Results 1-20 of 2,841 for speaker:Lord Adonis

Written Ministerial Statements — House of Lords: Railways: Stations (19 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: In May 2009, I invited Sir Peter Hall, Professor of Planning at University College London, and Chris Green, formerly chief executive of Virgin Trains, to advise on ways to improve railway stations in England and Wales, focusing on getting the basic facilities right as well as considering the broader role of stations in the future. Their report, which I have published, focuses on: achieving an...

Rail Services: First Capital Connect — Statement (12 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: My Lords, I thank the noble Earl and the noble Lord for their responses. As the noble Earl said, passengers face misery on this line. The noble Lord, Lord McNally, is one of those passengers and has properly expressed their anger and frustration. I make it clear to the House that I share that anger and frustration. I not only share the anger and frustration of passengers who are being deeply...

Rail Services: First Capital Connect — Statement (12 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: My Lords, with permission, I will repeat the Answer to an Urgent Question given in another place about train services provided by First Capital Connect. "The action by drivers on First Capital Connect appears to be co-ordinated and is highly regrettable given that talks are continuing. Passengers are being seriously inconvenienced and we urge all parties to resolve this unacceptable situation...

Road Safety: Electric and Hybrid Vehicles — Question (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: My Lords, my department has discussed with Guide Dogs for the Blind and Imperial College whether electric and hybrid vehicles pose a danger to visually impaired people. The Government will, early next year, start a research project to determine the extent of any problem. We will keep the RNIB and Guide Dogs for the Blind informed of the progress of this research and I will consult with them...

Road Safety: Electric and Hybrid Vehicles — Question (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: My Lords, we anticipate that the research will take about nine months. In respect of the growth in the number of electric and hybrid cars in this country, by 2015 we expect that only 3 per cent of new cars will be electric or plug-in hybrid cars, which will represent 0.4 per cent of the total UK fleet. Although I accept the points made by the noble Lord about needing to be fully aware of the...

Road Safety: Electric and Hybrid Vehicles — Question (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: My Lords, I believe that cars are becoming quieter over time, so my noble friend's point is being met. However, he is right to point out that, according to research, more than 90 per cent of the UK population hear traffic noise while at home and about 10 per cent regard their exposure to that source of noise to be highly annoying. There is clearly more progress to be made.

Road Safety: Electric and Hybrid Vehicles — Question (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: My Lords, as a Minister now for four and a half years, I am used to being in no-win situations. My perpetual quest is for the happy medium.

Road Safety: Electric and Hybrid Vehicles — Question (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: My Lords, I look forward to the noble Lord's advice as to how we might accomplish that.

Road Safety: Electric and Hybrid Vehicles — Question (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: My Lords, cyclists should obey the law, like everyone else.

Road Safety: Electric and Hybrid Vehicles — Question (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: My Lords, I think this is England. Whether such Swiss innovations would go down well here is a matter for conjecture. We have nine months for a wide-scale public debate. I shall ensure that the noble Lord's suggestion features prominently in that debate.

Road Safety: Electric and Hybrid Vehicles — Question (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: My Lords, as I said earlier, cyclists have a responsibility to obey the law and we take that very seriously. They are expected to have regard to the Highway Code, which stipulates proper behaviour on the road. As a society we need, over time, to improve the facilities that are available for cyclists, too. I do not think that cyclists get the quality of infrastructure which ensures that they...

Road Safety: Electric and Hybrid Vehicles — Question (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: My Lords, we are addressing the issue of the impact of electric and hybrid vehicles on all areas. We are not discriminating between different types of area.

Road Safety: Electric and Hybrid Vehicles — Question (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: Your Lordships are full of such useful suggestions this afternoon. I believe it was Herbert Morrison who lifted the speed limit above 20 miles per hour, which it was until the 1920s in this country. That is where it had got to after people had ceased to be required to carry red flags before cars. I do not believe, though, that the future always lies in reinventing the past.

Road Safety: Electric and Hybrid Vehicles — Question (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: My Lords, I expect to see the law properly enforced, but the penalties which are in place at the moment are those that we expect to be observed.

Written Answers — House of Lords: Bats (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: The Highways Agency is legally bound to protect endangered species such as bats. Mitigation of the severance of three of their main flight lines formed part of the commitments we made at public inquiry in support of European protected species legislative requirements to enable the bypass project to progress, especially since surveys found 12 of the 14 native species of bat in the area. The...

Written Answers — House of Lords: Bats (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: The Highways Agency has constructed structures that enable bats to cross roads at four locations. The table below highlights the locations, length and costs of these structures. Bat structures designed and constructed between 2004 and 2009 Scheme Name Road Number Road opened Approx Length of Structure (metres) Single or Dual Carriageway Cutting/Embankment/At Grade Approx...

Written Answers — House of Lords: Bats (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: Mitigation works undertaken on a Highways Agency major project for bats are implemented under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994. The legislation does not place an expenditure limit on the provision of bat bridges over new roads. The costs associated with the construction of a bat bridge will vary for a variety of reasons, therefore each scheme is assessed on an...

Written Answers — House of Lords: Official Visits (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: There are no plans for official visits by HRH the Duke of York around the coast of the UK by cruise liner.

Written Answers — House of Lords: Shipping: General Lighthouse Authorities (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: I have asked the General Lighthouse Authorities to provide the information requested and this will be placed in the Libraries of the House in due course.

Written Answers — House of Lords: Shipping: General Lighthouse Authorities (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Adonis: The General Lighthouse Authorities' Research and Radionavigation Directorate records show that spending on overseas travel and subsistence relating to the e-loran project was roundly £22,000 in 2008-09 and £11,000 so far in this financial year.