Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time was for a practical driving test in Somerset in each of the last five years, by driving test centre
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The table below shows the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for a practical driving test in each of the last five years, by driving test centre (DTC) in Somerset.
Somerset |
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Taunton | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
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Average | 10.9 | 16.7 | 16.8 | 16.5 | 21.9 |
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Longest | 18.0 | 23.5 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 |
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Yeovil | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
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Average | 12.3 | 15.7 | 16.6 | 20.8 | 22.5 |
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Longest | 18.0 | 18.8 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 |
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Weston Super Mare | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | ||||||
Average | 9.6 | 9.1 | 16.2 | 20.5 | 21.0 | ||||||
Longest | 18.0 | 14.2 | 23.8 | 24.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
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The table below shows the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for a practical driving test in each of the last five years, by DTC in Wiltshire.
Wiltshire | |||||||||||
Chippenham | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | ||||||
Average | 9.0 | 10.7 | 16.7 | 22.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
Longest | 16.5 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
Salisbury | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | ||||||
Average | 10.1 | 12.9 | 10.5 | 16.9 | 21.7 | ||||||
Longest | 17.8 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
Trowbridge | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | ||||||
Average | 15.3 | 9.9 | 11.8 | 14.2 | 16.6 | ||||||
Longest | 18.0 | 21.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
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Swindon MPTC | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
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Average | 11.2 | 13.7 | 18.8 | 23.5 | 24.0 |
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Longest | 18.0 | 23.8 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 |
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Please note that the maximum waiting time until the middle of 2021 was 18 weeks. The maximum waiting time since then has been 24 weeks.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time was for a practical driving test in Wiltshire, by driving test centre in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The table below shows the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for a practical driving test in each of the last five years, by driving test centre (DTC) in Somerset.
Somerset |
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Taunton | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
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Average | 10.9 | 16.7 | 16.8 | 16.5 | 21.9 |
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Longest | 18.0 | 23.5 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 |
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Yeovil | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
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Average | 12.3 | 15.7 | 16.6 | 20.8 | 22.5 |
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Longest | 18.0 | 18.8 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 |
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Weston Super Mare | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | ||||||
Average | 9.6 | 9.1 | 16.2 | 20.5 | 21.0 | ||||||
Longest | 18.0 | 14.2 | 23.8 | 24.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
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The table below shows the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for a practical driving test in each of the last five years, by DTC in Wiltshire.
Wiltshire | |||||||||||
Chippenham | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | ||||||
Average | 9.0 | 10.7 | 16.7 | 22.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
Longest | 16.5 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
Salisbury | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | ||||||
Average | 10.1 | 12.9 | 10.5 | 16.9 | 21.7 | ||||||
Longest | 17.8 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
Trowbridge | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | ||||||
Average | 15.3 | 9.9 | 11.8 | 14.2 | 16.6 | ||||||
Longest | 18.0 | 21.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
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Swindon MPTC | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
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Average | 11.2 | 13.7 | 18.8 | 23.5 | 24.0 |
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Longest | 18.0 | 23.8 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 |
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Please note that the maximum waiting time until the middle of 2021 was 18 weeks. The maximum waiting time since then has been 24 weeks.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time was for (i) theory and (ii) practical driving tests in Somerset in the last five years.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The table below shows the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for car practical driving tests, at driving test centres (DTCs) in Wiltshire, for the last ten financial years.
Driving test wait times (weeks) Wiltshire | ||||||||||
Financial Year | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
Average | 9.9 | 9.1 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 9.2 | 11.3 | 11.8 | 15.3 | 19.0 | 21.6 |
Longest | 11.1 | 13.5 | 9.8 | 9.9 | 11.9 | 16.8 | 15.6 | 19.4 | 23.6 | 24.0 |
The table below shows the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for car practical driving tests, at DTCs in Somerset, for the last five financial years.
Driving test wait times (weeks) Somerset | |||||
Financial Year | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
Average | 10.8 | 13.9 | 16.5 | 19.1 | 21.8 |
Longest | 18.0 | 15.6 | 21.9 | 24.0 | 24.0 |
The table below shows the average wait time for theory tests in Somerset for the financial years 2021/22 to 2024/25.*
Financial year | Average wait time |
2021/22 (from Sept 2021) | 34.6 days |
2022/23 | 24.6 days |
2023/24 | 20.6 days |
2024/25 | 23.2 days |
The overall average for the total time period available (Sept 2021 to today) for theory tests is 24.1 days.
