Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had recent discussions with National Highways on the minimum length of road allowable between two motorway junctions; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
I have not held any discussions with National Highways on the matter the Hon Member raises but I can assure him that National Highways follow the relevant standard for spacing and layouts of motorway junctions. Any departures from standard are considered on a case by case basis and the reasons will be unique to each location.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to maximise the benefits of the CAP1616 process in delivering airspace modernisation; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The airspace modernisation programme is a critical national infrastructure project that aims to deliver quicker, quieter and cleaner journeys for the benefit of those who use and are affected by UK airspace. Modernisation is long overdue and is critical to ensure that UK airspace is fit for purpose in the future.
All proposals to alter flightpath arrangements must follow the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) airspace change process (CAP1616). The CAA has recently consulted on CAP1616 seeking views on various options designed to simplify its structure, make the process clearer and easier to understand, and ensure it can be proportionate and tailored to each airspace change proposal. The consultation ended on 19 March 2023 with the updates to CAP1616 expected to be in place by the end of this year.
The outputs of this consultation will allow the CAA to unlock the full benefits of the CAP1616 process and it will make a written statement on its website on this in due course.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will introduce an industry-funded price support mechanism to help secure private investment in UK sustainable aviation fuel plants; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government is driving the demand for sustainable aviation fuel in the UK by mandating its use from 2025, with at least 10 per cent of jet fuel to be from sustainable sources by 2030 and is seeking to develop a SAF industry in the UK. The Government is supporting production plants with funding but recognises that there are barriers to investment.
In April, the Government published an independent evaluation by Phillip New on developing a UK sustainable aviation fuel industry. In response to the report’s recommendations, the Government has committed to work in partnership with industry on options to increase future revenue certainty of UK SAF plants and on actions for stabilising the UK feedstock market. If required, following that work, the Department for Transport will consult on policy options in the summer.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to help develop a UK Sustainable Aviation Fuel industry; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government is driving the demand for sustainable aviation fuel in the UK by mandating its use from 2025, with at least 10 per cent of jet fuel to be from sustainable sources by 2030 and is seeking to develop a SAF industry in the UK. The Government is supporting production plants with funding but recognises that there are barriers to investment.
In April, the Government published an independent evaluation by Phillip New on developing a UK sustainable aviation fuel industry. In response to the report’s recommendations, the Government has committed to work in partnership with industry on options to increase future revenue certainty of UK SAF plants and on actions for stabilising the UK feedstock market. If required, following that work, the Department for Transport will consult on policy options in the summer.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on increasing approved business travel mileage rates, in the context of rising fuel costs; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The government keeps approved business travel mileage rates under review.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that people living in houses without driveways will have access to electric car charging points before 2030; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
On 25 March the Government published the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy, setting out our vision and commitments to make electric vehicle (EV) charging cheaper and more convenient than refuelling at a petrol station. Of the £2.5 billion of Government funding committed to the EV transition since 2020, over £1.6 billion will be used to support charging infrastructure.
Government wants to ensure that lack of access to off-street parking is not a barrier for drivers realising the benefits of owning a plug-in EV.
To ensure people can switch to an EV wherever they live and drive, we are pledging at least £500 million to support local chargepoint provision. As part of this, the £450 million Local EV Infrastructure fund will support local authorities to work with industry and transform the availability of charging for drivers without off-street parking. We have also launched a £10m pilot as a springboard for the development of the full fund. This pilot is open for applications until 17 June 2022.
Additionally, local authorities will continue to benefit from the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme, turbocharging smaller scale chargepoint projects. So far funding has been awarded for the installation of over 6,500 public chargepoints and this year, £20 million is available under the scheme to ensure more local authorities can benefit.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve road safety for cyclists; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government takes very seriously the safety of cyclists and other vulnerable road users and is committed to reducing the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured on England’s roads. In July 2020 the Prime Minister launched ambitious plans to encourage cycling and walking. This includes a £2 billion package of funding for active travel over 5 years, which is the largest ever boost for cycling and walking, and will deliver transformational change and improve safety for people cycling.
In the 2018 Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy Safety Review, Government committed to review The Highway Code to improve safety for cyclists. A consultation on the proposed changes to The Highway Code closed in October 2020, with nearly 21,000 replies received, and the Government response to the consultation was published in July 2021. Given the feedback received, we will be seeking to introduce all the proposed changes which will significantly improve road safety for those most at risk when using the road.