Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking against noise pollution caused by motorbikes.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport takes the impact of excessive noise on health, wellbeing and the natural environment seriously. Strict noise regulations for motorbikes are harmonised at an international level and require vehicles to demonstrate compliance before being placed on the market. Replacement silencers that are to be used on the road must also meet strict noise limits that are aligned with those of the original vehicle.
The Department published the results of roadside trials of noise camera technology last year and continues to keep a keen interest in this technology. However, it is ultimately for local authorities and the police to consider what the most appropriate enforcement routes may be within their area, based on their knowledge of the issue locally. The Department has limited means for influencing local decision making on enforcement priorities.
The police have powers to deal with noisy vehicles on a continuing basis. Under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 they can take action if they suspect a vehicle is being driven in a manner that makes excessive noise which is avoidable through reasonable driver care. In the same Regulations, exhausts and silencers are required to be maintained in good working order and not modified so as to increase noise.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 16 January (HL3851), what plans they have, if any, to phase out the sale of new petrol motorcycles, in line with plans to phase-out the sale of new petrol cars from 2030.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
All modes and vehicle types have a part to play in meeting net zero, including motorcycles. The Government will set out any plans to decarbonise motorcycles in due course. To encourage uptake of zero emission motorbikes, the Government has a plug-in motorcycle grant which is available until at least March 2025 and offers up to £500 off the cost of a zero-emission motorcycle.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ban all petrol and diesel motorcycles.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government has no plans to ban all petrol and diesel motorcycles.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding in the report by Nottingham Trent University E-scooters: Still the new kid on the transport block. Assessing e-scooter legislation knowledge and illegal riding behaviour, published on 22 November 2023, that dangerous e-scooter use is linked to a lack of knowledge of the rules.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government assesses a broad range of evidence that can assist with informing our understanding of what legislation is appropriate for e-scooters, and we recognise there are risks around the safe use of e-scooters which is why we are running trials of rental e-scooters.
Their purpose is to assess the benefits of e-scooters including their wider impacts, and to inform options for future regulation. The Government’s proposals for e-scooter regulations will take learning from the trials, academic research, stakeholder engagement and international evidence into consideration and we will consult on any new regulations before they come into force.
The Government also tracks the public’s attitudes, awareness and knowledge of e-scooters through the Transport Technology Tracker, with the most recent publication on 24 September 2024.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to make training mandatory for e-scooter users.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Resolving the longstanding problems and missed opportunities of micromobility and e-scooters is a priority for the Department for Transport and we will work with colleagues across Government to tackle this as soon as possible.
No decisions have been made on the future regulation of e-scooters and the Government will consult before any regulations come into force
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to make protective equipment mandatory for e-scooter users.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Resolving the longstanding problems and missed opportunities of micromobility and e-scooters is a priority for the Department for Transport and we will work with colleagues across Government to tackle this as soon as possible.
No decisions have been made on the future regulation of e-scooters and the Government will consult before any regulations come into force
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to legalise the use of private e-scooters in public spaces.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Resolving the longstanding problems and missed opportunities of micromobility and e-scooters is a priority for the Department for Transport and we will work with colleagues across Government to tackle this as soon as possible.
No decisions have been made on the future regulation of e-scooters and the Government will consult before any regulations come into force
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to extend HS2 beyond Birmingham; and if so, what cost estimates they have made for doing so.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We will not reverse the previous Government’s decision to cancel Phase 2 of HS2 and our primary focus is the safe delivery of HS2 between Birmingham and London at the lowest reasonable cost.
We are committed to a long-term approach to infrastructure and investment, taking account of local transport priorities. We will thoroughly review the fiscal position we have inherited before setting out more detailed plans for this in due course.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to ban e-scooters.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Private e-scooters are illegal to use on public roads, cycle lanes and pavements, and rental e-scooters can only be used in national rental e-scooter trials.
However, it is lawful to sell e-scooters for use on private land as long as it is made clear to the buyer they cannot be used on the road.
As you will appreciate, the new Government is still in its early stages, and Ministers are carefully considering next steps and potential policy solutions for e-scooters.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of highway funding is spent on footways.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
This information is not held. In England local highway authorities have a duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the highway network in their area, including footways. Further information and best practice on the Well-managed Highway infrastructure Code of Practice is available from the UK Roads Leadership Group. Based on previous research, the Department estimates that on average local highway authorities spend around 9% of their highway maintenance budgets on maintaining footways.