Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2023 to Question 179888 on Railway Stations: Access, when he plans to announce the allocation of funding for the next round of Access for All bids.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We are assessing over 300 nominations with Network Rail for stations, in anticipation of further Access for All funding becoming available beyond 2024. We hope to be in a position to announce successful projects later this year although all will be subject to further feasibility analysis.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department last met the DVSA to discuss waiting times for driving tests in England.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State last met DVSA to discuss driving test waiting times on 22 August.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May to Question 184467 on Driving Tests, how many accounts have been closed by the DVSA for breaching the terms and conditions relating to the booking of practical driving tests.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published every quarter and this information can be accessed on the GOV.UK website via the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dft-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings
The national average waiting time for a car practical driving test since January 2023 is 17.1 weeks.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is aware that some companies have been using bots to snap up appointments on its public booking service, as soon as they become available, leaving fewer test appointments for genuine learner drivers to purchase directly from the DVSA.
The DVSA does not employ, encourage or licence anyone to provide such a cancellation service checking for newly open slots. These apps or bots are not approved by the DVSA as they make it harder for candidates to get a test and can result in people paying more for a test than the official test fee. Using such services also means that any changes to the test may not necessarily be relayed to the candidate.
To ensure its booking system is used correctly, the DVSA has:
- stopped accepting new automatic online registrations to use its tests booking service – any new applications must be made by email, where they will be thoroughly checked by the DVSA.
- stopped accepting any new registrations from companies who do not directly employ a driving instructor.
- removed registrations not linked to driving instructors.
- reduced the number of times a driving test appointment can be changed from 10 to the pre-pandemic limit of 6 and updated the test booking service terms and conditions to make it clear that users must not book tests and sell them for profit.
Following these changes, there has been a significant drop in traffic to these services because the DVSA is successfully identifying and blocking apps or bots.
Users found breaching the terms and conditions may have their accounts closed. In June 2022, the DVSA stopped customers registering for online business service (OBS) accounts and added the requirement for an approved driving instructor (ADI) to be associated with businesses that booked car tests. The DVSA removed around 7,000 unused business that did not have an ADI associated with them. At this point, the DVSA did not close any duplicate businesses.
Since May 2023, the DVSA has investigated business that appear to have multiple OBS accounts. Overall, 255 business have been investigated across 8 cases.
This has resulted in:
The DVSA does not hold the number of driving tests that have been booked by automated bots.
The DVSA is continuing to take steps to block cancellation services from accessing the booking system. These applications, however, are constantly evolving and changing, and the DVSA’s work on this is ongoing.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of brokers who are (a) selling and (b) re-selling practical driving tests online.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published every quarter and this information can be accessed on the GOV.UK website via the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dft-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings
The national average waiting time for a car practical driving test since January 2023 is 17.1 weeks.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is aware that some companies have been using bots to snap up appointments on its public booking service, as soon as they become available, leaving fewer test appointments for genuine learner drivers to purchase directly from the DVSA.
The DVSA does not employ, encourage or licence anyone to provide such a cancellation service checking for newly open slots. These apps or bots are not approved by the DVSA as they make it harder for candidates to get a test and can result in people paying more for a test than the official test fee. Using such services also means that any changes to the test may not necessarily be relayed to the candidate.
To ensure its booking system is used correctly, the DVSA has:
- stopped accepting new automatic online registrations to use its tests booking service – any new applications must be made by email, where they will be thoroughly checked by the DVSA.
- stopped accepting any new registrations from companies who do not directly employ a driving instructor.
- removed registrations not linked to driving instructors.
- reduced the number of times a driving test appointment can be changed from 10 to the pre-pandemic limit of 6 and updated the test booking service terms and conditions to make it clear that users must not book tests and sell them for profit.
Following these changes, there has been a significant drop in traffic to these services because the DVSA is successfully identifying and blocking apps or bots.
Users found breaching the terms and conditions may have their accounts closed. In June 2022, the DVSA stopped customers registering for online business service (OBS) accounts and added the requirement for an approved driving instructor (ADI) to be associated with businesses that booked car tests. The DVSA removed around 7,000 unused business that did not have an ADI associated with them. At this point, the DVSA did not close any duplicate businesses.
