefiting fully from the enhanced services that are now available to them.
The DVLA is planning a number of future changes to vehicle registration and licensing services. These include providing the facility for motorists to notify vehicle changes and carry out personalised registration transactions online. These services will be available to motorists throughout the UK when they are implemented.