Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to improve the performance of the DVLA.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The quickest and easiest way to transact with 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 and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham. These measures are having a positive impact and customers should continue to see an improving picture in terms of waiting times for paper applications.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies and the formation of his covid-19 international travel policies of the WHO document entitled Policy considerations for implementing a risk-based approach to international travel in the context of COVID-19, published on 2 July 2021.
Answered by Robert Courts
The UK Government’s international travel policies are aligned with the WHO recommendations on a range of issues, including regular risk assessments; proof of COVID-19 vaccination not being a condition of entry; and testing and quarantine.
The UK Government also takes into consideration recommendations from guidance documents issued by relevant multilateral organisations, including the OECD’s Blueprint for safe international mobility, and the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force’s (CART) recommendations. The government will continue to engage with multilateral organisations to inform its policymaking.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans announce allocations to local transport authorities for bus service improvement plans.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
At the Budget we announced £1.2 billion of dedicated funding for bus transformation deals, part of over £3 billion of new spend on buses over this Parliament. We will announce details of how that funding will be allocated in due course.
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 Department's policy to publish the allocation of the Bus Recovery Grant in a timely manner to help ensure that travel companies can meet their relevant deadlines.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The allocation of Bus Recovery Grant funding to operators has been based on operator revenue and patronage projections. This data includes forecasts from operators which are not in the public domain. Each operator has been given their allocation and the funding received by each operator is commercially sensitive, therefore allocations will not be published.
Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) are also allocated BRG funding and they have been informed of their own allocation along with all other LTAs. Grants received via Section 31 powers, such as the Bus Recovery Grant for Local Authorities, are routinely published by Local Authorities and are on gov.uk.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to work with the shipping industry to reduce container shipping prices; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Courts
My Department is engaging with, and closely monitoring, the sector, along with other government departments. Shipping costs during 2021 have risen to a global high level in international freight markets as a result of unprecedented levels of demand driven by changed consumer behaviour during the pandemic.
Historical trends in the shipping sector shows pricing responds to supply and demand. Although industry estimates that high levels of demand and pricing are likely to continue into 2022, it is expected that pricing levels should similarly re-adjust when the current demand drivers change.
Nevertheless, Government continues to engage with the sector and will consider options to act in any helpful and appropriate way.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Trade on reducing the cost of container shipping prices; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Courts
I refer my hon Friend the Member for Wycombe to the answer I gave on December 3, to Question UIN 84344 https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-11-30/84344 where I noted that my Department is closely engaged with other government departments on this matters. This includes teams in the Secretary of State for International Trade’s Department.