Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they propose to clarify the criminal law relating to the use of mobile phones and similar devices by motorists.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
Government imposed tougher penalties last year for the offence of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving, and continues to keep the legislation under review.
The Department for Transport is currently consulting on an isolated amendment to the mobile phone offence to permit the use of hand-held and mobile communications devices as a means of performing remote control parking manoeuvres. The Department will consider changes to the regulations and to the Highway Code following that consultation.
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect Woodlands Lane Bridge over the M3 motorway at Windlesham to re-open.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
Woodlands Bridge, near junction 3 of the M3, has been rebuilt by Highways England as part of the project to upgrade the M3 to a smart motorway. The bridge had been closed to traffic since October 2016 and reopened on Friday 22nd December 2017.
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied with the regulatory arrangements relating to the conduct of roadworks on public highways undertaken by public utility companies.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government wants to deliver better journeys for drivers. Utility works are essential, but they should not be in place any longer than is absolutely necessary.
Whilst we are satisfied that the regulatory arrangements are working well, we continue to keep them under review to modernise and update legislation and statutory guidance where necessary, and where it will lead to improvements in the way that these works are managed.
Recent examples include a consultation on lane rental powers published on 2nd September. Lane rental allows local authorities to charge utility companies for works on the busiest roads at the busiest times. We will shortly be publishing updated statutory guidance relating to inspections. In 2015, we updated regulations and guidance on permit schemes that are now in place in almost 60% of local authority areas and which are resulting in more effective management of street works and reductions in their duration. We continue to work with stakeholders to encourage more local authorities take up and adopt permit schemes.
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
Her Majesty's Government what are their plans for the regulation of UK civil aviation following Brexit.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including future arrangements for the regulation of civil aviation. The Repeal Bill, introduced into the House of Commons on 13 July, will convert EU law as it stands at the moment of Exit into domestic law before we leave the EU. Until the UK leaves the EU, EU law continues to apply alongside national rules. The Department for Transport is working closely with the sector to best understand its requirements.
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the progress of the roadworks on the M3 motorway between junctions 2 and 4a; and when they expect those works to be completed.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Highways England is on schedule to open the M3 Smart Motorway between junctions 2 and 4a on 30 June 2017.
Alongside the delivery of this Smart Motorways scheme Highways England have also undertaken additional planned maintenance and renewal of a large amount of existing infrastructure reducing the need for further roadworks. This has included full low noise resurfacing of the carriageways. Highways England has delivered most of this work in parallel, there will be some remaining works which will need to take place beyond the 30 June 2017.
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their proposals for the regulation of civil aviation following Brexit.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including future arrangements for the regulation of civil aviation. Until the UK leaves the EU, EU law continues to apply alongside national rules. The Department for Transport is working closely with the sector to best understand its requirements.
The Great Repeal Bill, as set out in the White Paper published 30th March, will convert EU law as it stands at the moment of Exit into domestic law before we leave the EU. It will also enable domestic law to reflect the content of any withdrawal agreement under Article 50. This approach will provide maximum clarity and certainty for business and individuals, as in general the same rules and laws will apply on the day of Exit. Parliament (and, where appropriate, the devolved legislatures) will then have the ability, where it decides it is right to do so, to amend, repeal, or improve any piece of EU law at the appropriate time once we have left the EU.
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is their intention to repatriate to the Civil Aviation Authority the regulation of civil aviation following Brexit.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the Government’s expert Arm’s Length Body for the safety, security, consumer rights and economic regulation of civil aviation in the United Kingdom. The CAA participates in European Union (EU) regulatory systems in these areas. The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including for the aviation industry.
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what controls exist relating to the release of information on vehicle ownership held by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) takes the security of the data it holds very seriously and has measures in place to protect it. The law allows vehicle keeper details to be disclosed in certain circumstances, including as a first point of contact to establish where liability for an incident or event may lie.
All DVLA’s data release services are subject to a formal assessment before they are made available for use. This ensures that there are adequate policies as well as procedural and technical controls in place to protect the data. Privacy Impact Assessments are also completed to identify and address any privacy risks and ensure that personal data is processed in compliance with the law.
An audit carried out earlier this year by the Information Commissioner’s Office confirmed that the DVLA’s procedures offer high assurance that processes are in place to mitigate the risks of non-compliance with the Data Protection Act.
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government who will be responsible for the regulation of British civil aviation during and after Brexit.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the Government’s expert Arm’s Length Body for the safety, security, consumer rights and economic regulation of civil aviation in the United Kingdom. The CAA participates in European Union (EU) regulatory systems in these areas. The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU including the implications for the continued participation in European aviation safety and security regulatory processes. Until we leave, EU law still applies, and EU regulation in these areas will continue to apply in the UK, alongside national rules.
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to require cyclists using the public highway to carry photo identification.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have no plans to make cyclists carry photographic or other forms of identification. The police already have sufficient powers if they are unsure of a person’s identity. There are other users of the highway, for instance pedestrians and horse riders who are also not required to carry personal identification, or have other forms of identification, e.g. registration numbers displayed.
The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 sets out the general powers available to the police, including in circumstances when an individual’s identity needs to be established, or when false identity information has been provided. Similarly, powers exist under Section 168 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, where the person is suspected of having committed an offence under Sections 28 (Dangerous Cycling) and 29 (Careless Cycling) of the same Act. The application of any such powers is an operational matter for the police.