Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has had recent discussions with Starlink on satellite services for trains.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There have been no recent discussions with Starlink on satellite services for trains.
The Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of satellite technology on (a) mobile and (b) internet connectivity on long-distance rail services between Scotland and London and as a result of the spending review, we secured funding to deliver low earth orbit satellite technology on all mainline trains to improve on train passenger wifi. This will include services between London and Scotland, such as LNER and Avanti West Coast.
However, we know satellite connectivity will not work in tunnels. Network Rail's Project Reach will address mobile connectivity in 57 key mainline tunnels which will include tunnels along the East Coast Mainline and West Coast Mainline.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve mobile and internet connectivity on long-distance rail services between Scotland and London.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There have been no recent discussions with Starlink on satellite services for trains.
The Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of satellite technology on (a) mobile and (b) internet connectivity on long-distance rail services between Scotland and London and as a result of the spending review, we secured funding to deliver low earth orbit satellite technology on all mainline trains to improve on train passenger wifi. This will include services between London and Scotland, such as LNER and Avanti West Coast.
However, we know satellite connectivity will not work in tunnels. Network Rail's Project Reach will address mobile connectivity in 57 key mainline tunnels which will include tunnels along the East Coast Mainline and West Coast Mainline.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking with the (a) Civil Aviation Authority and (b) Maritime and Coastguard Agency to help enable community-owned helipads used for hospital patient transfers to (a) meet CAP1264 Version 3 guidance requirements and (b) be safely reopened for Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter use.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Coastguard have regular engagement with NHS Scotland, the Scottish government and operators to promote safety at helipads. The Civil Aviation Authority CAA publication “Standards for Helicopter Landing Areas at Hospitals (CAP 1264, 3rd edition)” provides best practice for hospital helipads, and the CAA offers training courses for hospital staff on CAP1264 guidance. While there is currently no specific guidance for third-party helipads, The Maritime Coastguard Agency, The Department for Transport and the CAA engage regularly with hospitals and other stakeholders to help them comply with CAP1264 guidance. Ultimately the decision whether to land at third party helipads is determined by the safety procedures of the helicopter operator as well as the dynamic risk assessment of the duty captain.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with (a) NHS Scotland, (b) the Scottish Government and (c) helicopter operators on (i) establishing responsibility for the use of community-owned helipads for hospital patient transfers and (ii) to help restore their use.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Coastguard have regular engagement with NHS Scotland, the Scottish government and operators to promote safety at helipads. The Civil Aviation Authority CAA publication “Standards for Helicopter Landing Areas at Hospitals (CAP 1264, 3rd edition)” provides best practice for hospital helipads, and the CAA offers training courses for hospital staff on CAP1264 guidance. While there is currently no specific guidance for third-party helipads, The Maritime Coastguard Agency, The Department for Transport and the CAA engage regularly with hospitals and other stakeholders to help them comply with CAP1264 guidance. Ultimately the decision whether to land at third party helipads is determined by the safety procedures of the helicopter operator as well as the dynamic risk assessment of the duty captain.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopters having to land at alternative, un-surveyed sites instead of community-owned helipads on the safety of (a) patients, (b) aircrew and (c) the public.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Civil Aviation Authority publication “Standards for Helicopter Landing Areas at Hospitals (CAP 1264, 3rd edition)” provides guidance on standards for hospital helipads. When operating a Search and Rescue mission, the duty captain of the helicopter can land wherever they deem safe; the Coastguard deploys Coastguard Rescue Teams where needed to support the safe landing and take off its aircraft. Ultimately the decision whether to land at any helipad is determined by the safety procedures of the helicopter operator, as well as the dynamic risk assessment of the duty captain, who will consider factors including any CAA guidance on safe landing sites that their operator deems relevant.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department provides on the (a) accountability and (b) operational documentation required for third-party helipads to be used for hospital patient transfers by Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopters.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Civil Aviation Authority publication “Standards for Helicopter Landing Areas at Hospitals (CAP 1264, 3rd edition)” provides guidance on standards for hospital helipads. When operating a Search and Rescue mission, the duty captain of the helicopter can land wherever they deem safe; the Coastguard deploys Coastguard Rescue Teams where needed to support the safe landing and take off its aircraft. Ultimately the decision whether to land at any helipad is determined by the safety procedures of the helicopter operator, as well as the dynamic risk assessment of the duty captain, who will consider factors including any CAA guidance on safe landing sites that their operator deems relevant.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to publish a list of community-owned helipads currently closed to Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopters due to CAP1264 Version 3 compliance requirements.
Answered by Mike Kane
HMCG SAR helicopter provider, Bristow Helicopters Limited (BHL) conducted a review of all Hospital Helicopter Landing Sites (HHLS) against the revised safety guidance in CAP1264. BHL wrote to all impacted hospitals advising them that SAR helicopters will be unable to land on their HHLS until further safety assessments and assurances have been made. Bristows and HMCG have continued to work with the NHS and other stakeholders to reopen sites where there is an operational need.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of electric vehicle charging costs on drivers in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK Government is committed to making electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure affordable for all. We continue to work with Ofgem and others on measures to keep the cost of EV charging affordable for consumers including those in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire.
Transport, including the rollout of public EV chargepoints, is largely devolved to the Scottish Government. However, my officials regularly engage with Transport Scotland on zero emission vehicle initiatives, including charging infrastructure development. A range of UK Government grants are also available to support the installation of charging infrastructure in homes, workplaces and schools across the country: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/electric-vehicle-chargepoint-grants.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56574 on Ukraine: Vehicles, whether her Department has made an assessment of trends in the number of vehicles collected under the ULEZ scrappage scheme that have been donated to Ukraine.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London and they were responsible for the ULEZ scrappage scheme. 680 vehicles were donated to Ukraine through the scheme before it closed in September 2024.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) notice provided and (b) the prior consultation for the new requirement for Scottish driving instructors to join the PVG scheme.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) takes the safety of learner drivers extremely seriously.
DVSA requires every prospective approved driving instructor (ADI) in Great Britain to apply for an enhanced disclosure and barring (DBS) check before beginning the ADI qualification process. They are also required to repeat the disclosure process every four years when they renew their ADI registration.
The ADI Registrar also has the power to remove an ADI who falls below the standard of fit and proper person.
The process to become an ADI in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA).
The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, which became mandatory 1 April 2025, is administered by Disclosure Scotland on behalf of the Scottish government and will impact the majority of ADIs in Scotland. Anyone providing driving instruction to under 18’s or protected adults (those with a disability) in Scotland must be registered with the scheme.
DVSA are not responsible for this scheme or its introduction, but did have recent discussions with the relevant bodies to clarify that ADIs would need to register with the scheme in addition to the DBS check which they would have already undertaken as part of the current ADI process.