Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of the proposed period test for an HGV Driver Certificate for Professional Competence on (1) the hours of training undertaken by HGV drivers, and (2) road safety.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
My Department has recently closed a consultation into proposed reforms to the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) qualification. The consultation presented an opportunity to receive responses which could be assessed to determine the impacts of proposals, including those related to the periodic test. My officials are currently analysing responses which cover, among other things, the preference for the test in comparison to training and the perceived effectiveness of the test in assuring road safety.
In developing the test proposal, my officials conducted a review into DCPC combined with stakeholder engagement. The outcome of this work identified a need for increased driver choice and flexibility in how DCPC is maintained. To emphasise, the test proposal is an option put to consultation and would give drivers the choice of renewing DCPC using a test or training. If a test were used, it does not stop drivers training either to prepare for the test or for other reasons. Finally, the content of the periodic test has been put to consultation but is intended to assess driver knowledge of key, safety critical areas.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures are in place to safeguard land for the UK’s logistics network, including (1) transport, (2) intermodal sites, (3) warehousing, and (4) other facilities.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Government’s 2022 Future of Freight plan sets out measures to ensure the planning system makes sufficient land available for the freight and logistics industry, now and in the future. The primary goal of these measures is to increase the number of sites allocated for freight and supply infrastructure. As committed in the Future of Freight plan, the Government has recently opened a call for evidence on freight and the planning system. The Government will use the responses to this call for evidence to understand how best to meet the needs of the freight sector through planning reform.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the quality of roads maintenance on (1) the logistics network’s efficiency, (2) the logistics network’s emissions, (3) the efficiency and productivity of UK businesses, and (4) the UK’s trade capacity.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
On the Strategic Road Network, the needs of freight and logistics and its customers is considered by National Highways as it prioritises, plans, communicates, and delivers maintenance and renewals on the network. This includes establishing the optimal time to undertake work to minimize the disruption to road users of work on the network and provide corridor-level resilience.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on innovation in the UK’s logistics sector of the UK’s potential departure from the Horizon Programme.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
No direct assessment has been made on the effect on innovation in the logistics sector.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of restrictions on night flights on the competitiveness of the UK.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Government recognises the benefits that night flights bring to the economy, through connectivity and the movement of time-critical freight. We also recognise that aviation night noise can disturb people’s sleep - with the potential for health impacts.
To strike a balance between the benefits and detriments, the Government sets restrictions on night flights at Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted airports, and local planning authorities set restrictions at other airports.
For the airports where restrictions are set by Government, the Government regularly consults on appropriate restrictions to find this balance. The most recent related consultation closed in early May, and we will consult on future proposals towards the end of this year. The Government is aware that the aviation industry has in the past sponsored research to assess the economic impact of night flying in the UK. Through these consultations, it is incumbent on the aviation industry to continue to develop the evidence base and demonstrate the value that night operations bring to the UK economy.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of restrictions on night flights on the efficiency of air freight (1) into, (2) out of, and (3) within, the UK.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Government recognises the benefits that night flights bring to the economy, through connectivity and the movement of time-critical freight. We also recognise that aviation night noise can disturb people’s sleep - with the potential for health impacts.
To strike a balance between the benefits and detriments, the Government sets restrictions on night flights at Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted airports, and local planning authorities set restrictions at other airports.
For the airports where restrictions are set by Government, the Government regularly consults on appropriate restrictions to find this balance. The most recent related consultation closed in early May, and we will consult on future proposals towards the end of this year. The Government is aware that the aviation industry has in the past sponsored research to assess the economic impact of night flying in the UK. Through these consultations, it is incumbent on the aviation industry to continue to develop the evidence base and demonstrate the value that night operations bring to the UK economy.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what forecast they have made of the logistics infrastructure investment required over the next 30 years to support (1) UK business growth, (2) freight transport capacity growth, (3) freight transport decarbonisation, and (4) communities.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Government has not made an economy wide needs assessment for logistics infrastructure, such as warehouse and freight interchanges. The current and forecast needs of the road and rail freight sectors inform the prioritisation and delivery of the Roads Investment Strategy (RIS) and the Rail Network Enhancements Programme (RNEP).
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the UK’s freight transport capacity of decisions to delay (1) HS2, and (2) the third road investment strategy (RIS3), construction.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
HS2 will release capacity on the West Coast Main Line which will be used for additional local and regional passenger trains and freight. No decisions have been made as to exactly what trains will run and work is ongoing to develop the optimal service pattern which best meets the needs of passengers and freight customers. Rephasing of HS2 will be taken account of in this work as it develops. HS2 has not been delayed in terms of Phase 1 and Phase 2b to Manchester.
The Government has not undertaken an assessment of the impact on freight of the delivery of schemes being developed in the Roads Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3) pipeline in RIS4. This is because those schemes were not committed nor fully developed. The Government has announced that two RIS2 schemes - A27 Arundel and A5036 Princess Way in Liverpool – will be deferred. In addition, construction of Lower Thames Crossing will be slowed down by two years to ensure that there is an effective and deliverable plan.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the measures in place to coordinate infrastructure, planning and energy policies, nationally and locally, to support the delivery of a National Freight Network.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
In “Future of freight: a long-term plan” (Future of Freight) published in June 2022, the Government recognised planning, energy infrastructure and undertaking the work necessary to identify a National Freight Network as areas requiring priority action. This work is underway. The Government will shortly publish a call for evidence to obtain the appropriate evidence so that the planning needs of the freight and logistics sector can be properly and effectively considered. To support the delivery of zero carbon energy infrastructure the Future of Freight prioritised the creation of a Freight Energy Forum. This forum, comprising stakeholders from the freight, energy, regulatory and government sectors met in April 2023 and will prioritise the development of a Zero Emission HGV Infrastructure Strategy. The Government will work with the Freight Council to support work to identify a National Freight Network.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made on the delivery of a National Freight Network; when they will publish their response to the Union Connectivity Review; and what consequence their response will have for the National Freight Network.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
In “Future of freight: a long-term plan” published in June 2022, the Government announced that, with the Freight Council, it would undertake the work necessary to identify a National Freight Network by developing a fuller understanding of the domestic freight network across road, rail, maritime, aviation, inland waterway and warehouse and distribution infrastructure. This work is underway and will be the subject of engagement with stakeholders in due course.
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill’s independent Union Connectivity Review, published in November 2021, considered transport connectivity across the UK. Considering the scale and breadth of the review, we are taking the time necessary to consider Lord Hendy’s recommendations and engage with the devolved administrations. We will publish our response as soon as is practicable. The development of the National Freight Network project takes account of Lord Hendy’s recommendations and will align with the Government’s upcoming response.