Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations his Department has received on the potential merits of bringing forward proposals to reform the law and sentencing relating to the offence of leaving the scene of a hit and run that resulted in death; and if he will meet with the hon Member for North Cornwall to discuss (a) that matter and (b) the effect of those accidents on the families of victims.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Over the past four years, the Department for Transport has received three pieces of correspondence from Members of Parliament, and one from a member of the public, on the potential merits of bringing forward proposals to reform the law and sentencing relating to the offence of leaving the scene of a hit and run that resulted in death. The Department has also responded to one petition and Ministers have held one meeting with the family of a victim and their Member of Parliament.
If you write to Baroness Vere, the Minister responsible for this policy area, she would be happy to consider meeting with you to discuss this issue.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of ensuring that seafood exporters in the South West have ready access to haulier export certificates.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
I understand that the question relates to road haulage permits and market access.
The Government is committed to a Free Trade Agreement that would enable liberalised road haulage arrangements to continue.
In the event that the Transition Period ends without a Free Trade Agreement, it is not the Government’s intention to rely solely on ECMT permits for market access.
However, ECMT permits would be used to supplement wider market access arrangements, either under an EU-wide agreement or a series of bilateral agreements with EU MS.??An application window for ECMT permits opened on 2 November 2020 and will close on 20 November 2020.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many local authorities have a competitive tendering process for the procurement of speed cameras; and his Department encourages local authorities to undertake a competitive tendering process for the procurement of those cameras.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The procurement for goods and services for items such as speed cameras is entirely a matter for each local highway authority.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals on the use of electric scooters on public highways; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including e-scooters in the cycle to work scheme run by HMRC.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Department is considering the use of electric scooters closely and recognises that people want to take advantage of the opportunities personal vehicles can offer. The Department is committed to encouraging innovation in transport as well as improving road safety, but new modes of transport must be safe and secure by design.
The Future of Mobility: Urban Strategy, published on 19 March 2019 includes a Regulatory Review which will address the challenges of ensuring our transport infrastructure and regulation are fit for the future.
The Strategy can be found at:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-of-mobility-urban-strategy
The Department will use the Regulatory Review to examine current legislation and determine from the evidence what is needed to make the necessary changes for a safe and healthy future. One strand of this will look at options for enabling micromobility devices, and a consultation will be issued in due course and when we have considered the consultation responses we will consider the legislative steps needed.
One of the principles of the Future of Mobility: Urban Strategy is that cycling and walking should remain the best options for short journeys and we remain committed to that. The Department has no plans to include e-scooters in the Cycle to Work Scheme. The Cycle to Work Scheme is an employee tax-benefit scheme that enables employees to hire cycles and cycle safety equipment for active travel to work from their employer, or from a third party, in return for a deduction from their earnings via salary sacrifice.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the number of electric car charging points in North Cornwall.
Answered by George Freeman
We want to encourage private sector investment to build and operate a self-sustaining public network that is affordable, reliable and accessible. In many cases, the market is best placed to identify the right locations for chargepoints and make improvements to the network and it is essential that viable commercial models are in place.
The Government is also providing support through a number of schemes, which can be accessed across the country, including in North Cornwall. This includes schemes to help fund chargepoint infrastructure at people’s homes and workplaces and on residential streets. The Government’s on-street residential charging scheme offers grants to local authorities to help support this investment at local level. In February 2019, Cornwall County Council were awarded £94,000 through the Government’s Ultra Low Emission Taxi Infrastructure competition, to deliver five chargepoints dedicated to charging electric taxis and private hire vehicles.
In conjunction with the Energy Savings Trust, this year the Office for Low Emission Vehicles has been running a series of roadshows for local authorities and public bodies across the UK, on best practice approaches to driving the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles. The event in Bristol was well attended including local authority and public sector representatives from across the south west.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
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 including horse riders on the roads in any amendments to the Highway Code.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The current Highway Code already mentions horse riders and the need for drivers to exercise special care in relation to them.
As part of the current Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) Safety Review, The Highway Code will be reviewed to help keep cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders safe on the roads.
The full scope of review has yet to be determined but, in accordance with normal practice, it will be conducted in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including those representing equestrians.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to reopen the Okehampton to Exeter train route.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Currently, Great Western Railway only operates train services to Okehampton on summer Sundays. In Investing in the South West published on 15 February 2019, the Secretary of State said he wanted to bring regular train services back to Okehampton. A Strategic Vision for Rail published on 29 November 2017 made clear that all schemes for reopening railway lines would need to demonstrate a strong business case where they are seeking any available Government funding
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has plans to reopen train lines in North Cornwall.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department looks to local authorities to identify local transport needs. In November 2017, the Secretary of State said in A Strategic Vision for Rail that the challenge to our partners was to work with Government and the industry to develop compelling proposals for the next generation of rail schemes, identifying the places where rail is the right answer for local transport needs. All schemes would need to demonstrate a strong business case where they are seeking any available Government funding.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with the ICAO on the potential for banning single-engine helicopters for commercial flights.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The safety of the travelling public is a priority for the Government. All commercial helicopter operations are subject to strict safety requirements overseen by the Civil Aviation Authority as the UK’s specialist aviation safety regulator. The Department and the CAA work closely with ICAO on a range of aviation safety issues, but have had no specific discussions with International Civil Aviation Organisation on the potential for banning single-engine helicopters for commercial flights.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of public transport links in North Cornwall.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Secretary of State has made no recent assessment of the adequacy of public transport links in North Cornwall.
However we have made the following investments to improve public transport across the wider Cornwall area:
Over 800 responses were received to the Department’s consultation on the future of the Great Western franchise. We are currently considering those responses and will respond in due course.