Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps his Department has taken to help improve the processing of driving licence (a) new and (b) renewal applications.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online services are the quickest and easiest way to renew 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 latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here.
The DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham to house more staff to help reduce waiting times while providing future resilience and business continuity.
The DVLA understands the impact that delays can have on people’s everyday lives and is working as quickly as possible to process paper applications and return people’s documentation to them.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the representation of aerospace manufacturers in the work of the Global Travel Taskforce.
Answered by Robert Courts
The Government is working closely with the transport industry, the tourism sector, the aerospace industry and international partners to develop a roadmap to safely re-open international travel.
We are planning several round-table events with industry to encourage contributions to the work of the Global Travel Taskforce from a wide range of partners, including the aerospace industry. The Taskforce is due to report its recommendations to the Prime Minister by 12 April.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure both safe vehicle access and cycle safety when introducing new cycle lanes.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
On 28 July the Prime Minister launched ambitious plans to boost cycling and walking, with the aim that half of all journeys in towns and cities are cycled or walked by 2030. The plan includes a number of commitments which will deliver increased safety for cyclists, including the roll-out of segregated cycle lanes in towns and cities, a big increase in cycle training, higher safety standards for lorries and improved Cycle Infrastructure Design Guidance.
The management of local roads, including provision of cycle lanes, is the responsibility of individual local traffic authorities. It is for them to ensure their streets are designed to provide safe movement for all road users. Design advice for cycling infrastructure, including cycle lanes, can be found in Local Transport Note 1/20 ‘Cycle Infrastructure Design’ which is at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/cycle-infrastructure-design-ltn-120.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with his (a) US and European counterparts and the (b)(i) UK and (ii) international aerospace industry on establishing globally consistent plans for the resumption of flying.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The aviation sector is important to the UK economy and the government recognises the challenging times it is facing as a result of COVID-19. The Department for Transport has kept an open dialogue with the aviation sector including with the aerospace industry, through regular structured engagement at both ministerial and official level.
Additionally, the International Aviation Taskforce’s industry Expert Steering Group has been established to bring together all interested parties to co-produce solutions where possible through a cross-sector representative membership, including aerospace industry body ADS, airports, airlines and international representatives to ensure that the work of the UK is in sync with wider global efforts in the aviation sector.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the environmental effect of aeroplanes circling Heathrow airport while awaiting a landing slot.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
We recognise that aircraft maintaining a holding pattern before landing at Heathrow wastes fuel, creates delays for airlines and their customers, and can increase aviation’s environmental impact.
A key objective of the UK’s plan for airspace modernisation is therefore to minimise the amount of airborne holding before landing at our major airports, which will help to reduce carbon emissions and noise impacts.
It may also be of interest to my hon. Friend the Member for Fylde, that following a request for urgent action from the Secretary of State for Transport, on 27 March the UK’s Airport Slot Coordinator, Airport Coordination Limited, announced it would grant alleviation to airlines from the 80:20 slot usage rules until October 2020. This will avoid ‘ghost planes’, and protect both airlines and the environment. The letters from the Secretary of State are publicly available to my hon. Friend the Member for Fylde.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to (a) reduce delays and (b) improve the experience of people requiring a medical review when renewing their driving licence.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) makes around 745,000 medical licensing decisions each year and aims to complete 90 per cent of these within 90 working days. The length of time taken to deal with an application depends on the medical condition involved and whether information is needed from medical professionals.
The DVLA has recruited additional staff to process medical applications and notifications. This includes increasing the number of doctors and introducing nurse caseworkers to deal with specific conditions. The DVLA is also working with third parties, for example, GPs, consultants and opticians, to reduce the time taken to receive the information it requires to make licensing decisions.
The DVLA also provides an online service for customers to notify a medical condition or renew a driving licence previously issued following a medical condition. The DVLA continually reviews its processes and has a dedicated team responsible for the improvement of its medical driver licensing services and communications.