Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of establishing a dedicated Road Safety Investigation Branch to (a) investigate road deaths and incidents and (b) recommend necessary improvements.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Improving road safety is a key priority. Injuries and fatalities from road collisions caused by driving are unacceptable, and this Government is working hard to prevent these tragedies for all road users.
The Department is continuing to review potential future road safety interventions and available options to increase the overall safety of our roads.
We are committed to delivering a new Road Safety Strategy – the first in over a decade - and will set out next steps on this in due course.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) practical and (b) theory driving (i) lessons and (ii) tests are accessible for people who are d/Deaf.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) works with publishing partners, the Stationary Office, to publish The Highway Code and other materials to help people when learning to drive. The DVSA wants the content it produces to be as accessible as possible to everyone.
When booking a theory or practical test, candidates are advised to say if they have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition.
DVSA has recently worked with Cabinet Office to identify how the customer journey can be improved for d/Deaf candidates working towards their theory test. As a result, DVSA will be introducing improvements to British Sign Language (BSL) learning, theory test content, the theory test booking journey (including using BSL), and the experience at the theory test centre.
Candidates can already take their theory test in BSL if they are d/Deaf or have a hearing impairment; a BSL video appears on the screen next to the questions and answers.
Other options for theory test candidates include:
having a sign language interpreter or lip speaker with them during the test
using a listening aid (hearing loop)
It usually helps BSL users to learn their theory with a d/Deaf-aware driving instructor. The Disabled Driving Instructors association can help d/Deaf people with learning to drive and can be accessed at: www.disabilitydrivinginstructors.com/driving-advice/hearing-difficulties
When taking a car practical driving test, candidates can use a BSL interpreter, who can also be their driving instructor.
When taking the test, the driving examiner can use prompt cards to support a candidate that is d/Deaf or has hearing loss. These prompt cards give short written instructions and diagrams, so candidates know what they need to do.
These prompt cards are published on GOV.UK so learners can familiarise themselves with them before the test, and so that driving instructors can use them as part of their training or mock tests. Driving tests: prompt cards to support learner drivers who are deaf - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what resources and support are available to people who are d/Deaf (a) in preparation for and (b) during their driving (i) theory and (ii) practical tests.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) works with publishing partners, the Stationary Office, to publish The Highway Code and other materials to help people when learning to drive. The DVSA wants the content it produces to be as accessible as possible to everyone.
When booking a theory or practical test, candidates are advised to say if they have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition.
DVSA has recently worked with Cabinet Office to identify how the customer journey can be improved for d/Deaf candidates working towards their theory test. As a result, DVSA will be introducing improvements to British Sign Language (BSL) learning, theory test content, the theory test booking journey (including using BSL), and the experience at the theory test centre.
Candidates can already take their theory test in BSL if they are d/Deaf or have a hearing impairment; a BSL video appears on the screen next to the questions and answers.
Other options for theory test candidates include:
having a sign language interpreter or lip speaker with them during the test
using a listening aid (hearing loop)
It usually helps BSL users to learn their theory with a d/Deaf-aware driving instructor. The Disabled Driving Instructors association can help d/Deaf people with learning to drive and can be accessed at: www.disabilitydrivinginstructors.com/driving-advice/hearing-difficulties
When taking a car practical driving test, candidates can use a BSL interpreter, who can also be their driving instructor.
When taking the test, the driving examiner can use prompt cards to support a candidate that is d/Deaf or has hearing loss. These prompt cards give short written instructions and diagrams, so candidates know what they need to do.
These prompt cards are published on GOV.UK so learners can familiarise themselves with them before the test, and so that driving instructors can use them as part of their training or mock tests. Driving tests: prompt cards to support learner drivers who are deaf - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, will she make an assessment of the potential merits of delivering the next stage of the Midlands Rail Hub.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Midlands Rail Hub would kickstart economic growth and break down barriers to opportunity by upgrading connectivity and reliability, and last year £123m was committed to design its first phase. In December, the Chancellor launched the second stage of the Spending Review. All infrastructure investment projects are subject to the outcome of the Spending Review, including the next stage of the Midlands Rail Hub.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of restoring Birmingham’s Cross City service to four trains per hour on the economy.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
West Midlands Trains (WMT) are working on the feasibility of increasing CrossCity line services where the infrastructure allows, and the business case for such an increase will be expected to include the impact on passengers, taxpayers and the economy.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average waiting time for driving tests is in Birmingham, Edgbaston constituency.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The table below shows the average waiting time for driving test centres that serve customers living in the Edgbaston constituency, as of the 17 March 2025.
Driving test centre | Average waiting time as of the 17 March 2025 (in weeks). |
Birmingham (Kings Heath) | 24 |
Birmingham (South Yardley) | 24 |
Birmingham (Shirley) | 24 |
Birmingham (Garretts Green) | 24 |
Birmingham (Kingstanding) | 24 |
The current national average for driving tests as of February 2025 is 21.3 weeks.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of requiring electric bike users to (a) have a number plate and (b) be insured.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government has no intention of requiring cyclists, including those who ride Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles, to display number plates or to have insurance. This would require a national registration scheme for all cycles which would be complex and expensive to design and administer. It would also be likely to lead to a significant reduction in the number of people cycling, which would have negative health and environmental consequences. The Government believes that insurance for cycling should remain a matter of personal choice. Cyclists who are not insured are liable for the consequences of their actions should these result in injury or damages to others.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of penalties for dangerous driving.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has not recently assessed the adequacy of penalties for dangerous driving. The Government is committed to delivering a new Road Safety Strategy, the first in over a decade. We will set out next steps on this in due course.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the powers available to Local Authorities to hold utility companies to account for defects left behind after excavation work on grassed areas and grass verges.
Answered by Guy Opperman
Highway authorities have a range of powers to deal with utility street works. If the grassed area or verge is part of the public highway, utility companies carrying out excavations need to apply for a permit from the relevant highway authority, and they must reinstate them after works have been completed in line with requirements in the Specification for Reinstatement of Openings in the Highway (SROH). Authorities can inspect the quality of the reinstatement, during works and up to two years later, and can require any defects to be repaired.
New guidance and regulations introducing a performance-based inspections regime came into force on 1 April 2023. The new regime enables highway authorities to carry out more inspections of poorly performing utility companies.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has held recent discussions with vehicle manufacturers on the adequacy of onboard security measures to prevent vehicle thefts.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Government is committed to reducing vehicle crime and new vehicles have a range of features fitted on a mandatory basis to deter theft of and from vehicles. In addition, the Criminal Justice Bill will create offences aimed at reducing vehicle crime.