Download or read book The proposal for a national policy statement on ports written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2010-03-17 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: National Policy Statements (NPS) are a key component of the new planning system for nationally significant infrastructure projects, introduced by the Planning Act 2008. The Act stipulates that a proposal for a National Policy Statement will be subject to public consultation and allows for parliamentary scrutiny before designation as national policy by the Secretary of State. The draft Ports National Policy Statement (Department for Transport, 2009) has been welcomed by many organisations as a good start which can be built upon. The Committee has recommended a number of modifications and expects the Department will improve the draft as a result of the consultation and scrutiny processes. The Committee has reservations regarding the Government's 2007 policy for ports and the lack of guidance on location for port development in the NPS but this, of itself, does not make the NPS unfit for purpose. But the Committee cannot recommend designation at this stage on two counts. Firstly, a key, related policy statement - the National Networks NPS - has yet to be published. Secondly, the organisation likely to be one of the principal decision-makers for port development - the Marine Management Organisation - has yet to be established and so has been unable to comment on guidance that will be of great importance to its role. These are fundamental flaws in the consultation process and the Ports NPS should not be designated until they are rectified.

Download or read book The proposals for national policy statements on energy written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Energy and Climate Change Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2010-03-23 with total page 70 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: proposals for national policy statements on Energy : Third report of session 2009-10, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal Minutes

Download or read book HC 1135 National Policy Statement on National Networks written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2014-05-07 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The National Policy Statement on National Networks, published in draft for consultation (ISBN 9780108560071), sets out the policy against which decisions will be made on applications for development consent for nationally significant infrastructure projects on the strategic road and rail networks. The Committee has a number of detailed recommendations to improve the draft. The NPS should specify more types of transport scheme which the Government thinks are needed, such as enhancements to the rail network to promote east-west connectivity; better road and rail connections to ports and airports and to parts of the country which are currently not well served by those networks; and schemes to promote regional economic development. Criticisms of the DfT's road and rail demand forecasts should be addressed. Estimates of the impact on UK carbon emissions of building more road infrastructure are needed. Adverse impacts of major transport schemes on localities should be set out. The NPS should make explicit reference to the desirability of connecting HS2 to the classic rail network. Promoters of roads schemes must look to improve road safety (including for cyclists and pedestrians). The Government is seeking to accommodate increasing demand for roads by building more infrastructure rather than seeking to manage demand. Investment in the road network will require new funding streams, a challenge that must be addressed. However, a consensus would be required to introduce any road user charging scheme across the strategic road network as an alternative to road taxation.

Download or read book Parliamentary Debates Hansard written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons and published by . This book was released on 1922 with total page 546 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Contains the 4th session of the 28th Parliament through the session of the Parliament.

Download or read book Transport and the economy written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2011-03-02 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this report the Transport Committee calls on the Government to publish a White Paper on its transport strategy, explaining in particular how spending on transport will deliver economic growth and development. Such a strategy must set objectives for all transport spending and explain the criteria Ministers will use to decide between different claims on limited financial resources. The report welcomes the commitment to undertake transport investment that will deliver sustainable growth and enterprise, including 'green' industries, balanced across all sectors and in a manner that will reduce regional disparities. Ministers must however ensure that this vision for transport investment is backed up by a pro-active and fully integrated economic development strategy. This is so far absent. The current Government has swept away the regional tier of planning and many institutions that played a key role in the development of strategic priorities for transport spending in support of economic development. This has created a vacuum that has left regions without the institutions and arrangements they need to plan and prioritise sub-national transport schemes and other significant transport infrastructure. The Coalition also needs a much stronger strategy for developing the UK's major ports and airports. The Government must also do more to correct regional disparities in transport investment. The Department for Transport's 'New Approach To Appraisal' process, which plays such a major role in deciding which transport schemes get Government funding, is highly controversial. Small schemes, including sustainable transport projects, may be cut disproportionately under new transport funding arrangements.

Download or read book Sessional returns written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2010-07-27 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On cover and title page: House, committees of the whole House, general committees and select committees

Download or read book Draft Marine Bill written by Bernan and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2008 with total page 492 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Marine Bill was designed to establish a new UK-wide strategic system of marine planning to balance conservation, energy and resource needs, based on the principle of sustainable development and working with the devolved administrations. The Committee reports here reservations about the framework nature of the draft Bill. It was felt that too much of its policy is contained in secondary legislation or guidance. That there are significant areas of confusion of responsibility - between UK and international, especially EU, obligations; between devolved administrations; the many agencies and other bodies who will be involved in delivering the proposals in the Bill.

