Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of mobile phone usage while driving on the number of road accidents in the past five years.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Statistics on road collisions are available based on data reported to the Department by police forces via the STATS19 data collection system. Within STATS19, reporting officers can record up to 6 factors which they consider may have contributed to the collision occurring.
The number of reported road injury collisions in Great Britain where a police officer attended and assigned ‘driver using mobile phone’ as a contributory factor are shown in the table for the last 5 years for which data are available.
Year | Number of collisions with ‘driver using mobile phone’ as a contributory factor |
2019 | 420 |
2020 | 368 |
2021 | 440 |
2022 | 468 |
2023 | 463 |
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department provides to drivers prescribed medicinal cannabis on (a) driving safety and (b) legal responsibilities.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There is a requirement on drivers to notify DVLA of a medical condition that affects their ability to drive safely. The DVLA will make an assessment on their fitness to drive. Information can be found on GOV.UK www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving
The DVLA advise that medical prescribers should give patients advice on driving while using medical cannabis, as they would with any other medication.
This advice covers the main point that the patient should not drive if they feel impaired, and sometimes includes more specific guidance to support safe consumption.
DVLA publish this advice on GOV.UK www.gov.uk/guidance/assessing-fitness-to-drive-a-guide-for-medical-professionals
In 2015 the Government introduced a new offence in regard to driving with a specific controlled drug in the body above that drug’s accepted limit. The Government took a zero tolerance approach to 8 drugs most associated with illegal use, with limits set at a level where any claims of accidental exposure can be ruled out. This includes cannabis, including both illicit and medically prescribed. Advice is published on GOV.UK www.gov.uk/government/collections/drug-driving.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to introduce stricter penalties for mobile phone use while driving.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Government keeps motoring offences under review, and is considering possible interventions.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of integrating cycling infrastructure with rural train stations.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We have recently announced £222.5 million to local authorities outside of London for the delivery of active travel schemes and community engagement. It is for local authorities to make their own decisions about where to prioritise investment in local transport networks, including links between different transport modes.
The Government agrees on the importance of a properly integrated national transport system and will be saying more on this in due course in a new Integrated Transport Strategy. Active Travel England works with local authorities to help design and deliver high-quality networks that are properly integrated with other local transport services.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to integrate (a) e-scooter and (b) e-bike infrastructure with rural bus services.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government aims to deliver an integrated transport system that reduces emissions, improves journeys, and gives people choice over how they travel, and we are carefully considering how shared micromobility and active travel schemes can help to deliver these objectives right across the country.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of rolling stock age on (a) reliability and (b) service quality on Great Western Railway routes.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The average age of Great Western Railway’s (GWR) rolling stock is 15 years, as published on the Office of Rail and Road website as at 31 March 2024.
My officials receive regular updates on GWR’s train fleet. Detailed maintenance arrangements are a matter for GWR, its maintenance providers and the rolling stock owning companies. GWR works closely with its maintainers and the supply chain to source parts to maintain the trains as required.
The age of rolling stock is one of the factors that can impact on reliability and service quality. GWR and Network Rail have been working together to develop plans to replace ageing rolling stock with trains that will better meet the needs of passengers in the future. Any specific proposals are subject to both business case approval and funding being available.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the availability of spare parts for ageing rolling stock operated by Great Western Railway.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The average age of Great Western Railway’s (GWR) rolling stock is 15 years, as published on the Office of Rail and Road website as at 31 March 2024.
My officials receive regular updates on GWR’s train fleet. Detailed maintenance arrangements are a matter for GWR, its maintenance providers and the rolling stock owning companies. GWR works closely with its maintainers and the supply chain to source parts to maintain the trains as required.
The age of rolling stock is one of the factors that can impact on reliability and service quality. GWR and Network Rail have been working together to develop plans to replace ageing rolling stock with trains that will better meet the needs of passengers in the future. Any specific proposals are subject to both business case approval and funding being available.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average age is of Great Western Railway's current fleet of rolling stock.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The average age of Great Western Railway’s (GWR) rolling stock is 15 years, as published on the Office of Rail and Road website as at 31 March 2024.
My officials receive regular updates on GWR’s train fleet. Detailed maintenance arrangements are a matter for GWR, its maintenance providers and the rolling stock owning companies. GWR works closely with its maintainers and the supply chain to source parts to maintain the trains as required.
The age of rolling stock is one of the factors that can impact on reliability and service quality. GWR and Network Rail have been working together to develop plans to replace ageing rolling stock with trains that will better meet the needs of passengers in the future. Any specific proposals are subject to both business case approval and funding being available.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department provides funding for safe cycling routes to schools in rural areas.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recently announced £222.5 million for local authorities outside London for the delivery of walking and cycling schemes. It is for local authorities to decide on local priorities for investment in local transport networks, including walking and cycling routes to schools.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions her Department has had with Great Western Railway on the (a) maintenance and (b) servicing of older rolling stock.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The average age of Great Western Railway’s (GWR) rolling stock is 15 years, as published on the Office of Rail and Road website as at 31 March 2024.
My officials receive regular updates on GWR’s train fleet. Detailed maintenance arrangements are a matter for GWR, its maintenance providers and the rolling stock owning companies. GWR works closely with its maintainers and the supply chain to source parts to maintain the trains as required.
The age of rolling stock is one of the factors that can impact on reliability and service quality. GWR and Network Rail have been working together to develop plans to replace ageing rolling stock with trains that will better meet the needs of passengers in the future. Any specific proposals are subject to both business case approval and funding being available.