Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of people waiting for their driving licence to be renewed by the DVLA; and what that estimate was for each of the last five years.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online services are the quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their driving licence within a few days. However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application for a driving licence. The DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day which must be dealt with in person. Industrial action by members of the Public and Commercial Services union, along with having fewer staff on site to ensure social distancing in line with Welsh Government guidelines, has led to delays for customers who make paper applications.
There are currently around 638,000 paper applications for a driving licence awaiting processing. This includes those applying for a driving licence for the first time and those renewing an existing licence. It should be noted that the large majority of applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed. Information for each of the last five years is not available.
The DVLA continues to look into opportunities to reduce the backlog and has been developing additional new online services and recruiting additional staff. The DVLA is urgently exploring the possibility of securing extra office space to house more staff to help reduce backlogs.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the average length of delay at each UK port in January 2021.
Answered by Robert Courts
As yet, it is too early to use observed information to predict whether any disruption may occur later in January and if so to what degree. However, alongside the Border and Protocol Delivery Group we shall continue to monitor the situation.
We have always been clear that some change is to be expected now that we have left the EU’s custom union and single market. Full compliance with the new rules is vital to avoid disruption, and the best way to ensure readiness is to follow the guidance on gov.uk and use the ‘Check an HGV’ service.
We stand ready to help keep goods flowing smoothly as we adjust to our new relationship with the EU and ensure we take advantage of the opportunities it brings.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that plans are in place to enforce social distancing measures on public transport between 23 and 27 December 2020.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
Travel restrictions across the UK and between tiers will be lifted over the Christmas period, allowing up to three households to come together between 23 and 27 of December in Great Britain and between the 22 and 28 for those travelling to and from Northern Ireland.
The pandemic will undoubtedly make journeys more challenging, longer and busier than usual over the Christmas period. We have therefore been working closely with delivery partners to devise a series of measures focused on supporting passenger and staff safety, reducing disruption wherever possible and helping people travel with confidence. Sir Peter Hendy has also been asked to scrutinise the plans of all rail, road, coach, maritime and aviation operators to ensure a collective focus across the transport industry on minimising disruption and supporting passengers.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has in place to ensure that public transport networks can cope safely and in adherence to social distancing measures with a potential increase in passengers on services between 23 and 27 December 2020.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
Travel restrictions across the UK and between tiers will be lifted over the Christmas period, allowing up to three households to come together between 23 and 27 of December in Great Britain and between the 22 and 28 for those travelling to and from Northern Ireland.
The pandemic will undoubtedly make journeys more challenging, longer and busier than usual over the Christmas period. We have therefore been working closely with delivery partners to devise a series of measures focused on supporting passenger and staff safety, reducing disruption wherever possible and helping people travel with confidence. Sir Peter Hendy has also been asked to scrutinise the plans of all rail, road, coach, maritime and aviation operators to ensure a collective focus across the transport industry on minimising disruption and supporting passengers.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the High Speed Two rail project.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
In April, the Government approved the Full Business Case for Phase One and set the funding envelope at £44.6bn (2019 prices), including Euston. The overall Phase 2a estimated cost is ranged between £5-7bn (2019 prices). Updated cost estimates will be provided for the Phase 2b links to Manchester and Leeds once the Integrated Rail Plan is concluded. The Government has committed to keeping Parliament regularly updated on the latest cost estimates of the scheme via twice yearly reporting. The first of these was published in October and can be accessed below: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/hs2-6-monthly-report-to-parliament.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is taking steps to (a) restructure and (b) reassess the viability of the High Speed Two project as a result of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority issuing a red Delivery Confidence Assessment rating in its Annual Report on Major Projects 2019-20.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
The IPA’s report refers to the status of the HS2 project in September 2019. This was before the project was comprehensively reset in February 2020 with a revised budget and schedule, and provision of adequate contingency. Steps have also been taken to ensure the project is delivered in a more disciplined and transparent manner with, for example, a dedicated HS2 Minister appointed and bi-annual updates to be provided to Parliament.
In line with the findings of the Oakervee Review, published in February 2020, we will also be creating new delivery arrangements for Euston, and have committed to drawing up an Integrated Rail Plan for the Midlands and the North by the end of this year.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which individuals accompanied Mark Thurston, Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd, on his visit to Beijing in April 2018.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
Mark Thurston did not visit Beijing in April 2018. On 10 April 2019 Mark Thurston met representatives of the National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC) along with the HM Trade Commissioner to China. On 11 April 2019 Mark Thurston was accompanied by Department for International Trade officials to a round table meeting with NDRC and key Chinese rail companies. The purpose of the visit was to gather international best practice of core elements of High Speed Rail projects, such as station design, maintenance and operational processes.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the purpose was of the visit by Mark Thurston, Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd, to Beijing in April 2018.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
Mark Thurston did not visit Beijing in April 2018. In April 2019 Mark Thurston visited Japan, China and Hong Kong to meet with companies responsible for developing and operating high speed networks. He also visited high speed stations in Tokyo, Beijing and Kowloon. The purpose of the visit was to gather international best practice of core elements of High Speed Rail projects, such as station design, maintenance and operational processes.
At the advice of the previous Chairman, Sir David Higgins, Mark Thurston also undertook two other short, 48hr, overseas visits - to Italy and Spain - in March 2018 to learn from their experiences of delivering High Speed Rail. Spain has the largest high speed network outside of China.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether funding from the public purse was allocated to the visit to Beijing in April 2018 by Mark Thurston, Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
Mark Thurston did not visit Beijing in April 2018. In April 2019 Mark Thurston visited Japan, China and Hong Kong to meet with companies responsible for developing and operating high speed networks, hosted by the British Embassy and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and supported by HM Trade Commissioner to China and the Department for International Trade. The purpose of the visit was to gather international best practice of core elements of High Speed Rail projects, such as station design, maintenance and operational processes. The only business expense claimed was Mark Thurston’s international flights. Where travel is for business purposes it is reasonable for it to be covered by HS2 Ltd in line with its published policies. Mark Thurston covered his own internal travel expenses, accommodation, and expenditure for this trip.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which public appointments he is responsible for.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The public appointments that the Department is responsible for making are set out in the Schedule to the Public Appointments Order in Council2019. https://publicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/2019-Public-Appointments-Order-In-Council.pdf