Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the price point of £37,000 or under was chosen as the entry point for the Electric Car Grant.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The price cap ensures the Electric Car Grant targets the more affordable end of the zero emission car market. We expect this grant will support a range of models, including several under £20,000 or leased at under £200 per month.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to paragraph 5.80 of the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June, what estimates or forecasts have been made of (1) the rail passenger services subsidy, (2) passenger ridership, (3) passenger revenue, and (4) efficiencies and savings through public ownership, for each of the financial years until 2029–30.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Rail passenger services subsidy is expected to reduce by over 50 per cent from £2.4 billion in 2024-25.
The Spending Review settlement assumes that passenger revenue increases by an average of 6 per cent per annum over the period.
Public ownership will result in a reduction in the fees paid to private sector operators and enable efficiencies to be delivered through horizontal integration of operators. Costs are assumed to increase by less than revenue each year, resulting in the net subsidy reduction.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to begin the investigation into the London Southend Airport plane crash on 13 July.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is responsible for investigating civil aircraft accidents and serious incidents in the UK. An AAIB team arrived on scene at London Southend Airport on 13th July to begin their investigation. It is the responsibility of the AAIB to ascertain whether any safety recommendations need to be made as a result of this accident.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that rail services run effectively and to prevent derailments such as that at Denbigh Hall South Junction.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
There is a robust legislative framework governing rail safety, which places mandatory requirements on the rail industry to ensure the safe operation of rail services. This includes a statutory duty to put in place safety management systems, which are enforced by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and are reviewed regularly to ensure they remain fit for purpose and support the overall safety and performance of the rail network. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) supports the rail industry by investigating the causes of incidents such as derailments and by making recommendations to industry.
The rail industry is currently investing in a range of new technologies including sensors, artificial intelligence, predictive modelling and diagnostics to improve its capability to understand, detect and manage derailment risks.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will request the use of powers to secure communications data through the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, either for anti-crime purposes or in the interests of public safety, in the light those powers being requested by and granted to Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
There are no current plans for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to secure communications data through the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.