Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answers of 13 February 2019 to Questions 218813 and 218814, what the timescale is for the delivery of a Southern Rail Link to Heathrow; and when he plans to set out further opportunities for market involvement in that project.
Answered by Andrew Jones
In line with the recommendations of the recently published Market Sounding Report on Southern Rail Link to Heathrow, Government is now working to further develop and clarify the outcomes we want to be delivered from this project and consider appropriate commercial models. The Secretary of State has committed to complete this work as soon as possible and we will set out further engagement opportunities in due course.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to publicise to motorists who intend to travel to EU countries after the UK leaves the EU that they will need an insurance green card in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Lord Grayling
From 29 March 2019, if there is no EU exit deal and the European Commission does not make an implementing decision allowing the UK to remain a part of the Green Card-free area, we expect that motorists will be required to carry a Green Card as proof of their third-party motor insurance when driving in EU or EEA countries. The Government has taken several steps to ensure that motorists in both Northern Ireland and Great Britain are prepared for this scenario.
In September 2018, we published the motor insurance technical notice which provided in depth advice and information on what motorists may need when travelling to the EU after exit, as well as how they can obtain a green card and who they can contact for further information.
The Government also issued a new citizens communications campaign this month. This echoed earlier advice issued in the technical notice, and uses radio, digital ads and social media to direct citizens to gov.uk/euexit.
We have engaged regularly with the insurance industry, ensuring that communications across the board are aligned and consistent. The Motor Insurers’ Bureau has issued comprehensive advice to both motorists and insurers on their website, alongside directing them towards the government issued advice. The Association of British Insurers have also most recently put out communications which advise that motorists request a green card one month in advance of travel.
We will continue to engage with the insurance industry to ensure these changes are effectively communicated to the public.
Our intention is to of course remain part of the Green Card-free circulation area and the UK meets all of the requirements needed to remain a part of it when we leave the EU. This would mean that UK drivers would continue to be able to drive in EU member states without the requirement to hold a motor insurance green card. We urge the Commission to issue a decision on the UK’s membership in the green card-free circulation zone.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to publicise to motorists intending to travel to EU countries after the UK leaves the EU the consequences of not travelling with an insurance green card in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Lord Grayling
From 29 March 2019, if there is no EU exit deal and the European Commission does not make an implementing decision allowing the UK to remain a part of the Green Card-free area, we expect that motorists will be required to carry a Green Card as proof of their third-party motor insurance when driving in EU or EEA countries. The Government has taken several steps to ensure that motorists in both Northern Ireland and Great Britain are prepared for this scenario.
In September 2018, we published the motor insurance technical notice which provided in depth advice and information on what motorists may need when travelling to the EU after exit, as well as how they can obtain a green card and who they can contact for further information.
The Government also issued a new citizens communications campaign this month. This echoed earlier advice issued in the technical notice, and uses radio, digital ads and social media to direct citizens to gov.uk/euexit.
We have engaged regularly with the insurance industry, ensuring that communications across the board are aligned and consistent. The Motor Insurers’ Bureau has issued comprehensive advice to both motorists and insurers on their website, alongside directing them towards the government issued advice. The Association of British Insurers have also most recently put out communications which advise that motorists request a green card one month in advance of travel.
We will continue to engage with the insurance industry to ensure these changes are effectively communicated to the public.
Our intention is to of course remain part of the Green Card-free circulation area and the UK meets all of the requirements needed to remain a part of it when we leave the EU. This would mean that UK drivers would continue to be able to drive in EU member states without the requirement to hold a motor insurance green card. We urge the Commission to issue a decision on the UK’s membership in the green card-free circulation zone.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to publicise to motorists in Northern Ireland that they will need an insurance green card in order to drive in the Republic of Ireland in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Lord Grayling
From 29 March 2019, if there is no EU exit deal and the European Commission does not make an implementing decision allowing the UK to remain a part of the Green Card-free area, we expect that motorists will be required to carry a Green Card as proof of their third-party motor insurance when driving in EU or EEA countries. The Government has taken several steps to ensure that motorists in both Northern Ireland and Great Britain are prepared for this scenario.
In September 2018, we published the motor insurance technical notice which provided in depth advice and information on what motorists may need when travelling to the EU after exit, as well as how they can obtain a green card and who they can contact for further information.
The Government also issued a new citizens communications campaign this month. This echoed earlier advice issued in the technical notice, and uses radio, digital ads and social media to direct citizens to gov.uk/euexit.
We have engaged regularly with the insurance industry, ensuring that communications across the board are aligned and consistent. The Motor Insurers’ Bureau has issued comprehensive advice to both motorists and insurers on their website, alongside directing them towards the government issued advice. The Association of British Insurers have also most recently put out communications which advise that motorists request a green card one month in advance of travel.
We will continue to engage with the insurance industry to ensure these changes are effectively communicated to the public.
Our intention is to of course remain part of the Green Card-free circulation area and the UK meets all of the requirements needed to remain a part of it when we leave the EU. This would mean that UK drivers would continue to be able to drive in EU member states without the requirement to hold a motor insurance green card. We urge the Commission to issue a decision on the UK’s membership in the green card-free circulation zone.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether officials in the British Transport Police have had annual leave scheduled for April 2019 cancelled.
Answered by Andrew Jones
No officials in BTP have had annual leave cancelled in April 2019.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people in Northern Ireland have applied for a green card as proof of insurance in order to be able to drive in the EU in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Lord Grayling
The Department for Transport does not have the statistics for the number of Green cards requested and issued to date. This is because the Government is not responsible for issuing Green Cards. They are issued directly by companies that provide vehicle insurance to their policy holders.
Motorists in the UK should contact their vehicle insurer who will be able to provide them with advice on their Insurance Green Card requirements and issue them with the relevant documentation.
The advice from the Association of British Insurers is that motorists should contact their insurers a month before they plan on travelling.