Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the merits of the use of the exceptional hardship exception for the sentencing of drivers who would otherwise be disqualified from driving.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is responsible for maintaining a record of all GB fixed penalties and court ordered driving licence endorsements. Sentencing, including the imposition and length of a driving disqualification, is a matter for the courts.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to respond to the independent report on Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing: recommendations for a safer and more robust system, published on 24 September 2018.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave on 14 January 2019, to Question UIN 206796 which is available at: [MS1] https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-01-09/206796/
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to respond to the report, Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing: recommendations for a safer and more robust system, published on 24 September 2018.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
Ministers are considering the recommendations made by the Chair of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing. A Government response will be issued in due course.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the UK will remain a member of the European Aviation Safety Agency during the implementation period after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Grayling
During the time-limited implementation period, the UK will no longer be an EU Member State. However, as set out in the terms of the agreement, common rules will remain in place. The EASA basic regulation will therefore continue to apply, so all UK-issued certificates, approvals and licences will be automatically recognised as valid in the EASA system (and vice versa).
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve transport links between Sheffield and Manchester.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
A number of schemes are being developed to improve transport links between Sheffield and Manchester.
The Department is working with Transport for the North (TfN) on some highway options. The Strategic Study into the possible development of a more direct highway route between Greater Manchester and Sheffield City Region has so far determined that while a long tunnel beneath the Pennines is technically feasible, the cost is prohibitive and represents poor value for money. TfN has carried out some additional work which suggests that a shorter tunnel beneath the most environmentally sensitive areas, combined with wider transport connectivity enhancements, could help to overcome these issues and provide enhanced access to the Peak District National Park. Further work has been commissioned jointly by TfN and the Department to explore this option in more detail, and is currently expected to report late this year or early in 2019.
In addition, the Government’s Road Investment Strategy sets out a package of measures to improve the route between Sheffield and Manchester. Highways England held a public consultation on the proposals in Spring 2017 and announced the preferred route for the Mottram Moor and A57(T) to A57 Link Roads in November 2017. There will be a further public consultation on the details of this scheme in 2018 and construction is expected to start in 2020, subject to securing the necessary planning approvals. Other elements announced which are not subject to the DCO process include safety and technology improvements along the A628, including localised safety measures, additional advance warning signs to enable drivers to make more informed decisions regarding their journey and possible automation of the closure gates. There are also improvements to the Westwood (A61/A616) Roundabout in Tankersley to reduce congestion and improve traffic flows.
As part of their Northern Hub capacity enhancements, Network Rail have proposed works at the eastern end of the Hope Valley line. A passing loop would be provided east of Bamford, and the line would be re-doubled at Dore and Totley station. This scheme would increase track capacity to allow a more frequent service between Sheffield and Manchester, improve accessibility by sustainable transport to the Peak District National Park and support better integration with freight services. A Transport and Works Act application for this scheme has been submitted to the Department.