Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what modifications, if any, they intend to make to the planned HS2 route.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Government is continuing to plan and deliver HS2 from Euston to Manchester in accordance with the Integrated Rail Plan
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ban private tourist diesel buses operating in the centres of heavily polluted (1) towns, and (2) cities.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Government has no current plans to ban private tourist diesel buses from town centres.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what delays there are, if any, in processing driving licence (1) applications, and (2) renewals, at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The quickest and easiest way to apply for or renew a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. There are currently delays in processing paper applications. To help reduce waiting times for paper driving licence applications and renewals, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham. The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found on GOV.UK.
Applications where the driver has a medical condition that must be investigated before a licence can be issued will take longer.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average time it takes to renew a driving licence with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The quickest and easiest way to apply for or renew a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. There are currently delays in processing paper applications. To help reduce waiting times for paper driving licence applications and renewals, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham. The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found on GOV.UK.
Applications where the driver has a medical condition that must be investigated before a licence can be issued will take longer.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of diesel buses on respiratory illnesses such as (1) COVID-19, and (2) asthma; and what plans they have, if any, to ban diesel buses from (a) town, and (b) city, centres.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
There is clear evidence to show that exposure to air pollution can exacerbate the effects of respiratory illnesses including asthma. Older buses, particularly those without emission abatement technology fitted, can be a significant source of emissions in some areas. National level estimates indicate that in 2019 buses contributed on average 8% of roadside NOx concentrations. However, no Government analysis has been carried out on the specific impact of buses in towns and cities on respiratory health.
Most buses in the current fleet are diesel and they form a key component of a sustainable transport package in towns and cities, with newer diesel buses emitting significantly lower levels of pollution than older models. Clean Air Zones (CAZ) are being implemented by local authorities in a number of areas where roads are exceeding legal limits for nitrogen dioxide, and all of these Zones will charge older buses to enter. Local authorities implementing CAZs have carried out local analysis to understand the key sources of pollution on their roads in order to identify the appropriate solution. In these and other local authorities engaged with the NO2 Plan, Government is supporting the upgrading of bus fleets to newer, cleaner standards either via replacement vehicles or grants to support the retrofit of older diesel buses with technologies to reduce emissions from their tailpipe.
The Government is also committed to supporting the introduction of 4,000 zero emission buses and achieving an all zero emission bus fleet. As set out in the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 £355 million of new funding has been made available for zero emission buses. The Government has also committed to setting an end date for the sale of new diesel buses, further incentivising the adoption of zero emission buses.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 13 January (HL11904), what advice they have provided to people whose driving licences expire in January, or later, who are having difficulty renewing online and who are self-isolating.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Drivers who cannot apply to renew their licence online will need to make a postal application direct to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
If required, a driving licence application form can be requested by contacting the DVLA’s contact centre.
Information about making a postal application and providing a new photo is available on gov.uk.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to make driving licence renewal forms available by post to vulnerable people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The DVLA sends a renewal application form to all drivers who are aged 70 or over 90 days before their licence is due to expire. The DVLA also sends renewal reminders to drivers who need to renew their photocard licence 56 days before it expires. These reminders can be used to renew a licence online or at a post office.
Drivers can request the relevant application form from the DVLA’s contact centre or a post office that offers a driver licensing service, if they would prefer to make a postal application.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to improve the website webchat services provided by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Over recent months the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has made a number of enhancements to both its webchat and associated chatbot services. It has introduced seven new services that include a webchat/chatbot service for queries relating to online driver licensing, the EU transition and the pandemic.
The DVLA intends to roll out webchat to further services over the coming months and keeps the service under continuous review based on customer feedback.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of closing the (1) telephone helpline, and (2) online advisory support service, of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority; and what plans they have to reinstate these services.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s contact centre is open between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 4pm on a Saturday.
The DVLA’s online services remain available as are the electronic contact centre services provided through email, webchat and social media support channels.