Since May 2023, the DVSA has investigated business that appear to have multiple OBS accounts. Overall, 255 business have been investigated across 8 cases.
This has resulted in:
The DVSA does not hold the number of driving tests that have been booked by automated bots.
The DVSA is continuing to take steps to block cancellation services from accessing the booking system. These applications, however, are constantly evolving and changing, and the DVSA’s work on this is ongoing.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has with the DVSA on the availability of practical driving tests in England.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published every quarter and this information can be accessed on the GOV.UK website via the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dft-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings
The national average waiting time for a car practical driving test since January 2023 is 17.1 weeks.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is aware that some companies have been using bots to snap up appointments on its public booking service, as soon as they become available, leaving fewer test appointments for genuine learner drivers to purchase directly from the DVSA.
The DVSA does not employ, encourage or licence anyone to provide such a cancellation service checking for newly open slots. These apps or bots are not approved by the DVSA as they make it harder for candidates to get a test and can result in people paying more for a test than the official test fee. Using such services also means that any changes to the test may not necessarily be relayed to the candidate.
To ensure its booking system is used correctly, the DVSA has:
- stopped accepting new automatic online registrations to use its tests booking service – any new applications must be made by email, where they will be thoroughly checked by the DVSA.
- stopped accepting any new registrations from companies who do not directly employ a driving instructor.
- removed registrations not linked to driving instructors.
- reduced the number of times a driving test appointment can be changed from 10 to the pre-pandemic limit of 6 and updated the test booking service terms and conditions to make it clear that users must not book tests and sell them for profit.
Following these changes, there has been a significant drop in traffic to these services because the DVSA is successfully identifying and blocking apps or bots.
Users found breaching the terms and conditions may have their accounts closed. In June 2022, the DVSA stopped customers registering for online business service (OBS) accounts and added the requirement for an approved driving instructor (ADI) to be associated with businesses that booked car tests. The DVSA removed around 7,000 unused business that did not have an ADI associated with them. At this point, the DVSA did not close any duplicate businesses.
Since May 2023, the DVSA has investigated business that appear to have multiple OBS accounts. Overall, 255 business have been investigated across 8 cases.
This has resulted in:
The DVSA does not hold the number of driving tests that have been booked by automated bots.
The DVSA is continuing to take steps to block cancellation services from accessing the booking system. These applications, however, are constantly evolving and changing, and the DVSA’s work on this is ongoing.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the length of the average wait for a practical driving test in the UK since January 2023.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published every quarter and this information can be accessed on the GOV.UK website via the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dft-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings
The national average waiting time for a car practical driving test since January 2023 is 17.1 weeks.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is aware that some companies have been using bots to snap up appointments on its public booking service, as soon as they become available, leaving fewer test appointments for genuine learner drivers to purchase directly from the DVSA.
The DVSA does not employ, encourage or licence anyone to provide such a cancellation service checking for newly open slots. These apps or bots are not approved by the DVSA as they make it harder for candidates to get a test and can result in people paying more for a test than the official test fee. Using such services also means that any changes to the test may not necessarily be relayed to the candidate.
To ensure its booking system is used correctly, the DVSA has:
- stopped accepting new automatic online registrations to use its tests booking service – any new applications must be made by email, where they will be thoroughly checked by the DVSA.
- stopped accepting any new registrations from companies who do not directly employ a driving instructor.
- removed registrations not linked to driving instructors.
- reduced the number of times a driving test appointment can be changed from 10 to the pre-pandemic limit of 6 and updated the test booking service terms and conditions to make it clear that users must not book tests and sell them for profit.
Following these changes, there has been a significant drop in traffic to these services because the DVSA is successfully identifying and blocking apps or bots.
Users found breaching the terms and conditions may have their accounts closed. In June 2022, the DVSA stopped customers registering for online business service (OBS) accounts and added the requirement for an approved driving instructor (ADI) to be associated with businesses that booked car tests. The DVSA removed around 7,000 unused business that did not have an ADI associated with them. At this point, the DVSA did not close any duplicate businesses.
Since May 2023, the DVSA has investigated business that appear to have multiple OBS accounts. Overall, 255 business have been investigated across 8 cases.
This has resulted in:
The DVSA does not hold the number of driving tests that have been booked by automated bots.