Download or read book HC 287 Government Motoring Agencies the User Perspective written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2014-10-07 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Government's motoring agencies are undergoing reorganisation and are introducing digital services; both changes have potential to bring welcome improvements. The Government has a mixed approach to organisational change in the agencies with different emphasis on efficiency savings, restructuring, and private sector involvement across the agencies. It needs to do more to explain the future direction for all the motoring agencies and how it will create a more unified service. The agencies could do more to recognise and respond to the needs of business users. There are a number of specific areas that require action by the Government and its motoring agencies: the driver Certificate of Professional Competence may not be delivering all the benefits expected of it and the Government should negotiate changes at a European level; the agencies need to have effective assisted digital strategies in place to help those who cannot or are unwilling to use the internet to access services; the agencies need to work with the Government Digital Service and others to address the problem of misleading copycat websites; the DVLA needs to do more to explain how it is required to share personal data with private parking companies and the safeguards that are in place to protect such data; the DVLA needs to adjust it's fees to ensure costs are covered and do more to explain it's calculations; and data sharing needs to be effective, if revenue collection, action on safety and work by enforcement agencies are to be effective, and new services need to be planned with data sharing in mind

Download or read book Update on the London Underground and the public private PPP partnership agreements written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2010-03-26 with total page 90 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Update on the London Underground and the public-private (PPP) partnership Agreements : Seventh report of session 2009-10, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written Evidence

Download or read book The cost of motor insurance written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2012-01-12 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this report that follows up the Government's response (5th special report, HC 1466, ISBN 9780215561299) to the Committee's earlier report on the cost of motor insurance (HC 591, ISBN 9780215556776), the Transport Committee warns that the spiralling cost of motor insurance is primarily the result of market dysfunction and, in particular, the escalation of uncontested claims for whiplash injury. The Committee also concludes that the rise in personal injury claims is the main reason for the rise in premiums, and questions the effectiveness of the Government's recent decision to ban referral fees relating to personal injury cases. Numerous factors combine to affect the cost of motor insurance and that tackling any in isolation will not deliver a significant or lasting reduction in premiums. The report calls on the Government to: review how well the 'pre-action protocol' and 'online portal' established to handle low value insurance claims have operated since their introduction in 2010, results to be published within six months; establish a cross-departmental ministerial committee on reducing the cost of motor insurance and publish a plan to address each aspect of the problem; send a clear message to the insurance industry that it expects 2008 data protection legislation to be fully respected and impose stricter penalties for any breach; initiate an investigation of cold calling undertaken to generate personal injury claims and then examine the legal and regulatory options for curtailing this activity.

Download or read book House of Commons Transport Committee Flight Time Limitations Follow Up HC 641 written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2013-09-11 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Flight time limitations regulate the number of hours that pilots and crew work in order to prevent fatigue. Fatigue contributes 15-20% of fatal aviation incidents caused by human error. In July 2013, Member States of the European Union voted strongly in support of a draft proposal on flight time limitations by the European Commission. Overall, the Commission's draft regulation represents an improvement but concerns remain. Particularly about the apparent reluctance of the Commission when developing these regulations to set a lower limit for the flight duty period at night in accordance with the scientific evidence on this matter. It is disappointing that the UK Government has not pressed for a lower limit. It is also disappointing that a consensus has not been reached on the draft regulations with crew and pilot representatives. It is recommended that the European Scrutiny Committee requests the UK Government to press the Commission to ensure an effective monitoring regime is put in place to examine whether the 11 hour limit is at least as safe as the current regime and that they request the European Commission provide an assessment of the regulation two years after its implementation. The Committee also concluded that: the potential under-reporting of pilot fatigue must be properly recognised if it is to be effectively tackled; information should be regularly published on the use of Commander's discretion to extend their crew's flight duty period if unforeseen circumstances arise; and scientists must have a more central role in the development and assessment of flight time limitation proposals

Download or read book HC 428 Security on the Railway written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2014-09-05 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Crime on Britain's railways decreased year-on-year over the past decade. That trend shows the effectiveness of the specialist rail policing provided by the British Transport Police (BTP). The Committee were impressed by the BTP's commitment to tackling crime while minimising delays for the travelling public. Despite the welcome decline in overall crime, we identified areas where the BTP could improve its performance. The British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) is the body with responsibility for setting the BTP challenging but achievable targets to tackle crime on the railway. The BTPA must fulfil its remit and avoid any perception that it is too close to the people whom it should be holding to account. The Committee concluded that the BTP model of developing specialist policing skills and securing funding from transport providers might usefully be applied to other transport modes, such as aviation. Such an approach could minimise delays, maximise security and reduce the cost of policing to taxpayers. In the course of the inquiry, the Committee heard that vulnerable children and young people are often found in and around railway stations and were surprised to learn that the BTP currently has no targets in relation to child protection. The Department for Transport, the BTPA, the BTP and the charity sector should work together to tackle this emerging issue by examining the available data and reviewing current practice.

