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Written Question
Driving Tests
Thursday 20th January 2022

Asked by: James Davies (Conservative - Vale of Clwyd)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to help ensure that people who have their driving tests cancelled can re-book an appointment in a timely manner.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) recognises the high demand for learners wanting to take their practical driving test following the suspension of routine driver training and testing during the pandemic.

The DVSA understands how disappointing it is when driving tests are cancelled and therefore will only cancel appointments as an absolute last resort. Those affected by cancellations will automatically be offered a new appointment at the original test centre on the next earliest date available.

The DVSA is working hard to provide as many practical driving test appointments as possible and has a number of measures in place to do this. These include offering a national recovery allowance and annual leave buy back to examiners, asking all those qualified to conduct tests, but who do not do so as part of their current day job, to return to conducting tests, and conducting out of hours testing (such as on public holidays and weekends).

The DVSA is also continuing with its campaign to recruit more driving examiners across Great Britain and further increase availability of driving test appointments.

Written Question
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency: North Wales
Wednesday 19th January 2022

Asked by: James Davies (Conservative - Vale of Clwyd)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to help increase (a) recruitment and (b) retention of staff within the DVSA in North Wales.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is continuing with its campaigns recruiting front line operational roles across its Driver, Vehicle and Enforcement services. The DVSA monitors retention across all roles and takes action when required. There are currently no concerns regarding the retention of staff in North Wales.

There is a national recruitment campaign aimed at recruiting driving examiners across Great Britain to further increase availability of driving test appointments. This has identified four successful candidates to fill the current vacancies in North Wales.

The DVSA will also shortly launch a further campaign aimed specifically at candidates that speak Welsh who may wish to join the agency as driving examiners.

Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 12 Jan 2022
Transport Connectivity: Merseyside

"I thank my right hon. Friend for giving way and I congratulate the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mick Whitley) on securing this important debate. For many, Liverpool is the capital of north Wales, yet direct rail services from the north Wales coast ceased in the 1970s. Thanks to the reopening …..."
James Davies - View Speech

View all James Davies (Con - Vale of Clwyd) contributions to the debate on: Transport Connectivity: Merseyside
Speech in Commons Chamber - Fri 10 Sep 2021
Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Bill

"It is a pleasure to make some brief comments in support of this excellent Bill. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Peter Gibson) and acknowledge the huge input from the hon. Member for Cambridge (Daniel Zeichner) and, of course, from past and present Ministers in the Department …..."
James Davies - View Speech

View all James Davies (Con - Vale of Clwyd) contributions to the debate on: Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 29 Jun 2021
International Travel

"My constituent Tom Williams kindly agreed to participate in the Novavax trial. He was promised that that would not disadvantage him in any way. He is now fully vaccinated with Novavax and, restrictions willing, is hoping to go to France this summer with his family. As the European Medicines Agency …..."
James Davies - View Speech

View all James Davies (Con - Vale of Clwyd) contributions to the debate on: International Travel
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 29 Apr 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

" What steps his Department is taking to prepare for the safe reopening of international travel as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased. ..."
James Davies - View Speech

View all James Davies (Con - Vale of Clwyd) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 29 Apr 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

"Comprehensive covid testing will be critical for the safe reopening of wider international travel. We already know that countries with very low rates of covid infection will be placed on a green list. Will my right hon. Friend confirm whether there are plans to allow individuals travelling from those countries …..."
James Davies - View Speech

View all James Davies (Con - Vale of Clwyd) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 16 Mar 2021
Union Connectivity Review

"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship. Ms McVey. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (John Lamont) on securing this important debate.

The Government’s levelling-up agenda, in particular the Union connectivity review, represents a welcome step forward for north Wales, where there …..."
James Davies - View Speech

View all James Davies (Con - Vale of Clwyd) contributions to the debate on: Union Connectivity Review
Written Question
Driving Licences and Technology
Tuesday 23rd February 2021

Asked by: James Davies (Conservative - Vale of Clwyd)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with industry representatives on the introduction of (a) Graduated Driver Licences and (b) mandatory telematic devices to cars in the UK.

Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch

In October 2020 the Department for Transport discussed the topic of a Graduated Driver Licence and compulsory black box usage at the Transport Select Committee on Young and Novice Drivers.

After giving our reasoning that we are not currently pursuing the topic as a future policy, the Secretary of State has accordingly not met with industry representatives on the matter.

The Department for Transport take any consideration of restrictions on any road users very seriously, particularly those in rural areas for access to education, employment and leisure.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this Government has no current plans to enforce any further restrictions which could be detrimental to the younger generation’s prospects for employment, education or livelihood.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 07 Sep 2020
International Travel

"Travel corridors are a necessary, albeit blunt, instrument to control covid levels in this country, and I welcome my right hon. Friend’s further announcements today. However, does he agree that differing rules across different parts of the UK are confusing and awkward both for passengers and tourist industries?..."
James Davies - View Speech

View all James Davies (Con - Vale of Clwyd) contributions to the debate on: International Travel