Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Birkenhead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of industrial action by rail workers on the ability of Avanti West Coast to adequately improve their service before their extended contract expires.
Answered by Huw Merriman
On 11 December Avanti West Coast (AWC) implemented major changes to its timetable, increasing services from four trains per hour to seven trains per hour, which is expected to lead to an improvement in reliability. The delivery of the new timetable has been restricted by strike action and, on non-strike days, bad weather and engineering works, which has meant that passengers are yet to see a sustained improvement.
The Department will review AWC’s operational performance over the term of the Emergency Measures contract as one of the important factors when considering the contractual arrangements for train services on the West Coast Main Line beyond 1 April 2023, recognising that not all factors are within AWC’s control. Whether there has been stable industrial relations and cooperation from Trade Unions will be taken into consideration.
Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Birkenhead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what comparative assessment he has made of employment opportunities in area’s with and without night time public transport.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The Government recognises the vital role public transport plays in getting people to and from work at all times of the day and night. The National Bus Strategy published last year, recognises the important role buses play in meeting local transport needs. The Strategy is clear that Partnership and franchising arrangements must deliver more comprehensive services, including those which are socially or economically necessary. This includes more services in the evenings and at weekends.
Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Birkenhead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of night-time public transport on the night-time economy.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
We have been clear through the National Bus Strategy that partnerships and franchising arrangements must deliver more comprehensive services, including those which are socially or economically necessary. As part of the Strategy the Government plans to issue new guidance on ‘socially necessary’ services, expanding the category to include ‘economically necessary’ services such as those supporting the night time economy.
Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Birkenhead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the anticipated response time is for DVLA queries from hon. Members or their offices regarding constituents' concerns.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to answer 95 per cent of hon. Members correspondence within eight working days. The impact of the pandemic and industrial action taken by the Public and Commercial Services union last year has resulted in delays in processing applications and a subsequent increase in correspondence. Correspondence relating to vehicle or enforcements work are all currently being answered within the timescale. Correspondence relating to drivers or drivers’ medical concerns are outside this target. For example in February 2022, the DVLA answered over 80 per cent of hon. Members correspondence in 20 working days.
The DVLA has allocated extra resource to the teams that deal with these enquiries and this is showing an improving picture. The DVLA also offers hon. Members a dedicated phone line for their use.
Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Birkenhead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the reasons for delays in the return of physical driving licences to applicants by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The quickest and easiest way to make an application to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is to use its extensive suite of online services. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their documents 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. The DVLA has been working with a significantly reduced number of staff on site to ensure social distancing in line with Welsh Government requirements. Industrial action between April and the end of August by members of the Public and Commercial Services union and the current increased demand for the DVLA’s services has also contributed to delays with paper applications.
To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham. The DVLA has reconfigured its accommodation to safely maximise the number of staff on site and is working hard to process paper applications as quickly as possible. The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here.
These measures are having a positive impact. The queues are reducing, and customers will continue to see an improving picture in terms of turnaround times.
Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Birkenhead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to increase the frequency of trains on the Wrexham to Bidston line.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Train services on the Wrexham to Bidston line are operated by the Wales & Borders franchise. The Welsh Government rather than the Department specifies services in that franchise under the Welsh rail devolution arrangements. The current franchise finishes this October and the Welsh Government has appointed Keolis/Amey as the new franchise operator.
The Welsh Government’s announcement about the new franchise says that: ‘By the end of 2023, passengers will be able to take advantage of an additional 285 services each weekday across Wales (a 29 per cent increase). This will include improvements to the … Wrexham – Bidston line.’
Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Birkenhead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve travelling times between Wirral and Manchester.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
As part of the recent timetable introduction the train operators have introduced a number of train service changes to improve journey times between Liverpool and Manchester such as Transpennine Express (TPE) running two ‘fast’ services per hour from Liverpool Lime Street – Manchester Victoria providing a journey time of 35 mins rather than the 52 mins of the previous route.
Rail services between the Wirral area and Liverpool are a matter for MerseyTravel as the local authority transport body responsible for MerseyRail.
In regards to bus times from these locations the department doesn’t have any specific data for services running between Wirral and Manchester.