Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with US authorities on general travel by British citizens from the UK to the US; when he expects such travel to be able to commence again; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Courts
The Secretary of State for Transport has regular contact with the US, including the US Secretary of Transportation.
On 20 September the US government confirmed that they will be allowing vaccinated Brits into the US from early November, reciprocating the policy introduced by the UK on 2 August. This demonstrates the hard work and progress made by the UK-US Experts Working Group to restart transatlantic travel and kick start the economy. The Experts Working Group will continue to work together to ensure the return of safe and sustainable international travel.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his current policy is on the wearing of face coverings in his (a) Department, (b) departmental agencies and (c) related bodies during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The Department for Transport, its departmental agencies and related bodies are following the relevant guidance for each location and are undertaking all mitigations identified in each building’s risk assessment. All organisations fully support individuals who choose to wear a face covering in the workplace.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2021 to Question 24147 on High Speed 2 Railway Line: Construction, what estimate he has made of the pension liabilities incurred by people employed by the HS2 project.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
HS2 Ltd has a Group Personal Pension plan in place for its employees so there are no future liabilities. The annual provision for employer contributions to that plan are published in the Annual Report & Accounts.
For further information please follow the below link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-ltd-annual-report-and-accounts-2020-to-2021
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2021 to Question 24147, on High Speed 2 Railway Line: Construction, what the highest salary is of a person at HS2 Ltd; and how many HS2 Ltd staff are earning over (a) £100,000 and (b) £150,000.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
The highest earning individual at HS2 Ltd is the Chief Executive, Mark Thurston. We publish information regarding remuneration of those earning over £150,000 annually: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/senior-officials-high-earners-salaries
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the longest time is that the DVLA has taken to issue a driving licence in each of the last five years.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The information requested cannot be retrieved in the format requested in the time available. Officials from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will write to the Honourable Member when the information is available.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average time taken by the DVLA to issue driving licences was in each of the last five years.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The information requested cannot be retrieved in the format requested in the time available. Officials from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will write to the Honourable Member when the information is available.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving licences the DVLA has issued in each of the last five years.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
Guidance on how to apply for a driving licence is published on GOV.UK and can be found here.
The volume of driving licences issued in each of the last five years is shown in the table below:
Year | Number of Driving Licences Issued |
2016 – 2017 | 10.4 million |
2017 – 2018 | 11.2 million |
2018 – 2019 | 10.6 million |
2019 – 2020 | 11.2 million |
2020 – 2021 | 8.8 million |
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the guidance issued by the DVLA on the process for issuing and reissuing driving licences.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
Guidance on how to apply for a driving licence is published on GOV.UK and can be found here.
The volume of driving licences issued in each of the last five years is shown in the table below:
Year | Number of Driving Licences Issued |
2016 – 2017 | 10.4 million |
2017 – 2018 | 11.2 million |
2018 – 2019 | 10.6 million |
2019 – 2020 | 11.2 million |
2020 – 2021 | 8.8 million |
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost of HS2 Ltd’s office space in London was in (a) each financial year and (b) total since 2018.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
(a) The HS2 Ltd London whole office estate costs are as follows:
2018/19 £7,270,000
2019/20 £5,180,000
2020/21 £5,280,000
Note the figures include rent, VAT on rent, utilities, facilities management costs, National Non Domestic rates and other building costs. Accommodation costs are disclosed in the HS2 Annual Report and Accounts.
(b) The total for the period 2018/19 to 2020/21 £17,730,000
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people are employed by the HS2 project; and what the average salary is.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
Staff numbers and average salaries (as at 31 March) are disclosed annually in the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts. However, as of 28 June 2021, HS2 Ltd directly employs 1,597 staff with an average salary of £60,198.44. The salaries are full-time equivalent Basic Pay (annual entitlement at point of reporting). This figure does not include Non-Executive Directors, Independent Panel Members, Project Representatives and non HS2 Ltd staff (secondees, Engineering Delivery Partners, agency staff, etc).