Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his timetable is for publishing the results of his Department’s pavement parking consultation which closed on 22 November 2020.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Department received over 15,000 responses to the consultation. We are carefully considering the consultation findings and will be publishing a response when we have completed this work, which is a priority.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's traffic light system for international travel, what the scientific criteria is for determining whether a country is rated green, amber or red.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) produces risk assessments of countries and territories. Decisions on Red, Amber or Green List assignment and associated border measures are taken by Ministers, who take into account the JBC risk assessments, alongside wider public health factors. Key factors in the JBC risk assessment of each country include genomic surveillance capability, COVID-19 transmission risk and Variant of Concern transmission risk. A summary of the JBC methodology has been published on GOV.UK, alongside key data that supports ministers’ decisions.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals for a default 20mph motor vehicle speed limit for urban areas in the UK.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Department published a comprehensive three-year evaluation of the effect of 20mph signed-only limits on 22 November 2018.
The research substantially strengthens the evidence base on perceptions, speeds and early outcomes associated with 20mph speed limits, and is the only major UK study to consider multiple case study areas and provide a national view.
The headline findings were:
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that people returning from red list, amber list and green list countries during the covid-19 pandemic are able to keep apart at UK airports.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The government has issued clear guidance for both passengers and operators, with airports encouraged to introduce clear signage and one-way passenger flows where appropriate. Arrangements may vary depending on the airport and guidance is available to support operators to manage flows in a COVID-secure way.
We continue to improve processes which maintain the checks we need to carry out to keep the public safe, while minimising disruption, and passengers can support this process by ensuring they have completed the necessary requirements to enter the UK. The government continue to engage with the aviation sector to ensure they are supported in implementing best practices.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential for returnees from green and amber list countries to transmit covid-19 on public transport facilities; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of mandating green and amber list returnees to be picked up by car by someone in their household or by taxi.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The country lists have been informed by public health advice, including extensive data from the Joint Biosecurity Centre and are reviewed every three weeks. The Department for Transport recommends returnees only to use public transport to travel home or to where they plan to self-isolate if there is no other option. If they must travel by public transport, they should take all safety precautions including keeping their distance, wearing a face covering, regularly washing their hands and planning ahead to avoid busy routes. They are advised, if possible, to download the NHS COVID-19 app before travelling, and to check in on the app where there are official NHS COVID-19 QR code posters along their route (such as stops to buy food or if they have to take a break) but otherwise minimise all stops on their journey. Returnees will also have undergone the required pre-departure tests before travelling.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
What plans the Government has to bring forward legislative proposals to enable residents of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods to vote on those schemes.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Authorities are already required to consult with communities on low traffic neighbourhoods. We have no plans to enable local votes.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take to support Eurostar during the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Ministers and officials, working with other Government Departments, have engaged extensively with Eurostar since March 2020 in relation to their financial situation and to help the company access Government support schemes where it is eligible and appropriate.
We continue to engage, at both official and Ministerial level, with Eurostar and the French government regarding Eurostar’s financial situation and any potential support proposals.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has for (a) further electrification of the rail network and (b) other rail decarbonisation projects.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government supports both further electrification and the use of new, innovative technologies to decarbonise the rail network by 2050. The Department’s forthcoming Transport Decarbonisation Plan will set the strategic direction for rail decarbonisation and we will continue to develop individual decarbonisation schemes across the network, ensuring that they are both deliverable and affordable.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the suspension of driving tests on recruitment in the public transport sector.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
We are closely monitoring the situation and engaging with operators to ensure that essential public transport services continue.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding has been received by each local authority in (a) London and (b) England for the purposes of creating low traffic neighbourhoods.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government’s £225 million Emergency Active Travel Fund, launched in May, is designed to help local authorities implement measures to create an environment that is safer for both walking and cycling. This can include the development of low traffic neighbourhoods, should a local authority see fit.
Full funding allocations to local authorities for tranche 1 of the Emergency Active Travel Fund and indicative allocations for tranche 2 can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-active-travel-fund-local-transport-authority-allocations/emergency-active-travel-fund-total-indicative-allocations . Local authorities have received their tranche 1 funding, and an announcement on tranche 2 funding is due to be made shortly.