Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to accelerate the conversion of bus fleets to (a) electro and (b) hydrogen models.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government has supported the use of a range of low carbon bus technologies, including battery-electric technology, through funds including the Low Emission and Ultra Low Emission Bus Schemes. These have focussed not just on electric buses but also included funding for hydrogen buses and supporting infrastructure.
In February, the Government announced a £5 billion funding package for buses and cycling, which includes support for the purchase of at least 4,000 zero-emission buses. The details of these programmes, including technology options and how funding will be distributed, will be announced in due course.
Local Authorities had until 4 June to apply for a £50m package to deliver Britain’s first All-Electric Bus Town. The winner(s) will be announced shortly.
I also know that my Rt Hon Friend the Transport Secretary is exploring options for a hydrogen bus town and a hydrogen hub, looking into how this country can lead the world using green hydrogen as a power source for types of transport, including freight, ships, buses and trains.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to promote (a) walking buses and (b) cycling as means of transport to and from school.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department for Transport is making £225 million available to local authorities this financial year for urgent measures to make it easier for people to walk and cycle for all short journeys, including to school.
The Department has also provided significant amounts of funding to keep buses running to serve those who rely on them. On 3 April, the Government announced £397 million of support for bus services, and on 23 May the Secretary of State announced a further £254 million to help increase bus services?across England?as we begin to?re-open?our economy.
The Department for Education has produced guidance on implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings. This guidance sets out that schools should ‘ensure parents and young people are aware of recommendations on transport to and from education or childcare settings’ and encourage parents and children and young people ‘to walk or cycle to their education setting where possible’.
A few months ago we announced that Bikeability training for schoolchildren would be expanded to cover all children nationwide.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effect on household income of people using public rather than private transport.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
No such assessment has been made. While household income varies across the users of public and private transport, we are not aware of any reason why household income would be affected by people using public rather than private transport.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the report of the all-party group on air pollution entitled, Air Quality Strategy to Reduce Coronavirus Infection.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government is committed to making lasting changes to the way people, goods and services travel to help make our country greener and healthier, and to deliver clean economic growth. In line with our clean air and net zero carbon targets, our policies will ensure that emissions continue to fall over time right across the country through a green economic recovery from COVID-19 that has transport at its heart. This includes a £5 billion package of investment in zero emission buses, cycling and walking in line with the recent recommendations of the all-party group on air pollution.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the level of access to public transport in towns and rural communities compared with urban areas.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government is committed to levelling up the country to provide equal opportunity for all and recognises the vital importance public transport plays in supporting the economy and bringing society together across rural and urban areas.
The Department currently publishes tables of estimated travel time to key services by different modes in Journey times to key services (JTS01) with different levels of rural/urban areas. This can be found here:
In addition to this, the National Travel Survey (NTS) provides a range of measures which include a breakdown by Rural / Urban classification which can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/nts99-travel-by-region-and-area-type-of-residence