Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce the risk of covid-19 being spread in the UK by people arriving from overseas into UK airports.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
Airlines and airports have implemented additional measures in response to COVID-19 in line with advice from PHE, SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer. Airports are displaying posters and digital signage relaying Government information about COVID-19. Passengers arriving into UK airports are being given a leaflet with information about the measures in place in the UK, and announcements are made on aircraft an hour before landing.
Targeted screening measures were carried out at UK airports for inbound passengers during the containment phase of the pandemic when the aim was to prevent the virus coming in to the UK.
Whilst there is community transmission within the UK, the role played by imported cases is less significant and so our focus in the current delay phase has not been on screening measures at the border.
As you would expect our approach is being kept under review as the pandemic develops. This may mean that measures and procedures change as we control the spread of, and understand more about, the virus. Any changes to our approach will be led by advice from SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer. Protecting the health of the UK public will always come first.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to stop flights to and from Iran due to the covid-19 outbreak in that country.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
In responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government is working to a scientifically-led, step-by-step action plan, focusing on taking the right measures at the right time.
Whilst there is community transmission within the UK, the role played by imported cases is less significant and so our focus in the current delay phase has not been on screening measures at the border. Additionally, it is vital that flights are still able to land in the UK in order to allow Britons who have been stranded abroad as a result of the pandemic to return home, and to allow key supplies to continue moving into and around the UK.
Airlines and airports have already implemented additional measures in response to COVID-19 in line with advice from PHE, SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer. Airports are displaying posters and digital signage relaying Government information about COVID-19. Passengers arriving into UK airports are being given a leaflet with information about the measures in place in the UK, and announcements are made on aircraft an hour before landing.
Government will keep this process under review as the pandemic develops. This may mean that measures and procedures change as we control the spread of, and understand more about, the virus. Any changes to our approach will be led by advice from SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer. Protecting the health of the UK public will always come first.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding has been allocated to the Mayor of London for reducing emissions from transport in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government has provided the following amounts to help reduce emissions from transport in London since 2011:
Scheme | Amount |
Funding for 338 Low-carbon buses (this figure is for the Green Bus Fund from 2009-2012) | £23m |
Funding for 54 Low-emission buses | £6.4m |
Funding for Ultra-Low Emission taxis | £25m |
ULEV Taxi Infrastructure scheme | £5.2m |
Go-Ultra Low Cities Scheme | £13.1m |
Air Quality Grant (pre-2019) | £2m |
Support to increase ULEV uptake | £10m |
Clean Bus Technology Fund | £6.5m |
Clean Vehicle Technology Fund | £0.5m |
Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme 2019 | £7.0m |
Air Quality Grant 2019 | £0.77m |
Hydrogen for Transport Programme | £0.5m |
Plug-in Car Grant paid out in respect of vehicles registered in London (current available figure) | £45m |
Plug-in Taxi Grant paid for taxis licenced in London (payment made to vehicle manufacturers) | £13.52m |
TOTAL | £158.39m |
TfL also received £5.7bn over the period 2016 to 2021 for general transport funding, which included funding to cover the implementation of measures to address air quality.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding has been allocated to the Mayor of London for reducing emissions from buses in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government has provided the following amounts to Transport for London (TfL) to help reduce emissions from buses over the last 10 years:
Year | Scheme name | Amount (£) |
2019 | Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme | £6,956,000 |
2017-19 | Clean Bus Technology Extension Fund | £3,000,000 |
2017-19 | Clean Bus Technology Fund | £3,000,000 |
2016 | Low Emission Bus Scheme | £6,407,000 |
2015 | Clean Bus Technology Fund | £500,000 |
2014 | Clean Vehicle Technology Fund | £500,000 |
2009-12 | Green Bus Fund | £22,999,740 |
TOTAL |
| £43,362,740 |
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which areas of land around (a) High Barnet, (b) Cockfosters and (c) Finchley Central underground stations are classed as operational land by Transport for London.
Answered by Michael Ellis
TfL and its subsidiaries, including LUL, own operational land for facilities such as stations, track and sidings vital for running its railway and tramway services.
Under the GLA Act 1999, land is deemed to be operational if it used to carry on any railway or tramway undertaking of TfL (or one of its subsidiaries), and if an interest is held in the land for that purpose.
The Department for Transport does not keep records of which land is considered to be operational.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to tackle the effect on road safety of excessively bright car headlights.
Answered by Michael Ellis
Regulations are already in place to help prevent headlamps from causing glare. Before vehicles can be sold or registered in the United Kingdom manufacturers must ensure compliance with international vehicle approval requirements, which include defined beam patterns and intensities to minimise the occurrence of glare.
The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 prohibit the use of headlamps that can cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other road users. Vehicle users have a responsibility to ensure their vehicles are maintained correctly, and headlamp aim is checked at the annual roadworthiness inspection (MOT test) to ensure it is within acceptable limits.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that charges levied under the proposed UK Drone Registration Scheme will be kept to a minimum for people who fly models as a hobby.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recently published its consultation on the proposed charge to cover the cost of running the upcoming Unmanned Aircraft Operator Registration and Education Scheme. The proposed charge balances keeping the charge for registration as low as possible with ensuring that the scheme funds itself. Consultation responses will inform the CAA’s final decision on the charge, which will be taken in July 2019.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to tackle the cancellation of trains on the Great Northern Line at Oakleigh Park.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department is aware that, despite overall punctuality improvements in recent months, there has been a high level of cancellations on the Great Northern route recently, and has raised this issue with the operator. GTR has confirmed that it has put in place some operational changes during the last week which we expect to improve the situation, and officials will continue to monitor performance to ensure that there is an improvement.
Brand new trains with more capacity are replacing old 1970s rolling stock on the Great Northern Line which will transform the passenger experience on this line. They are currently being introduced into service and will provide additional passenger benefits such as WiFi, air conditioning and a plug socket at every seat. Drivers are currently training on the new rolling stock which has reduced GTR’s staffing resilience, and has contributed to the level of cancellations. We continue to press GTR to introduce these new trains without disruption to passengers.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what changes have been made to the performance specification for Highways England to reflect the goal of improving litter cleaning set out on page 58 of the 2017 Litter Strategy for England.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department is currently considering a revised Key Performance Indicator for Highways England as part of the development of the second Road Investment Strategy (2020 – 2025).
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 58 of the 2017 Litter Strategy for England, whether a revised Key Performance Indicator has been introduced for Highways England relating to litter cleaning.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department is currently considering a revised Key Performance Indicator for Highways England as part of the development of the second Road Investment Strategy (2020 – 2025).