Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 07 Dec 2021
Great British Railways HQ: Darlington Bid
"Just to pick up on a point made by the hon. Member for Stockton North (Alex Cunningham), the bypass at Darlington needs a bit on the top as well. Perhaps we could make that point to the Roads Minister. In terms of rail, where better to put the home of …..."Paul Howell - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Nov 2021
Transport for the North
"When it comes to the discussions around this, I do not think it is helpful to get the Northern Powerhouse Partnership chairman on TV claiming that things are not going to happen that were never even going to happen under Northern Powerhouse Rail. The misleading words being said are no …..."Paul Howell - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 18 Nov 2021
Integrated Rail Plan: North and Midlands
"I welcome the announcement and particularly the improved speed of delivery. Once in a generation would be good; I do not know whether my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Robbie Moore) will be here in 2043, but I will be 83 years old, so I do not want it …..."Paul Howell - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 04 Nov 2021
Oral Answers to Questions
"When it comes to investment in the north, I welcome the recent investments in the feasibility work for Ferryhill station and the Weardale line. Of course, I am disappointed with what happened regarding the knock-back for the Leamside line, but I ask the Minister to work with us and the …..."Paul Howell - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 01 Nov 2021
Weardale Railway
"As my hon. Friend the Member for North West Durham (Mr Holden) said, I worked for a number of years up at Eastgate at what was the thriving cement works industry. Unfortunately, that was lost as part of the squeeze between Scotland and the midlands. Part of the reason for …..."Paul Howell - View Speech
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Written Question
Tuesday 28th September 2021
Asked by:
Paul Howell (Conservative - Sedgefield)
Question
to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department have taken to help ensure a sufficient level of fully qualified HGV drivers to carry out the additional 50,000 HGV driving tests being made available each year.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has increased the number of vocational driving tests available per week to 3,000. This is a 50% increase from before the pandemic, achieved through the use of overtime and moving additional staff into testing.
DVSA has recruited 300 new car examiners to ease demand on vocational examiners, who conduct HGV driving tests, and is also recruiting 40 more vocational examiners. In addition, the delegation of the reversing manoeuvres in the HGV driving test to approved trainers, announced on 10 September 2021, will allow vocational examiners to complete more driving tests per day.
The forthcoming regulatory change to remove the requirement to take a test to tow a trailer with a car, also announced on 10 September, will result in around an additional 30,000 vocational tests a year being made available, as most of the examiners who conducted car and trailer tests are also qualified to conduct HGV and HGV and trailer tests. A further 20,000 vocational tests will be made available through removing the requirement to take a rigid lorry (Cat C) test before an articulated vehicle (Cat C+E) test.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 20 Sep 2021
International Travel
"I listened to the hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire North (Gavin Newlands) talk about the difference between the Scottish rules and our rules. My constituency is served by two nice north-eastern airports. I do not know whether to thank the Scottish for leaving things as they are, helping demand …..."Paul Howell - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 19 Jul 2021
International Travel Rules
"I think the Minister is as confused as I am by the Opposition’s position. They spent many weeks criticising a non-existent delay in action on the Indian variant and now they criticise prompt action on France.
It is absolutely right that we make the most of our fantastic vaccine roll-out …..."Paul Howell - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 29 Jun 2021
International Travel
"I know that virus detection equipment from Kromek in Sedgefield is being trialled at both Newcastle and Teesside airports at the moment, and we hope it will be a valuable tool in the future. While I appreciate the sacrifices being made by our whole population to shield the most vulnerable …..."Paul Howell - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 16 Jun 2021
Road Connectivity: Teesside to Scotland
"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Gary. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for North West Durham (Mr Holden) on securing this important debate.
Colleagues will know that I regularly appear when the matter of regional connectivity and levelling up are pertinent to the debate, …..."Paul Howell - View Speech
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