Speeches by Mayer.

“Some of you have already touched upon this, but overall, how effective are the current complaint systems for both drivers and passengers, particularly in circumstances where drivers work out of area?”

“David, in your written evidence you mentioned premature suspensions and suggested that the process might be too effective. On the other hand, in previous inquiries we have heard, for example, about drivers who would be unwilling to take assistance dogs. I know from my own casework that there are cases where there is al…”

“We heard in the previous evidence session that there appear to be around 230 different sets of conditions being applied to drivers. What are your views on the case for introducing national minimum licensing standards for taxis and private hire vehicles? What scope, if any, do you think should remain for local variation…”

“Do you feel that they will be practically enforceable?”

“David or Helen, anything to add to that?”

“The Casey audit linked weaknesses in taxi and private hire vehicle licensing to serious passenger safeguarding failures. How confident are you that the current licensing framework enables licensing authorities to adequately protect passengers?”

“Do you have any suggestions of specific additional measures that could be put in place to improve safety?”

“That is our next question.”

“How effective do you think the national register of taxi and private hire licence refusals, revocations and suspensions has been so far in practice, and how do you think it could be improved to better improve passenger safety?”

“The whole Government seems to be moving in the direction of devolution and more regional mayoral authorities. However, if you look through the evidence we have received, most of the councils that currently hold licensing powers do not seem that keen on it. Maybe that is unsurprising. Do you think that moving taxi and P…”

“With so many new-build estates that are home to young trees, where watering and aftercare are so essential, does the right hon. Member agree that any new guidance should have a large section with a focus on early years for trees as well?”

“On the Finch ruling, last week we heard the view from Robbie Owen that the revised NPS does not take the Finch ruling properly into account. I think you just said you were looking to take that into account; has it already been taken into account?”

“The 2012 NPS states that decision makers should not assess the carbon emissions of individual applications against carbon budgets, as that will be done at a national level. Some of the evidence we have received is for that principle to be restated. What is your view?”

“Thank you.”

“Will there be guidance on how greenhouse gas emissions that arise from vessel movements should technically be assessed through environmental impact assessments?”

“That is my next question.”

“T9. Does the Minister agree that extending the Dunstable-Luton busway on to Leighton Buzzard and then Bletchley would be a real boon to more fully link the area into the Oxford-Cambridge growth area?”

“Sadly, last week in my constituency there was yet more flooding. This follows on from a very dry period and the hottest summer on record. Clearly, the weather is changing. Would the Leader of the House consider bringing forward a debate on building resilience to more extreme weather events, as he makes the political we…”

“I strongly believe that a regional geography is the right scale to make substantial public transport improvements. That is why I back this Government’s devolution agenda as the right approach to improving transport. The real inequality of the future will not be north versus south or urban versus rural, but between thos…”

“Returning specifically to carbon budgets, the 2012 NPS states that decision makers should not assess the carbon emissions of individual applications against carbon budgets as it would be done at national level. Some of the written evidence that the Committee has received has called for that principle to be restated in …”