Asked by: Derek Thomas (Conservative - St Ives)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) safety of the use of bright LEDs on cycles and (b) adequacy of standards regulation on those lights.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Requirements for the fitment and use of bicycle lamps are set out in the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 as amended.
Enforcement of road traffic law is generally an operational matter for individual Police Forces.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to expedite compensation for people required to move home for the construction of HS2.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
In all cases, HS2 Ltd seeks to provide compensation in as timely a manner as possible. And the focus of the Department for Transport has always been on devising policies to ensure that transactions are progressed promptly. For instance, the streamlined residential blight (SRB) scheme was introduced to provide a quicker route for property owners to sell their home as the process does not require negotiation on the property value and disturbance items. This goes beyond what is mandated in law (through the Compensation Code).
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 6 March 2024 to 16465 on Driving Tests: Waiting Lists, what the average waiting time for DVSA driving tests was across Great Britain as of 6 March 2024.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s main priority is to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, whilst upholding road safety standards.
As of 8 April 2024, there were 510,385 car practical driving tests booked, and 119,545 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.
The average waiting time for a car practical driving test in Great Britain, in March 2024, was 17.1 weeks.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to announce which Access for All programmes will be funded during Control Period 7.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
As part of our recent Network North announcement, the Government confirmed £350m will be made available to improve the accessibility of our train stations. We are assessing over 300 nominations for Access for All funding. At stations awarded funding this will create an obstacle free, accessible route from the station entrance to platforms. Successful nominations will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Simon Lightwood (Labour (Co-op) - Wakefield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2024 to Question 16992 on Parking: Pedestrian Areas, if his Department will publish its response to that consultation before the end of this Parliament.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Pavement Parking is a complex issue. The Department is considering the consultation findings in order to reach the best outcome for all road users. We want to take the right step for communities and ensure that local authorities have appropriate and effective tools at their disposal and will make an announcement in due course.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing funding for Stockport railway station on the local economy.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government believes that Stockport is best placed to decide on and take forward transport schemes that will most benefit their local areas. I would therefore encourage the local stakeholders in the area to work together to bring forward a bid(s) to be considered for development under the various sources of funding available.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 20th July 2023 to Question 194351 on Bus Services: Public Service Obligations, when his Department plans to issue new guidance on socially and economically necessary bus services.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department remains committed to publishing this guidance within this Parliament.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that road safety improvements committed to in the register of undertakings and assurances for HS2 will be fulfilled.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State takes compliance with all HS2 undertakings and assurances (U&As), including those which relate to road safety, very seriously. In most cases, day to day responsibility for compliance is delegated to HS2 Ltd or the relevant contractor. HS2 Ltd completes regular reviews of each U&A on the register and ensures that a suitable plan for compliance with each U&A is in place. HS2 Ltd also records evidence to demonstrate compliance and performs risk-based assurance. Overall compliance is monitored by the Department.
Assurance #2047 on the register committed the Government to provide up to £30 million to improve road safety along the HS2 line of route. The Department informed relevant local authorities of their allocations from this HS2 Road Safety Fund in 2017. Since then, local authorities have been drawing down these funds for use in accordance with their own locally agreed priorities.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve the (a) detection and (b) management of drones around UK airports.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulate the use of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (drones) to ensure the use of drones remains safe and secure.
Some airports in the UK are already using drone detection systems supplied by third parties to detect and/or manage drone activities within their airspace.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average waiting time for a driving test was in (a) England and (b) East Midlands as of 25 March 2024.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The average waiting time for a car practical driving test in England, in February 2024, was 17.5 weeks.
The average waiting time for a car practical driving test in the East Midlands, in February 2024, was 17.6 weeks.