Asked by: Karl McCartney (Conservative - Lincoln)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people were sent for prosecution for using an impersonator to take the (a) written and (b) practical parts of the driving test for them in each of the last five years and by geographical area.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency does not record the number of people sent for prosecution.
Asked by: Karl McCartney (Conservative - Lincoln)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people were convicted for using an impersonator to take the (a) written and (b) practical parts of the driving test for them in each of the last five years and by geographical area.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The majority of these types of investigation are instigated by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and undertaken until such a time as it has evidence to support arrest and possible prosecution.
The attached table shows the:
Asked by: Karl McCartney (Conservative - Lincoln)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average length of sentence was for people convicted of impersonating a candidate and taking the (a) written and (b) practical parts of the driving test for them in each of the last five years and by geographical area.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The attached spreadsheet shows the:
Asked by: Karl McCartney (Conservative - Lincoln)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average length of sentence was for people convicted of using an impersonator to take the (a) written and (b) practical parts of the driving test for them in each of the last five years and by geographical area.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The attached spreadsheet shows the:
Asked by: Karl McCartney (Conservative - Lincoln)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who currently hold a driving licence fraudulently obtained by using an impersonator to take the (a) written and (b) practical parts of the driving test for them.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), the Agency responsible for practical and theory driving tests, is unable to estimate the number of people who currently hold a driving licence fraudulently obtained by using an impersonator to take the (a) written and (b) practical parts of the driving test for them.
The DVSA does however has a dedicated Counter-Fraud and Investigation Team which actively investigates instances of fraud, including impersonation at theory and practical driving tests. DVSA has also recently launched a 3-year counter fraud strategy. One aspect of the strategy is to prevent the fraudulent issue of licences or the circumvention of controls as part of the delivery of DVSA products and services; ensuring they are only accessible by those who are eligible or entitled to them. The strategy also aims to prosecute and disrupt those individuals and organisations suspected of submitting fraudulent applications or of being complicit in criminal activity.
Over the last five years over 1,100 licences have been revoked due to evidence that the licence was obtained fraudulently, which includes impersonation.
Asked by: Karl McCartney (Conservative - Lincoln)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to allow the road rescue industry to use red lights when recovering broken down vehicles.
Answered by Andrew Jones
There are no plans currently to allow the road rescue industry to use red lights when recovering broken down vehicles. There are a range of existing measures available to make rescue vehicles visible and warn others of their presence such as the use of roof mounted amber beacons and retro-reflective material to the side and rear.
Asked by: Karl McCartney (Conservative - Lincoln)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the role of transport infrastructure in delivering economic growth.
Answered by John Hayes
As the CBI have said “world-class infrastructure provides a strong foundation for businesses to deliver jobs, growth and prosperity for all.”
An assessment of the impact on the economy is a routine part of transport investment decisions. The Department uses an internationally respected analytical framework for assessing schemes which includes the impact on jobs, growth and regeneration[1].
Good transport infrastructure will continue to be important after the UK leaves the EU.
Asked by: Karl McCartney (Conservative - Lincoln)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on the potential merits of exempting telematics car insurance policies from insurance premium tax.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department has held a number of meetings with the motor insurance industry, at which a range of topics have been discussed. These topics include young driver safety and technology measures, such as telematics, which can impact on the cost of insurance.
Representatives of some parts of that industry have indicated to us that they support a reduction in, or exemption from, Insurance Premium Tax for telematics insurance policies for young drivers. Insurance Premium Tax is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
As indicated in the British Road Safety Statement “Working Together to Build a Safer Road System”, published 21 December 2015, we will work with the insurance industry to incentivise safer behaviours and to reward the uptake of those new technologies and opportunities to improve skills that are proven to reduce collisions.
Asked by: Karl McCartney (Conservative - Lincoln)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on the potential merits of exempting drivers between the ages of 17 and 25 who have telematics car insurance policies from insurance premium tax.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department has held a number of meetings with the motor insurance industry, at which a range of topics have been discussed. These topics include young driver safety and technology measures, such as telematics, which can impact on the cost of insurance.
Representatives of some parts of that industry have indicated to us that they support a reduction in, or exemption from, Insurance Premium Tax for telematics insurance policies for young drivers. Insurance Premium Tax is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
As indicated in the British Road Safety Statement “Working Together to Build a Safer Road System”, published 21 December 2015, we will work with the insurance industry to incentivise safer behaviours and to reward the uptake of those new technologies and opportunities to improve skills that are proven to reduce collisions.
Asked by: Karl McCartney (Conservative - Lincoln)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on the potential merits of reducing the insurance premium tax paid by drivers between the ages of 17 and 25 who have telematics car insurance policies.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department has held a number of meetings with the motor insurance industry, at which a range of topics have been discussed. These topics include young driver safety and technology measures, such as telematics, which can impact on the cost of insurance.
Representatives of some parts of that industry have indicated to us that they support a reduction in, or exemption from, Insurance Premium Tax for telematics insurance policies for young drivers. Insurance Premium Tax is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
As indicated in the British Road Safety Statement “Working Together to Build a Safer Road System”, published 21 December 2015, we will work with the insurance industry to incentivise safer behaviours and to reward the uptake of those new technologies and opportunities to improve skills that are proven to reduce collisions.