HL Deb 17 June 1999 vol 602 cc50-1WA
Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What current responsibilities of the Minister for Transport will be devolved to the Scottish Parliament on 1 July; and [HL2543]

What transport responsibilities will be held by the Minister of Transport for England but will not be held by her for Scotland after 1 July. [HL2544]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty)

Following the opening of the Scottish Parliament on 1 July, the Minister for Transport will retain the functions exercisable in relation to the matters set out in Head E of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998 in respect of Scotland as follows:

  • "road transport"—driver licensing and testing and regulation of driver and motorcycle training; road vehicle standards, licensing and testing; policy on the licensing of goods vehicle and public service vehicle operators; international road transport; policy on road traffic offences; policy on motor insurance; the Highway Code; specification of traffic signs, national road and vehicle speed limits: regulation of motorways and pedestrian crossings; regulation of commercial vehicle drivers' hours;
  • "rail transport" with certain exceptions, the provision and regulation of railways;
  • "marine transport"—with certain exceptions, the regulation of merchant shipping and navigation; navigational rights and freedoms; financial assistance for shipping services which start or finish, or both, outside Scotland;
  • "air transport"—with certain exceptions, the regulation of aviation and air transport; arrangements to compensate or repatriate passengers in the event of an air transport operator's insolvency;
  • "other matters"—the transport of radioactive material; technical specifications for public passenger transport for disabled persons; regulation of the carriage of dangerous goods.

Other transport functions for which the Minister is currently responsible in respect of Scotland will be devolved to Scottish Ministers from 1 July. as follows:

  • regulation and subsidy of local bus services;
  • payment of bus fuel duty rebate;
  • regulation of the orange badge parking scheme (currently jointly exercised with the Secretary of State for Scotland);
  • regulation of school crossing patrols;
  • remaining responsibilities for the ports industry;
  • regulation of certain works in tidal waters;
  • certain executive functions in relation to airports and railways.

DETR Ministers and Scottish Ministers will have concurrent powers in relation to the promotion of road safety information and training and grants to bodies other than local authorities for such promotion.

Scottish Ministers will also have responsibility for certain other railways functions on the basis of timing still to be determined.