Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 22 Jan 2015
Oral Answers to Questions
"3. What estimate he has made of savings that could be achieved through sharing more services with the House of Lords...."John Robertson - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 22 Jan 2015
Oral Answers to Questions
"I thank the right hon. Gentleman, and he will know that there is wide support for that in the Governance Committee. Members would like to see such work go forward as quickly as possible. The trouble with this place and the other place is that things can be dragged out …..."John Robertson - View Speech
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Written Question
Tuesday 17th June 2014
Asked by:
John Robertson (Labour - Glasgow North West)
Question
to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the annual amount of carcinogens that are released by biofuels activity in the UK.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Department for Transport has not made any annual estimates of carcinogens that are released by biofuels activity. This data is not required to meet the mandatory sustainability criteria under the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED), which is applicable to biofuels supplied in the UK under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).
Voluntary schemes approved by the European Commission can set criteria for aspects of biofuel production aimed at minimising adverse environmental impacts associated with agricultural production, including on air quality, in addition to setting sustainability criteria. In 2012/13 eighty one per cent of biofuel supplied in the UK under the RTFO was covered by an approved voluntary scheme, the vast majority of which include additional aspects aimed at minimising the impact on air quality of the cultivation and harvesting of biofuel feedstocks.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' Air Quality Expert Group has considered the potential impacts of increased biofuel use on air pollutants, such as particulate matter, and concluded that these should fall with most biofuel uptake scenarios. The Group's Report Road Transport Biofuels: Impact on UK Air Quality, is published at:
http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/110322_AQEG_Biofuels_advice_note.pdf
In respect of the biofuel supply chain the European Commission produced a staff working document accompanying its renewable energy progress report to the European Parliament in 2013 which is published at:
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/reports/doc/swd_2013_0102_res_en.pdf
It concluded that between 2008 and 2010, there was limited change in threats to air quality from EU biofuel demand.
Written Question
Thursday 12th June 2014
Asked by:
John Robertson (Labour - Glasgow North West)
Question
to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government Minister for Transport and Veterans on the possibility of providing free or discounted travel for carers in Scotland.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
Concessionary Travel is a devolved policy area and the Secretary of State has not discussed carer discounts with Keith Brown MSP, the Scottish Minister for Transport and Veterans.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 27 Jun 2013
Oral Answers to Questions
"Does the Minister now regret the axing of the targets on deaths and serious accidents on the roads, particularly in the light of the first increases in both categories for more than 10 years?..."John Robertson - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 27 Jun 2013
Oral Answers to Questions
"T4. Following on from the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow North East (Mr Bain) about fares, in a recent poll by Passenger Focus only 42% of passengers were satisfied with the service they were receiving. Exactly what is the Minister going to do to improve …..."John Robertson - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 29 Nov 2012
Oral Answers to Questions
"8. I assume that you are calling me to ask a supplementary and not a main question, Mr. Speaker. My hon. Friend the Member for Newport East (Jessica Morden) mentioned the Home Office. I pointed out recently that questions from my right hon. Friend the shadow Secretary of State had …..."John Robertson - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 12 Jun 2012
Rail Infrastructure (Merseyside)
"Order. Thanks for the speech...."John Robertson - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 12 Jan 2012
Oral Answers to Questions
"5. What discussions she has had with the Scottish Government on the renewal of rail franchises for services from and to Scotland...."John Robertson - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 12 Jan 2012
Oral Answers to Questions
"I thank the Minister for her reply. She will be aware not only of the possibility of a referendum in Scotland, but that the ScotRail franchise comes to an end in 2014. Does she agree that when deciding on a new contract the Scottish Government should consider the fact that …..."John Robertson - View Speech
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