Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of the e-scooters trials on (1) pedestrian safety, and (2) the capacity of the police to enforce road safety laws.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department is putting in place a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation programme. Surveys and interviews with e-scooter users and members of the public living in e-scooter trial areas will be conducted across a range of trial areas to track and understand instances of pavement riding and pavement parking. This will be carried out by our contractors Arup and NatCen Social Research.
Enforcement of offences relating to unlawful use of powered transporters is an operational matter for individual Chief Officers of police in conjunction with local policing plans. In trial areas, e-scooter operators and local authorities are working with the police to enforce operational rules and monitor rider behaviour.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much money has been (1) budgeted, and (2) spent, on HS2 (a) in the London area within the M25, and (b) outside the London area.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Specific information on funds spent and budgeted on HS2 inside and outside the London area is not available. However, investment in HS2 will bring greater connectivity to the Midlands and the North and generate transformational economic benefits, helping to achieve our plans to level up the country and play a key role in reaching our 2050 carbon net zero objectives.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the speed limit on the M6 motorway northbound from junction 21A to 26 is 60mph while the same stretch southbound is 50mph.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
There are currently no speed restrictions in place on the M6 motorway from junction 21A to 26 other than the 70mph national speed limit.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what progress has been made towards making the House of Lords terrace smoke free.
Answered by Lord Laming
The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chair of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf. At its meeting on 11 July 2019 the Services Committee considered a paper on changes to the smoking area on the Terrace. At the meeting the Committee agreed to move the Members’ smoking table into the designated smoking area and increase the coverage of the smoking area to reduce the dispersal of smoke across other Terrace users. The Committee was advised that these changes would take place once the scaffolding on the Terrace had been removed.
The Committee further considered the issue at its meeting on 16 January 2020, when, following advice about the issues involved in extending any coverage for a smoking area on the Terrace, the Committee was invited to provide advice on a suitable way forward. Following discussion, the Committee requested that consideration be given to alternative locations for the smoking area; a paper is expected at its March meeting.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the financial impact of not proceeding with HS2.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Secretary of State commissioned the Oakervee Review to provide advice on how and whether to proceed with HS2, including examining the direct cost of cancelling the project. The government has committed to publishing the Oakervee Review report and will set out next steps on HS2 in due course.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to make an assessment of the Oakervee Report on HS2.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Transport Secretary has met with Doug Oakervee to discuss the Review. The Government has been clear that it will publish the final report of the Oakervee Review and will set out next steps on HS2 in due course.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Silver Jubilee Bridge in Runcorn will reopen.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Halton Borough Council, which is responsible for the Silver Jubilee Bridge, has informed my Department that the bridge will reopen fully to pedestrians and cyclists only at the end of November 2019. The Council is taking the opportunity of the bridge’s closure to undertake major maintenance work to remove high level viaducts and embankments, and create a new roundabout to access the town centre and Runcorn Station. These improvements are part of its new Runcorn Station Quarter development. The target date for reopening the Silver Jubilee Bridge to vehicles was spring 2020. Based on the latest programme, this will now be revised to summer 2020.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how the new digital planning service, Street Manager, will work in practice to improve the coordination of street works; and whether that service will be piloted.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
Street Manager will improve the planning, management and communication of street and road works in England. A key feature will allow works promoters and local authorities to see all planned and live works, to identify opportunities for collaboration and joint works.
It is already being piloted by a small number of organisations. It will be used by a closed group of local authorities and utility companies during development, due to begin in May 2019. This new digital service will be fully tested later in 2019.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Silver Jubilee Bridge between Runcorn and Widnes will re-open.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
Halton Borough Council, who are responsible for the Silver Jubilee Bridge, have said that it is likely that pedestrians and cyclists will be able to cross the bridge in late summer 2019, with access to vehicular traffic from spring / summer 2020 once all the necessary maintenance and upgrade work is complete.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the requirements local councils must adhere to in relation to the notification and coordination of street works.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
Section 59 of the New Roads and Street Works Act imposes a duty on local councils as street authorities to “use their best endeavours to co-ordinate the execution of works of all kinds”. Similarly, section 60 imposes a duty on utility companies to use their “best endeavours to co-operate with the street authority and with other undertakers”. Utilities have either to give notice to street authorities of their intention to carry out works or obtain a permit to do so, depending on whether the street authority in question operates a notice scheme or a permit (and in some cases, a lane rental) scheme.
In addition, there is a statutory code of practice, Code of Practice for the Co-ordination of Street Works and Works for Road Purposes and Related Matters, which can be viewed at