Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help deliver the National Cyber Strategy 2022 commitment to a Connected and Automated Vehicles Process for Assuring Safety and Security.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) is leading the CAVPASS programme which is developing and putting in place all the elements required to ensure safety and cyber resilience of self-driving vehicles on GB roads. By 2025 the full scheme will be in place that will cover all vehicle types.
Within CAVPASS, there is a specific workstream dealing with Cyber that has direct input from DfT’s cyber security experts and from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). CAVPASS commissions both R&D projects on Cyber and practical trials to test out solutions and enhance learning, for example using the Angoka cyber solutions as featured in the National Cyber Strategy document.
CAVPASS is working with industry to ensure internationally agreed regulations relating to cyber are implemented appropriately, including UNECE regulation 155 (Cyber Security and Cyber Security Management Systems) and regulation 157 (Software updates and software updates management systems).
CAVPASS also focuses on improving cyber skills within the motoring agencies that will ultimately have responsibility for implementing the new approval scheme, with a number of staff in the Vehicle Certification Agency already having gone through specific cyber training.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has of the scale of (a) backlogs and (b) processing delays within the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online services are the quickest and easiest way to make an application. 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 60,000 items of mail every day. The latest information on turnaround times for paper applications can be found here.
The DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham to help reduce waiting times while providing future resilience and business continuity.
These measures are having a positive impact. In particular, the focus on vocational driving licence applications to support dealing with the HGV driver shortage has been successful with routine vocational applications now back to normal turnaround times. Backlogs are also reducing in other areas.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the 101 restriction on D1 licences can be provisionally removed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The restriction code 101 on driving licences is a long-standing legal requirement which is applied where the category B (car) driving test was taken before 1 January 1997. The code allows these drivers to drive minibuses up to 16 seats, if not being driven for hire or reward. Drivers who want to drive minibuses on a professional basis are required to take the relevant driving test (category D1) and meet the higher health requirements that apply to the issuing of licences to drive larger vehicles.
There is a provision which allows non-profit-making organisations to employ drivers with a car licence to provide minibus transport for their own members or for the local community. Further information is available on GOV.UK here.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on the removal of restriction 101 on D1 licences in relation to tackling driver shortages.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
I am not aware of any discussions with stakeholders over this issue. The restriction is in place to ensure professional drivers meet the higher standards required of those who drive for a living.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason the 101 restriction on D1 licences prohibits qualified minibus drivers from driving in a paid capacity.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The 101 “not for hire or reward” restriction code on a driving licence shows the driver has acquired rights to drive minibuses but has not passed the test to drive professionally. These drivers have not undergone a medical examination or passed all the theory and practical tests required to be a professional driver.
Ensuring professional drivers have the right licence, and skills to drive their vehicles, and that they are medically fit to do so, is key to maintaining road safety.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme is capped; and what assessment he has made of the effect of that cap on larger airports.
Answered by Robert Courts
The Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme intends to allow commercial airports and ground handlers operating at airports in England to be able to apply for support to the equivalent of their site’s business rates liabilities or their COVID-19 losses – whichever is lower – up to a cap of £8m, if they meet the qualifying criteria and conditions.
The cap strikes an appropriate balance between supporting airports in financial distress while protecting the interests of the taxpayer.