Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce the backlog for medical driving licence assessments.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Vice Chamberlain (HM Household) (Whip, House of Commons)
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. Driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated before a licence can be issued can take longer as the DVLA is often reliant on information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.
The quickest way to transact with the DVLA is by using its extensive suite of online services. Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, visual impairments, sleep conditions or heart conditions can renew their driving licence online.
The DVLA continues to make improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions and is currently rolling out a new casework system. This is expected to deliver significant improvements which will enhance the handling of medical cases, support growing customer demand and help to reduce processing times.
It is important to note that most applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what service standards the DVLA is working to; and what steps her Department is taking to hold them accountable for meeting them.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Vice Chamberlain (HM Household) (Whip, House of Commons)
My department keeps governance and assurance procedures under review.
The department measures the performance of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency against their Key Performance Indicators as set out in their Business Plan, together with regular meetings at Ministerial and official level.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with HM Treasury on the proposed consultation into the impact of the July 2023 High Court ruling in Uber Britannia Ltd v Sefton MBC.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Department for Transport and HM Treasury have worked closely on the consultation, which was launched on 18 April, on the impacts that recent High Court rulings on private hire vehicle legislation may have on the sector and its passengers.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of allowing (a) local authorities and (b) police forces to retain revenues from speeding fines.
Answered by Guy Opperman
No recent assessment has been made.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the changes to the HS2 project on East West Rail.
Answered by Huw Merriman
East West Rail (EWR) Connection Stage 1 (providing services between Oxford-Bletchley and Milton Keynes) is in construction and is due to enter into service by 2025. The East West Rail Alliance continues to work closely with HS2 Ltd to ensure the interfaces between the schemes are well understood and any shared risks mitigated.
EWR Connection Stages 2/3 are in development and will be subject to statutory consultation and DCO application.
No change has been made to the programme as a result of the Network North announcement.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing the East West Rail project to introduce a streamlined blight scheme which expedites compensation at a specific phase of the project.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The East West Rail Need to Sell Property Scheme was launched in May 2023 to address generalised blight that may arise from the East West Rail project. Applicants to the scheme are asked to provide evidence against five criteria set out in the Scheme Guide and East West Rail Company is committed to resolving cases as quickly as possible. Where an application is successful, East West Rail Company will make an offer to purchase a property for the unblighted market value. Compensation under the scheme is the same as is offered under the HS2 Need to Sell Scheme.
The first application to progress to the East West Rail Need to Sell Panel was accepted in September 2023. Once a Development Consent Order application has been submitted, individuals or businesses with a qualifying interest in property within the relevant area and meeting other statutory requirements, would be able to serve a blight notice on East West Rail Company as the scheme promoter, requesting purchase of their property. The Department for Transport and East West Rail Company will keep property acquisition schemes for the project under review.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of approving a 10 percent of house value compensation payment as part of the East West Rail Need to Sell Property Scheme for homes confirmed as being blighted.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The East West Rail Need to Sell Property Scheme was launched in May 2023 to address generalised blight that may arise from the East West Rail project. Applicants to the scheme are asked to provide evidence against five criteria set out in the Scheme Guide and East West Rail Company is committed to resolving cases as quickly as possible. Where an application is successful, East West Rail Company will make an offer to purchase a property for the unblighted market value. Compensation under the scheme is the same as is offered under the HS2 Need to Sell Scheme.
The first application to progress to the East West Rail Need to Sell Panel was accepted in September 2023. Once a Development Consent Order application has been submitted, individuals or businesses with a qualifying interest in property within the relevant area and meeting other statutory requirements, would be able to serve a blight notice on East West Rail Company as the scheme promoter, requesting purchase of their property. The Department for Transport and East West Rail Company will keep property acquisition schemes for the project under review.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will include a question in the upcoming East West Rail 2024 Statutory Consultation on the level of support for the project; and if he will (a) record and (b) publish any comments left in the box for any other comments.
Answered by Huw Merriman
As set out in the Route Update Report published by East West Rail Company in May 2023, a statutory consultation on the project is expected to take place in the first half of 2024. Consideration will be given to the questions for consultation by East West Rail Company in advance of this.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with East West Rail on the timescale for when the 2024 Statutory Consultation will commence.
Answered by Huw Merriman
As set out in the Route Update Report published by East West Rail Company in May 2023, a statutory consultation on the project is expected to take place in the first half of 2024. Consideration will be given to the questions for consultation by East West Rail Company in advance of this.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to take steps to require that vibration and noise monitoring plans are shared with (a) affected residents and (b) elected representatives for feedback prior to their implementation by East West Rail.
Answered by Huw Merriman
East West Rail Company is currently gathering information to understand current noise and vibration levels across the preferred route and to identify potential impacts from planned works. Mitigations and ongoing monitoring measures will be outlined in a Noise and Vibration Management Plan. Local residents and elected representatives will be able to comment on this as part of a forthcoming statutory consultation and during the examination process once a Development Consent Order application has been submitted.