Tag: transport

Bishop of Leeds asks about road investment and public transport strategies

On 11th September 2024, the Bishop of Leeds asked a question on the government’s road investment strategy and the need to look at things holistically alongside public transport development:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, the answers we have had so far, which are welcome, refer to future strategy in terms of economics and finance, but there is another element that this Government have built into their programme, which is making long-term decisions. Is any future road strategy being looked at holistically in relation to public transport development? They cannot run in separate grooves.

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Bishop of Leeds asks about plans to improve the transport network in the North of England

The Bishop of Leeds asked a question on plans to revitalise the transport network in the North of England on 23rd July 2024, particularly regarding rail connectivity:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, one of the mysteries of HS2 was that you could get to places like Leeds 16 minutes quicker, but you could not get anywhere else when you got there because of deficiencies in the northern network. What confidence can we have that any other plans that come forward will be realised and improve the situation in the north?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about issues affecting shipping in the English channel

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 23rd May 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to prevent oil spills by the Russian shadow fleet in the English Channel.

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Bishop of Norwich asks about impact of construction of the Norwich West Link dual-carriageway

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answer on 13th May 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government:

  • what discussions they have had with (1) Natural England, and (2) Norfolk County Council, about the proposed construction of the Norwich West Link.
  • further to the Natural England report Definition of Favourable Conservation Status for barbastelle bat, published on 8 March, which placed “favourable conservation status” on barbastelle bats present in the area of the Norwich Western Link, what assessment they have made of the viability of the construction of the Norwich West Link.
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Bishop of Manchester supports motion to regret on National Networks Policy statement

On 8th May 2024, Bishop of Manchester spoke in support of a Motion to Regret tabled by Lord Berkeley: “That this House regrets the Government’s decision to lay the National Networks National Policy Statement, laid before the House on 6 March, without carrying out the systematic review of road projects recommended by the Climate Change Committee; addressing the risk of insufficient environmental action by the Department for Transport highlighted by the National Audit Office; or joining up their policies with the missions presented to Parliament under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.“

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, as it seems compulsory in this short debate to quote Voltaire, perhaps I might take us to his wonderful creation, Dr Pangloss, who continues to assert:

“All is for the best in this best of all possible worlds”

even while the horrors are descending around him. I feel there is something of that in the statement; it is a bit Panglossian. As noble Lords have already said, we face a climate emergency and crisis, and this statement is not adequate to the seriousness of the situation that we are in.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about risks associated with electric vehicles produced in China

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 15th April 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact upon national security of Chinese-made electric vehicles; and whether they plan to further investigate any risks that may arise.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about information on tankers in the English channel

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 12th March 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Gower on 14 February (HL2349), in what form the information on vessel transponders is collected; and where is it published.

Lord Douglas Miller (Con, DfT): The Government does not routinely collect information on vessel transponders.

Hansard

Bishop of St Albans asks about taxation of taxi and rideshare companies

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 12th March 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 13 February (HL2098), when the consultation on the Uber Britannia Ltd v Sefton MBC High Court ruling will be published.

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Bishop of Manchester comments on pressures faced by Avanti train staff

The Bishop of Manchester spoke in a discussion on issues with the Avanti train service on 27th February 2024, expressing support for the train staff working under difficult conditions and inviting the government to do the same:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, a number of times in this short session, we seem to have had it suggested that somehow the Avanti staff are to blame. I suffer along with the noble Lord, Lord Goddard, regularly on that Manchester Piccadilly to Euston route. The staff are wonderful; it is not the driver’s fault if they are eight minutes late, or the fault of the person bringing you a cup of tea if they are 40 minutes late. The problem does not lie with the Avanti staff, who are working under incredibly difficult conditions. Can the Minister join me in expressing support for those staff in the work that they are doing under very trying circumstances?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about unauthorised tankers in the English Channel

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 14 February 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the number of ships in the ‘dark fleet’ passing through the English Channel carrying Russian oil and oil products in (1) 2020, (2) 2021, (3) 2022, and (4) 2023.

Lord Davies of Gower (Con, DfT): Definitions of the ‘shadow fleet’ or ‘dark fleet’ vary and so it is not possible to provide accurate figures in relation to the English Channel. This practice has emerged since the introduction of the Russian Oil Services ban and Oil Price Cap Exception by the Price Cap Coalition of the G7, the European Union and Australia in December 2022.

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