Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if, in the light of the deaths of Sam Boulton, Robert Hamilton and Sam Harding, his Department will review the maximum penalties for the offence of opening the door of a vehicle into the path of another road user.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Depending upon the circumstances, a range of penalties exist, from a maximum penalty fine of £2,500 upwards for offences against the person. Charging decisions are a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of his Department's staff work on cycling policy.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Around 26 members of staff, or 1.2% of the central Department’s staff, work on cycling policy either in a full or part time capacity.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with organisations representing cyclists since his appointment.
Answered by Andrew Jones
As the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport I am responsible for cycling. I last met with organisations representing cyclists on 14 November 2016 and will be meeting with the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling Group in a few weeks.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to improve safety for cyclists since his appointment.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Government is fully committed to creating a safe environment for all road users, and in particular vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians.
In September we launched a cycle safety campaign targeting both cyclists and lorry drivers to raise awareness of the dangers of being alongside a lorry turning left. The campaign ran in London and Manchester – cities with the highest number of cyclist fatalities involving a lorry.
We are also working on wider cyclist safety in other ways, including changes to vehicle design, mandatory training for HGV drivers and optional training for cyclists, including extending the Bikeability programme of cycle training. Bikeability provides trainees with riding skills suited to the road, but also explains the importance of obeying the Highway Code, the correct use of safety equipment, and sharing the road with other people.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will meet the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling Group to discuss issues facing cyclists in London and elsewhere.
Answered by Andrew Jones
I am responsible for cycling and will be meeting with the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling Group in the next few weeks.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he, his driver or any official reported to the police the incident on 12 October 2016 in which a cyclist came off his bike.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The incident was not reported to the police. At the time of the incident, my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State checked the cyclist was okay and waited until he was back on his feet. He spoke to the cyclist and apologised; they shook hands. No details were requested at the time by either party who then went their separate ways.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 in protecting cyclists.
Answered by Andrew Jones
No assessment has been made.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the incident between him and a cyclist on 12 October 2016 was reported to his Department's Permanent Secretary.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The incident was reported on 12 October following normal procedure.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons he did not exchange his details with the cyclist whom he was involved in a road incident with on 12 October 2016.
Answered by Andrew Jones
This was an unfortunate accident. My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State got out of the car, checked the cyclist was okay and waited until he was back on his feet. He spoke to the cyclist and apologised; they shook hands. No details were requested at the time by either party. The Secretary of State has since been in contact with the cyclist and the matter is closed.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Traffic Regulation Orders have been introduced by local authorities to tackle pavement parking since 2011.
Answered by Andrew Jones
This information is not held. Local authorities have powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to make Traffic Regulation Orders and the Department for Transport is not involved in this process.