Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has a single individual who is responsible for leading on his Department's application of the Family Test.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Better Regulation Unit leads on the application of the Family Test at the Department for Transport.
Where relevant, the effects of regulatory policies that may directly or indirectly affect family relationships or formations are considered through the Regulatory Impact Assessment process.
Within the Better Regulation Unit a Family Test Lead has been identified who represents the Department at the Family Test Network, hosted by the Department for Work and Pensions, to ensure we play an active role in Family Test policy development and implement the latest best practices and guidance.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of automotive-telematic products for road safety and the environment.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Department for Transport recognises the potential benefits of telematics and other in-vehicle technologies in promoting fuel-efficient driving behaviours, which could save motorists and businesses money and reduce vehicle emissions. In line with our commitment in Government’s ‘Road to Zero’ strategy, the Department has established a technology taskforce with the motoring and insurance industries to explore the role that new vehicle technologies has to play, and put in place appropriate interventions. The Department is also exploring the potential benefits of this technology in reducing the risk of young driver collisions through the Driver 2020 project.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to invest in transport infrastructure in Cornwall.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department is investing significantly in transport infrastructure in Cornwall. This spending is helping to deliver a package of investment worth over £2 billion on the strategic road network in the wider south-west, as well as major improvements to the region’s rail network.
Examples on Cornwall specific investment are presented below:
Strategic Roads
£76 million investment in dualling the A30 between Temple and Higher Carblake (which opened in July 2017) and £290 million for a new 8.7 mile dual carriageway on the A30 between Chiverton and Carland Cross.
Rail
The new fleet of 29 Hitachi trains being introduced to services between London and the South West represent an investment worth £361m.
The Government has contributed £9m to a package to modernise the Cornish Sleeper trains and move maintenance of the trains from London to a new facility at Penzance Long Rock Depot, creating new local jobs.
We are also resignalling the main line from Totnes to Penzance via Plymouth, enabling a more frequent local/regional service to operate on this line.
£1.2 million through the Access for All programme for a new footbridge with accessible lifts at St Austell station.
Aviation
Government investment in a new direct air route between Newquay and Heathrow Airport from April 2019 which will give passengers a choice of more than 200 destinations across 85 countries via Heathrow.
Local Transport Schemes
£78 million government investment towards the cost of the St Austell Link Road.
£16 million government contribution towards the Camborne–Pool–Redruth (East–West Link) road.
£5.5 million for Local Pinch Point schemes at Rialton Link, Treluswell and Union Corner Junctions.
£38 million annually for local highway and other local transport maintenance and improvements in Cornwall (up from £30 million in 2010/2011), including over £1.3 million through the Pothole Action Fund.
£10 million through the Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund for major asset renewal and improved cycle provision on the main arterial route connecting Truro with the A30 at Carland Cross; and for targeted repair works at 53 sites on the local road network.
£2.3 million towards a package of sustainable transport measures in Central and East Cornwall through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.
Growth Deal
The Growth Deal funding settlement of over £78 million for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will deliver improvements to Penzance, St Erth and Truro stations and funded Wi-Fi in virtually all Cornish stations. It is also funding lounges / showers for sleeper passengers at Penzance, Truro and Paddington. St Erth is also being upgraded to a new transport interchange including Park & Ride parking for St Ives.
Growth Deal money totalling £8 million is also being used to fund a package of improvements to the bus network, including new cleaner vehicles, bus stop improvements and integrated ticketing.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to support the development of hydrogen fuelled heavy duty vehicles.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government’s long-term goal is the development and deployment of zero emission HGVs. Zero emission technologies are starting to emerge for the HGV sector, particularly for those vehicles with shorter range requirements. Hydrogen is likely to be a feasible zero emission fuel for large, long-haul HGVs.
In 2017, OLEV and Innovate UK awarded £20 million of grant funding to 20 projects through the Low Emissions Freight and Logistics Trial (LEFT), alongside £12m in private investment. The aim is to support industry-led trials of alternative propulsion technologies for commercial fleets in the UK, including electricity, hydrogen and gas. Since 2016, ultra-low emission vehicles heavier than 3.5 tonnes, including hydrogen HGVs, have been eligible for a grant of up to £20,000 per vehicle. The Department expects to make the first awards of this grant shortly.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations the Government has made to the International Maritime Organisation on impact assessments for the large-scale use of scrubbers on marine environments and ecosystems.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Department and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, played an active role in the development of the Guidelines for the use of scrubbing technology at both European and international level. Ships’ installed scrubbers must be approved in accordance with the Guidelines before operating in UK waters.
