Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of suspending MOTs during the covid-10 outbreak.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
As announced on 25 March 2020, the Government is introducing a six-month exemption for all light vehicles due for an MOT test from 30 March 2020 onwards to allow people to carry on travel to work where essential, or shop for necessities. The assessment is that this a proportionate step in the light of the public health challenges related to COVID-19 compared to the potential effects of not testing. It remains important for vehicles in use to be roadworthy at all times.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the statutory minimum number of seats for disabled people required on public bus transport.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) require vehicles subject to them to incorporate at least four priority seats for disabled passengers, as well as a designated wheelchair space. Such facilities are now provided on 98% of buses across Great Britain, and are helping to make journeys easier for millions of people.
However, we know that the needs of disabled people and the nature of public transport evolves over time. The previous Government committed in its Inclusive Transport Strategy to review the efficacy of PSVAR. Its timing is driven by the need to reflect on the effectiveness of the Regulations in facilitating access to coaches, the last of which only became subject to the Regulations on the 1st January 2020, and to be informed by a planned cross-modal review of the reference wheelchair standard, which is yet to begin. Amongst other issues it will consider the extent to which existing requirements on the provision of priority seating and wheelchair spaces are sufficient to meet current and future demand.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how frequently the regulatory framework for drone safety is (a) reviewed and (b) updated in the UK.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government has already acted to regulate this sector and has introduced amendments to the Air Navigation Order 2016 in 2018 and 2019, both times following a full public consultation. The Government keeps its regulatory framework for unmanned aircraft under ongoing review as it is vital that unmanned aircraft are used safely and securely.
From 30 November 2019, it will be a legal requirement for remote pilots of an unmanned aircraft to take a competency test, to ensure that they have a good understanding of the rules, and for those who are responsible for an unmanned aircraft to register with the CAA.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to review the law on adding additional headlights to vehicles.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The maximum number and intensity of undipped headlamps fitted to new road vehicles in the UK must comply with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) vehicle approval regulations. Once a vehicle enters into service, national regulations allow the fitment of additional undipped headlamps but make it an offence to use headlamps in a manner that causes undue dazzle or discomfort to other road users.
There are currently no plans to review the laws relating to the maximum power of undipped headlamps or the fitment of additional headlamps.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to review the law governing the maximum power of undipped headlights on motor vehicles.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The maximum number and intensity of undipped headlamps fitted to new road vehicles in the UK must comply with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) vehicle approval regulations. Once a vehicle enters into service, national regulations allow the fitment of additional undipped headlamps but make it an offence to use headlamps in a manner that causes undue dazzle or discomfort to other road users.
There are currently no plans to review the laws relating to the maximum power of undipped headlamps or the fitment of additional headlamps.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to incentivise manufacturers to produce more affordable electric cars.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Through the Office for Low Emission Vehicles and Innovate UK, the Department for Transport is investing over £200m to support UK businesses to build on their strengths in electric vehicle technology and the design, development and manufacture of electric vehicles. The Government is also incentivising the purchase of electric vehicles with a grant of up to £4500 to consumers to offset the cost of this technology.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the provision of suitably located charging points in remote and rural areas.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The vast majority of charging takes place at home, overnight. To support this, the Government provides funding for the installation of both on-street and off-street charging infrastructure. In addition, support exists UK-wide, including for rural areas, to enable workplaces to install infrastructure for use of employees and fleets.
The UK also now has over 11,500 publically accessible chargepoints, including over 900 rapid chargepoints. This is one of the largest rapid networks in Europe.
In addition, the Automated and Electric Vehicle Bill, currently going through Parliament, will give powers to the UK Government to expand deployment of infrastructure at motorway service areas and large fuel retailers, UK-wide.
As announced at Autumn Budget 2017, a new £400m electric car Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund (£200m new Government investment to be matched by private investors) will accelerate the roll-out of charging infrastructure by providing access to finance to companies that deliver chargepoints.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many publicly available charging points for electric cars there are in the UK; and what plans he has to increase the number of charging points.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The vast majority of charging takes place at home, overnight. To support this, the Government provides funding for the installation of both on-street and off-street charging infrastructure. In addition, support exists UK-wide, including for rural areas, to enable workplaces to install infrastructure for use of employees and fleets.
The UK also now has over 11,500 publically accessible chargepoints, including over 900 rapid chargepoints. This is one of the largest rapid networks in Europe.
In addition, the Automated and Electric Vehicle Bill, currently going through Parliament, will give powers to the UK Government to expand deployment of infrastructure at motorway service areas and large fuel retailers, UK-wide.
As announced at Autumn Budget 2017, a new £400m electric car Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund (£200m new Government investment to be matched by private investors) will accelerate the roll-out of charging infrastructure by providing access to finance to companies that deliver chargepoints.