Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label attachment file name title
tabling member	label

Search

1361706

registered interest
date	20/10/2021
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railways: Commuters
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what comparative assessment he has made of the level of commuting on the UK rail network so far in 2021 with (a) 2017, (b) 2018 and (c) 2019.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	59928
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2021 answer text <p>No comparative assessment of commuting levels in 2021 has yet been made by the Department.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Statistical estimates on commuting journeys by rail is available for 2020 and earlier time periods. Table 1 below presents the proportion of rail trips that were for the purpose of commuting by year</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Commuters as a percentage of rail users</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>47%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>47%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>47%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>37%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Please note: due to changes in the methodology of data collection, changes in travel behaviour, and a reduction of data collected during 2020, as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, care should be taken when interpreting this data and comparing to other years, due to the small sample sizes.</p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 25/10/2021 13:25:35 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1361707

registered interest
date	20/10/2021
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Railways: Electrification
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on funding for electrification of the UK rail network in relation to the 2040 target to remove all diesel-only trains from the network.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	59929
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2021 answer text <p>The Net Zero Strategy published last week reiterated the government’s commitment to deliver a net zero rail network by 2050, with the ambition to remove all diesel-only trains by 2040. Earlier this year, the government announced a £317 million investment to electrify and upgrade the Transpennine route between York and Church Fenton and a £78 million investment to electrify the route between Wigan and Bolton.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently carrying out the Spending Review which will set the Department for Transports’ resource and capital budgets for the next 3 years (2022-23 to 2024-25). This Spending Review concludes on 27th October alongside the Autumn Budget 2021.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 25/10/2021 14:22:33 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1361732

registered interest
date	20/10/2021
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Bank Cards: Fraud
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he plans to take to monitor potential increased fraudulent use of contactless cards following the payment limit increase to £100.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	59718
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2021 answer text <p>Since 15 October 2021, consumers and businesses have been able to take advantage of new higher contactless payments limits.</p><p> </p><p>The legal contactless payment limits were raised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) through changes to the Strong Customer Authentication rules in March 2021. The FCA has the power to amend these limits subject to public consultation and Treasury approval.</p><p> </p><p>In line with this process, the FCA publicly consulted on increasing contactless limits. In making this decision the FCA fully considered the risks to customers, including the potential impacts on fraud, alongside the benefits. When the limits were last raised in Spring 2020 from £30 to £45 there was no significant recorded increase in the fraudulent use of contactless cards.  Similarly, no material increase in fraudulent transactions has been observed in other countries where the contactless limit increased to the equivalent of £100 or above. The FCA continues to monitor fraud rates across all payment types and will consider action as appropriate if fraud rates rise.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 25/10/2021 13:54:43 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1361734

registered interest
date	20/10/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Loneliness
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent progress his Department has made on tackling loneliness following the Let’s Talk Loneliness campaign and the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	59720
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2021 answer text <p>The Department’s response to the COVID-19 recognised the importance of social connection, and we are continuing to build on this as part of our strategy to tackle loneliness.</p><p>In addition to providing over £34 million to charities tackling loneliness through the £750 million Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) funding package, over recent months we have continued to deliver the £4 million Local Connections Fund. This funding is being delivered in partnership with the National Lottery Community Fund, and so far we have awarded over 1,300 microgrants to charities and community groups that help people to connect via the things they enjoy. For example, we’ve supported songwriting workshops in Devon, dance classes in Bedfordshire, and online chat services in Durham.</p><p>In September, we launched the Loneliness Engagement Fund to provide small grants to organisations that can reach the groups in England most affected by loneliness during COVID-19. Funding will be provided to support communications and engagement activity that will help reduce feelings of stigma, and encourage people to take steps to help themselves and others. We will inform organisations who have been successful in applying for funding in early November.</p><p>We are also preparing to deliver winter loneliness campaign activity as part of the Better Health: Every Mind Matters campaign. Building on the success of the Let’s Talk Loneliness campaign, we will be reminding people that it is OK to feel lonely, and providing advice on how people can help themselves and others to tackle loneliness.</p><p>We continue to support organisations across sectors to take action on loneliness through our Tackling Loneliness Network. This year, we set up a digital platform to support members of the Network to connect and share resources and best practice. We are also working closely with stakeholders and experts through our new Social Connection Funders Group, and our Loneliness Evidence Group.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 25/10/2021 14:38:23 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1361752

registered interest
date	20/10/2021
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Hospitals: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to ease covid-19 visiting restrictions in NHS hospitals over the Christmas and New Year period.
tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
tabling member printed	Jane Stevenson
uin	59964
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2021 answer text <p>We recognise the importance of being able to visit family, friends and loved ones in hospital, including over the Christmas and New Year period. Since the end of the national restrictions, hospital visiting is subject to local discretion by trusts and other National Health Service bodies, taking into account the local prevalence of COVID-19 and the health, safety and wellbeing of patients, communities and staff.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 25/10/2021 09:55:45 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4750 label Biography information for Jane Stevenson

