Asked by: Jack Lopresti (Conservative - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding is available for (a) the port of Bristol and (b) other free ports now that the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Robert Courts
On 17 December 2020, awards were announced regarding the £200 million Cabinet Office-led Port Infrastructure Fund (PIF). Bristol Port was allocated a Government grant of £1.75 million with which it intends to build a border control point (BCP) to allow effective import of EU goods in line with the UK’s new Border Operating Model.
Decisions on which ports shall be Freeports have not yet been taken. In November, the Government published the bidding prospectus for Freeports in England, setting out how ports can apply for Freeport status, and further policy details. The bidding period will close on 5 February 2021, with successful locations announced in the Spring following a fair, open and transparent selection process. Devolved administrations are following their own processes to a slightly later schedule.
Successful bidders to the Freeports competition will have the opportunity to access a share of £175 million of seed capital funding, as well as a small amount of revenue funding.
Asked by: Jack Lopresti (Conservative - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help (a) bring forward the Bristol East Junction project and (b) promote economic growth and prosperity in the West of England area; what progress has been made on presenting the business case for that project to the Treasury; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
Earlier this year, Her Majesty’s Treasury approved funding for advanced works at Bristol East Junction which significantly de-risk the project’s commissioning phase. My officials have worked closely with Network Rail to develop the Business Case for the project which is close to being finalised and I expect this to be presented to the Treasury in the coming months.
The Government’s continued support for the West of England region is demonstrated by the £5bn investment in the electrification and upgrade of the Great Western Main Line, stimulating economic growth in the region. Additionally, the West of England Combined Authority has received £103m from Government through the Transforming Cities Fund to transform connectivity within the Bristol area.
Asked by: Jack Lopresti (Conservative - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials of his Department have had with representatives of the aerospace industry on the the potential benefits of the use of autonomous technology.
Answered by George Freeman
The Government is actively supporting the development of innovative technology in aviation including automation. We supported a Global Urban Air Summit held at Farnborough last week which brought together industry, academia and government to discuss the development of new technologies like electric and autonomous aircraft.
The Transport Secretary met a range of aviation stakeholders at the Light Aircraft Association Rally. In addition Ministers from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Challenge meet regularly with the Aerospace Industry through the Aerospace Growth Partnership.
Asked by: Jack Lopresti (Conservative - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport,what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers of his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with representatives of the aviation industry on the potential for reductions in the level of (i) emissions and (ii) noise as a result of electric propulsion.
Answered by George Freeman
Ministers and officials across Government regularly meet with the aviation and aerospace sectors to discuss proposals for decarbonisation. The Government is considering further policies it can put in place to assist the long-term development of innovative technology such as electric propulsion.
In addition, the Government recently supported a Global Urban Air Summit held at Farnborough Airport, which brought together industry and academia to discuss the development of new technologies like electric and autonomous aircraft. The Transport Secretary also met a range of aviation stakeholders at the Light Aircraft Association Rally.
I am actively meeting industry leaders to explore new ways to promote transport innovation.
Asked by: Jack Lopresti (Conservative - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers of his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with representatives of the motor industry on the potential reduction in vehicle emissions from electric powered propulsion.
Answered by George Freeman
Government Ministers and officials are in frequent dialogue with the motor industry as we work together to deliver our ambition for zero emission road transport. Most recently I was delighted to speak and meet with industry representatives at ‘Cenex LCV2019’ the UK’s premier electric vehicle and technology showcase, held at Millbrook on 04 September 2019.
Asked by: Jack Lopresti (Conservative - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the cost to the public purse is for the maintenance work on the Severn Beach line planned for July and August 2019; and what additional maintenance work is planned for that line.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Network Rail’s total allocated budget for the maintenance work on the Severn Beach line planned for July and August 2019 is approximately £700,000. The only additional maintenance work planned at present is ongoing track renewal work.