Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of illegal e-bikes on levels of road safety.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Only e-bikes that are fully compliant with the requirements of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 are legal to use on the roads. The Government agrees that the use of e-bikes that are not compliant with regulations has a negative impact on road safety.
The Government treats road safety very seriously, and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. My Department is developing our Road Safety Strategy and will set out more detail in due course.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will have discissions with Dorset Council on the adequacy of the scheduling of the X53 Weymouth College to Axminster service.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government believes that local authorities, working with bus operators, are best placed to determine and design local bus networks in their area, and the government does not intervene in local decisions regarding individual bus routes or services.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will have discissions with Dorset Council on the adequacy of the scheduling of the CR6 Bridport to Beaminster service.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government believes that local authorities, working with bus operators, are best placed to determine and design local bus networks in their area, and the government does not intervene in local decisions regarding individual bus routes or services.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will have discissions with Dorset Council on the adequacy of the scheduling of the X51 Bridport to Axminster bus service.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government believes that local authorities, working with bus operators, are best placed to determine and design local bus networks in their area, and the government does not intervene in local decisions regarding individual bus routes or services.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will have discissions with Dorset Council on the adequacy of the scheduling of the X53 Weymouth to Axminster service.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government believes that local authorities, working with bus operators, are best placed to determine and design local bus networks in their area, and the government does not intervene in local decisions regarding individual bus routes or services.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the enforcement of existing regulations on e-bike use.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
A modified e-cycle is only road-legal where it complies in full with the requirements set out in the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983. Where this is not the case, the e-cycle is classed as a motor vehicle and needs to be approved and registered with the DVLA, as well as being taxed and insured.
Enforcement of these requirements is a matter for the police, who already have powers to seize illegally modified e-cycles and to fine individuals who fail to stop when instructed to do so. While we have not carried out any formal review, the Government is providing the police with more powers to make it easier for them to seize any vehicle, including illegally modified e-cycles, where it is being used in an anti-social manner. Measures contained in the Crime and Policing Bill will allow the police to seize the vehicle without first being required to provide the rider with a warning.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to update existing legislation on the use of high-weight agricultural vehicles on public roads to reflect modern vehicle (a) sizes, (b) traffic conditions and (c) safety standards.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Secretary of State for Transport has not had discussions with road safety experts on updating legislation for the use of high-weight agricultural vehicles on public roads.
Legislative updates to the speed and weight limits of agricultural tractors were made in 2015. This increased the maximum weight limit for tractor-trailer combinations to 31 tonnes.
The government is not currently considering updates to the existing legislation on the use of high-weight agricultural vehicles but has engaged with the sector on this topic.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with road safety experts on updating legislation relating to the use of high-weight agricultural vehicles on public roads.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Secretary of State for Transport has not had discussions with road safety experts on updating legislation for the use of high-weight agricultural vehicles on public roads.
Legislative updates to the speed and weight limits of agricultural tractors were made in 2015. This increased the maximum weight limit for tractor-trailer combinations to 31 tonnes.
The government is not currently considering updates to the existing legislation on the use of high-weight agricultural vehicles but has engaged with the sector on this topic.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to introduce a separate mandatory driving test for tractor and trailer combinations over a certain weight threshold.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
There are no current plans to introduce a separate test for agricultural tractor and trailer combinations over a certain weight threshold.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that tractor and trailer drivers comply with legal speed limits on public roads.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Local authorities are asked to have regard to the Department’s guidance Setting Local Speed Limits, designed to make sure that speed limits are appropriately and consistently set while allowing for flexibility to deal with local circumstances, but the final decision is for the traffic authority, working with the police who would carry out any enforcement.