Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of theory driving test availability in (a) Ayrshire and (b) Central Scotland; what steps he is taking to provide additional theory test facilities; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is aware that demand for theory tests in Scotland is currently high and it is doing all it can to offer more tests at centres by increasing opening hours and running tests on extra days where possible. The provision of additional testing is dependent upon the availability of venues and agreements with landlords. The DVSA is working with its theory test provider, Pearson VUE, to explore further ways in which it can further increase theory test capacity.
The DVSA is continuing to work with the Scottish Government but as a result of the 2 metre physical distancing restrictions in Scotland, as required by the Scottish Government, it is unable to increase the number of desks used to take tests. This has reduced capacity at most theory test sites by 50%.
The DVSA and its theory test contract provider, Pearson VUE, have explored the possibility of delivering the theory tests outside of existing sites, but this was found to be not suitable as it is dependent upon a physical infrastructure within the Pearson VUE network.
As of 18 June, the waiting time for a car theory test in Ayrshire and Central Scotland is 11 weeks.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) understands the effect that the pandemic has had on all those involved with driver training and testing. It is inevitable the demand for existing and new learners wanting to book practical driving tests will be higher than usual.
The DVSA has put in place a number of measures to increase practical driving tests. These include offering overtime and annual leave buy back to examiners, asking all those qualified to conduct tests, but who do not do so as part of their current day job, to return to conducting tests, and conducting out of hours testing (such as on public holidays). The DVSA is also running a recruitment campaign to increase the overall number of examiners. The aim is to increase testing capacity and reduce the backlog as quickly as possible, whilst maintaining a COVID-secure service for customers and examiners.
As of 18 June, the waiting time for a car practical test in Ayrshire is: 4 weeks at Ayr and 18 weeks at Irvine, and in Central Scotland is: 14 weeks at Livingston and 13 weeks at Stirling.
The maximum duration of two years between passing the theory test and a subsequent practical test is in place to ensure a candidate’s road safety knowledge and ability to identify developing hazards is current. This validity period is set in legislation and the Government has no current plans to lay further legislation to extend it.
It is important road safety knowledge and hazard perception skills are up to date at the critical point a person drives unsupervised for the first time. Those with theory test certificates expiring now will have taken their test in early 2019. Since then, they have been unable to take lessons and practice for long periods of time, and not at all during recent lockdowns. It is difficult to maintain knowledge and understanding of driving theory at the level required during that time without being able to put it into practice. Research suggests that this would be particularly harmful for hazard perception skills, a key factor in road safety.
Ensuring new drivers have current relevant knowledge and skills is a vital part of the preparation of new drivers, who are disproportionality represented in casualty statistics. Learners will therefore need to pass another theory test if their certificate expires.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which countries he has had discussions with on the allocation and removal of emissions from international shipping and aviation.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
Reducing emissions from international shipping and aviation is a key priority for my Department. To ensure these emissions are accounted for consistently, the Government recently announced that the UK’s Sixth Carbon Budget will include international aviation and shipping emissions.
Measures to address these emissions are best approached through international coordination, and Ministers and officials have regular engagement with international partners on efforts to drive decarbonisation in these sectors, particularly in the frameworks of both the International Maritime Organization and International Civil Aviation Organization.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what fiscal steps he is taking to encourage investment in clean maritime, as part of the Government's commitment to reducing emissions from international shipping.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
On 22 March my Department launched a £20 million Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition. This supports the design and development of clean maritime technology, such as feasibility studies and technology trials, fast-tracking maritime decarbonisation in the UK. This competition builds on the vision set out in the Department’s Clean Maritime Plan, published in 2019, and underlines our legislative commitment to addressing UK domestic and international shipping emissions.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what meetings his Department has held with the representatives of the UK maritime sector on reducing emissions from that sector, as part of the Government's commitment to reducing emissions from international shipping.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Department regularly engages the UK maritime sector on matters important to them, including emissions reduction. We engage with a range of representatives of the maritime industry in the context of our work at the International Maritime Organization and our preparations for COP 26. We also continue to meet on a regular basis with the Clean Maritime Council to discuss decarbonisation efforts for both domestic and international shipping.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department is providing to the maritime sector to develop competitive green finance products and standards for green maritime finance in line with the Government’s Maritime 2050 strategy.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Department recognises the vital role that green finance plays in supporting the UK’s transition to a clean and resilient economy. Our Clean Maritime Plan, represents the Government’s route map for achieving net zero emissions in domestic shipping by 2050. Through our Clean Maritime Plan, we will continue to work with the British banking sector, industry and across Whitehall to encourage the provision of finance towards zero emission shipping technology, development and manufacturing, supporting the Prime’s Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a green industrial revolution. Further plans for maritime decarbonisation will be included in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, which is due to be published this year.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent meetings he has held with the maritime sector on the role of maritime decarbonisation as a matter to be raised at COP26.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
Ministers and officials are having regular discussions with the maritime sector on the topics of decarbonisation and COP26, as decarbonising shipping is essential to achieving the target of net zero greenhouse gases across the economy by 2050 and delivering on the International Maritime Organisation ‘Initial Strategy on the Reduction of GHG from Ships’. These discussions will continue to intensify in the coming months to support efforts towards maritime decarbonisation at COP26 and beyond.