Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress Highways England have made on improving the signage to Langholm on (a) Junction 44 of the M6 and (b) the A7.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways has finalised the design of new signage to Langholm on the roundabout at M6 Junction 44. At the same time, Cumberland Council, who are responsible for signage on the A7 itself in Cumbria, is planning to modify two existing signs on the A7 to include signing for Langholm. This is at an advanced stage well beyond design. To ensure consistency of signing, we understand that National Highways and Cumberland Council are working collaboratively to agree an installation date once all the signs required have been manufactured, but this will be early in the new year.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with representatives of the US Administration on the basis on which people who have received the AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine would be admitted to the US for as long as that vaccine has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Prime Minster and President Biden have made clear the importance of bringing about the return of safe trans-Atlantic travel as soon as possible. Department for Transport Ministers are in regular contact with US partners on driving forward this goal.
The newly formed joint UK-US Experts’ Working Group is now underway, and we are working closely with our US partners on delivering the practical solutions to effectively restoring travel.
We are hopeful that vaccines will play an important role in normalising travel between the UK and US and confident that the AstraZeneca vaccine will underpin this for UK citizens.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will extend the expiry date of driving theory tests for people who have had their practical driving test cancelled during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The two-year validity period of the theory test certificate is set in legislation and the Government has taken the decision not to lay further legislation to extend it. The primary reason is that the two-year validity is in place to ensure that a candidate’s theoretical knowledge and hazard perception skills are up to date at the critical point they drive on their own for the first time. Extending the validity would provide less reassurance that this is the case. Those whose certificate previously expired and have since passed the theory test will now have a further two years in which to pass the practical test.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timeframe is for the resumption of driving tests in (a) rural and (b) urban areas in Scotland.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) priority throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been to protect the public and save lives. That remains its priority as it restarts its services.
As different approaches to easing lockdown are currently being adopted across England, Scotland and Wales, the DVSA is following published guidance in each of those countries as it restarts its services safely for customers and staff.
The DVSA will continue to observe the guidance and scale up its services when it is permissible and lawful to do so.
In Scotland, theory tests and motorcycle instruction may restart on 22 July 2020. Motorcycle module 1 and module 2 tests, and tractor driving tests, will restart on Monday 3 August 2020.
Other types of driving tests are still suspended. When the DVSA has more detail, it will inform instructors and candidates.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits for the Scottish economy of implementing the recommendations in High Speed Rail Group's report on extending HS2 upgrades beyond phase 2b.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to levelling-up the whole of the UK, including Scotland. In 2016, HS2 Ltd. made an early assessment of extending high speed lines into Scotland, taking into account the benefits for the region through reduced journey times as well as forecasted demand. At present, the Integrated Rail Plan for the Midlands and the North is, among other things, looking at delivering better rail connectivity to Scotland, considering economic arguments around how this can be achieved.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that there is a national network of truckstops open to lorry drivers while covid-19 lockdown measures are in place that are able to provide hot food, shower and toilet facilities.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Truck stops and garages can provide some facilities subject to general cross-sector rules, including about social distancing. The Department has asked for, receives and acts on intelligence received from the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and others. Concerns have focused on several areas. Ministers and officials have contacted representative organisations for petrol retailers and distribution centres about access arrangements.
We have been actively working with Motorway Service Areas to ensure facilities continue to be available to drivers.
We have also been working with large Regional Distribution Centres, who have implemented hygiene procedures and social distancing in line with the RHA and government guidelines.
Where access to toilet or handwashing facilities is denied, and proper social distancing measures are not in place, this can be reported via e-mail to covid19info@rha.uk.net