Asked by: Maya Ellis (Labour - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring train operating companies to guarantee an adequate level of family-friendly design on new trains.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In advance of establishing Great British Railways, the Government is developing a long-term rolling stock and infrastructure strategy, which will be the first for over 30 years. The strategy will set out our assessment of the likely long-term future rolling stock needs, and how those needs can best be met.
Passengers will be at the heart of the strategy. It will move us towards more consistent and accessible train designs that meet the needs of the passengers that use them, including families.
Asked by: Maya Ellis (Labour - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle drones flying over properties at under 400 feet.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
All drone operators in the UK must adhere to the Drone and Model Aircraft Code, overseen by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This includes protections for privacy. For a drone operator to undertake operations under 400ft they must successfully apply for an Operational Authorisation from the CAA.
Government is currently reforming Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS or drones) Regulations, which should come into force from 1 January 2026 and will enhance the safety, security and manufacturing standards for drones. These reforms will include the requirement for Remote Identification (a system that allows drones to be tracked and identified in real time) for all drones over 250g, which will enable law enforcement to identify non-compliant operators.
Asked by: Maya Ellis (Labour - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of available driving tests in Ribble Valley constituency.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.
On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce driving test waiting times across the country.
Further information on these actions and progress on the plan can be found on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-acts-to-make-thousands-of-extra-driving-tests-available-each-month.
The driving test centres that serve candidates in the Ribble Valley are Blackburn, Nelson, Skipton and Preston. Blackburn and Nelson are part of the same cluster of centres. From recruitment campaigns, DVSA has recruited two new entrant driving examiners (DE) and offered a further four DEs a position for this cluster. Following successful completion of training the new entrant DEs will be in post late autumn. A further DE has also been offered a post in Skipton. After successful completion of training, they will also be in post by late autumn.