Asked by: Stephen Kerr (Conservative - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
What steps he is taking to help ensure the provision of new rolling stock on the east coast main line.
Answered by Andrew Jones
LNER’s new Azuma trains entered service on their Hull and Leeds routes in May this year are due to launch on Edinburgh services from 1st August and will then be serving destinations North of Edinburgh by the end of the year.
These state-of-the-art trains, delivered as part of the government-funded Intercity Express Programme, have more seats, better legroom and will be more reliable.
The full fleet of 65 trains compared to 45 old trains will be in service from 2020 enabling additional services to be run increasing capacity further.
Asked by: Stephen Kerr (Conservative - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the arrangements are for the governance and accountability of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency; and what plans there are to review those arrangements.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has robust governance and accountability arrangements in place, which are published at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-standards-agency/about/our-governance.
The Cabinet Office is planning a tailored review of the DVSA’s control and governance arrangements, later this financial year. The review will ensure that the DVSA is complying with recognised principles of good corporate governance, and that it has the capacity to deliver its services effectively and efficiently.
Asked by: Stephen Kerr (Conservative - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what policies and guidance there are to ensure that people living in rural areas have adequate access to driving centres through the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency network.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has policies and guidance in place to ensure that people living in rural areas where the population is equal to, or fewer than, 100 persons per square kilometre, should not have to travel more than 30 miles to take their test. The DVSA takes this travel distance criterion into account when deciding on locations for new driving test centres.
Asked by: Stephen Kerr (Conservative - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department has issued to private hire and other licensed taxi drivers to support disabled passengers (a) with and (b) without guide dogs, and whether he has plans to review that guidance.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
Responsibility for ensuring that taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers understand the rights and requirements of disabled passengers, including through effective training and communication, rests with respective local licensing authorities.
Ministers are considering the report of the Chair of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing, including the recommendation that disability awareness training should be mandatory in all areas. A Government response will be issued in due course.
We are also undertaking research to understand why disabled people sometimes still face discriminatory behaviour when using taxis and PHVs, and to identify what further steps could be taken so that every disabled passenger can travel with confidence.
Asked by: Stephen Kerr (Conservative - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of updating the Cycle to Work Scheme guidance to facilitate a greater uptake in electric bikes.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Cycle to Work Scheme can already be used to assist with the purchase of electrically assisted pedal cycles, and is one of the many ways in which the Government is supporting active travel choices, as set out in the 2017 Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. The Department is currently in the process of updating the Cycle to Work Scheme guidance and will make a further announcement later in the year.
Asked by: Stephen Kerr (Conservative - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential benefits of a greater uptake in electric bikes for (a) older people, (b) people on low incomes and (c) people with mobility problems.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government’s Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS), published in April 2017, encourages people to take up cycling, either on conventional bikes or electric bikes. The Department recognises that electric bikes offer a wide range of potential benefits, including to health and to the environment, and that they can make cycling easier and more attractive. The Department has not undertaken any formal assessment of the potential benefits of a greater uptake of electric bikes by those particular groups, but the measures set out in the CWIS should lead to an overall increase in the use of electric bikes, and the benefits associated with this.
Asked by: Stephen Kerr (Conservative - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of updating the Cycle to Work Scheme guidance to facilitate a greater uptake in electric bikes.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Cycle to Work Scheme can already be used to assist with the purchase of electrically assisted pedal cycles, and is one of the many ways in which the Government is supporting active travel choices, as set out in the 2017 Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. The Department is currently in the process of updating the Cycle to Work Scheme guidance and will make a further announcement later in the year.