*Please note, The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) only hold data from when its new theory test booking service was implemented in September 2021. Theory test data availability is not measured in the same way as practical tests. DVSA’s relevant KPI for theory tests is the difference between the first confirmed booking date and the first confirmed test date, excluding bank holidays.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time was for a driving test in Wiltshire in each of the last ten years.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The table below shows the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for car practical driving tests, at driving test centres (DTCs) in Wiltshire, for the last ten financial years.
Driving test wait times (weeks) Wiltshire | ||||||||||
Financial Year | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
Average | 9.9 | 9.1 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 9.2 | 11.3 | 11.8 | 15.3 | 19.0 | 21.6 |
Longest | 11.1 | 13.5 | 9.8 | 9.9 | 11.9 | 16.8 | 15.6 | 19.4 | 23.6 | 24.0 |
The table below shows the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for car practical driving tests, at DTCs in Somerset, for the last five financial years.
Driving test wait times (weeks) Somerset | |||||
Financial Year | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
Average | 10.8 | 13.9 | 16.5 | 19.1 | 21.8 |
Longest | 18.0 | 15.6 | 21.9 | 24.0 | 24.0 |
The table below shows the average wait time for theory tests in Somerset for the financial years 2021/22 to 2024/25.*
Financial year | Average wait time |
2021/22 (from Sept 2021) | 34.6 days |
2022/23 | 24.6 days |
2023/24 | 20.6 days |
2024/25 | 23.2 days |
The overall average for the total time period available (Sept 2021 to today) for theory tests is 24.1 days.
*Please note, The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) only hold data from when its new theory test booking service was implemented in September 2021. Theory test data availability is not measured in the same way as practical tests. DVSA’s relevant KPI for theory tests is the difference between the first confirmed booking date and the first confirmed test date, excluding bank holidays.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support the introduction of the School Streets scheme.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Active Travel England and the Department for Transport have jointly published School Streets guidance to enable local authorities to deliver effective School Streets. Local authorities can use active travel revenue and capital funding to deliver School Streets, with more than 180 school streets already funded by Active Travel England.
School Streets are one of a range of measures that local authorities can deliver to make it safer and easier for children to walk, wheel and cycle to school. Other interventions supported by Active Travel England include infrastructure improvements on school routes and training and engagement activities such as Bikeability cycle training and Living Streets Walk to School Outreach programme.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made on the electrification of the line between Bristol and Chippenham.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Passengers using the line between Bristol Temple Meads and Chippenham are benefiting from the bi-mode rolling stock introduced in 2019 as part of the Great Western Route Modernisation programme. These trains are delivering faster and more reliable end to end journeys for passengers.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the (a) financial and (b) time impact of the deferred electrification between Bristol and Chippenham on commuters.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Electrification of the line between Bristol Temple Meads and Chippenham was deferred in 2016. Passengers on this line are benefiting from the bi-mode rolling stock introduced in 2019 which are delivering faster and more reliable end to end journeys. No subsequent assessment has been made since the deferral of electrification on this line.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to reduce the number of HGV using small rural roads.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Local authorities have powers under Sections 1 & 2 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to restrict or prohibit the use of HGVs on any road, for a wide range of safety and environmental reasons. These measures can be implemented by making Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) without reference to the Department for Transport.
The council can then use signs outlined in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 and work with the police to enforce the restrictions.
Non-complaint vehicle operators or drivers can be reported to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). DVSA has the power to make a referral to the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain, who are responsible for the licensing and regulation of those who operate heavy goods vehicles.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to require HGV drivers to use HGV-specific satellite navigation systems.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There is currently no legal requirement for drivers of any vehicle to have or use satellite navigation equipment. It is important that HGV drivers do not use satellite navigation equipment designed for cars as they may be directed on routes that are unsuitable for the size and weight of their vehicle.
While these systems can be useful, they cannot replace a driver’s knowledge or skill, especially in the case of diversions due to road traffic collisions or roadworks. Therefore, the Government has no plans to mandate their use.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions from aviation.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is supporting a wide range of measures to decarbonise aviation. In January, we implemented a sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) mandate to generate demand and have committed to introduce a Revenue Certainty Mechanism to spur investment in UK SAF production.
In addition, the Government is committed to delivering a fully modernised UK airspace, resulting in journeys that are cleaner, quicker and quieter. We are also supporting the development of new low and zero carbon emission aircraft technology through the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme, with nearly £1bn of additional funding announced in October.