Download or read book Port Infrastructure Finance written by Hilde Meersman and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2014-06-20 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides an expert analysis of alternative investments routes and the investment strategies available to the major port players, and is a much-needed guide to expanding the investor base for private debt funding of projects from loan providers to bond investors. Port infrastructure investments are vitally important to all ports throughout the world; without these investments, the competitive position of ports and of the dependent logistics sector will deteriorate. National/regional governments and the local port authorities are no longer a guaranteed source of sufficient financial input to meet the continuous port infrastructure investment needs of major ports. It is, therefore, increasingly crucial for ports to broaden their strategies and secure alternative streams of investment. This book provides expert insight into areas of port infrastructure finance across the main regions of Europe, Asia, Africa and the USA. Topics include how to estimate future demand by way of forecasting; Public-Private Partnerships; corporatisation; the pricing mechanisms for syndicated loans; European port privatisation; finance strategies for ports in Asia, the USA and Africa; and a discussion of the investment strategies available to the major port players. Port Infrastructure Finance is an invaluable book for all parties involved in the port and maritime business, as well as investment companies, banks and other financial institutions involved in infrastructure investment.

Download or read book High speed rail written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2011-11-08 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Transport Committee believes there is a good case for a high speed rail network, linking London and the major cities of the Midlands, the North and Scotland. But the Government must firmly commit to the Y network (to Leeds and Manchester) before seeking parliamentary approval for HS2. If it decides to go ahead with HS2, it should publish a summary of the financial case showing how the project is affordable alongside sustained investment in the classic network. A full assessment of the case for building from north to south should be carried out. The disputed travel time savings should be addressed in an updated economic case. The Committee is concerned that the Government is developing separate strategies for rail and aviation, with HS2 separate from both, and calls again for the publication of a comprehensive transport strategy. The Government should look again at the case for a direct link to Heathrow, and costs and benefits of routing HS2 via Heathrow should be set out more clearly. Better information is needed on: the proposals for London termini and linkages; risk factors of operating 18 trains per hour at 225mph; the location of stations on the Y network; environmental impacts. Claims that HS2 would deliver substantial carbon-reduction benefits do not stand up to scrutiny. The Government should desist from disparaging opponents of high speed rail as NIMBYs. Both sides in the debate should show respect for each other and focus on the facts.

Download or read book The Parliamentary Debates Hansard written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 1382 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book National policy statement for gas supply infrastructure and gas and oil pipelines EN 4 written by Great Britain: Department of Energy and Climate Change and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2011-07-19 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This national policy statement (NPS) sets out national policy for gas supply infrastructure and gas and oil pipelines. A further five technology-specific NPSs for the energy sector cover: national policy for the energy infrastructure (EN-1) (ISBN 9780108510779); fossil fuel electricity generation (EN-2) (ISBN 9780108510786); renewable electricity infrastructure (EN-3) (ISBN 9780108510793); the electricity transmission and distribution network (EN-5) (ISBN 9780108510816); and nuclear power generation (EN-6) (ISBN 9780108510823). An impact assessment is also available (ISBN 9780108510830). The NPSs have effect on the decisions by the Infrastructure Planning Commission on application for energy developments. This statement outlines the Government's objectives for the power sector in order to meet its energy and climate change strategy. It sets out the need for new energy infrastructure and the assessment principles and generic impacts

Download or read book Overarching national policy statement for energy EN 1 written by Great Britain: Department of Energy and Climate Change and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2011-07-19 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This national policy statement (NPS) sets out national policy for the energy infrastructure. A further five technology-specific NPSs for the energy sector cover: fossil fuel electricity generation (EN-2) (ISBN 9780108510786); renewable electricity generation (both onshore and offshore) (EN-3) (ISBN 9780108510793); gas supply infrastructure and gas and oil pipelines (EN-4) (ISBN 9780108510809); the electricity transmission and distribution network (EN-5) (ISBN 9780108510816); and nuclear power generation (EN-6) (ISBN 9780108510823). An Impact assessment is also available (ISBN 9780108510830). The NPSs have effect on the decisions by the Infrastructure Planning Commission on application for energy developments. This statement outlines the Government's objectives for the power sector in order to meet its energy and climate change strategy. It sets out the need for new energy infrastructure and the assessment principles and generic impacts.