Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the proportion of income received by the Vehicle Certification Agency from vehicle manufacturers.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The majority of the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) income is generated through charging industry for type approval services, using fees which are set by the Motor Vehicles (Type Approval and Approval Marks) (Fees) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/2149) (as amended) on a cost recovery basis, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport. VCA provides services to a broad spectrum of organisations in the UK including not only motor manufacturers, but also a large number of independent SMEs operating across the wider business sector, which includes trailer manufacturersandbraking component suppliers. VCA has had a total of 1,155 active customers over the past 12 months, all of which were charged in line with the statutory fees for the work VCA complete to ensure EU legislation is adhered to across the UK.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department first learnt of the installation by Volkswagen of software to distort emissions tests on diesel vehicles; and what steps he took in response to that information.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The government first became aware of the installation of software fitted to Volkswagen vehicles to distort emissions tests following the announcement of the US Environmental Protection Agency investigation in the US on 18 September 2015.
In response, the Vehicle Certification Agency, the UK regulator, has started investigations to establish whether this affects other manufacturers.
As part of this work they will re-run laboratory tests where necessary and compare them against real world driving emissions.
The government have called on the EU to conduct a Europe wide investigation into whether there is evidence that cars here have been fitted with illegal defeat devices.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce the incidences of non-payment of wages to seafarers working in (a) UK and (b) Europe.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The United Kingdom has ratified and transposed into domestic law the International Labour Organization’s Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC) which includes provisions on the payment of wages.
For UK registered ships other than those which are subject to the MLC, section 30 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 makes provision for the late payment of wages, and interest is payable on late sums under specified circumstances.
Enforcement is carried out by Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) surveyors (and any surveyors nominated by the MCA to carry out surveys and inspections) on UK registered ships in routine surveys and inspections, and, where applicable, on non-UK registered ships during port State Control inspections.
We are not aware of any incidents of non-payment of wages on board any UK registered vessels.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the total in unpaid wages owed to seafarers working in the UK shipping industry in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
No estimate has been made of unpaid wages owed to seafarers working on vessels registered in the UK or for shipping companies operating out of the UK in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will raise with (a) his ministerial colleagues and (b) the International Labour Organisation the extent of non-compliance amongst open registers with the minimum standards for seafarers' rights established in the Maritime Labour Convention 2006.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) carry out Port State Control inspections on board foreign vessels in UK waters. The Port State Control regime has a requirement of no more favourable treatment to other vessels many of which are registered in these so called “open registers”.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of the International Transport Workers Federation's Maritime Labour Convention compliance inspections on international shipping in 2014.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is not aware of the findings of the International Transport Workers Federation's Maritime Labour Convention compliance inspections on international shipping in 2014. However, you may wish to note that the MCA works very closely with The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). When ITF inspectors have concerns on board, they notify the MCA who subsequently carry out a review of the issues and carry out a Port State Control inspection, if deemed necessary. This would either result in deficiencies being raised or the ship being detained until satisfactory corrective actions are initiated in response to the deficiencies raised.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if in his consideration of the proposals put forward in the Davies Report on airport capacity, he will make an assessment of the possibility that flights arriving later in the morning at Heathrow Airport will entail increased noise for people living near their airports of origins; and if he will discuss this possibility with his counterparts in the countries potentially affected.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Government will review the Commission’s conclusions on noise mitigation including night noise. The Government would need to consult on options relating to any new night noise regime at Heathrow. Consultation would include representatives of all parties potentially impacted by any proposals to change the current night flying restrictions.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to resolve the industrial dispute at the DVLA.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) remains open to further discussions with the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union. An offer of further talks involving the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) was made to PCS on 16 July. The DVLA would welcome this approach and would like to pursue further dialogue with ACAS support.