Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2020 to Question 81866 on on Driving Tests: Coronavirus, what evidence was used to inform the decision not lay further legislation to extend the validity period of the theory test certificate .
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has refreshed the content of the theory driving test twice in the last two years. The Government is concerned the knowledge and understanding of driving theory for those candidates who passed the test more than two years ago would be out of date. This would present a clear road safety risk.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the proposals put forward by the New Economics Foundation report entitled Crisis support to aviation and the right to retrain, published on 10 June 2020.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The aviation sector is important to the UK economy and the government recognises the challenging times facing the sector as a result of COVID-19. The Department for Transport has kept an open dialogue with the aviation sector through engagement at both ministerial and official levels.
The Department’s Expert Steering Group was established to bring together all interested parties to co-produce solutions to the issues facing the sector. The Group is best placed to identify and support what practical steps are required to restart the industry, as well as to consider what longer term steps are required to ensure the sector’s full recovery.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the 5 May 2020 International Maritime Organization publication entitled Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Recommended framework of protocols for ensuring safe ship crew changes and travel during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The UK has not placed restrictions on the transit and transfer of seafarers. I have previously written to UN organisations asking for an international solution to this issue, confirming the UK’s position on crew changes, and also urged other countries to allow crew changes to take placeMany of the recommendations found in the framework are already in place in the UK and we have already provided specific guidance to the maritime sector.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps his Department has taken to support the (a) mental and (b) physical health of seafarers.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The mental and physical health of seafarers is an important issue. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has just published two complementary publications ‘Wellbeing at Sea: A guide for organisations’ and ‘Wellbeing at Sea: A pocket guide for seafarers’ to support organisations and individuals to prioritise wellbeing onboard. I welcome the framework that was issued by the IMO which seeks to address crew change issues that have emerged due to the pandemic and have had adverse impacts on the health and wellbeing of seafarers. I have previously written to UN organisations asking for an international solution to this issue, confirming the UK’s position on crew changes, and also urged other countries to allow crew changes to take place. DfT Officials have been working with the Merchant Navy Welfare Board and support the steps taken by the working group to aid the mental and physical health of seafarers.
In addition, Government guidance for operators and passengers has been updated to provide greater detail on how social distancing can be maintained in the maritime sector and customer-facing roles to reduce the risk to staff health whilst ensuring services keep running. Under the new PPE guidance, DfT officials are working with industry to ensure seafarers and passengers have adequate access to face masks prior to boarding vessels in order to protect their physical health.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations his Department has received from members of the public on the HS2 project since he took office; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department for Transport holds records of 1604 pieces of written correspondence received by the High Speed Rail and Major Projects Group from members of public since July 2019, when the Secretary of State for Transport took office. The content of those written representations could only be provided at disproportionate cost as each case would have to be opened and checked.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many pieces of written correspondence his Department has received (a) in favour of (b) against High Speed Two since 2015.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department’s correspondence handling system holds records of 7062 items of written correspondence received by the High Speed Rail and Major Projects Group since February 2016. The records management policy for the system is to hold records for the current year and previous three years. The number of items of correspondence for and against HS2 could only be provided at disproportionate cost as each case would have to be opened and checked.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether match-funding was a criterion for the value for money assessment of bids for 2018 Access for All programme funding.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Match funding was one of many factors that were considered. Other factors considered included annual footfall, the incidence of disability in the area, the availability of third party funding for the project and local factors such as proximity to a hospital.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many of the successful nominations to the 2018 Access for All programme had not undertaken an Option Selection Assessment (GRIP 2-3).
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
More than half of the new stations selected were at GRIP 2 or higher. However, this was only one of many factors that were considered. Other factors considered included annual footfall, the incidence of disability in the area, the availability of third party funding for the project, and local factors such as proximity to a hospital.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether priority was given to bids to the 2018 Access for All programme from local authorities.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
We advised that that we expected the views of local authorities and other stakeholders to have been sought when making a nomination. However, this was only one of many factors considered. Other factors included annual footfall, the incidence of disability in the area, and the availability of third party funding for the project. We also took into account local factors such as proximity to a hospital. Stations were also chosen to ensure a fair geographical spread of projects across the country.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the successful nominations to the 2018 Access for All Programme had undertaken an Option Selection Assessment (GRIP 2-3); and what assessment he has made of the level of support for each of those nominations from local stakeholders.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The level of development of a scheme was considered as was the level of support from stakeholders. For example, stations that had support from the train operating company were considered more favourably, as this makes a big difference in getting projects completed. However, many other factors were also considered including, annual footfall, the incidence of disability in the area, and the availability of third party funding for the project. We also took into account local factors such as proximity to a hospital. Stations were also chosen to ensure a fair geographical spread of projects across the country.