Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to extend the duration of provisional driving instructor licences during the covid-19 outbreak to ensure that those licenses do not expire while trainee driving instructors are unable to undertake training.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
There is no provision in legislation to extend the period of a provisional driving instructor trainee licence beyond six months.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if the Government will extend the validity period of learner driver theory test certificates to ensure learner drivers who cannot take a practical driving test as a result of the outbreak of covid-19 do not have to retake the theory test.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Department for Transport is aware of the issue of theory tests that are about to expire shortly. We are currently considering options on this matter. People can still apply for an emergency practical driving test if their work is critical to the COVID-19 response.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the total amount of funding from the public purse given by his Department to (a) civil society and (b) campaigning bodies in each of the last five years.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department does not categorise its suppliers by this type of sector so we are unable to extract information relating to which suppliers may fall into the categories of either civil society or campaigning bodies.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many fatal accidents have occurred on the Junction 7a section of the M11 in each year since 2010.
Answered by George Freeman
The number of reported fatal road accidents between junctions 7 and 8 of the M11 from 2010 to 2018 can be found in the table below.
Reported fatal road accidents between junctions 7 and 8 of the M11¹, 2010 - 2018 | ||||||
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Year | Fatal accidents |
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2010 | 0 |
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2011 | 0 |
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2012 | 0 |
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2013 | 0 |
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2014 | 1 |
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2015 | 0 |
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2016 | 0 |
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2017 | 0 |
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2018 | 0 |
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Source: DfT, STATS19 |
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1. Not including slip roads or roundabouts |
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Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many apprentices have been employed by the House of Commons since 2010.
Answered by Tom Brake
The House launched the first apprenticeship scheme in 2012. Since then 10 apprentices have been employed per year. We have extended this to 12 apprentices for 2019.
Apprentices are asked to submit diversity data. This does not include if they consider themselves to be from a disadvantaged background. Therefore, the House does not hold this information. We work closely with both our providers and the House of Commons recruitment team to ensure vacancies are published to as broad an audience as possible.
As it would be possible to identify the ethnicity of some of the apprentices – the intake comprising too few individuals to ensure confidentiality – we are unable to answer the question as to what proportion of apprentices currently employed by the House of Commons are from minority ethnic backgrounds.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether he has made a recent comparative assessment of the effectiveness of outreach work being carried out by the House of Commons and the House of Lords to encourage people to take up apprenticeships in either House.
Answered by Tom Brake
Staff from the House Service work closely with the providers and the House of Commons recruitment team to ensure vacancies are published to as broad an audience as possible. Staff are also working alongside Amazing Apprenticeships who work with over 3,500 schools and colleges nationally to reach those who may not instantly think the House of Commons is for them, by creating a short film which will tour schools in time for National Apprenticeship Week this year.
Staff will be attending a recruitment fair in Newham during National Apprenticeship Week and, with Newham College, staff are attending local jobs fairs aimed at 16–24 year olds over the coming months.
In addition, the House of Commons’ first apprentice ambassador will be speaking at school events across London, talking about her experience as an apprentice at the House of Commons and her career with us since. A House representative will also be speaking at an event for teachers and careers advisors to engage them with the work of Parliament and the opportunities for their students.
We also hold a biannual recruitment fair which gives us an opportunity to speak to visitors about the House of Commons apprenticeships as well as the wider roles available.
The House of Commons is working closely with the House of Lords, the Parliamentary Digital Service and our providers to share learning and where possible work together on outreach.