Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on the research and development of (a) hydrogen fuel and (b) other alternative fuels to petrol and diesel.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Research and development funding for hydrogen focusses on demonstrating proven applications at scale and driving innovation. The Department for Transport supports the Tees Valley Hydrogen Transport Hub, which is co-locating hydrogen supply and demand across proven road, maritime and aviation applications. The Department’s £200m zero emission HGV demonstrator programme will deploy hundreds of vehicles onto UK roads.
In addition, the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE), Advanced Fuels Fund (including Sustainable Aviation Fuels), Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure project and First of a Kind funding in rail continue to support the development of innovative transport solutions here in the UK.
The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation now includes a higher value “development fuel” target and synthetic “drop-in” alternatives to fossil petrol and diesel fuels, such as e-fuels “are eligible for this support when supplied in the UK.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had recent discussions with the Mayor of London on the potential merits of providing additional Government funding to TfL for reinstating (a) the older person's freedom pass between 4.30am and 9.00am on weekdays and (b) the 60+ London Oyster photocard on Transport for London services between 4.30am and 9.00am on weekdays.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor and TfL, and it is their responsibility to manage and oversee the transport network. This includes decisions with regards to concessionary travel schemes. Since the onset of the pandemic, Government has provided TfL with over £6billion of emergency funding support but has been clear that this funding should not be used to provide concessions which are not available to other passengers in England.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps his Department has taken to help (a) improve the accessibility of public transport for people with sight loss and (b) increase the level of audio-visual passenger information on buses.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
We are committed to making public transport safer for visually impaired passengers and have provided £75m to Network Rail to install tactile paving on all remaining station platforms by 2025.
We also plan to require the provision of audible and visible information on local bus and coach services across Great Britain, and intend to introduce the Accessible Information Regulations shortly.
We have allocated £3.55m to the Real Time Information Group, who will be supporting small operators with the upfront costs of the planned Regulations.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that rail travel is affordable for over-60s.
Answered by Huw Merriman
People aged 60 and over can purchase a Senior Railcard, which offers one-third off Standard and First Class Anytime, Off-Peak and Advance fares.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of requiring a toll to use Hammersmith Bridge on levels of traffic in Putney.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The potential impact of any changes regarding Hammersmith Bridge will form a key part of the business case that the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is preparing for the next phase of work on Hammersmith Bridge, and I look forward to reviewing this once it has been submitted.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to reduce the active travel budget.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government will continue its support for active travel and has already invested unprecedented sums in enabling more walking and cycling since the start of the pandemic in 2020.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps the Government has taken to increase the level of active travel in the UK.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
In July 2022, the Government published the second statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS2), reaffirming its commitment to active travel and setting out the objectives and the financial resources in place to achieve these for the period 2021 to 2025.
In August 2022, the Department formally established Active Travel England as an Executive Agency. Active Travel England is already overseeing the delivery of £200 million of active travel schemes this financial year, and is due shortly to make an announcement on future active travel funding for local authorities. It is rapidly recruiting its core staff, as well as putting in place its formal governance structures.
Other recent steps include the announcement in August 2022 of a number of social prescribing pilot schemes in eleven local authority areas. These will help join up the active travel and health agendas.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many dispensations under Section 78 (4) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 were given by airport managers at Heathrow Airport in the last six months; and for what reasons these dispensations were given.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
In the six months to 7 November 2022, there were 409 dispensations under a notice granted by an airport manager at Heathrow Airport. Widespread and prolonged air traffic disruption accounted for 399 of these dispensations; emergencies, with an immediate danger to life or health accounted for 8 dispensations; and delays likely to lead to serious airfield or terminal congestion accounted for 2 dispensations.
Over the same period, one dispensation was given by the Secretary of State under Section 78(5)(f) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982.
Heathrow Airport Limited publishes night flight dispensations data in its quarterly Night Flight Report.
The Government publishes guidance for airport managers on eligibility for dispensations, and any dispensations must be notified to the Department within seven days.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Section 78(5)(f) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, how many dispensations given by the Secretary of State are currently active at Heathrow Airport.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
In the six months to 7 November 2022, there were 409 dispensations under a notice granted by an airport manager at Heathrow Airport. Widespread and prolonged air traffic disruption accounted for 399 of these dispensations; emergencies, with an immediate danger to life or health accounted for 8 dispensations; and delays likely to lead to serious airfield or terminal congestion accounted for 2 dispensations.
Over the same period, one dispensation was given by the Secretary of State under Section 78(5)(f) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982.
Heathrow Airport Limited publishes night flight dispensations data in its quarterly Night Flight Report.
The Government publishes guidance for airport managers on eligibility for dispensations, and any dispensations must be notified to the Department within seven days.