Asked by: Ronnie Cowan (Scottish National Party - Inverclyde)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the number of people who received a cash refund for cancelled holidays within the required 14-day period as a result of the covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government recognises the challenges businesses and consumers are experiencing regarding refunds for cancelled holidays and flights. We appreciate the distress and frustration consumers may be experiencing.
The department does not hold this information, we are, however working closely with the sector, the regulator and consumer groups to help ensure airlines deliver on their commitments.
Asked by: Ronnie Cowan (Scottish National Party - Inverclyde)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people who have booked holidays that have been cancelled as a result of the covid-19 outbreak will receive a full refund in cash if they are ATOL protected; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government recognises the challenges businesses and consumers are experiencing regarding refunds for cancelled holidays and flights. Airlines are working hard to answer the high call volumes and to process the very large number of applications for refunds.
The Government appreciates the distress and frustration consumers may be experiencing. The Department for Transport is in regular conversation with UK airlines and working closely with the sector, the regulator and consumer groups to help ensure airlines deliver on their commitments.
The Civil Aviation Authority wrote to UK airlines and some non-EU carriers last week to emphasise their approach on the issue of refunds and setting out their expectation that airlines make refunds in a reasonable period.
Asked by: Ronnie Cowan (Scottish National Party - Inverclyde)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to include e-scooters in the cycle to work scheme.
Answered by George Freeman
The Department has no plans to include e-scooters in the Cycle to Work Scheme. The Cycle to Work Scheme is an employee tax-benefit scheme that enables employees to hire cycles and cycle safety equipment for active travel to work from their employer, or from a third party, in return for a deduction from their earnings via salary sacrifice. The Future of Mobility Regulatory Review is considering appropriate legislation and support framework for emerging micro-mobility vehicles including electric scooters.
Asked by: Ronnie Cowan (Scottish National Party - Inverclyde)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps to include e-scooters in the Active Travel portfolio.
Answered by George Freeman
The Department has no plans to include e-scooters within the Active Travel portfolio.
The Future of Mobility Regulatory Review is considering appropriate legislation framework for emerging micro-mobility vehicles including electric scooters. One of the principles of the Future of Mobility Urban Strategy is that cycling and walking should remain the best options for short journeys and we remain committed to that.
The Future of Mobility: Urban Strategy, published on 19 March 2019 includes a Regulatory Review to address the challenges of ensuring our transport infrastructure and regulation are fit for the future. The Strategy can be found at:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-of-mobility-urban-strategy
The Department will use the Regulatory Review to examine current legislation and determine from the evidence what is needed to make the necessary changes for a safe and healthy future. One strand of this will look at options for enabling micro-mobility devices, and a call for evidence will be issued in due course.
Asked by: Ronnie Cowan (Scottish National Party - Inverclyde)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding has been allocated from the Public Purse to Port Glasgow Train Station through the Access for All scheme.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The process to select options to make Port Glasgow more accessible is underway. The anticipated cost of the project will be known once a single design has been identified. Sufficient funding is available to deliver an accessible route both into the station, and to and between each platform. All Access for All projects are due to be completed by 2024 at the latest.
Asked by: Ronnie Cowan (Scottish National Party - Inverclyde)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department taken to help ensure customers affected by the collapse of Thomas Cook receive compensation.
Answered by Paul Maynard
We are sympathetic to those affected by the collapse of Thomas Cook. There is an ongoing process of liquidation which is in the hands of the Official Receiver. Passengers with ATOL protection are entitled to a full refund on any future bookings and the CAA publishes the process to follow after the insolvency has taken place.
Government advise customers without ATOL protection to speak to their credit card provider or the company they booked their holiday with. Passengers should also speak to their travel insurance provider to see if they are able to claim back any of their costs.
Asked by: Ronnie Cowan (Scottish National Party - Inverclyde)
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 collapse of Thomas Cook.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The demise of Thomas Cook has hastened the urgency of taking forward reforms in the area of airline insolvency.
The Government announced in the Queen’s Speech on 14 October, that it would be taking forward an Airline Insolvency Bill. This Bill would provide for a special administration regime, alongside other reforms to enable the Civil Aviation Authority to have greater oversight of airlines in distress. This is the first step to protect passengers and the interests of the taxpayer in the event of future airline insolvency.
In addition, the Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy has written to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) to ensure they prioritise, as a matter of urgency, an investigation into both the causes of the company’s failure and the conduct of its directors. The FRC will conduct a robust investigation into the preparation of the company’s accounts in compliance with these standards and seek areas where lessons may be learned.