Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure private parking companies undertake land ownership checks before submitting data requests to the DVLA and issuing parking tickets on private land.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Landowners are responsible for deciding the terms and conditions that apply for parking on their land and the terms of their contracts with private parking companies.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) only discloses data to parking companies that are members of an accredited trade association and signed up to a code of practice that promotes fair treatment of motorists. The DVLA is notified of any issues of non-compliance with the code as needed.
The DVLA carries out both remote and on-site audits in conjunction with the Government Internal Audit Agency. These audits help to ensure that data is used only in accordance with strict contractual terms. Failure to comply can result in a parking company’s suspension from eligibility to request vehicle keeper data.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he last reviewed the fee for third parties seeking to access DVLA driver records to ensure it strikes the right balance between easy access to data and value for money for Government; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, regularly reviews the fees levied to access driver records. The last review took place in 2017.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will take steps to reduce the risk currently posed to other drivers of cars using full beam headlights.
Answered by Jesse Norman
There are already measures in place to reduce the risk associated with drivers who misuse full beam headlights including regulatory controls in the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 (as amended), guidance in the Highway Code, and material produced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Enforcement of on-road vehicle regulations is a matter for the police.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will review the fee for third parties seeking to access DVLA driver records to ensure that it strikes the right balance between providing easy access to data and ensuring value for money for the Government.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) keeps the fees it charges for data release under regular review. The charges levied are intended to recover the full cost of providing the information, so that the DVLA neither profits at the expense of customers nor makes a loss for taxpayers to subsidise. This is in line with HM Treasury’s Managing Public Money guidance.
Over time, the costs of individual DVLA services can slightly increase or decrease, depending in part on the volume of requests, leading to a small surplus or deficit in the short term.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the non-payment of vehicle tax.
Answered by Jesse Norman
More than 98% of vehicles on the road are properly licensed, meaning that the vast majority of drivers comply with the law. It has never been easier to license a vehicle and motorists can also spread payments across the year using direct debit.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency operates a comprehensive package of measures to tackle vehicle excise duty evasion. These include reminder letters, fixed penalties, court prosecutions, the use of automatic number plate recognition cameras and the wheelclamping and removal of unlicensed vehicles.
The number of unlicensed vehicles clamped or impounded has increased to around 10,000 every month and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will continue to take action against those who do not pay. A major national advertising campaign has also recently been launched which targets vehicle excise duty evaders.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to revise and reissue the national guidance document entitled Cycle infrastructure design (LTN 2/08).
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department for Transport is planning to revise and reissue this document in 2018. The Department is currently procuring the necessary technical expertise to take this important piece of work forward.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce congestion on the strategic road network.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Tackling congestion is at the forefront of Government’s plans to provide a modern strategic road network that supports our growing economy.
Government is investing in the largest programme of improvements on our national roads - £15 billion between 2015 and 2021.
In addition to providing extra capacity on our busiest motorways by making them smart motorways, Government is improving specific parts of the network where investment can tackle congestion, improve journeys and support economic growth.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the consultation on the proposed A417 road improvement scheme will open.
Answered by John Hayes
It is expected that public consultation on scheme options for the A417 Air Balloon Roundabout improvement scheme will take place by the end of December 2017.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 2.2 of the Civil Aviation Authority's Information Notice 2016/066, published on 25 July 2016, whether he will make it his policy that holders of UK pilot licences will not be restricted to operating Light Aircraft Pilot Licence aircraft only after the UK has left the EU.
Answered by John Hayes
The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising for our aviation industry from the UK’s exit from the EU, including the implications for holders of UK pilot licences of the UK’s future relationship with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidelines his Department has issued on (a) increasing the number of buses which have room for more than one wheelchair user and (b) other steps to improve disabled access on buses.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations have prompted a step-change in the accessibility of bus services, including ensuring that every vehicle incorporates at least one designated wheelchair space.
The Department has not issued guidelines concerning the provision of more than one wheelchair space, and will not comment further on this issue until the Paulley vs First Bus case, currently being heard by the Supreme Court, has concluded.
We are however taking action to improve other aspects of bus service accessibility, including developing best practice guidance on the delivery of disability awareness training in the sector, and introducing an Accessible Information Requirement to provide audible and visible information on upcoming stops on local bus services throughout Great Britain.
We also continue to work with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency to ensure that existing accessibility standards are adhered to, and that the high levels of accessibility which disabled bus users have come to expect are maintained.