Along with other European States, we recognise that more ship owners are installing these systems in order to comply with the 0.5% sulphur cap, and that large numbers of ships using scrubbers in enclosed waters might have an impact on local water quality. This is why we have asked for more evidence from ship owners and industry associations about the content of wash water, and there are a number of ongoing studies being undertaken by the industry on the issue. At this stage, we are not aware of any significant issues which have been found, but we will seek further amendments to the IMO Guidelines if it becomes clear that additional controls are needed.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to (a) assess and (b) mitigate the risks that scrubber technology and its waste pose to the UK's coastal areas and marine ecosystem.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Government has not seen evidence that the use of scrubbing technology would have a significant effect on the marine environment.
All scrubbers must comply with mandatory Guidelines, which were developed by the International Maritime Organization, before they are allowed to become operational. Any wash water discharges are controlled under these IMO Guidelines.
We have asked for more evidence from ship owners and industry associations about the content of wash water, and there are a number of ongoing industry-led studies on the issue. At this stage, we are not aware of any significant issues which have been found, but we will seek further amendments to the IMO Guidelines if it becomes clear that additional controls are needed.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 March 2018 to Question 132937 on Aviation, what definition his Department uses for (a) licensed and (b) certificated aerodromes.
Answered by Jesse Norman
A certificated aerodrome is one that falls within the scope of Commission Regulation (EU) No 139/2014. Aerodromes fall within the scope of this Regulation if they are open to public use; serve commercial air transport; operate using instrument flight procedures; and have a paved runway of 800 metres or above.
An aerodrome outside of the scope of Commission Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 is required to be licensed if it meets the criteria outlined in Part 8 of the Air Navigation Order 2016. Such an aerodrome is required to hold a national licence if it is used for commercial air transport or flying training in aircraft above a specified weight.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will list the (a) names and (b) ICAO identifiers of all current Civil Aviation Authority-licensed airfields in the UK.
Answered by Jesse Norman
123 aerodromes in the United Kingdom currently have either an aerodrome certificate or license. These are set out in the table attached.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Network Rail on improving safety at level crossings in Cornwall; and what steps are being taken to improve such safety.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
My Department has frequent discussions with Network Rail about level crossing safety across the UK.
In 2018, Network Rail will be delivering a number of safety improvements in Cornwall as part of its Capacity Enabling Scheme. These enhancements include upgrading seven high-risk level crossings located on the mainline railway. This will see the installation of overlay miniature stop lights (OMSL) systems at user-worked, footpath and bridleway crossings, and the enhancement of a half barrier public road crossing to full barrier protection with obstacle detection.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
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 bringing forward proposals to increase minimum tyre depth treads to prevent used tyre imports and improve road safety.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department for Transport does not monitor the number of imported part-worn tyres and has made no estimate of the numbers entering the country.
Tyres used on light-duty vehicles must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm through a continuous band across the central three-quarters of the tread width and around the whole circumference of the tyre. The value of 1.6 mm was introduced in 1992 following a review of the effectiveness of worn tyres in the context of safety performance; there are no plans to review this requirement. Part-worn tyres are required to exceed these safe limits, and to have a minimum of 2 mm tread depth across the whole tread width and around the whole circumference of the tyre.
The assessment of tyres during roadside inspection follows the guidance applied during the annual MOT test. The following table provides details on the total number of vehicles checked by the Department’s Agencies in each of the last three years, and the number which failed to meet the required standard for one or more tyres.
Tyre condition roadside assessment
Number of Vehicles checked and number of vehicles with one or more failure
2015/16 | ||
Number Checked | Number Defective | Percentage Defective |
88861 | 7770 | 8.74 |
2016/17 | ||
Number Checked | Number Defective | Percentage Defective |
134275 | 7383 | 5.5 |
2017/18 (to date) | ||
Number Checked | Number Defective | Percentage Defective |
108344 | 5746 | 5.3 |