Transport Decarbonisation 2020-12-03
2020-12-03
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Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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A recent assessment of transport decarbonisation implications to meet the UK's net zero carbon emissions target.
What recent assessment has been made on opportunities and requirements for transport decarbonisation to achieve the Government's net zero carbon emissions target?
Our forthcoming transport decarbonisation plan will set out a credible pathway to achieving net zero emissions across transport by 2050.
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Q2
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The Scottish Government's successful rail electrification programme and its implications for the UK's decarbonisation goals.
Given that rail electrification is one of the most effective ways to help achieve net zero, does the Department agree with the success of Scotland's rail electrification programme and should it be followed?
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. It is probably worth the House reflecting that in the 13 years of the previous Labour Government, 63 miles of electrification took place, compared with 1,110 miles during our tenure.
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Q3
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The potential of hydrogen schemes for transport decarbonisation and job creation in East Lothian.
With energy from offshore wind farms flowing into East Lothian, how will the Minister ensure that hydrogen schemes are part of Britain's future and secure onshore employment opportunities?
The Government are committed to hydrogen as a technology. I recently announced the Tees valley as a hydrogen hub. We have invested £121 million into hydrogen innovation, including the hydrogen buses that are currently running in Glasgow.
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Q4
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The impact of last mile deliveries on air pollution and the Government's plan to address it.
How will the Government address the growing impact of last mile deliveries on air pollution, especially since diesel vans have doubled over two decades?
The hon. Gentleman makes an excellent point, which is that 28% of all CO2 now comes from transport, and it is critical that we get it down. I thought he was going to go on to mention that since we last stood at these Dispatch Boxes, we have said that we are going to have a 2030 target for the end of sale of petrol and diesel cars, which will obviously help tremendously. That also includes diesel vans, which will be a very big contributor to assist in this, alongside the £2.8 billion we are putting in to help that switch take place.
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Q5
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The reduction in Network Rail's enhancement budget by £1 billion due to the comprehensive spending review.
Given that the Government admitted cutting Network Rail's enhancement budget by £1 billion, will they reverse this cut and come forward with a plan to decarbonise freight?
Right at the beginning of the pandemic—we published the document “Decarbonising Transport: Setting the Challenge”, which will lead into a transport decarbonisation plan that we will publish by the spring. In that, we will describe the many measures that we are taking to make the UK a global leader in cutting carbonisation and decarbonising the economy, not just through the 2030 pledge but through, for example, introducing 4,000 zero-emission buses, and much else besides.
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Q6
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The success of Scotland's electric vehicle strategy compared to England.
Given the success of Scotland's electric vehicle strategy, will the Secretary of State adopt it in England?
The hon. Gentleman and I share a very keen interest in these matters. There have been tremendous advances in the number of electric charging points available. The £2.8 billion that we pledged at the spending review will help that to happen, with more money going into charge points and into the infrastructure investment as well.
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Q7
Partial Answer
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The delivery status of the promised 4,000 zero-emission buses announced in February.
How many of the 4,000 zero-emission buses have been delivered thus far?
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to point that out, but he will recall that the pandemic in between has created problems not just for the bus sector but for the entire economy, which has, by necessity, meant that a huge amount of money—hundreds of millions of pounds—has gone into supporting buses operating at all. The pledge for 4,000 buses remains, and £120 million was announced at the spending review to get on with the first several hundred of them.
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