Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to work with the Directorate-General for Traffic in Spain to ensure that UK citizens who are resident in Spain can continue to drive there.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The UK and Spanish Governments are working to reach an agreement on driving licence exchange as a priority. The Secretary of State for Transport discussed the issue with Spanish ministers on 29 April 2022 and talks have rapidly accelerated since.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to help ensure that the DVLA has adequate resources to clear the backlog of (a) new and (b) renewed driving licence application; and what recent assessment he has made of DVLA performance in 2021.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence 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. Applications where the driver has a medical condition that must be investigated before a licence can be issued will take longer.
The majority of applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information can be found online here.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the new rules for towing a trailer or caravan with a car from autumn 2021 published on 10 September, what assessment he made of the financial impact on small businesses that train and test drivers for HGV and for towing trailers and caravans; and if he will set up a compensation scheme for those businesses who have lost income as a result of his policy.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
We are working with industry to consider options for accredited training that could offer a standardised non-statutory testing approach. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has received strong support for an accreditation training scheme which is also generating considerable interest from companies who tow as part of their business. We are progressing discussions urgently.
Businesses that require help and support should contact the Business Support Helpline at https://www.gov.uk/business-support-helpline
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he made of the number of people likely to cancel their trailer training courses and tests as the new rules for towing a trailer or caravan with a car from autumn 2021, published on 10 September.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Road safety remains of paramount importance, and we are already working with training providers to explore options for an industry-led accreditation scheme for trailer training. This could offer a standardised training and assessment approach, keeping driving and towing skills current and of a high standard.
The reversing exercise of HGV driving tests and the uncoupling and recoupling exercise of the lorry and trailer test will still be tested but separately by third party assessors. This will enable the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to carry out more on-road tests without compromising the overall standard of driving required to pass the test. The DVSA is working with the training industry to develop the necessary robust accreditation, assessment and audit processes.
One of the changes announced is to enable new drivers to take a category C+E test without having to take a category C test first. Existing category C licence holders will still need to pass their C+E practical test to demonstrate their competency to drive these larger vehicles.
The DVSA does not hold information on the number of people who have booked or cancelled a trailer training course as individuals book these courses directly with the training provider. The DVSA stopped conducting B+E tests from 20 September.
We have made provision in the regulations for post implementation review of the change in the rules, with the first review after three years. We will gather data during that period and monitor the impact on road safety and make changes if needed in the light of that review.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he made of the effect his policy on issuing licences to drive an articulated vehicles, without requiring a licence for a smaller vehicle, on road safety.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Road safety remains of paramount importance, and we are already working with training providers to explore options for an industry-led accreditation scheme for trailer training. This could offer a standardised training and assessment approach, keeping driving and towing skills current and of a high standard.
The reversing exercise of HGV driving tests and the uncoupling and recoupling exercise of the lorry and trailer test will still be tested but separately by third party assessors. This will enable the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to carry out more on-road tests without compromising the overall standard of driving required to pass the test. The DVSA is working with the training industry to develop the necessary robust accreditation, assessment and audit processes.
One of the changes announced is to enable new drivers to take a category C+E test without having to take a category C test first. Existing category C licence holders will still need to pass their C+E practical test to demonstrate their competency to drive these larger vehicles.
The DVSA does not hold information on the number of people who have booked or cancelled a trailer training course as individuals book these courses directly with the training provider. The DVSA stopped conducting B+E tests from 20 September.
We have made provision in the regulations for post implementation review of the change in the rules, with the first review after three years. We will gather data during that period and monitor the impact on road safety and make changes if needed in the light of that review.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the new rules for towing a trailer or caravan with a car from autumn 2021, published September 2021, what assessment he made of the potential risk to road safety that (a) car drivers would no longer need to take a test to tow a trailer and (b) that the test would be shorter and would no longer include the coupling and uncoupling exercise in the test.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Road safety remains of paramount importance, and we are already working with training providers to explore options for an industry-led accreditation scheme for trailer training. This could offer a standardised training and assessment approach, keeping driving and towing skills current and of a high standard.
