Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will place in the Library a copy of all scoping reports on air quality in respect of motorway improvement schemes produced in the last three years.
Answered by John Hayes
A copy of each Environmental Assessment Report produced for motorway improvement schemes in the last three years will be placed in the House Library by 30 January 2015.
It should be noted that Air Quality scoping reports are not produced as individual documents for motorway improvement schemes, but air quality is considered as part of the overall environmental scoping exercise which is undertaken for each project in line with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Volume 11 Section 2 parts 4 and 6.
The results of the scoping exercise provide the basis for the subsequent Environment Assessment Report which provides decision makers and the public with an accessible document which:
Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what inspections have been completed on garages performing MOT tests relating to diesel particulate filters since 26 October 2014.
Answered by Claire Perry
Every MOT tester has to apply the standards set out within the inspection manual when inspecting vehicles fitted with diesel particulate filters. Since the end of October 2014, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency have visited around 1500 garages. If any issues have arisen during these visits, all staff at the garages have been made aware of the requirements.
Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will review the decision to postpone the implementation of the driver training elements of EU regulation No. 181/2011 for up to four years.
Answered by John Hayes
My Noble Friend Baroness Kramer, Minister for Local Transport has recently completed a review of the use of a derogation applied under EU Regulation 181/2011 (concerning bus and coach passenger rights) exempting bus and coach drivers from undertaking mandatory disability awareness training.
To inform this review, she wrote to bus industry representatives, disability stakeholders and charities seeking their input, to determine whether drivers are receiving adequate disability awareness training under the current voluntary arrangement.
Having received and considered many comprehensive responses, the findings have been shared with Ministerial colleagues who are discussing how best to proceed.
While these discussions continue, officials will place a summary of all responses received in relation to the review on the Government’s website as a matter of priority.
Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the need for extra capacity on the Crewe-Derby rail line.
Answered by Claire Perry
I have made no such assessment. Network Rail is currently undertaking a Long Term Planning Process in consultation with industry, local and other stakeholders to identify the strategic priorities for future development of the rail network following the 2014-2019 Control Period.
Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles have been crushed as a result of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency database errors since July 2013.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) does not hold the information requested.
If the DVLA is made aware of any enforcement action taken as a result of an error, officials consider compensating for any losses incurred. Each case is considered individually.
Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will request the Driving Standards Agency and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to waive charges arising from car seizures as a result of database classification errors.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency does not seize and impound cars.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) adopts a compliance and enforcement approach to ensuring vehicle excise duty is paid. This includes reminder letters and late licensing penalties as well as court prosecutions and the wheelclamping and/or removal of unlicensed vehicles.
If the DVLA is made aware of any action taken as a result of an error, officials will consider refunding any charges incurred. Each case is considered individually.