Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the availability of call handlers at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
Throughout the pandemic the DVLA’s contact centre has actively managed its operation and flexed the services for customers in line with the available resources. This has included procuring the use of an additional building to increase the number of staff able to take calls within the social distancing guidelines. Remote working has been increased with staff handling email, webchat, social media and more recently telephone customer contacts.
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce licensing backlogs at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The quickest and easiest way to make an application to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is by using its extensive suite of online services. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their documents within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application. The DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day and industrial action by members of the Public and Commercial Services union has led to delays for customers. Throughout the pandemic DVLA has also been working with a significantly reduced number of staff on site to ensure social distancing in line with Welsh Government requirements. The current increased demand for the DVLA’s services has also contributed to delays with paper applications.
Paper driving licence applications are currently taking between six and ten weeks to process. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example if medical investigations are needed. The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here.
The DVLA continues to explore opportunities to reduce turnaround times and has introduced new online services and recruited additional staff. The DVLA is exploring the possibility of securing extra office space to accommodate more staff to work predominantly on drivers’ medical casework and queries. This will be surge capacity accommodation and resource to help reduce backlogs while providing future resilience and business continuity.
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government has made any offers of assistance to the South African Government in response to violence and unrest in that country.
Answered by James Duddridge
The UK was concerned by the recent outbreak of violence and looting in the South African provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, which sadly resulted in loss of life, injuries, and substantial damage to buildings and businesses. We welcome the South African Government's determination to restore calm and strongly support President Ramaphosa's emphasis on the importance of the rule of law. Our High Commission remains in regular contact with the South African authorities. As a long-standing friend of South Africa, the UK will continue to partner closely with the South African Government, business and civil society on a shared agenda of security, health, economic and social issues.
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment the Government has made of the level of unrest in (a) KwaZulu-Natal and (b) other provinces in South Africa.
Answered by James Duddridge
The UK was concerned by the recent outbreak of violence and looting in the South African provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, which sadly resulted in loss of life, injuries, and substantial damage to buildings and businesses. We welcome the South African Government's determination to restore calm and strongly support President Ramaphosa's emphasis on the importance of the rule of law. Our High Commission remains in regular contact with the South African authorities. As a long-standing friend of South Africa, the UK will continue to partner closely with the South African Government, business and civil society on a shared agenda of security, health, economic and social issues.
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will publish weekly data on the number of people who test positive for covid-19 while required to quarantine in a managed quarantine hotel.
Answered by Jo Churchill
The information requested is not currently available as it is being centrally validated ahead of publication later in the year. The data will be published in a weekly format.
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
What steps the Government is taking to support stroke teams to deliver the objectives set out in the National Stroke Service Model.
Answered by Jo Churchill
The National Stroke Service Model, published by NHS England and NHS Improvement in May 2021 articulates optimal stroke delivery based upon best evidence. There are, as of 1 April, 20 integrated stroke delivery networks, which are delivering joined-up stroke pathways. The model will ensure access to specialist rehabilitation on hospital discharge that is patient-directed, giving a needs-based approach rather than time. We are supporting stroke teams to ensure they have skilled and sustainable workforce.
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether provisions in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement allow for (a) a short supplementing agreement or a Joint Declaration and (b) other bilateral agreements.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) imposes reciprocal obligations on the Parties to the Agreement. The TCA also includes some provisions – common in international agreements of this kind – which impose specific obligations on a particular Party.
There is no general non-discrimination provision applicable to all current and future EU Member States in the TCA.
The TCA does not prohibit either the UK or EU from entering into future agreements with each other. Article COMPROV.2 of the TCA includes information on how to treat future UK-EU agreements. The UK and EU Member States are free to make bilateral agreements with each other in principle. However, whether the EU Member States can enter into an agreement with the UK depends on the subject matter and the competence position under EU law.
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the provisions agreed in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement are reciprocal and include a binding non-discrimination clause covering all current and future EU member states.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) imposes reciprocal obligations on the Parties to the Agreement. The TCA also includes some provisions – common in international agreements of this kind – which impose specific obligations on a particular Party.
There is no general non-discrimination provision applicable to all current and future EU Member States in the TCA.
The TCA does not prohibit either the UK or EU from entering into future agreements with each other. Article COMPROV.2 of the TCA includes information on how to treat future UK-EU agreements. The UK and EU Member States are free to make bilateral agreements with each other in principle. However, whether the EU Member States can enter into an agreement with the UK depends on the subject matter and the competence position under EU law.
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will provide further immigration guidance on inward mobility including (a) short-term visitor routes, (b) frontier workers, (c) paid permitted engagement and the roles that qualify under this, and (d) longer term engagements.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Extensive guidance is already available on gov.uk for applicants and caseworkers.
There are no plans to publish any further at the current time.
Visitor applicant guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa
Permitted paid engagement applicant guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/permitted-paid-engagement-visa
Visitor caseworker guidance, including for permitted paid engagements, is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visit-guidance
Frontier worker applicant guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/frontier-worker-permit
Frontier worker caseworker guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/frontier-worker-permit-scheme-caseworker-guidance
Longer term engagements are covered by our work routes. Further guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress has been made on the process for allocation of funding under the Shared Prosperity Fund.
Answered by Luke Hall
The November 2020 Spending Review set out the main strategic elements of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in a Heads of Terms. Further details will be set out in a UK-wide Investment Framework to be published later this year and funding profile for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will be set at the next Spending Review. The UK Government is providing an additional £220 million funding through the UK Community Renewal Fund to help local areas prepare for the launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in 2022.