Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will increase the (a) penalties and (b) sanctions for air passengers who cause (i) disruption, (ii) delay and (iii) danger to (A) passengers and (B) crew on commercial passenger aircraft (1) during flight and (2) while on the ground.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
All passengers and crew should have the right to feel safe when travelling by air. The Air Navigation Order 2016 sets out offences such as endangering an aircraft, interfering with crew duties, or being drunk onboard, all of which carry criminal penalties. Airlines may also ban individuals from future travel, and the police may also investigate and charge for a public order offence. We believe the current statutory powers and industry-led measures are effective in deterring such behaviour, but we continue to keep the framework under review.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to improve driving test availability in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it takes decisive action to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.
On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce driving test waiting times across the country. Information on these actions and progress on the plan can be found on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-acts-to-make-thousands-of-extra-driving-tests-available-each-month.
DVSA is continuing to recruit as many driving examiners as possible. Following successful completion of training, one new driving examiner will be joining Shrewsbury test centre, and this will help deliver more tests in the area. DVSA currently has a live recruitment campaign which is recruiting for additional driving examiners at Shrewsbury and Telford test centres. The campaign closed on 22 September.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to ensure domestic companies with UK-based shareholdings are prioritised to offer (a) ground and (b) air services for potential expansions at (i) Heathrow and (ii) Gatwick airports.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Government is committed to an open and competitive aviation sector, ensuring choice and value for passengers. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are responsible for the effective operation of the aviation market for consumers.
The UK aviation market operates predominantly in the private sector. Airports invest in their infrastructure to attract passengers and airlines, while airlines take their own decisions on the routes and services they provide.
Prioritising UK-based shareholdings within this private market is not planned as international agreements ensure fair competition. What matters most is that companies operate safely, securely and are properly regulated.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to commission an investigation into trends in the level of competition amongst airlines flying in and out of UK airports.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Government is committed to an open and competitive aviation sector, ensuring choice and value for passengers. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are responsible for the effective operation of the aviation market for consumers.
The UK aviation market operates predominantly in the private sector. Airports invest in their infrastructure to attract passengers and airlines, while airlines take their own decisions on the routes and services they provide.
Prioritising UK-based shareholdings within this private market is not planned as international agreements ensure fair competition. What matters most is that companies operate safely, securely and are properly regulated.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to increase competition among airlines operating in the UK.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Government is committed to an open and competitive aviation sector, ensuring choice and value for passengers. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are responsible for the effective operation of the aviation market for consumers.
The UK aviation market operates predominantly in the private sector. Airports invest in their infrastructure to attract passengers and airlines, while airlines take their own decisions on the routes and services they provide.
Prioritising UK-based shareholdings within this private market is not planned as international agreements ensure fair competition. What matters most is that companies operate safely, securely and are properly regulated.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to encourage train operating companies to improve on-train connectivity for (a) voice and (b) data services.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Department for Transport officials are working closely with the train operating companies and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to develop proposals to improve passenger mobile connectivity.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of offering free any time bus travel to disabled bus pass holders.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six.
Local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations under the ENCTS and offer additional discretionary concessions, such as extending the times at which concessionary passes can be used.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps with car manufacturers to agree a minimum stopping safety requirement for car tyres which are (a) manufactured in the UK and (b) imported.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
All new tyres, both UK made and imported, require GB type approval before they are permitted for sale. To gain approval, manufacturers must demonstrate that they achieve a range of technical performance requirements. This includes a minimum wet grip performance which aims to ensure that sufficient deceleration can be achieved, even in adverse weather conditions. In addition, the braking system of the vehicle is required to achieve a minimum stopping performance in a variety of states.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the feasibility of electrifying the railway line between Birmingham, Wellington and Shrewsbury.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Midlands Connect, a sub-national transport body which researches, develops and progresses transport projects in the Midlands, is prioritising line speed improvements to this railway line over electrification. They are in the process of refreshing the Business Case for line speed improvements, which they plan to submit towards the end of 2024. It will be important to consider a range of options to progress decarbonisation of the rail network, and I expect to receive advice on this matter later this year.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of ensuring that companies that sub-contract vehicles to (a) delivery, (b) utility and (c) construction companies display the livery of (i) their organisation and (ii) the organisation to which they have subcontracted their vehicles on (A) road and (B) public safety.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
There are no requirements in the goods vehicle operator licensing regime for vehicles used by delivery companies, utility companies, or construction companies to have livery displaying the details of the owning business, and the company using the vehicles at the time.
The goods vehicle operator licensing regime applies to vehicles weighing 3.5 tonnes or more used domestically, and those weighing more than 2.5 tonnes used for the purposes of hire and reward in the European Union.
Vehicles subject to operator licensing must have a disc with the operator licence number displayed. This can be checked on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/find-vehicle-operators to identify the operator responsible for the operation of the vehicle, and the type of licence held.