Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost to the economy of people being woken up by emergency service sirens at night who are consequently less productive the following day.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Department has not undertaken an estimate of the cost to the economy of emergency sirens being used at night.
The use of sirens and other equipment fitted to road vehicles used by the emergency services is a matter for the chief officers of those services in conjunction with the chief officer of police for that area.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to remind emergency services not to use their sirens at night when the road is empty of traffic.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Department has not undertaken an estimate of the cost to the economy of emergency sirens being used at night.
The use of sirens and other equipment fitted to road vehicles used by the emergency services is a matter for the chief officers of those services in conjunction with the chief officer of police for that area.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure the emergency services comply with the provisions of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 which require them to use vehicle sirens only when it is necessary and desirable to do so, and that they should therefore refrain from sounding sirens late at night when streets are empty of traffic.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The conditions under which sirens may be used are governed by Regulation 99 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (C & U). Emergency service vehicles are permitted to use a siren to indicate to other road users the urgency of the purposes for which the vehicle is being used, or to warn other road users of the presence of the vehicle on the road.
Subject to the regulations and any form of guidance, drivers are expected to use their professional judgement to decide when and where the use of sirens is appropriate.
The use of sirens and other attributes fitted to road vehicles used by the emergency services is a matter for the chief officers of those services in conjunction with the chief officer of police for that area. There are no current plans to intervene.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 24 June (HL1198), whether they will now answer the question put, namely, what assessment they have made of the economic benefits that might be realised if responsibility for roads in London was transferred from the Mayor of London and Transport for London to the Department for Transport.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Transport is devolved in London, and the Government has no plans to assess the benefits of reversing devolved arrangements for the capital.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 24 June (HL1198), what assessment they have made, if any, of the economic benefits which might be realised if responsibility for roads in London were transferred from the Mayor of London and Transport for London to the Department for Transport and the formers' road closure programme was reversed.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Government has no plans to amend responsibilities for roads in London.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the economic benefits that might be realised if responsibility for roads in London was transferred from the Mayor of London and Transport for London to the Department for Transport.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Strategic roads in London are the responsibility of TfL, with each local authority responsible for its respective local road network. The Government has no plans to amend these responsibilities.