Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her Department's planned timetable is for making a decision on the proposed A39 Camelford Bypass plans.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government’s Budget in October delivers increased investment in local transport, supporting everyday journeys and addressing poor connectivity within our towns and cities across the country. The Department’s Major Road Network/ Large Local Majors programme, which includes the proposed A39 Camelford Bypass scheme, is now being reviewed in light of the Budget. Further details will be released in due course.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to ensure that (a) Launceston, (b) North Cornwall and (c) other towns in rural areas without a railway station are served by inter-city coach services.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department recognises the importance of good transport links and it is the overall aim of this government to improve connections across towns and cities. We recognise the important role the coach sector can play in making these connections across the country for education, business and leisure travel. Coaches are a deregulated sector, so decisions such as where to run services are a matter for the operator concerned. We are, however, working with the sector to hear their concerns and address the challenges they face.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will hold discussions with representatives of National Express on the potential impact of the cancellation of its 503 service on people living in Launceston.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department recognises the importance of good transport links and it is the overall aim of this government to improve connections across towns and cities. We recognise the important role the coach sector can play in making these connections across the country for education, business and leisure travel. Coaches are a deregulated sector, so decisions such as where to run services are a matter for the operator concerned. We are, however, working with the sector to hear their concerns and address the challenges they face.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing compensation for loss of (a) income, (b) independence and (c) educational opportunities as a result of delayed or cancelled practical driving test appointments in (i) North Cornwall constituency and (ii) rural areas.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, whilst upholding road safety standards.
As of 2 September 2024, there were 552,863 car practical driving tests booked, and 94,169 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.
The two driving test centres (DTC) within the North Cornwall constituency of Bodmin and Launceston are shown in the table below. The table shows the August 2024 average waiting time, number of booked car practical driving tests, and available tests as of 2 September 2024 at both DTCs.
DTC | Average car practical driving test waiting time Aug 24 | Booked tests | Tests available to book in 24 week booking window |
Launceston | 10 | 818 | 55 |
Bodmin | 18.3 | 1,974 | 422 |
National | 18.4 | 552,863 | 94,169 |
The DVSA understands how disappointing it is when driving tests are cancelled and therefore will only cancel appointments as an absolute last resort. Those affected by cancellations will automatically be offered a new appointment at the original test centre on the next earliest date available. If this is unsuitable, a candidate can check the booking service for alternative appointments.
Measures in place to reduce waiting times for customers in DTCs, include the recruitment of driving examiners, conducting tests outside of regular hours, including at weekends and on public holidays, and buying back annual leave from driving examiners. The DVSA also continues to deploy examiners from areas with lower waiting times into those centres with longer waiting times. This is in addition to the DVSA recruiting additional examiners across the country into areas where waiting times are highest.
The table below shows the average waiting time for driving tests at each of the DTCs in Cornwall. Waiting time information per DTC is only available from April 2015 onwards. It is not possible to know the number of people who are waiting to take a test.
Financial year | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | Apr 24 - Aug 24 |
Bodmin | 8 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 7.1 | 7.6 | 10.9 | 10.7 | 9.8 | 15.4 |
Camborne | 4.5 | 4.3 | 5.6 | 5.9 | 7.2 | 9.5 | 14.5 | 15.1 | 12.7 | 15 |
Isles of Scilly* | 4 | 18 | 16.5 | Nil | 14.6 | Nil | 7.5 | 21.7 | 20.9 | 21.6 |
Launceston | 6.9 | 4.2 | 3 | 2.4 | 8.6 | 11.9 | 13.5 | 8.8 | 11 | 12 |
Penzance** | 7 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 7.7 | 4.9 | 15.8 | 21.7 | 20.4 | 23.9 |
*Isles of Scilly DTC is a remote DTC and operates a book-to-hold system. Examiners are deployed once candidates have booked to hold.
** Penzance DTC operates on a part time basis (2 days per week).
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average waiting time was for a practical driving test appointment at test centres in North Cornwall constituency in the latest period for which data is available; and if she will make an estimate of the number of people who are waiting to take a test in that constituency.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, whilst upholding road safety standards.
As of 2 September 2024, there were 552,863 car practical driving tests booked, and 94,169 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.
The two driving test centres (DTC) within the North Cornwall constituency of Bodmin and Launceston are shown in the table below. The table shows the August 2024 average waiting time, number of booked car practical driving tests, and available tests as of 2 September 2024 at both DTCs.
DTC | Average car practical driving test waiting time Aug 24 | Booked tests | Tests available to book in 24 week booking window |
Launceston | 10 | 818 | 55 |
Bodmin | 18.3 | 1,974 | 422 |
National | 18.4 | 552,863 | 94,169 |
The DVSA understands how disappointing it is when driving tests are cancelled and therefore will only cancel appointments as an absolute last resort. Those affected by cancellations will automatically be offered a new appointment at the original test centre on the next earliest date available. If this is unsuitable, a candidate can check the booking service for alternative appointments.
