Asked by: Paul Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has been made of the effect of connecting DVLA driver records with Department for Work and Pensions records on the ability of transgender people to hire vehicles.
Answered by Andrew Jones
No specific assessment has been made. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s records are not connected to those of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). However, if drivers wish to access their own information and share it with car hire companies using the online "View Driving Licence" service, they must first verify their identity. To do this, the DVLA provides very limited information to DWP, including National Insurance number. These details are only shared with the explicit consent of the person using the service and gender information is not included. This is an instantaneous and fully automated process and there is no manual accessing of individual DWP records. The DVLA receives no information from DWP other than yes/no confirmation of the validity of the national insurance number provided by the driver or a notification if the driver is deceased.
Anyone who cannot use the online service to generate the code which allows them to share their driving licence information with third parties can telephone the DVLA who will generate a code for them. The individual driver can use this code to share their information with car hire companies if they choose to do so.
Asked by: Paul Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to encourage greater use of rural rail lines by those over 50 years of age; and if he will provide increased funding to the Scottish Government to encourage uptake of the Club 50 scheme.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Government’s Community Rail Development Strategy looks at innovative ways of operating local rural branch lines, through a programme of cost management, a drive to increase passenger numbers and direct community involvement via local authorities, community rail partnerships, and other stakeholder groups.
The bulk of Government support for local and rural rail comes via the franchising process and direct support for the rail industry, which allow for the continuation or improvement of passenger services on many local and rural railways for the benefit of all users. As all non-regulated fares are set on a commercial level by the operator, they can choose to offer promotional fares and other incentives should they wish. In addition, we have capped regulated fares at the level of the Retail Price Index (RPI) for two years running, and will continue to do so for the life of this parliament.
The Club 50 scheme is a ScotRail initiative, which will offer discounted travel and other benefits, including from other partners, specifically for the over 50s. As the ScotRail franchise is specified, let and managed by the Scottish Ministers under the devolved powers relating to railways in Scotland, funding issues are a matter for the Scottish Government.
Asked by: Paul Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to support Network Rail achieve and sustain journey time reductions on the Far North Rail Line from Inverness to Thurso and Wick; and if he will make increased funding available to the Scottish Government for investment in that line.
Answered by Claire Perry
Scottish Ministers have substantial executively devolved powers in relation to the railways in Scotland. This allows them to determine matters such as the level of service and fares policy. In addition, Scottish Ministers have executive powers over rail infrastructure, including the responsibility for specifying and funding the outputs they wish Network Rail to deliver in Scotland. Improvements to the Far North Line are therefore a matter for the Scottish Government.
Asked by: Paul Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure taxi and private hire drivers undergo disability awareness training.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Although there is no statutory requirement for Taxi and PHV drivers to undertake disability awareness training, the Department for Transport’s best practice guidance on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing in England and Wales recommends local licensing authorities work with operators, drivers and trade bodies in their area to improve drivers’ awareness of the needs of disabled people. This includes encouraging their drivers to undertake disability awareness training. A separate licensing regime regulates taxi and private hire vehicles in Scotland and the Scottish Government publishes its own Best Practice guidance.
The Law Commission recently undertook a wide ranging review of taxi and private hire legislation in England and Wales and published their final report and a draft Bill on 23 May 2014, in which it recommended mandatory disability awareness training for drivers. The Government will respond to the report shortly.
Asked by: Paul Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on taxis and private hire vehicles making additional charges for helping wheelchair users; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department for Transport is committed to ensuring that everyone has the same access to transport services and opportunities to travel.
Both taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) are a particularly valuable form of transport for people with disabilities and I would therefore strongly discourage the practice of making additional charges to assist a disabled passenger. I would remind all Taxi and PHV operators of their obligations under the Equality Act 2010.
Asked by: Paul Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve access for disabled people at National Rail stations.
Answered by Andrew Jones
By the end of this year the Access for All programme, launched in 2006, will have provided step free routes to more than 150 stations and smaller scale improvements at over 1,100. A further £160m has been allocated to extend the programme until 2019 and the 68 stations to benefit from this were announced last year.
This is in addition to access improvements delivered by other major projects or the industry itself, which must meet UK and EU standards for accessibility.