Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
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 including hazard perception tests for drivers who have been diagnosed with glaucoma.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Glaucoma is a condition that can affect visual fields. Driving licence holders or applicants who have glaucoma in both eyes must notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and will be required to have an eyesight test to make sure that they meet the legally required visual field standards for driving.
The requirements for visual field can only be assessed through formal visual field testing. The Secretary of State for Transport’s Honorary Medical Advisory Panel for Visual Disorders and Driving advises that the appropriate visual field assessment for determining fitness to drive is a binocular Esterman field test or, exceptionally, a Goldmann perimetry assessment. Both of these tests must be carried out to strict criteria and are conducted to the exact specifications required to enable the DVLA to assess whether the visual field requirements for driving can be met.
There are no plans to use hazard perception tests for this purpose.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
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 instructing the DVLA to audit car park operator records in cases where a recurring pattern of disputes over charges has been identified.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The law allows the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to provide vehicle keeper information to parking companies so that they can contact the registered keepers of vehicles which may have been parked on private land in breach of the terms and conditions applying.
These arrangements are subject to a comprehensive range of safeguards to ensure motorists are treated fairly. Companies requesting data from the DVLA to manage private parking must belong to an appropriate accredited trade association and abide by its published code of practice. The DVLA and the Government Internal Audit Agency carry out audits on those requesting data and appropriate action will be taken if patterns are identified from complaints received.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has had discussions with (a) the Rail Safety and Standards Board and (b) industry stakeholders to (i) develop and (ii) legislate for a minimum requirement for bicycle storage spaces per train unit on (A) new and (B) refurbished rolling stock.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has not had discussions with the Rail Safety and Standards Board or industry stakeholders regarding legislating for a minimum requirement for bicycle storage spaces per train unit but is considering policy options to improve integration between cycling and rail for passengers.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the (a) quality and (b) timeliness of DVLA communications with medical driving licence applicants; and whether the DVLA is taking steps to improve the quality of its (i) updates to applicants and (ii) plain-English correspondence.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. Driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated before a licence can take longer. This is because the DVLA is often reliant on receiving information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.
The DVLA is currently rolling out a new casework system which is expected to deliver significant improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions. This will enhance the handling of medical cases, support growing customer demand and help to reduce processing times. As part of this work, the DVLA has improved the quality of the correspondence provided to applicants and reviewed the questions asked of applicants and healthcare professionals when assessing medical fitness to drive with a view to simplify the process wherever possible.
It is important to note that most applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information on this can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1180997/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.pdf.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the DVLA is taking steps to reduce the time taken for medical driver's license applications to be processed.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. Driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated before a licence can take longer. This is because the DVLA is often reliant on receiving information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.
The DVLA is currently rolling out a new casework system which is expected to deliver significant improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions. This will enhance the handling of medical cases, support growing customer demand and help to reduce processing times. As part of this work, the DVLA has improved the quality of the correspondence provided to applicants and reviewed the questions asked of applicants and healthcare professionals when assessing medical fitness to drive with a view to simplify the process wherever possible.
It is important to note that most applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information on this can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1180997/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.pdf.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to (a) monitor and (b) limit the level of parking fees at airports.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Department for Transport has no plans to monitor or limit the level of parking fees at airports.
The provision and charging of car parking at airports (including drop off and pick charges) is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business to manage and justify.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the level of greenhouse-gas emissions from diesel operation on the Midland Main Line in the next ten years.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Significant benefits have been delivered through electrification of the Midland Main Line. Electrification between Kettering and Wigston was completed earlier this year and, together with enhancements south of Bedford due to complete in August, will enable the bi-mode intercity services being introduced by East Midlands Railway to operate using electric traction. As part of the close out of these schemes, we will establish the projected reduction in greenhouse gas emissions due to the switch from diesel to electric operation on the route.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the National Skills Academy for Rail’s finding that completing Midland Main Line electrification would create up to 4,300 jobs and more than 100 apprenticeships in the East Midlands.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
I appreciate the investment opportunities that further electrification of the Midland Main Line could bring to the East Midlands but schemes that would have a more significant impact on economic growth have been prioritised as part of this Spending Review. There is still significant investment being made in rail. We also need a resilient and productive rail supply chain that invests in skills, technology, and innovation to reduce costs and increase competitiveness.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to introduce battery-electric regional trains on East Midlands train routes.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government has committed to develop a long-term strategy for rolling stock and associated infrastructure. This work will include consideration of the likely long-term future rolling stock needs across the network, including the East Midlands, and the opportunities for different traction types including battery electric trains.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has undertaken a cost–benefit analysis of (a) pausing and (b) completing the third phase of Midland Main Line electrification within the period covered by the Spending Review 2025.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Midland Main Line electrification was considered as part of the Spending Review, which prioritised investment across all Government spending, taking account of business cases and affordability, including cost-benefit analysis. Continuing electrification to Nottingham and Sheffield is lower value for money, partly due to rising costs and partly as a consequence of having already delivered substantial electrification. We will continue to keep this project under review as part of our longer-term pipeline of schemes.