Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what training requirements are mandated for ships’ crews and port operatives to ensure compliance with the International Maritime Organisation’s 2017 International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
There are no mandatory training requirements for ships’ crews and port operatives set out in the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments.
The Ballast Water Management Plans required on board ships, and any ballast treatment systems fitted to comply with the Convention, may require appropriate crew training to be undertaken in some cases. This training will fall under the mandate of the ship’s existing safety management system.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are (1) in place, and (2) planned, for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to determine whether obligations under the International Maritime Organisation’s 2017 International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species are being met by visiting ships.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK is yet to transpose the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments. In the interim, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has issued guidance to support the implementation of the requirements.
The Government is committed to implementing the Convention domestically and officials are currently working to develop appropriate legislation. The UK implementation will include specific requirements for inspection and enforcement through Port State Control, for vessels visiting UK ports.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to ensure that, following Brexit, airlines based in the UK will still be able to operate European flights; and what assurances they are able to give to the public, airports and airlines, that tickets sold up to eighteen months ahead can be honoured post-Brexit.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Government plans to negotiate the best possible relationship between the UK and the EU in the field of aviation with a smooth and orderly transition. The Department for Transport is working closely with the industry to best understand their requirements and to ensure that the outcome of the negotiations serves the interests of both passengers and the aviation industry.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to negotiate, during the Brexit negotiations, a transitional aviation regime for UK airlines operating European routes, in order to avoid a sudden end to the operation of those routes; and if so, (1) how they intend to conduct, and (2) when they expect to conclude, those negotiations.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Government plans to negotiate the best possible relationship between the UK and the EU in the field of aviation with a smooth and orderly transition. The Department for Transport is working closely with the industry to best understand their requirements and to ensure that the outcome of the negotiations serves the interests of both passengers and the aviation industry.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking, if any, to ensure that driving test requirements, and driving penalties, reflect the need to improve the quality of driving on rural roads and adherence to the Countryside Code, particularly with regard to passing non-motorised transport such as bicycles and horses.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is taking measures to make the theory and practical driving tests more reflective of a real life driving journey, including a greater emphasis on driving safely on rural roads.
Theory Test:
The DVSA is currently refreshing the Hazard Perception Test and associated learning materials, which includes focussing on encountering and dealing safely with vulnerable rural road users such as cyclists, horses and horse riders.
Practical Test:
The DVSA is about to conclude a two year trial that aims to make the practical driving test more reflective of a real life driving journey.
Proposals include:
- expanding test routes to incorporate higher risk rural roads where statistically new drivers are more likely to be involved in crashes, which will test a candidate's ability to deal with vulnerable road users such as cyclists, horses and horse riders.
- extending the period of independent driving from 10 to 20 minutes and the introduction of the use of satellite navigation for this period, which will further test a candidate's ability to cope with distraction.
All road users are required to comply with road traffic law, in the interests of their own safety and that of other road users. If road users do not adopt a responsible attitude, or if their use of the highway creates an unsafe environment or causes nuisance, there are already laws in place that can make them liable for prosecution.