Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to encourage hauliers to switch to alternatives to diesel engines.
Answered by John Hayes
The Government has implemented measures to encourage the uptake of alternatively-fuelled commercial vehicles. These include increasing rewards for renewable gaseous fuels under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, the £11m Low Carbon Truck Trial, extending the Plug-in Van Grant to encompass heavier lorries, and a £20m Future Fuels for Flight and Freight Competition. We have also committed £20 million funding to enable the freight and logistics sector to trial the very latest in innovative low and zero emission vehicle technologies in their fleets.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward proposals to amend the Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (England) Representations and Appeals Regulations 2007 to enable the adjudicator to make an order awarding costs and expenses to appellants in successful parking appeals; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Under current regulations the adjudicator may make an order awarding costs and expenses against an enforcement authority where the adjudicator considers that the disputed decision was wholly unreasonable. The adjudicator may also award costs and expenses against either party where that party has acted frivolously or vexatiously or where their conduct in making, pursuing or resisting an appeal was wholly unreasonable. The Government has no plans to change this arrangement.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Wales Office regarding the Severn Bridge.
Answered by John Hayes
The Department has responded to the Welsh Office with respect to the Silk Commission Recommendations regarding the Severn Crossing. These will be published by the Government in due course.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any (a) external contractors and (b) consultancy companies engaged by his Department have charged more than the initial price agreed for their services since May 2010.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The information requested is not held centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.