Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the potential merits of transport being an early market for low-carbon hydrogen projects.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government’s Hydrogen Strategy states that transport is a ‘crucial’ early market for hydrogen, which will drive some of the earliest low carbon production in the UK. DfT is working closely with BEIS to deliver this ambition.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has taken recent steps to increase the incentives for consumers to make claims under the EU Regulation EC 261 compensation structure for domestic flight delays and cancellations.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Aviation Consumer Policy Reform Consultation sought views on a range of consumer issues, including additional enforcement powers for the CAA, mandatory alternative dispute resolution for all airlines operating to, from and within the UK, and consideration of amendments to the compensation available for delayed domestic UK flights.
The delay compensation proposal sought views on whether compensation should be linked to the ticket price of a flight, and to make compensation available for shorter delays. An impact assessment was published alongside this proposal.
Responses to the consultation are being analysed and we will publish a response setting out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of whether his Department's proposed changes to compensation rules for flight delays and cancellations will entitle consumers to higher compensation.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Aviation Consumer Policy Reform Consultation sought views on a range of consumer issues, including additional enforcement powers for the CAA, mandatory alternative dispute resolution for all airlines operating to, from and within the UK, and consideration of amendments to the compensation available for delayed domestic UK flights.
The delay compensation proposal sought views on whether compensation should be linked to the ticket price of a flight, and to make compensation available for shorter delays. An impact assessment was published alongside this proposal.
Responses to the consultation are being analysed and we will publish a response setting out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that potential reforms to flight compensation regulations do not result in a lower level of compensation for customers.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Aviation Consumer Policy Reform Consultation explored a range or reforms to protect consumers whilst ensuring fairness for both consumers and businesses. It included proposals for new and extended compensation for customers, such as for mobility aid damage and for delays to domestic flights of less than 3 hours. The consultation has now closed, and we have received responses from across industry, consumer groups and the general public. We are now conducting a comprehensive review and analysis of the responses and will set out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
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 re-classifying e-scooters from motorised transport under section 185 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 on (a) road safety and (b) net zero emissions targets.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department for Transport is considering options for how best to regulate e-scooters. This includes assessing whether they should continue to be classified as a type of motor vehicle or if a new legislative framework is needed. Evidence to inform this assessment is being gathered through trials of rental e-scooters and wider data sources. Findings from the national evaluation of trials will be included in a final report due later this year.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which aspects of the National Space Strategy his Department is responsible for.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department for Transport is responsible for ensuring the Space Industry Act and Space Industry Regulations continue to provide a modern legal framework that is internationally competitive and will support innovation and growth in the UK space sector. It will ensure that new spaceflight activities regulated under these provisions by the Civil Aviation Authority are safe and provide the right opportunities for industry. In addition, the Department for Transport is responsible for co-ordinating work to use space technology to modernise and transform the UK’s transport system under the Strategy’s Ten Point Plan.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department takes to ensure that at least one official from his Department is present during all (a) meetings and (b) phone calls relating to Government business between Ministers and third parties.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Ministers holding meetings or phone calls on government business are routinely accompanied by a private secretary or other official, in line with the expectations of paragraph 8.14 of the Ministerial Code
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department’s process is for (a) recording and (b) keeping minutes of all meetings relating to Government business.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
DfT’s Information Management Policy sets out the responsibilities of DfT staff for keeping records of government business. The policy clearly states that meeting minutes and agendas are considered to be information of corporate value and should be saved to DfT’s designated system for information management. Staff must ensure that they manage information in accordance with the Information Management Policy at all times.
The Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) team at DfT provides guidance and training to staff on how to manage their information and records and are supported in this work by a network of Local Information Managers based in business areas.
Compliance with the Information Management Policy is monitored via the annual Management Assurance exercise and Information Management Health Check.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that retailers of e-scooters advise customers of the law on their use.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Ministers wrote to e-scooter retailers in December 2018 and July this year to highlight the need for providing consumers with clear information about the laws relating to privately owned e-scooter use, including, for example, that they are lawful to use on private land. Officials are continuing to consult with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), who oversee consumer law, about further steps that can be taken to encourage retailers to be responsible in their messaging with consumers of e-scooters
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of enabling people who hold a category DE driving licence to (a) automatically acquire a category C licence or (b) relax the requirements for obtaining that licence in the context of the shortage of HGV drivers.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Government has no plans to allow drivers with a Category D licence for buses and coaches to drive large goods vehicles without obtaining a Category C licence. While these vehicles are similar in size, it is important to recognise that they are very different in their weight and their manoeuvrability.
Ensuring drivers have the right licence, and skills, needed to drive different types of vehicles is key to maintaining road safety.