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Written Question
Members: Correspondence
Monday 5th February 2024

Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to respond to the correspondence dated 3 November 2023 from the hon. Member for Glasgow Central on the DVLA and identity documents, reference ZA33642.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

A response to your letter was sent on 1 February. Apologies are given on behalf of the DfT for the delay in responding.


Written Question
Bus Services: Driving
Monday 19th July 2021

Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the (a) adequacy of the size of and (b) challenges faced by the PCV driver workforce.

Answered by Rachel Maclean

No formal assessment has been carried out. However, the Department engages regularly with operators through representative groups such as the Confederation for Passenger Transport and the Association of Local Bus Managers to understand the challenges that the sector is facing, including workforce related issues.

The PCV driver workforce plays a vital role in delivering essential public services and has faced a number of challenges over the pandemic. My officials have been working with the representative groups to ensure that where issues have emerged they are addressed as effectively as possible, including in areas such as testing and licensing.


Written Question
Bus Services: Driving
Monday 19th July 2021

Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to mitigate delays in processing the medical approvals that permit PCV drivers to return to work.

Answered by Rachel Maclean

The DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day which must be dealt with in person. Ongoing industrial action by members of the Public and Commercial Services union, along with fewer operational staff on site to allow for social distancing in line with Welsh Government requirements and an increased demand for its services has led to delays in dealing with paper applications. The DVLA has leased an additional building to accommodate more operational staff.

Currently, driving licence applications made on paper are likely to take six to ten weeks to process. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example, if medical investigations are needed.

The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here.

The DVLA has reconfigured its accommodation to safely maximise the number of staff on site and is working hard to process applications as quickly as possible. The DVLA has accelerated the development of additional online services to reduce the number of paper applications and supported their take up through a publicity campaign. Further digital service enhancements are underway.


Written Question
Buses: Driving Licences
Monday 19th July 2021

Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to mitigate delays in issuing provisional PCV licences.

Answered by Rachel Maclean

The DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day which must be dealt with in person. Ongoing industrial action by members of the Public and Commercial Services union, along with fewer operational staff on site to allow for social distancing in line with Welsh Government requirements and an increased demand for its services has led to delays in dealing with paper applications. The DVLA has leased an additional building to accommodate more operational staff.

Currently, driving licence applications made on paper are likely to take six to ten weeks to process. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example, if medical investigations are needed.

The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here.

The DVLA has reconfigured its accommodation to safely maximise the number of staff on site and is working hard to process applications as quickly as possible. The DVLA has accelerated the development of additional online services to reduce the number of paper applications and supported their take up through a publicity campaign. Further digital service enhancements are underway.


Written Question
Ferries: Coronavirus
Monday 8th June 2020

Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce the transmission of covid-19 on ferries.

Answered by Kelly Tolhurst

The Department continues to engage at all levels across the sector to understand the operational issues facing maritime businesses. As part of this, we continue to work closely with Public Health England and DHSC to ensure ferry operators have access to guidance. This guidance contains pragmatic advice and additional clarity for operators on steps to reduce the risk for staff whilst ensuring services keep running https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-shipping-and-sea-ports-guidance


Written Question
Garages and Petrol Stations: Coronavirus
Tuesday 21st April 2020

Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether motor factors and independent garages are key workers who are required to keep working under the covid-19 guidance.

Answered by Rachel Maclean

As set out in “Guidance: Closing certain businesses and venues” issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, garages are among the exceptions to businesses which must close, and may remain open. All non-essential retail must close, including those retailers selling car parts and accessories. However online retailers, including those supplying car parts may remain open.


Written Question
Railways: Japanese Knotweed
Tuesday 27th November 2018

Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department is providing to Network Rail to facilitate the removal of Japanese knotweed from railway embankments.

Answered by Andrew Jones

The settlement agreed between my Department and Network Rail for England and Wales in the years 2019-2024 contains a very substantial provision for operations and maintenance, including vegetation management. The removal of Japanese Knotweed would come from this funding.


Written Question
Aviation: Seating
Monday 23rd April 2018

Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Civil Aviation Authority will publish its report on its investigation on allocated airline seating.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is currently reviewing airline allocated seating polices after conducting consumer research that shows the current approach to allocated seating is causing confusion. As the body responsible for protecting and promoting the interests of consumers travelling by air, the CAA is seeking more information from airlines about their allocated seating practices to find out whether consumers are being treated fairly, and whether pricing policies are transparent. It also sought consumer views directly.

The CAA is currently analysing the results of their research. Once this is complete, findings and next steps will be published later this year.


Written Question
Driving: Licensing
Monday 11th December 2017

Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) men and (b) women hold a (a) full and (b) provisional UK driving licence.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The information requested is already published and can be found at

https://data.gov.uk/dataset/driving-licence-data


Written Question
Driving Licences
Monday 11th December 2017

Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) men and (b) women hold a (a) full and (b) provisional UK driving licence.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The information requested is already published and can be found at

https://data.gov.uk/dataset/driving-licence-data