1361764

registered interest
date	20/10/2021
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Public Transport: Protective Clothing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to make face coverings mandatory with exemptions for people who cannot wear them on public transport to reduce transmission of covid-19; by what means he is assessing the extent to which the Government recommendation to continue wearing a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you come into contact with people you don’t usually meet is being adhered to on public transport; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	59758
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2021 answer text <p>The success of the vaccination programme meant that at Step 4 of the Roadmap we were able to move away from legal restrictions. However, Government guidance sets out that members of the public should wear face coverings in crowded and enclosed areas where they come into contact with people they do not normally meet.</p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 25/10/2021 11:18:06 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1361771

registered interest
date	20/10/2021
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Type 45 Destroyers: Repairs and Maintenance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what upgrades were made to the Type 45 destroyers by his Department's engineers after technical problems were uncovered in recent years.
tabling member constituency	West Dunbartonshire
tabling member printed	Martin Docherty-Hughes
uin	59809
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2021 answer text <p>I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 July 2020 to Question 66798 from the Rt Hon. Member for New Forest East (Dr Lewis).</p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin question first answered 25/10/2021 13:48:38 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin attachment 1 file name UIN 66798.docx title Type 45 Destroyers: Repairs and Maintenance
tabling member	4374 label Biography information for Martin Docherty-Hughes

1361780

registered interest
date	20/10/2021
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Electric Vehicles: Charging Points
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to help local authorities improve electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	59883
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2021 answer text <p>The Government’s On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) is available to all UK local authorities to provide public chargepoints for their residents without access to off-street parking. This year, £20 million is available under the scheme to ensure more local authorities and residents can benefit. We also offer extensive support and guidance for local authorities including through the Energy Saving Trust (EST), which runs the Local Government Support Programme – an impartial advisory service which helps local authorities in England to develop local policies and strategies to support ZEV uptake. We will also work with EST on a series of webinars to support the sharing of best practice and expertise, and ensure local authorities are sighted of the national policy developments and direction in this space. We believe that local authorities have a crucial role to play in enabling the transition to zero emission driving and we are working closer than ever with them to encourage uptake of central Government funding. In early 2022, in collaboration with the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), we will publish an EV infrastructure guide for local authorities to assist with the transition to ZEVs. More widely, later this year, we will publish an electric vehicle infrastructure strategy, setting out our vision for infrastructure rollout, and roles for the public and private sectors in achieving it.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 25/10/2021 12:49:04 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1361781

registered interest
date	20/10/2021
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Electric Vehicles: Subsidies
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to introduce subsidies that bring the retail value of electric cars in line with their fossil fuel counterparts.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	59884
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2021 answer text <p>The Government has committed to introduce a zero emission vehicle mandate setting targets for a percentage of manufacturers’ new car and van sales to be zero emission each year from 2024. The Government announced a further £620m towards the electric vehicle transition as part of the Net Zero Strategy. This will have a particular focus on targeted plug in vehicle grants and local on-street residential charging. This is in addition to the Government’s existing support to drivers making the switch to electric vehicles through the Plug in Car Grant (PiCG), which provides up to £2,500. Government has already previously committed £582m towards for cars vans, motorcycles and taxis to 2022/23, following the Budget in 2020. This will support greater uptake of zero emission vehicles for greener journeys. Once fuel costs and tax incentives are factored in, we expect the total cost of ownership to reach parity during the 2020s, compared to petrol and diesel cars. It costs from 1p per mile to run a new electric vehicle, compared to around 10p per mile for new diesel or petrol vehicles. We are also supporting the second hand market, through charging infrastructure support and zero road tax for zero emission vehicles.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 25/10/2021 13:22:18 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1361782

registered interest
date	20/10/2021
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Plastics: Waste
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce plastic waste by supporting investment in bio-wraps such as corn starch.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	59885
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to tackling plastic pollution and will explore all options to reduce the impact of plastic on our environment.</p><p>In April we published our response to the call for evidence on the need for standards for bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics. Responses were mixed regarding the contribution of bio-based plastics to a more circular economy, with positive views about potential carbon contrasting with more cautious views about their potential impacts on land-use and waste management.</p><p>Further research is required to better understand the trade-offs and environmental impacts associated with generating the feedstocks for bio-based plastics. A key area of interest for the Government is bio-based plastics derived from materials that would otherwise have been waste. We welcome further research on the full environmental impacts of bio-based plastics. You can find out more information at: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fconsultations%2Fstandards-for-biodegradable-compostable-and-bio-based-plastics-call-for-evidence&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C69c877e35168402db1ff08d997a0bb88%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C637707538870454211%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=6Y4IBhP5G4KRlfxZB4yy%2FpAoprfUSxpO2NfSYqVVo7U%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/standards-for-biodegradable-compostable-and-bio-based-plastics-call-for-evidence</a></p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 25/10/2021 14:15:32 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes