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Written Question
Motorways
Thursday 8th June 2023

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.


Written Question
Airspace
Wednesday 24th May 2023

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.


Written Question
Aviation: Fuels
Monday 22nd May 2023

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.


Written Question
Aviation: Fuels
Monday 22nd May 2023

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.


Written Question
Car Allowances
Thursday 21st July 2022

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.


Written Question
Electric Vehicles: Charging Points
Tuesday 26th April 2022

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.


Written Question
Cycling: Safety
Monday 22nd November 2021

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.


Written Question
Aviation: Coronavirus
Monday 18th October 2021

Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support he is offering to the civil aviation industry while covid-19 public health restrictions on international travel remain in place; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

The Government recognises the challenging circumstances facing the aviation industry because of Covid-19 and firms experiencing difficulties have been able to draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor. In total, we estimate that by the end of September 2021 the air transport sector (airlines, airports and related services) will have benefited from around £7bn of Government support since the start of the pandemic. This includes support through loan guarantees, support for exporters, the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

The Department for Transport works closely with HM Treasury on matters related to aviation. We continue to take a flexible approach and keep all impacts and policies under review.


Written Question
Electric Scooters: Pedestrian Areas
Monday 20th September 2021

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 provide approved routes for riders of motorised scooters to make pavements safer for pedestrians; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

Motorised scooters may refer to either e-scooters or electric mobility scooters and/or powered wheelchairs which are classified as invalid carriages. Trials of rental e-scooters are currently being run by the Department to assess their safety and wider impacts.

For the e-scooter trials, it is a requirement for all operators involved in the trials to provide training to users. This takes place in various forms: apps; training videos; face-to-face training. It is illegal to use any e-scooter in spaces which are set aside for use by pedestrians and horse-riders, this includes the pavement. E-scooters used in trial areas can be used on cycle paths and tracks. We have asked operators in trial areas to develop more robust geo-fencing to tackle pavement riding and other anti-social behaviour. Outside of the trials, e-scooters remain illegal to use, unless ridden on private land with the permission of the landowner.

The Department has published an information sheet for mobility scooter users including where they can be used and how the Highway Code applies to them. It is available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobility-scooters-and-powered-wheelchairs-on-the-road-some-guidance-for-users.

There are no plans to provide approved routes for either type of vehicle. Local authorities are responsible for running the trials and are able to control how the trials run in their areas, it is for them to determine if they wish to implement approved routes.


Written Question
Electric Scooters: Pedestrian Areas
Monday 20th September 2021

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 riders of motorised scooters are aware of their safety responsibilities on pavements; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

Motorised scooters may refer to either e-scooters or electric mobility scooters and/or powered wheelchairs which are classified as invalid carriages. Trials of rental e-scooters are currently being run by the Department to assess their safety and wider impacts.

For the e-scooter trials, it is a requirement for all operators involved in the trials to provide training to users. This takes place in various forms: apps; training videos; face-to-face training. It is illegal to use any e-scooter in spaces which are set aside for use by pedestrians and horse-riders, this includes the pavement. E-scooters used in trial areas can be used on cycle paths and tracks. We have asked operators in trial areas to develop more robust geo-fencing to tackle pavement riding and other anti-social behaviour. Outside of the trials, e-scooters remain illegal to use, unless ridden on private land with the permission of the landowner.

The Department has published an information sheet for mobility scooter users including where they can be used and how the Highway Code applies to them. It is available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobility-scooters-and-powered-wheelchairs-on-the-road-some-guidance-for-users.

There are no plans to provide approved routes for either type of vehicle. Local authorities are responsible for running the trials and are able to control how the trials run in their areas, it is for them to determine if they wish to implement approved routes.