Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2024 to Question 4347 on Motorcycles: Driving Licences, when the Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group is next scheduled to meet; and whether that meeting will discuss user licensing reform.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The planned meeting of The Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group for autumn 2024 has now been rescheduled for 20 January 2025. The Government is considering plans to review existing requirements for motorcycle training, testing and licensing, taking account of long-standing Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency plans and recent sector proposals.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2024 to Question 4347 on Motorcycles: Driving Licences, whether the Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group met in autumn 2024.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The planned meeting of The Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group for autumn 2024 has now been rescheduled for 20 January 2025. The Government is considering plans to review existing requirements for motorcycle training, testing and licensing, taking account of long-standing Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency plans and recent sector proposals.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of simplifying the licensing process for (a) mopeds, (b) motorcycles and (c) other powered light vehicles.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department for Transport has received additional evidence from the Motorcycle Industry Association on the road safety considerations for the proposals set out in their report ‘A Licence to Net Zero’, which proposed changes to the existing licensing regime for mopeds, motorcycles and light powered vehicles. Officials are currently analysing this.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with her (a) European and (b) international counterparts on end of sales dates for new non zero emission powered light vehicles.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Secretary of State has not yet had any discussions with international counterparts on end of sales dates for new non-zero emission powered light vehicles. We remain committed to decarbonising transport, including powered light vehicles, as we shift to zero emission mobility.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the report by the Motorcycle Industry Association entitled A Licence to Net Zero: Unleashing Our Potential, License Reform Essential: L-Category Licensing Reform Proposals, published on 16 October 2023, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the proposals in that report on the licensing regime for (a) mopeds, (b) motorcycles and (c) other powered light vehicles; and if she will hold discussions with relevant stakeholders on that matter.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department for Transport continues to meet with representatives from the motorcycling industry to discuss proposals on Category L licensing reform. We are awaiting evidence from the Motorcycle Industry Association on their proposals.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the evidential basis is for (a) licensing requirements and (b) age restrictions for (i) mopeds, (ii) motorcycles and (iii) other powered light vehicles.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The current licensing requirements and age restrictions for moped, motorcycles were implemented in 2012 when the UK transposed the requirements of the European Union’s Third Driving Licence Directive. These regulations were drafted after extensive public consultation, impact assessments and Parliamentary scrutiny via the European Scrutiny Committee. Furthermore, these regulations were subject to a Post Implementation Review in 2017, published on the legislation.uk website.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Motorcycle Strategy Focus Group is next scheduled to meet; and whether the agenda will include a review of (a) moped and (b) motorcycle licensing requirements.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group plan to meet in autumn 2024. The date and agenda for the meeting have yet to be decided.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to take steps to help simplify the licensing regime for (a) mopeds and (b) motorcycles.
Answered by Guy Opperman
On 8 May, I chaired a roundtable with several stakeholders from the motorcycle industry to discuss motorcycle licensing. The Department is working with these stakeholders to bring together evidence to consider any future measures for licensing.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of Motorcycle Industry Association's proposals to simplify the licensing regime for powered light vehicles.
Answered by Anthony Browne
The Government is open to discussing ideas for reform of the existing licensing regime for powered light vehicles known as L category vehicles where they do not compromise safety standards. It is also worth highlighting that driving licensing is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on delivering the Joint Action Plan on Realising the Full Potential of Zero Emission Powered Light Vehicles.
Answered by Anthony Browne
The Government continues to engage with industry to deliver the joint Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) and Zemo Partnership Action Plan where appropriate. To address actions 2 and 3 on growing and developing the supply chain, the Government made up to £350,000 of funding available for research and development projects to grow the zero emission motorcycle supply chain in the UK. The Department is also working with the recently established “Powered Light Vehicle Community” to address action 9 on creating a formal L-category community. In addition, the Department is engaged with the MCIA’s recent licensing review proposals to address action 6 to review minimum testing and licence entitlements for all battery electric L-Category vehicles.