The reversing exercise of HGV driving tests and the uncoupling and recoupling exercise of the lorry and trailer test will still be tested but separately by third party assessors. This will enable the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to carry out more on-road tests without compromising the overall standard of driving required to pass the test. The DVSA is working with the training industry to develop the necessary robust accreditation, assessment and audit processes.
One of the changes announced is to enable new drivers to take a category C+E test without having to take a category C test first. Existing category C licence holders will still need to pass their C+E practical test to demonstrate their competency to drive these larger vehicles.
The DVSA does not hold information on the number of people who have booked or cancelled a trailer training course as individuals book these courses directly with the training provider. The DVSA stopped conducting B+E tests from 20 September.
We have made provision in the regulations for post implementation review of the change in the rules, with the first review after three years. We will gather data during that period and monitor the impact on road safety and make changes if needed in the light of that review.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the number of electric vehicle public charging points across the UK to help meet the Climate Change Committee's recommendation of 150,000 points by 2025.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Government is investing £1.3 billion in accelerating the roll out of charging infrastructure over the next four years, targeting support on rapid chargepoints on motorways and major roads, and installing more on-street chargepoints near homes and workplaces to make charging as easy as refuelling a petrol or diesel car. Our grant schemes and the £400 million Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund will see thousands more electric vehicle charge-points installed across the UK.
We have set ambitious targets for chargepoints on our strategic road network in England to support long distance journeys. By 2023, we aim to have at least 6 high powered, open access chargepoints (150 - 350 kilowatt capable) at all motorway service areas and by 2030, we are planning for there to be around 2,500 high powered chargepoints across England’s motorways and major A roads. However, we have not set an overall target for the number of chargepoints. Having a “target” number risks assuming technology stands still and creating a uniform approach to charging mixes and needs across the country.
Government and industry have supported the installation of almost 25,000 publicly available charging devices. This includes more than 4,500 rapid devices. To ensure the private sector can continue to expand the charging network at pace in the 2020s, the Government will invest £950 million in future proofing grid capacity along the Strategic Road Network and launching a £90 million Local EV Infrastructure Fund to support the roll out of large on-street schemes and potentially rapid charging hubs in England.
Later this year we will publish an EV Infrastructure Strategy to set out the vision and action plan for charging infrastructure rollout needed to achieve the 2030/35 phase out successfully. This will set expected roles for different stakeholders and how government will intervene to address the gaps between the current market status and our vision.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to introduce a railcard for NHS staff allowing discounted travel on the rail network.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department recognises the vitally important role NHS and other keyworkers have played in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, there are currently no plans to extend or launch any new railcards at this time.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to encourage people to use public transport instead of private cars; and what assessment he has made of the benefits of introducing flexible season tickets for commuters.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
On 15 March the Government launched England’s long-term National Bus Strategy, setting out a bold vision for bus services across the country. Backed by £3 billion of transformational funding, the strategy’s central aim is to get more people travelling by bus, by making services more frequent, more reliable, easier to understand and use, better co-ordinated and cheaper. The Williams-Shapps Rail Review was launched in May and set out a series of measures to support the government’s vision for the UK to have a world-class railway, recognising that the railways must become better at meeting passenger needs to avoid a society dependent on the car.
We recognise the need to provide better value and a more convenient option to meet the needs of flexible commuters, which is why we are introducing new rail flexible season tickets across England. These tickets will be available to purchase on 21 June and valid from 28 June, and will offer most 2 and 3 day per week commuters savings against buying daily tickets or traditional seasons. Transport for Wales Rail currently offers the Multiflex product to support flexible commuters in Wales.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to support essential transitional technologies in the marine industry.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Maritime 2050 Strategy highlights the importance of new technologies to the future of the maritime sector and sets out the ambition to become a world leader in marine innovation. To support this, DfT has provided over £5m in funding to Maritime Research and Innovation UK (MarRI-UK), which acts as a national body to coordinate research and development in maritime innovation.
Technology development is also critical to support the UK’s wider decarbonisation agenda. The Department’s Clean Maritime Plan (CMP), published in July 2019, outlined the UK’s pathway to zero carbon emissions in the domestic maritime arena. In March, DfT launched the £20 million Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) to enable the development and commercialisation of novel solutions for clean maritime technologies. Further details of our policies will be set out in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, which will be published this year.