Written Question
Friday 1st April 2022
Asked by:
Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question
to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the DVLA is taking steps to prioritise applications from (a) ambulance drivers, (b) bus drivers and (c) taxi drivers who have outstanding licence applications.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is prioritising the processing of vocational licences, which includes applications for entitlement to drive buses and from ambulance drivers applying for categories C and C1. There are no delays in straightforward applications for vocational licences, including renewals, which are being processed within normal turnaround times of five working days.
For the majority of taxi drivers, a non-vocational, category B driving licence is required. The quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence is by using the DVLA’s online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. The DVLA is working hard to reduce waiting times for paper applications and has recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has opened new customer service centres in Swansea and Birmingham. These measures are having a positive impact and customers should continue to see an improving picture in terms of waiting times for paper applications.
There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example if medical investigations are needed. However, the large majority of applicants will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed. The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here.
Written Question
Friday 1st April 2022
Asked by:
Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question
to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to publish an updated Bus Service Improvement Plan.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The National Bus Strategy asked that all English Local Transport Authorities outside London publish Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs). BSIPs should be updated annually by local authorities and reflected in their Local Transport Plans.
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 29 Mar 2022
Great British Railways Headquarters: Crewe Bid
"I commend my hon. Friend for securing the debate and for his passionate campaign for Great British Railways. The GBR headquarters have sparked a tremendous amount of debate and interest from colleagues across the House. Naturally, I am supporting my campaign for Darlington, where it all began, to be the …..."Peter Gibson - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 29 Mar 2022
Great British Railways Headquarters: Crewe Bid
"On the issue of the public vote, some locations that are bidding have a significant population and some locations, such as mine and such as Crewe, represented by my hon. Friend the Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Dr Mullan), have a considerably smaller population. Could the Minister outline for the …..."Peter Gibson - View Speech
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Written Question
Friday 25th March 2022
Asked by:
Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question
to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to encourage the public to make greater use of bus travel following the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department is working closely with operators and local transport authorities to support measures to increase passenger safety and confidence, and encourage a return to the bus and rail networks.
We published the National Bus Strategy in March 2021, setting out how we want to see bus services transformed, and all local areas in England outside London have published Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs). There will be £3 billion of investment in buses across this Parliament, including £1.2 billion of dedicated funding for bus transformation deals.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Fri 18 Mar 2022
Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Bill
"My right hon. and learned Friend raises an important point about availability and accessibility of vehicles for disabled people. In my very urban constituency, availability of wheelchair-accessible taxis is a continuing concern for people who want to be able to get out and about. Will he comment on the idea …..."Peter Gibson - View Speech
View all Peter Gibson (Con - Darlington) contributions to the debate on: Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Fri 18 Mar 2022
Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Bill
"My hon. Friend is making an important speech. I am very concerned to hear that she has been left by taxi drivers. When my private Member’s Bill, the Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Bill, was passing through the other place, Baroness Brinton gave a very moving …..."Peter Gibson - View Speech
View all Peter Gibson (Con - Darlington) contributions to the debate on: Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Fri 18 Mar 2022
Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Bill
"While we are on the issue of railways, on which my hon. Friend is an expert and speaks eloquently, and as we are talking about access to them for disabled persons, may I draw his attention to my campaign for the installation of tactile paving, an essential means of ensuring …..."Peter Gibson - View Speech
View all Peter Gibson (Con - Darlington) contributions to the debate on: Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Fri 18 Mar 2022
Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Bill
"I am grateful to my hon. Friend for sharing those statistics. Just 58% of taxis being accessible to disabled users masks the fact that such vehicles are not evenly spread throughout the country. I imagine that many of them are based in here in London, and constituencies such as ours, …..."Peter Gibson - View Speech
View all Peter Gibson (Con - Darlington) contributions to the debate on: Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Fri 18 Mar 2022
Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Bill
"It is a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Rob Butler). I congratulate my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Kenilworth and Southam (Jeremy Wright) on bringing forward this Bill. I commend him for expertly guiding this legislation through Committee stage to today’s Third …..."Peter Gibson - View Speech
View all Peter Gibson (Con - Darlington) contributions to the debate on: Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Bill