Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential contribution that (a) hydrogen and (b) ammonia fuel will make to the decarbonisation of the shipping industry by 2025; and what the latest advice is of the Clean Maritime Council on bridging targets in (i) 2025 and (ii) 2030 for decarbonising the maritime sector.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
DfT-commissioned research supporting the Clean Maritime Plan set out that hydrogen and ammonia, a hydrogen carrier, are expected to play a significant role for decarbonising the maritime sector, with ammonia representing the most prevalent fuel for shipping by 2051. It also suggested that the global market for elements of alternative fuel production technologies like hydrogen and ammonia, in which the UK has a strong competitive advantage, could rise to up to £11bn per year by 2050, and could generate economic benefits to the UK of up to £0.5bn per year by the middle of the century.
The Clean Maritime Plan includes the Government ambitions that by 2025 all new vessels being ordered for use in UK waters are being designed with zero emission propulsion capability and that by 2035 low or zero emission marine fuel bunkering options are readily available across the UK. The Clean Maritime Plan has been developed in close partnership with the maritime industry, including the Clean Maritime Council, which advice continues to inform the implementation of the Plan. Further detail on developing trajectories for the decarbonization of the maritime sector in the UK will be set out within the forthcoming Transport Decarbonisation Plan.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is his policy to require the Office for Low Emission Vehicles to produce recommendations for the merchant shipping industry.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government is investing £2.5bn? to support the transition to zero emission vehicles on our roads. There are no plans to require the Office for Low Emission Vehicles to produce recommendations for the merchant shipping industry. The Government’s approach for decarbonising this sector is set out in the Clean Maritime Plan. Published in July 2019, the Plan outlines the UK’s pathway to zero carbon emissions in domestic maritime. Further plans on the decarbonisation of the maritime sector will be included in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, to be published later this year.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to require the Office for Low Emission Vehicles to consult trade unions on the employment implications of different low emission technologies under consideration for each mode of public transport.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Department is developing a bold and ambitious plan to achieve net zero emissions across all modes of transport. Thousands of people and organisations, including trade unions, have responded to our call for engagement over the past six months and we are grateful for their contributions. The Transport Decarbonisation Plan will be published later this year.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to make it compulsory to wear a helmet when cycling.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government considered this matter in detail as part of its cycling and walking safety review in 2018.
In summary, the Government will continue to encourage cyclists, especially children, to wear helmets, but does not intend to legislate to require it. Supporting safe cycling, including helmet use, will be a feature of many of the programmes outlined in the Prime Minister’s Cycling and Walking Plan being supported by the £2 billion of funding for active travel.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of amending the Bus Service Operator's Grant to include hydrogen.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
As announced in the ‘Better Deal for Bus Users’ package, the Government remains committed to the reform of the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) in order to support the environment and improved passenger journeys.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to announce further information on his Department's policy to introduce (a) a hydrogen bus town scheme and (b) a hydrogen hub.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Transport Secretary is exploring options for using hydrogen in transport. Further details will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with travel agents including on-line agents on their roll in issuing refunds to customers that have booked flights through those agents which have subsequently been cancelled as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government recognises the challenges businesses and consumers are experiencing regarding refunds for cancelled holidays and flights. Airlines are working hard to answer the high call volumes and to process the very large number of applications for refunds.
The Government appreciates the distress and frustration consumers may be experiencing. The Department for Transport is in regular conversation with UK airlines and wider membership bodies. The Department is working closely with the sector, the regulator and consumer groups to help ensure airlines deliver on their commitments.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with UK airlines on issuing refunds to customers whose travel arrangements were cancelled as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government recognises the challenges businesses and consumers are experiencing regarding refunds for cancelled holidays and flights. Airlines are working hard to answer the high call volumes and to process the very large number of applications for refunds.
The Government appreciates the distress and frustration consumers may be experiencing. The Department for Transport is in regular conversation with UK airlines and wider membership bodies. The Department is working closely with the sector, the regulator and consumer groups to help ensure airlines deliver on their commitments.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential economic effect on offshore helicopter operators in the North Sea of the recent fall in the price of oil.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The government is not planning to make an assessment focusing specifically on offshore helicopter operators in the North Sea. However, the government will consider the offshore helicopter sector as part of its wider work on how it can best support the aviation sector and ensure it remains resilient.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to issue guidance on covid-19 to (a) passengers, (b) crew and (c) operators in the offshore transport sector of the commercial helicopter industry.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
No guidance has been issued specifically to the commercial offshore transport sector industry. However, the sector is covered by the wider guidance published by Public Health England, including on social distancing and on the use of personal protective equipment.
In addition, as is the case with other sectors, all non-essential services must stop, including training. An exception would be made if the service provider offers essential or emergency services, including search and rescue, medical, firefighting or key personnel movement – during which the usual social distancing guidelines should apply where possible.