Asked by: Baroness Keeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to encourage private hire vehicles to switch to lower emission or electric vehicles.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Government has provided over £20m to install dedicated chargepoints for ultra-low emission taxis and private hire vehicles across the UK to give drivers the confidence to make the transition to electric. This includes over 200 fast chargers and over 550 rapid chargers. Private hire operators are also able to take advantage of the Plug-in Car and Van Grant schemes, as well as the Electric Homecharge and Work Place Charging Schemes. The Plug-in Car Grant offers up to £3000 off an electric or fuel cell cars and the Electric Homecharge Scheme provides a grant of up to £350 towards the installation of domestic chargepoints.
Asked by: Baroness Keeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to encourage lower levels of car use; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Department is creating a Transport Decarbonisation Plan for publication later this year setting out a bold and ambitious pathway to decarbonisation. This holistic and cross-modal approach to decarbonising the entire transport system will set out the measures needed to accelerate modal shift to public and active transport.
Asked by: Baroness Keeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking in response to the covid-19 outbreak and the reduction in services provided by the Driving and Vehicle Licencing Agency to allow people aged over 70 to renew their driving licence by post.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The quickest and easiest way to renew a driving licence at the age 70 and over is to use the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service at www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence-at-70 .
We are aware that some drivers may face difficulties using this service and those customers should submit a paper application in the normal way. However, paper applications will take longer to process in the current circumstances. Some drivers may be able to continue to drive while their application is being processed, provided they have a valid licence and they have not been told by a doctor or optician not to drive. Further information on this provision can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.
The department is considering what can be done to help drivers who are unable to use the DVLA’s online service. More information will be made available at the appropriate time.
Asked by: Baroness Keeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the application of Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to people aged over 70 who may not be able to verify their fitness to drive with their GP and continue driving.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
It is a driver’s responsibility to ensure that they meet the criteria for driving under the provisions of Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 while their application is being considered. More information on the criteria can be found online at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla
While there is no specific requirement to visit a doctor for these purposes, if a driver has been told not to drive by a doctor or optician, they should not do so.