Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the DVLA on improvements to their website to ensure that people with epilepsy are fully informed of their right to surrender their licence rather than having it revoked.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working hard to process paper applications as quickly as possible for all drivers, including those with health conditions. To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham.
The DVLA has recently introduced a simplified licence renewal process for drivers with epilepsy. This process has significantly reduced the need for the DVLA to seek further information from medical professionals and enabled more licensing decisions to be made based on the information provided by the driver.
The majority of those renewing their licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing they can meet the criteria outlined here. Insurance cover in these circumstances is a matter for the insurance company concerned.
The DVLA is currently reviewing the information provided on GOV.UK to make clear that drivers have the option to surrender their driving licence before reporting a medical condition using the online fitness to drive service.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the steps taken by HS2 Ltd to (a) inform, (b) involve and (c) respond to affected communities since the HS2 Community Engagement Strategy, Respecting People, Respecting Places, was updated in October 2021.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Last year as the HS2 Minister, I asked HS2 Ltd to revisit its approach to community engagement. The refreshed strategy ‘Respecting People, Respecting Places’ was launched in October 2021 and sets out HS2 Ltd’s renewed commitments in this area. My Department continues to monitor the impact of HS2 construction on communities and residents, and is assessing the effectiveness of HS2 Ltd measures to inform, involve and respond to ensure that it always deals with communities with responsiveness, sensitivity, and objectivity.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Education to support training opportunities for young people who wish to pursue careers as electric vehicle mechanics.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Our strategy for net zero is to lead the world in ending our contribution to climate change, while turning this mission into the greatest opportunity for jobs and prosperity for our country since the industrial revolution.
The Government is helping to develop the green skills needed for this net zero economy through initiatives such as the Green apprenticeships, Green Skills Bootcamps, Electrification skills boost, and Free Courses for Jobs.
We are also working with the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). The Government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has endorsed the IMI’s TechSafe scheme to help ensure the UK’s workforce of mechanics are well trained and have the skills they need to repair electric vehicles safely.
OZEV has also endorsed the National Franchise Dealers Association’s Electric Vehicle Approved (EVA) Scheme which is a set of standards for automotive retail designed to recognise business excellence in the EV sector, in retail and after-sales care. The EVA mark is then awarded to individual locations that are rigorously and independently audited to ensure this standard is maintained.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the potential impact on cost, schedule and benefits of decisions made during parliamentary scrutiny of the HS2 Phase 2 hybrid bills is considered when making future decisions on the project as a whole, as recommended in the National Audit Office report, High Speed Two: A Progress Report.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Alongside introduction of the High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) hybrid Bill, the Government published an update to the strategic outline business case for this phase. This also reflects the case for the HS2 scheme taking into account Phases One and 2a. Refined versions of the business case, published as the scheme develops, will reflect impacts of any changes made during parliamentary passage. Lessons learnt from changes made during parliamentary scrutiny on the previous HS2 Bills and as HS2 is being constructed, are being taken into account as this Bill progresses through Parliament.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure HS2 stations are closely integrated within existing transport infrastructure as recommended in the Oakervee Review of HS2.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Oakervee Review highlighted the importance of integrating HS2 stations with the existing transport network and the local area. Integrating HS2 stations with local and regional transport modes, including active travel options, is a key Sponsor’s Requirement (as set out in Sponsor’s Requirement no.13, in Annex 2 of the HS2 Development Agreement). By working with local and regional authorities and stakeholders HS2 Ltd must deliver integrated travel connections that promote sustainable travel. Work continues to ensure that HS2 stations across all phases are effectively integrated, through engagement with key partners such as Transport for London, Transport for the West Midlands, Transport for Greater Manchester, Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, and relevant local planning and highways authorities.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that homeowners are adequately compensated in cases where the construction of HS2 public works have diminished the value of their property.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
A comprehensive range of compensation schemes is in place across the whole route, following consultation. These in most cases go beyond what the law requires; they are generous and comprehensive and available until one year after the start of operations on the relevant section of the HS2 route. Property compensation schemes are subject to regular review, most recently in 2020, when 36 proposals for improvement were put forward, over half of which have now been implemented, and with more to come.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to conclusion 23 of the Oakervee Review, what recent steps have been taken to reduce the specifications of HS2 Phase One.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Oakervee Review concluded that the scope of Phase One should be continually reviewed, within the limits of the Phase One Act powers. The Department continues to review its requirements for the railway and considers changes where there is a value-for-money case, within the scope of these powers.
For example, at Euston Station, following a review, the Department has recently confirmed the decision to move to a less complex, more efficient design of the station that continues to support the full HS2 service planned.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many new jobs the construction of HS2 Phase 1 has created in Buckinghamshire.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Figures provided by HS2 Ltd covering July to September 2021 show that 7,237 full-time equivalent jobs are supported by contractors working on the route from the Colne Valley to Southam.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to help prevent (a) decline and (b) extinction of the Barbastelle Bat at (i) Leather Lane, (ii) Bowood Lane and (iii) Jones Hill Wood.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Secretary of State and HS2 Ltd take the preservation and enhancement of all bat species and populations associated with the project very seriously.
HS2 Ltd’s strategy for the preservation and enhancement of bats in this area adopts a precautionary approach as to the presence of a Barbastelle population at these locations. That strategy, overseen by experienced ecologists, is to enhance linkages between woodlands and other habitats to provide connectivity and additional foraging areas for bats.
Works will include new species-rich woodland planting, hedgerow creation, the strengthening of existing hedgerows, and the translocation and reuse of ancient woodland soils. Planting will also be placed alongside the top of the cutting associated with this area to direct bat flight lines towards crossing points at Wendover Dean Viaduct. Prior to works, mitigation measures include the erection of bat boxes ahead of tree felling to ensure there is continuous availability of roosting features.
The provision of habitat and the creation of links at this scale will significantly increase the amount of foraging and commuting habitat available to local bat communities in this area.
The landscape and ecological design for this stretch of route is still being developed. When finalised, the proposals will be submitted to Buckinghamshire Council to support the local planning application for this area under Schedule 17 of the Phase One Act.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to ensure that HS2 Limited is adhering to its Environmental Statement.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Secretary of State for Transport has established a framework to control the environmental impacts of the HS2 project which includes the relevant Act(s), associated Environmental Statement(s) and a suite of documents that together form the project’s Environmental Minimum Requirements (EMRs).
HS2 Ltd is required to comply with the Acts and the EMRs, with the aim of ensuring that the environmental effects reported in the relevant Environmental Statement are not exceeded. The EMRs include documents such as the Code of Construction Practice, which sets out processes and practices to control the works on-site.
Further approvals and controls of designs are given through the planning regime established by the Act. HS2 Ltd and its contractors are also required to comply with commitments given to Parliament, and with Undertakings and Assurances given directly to other affected parties.
The Department for Transport monitors HS2 Ltd’s performance and compliance against all of its objectives, including environmental obligations, via its Development Agreement with the company, and has established supporting governance arrangements and management information streams to ensure that compliance is monitored and maintained.
HS2 Ltd is working towards the publication of its first Environmental Sustainability Performance Report which is planned to be published later this autumn. This will provide a clear and up-to-date account of HS2’s environmental impacts and the important work that is being deployed to mitigate any adverse effects from the scheme.