Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
What steps his Department is taking to support a green maritime sector in the UK.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
My Department recently launched a £20 million Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, building on the vision set out in the Clean Maritime Plan published in 2019 and will announce further policy proposals in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan this Spring.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the UK seeking a reciprocal agreement with the EU on the transfer of UK Civil Aviation Authority Flight Crew Licences to EU member states signed up to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The UK and EU have agreed a high-level Aviation Safety Agreement, with an annex on Airworthiness. We are aware that there is interest in further annexes on topics such as licencing recognition between the UK and EU. There is potential to negotiate further annexes to the agreement in the future, and the UK will continue to engage with the EU on this matter.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of HS2 for people in Ynys Môn; and what plans he has for rail investment in North Wales.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
HS2 will free up capacity on the existing West Coast Main Line which could be used for additional services. Current plans would see North Wales passengers benefiting from an HS2 interchange at Crewe, with shorter journey times than those currently possible on the West Coast Main Line to Holyhead.
In addition, we are progressing the development of a line speed enhancement scheme for the North Wales Coast Line, and the Prime Minister has asked Sir Peter Hendy CBE to undertake an independent review into transport connections across Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. The review will make recommendations on how the UK Government can level up transport infrastructure, boosting access to opportunities and improving people’s everyday connections.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) ferry operators and (b) haulage companies on the reduced use of the UK land bridge affecting Holyhead Port since 1 January 2021.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
My officials or I have had a number of discussions with ferry, port and haulage operators in relation to Irish Sea traffic since 1 January, encompassing reductions in traffic at Holyhead, Fishguard and Pembroke compared with equivalent weeks in previous years. A significant proportion of these reductions is likely to be attributable to the expansion and take-up of direct services recently introduced and strongly promoted between the Republic of Ireland and other EU ports. It is, however, too early to identify any longer term trends or say what the longer term impacts will be. The Government is, however, confident that Welsh ports, and Holyhead in particular, will continue to provide critical routes to and from the Republic of Ireland and continental Europe, irrespective of direct links for haulage between Ireland and France. The land bridge route has significant advantages for hauliers over maritime routes and the Government is confident that Welsh ports will continue to thrive as we build on the opportunities provided by being an independent trading nation.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of direct ferry links for haulage from the EU to the Republic of Ireland on (a) Holyhead Port and (b) the Welsh economy.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
My officials or I have had a number of discussions with ferry, port and haulage operators in relation to Irish Sea traffic since 1 January, encompassing reductions in traffic at Holyhead, Fishguard and Pembroke compared with equivalent weeks in previous years. A significant proportion of these reductions is likely to be attributable to the expansion and take-up of direct services recently introduced and strongly promoted between the Republic of Ireland and other EU ports. It is, however, too early to identify any longer term trends or say what the longer term impacts will be. The Government is, however, confident that Welsh ports, and Holyhead in particular, will continue to provide critical routes to and from the Republic of Ireland and continental Europe, irrespective of direct links for haulage between Ireland and France. The land bridge route has significant advantages for hauliers over maritime routes and the Government is confident that Welsh ports will continue to thrive as we build on the opportunities provided by being an independent trading nation.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has drawn up criteria for evaluating the outcomes of his Department’s trials of electric scooters.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Department set how it will evaluate rental e-scooter trials in its guidance to local areas and rental operators in September 2020. As stated in the guidance, the primary areas of focus for DfT and its monitoring and evaluation contractors include:
safety outcomes for e-scooter users and what influences this
interaction with, and effect on, other road users
public perceptions of e-scooters, including by people with disabilities and related groups
nature of modal shift and new journeys that have been enabled
characteristics of users, and how uptake and outcomes differ for different groups
The evidence gathered during trials, the responses to the Future of Transport regulatory review call for evidence and other research will inform legal changes that may be necessary after the trial period ends.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on rates of pay for (a) seafarers and (b) maritime workers.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Department is working with unions and industry to understand what steps can be taken to further protect jobs and livelihoods in the sector. However, no recent in-depth assessment has been made on the impact of Covid-19 on rates of pay for seafarers or maritime workers.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take to help prevent accidents as a result of collisions between jet skis and boats.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Local and harbour authorities already have powers to introduce measures controlling personal water craft and boat use in the waters they manage. They are best placed to consider what provisions are necessary in their local areas to ensure safety and deliver an appropriate balance between the requirements and priorities of different water users.
While the majority of personal watercraft riders use their craft sensibly and safely, we are currently considering the introduction of new enforcement measures to ensure that any who willfully or neglectfully cause accidents or endanger the safety of others can be prosecuted.