Asked by: Ben Everitt (Conservative - Milton Keynes North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what statutory powers the DVLA has to remove untaxed vehicles parked on residential streets.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Section 29 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 makes it an offence to use or keep an unlicensed vehicle on the public road. Where such an offence has been committed, Schedule 2A of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994, as well as the Vehicle Excise Duty (Immobilisation, Removal and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 1997, provide the statutory powers to immobilise and remove vehicles.
Asked by: Ben Everitt (Conservative - Milton Keynes North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress his Department has made on the research that it has funded into the (a) operation and (b) regulation of autonomous pavement robots; what the timetable is for the conclusion of this research; and whether he plans to publish the findings of any research that has already been concluded.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Research to further our understanding of the impacts of self-driving technology in “autonomous pavement robots”, is planned to be undertaken in the next 12 months, and is expected to last 6 to 9 months. The results are due to be published in line with the government research protocols, particularly those relating to commercial confidentiality.
Asked by: Ben Everitt (Conservative - Milton Keynes North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, If he will take steps to support the adoption of autonomous pavement delivery robots.
Answered by Jesse Norman
We must balance the safety of pedestrians and vulnerable road users with the potential benefits of this novel technology. I am pleased to confirm that the Department will be funding research to further its understanding of the impacts of this new technology. The results will be published once the research has concluded.
Asked by: Ben Everitt (Conservative - Milton Keynes North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Law Commission’s advice to government on remote driving, when he plans to introduce a regulatory framework for self-driving on roads and other public spaces.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government is committed to bringing forward Future of Transport legislation when parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Ben Everitt (Conservative - Milton Keynes North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of local authorities adopting the National Parking Platform.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
My department recognises the importance of the National Parking Platform which is why we have provided £800,000 to fund the pilot in Manchester. We are considering the governance and funding models to roll a national parking platform out nationwide. The department commissioned user research to identify the potential benefits and continues to work closely with the parking sector to promote local authority awareness.
Asked by: Ben Everitt (Conservative - Milton Keynes North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to take steps to launch a communications campaign to increase awareness of the national parking platform in local authorities; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
My department recognises the importance of the National Parking Platform which is why we have provided £800,000 to fund the pilot in Manchester. We are considering the governance and funding models to roll a national parking platform out nationwide. The department commissioned user research to identify the potential benefits and continues to work closely with the parking sector to promote local authority awareness.
Asked by: Ben Everitt (Conservative - Milton Keynes North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the number and proportion of buses outside Greater London that are fitted with the necessary equipment for audio-visual next stop and final destination announcements.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The percentage of buses, in England outside London, using the Audio Visual information system, to provide route/direction, next stop and diversion information to passengers was 15% in 2020/21.
Asked by: Ben Everitt (Conservative - Milton Keynes North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing regulations on (a) minimum wheel size, (b) maximum speed limits, (c) braking systems, (d) lights and reflectors and (e) other minimum product specifications for e-scooters.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department is currently developing technical standards for the construction of e-scooters. Careful consideration of the merits of each requirement, including those highlighted, will be made. Knowledge gained from the e-scooter trials as well as relevant evidence from other sources will be taken into account.
Asked by: Ben Everitt (Conservative - Milton Keynes North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding Milton Keynes Council has received to install electric car charging points since 2015.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Since 2015 Milton Keynes Council has received £865,690 under the On Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS). Milton Keynes also received a total of £9,797,400 through the Go Ultra Low City Schemes (GULCS) between Financial Year 15/16 and Financial Year 19/20, this funding was used to support the delivery of public chargepoints and to help establish the Electric Vehicle Experience Centre which provides advice to the public considering making the switch to electric driving.
The number of grants awarded for the installation of electric vehicle charging devices in the UK are published and updated on a regular basis on our public website.