Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which other DVSA driving test centres are closing in England, further to the announced closure of the site in High Wycombe; and for what reasons those centres are closing.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) keeps its estate under review to ensure site locations are fit for purpose and provide customers with a value for money service.
All announcements about proposed site closures and relocations are communicated at the appropriate time to local stakeholders.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what impact assessment the DVSA has undertaken to ensure people living on a low income in Wycombe are not disadvantaged by having to travel to a test centre with a round trip distance of over 30 miles.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The DVSA is communicating with a range of stakeholders, including instructors, to factor in all considerations as it develops its options for the provision of driving tests in High Wycombe.
It is typical for a candidate to have a 1 hour driving lesson prior to their driving test, which can include the drive to the test centre.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the evidential basis for his Department’s claim on 1 December 2020, in relation to driving test centres, that Slough and Uxbridge are the nearest test centres to High Wycombe with a travel time of under 30 minutes for either test centre.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The information is taken from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s booking & customer mapping data.
The 2019/20 mapping data shows High Wycombe customers come from 164 different postcode areas, some of which are very close to Slough test centre and Uxbridge test centre.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department plans to take following the proposed closure of High Wycombe driving test centre to prevent excess travel by local driving instructors and students to test centres with round trip distances of over 30 miles.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has held virtual meetings with local approved driving instructors in the High Wycombe area regarding the site closure, the nearest test centres, and possible alternative test centre locations.
The DVSA continues to make enquiries to determine the suitability and viability of an alternative hub space option at Cressex Business Park to ensure it can accommodate operational suitability, instructor and candidate welfare, local planning and highways legislation.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what impact assessment the DVSA has undertaken on the financial effect on driving instructors in High Wycombe when considering the decision to close the driving test centre in High Wycombe.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The DVSA is communicating with a range of stakeholders, including instructors, to factor in all considerations as it develops its options for the provision of driving tests in High Wycombe.
Not all driving instructors operate in the direct vicinity of test centres.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has in place to ensure that learners taking a driving test in High Wycombe are able to take a test locally after the driving test centre is closed in spring 2021; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Test centres at Aylesbury, Slough and Uxbridge have the capacity to meet the extra demand for testing once the centre at High Wycombe closes on 12 March 2021. Driving examiners currently carrying out tests at High Wycombe will carry out tests at these other centres.
Slough and Uxbridge are the nearest test centres to High Wycombe with a travel time of under 30 minutes for either test centre.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason the driving test centre in High Wycombe has closed; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
It is important customers are provided with a value for money service. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has taken the decision to cease driver testing at High Wycombe as the low demand for tests and the cost of the driving test centre lease is not a good use of public money.
Learner drivers will be able to receive a good service from the centres in Aylesbury, Slough and Uxbridge, which have the capacity to meet the extra demand for testing as the examiners who conducted tests at High Wycombe will be based in these nearby sites instead.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he will take to support employees of British Airways in response to the proposed restructuring of the business; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The recent announcements about redundancies by British Airways will no doubt be very distressing for employees and their families. Both the Secretary of State and I have spoken directly to IAG’s Chief Executive, Willie Walsh, to discuss the organisation’s plans for engagement with staff and union representatives. I have offered to support these engagement efforts, where appropriate to do so, and have also encouraged the company to go beyond its minimum legal obligations in supporting its employees.
I will continue to encourage BA and unions to engage constructively with each other, striving to provide employees with as much certainty as possible during this challenging time.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he will take to prevent job loses in the aviation sector.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The aviation sector is able to draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor. These measures include: HMRC’s Time to Pay flexibilities with tax bills, including VAT deferrals; HMT and the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility; the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme for large and small businesses; and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which provides financial support for employees. Employers in the aviation sector can apply for a grant that covers 80% of furloughed employees’ usual monthly wage costs, up to £2500 a month, plus the associated Employer National Insurance contributions and pension contributions.
If airlines or airports find themselves in trouble as a result of coronavirus, even following the Government’s cross-economy wage and financial interventions, the Transport Secretary and Chancellor have confirmed that we are prepared to enter discussions with individual companies seeking bespoke support as a last resort, having exhausted all other options. Any intervention would need to represent value for money for taxpayers.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to recognise and promote in Government transport communications the role of motorcycles and scooters as a socially-distanced and sustainable mode of transport during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Department’s guidance issued on 12 May refers to “Private cars and other vehicles” as an alternative to using public transport, and encourages the public to “consider all other forms of transport before using public transport”. This would include private vehicles such as motorcycles and mopeds where the journey to be made is appropriate.