The DVSA is continuing to take steps to block cancellation services from accessing the booking system. These applications, however, are constantly evolving and changing, and the DVSA’s work on this is ongoing.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason the DVSA allows third party companies to book practical driving tests online.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published every quarter and this information can be accessed on the GOV.UK website via the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dft-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings
The national average waiting time for a car practical driving test since January 2023 is 17.1 weeks.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is aware that some companies have been using bots to snap up appointments on its public booking service, as soon as they become available, leaving fewer test appointments for genuine learner drivers to purchase directly from the DVSA.
The DVSA does not employ, encourage or licence anyone to provide such a cancellation service checking for newly open slots. These apps or bots are not approved by the DVSA as they make it harder for candidates to get a test and can result in people paying more for a test than the official test fee. Using such services also means that any changes to the test may not necessarily be relayed to the candidate.
To ensure its booking system is used correctly, the DVSA has:
- stopped accepting new automatic online registrations to use its tests booking service – any new applications must be made by email, where they will be thoroughly checked by the DVSA.
- stopped accepting any new registrations from companies who do not directly employ a driving instructor.
- removed registrations not linked to driving instructors.
- reduced the number of times a driving test appointment can be changed from 10 to the pre-pandemic limit of 6 and updated the test booking service terms and conditions to make it clear that users must not book tests and sell them for profit.
Following these changes, there has been a significant drop in traffic to these services because the DVSA is successfully identifying and blocking apps or bots.
Users found breaching the terms and conditions may have their accounts closed. In June 2022, the DVSA stopped customers registering for online business service (OBS) accounts and added the requirement for an approved driving instructor (ADI) to be associated with businesses that booked car tests. The DVSA removed around 7,000 unused business that did not have an ADI associated with them. At this point, the DVSA did not close any duplicate businesses.
Since May 2023, the DVSA has investigated business that appear to have multiple OBS accounts. Overall, 255 business have been investigated across 8 cases.
This has resulted in:
The DVSA does not hold the number of driving tests that have been booked by automated bots.
The DVSA is continuing to take steps to block cancellation services from accessing the booking system. These applications, however, are constantly evolving and changing, and the DVSA’s work on this is ongoing.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) women and (b) people with disabilities on consultations into the proposed closure of railway ticket offices.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We recognise that many passengers value the services provided by staff at ticket offices and the Department has held roundtable discussions with accessibility and passenger representative groups to discuss this matter.
We have been clear that no currently staffed station should be unstaffed as a result of industry changes, and operators should ensure that staff are well located to meet passenger needs in future. This includes ensuring that staff are available to help passengers use ticket vending machines or their own devices to purchase tickets, and they can assist those who need additional support or do not wish to use digital tickets. Exact staffing arrangements would vary by train operator and station and are subject to ongoing discussions with staff and their trade union representatives.
As the industry takes forward vital reforms, safety and accessibility remain a top priority for all.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to help ensure that the requirements of design standard CD195, Designing for cycle traffic, are applied in all National Highways regions.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
National Highways is committed to support all road users including walkers, cyclists and horse-riders. Its research and feedback, combined with insight from others such as Transport Focus, helps NH to understand how its services and roads may need to evolve to meet the needs of customers.
CD 195 Designing for Cycle Traffic is one of a suite of documents that National Highways has to ensure the most appropriate provision is provided for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. National Highways are working with Active Travel England to ensure the design standards referenced are applied wherever practical, supporting the delivery of active travel provision across the network.
All National Highways schemes are required to follow the GG142 Walking, Cycling and Horse-Riding Assessment and Review Process. This process enables designers to determine the most appropriate and proportionate type of facility for their scheme. This could be in the form of dedicated cycle provision designed to CD 195 Designing for Cycle Traffic, or it could be shared use walking and cycling facilities designed to CD 143 Designing for walking, cycling and horse-riding. As much of National Highways’ network is rural and located away from residential and industrial areas, providing shared use walking and cycling provision may often be a more proportionate approach for the anticipated levels of usage.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Active Travel England has had recent discussions with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on the potential merits of conducting design assessments of active travel schemes funded by the Levelling Up Fund.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Active Travel England will conduct design assessments of all active travel schemes funded by the Levelling Up Fund.