Asked by: Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of restricting the resale of driving tests on (a) levels of access to and (b) the cost of driving tests.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) understands the impact, including the financial implications, the reselling of practical driving tests is having on learner drivers.
On 28 May, DVSA launched a public consultation on improving the rules for booking car driving tests. The consultation closed on 23 July. DVSA is reviewing the feedback given and will announce the next steps as soon as possible.
Further information on the consultation can be found at:
The consultation is about changing the rules on how car driving tests can be booked and managed. It looks at how to make test booking fairer, including the possibility of stopping people charging extra fees to book tests and simplifying the system for learners and approved driving instructors. Any additional measures will only be introduced if it is considered appropriate to do so to support the continued delivery of the driver testing service and following public consultation.
All available driving test appointments are shown on DVSA’s live booking system, and as well as releasing tests on a rolling 24-week basis on a Monday, additional appointments are released throughout the week. As new test appointments appear on the booking service at different times of the day and through the week, DVSA advises candidates to continue to check for earlier appointments.
DVSA encourages learner drivers to only use the official GOV.UK website to book and manage their driving test. DVSA has published advice aimed at learner drivers warning them of the risks of using third party services/apps to book a practical driving test. Further information can be found on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/news/learner-drivers-warned-about-the-risks-of-driving-test-cancellation-finders.
Asked by: Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with local authorities on their use of her Department's connectivity tool in (a) plan-making and (b) decision-taking.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Connectivity Tool was launched on 26 June and is free to use by all local authorities via the gov.uk website. The tool is jointly badged with the MHCLG and has been explicitly designed in collaboration with local authorities to help inform their plans, strategies and decisions. This landmark platform will serve as the new national metric of connectivity, transforming how we plan for new development and the transport infrastructure needed to support it.
Asked by: Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the cost to Great British Railways of implementing the proposed EHRC Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Work is underway to design the form and functions of Great British Railways. Set up costs and future budgets will be confirmed in due course.
Asked by: Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her Department holds on the maintenance schedule for Branston Bridge in Staffordshire.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Asset management and safety, including information on maintenance schedules, is the responsibility of the owner of the infrastructure in question, which for this bridge is Staffordshire County Council.
Asked by: Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to provide funding for the A50/A500 corridor upgrade.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Study work led by National Highways to improve the Uttoxeter section of the A50/A500 corridor is at an early stage of development. These proposals continue to be worked on as part of the pipeline of possible future enhancements to the strategic road network; and to be considered for funding in a future Road Investment Strategy.