To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Speed Limits
Tuesday 30th January 2024

Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 3 July 2023 to Question 191368 on Motorways: Speed Limits, and the report entitled Evaluation of the National HGV Speed Limit Increase in England and Wales, Year 2 Interim Report, published in March 2019, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of each 1mph increase to the speed limit on (a) motorways and (b) dual carriageways on (i) levels of (A) productivity and (B) economic growth and (ii) the cost of transporting goods.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

No assessment of this specific nature has been undertaken.


Written Question
Speed Limits: Greater London
Tuesday 28th November 2023

Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the oral answer of 14 September 2023 by the Leader of the House, Official Report column 1023, whether he has made an assessment of the cost to the economy in London of a majority of roads having a speed limit of 20mph.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport has not made an assessment of the impact of the cost to the economy of 20mph speed limits in London.


Written Question
Roads: Greater London
Tuesday 28th November 2023

Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of centralising in his Department control of roads in London.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We have no plans to increase the size and role of central government by taking control of local roads in London.


Written Question
Aviation: Exhaust Emissions
Tuesday 28th November 2023

Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an estimate of the level of lead emissions arising from the use of (a) leaded and (b) other fuel in the aviation sector in the UK in the last 12 months.

Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Figures published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero show Avgas, which is the only leaded fuel for aircraft, represents less than 1% of total aviation fuel supply in the UK in 2022. Avgas is mostly an issue for small piston aircrafts and it does not impact commercial aircraft using Avtur (aviation turbine fuel).

DfT will continue to monitor progress in the transition away from leaded fuels working with the Department for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs and the Health and Safety Executive who lead on the regulation of chemicals.


Written Question
Aviation: Fuels
Wednesday 22nd November 2023

Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to require aircraft to use unleaded fuels.

Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government is supporting the development of new aviation fuels through a range of measures including developing a Sustainable Aviation Fuels mandate and the Advanced Fuels Fund.

There are some specific issues for replacing avgas, a fuel used in piston aircraft which represents less than 1% of total UK aviation fuel use.

An unleaded alternative, Unleaded 91, is now commercially available and may be used by much of the General Aviation sector. In addition, battery-electric aircraft have been certified for use in flight training. The Government encourages General Aviation operators to use unleaded alternatives to avgas when suitable for their aircraft.

The Government has no plans to require the testing of children.

DfT will continue to monitor progress in the transition away from leaded fuels working with DEFRA and the Health and Safety Executive who lead on the regulation of chemicals.


Written Question
Blood: Lead
Wednesday 22nd November 2023

Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it her policy to measure the blood lead levels of children living near general aviation airfields.

Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government is supporting the development of new aviation fuels through a range of measures including developing a Sustainable Aviation Fuels mandate and the Advanced Fuels Fund.

There are some specific issues for replacing avgas, a fuel used in piston aircraft which represents less than 1% of total UK aviation fuel use.

An unleaded alternative, Unleaded 91, is now commercially available and may be used by much of the General Aviation sector. In addition, battery-electric aircraft have been certified for use in flight training. The Government encourages General Aviation operators to use unleaded alternatives to avgas when suitable for their aircraft.

The Government has no plans to require the testing of children.

DfT will continue to monitor progress in the transition away from leaded fuels working with DEFRA and the Health and Safety Executive who lead on the regulation of chemicals.


Written Question
Hybrid Vehicles
Tuesday 24th October 2023

Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of hybrid vehicles in improving air quality.

Answered by Jesse Norman

Air pollution has reduced significantly since 2010. Emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by 45 per cent and fine particulate matter PM2.5 by 10 per cent.

The same regulated air pollution standards apply to hybrid vehicles as to conventional vehicles. Hybrid vehicles may have lower exhaust emissions while operating in electric mode. However, there is limited evidence regarding the difference in total emissions from hybrid vehicles versus non-hybrid equivalents. The National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory provides public information on the latest emissions factors for road vehicles, which is available online at: https://naei.beis.gov.uk/data/ef-transport.


Written Question
Speed Limits: Greater London
Monday 10th July 2023

Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the impact of 20mph zones in London on the economy.

Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

Transport in London is devolved. The responsibility for managing London's road network is shared between Transport for London (TfL) and the London boroughs.

The Department’s comprehensive three-year evaluation of the effect of 20mph signed-only limits was published on 22 November 2018 and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/20-mph-speed-limits-on-roads


Written Question
Land: Rents
Thursday 6th July 2023

Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the (a) adequacy of the implementation and (b) effectiveness of land rental schemes in England.

Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

Regulations for two pioneer lane rental schemes in London, on Transport for London roads, and Kent were laid in February 2012. An evaluation of these schemes was published in 2016 and can be viewed at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/street-works-lane-rental-evaluation. This evaluation led in 2019 to the Government announcing that it would welcome bids for new lane rental schemes.

Since then, Surrey County Council launched their scheme in 2021 and West Sussex County Council in 2022. These schemes have yet to be assessed.


Written Question
M4: Speed Limits
Wednesday 5th July 2023

Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2023 to Question 186909 and 186508 on M4: Speed Limits, if he will make an assessment of the implications for this policy of trends in the level of use of (a) electric cares and (b) Euro V and Euro VI standard cars.

Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

Our Zero Emission Vehicle Transition is expected to have a transformative effect on air quality right across our country. Over time, this transition to electric vehicles, plus the increasing proportion of newer petrol and diesel vehicles which emit less pollution than older petrol and diesel vehicles, will mean that levels of nitrogen dioxide will continue to fall. Once nitrogen dioxide concentrations meet legal limit values and Government is confident these levels will be maintained without the measure, National Highways will be able to remove the 60mph speed limit introduced to manage poor air quality on the westbound carriageway.