Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he hash to resume mandatory testing for people towing light trailers.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will continue to encourage people who want to drive a car and trailer to get professional training to promote road safety and support those businesses.
There are no plans to resume mandatory testing for people towing light trailers.
Legal processes must be followed, and legislation is currently going through the parliamentary process. The change will be introduced at a later date, and as soon as possible. Drivers must continue to follow the current rules until the law changes.
The legislation being proposed specifically states that a review must be conducted three years after the law comes into force and again at five years to ensure the safety of our roads has not been compromised by these changes.
No assessment has been undertaken of the cost to the public purse. A new statutory instrument with an amended coming into force date will be laid in Parliament shortly.
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Statutory Instrument on Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021, by what date he plans to resolve the situation for people who would have been obliged to take the B+E test have had their tests cancelled.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will continue to encourage people who want to drive a car and trailer to get professional training to promote road safety and support those businesses.
There are no plans to resume mandatory testing for people towing light trailers.
Legal processes must be followed, and legislation is currently going through the parliamentary process. The change will be introduced at a later date, and as soon as possible. Drivers must continue to follow the current rules until the law changes.
The legislation being proposed specifically states that a review must be conducted three years after the law comes into force and again at five years to ensure the safety of our roads has not been compromised by these changes.
No assessment has been undertaken of the cost to the public purse. A new statutory instrument with an amended coming into force date will be laid in Parliament shortly.
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Statutory Instrument on Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021, what plans he has to implement changes to the testing process for B+E tests.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will continue to encourage people who want to drive a car and trailer to get professional training to promote road safety and support those businesses.
There are no plans to resume mandatory testing for people towing light trailers.
Legal processes must be followed, and legislation is currently going through the parliamentary process. The change will be introduced at a later date, and as soon as possible. Drivers must continue to follow the current rules until the law changes.
The legislation being proposed specifically states that a review must be conducted three years after the law comes into force and again at five years to ensure the safety of our roads has not been compromised by these changes.
No assessment has been undertaken of the cost to the public purse. A new statutory instrument with an amended coming into force date will be laid in Parliament shortly.
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Statutory Instrument on Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the withdrawn statutory instrument.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will continue to encourage people who want to drive a car and trailer to get professional training to promote road safety and support those businesses.
There are no plans to resume mandatory testing for people towing light trailers.
Legal processes must be followed, and legislation is currently going through the parliamentary process. The change will be introduced at a later date, and as soon as possible. Drivers must continue to follow the current rules until the law changes.
The legislation being proposed specifically states that a review must be conducted three years after the law comes into force and again at five years to ensure the safety of our roads has not been compromised by these changes.
No assessment has been undertaken of the cost to the public purse. A new statutory instrument with an amended coming into force date will be laid in Parliament shortly.
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Statutory Instrument on Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021, what discussions he has had with the DVSA on the legal status of drivers towing light trailers whose B+E tests were cancelled from 20 September 2021.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will continue to encourage people who want to drive a car and trailer to get professional training to promote road safety and support those businesses.
There are no plans to resume mandatory testing for people towing light trailers.
Legal processes must be followed, and legislation is currently going through the parliamentary process. The change will be introduced at a later date, and as soon as possible. Drivers must continue to follow the current rules until the law changes.
The legislation being proposed specifically states that a review must be conducted three years after the law comes into force and again at five years to ensure the safety of our roads has not been compromised by these changes.
No assessment has been undertaken of the cost to the public purse. A new statutory instrument with an amended coming into force date will be laid in Parliament shortly.
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to encourage category C or D driving licence holders not currently employed in the HGV industry to take up work in that sector.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department for Transport is working closely with the road haulage industry to support them in attracting back inactive drivers, with many employers already offering increased salaries and other incentives. In addition, the Department, along with leading logistics organisations, has sent nearly 1 million letters to thank HGV drivers for their vital role supporting the economy, and to encourage those who have left the industry to return. The letter informs recipients of the employment opportunities in the sector, to encourage them to return.
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021, what assessment he has made of the effect of those regulations on businesses whose sole purpose is to provide training for the driving licence category BE test for the towing of trailers.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency are working with the trailer towing sector to develop a voluntary accredited training scheme to ensure drivers have the skills, knowledge and expertise required to tow safely.
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Statement of 16 September 2021, Legislation - Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021, HCWS292, if he will publish the potential scope of an industry led accreditation scheme as referenced in that Statement.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is exploring options for an industry-led accreditation that could offer a standardised non-statutory testing approach, and is engaging with key stakeholders, trainers and insurers, to discuss this issue. It is also in discussions with the training industry to understand their capacity to deliver the off-road manoeuvres element of the vocational test and will work with them to develop a robust and clear process by which to assess, accredit and audit any trainers who wish to assess the manoeuvres element of the test.
The DVSA takes its commitment to road safety extremely seriously and encourages drivers to undertake training to help ensure they are safe and competent to tow larger trailers. It will continue to work with the training industry and other interested parties to provide guidance on training.
The Department will keep any changes made to driving tests under review to ensure they are effective whilst making sure road safety is not compromised.