Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of allowing citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to swap their home country driving licences for full UK driving licences after 12 months in the UK.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Arrangements for the exchange of foreign licences in GB depend on the driver testing and licensing standards in the candidate country being assessed as equivalent to those in GB. A request for the exchange of licences issued in Trinidad and Tobago was not progressed following an assessment in 2007.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency would be happy to consider any further request from Trinidad and Tobago. Agreement to exchange licences is subject to assessment of all current aspects of testing and licensing standards, a public consultation and the necessary legal process.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to review the languages used for the driving theory test.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
There are no plans to review this.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2022 to Question 11723 on Network Rail: Finance, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on passenger safety of decisions relating to the Control Period 7 budget for Network Rail.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The budget for Control Period 7 is set through the Periodic Review Process, which culminates in the publication of the High-Level Output Specification (HLOS) and Statement of Funds Available (SoFA), which Government is required to produce by 28th October. These documents are developed following close discussion with Network Rail and the Office of Rail and Road to ensure all potential impacts are assessed, including on safety, which remains a top priority.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has plans to reduce the budget for Network Rail.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The budget and outputs for Network Rail for day to day running of the railway (operations, maintenance and renewals) are set over five year Control Periods. The current Control Period 6 settlement guarantees this funding until March 2024.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that the use of closed-loop insulin monitoring systems is taken into account when assessing whether a person with diabetes is fit to drive.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
In January 2018, the law was changed to allow alternative methods of glucose monitoring to be accommodated for drivers of cars and motorcycles. This includes the use of closed-loop insulin monitoring systems, where a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) monitors glucose levels. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is gathering evidence to consider if the use of CGMS systems can be extended to drivers of HGVs and buses.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on the use of automatic number-plate recognition cameras in school streets,.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
A set of regulations is due to be laid in December. This will allow English local authorities outside London, with civil parking enforcement powers, to apply for a Designation Order granting powers to enforce moving traffic contraventions, based on evidence obtained from CCTV camera equipment that has been certified by the Secretary of State. Local authorities so designated, will then be able to enforce access restrictions for school streets. Local authorities in London have these enforcement powers already. Automatic number-plate recognition technology is not certified for the purpose of moving traffic enforcement.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Written Statement, Planning Update, published on 19 October 2021, HCWS333, if he will provide more information on the environmental matters under consideration.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The reasons for the extension are as set out in the Written Ministerial Statement. As this is a live planning application, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further. Should any further information be required from any party, a letter will be issued and published on the relevant project page of the Planning Inspectorate's website. I want to assure you that we are progressing this application as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with South Western Railway on the planned withdrawal of their Bristol to Salisbury train service.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department tasked South Western Railway with finding timetable efficiencies which could be actioned for the December 2021 timetable change. South Western Railway identified Bristol to Salisbury services, which are also provided by Great Western Railway. As a consequence of this, the Department agreed to the removal of these direct South Western Railway Bristol to Salisbury services on the basis that there is sufficient capacity provided by Great Western Railway.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason Ecuador remains on the covid-19 travel red list.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
Ecuador has been on the red list since 15 January 2021 due to the ongoing presence of variants of concern. Government scientists will continue to engage with countries still on the red list and keep the evidence on variants of concern, especially Lambda and Mu, under close review in order to ensure the UK’s approach remains proportionate.
Decisions on red country assignment and associated border measures will continue to be taken by Ministers, who take into account the JBC risk assessments alongside wider public health factors.
The data for all countries and territories will be kept under regular review and the Government will not hesitate to take action where a country’s epidemiological picture changes.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he has made on plans to complete the electrification of the Great Western Railway line between Bath and Bristol.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Electrification of the railway between Bath and Bristol has been recognised as a priority in Network Rail’s Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy. We are working with Network Rail to consider how decarbonisation priority investment proposals are taken forward through the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline.