Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason pre-arrival covid-19 tests for people arriving in the UK are only accepted in English, French or Spanish.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
Travellers must present proof of a negative coronavirus test result taken within the 3 days before their departure to the UK. The Government considered carefully which languages to permit the result notification to be provided in. English, French and Spanish were deemed to be appropriate as the majority of countries’ testing providers could meet this requirement.
The result notification must be understandable to Border Force personnel upon arrival in the UK for enforcement purposes. This is possible with French and Spanish, given the similarity of key wording in the notification to English. Widening the number of languages permitted for the notification would reduce the ability of Border Force to assess adequately the veracity of the result.
There is no requirement for British travellers or residents to register with the FCDO when they travel or live abroad, so the Government does not hold data on the number of British nationals overseas, or those unable to return to the UK for any reason.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions the Government has had with representatives of the (a) airline and (b) travel sectors on exiting the Government's covid-19 quarantine strategy.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
Ministers and officials have engaged extensively with the aviation and travel industries throughout the pandemic. We remain committed to an open engagement with the sector and continue to work with industry to share information and provide industry the opportunity to contribute as policy develops, with the aim of helping retain jobs and return the sector to growth as soon as possible.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to increase regulated rail fares by RPI from January 2021 based on July's RPI figure.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government’s plans for regulated rail fares will be communicated in due course.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits on establishing air bridges with countries that can demonstrate they have (a) no significant domestic covid-19 restrictions in place and (b) adequate public health protocols the border that comply with EASA guidance.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government is carefully considering the concept of ‘international travel corridors’ (also known as air bridges), which have the potential to remove the need for quarantine measures for incoming passengers. It is currently not agreed Government policy.
Ultimately, we will be guided by the science, and the health of the public will always come first.
Other countries are considering similar proposals.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to ensure social distancing by reallocating road space to pedestrians and cyclists during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I welcome appropriate changes to roads to give cyclists and pedestrians more space to enable social distancing. The details are for local authorities as they are responsible for managing their roads, but I am pleased to see that some local authorities have already begun to consider such changes.
There is a well-established range of traffic management measures already available to local authorities. Some measures, such as road closures to enable filtering for different traffic types, require Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to make them legal and enforceable, and we are aware that parts of that process are difficult for local authorities to comply with during the current situation. To assist with this, the Department has published temporary guidance, which suggests ways in which authorities can continue to make TROs, whilst still complying with the intention of the legislation.
This guidance has been circulated to local authorities already and will be kept under review. It will be withdrawn when circumstances allow. It is available on the Department’s website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-orders-advertising-during-coranavirus-covid-19
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect on the airline and travel industries of imposing a 14 day quarantine on people arriving in the UK from other countries.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
Airlines and airports have implemented additional measures in response to COVID-19 in line with advice from PHE, SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer. Airports are displaying posters and digital signage relaying Government information about COVID-19. Passengers arriving into UK airports are being given a leaflet with information about the measures in place in the UK, and announcements are made on aircraft an hour before landing.
Our approach is being kept under review as the pandemic develops. This may mean that measures and procedures change as we control the spread of, and understand more about, the virus. Any changes to our approach will be led by advice from SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer. Protecting the health of the UK public will always come first.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to introduce pre-boarding covid-19 testing at airports.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
Airlines and airports have already implemented additional measures in response to COVID-19 in line with advice from PHE, SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer. Airports are displaying posters and digital signage relaying Government information about COVID-19. Passengers arriving into UK airports are being given a leaflet with information about the measures in place in the UK, and announcements are made on aircraft an hour before landing.
Our approach is being kept under review as the pandemic develops. This may mean that measures and procedures change as we control the spread of, and understand more about, the virus. Any changes to our approach will be led by advice from SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer. Protecting the health of the UK public will always come first.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will ensure that Network Rail responds to the letters of 11 October 2017, 29 May 2018 and 23 January 2019 from the Rt hon. Member for Exeter on Exeter Brewery's request to purchase the building that it rents from Network Rail.
Answered by Andrew Jones
I am sorry to hear your constituent has not received a response from Network Rail to the letters regarding the property they rent from Network Rail. Network Rail inform me there was an error with processing previous correspondence. I understand Network Rail has subsequently responded to your latest correspondence, and have offered to meet with you and your constituent to discuss this matter.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of UK railway stations have had steps but no lift access in each year since 2010.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are committed to improving the accessibility of the rail network. Whenever the industry installs, replaces or renews station infrastructure this needs to meet current EU and UK accessibility standards or a dispensation needs to be secured. Failure to comply with these rules can lead to enforcement action by the Office of Rail and Road. Information on the facilities available at stations in Great Britain is collated and held by the Rail Delivery Group and not the Department.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of Exeter City Council's strategy to make Exeter congestion free by 2025; and what measures the Government is taking to reduce traffic in urban areas.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department for Transport (DfT) has not made any assessment of Exeter City Council’s proposal to make Exeter congestion free by 2025.
The DfT is committed to an integrated transport policy which addresses the important issues of traffic congestion and environmental pollution. Transport matters, it brings real change to people’s lives and that is why it is at the heart of the Government’s infrastructure agenda.
The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement showed this commitment by giving new funding for the local roads network, specifically £1.1bn over 4 years to relieve congestion to increase the quality, performance and safety of the roads we use every day.
The Government recognises the role that new technology can play. On 21 February 2017, the Department announced that nineteen councils across England will receive £50,000 to £300,000 each for their ideas to improve journeys through digital innovation. These projects will feature cutting edge technology such as apps and sensors which can be used to cut congestion, improve parking in city centres and alert drivers when electric car charging points become available.