Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to respond to the email correspondence of 1 November 2023 from the hon. Member for Sefton Central.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay responded to this correspondence on 14 March 2024. The Department apologises for the delay in responding.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2024 to Question 16465 on Driving Tests: Waiting Lists, what the average waiting time was for a driving test from DVSA in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) each region and (d) each driving centre in March 2023.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The attached spreadsheet PQ 17731 shows the average waiting time in March 2023 for a car practical driving test, broken down by:
The attached spreadsheet PQ 17730 shows the average waiting time in March 2022 for a car practical driving test, broken down by:
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2024 to Question 16465 on Driving Tests: Waiting Lists, what the average waiting time was for a driving test from DVSA in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) each region and (d) each driving centre in March 2022.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The attached spreadsheet PQ 17731 shows the average waiting time in March 2023 for a car practical driving test, broken down by:
The attached spreadsheet PQ 17730 shows the average waiting time in March 2022 for a car practical driving test, broken down by:
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2024 to Question 16462 on Parking: Private Sector, what representations his Department has received from stakeholders on the potential merits of increasing regulatory scrutiny of private parking companies since 2019.
Answered by Jacob Young
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 15378 on 28 February 2024. Furthermore, the Code has been produced in close consultation with private parking experts including consumer and industry groups. The Government continues to work with these groups to ensure the Code comes into effect as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2024 to Question 16462 on Parking: Private Sector, what meetings he has had to discuss the level of regulatory scrutiny of private parking companies since 2019.
Answered by Jacob Young
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 15378 on 28 February 2024. Furthermore, the Code has been produced in close consultation with private parking experts including consumer and industry groups. The Government continues to work with these groups to ensure the Code comes into effect as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2024 to Question 16462 on Parking: Private Sector, if he will publish a plan to increase the regulatory scrutiny of private parking companies.
Answered by Jacob Young
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 15378 on 28 February 2024. Furthermore, the Code has been produced in close consultation with private parking experts including consumer and industry groups. The Government continues to work with these groups to ensure the Code comes into effect as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will publish a new private parking code of practice.
Answered by Jacob Young
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 15378 on 28 February 2024. Furthermore, the Code has been produced in close consultation with private parking experts including consumer and industry groups. The Government continues to work with these groups to ensure the Code comes into effect as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to respond to the email from the hon. Member for Sefton Central of 3 October 2023 on animal welfare.
Answered by Mark Spencer
A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 6 March 2024. I apologise for the delay in responding.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing regulatory scrutiny of private parking companies.
Answered by Jacob Young
The Government is aware of concerns regarding the practices of some private parking operators. Following the introduction of the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the Government is taking action to improve the regulation of the private parking industry.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total number of drivers in England waiting for a driving test from DVSA was as of 1 March 2024.
Answered by Guy Opperman
As of 4 March 2024, there were 514,894 car practical driving tests booked, and 133,555 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window. The average waiting time for a car practical driving test in England is 17.8 weeks.
The attached spreadsheet shows the average waiting time for a car practical driving test, per region, and at each test centre, as of 4 March 2024.
The Secretary of State for Transport has decided, going forward, to regularly publish this information to show progress in tackling the testing backlog that has arisen since Covid.