Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to facilitate the (a) development and (b) deployment of self-driving vehicles in the UK.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The UK Code of Practice for trialling self-driving vehicles on public roads is recognised as one of the most open in the world. Government is working to consider whether updates to the Code of Practice are needed to support advanced trials.
Since 2015, the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles has enabled joint public and private investment of over £400 million into connected and self-driving vehicle innovation and has supported over 90 collaborative projects, involving over 200 organisations. These projects include £200m to establish a globally unique testing infrastructure.
In August 2022 the government published ‘Connected & Automated Mobility 2025: Realising the benefits of self-driving vehicles in the UK’, setting out its work to enable the deployment of self-driving vehicles in the UK by 2025. This includes bringing forward proposals for a comprehensive regulatory, legislative and safety framework.
Over the next three years, government will provide a further £100m of funding for Connected and Automated Mobility technology research and innovation, with £66m aimed at progressing from technology development towards commercial deployment, and £34m to support research into connected and self-driving vehicle safety assurance and preparation within the motoring agencies to carry out their new roles.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it his policy to bring forward legislative proposals for the implementation of self-driving vehicles by 2025.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Government intends to introduce legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has had recent discussions with (a) Great Western Railway, (b) Cross Country Trains, (c) Greater Anglia, (d) LNER, (e) East Midlands Railway, (f) c2c, (g) Chiltern Railways, (h) GTR, (i) Northern Trains, (j) South Eastern, (k) South Western Railway, (l) TransPennine Express, (m) Avanti West Coast and (n) West Midlands Trains on the (i) quality and (ii) frequency of their train services; and whether he will take steps to mandate for those companies to negotiate the wages of railway staff.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The Department is in regular discussion with all 14 train operating companies about the quality and frequency of train services to ensure that operators are held to account for delivering services that meet new passenger travel patterns, are fit for the future, and carefully balance cost, capacity and performance.
The Rail Delivery Group are negotiating with Trade Unions on proposed pay offers at a national level on behalf of Train Operating Companies (the employers). Ministers’ role is to facilitate and support the ongoing discussions between the rail industry and Trade Unions regarding workforce reform and pay.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps she has taken to help prevent (a) high increases to passenger rail fares and (b) overcrowding on trains.
Answered by Huw Merriman
In August we guaranteed we will not be increasing fares as much as the July RPI figure and we will freeze fares until March 2023. There are also several railcards available to passengers that offer discounts against most rail fares.
The Department is working closely with operators to ensure they provide rail timetables that meet new passenger travel patterns, are fit for the future, and carefully balance cost, capacity and performance.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of rules on speed guidance systems in cars; and if she will take steps to introduce new requirements to ensure in-vehicle systems (a) follow road rules and (b) can be overridden by drivers when they do not.
Answered by Katherine Fletcher
There are currently no mandatory requirements for speed guidance systems fitted to cars in Great Britain. Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) is such a system and was mandated for new vehicles by the European Union (EU) from this year under an agreed a package of measures known as the General Safety Regulation (GSR) but does not apply to the UK following our EU Exit.
The UK’s departure from the EU provides the platform to capitalise on regulatory freedoms and make decisions that are right for road safety in Great Britain. An assessment is being undertaken on vehicle technologies introduced by GSR and a decision will be taken in due course as to whether to mandate any of those in Great Britain.
Irrespective of the technology deployed on a vehicle and how it performs, the driver is required by law to be in control of their vehicle at all times. Therefore, as a principle, any Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), like ISA, can be overridden or switched off by the driver at any time.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help rail companies ensure that passengers are not subject to unfair (a) costs and (b) overcrowded services.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Government is taking decisive action to reduce the impact inflation will have on rail fares during the cost of living crisis and, in august, we guaranteed we will not be increasing fares by as much as the July RPI figure. We are also again delaying any change to March 2023, temporarily freezing fares for passengers to travel at a lower price for the entirety of January and February.
Earlier this year we launched the Great British Rail Sale, the first ever nationwide rail sale. Over 1.3 million tickets were sold, offering around £7million worth of savings for passengers.
There are also several railcards available to passengers which offer discounts against most rail fares.
As the pandemic has changed travel habits, train operators are using this opportunity to reassess their services to ensure they provide rail timetables that meet new passenger travel patterns, are fit for the future, and carefully balance cost, capacity and performance.
