Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the scope of the Global Travel Taskforce’s 12 April 2021 report on the reopening of international travel is planned to include the cruise sector for national cruises and international cruises.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Global Travel Taskforce report will consider a safe and sustainable reopening of international travel. International cruises will be included within the scope of this report.
Domestic cruises within England will restart under step three of the Government’s Roadmap out of lockdown. This will align with the opening up of domestic indoor tourism and hospitality and will occur no earlier than 17 May.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to protect the interests of UK recreational boaters who travel to the EU after the end of the transition period.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
Recreational vessels bought in the UK after the end of transition or another non-EU country will be subject to VAT rules when entering the customs territory of the EU. To avoid payment of customs duties or VAT, owners would be able to use the EU’s temporary admission procedure. The rules for temporary admission are confirmed in the EU Commission guidance.
In addition, national rules will apply to recreational vessels in individual EU Member States. In most cases these will not be affected by the end of the Transition Period. We are aware that prospective changes to these rules in some EU Member States might affect UK recreational boaters. The Government is making representations to these Member States on behalf of recreational boaters affected by such national legislation. However, it is for recreational boaters to ensure they meet national rules that apply in the relevant Member State.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with representatives of the cruise ship sector on resumption of their operations as covid-19 restrictions are eased.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
I fully recognise the impact that the global COVID-19 pandemic has had on the UK cruise sector and I would like to place on record my recognition of the proactive action it took to suspend operations and to work tirelessly with Government to repatriate thousands of passengers and crew.
The cruise sector and, the supply chains it supports, makes a highly significant contribution to the UK economy with the industry estimating that it generates a total of around £10bn for the Country’s economy each year.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department’s officials and I have held regular calls with the cruise sector on a wide range of operational and financial issues and continue to do so. We will actively support the sector as it develops a pathway towards the safe resumption of cruises which I know many millions of people in the UK have enjoyed and will want to again.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the cruise ship sector will be required to follow the covid-19 public health guidelines as set out for the public transport sector or the hospitality industry.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Department has been working closely with the cruise industry to assist in their development of robust guidance to enable a safe resumption of operations.
Due to the variety of environments on board a cruise ship, the cruise industry will apply guidelines for both the hospitality and transport sector. These should be applied where appropriate.
Officials continue to work with the cruise industry, together with other government departments, including Public Health England, to ensure the necessary measures and protocols are put in place.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the economic contribution was of the cruise ship sector to the UK economy in 2019; and what estimate he has made of that economic contribution in 2020.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
I fully recognise the impact that the global COVID-19 pandemic has had on the UK cruise sector and I would like to place on record my recognition of the proactive action it took to suspend operations and to work tirelessly with Government to repatriate thousands of passengers and crew.
The cruise sector and, the supply chains it supports, makes a highly significant contribution to the UK economy with the industry estimating that it generates a total of around £10bn for the Country’s economy each year.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department’s officials and I have held regular calls with the cruise sector on a wide range of operational and financial issues and continue to do so. We will actively support the sector as it develops a pathway towards the safe resumption of cruises which I know many millions of people in the UK have enjoyed and will want to again.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the economic effect of the covid-19 pandemic on the UK cruise ship sector.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
I fully recognise the impact that the global COVID-19 pandemic has had on the UK cruise sector and I would like to place on record my recognition of the proactive action it took to suspend operations and to work tirelessly with Government to repatriate thousands of passengers and crew.
The cruise sector and, the supply chains it supports, makes a highly significant contribution to the UK economy with the industry estimating that it generates a total of around £10bn for the Country’s economy each year.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department’s officials and I have held regular calls with the cruise sector on a wide range of operational and financial issues and continue to do so. We will actively support the sector as it develops a pathway towards the safe resumption of cruises which I know many millions of people in the UK have enjoyed and will want to again.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the recommendations in the Gibb Report on the performance of Southern trains.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Chris Gibb’s independent report into Southern Rail makes a number of recommendations for the network that we are already working with industry to deliver. Performance has been consistently better since the new year with the Public Performance Measure – which measures performance across train operators - currently at 85% on Southern, compared to 62% in early December 2016.
We want and expect this figure to improve further, but that can only happen if industrial action by the trade unions stops. The Gibb Report was clear that the main cause of widespread disruption on Southern was union action.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to implement the Gibb Report's recommendation that the Uckfield line be electrified.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is committed to improving services on the Uckfield Line. We recently completed a £19.2m project to enable longer 10-car trains to operate on the line, giving passengers much-needed extra seating and space. Chris Gibb’s electrification proposals will be further assessed in light of available funding, as part of the development of our infrastructure upgrade plans for Control Period 6, covering 2019-2024.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to implement the Gibb Report's recommendation that stabling facilities and a depot be made available in Crowborough.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
As soon as we received the report, the Department assessed Chris Gibb’s technical recommendations against work or commitments that were already planned or underway. Chris Gibb’s recommendation to provide stabling facilities are related to his recommendation to electrify the Uckfield Line. These proposals will be further assessed in light of available funding, as part of the development of our infrastructure upgrade plans for Control Period 6, covering 2019-2024.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on how many days during 2017, excluding official strike days, Govia Thameslink Railway has met its target Public Performance Measure on the Southern Mainline.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), like all other Franchised Train Operators are measured against a periodic Public Performance Measure target, which then contributes towards a 13 period Moving Annual Average Public Performance Measure; which is an industry standard set out by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
This, again like all other Franchised Train Operators, is measured against the total sum of its operations and not individual component parts like the Southern Mainline.