Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what penalties have been imposed on Volkswagen in the UK since the scandal on excessive emissions levels.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
It is for the German Government in the first place to take action given that the vast majority, if not all, of the potential wrongdoing is thought to have occurred at Volkswagen AG in Germany. The Department will assess the prospects of taking action in the UK once the German investigation is complete, based on evidence available at the time.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many miles of motorway have been converted to a smart motorway; and what the (a) mileage and (b) cost was for each conversion in each of the last five years.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The table below provides details for the projects which have opened to traffic since 2015/16, the length of the scheme in miles, and the latest approved outturn cost for each. The data shows that over 200 lane miles have been added to the motorway network through these schemes since 2015/16.
Open to Traffic | Scheme | Scheme length | Outturn cost (£m) |
2015/16 | M1 Junctions 28-31 | 18.9 | 206.70 |
2015/16 | M6 Junctions 10a-13 | 9.6 | 102.20 |
2016/17 | M1 Junctions 32-35A | 9.1 | 125.50 |
2015/16 | M1 Junctions 39-42 | 6.7 | 127.70 |
2017/18 | M3 Junctions 2-4A | 13.4 | 274.20 |
2017/18 | M1 Junctions 19-16 | 14.4 | 194.30 |
2017/18 | M5 Junctions 4A-6 | 8.8 | 133.30 |
2018/19 | M60 Junction 8 to M62 Junction 20: Smart Motorway | 12.4 | 297.00 |
2018/19 | M6 Junctions 16-19 | 18.2 | 265.00 |
2018/19 | M1 Junctions 23a-25 | 6.7 | 139.60 |
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many active motorway speeding cameras are situated on the (a) M1, (b) M2, (c) M3, (d) M4, (e) M5 and (f) M6.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The aggregate number of active motorway speed cameras includes cameras that are fixed, mobile and temporary, such as those monitoring roadworks. For this reason, the number of active speed cameras invariably fluctuates.
It would require disproportionate cost to ascertain the numbers on any given day, and in any case any numbers given might well not be representative of the entire motorway for a given period.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to make an assessment of the quality of the rail line between Swindon and Reading to improve passenger comfort.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The condition of Network Rail’s assets is monitored and regulated by the Office of Rail and Road. Our £48bn funding package for the next five years will see increased levels of spending on maintenance and renewals across the network, with the aim of giving passengers a more reliable railway while preserving safety.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that all active travel initiatives that specify walking and cycling also include horse riding.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government’s response to the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy Safety Review, published in November 2018, included a number of measures which will benefit horse riders, including making motorists aware of the need to leave safe distances when over taking people cycling or horse riding. The Government will also consider the needs of horse riders in its forthcoming review of the Highway Code. The Government does not intend to specify that all active travel initiatives should include a horse-riding element: decisions on this are a matter for local authorities.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many tunnels for hedgehogs his Department constructed under (a) railway lines and (b) roads in each month of the last 24 months for which data is available.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Network Rail’s estate is large and varied, and includes railway tunnels, cuttings and bridges, all of which offer habitats for animals to thrive in. Network Rail manages these habitats sensitively in order to encourage biodiversity while ensuring the safety of the railway. They do not hold data on any tunnels under railway lines that may have been specifically built for hedgehogs.
Highways England use a range of mitigation measures to reduce any danger to animals in the delivery of their schemes. These include tunnels, culverts, underpasses, adapted farm crossings and species-specific structures. They do these for a range of animals, not specifically for hedgehogs. Appropriate fencing and planting may also be included to encourage use of the crossings and/or to integrate them within the surrounding environment.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress the Driving Vehicle Licensing Agency is making to update its guidance on the use of new monitoring technologies for people with diabetes.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is currently amending the Assessing Fitness to Drive guidance on the use of new monitoring technologies for people with diabetes. The revised guidance is due to be published in February. This will allow the testing of interstitial fluid for driving licensing purposes for people with diabetes who drive cars or motorcycles. Drivers of goods vehicles and buses must continue to monitor blood glucose levels.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and which rail stations have (a) undertaken work in the last five years and (b) planned work within the next two years to improve access arrangements.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Over the last five years a further 68 stations were added to the Department’s Access for All programme which provides an accessible route at selected stations. A further £300m has recently been made available to further extend the programme until at least 2024 and we will announce details of which stations will benefit from this in April. Details of individual Access for All projects are available on Network Rail’s website.
This is in addition to access improvements delivered as part of other major projects, such as the 40 Crossrail stations which will be made accessible, and by the industry itself, which must meet current accessibility standards whenever it installs, replace or renews station infrastructure. Details of all of this work is held by the individual organisations and the details of the accessibility features available at all UK stations are published on the National Rail Enquiries website.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many operators, by region, has the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has signed off with Goods Vehicle Operators on the basis of earned recognition.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
As of 19 December 2018, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has signed off (accredited) 59 goods vehicle operators into its earned recognition scheme.
An operator can apply for up to eight goods vehicle operator licences.
The number of goods vehicle operator licences by region breakdown is as follows:
| Number of goods vehicle operator licences |
North East | 27 |
North West | 31 |
West Midlands | 23 |
East England | 27 |
Wales | 13 |
South West | 26 |
London Metropolitan | 23 |
Scotland | 20 |