The new timetables are demand-led and built with flexibility in mind, so if passenger numbers increase as we continue to recover from the pandemic, we can look to accommodate additional services. Where operators have modified their timetables, the changes will be kept under review and, where appropriate, adjusted to reflect fluctuations in demand.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on his Department’s plans to introduce regulations for e-scooters; and what support his Department is giving the police to enforce existing rules regulating e-scooter use.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Transport Bill announced in the Queens Speech, offers an opportunity to set out a new, adaptable regulatory framework for small, light electric vehicles.
It is our intention that the Transport Bill will create a Low-Speed Zero Emission Vehicle category that is independent from the cycle and motor vehicle categories. New powers in the Bill would subsequently allow the Government to decide which vehicles will fall into this category, and how they should be regulated to ensure safe use.
No decisions have been made on the details of the regulations for e-scooters. We will consult before any new arrangements come into force, and all interested parties will have a chance to shape the new regime.
Enforcement of road traffic law and how available resources are deployed to tackle illegal riding of e-scooters is an operational matter for chief officers according to local policing plans. The Government will continue to support the police by ensuring they have the tools needed to enforce road traffic legislation including those relating to electric scooters.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has plans to introduce requirements for airlines to provide seats on flights suitable for people with disabilities.
Answered by Robert Courts
Accessible air travel is a key priority for Government, as highlighted in the recent Flightpath to the Future strategy, which reaffirms Government’s commitment to rebuilding consumer confidence. Government also announced, as part of Flightpath to the Future, that it will publish an Aviation Passenger Charter to ensure passengers are aware of their rights and responsibilities when travelling by air, including information on accessibility.
We recently consulted on a variety of consumer rights issues, including what reforms we could consider to encourage more support for passengers with accessibility needs when travelling by air, and ensuring adequate compensation for damaged or lost wheelchairs on domestic UK flights. We are currently conducting a comprehensive review and analysis of responses and will set out next steps in due course.
The Inclusive Transport Strategy includes commitments to help improve accessibility in aviation and Government is working with consumer groups and disability representatives, to further understand the barriers faced by disabled passengers and those with reduced mobility, particularly in relation to the information available on accessibility in aviation.
Airlines are legally required to provide assistance to passengers according to their individual needs, free of charge. This includes the allocation of a suitable seat, subject to safety and availability.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to help improve the on-board flight experience for disabled passengers.
Answered by Robert Courts
Accessible air travel is a key priority for Government, as highlighted in the recent Flightpath to the Future strategy, which reaffirms Government’s commitment to rebuilding consumer confidence. Government also announced, as part of Flightpath to the Future, that it will publish an Aviation Passenger Charter to ensure passengers are aware of their rights and responsibilities when travelling by air, including information on accessibility.
We recently consulted on a variety of consumer rights issues, including what reforms we could consider to encourage more support for passengers with accessibility needs when travelling by air, and ensuring adequate compensation for damaged or lost wheelchairs on domestic UK flights. We are currently conducting a comprehensive review and analysis of responses and will set out next steps in due course.
The Inclusive Transport Strategy includes commitments to help improve accessibility in aviation and Government is working with consumer groups and disability representatives, to further understand the barriers faced by disabled passengers and those with reduced mobility, particularly in relation to the information available on accessibility in aviation.
Airlines are legally required to provide assistance to passengers according to their individual needs, free of charge. This includes the allocation of a suitable seat, subject to safety and availability.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to help improve accessibility on flights for disabled passengers.
Answered by Robert Courts
Accessible air travel is a key priority for Government, as highlighted in the recent Flightpath to the Future strategy, which reaffirms Government’s commitment to rebuilding consumer confidence. Government also announced, as part of Flightpath to the Future, that it will publish an Aviation Passenger Charter to ensure passengers are aware of their rights and responsibilities when travelling by air, including information on accessibility.
We recently consulted on a variety of consumer rights issues, including what reforms we could consider to encourage more support for passengers with accessibility needs when travelling by air, and ensuring adequate compensation for damaged or lost wheelchairs on domestic UK flights. We are currently conducting a comprehensive review and analysis of responses and will set out next steps in due course.
The Inclusive Transport Strategy includes commitments to help improve accessibility in aviation and Government is working with consumer groups and disability representatives, to further understand the barriers faced by disabled passengers and those with reduced mobility, particularly in relation to the information available on accessibility in aviation.
Airlines are legally required to provide assistance to passengers according to their individual needs, free of charge. This includes the allocation of a suitable seat, subject to safety and availability.