Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to help ensure the accuracy of the information published online setting out the carbon footprint of different modes of transport; and whether his Department has made an estimate of the reduction of emissions for the aviation sector in the UK delivered through use of sustainable aviation fuel by (a) 2030, (b) 2040 and (c) 2050.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department for Transport publishes journey emissions comparisons as part of its annual Transport and the Environment publication. These are Official Statistics, held to the standards laid out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
Detailed information for users regarding the strengths and weaknesses of these statistics, as well as information on the underlying methodology from the Department for Transport, and the Green House Gas conversion factors published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero used to produce these statistics, are available at the links given below:
Department for Transport, Journey emissions comparisons: Methodology and guidance:
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2022, methodology:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2022
The Jet Zero Strategy, published in July 2022, set out the Government’s approach to achieving net zero for the UK aviation sector by 2050. Four analytical scenarios were produced as part of the strategy, setting out a range of emissions pathways for the sector, under various assumptions on the likely uptake of different decarbonisation technologies, including SAF.
Further detail on the Jet Zero Strategy and the underpinning analysis can be found here: Jet Zero strategy: delivering net zero aviation by 2050 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
More recently, the Government has published a second consultation on a SAF mandate, to be introduced from 2025.
Further detail on the SAF mandate can be found here: Pathway to net zero aviation: developing the UK sustainable aviation fuel mandate - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits for road safety of extending the list of vehicles and trailers required to undergo a HGV, bus or trailer MOT to include trailers with an unladen weight of less than 1,020kg and caravans.
Answered by Katherine Fletcher
In 2019, my Department published the Trailer Safety Report, which recommended further research to better understand the safety risks of light trailers, such as those with an unladen weight of less than 1,020kg and caravans. My Department therefore commissioned the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to undertake randomised roadworthiness checks of these trailers and caravans over a full calendar year to capture seasonal use. Due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, the survey period was extended to the summer of 2021. Another calendar year of roadside checks from May 2022 to May 2023 is on-going. My Department will use the data from these roadside checks when considering whether further action is appropriate, but there are no current plans to require trailers with an unladen weight of less than 1,020kg and caravans to undergo an MOT.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to extend the list of vehicles and trailers required to undergo a HGV, bus or trailer MOT to include trailers with an unladen weight of less than 1,020kg and caravans.
Answered by Katherine Fletcher
My Department does not currently have any plans to require trailers with an unladen weight of less than 1,020kg and caravans to undergo an MOT.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will review the Blue Badge renewal process.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Department is currently working with the supplier of the Digital Service to identify possible improvements to the online application and re-application process as part of its National Disability Strategy commitments.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on supporting the roll-out of rapid charging points for electric vehicles in rural areas of Wales.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Government works closely with the devolved administrations on supporting the transition to zero emission vehicles across the whole of the UK. Regular discussions about rapid chargepoints as well as other measures to support electric vehicles are held on an ongoing basis with the Welsh Government. Officials have been working together to align the upcoming electric vehicle infrastructure strategy from UK government with the approach set out in the Welsh government’s electric vehicle charging strategy for Wales.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to review the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation to encourage investment in hydrogen production.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Further to a public consultation earlier this year, we have introduced legislation which would expand support under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) to renewable hydrogen used in fuel cell rail and non-road transports, and in maritime vessels. To further encourage investment in renewable hydrogen production, we also proposed in the consultation to reward renewable hydrogen more flexibly under the RTFO. A Government Response on proposals to improve flexibility will be published very soon.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason the Government does not recognise Botswana as having an approved proof of covid-19 vaccination.
Answered by Robert Courts
We are taking a phased approach to the rollout of our inbound vaccination programme to other countries and territories to reopen travel in a safe and sustainable way. Vaccine certification between countries and territories varies considerably. We need to ensure that certificates/apps meet our published minimum requirements on content, that carriers are clear about the certification we shall accept, and that we are taking into account public health and wider considerations.
Our policy to date has not been to exclude any countries or territories, but rather to work internationally as we continue to explore expanding the policy to more countries and territories where it is safe to do so.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to publish the interim report outlining the initial findings of the e-scooter trials.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department is currently considering and quality assuring the initial findings and will look to publish as soon as possible, once finalised.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the Jet Zero strategy's alignment with the UK's (a) Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement and (b) sixth Carbon Budget.
Answered by Robert Courts
The approach set out in the Jet Zero Consultation, which commits the UK aviation sector to net zero by 2050 and sets out our proposals for how that will be achieved, is aligned to our economy wide and legally-binding net zero commitment.
Our Nationally Determined Contribution and the Sixth Carbon Budget are both informed by the net zero commitment, and guidance from the Climate Change Committee.
We have committed to include the UK’s share of International Aviation and Shipping (IAS) emissions in the Sixth Carbon Budget. Emissions from IAS are not included in the scope of the UK’s Nationally Determined Contribution, in line with international expectations and the guidance of the CCC.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Climate Change Committee’s recommendation in its June 2021 Progress Report to develop a demand management framework for aviation.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Jet Zero Consultation set out our vision for the aviation sector to reach net zero by 2050. The consultation presented a draft strategy to decarbonise the sector, focussing on the rapid development of technologies in a way that maintains the benefits of air travel and maximises the opportunities that decarbonisation can bring for the UK.
Analysis developed for the Jet Zero Consultation shows that there are scenarios that can achieve net zero aviation by 2050 without capping demand. Indeed, our ‘high ambition’ scenario is in line with the Climate Change Committee’s Balanced Pathway, with similar levels of residual emissions by 2050.
As a responsible government, we recognise that we will need to keep our strategy under review and intend to assess progress on the sector’s emission reduction pathway and update our strategy where necessary through five-year reviews.
We plan to publish the final Jet Zero Strategy early next year.