Measures in place to reduce waiting times for customers in DTCs, include the recruitment of driving examiners, conducting tests outside of regular hours, including at weekends and on public holidays, and buying back annual leave from driving examiners. The DVSA also continues to deploy examiners from areas with lower waiting times into those centres with longer waiting times. This is in addition to the DVSA recruiting additional examiners across the country into areas where waiting times are highest.
The table below shows the average waiting time for driving tests at each of the DTCs in Cornwall. Waiting time information per DTC is only available from April 2015 onwards. It is not possible to know the number of people who are waiting to take a test.
Financial year | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | Apr 24 - Aug 24 |
Bodmin | 8 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 7.1 | 7.6 | 10.9 | 10.7 | 9.8 | 15.4 |
Camborne | 4.5 | 4.3 | 5.6 | 5.9 | 7.2 | 9.5 | 14.5 | 15.1 | 12.7 | 15 |
Isles of Scilly* | 4 | 18 | 16.5 | Nil | 14.6 | Nil | 7.5 | 21.7 | 20.9 | 21.6 |
Launceston | 6.9 | 4.2 | 3 | 2.4 | 8.6 | 11.9 | 13.5 | 8.8 | 11 | 12 |
Penzance** | 7 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 7.7 | 4.9 | 15.8 | 21.7 | 20.4 | 23.9 |
*Isles of Scilly DTC is a remote DTC and operates a book-to-hold system. Examiners are deployed once candidates have booked to hold.
** Penzance DTC operates on a part time basis (2 days per week).
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will have discussions with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency on taking steps to reduce the number of short-notice cancellations of practical driving test appointments at (a) Launceston and (b) Bodmin driving test centres.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, whilst upholding road safety standards.
As of 2 September 2024, there were 552,863 car practical driving tests booked, and 94,169 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.
The two driving test centres (DTC) within the North Cornwall constituency of Bodmin and Launceston are shown in the table below. The table shows the August 2024 average waiting time, number of booked car practical driving tests, and available tests as of 2 September 2024 at both DTCs.
DTC | Average car practical driving test waiting time Aug 24 | Booked tests | Tests available to book in 24 week booking window |
Launceston | 10 | 818 | 55 |
Bodmin | 18.3 | 1,974 | 422 |
National | 18.4 | 552,863 | 94,169 |
The DVSA understands how disappointing it is when driving tests are cancelled and therefore will only cancel appointments as an absolute last resort. Those affected by cancellations will automatically be offered a new appointment at the original test centre on the next earliest date available. If this is unsuitable, a candidate can check the booking service for alternative appointments.
Measures in place to reduce waiting times for customers in DTCs, include the recruitment of driving examiners, conducting tests outside of regular hours, including at weekends and on public holidays, and buying back annual leave from driving examiners. The DVSA also continues to deploy examiners from areas with lower waiting times into those centres with longer waiting times. This is in addition to the DVSA recruiting additional examiners across the country into areas where waiting times are highest.
The table below shows the average waiting time for driving tests at each of the DTCs in Cornwall. Waiting time information per DTC is only available from April 2015 onwards. It is not possible to know the number of people who are waiting to take a test.
Financial year | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | Apr 24 - Aug 24 |
Bodmin | 8 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 7.1 | 7.6 | 10.9 | 10.7 | 9.8 | 15.4 |
Camborne | 4.5 | 4.3 | 5.6 | 5.9 | 7.2 | 9.5 | 14.5 | 15.1 | 12.7 | 15 |
Isles of Scilly* | 4 | 18 | 16.5 | Nil | 14.6 | Nil | 7.5 | 21.7 | 20.9 | 21.6 |
Launceston | 6.9 | 4.2 | 3 | 2.4 | 8.6 | 11.9 | 13.5 | 8.8 | 11 | 12 |
Penzance** | 7 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 7.7 | 4.9 | 15.8 | 21.7 | 20.4 | 23.9 |
*Isles of Scilly DTC is a remote DTC and operates a book-to-hold system. Examiners are deployed once candidates have booked to hold.
** Penzance DTC operates on a part time basis (2 days per week).
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) average waiting time and (b) longest waiting time for driving tests in Cornwall was in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, whilst upholding road safety standards.
As of 2 September 2024, there were 552,863 car practical driving tests booked, and 94,169 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.
The two driving test centres (DTC) within the North Cornwall constituency of Bodmin and Launceston are shown in the table below. The table shows the August 2024 average waiting time, number of booked car practical driving tests, and available tests as of 2 September 2024 at both DTCs.
DTC | Average car practical driving test waiting time Aug 24 | Booked tests | Tests available to book in 24 week booking window |
Launceston | 10 | 818 | 55 |
Bodmin | 18.3 | 1,974 | 422 |
National | 18.4 | 552,863 | 94,169 |
The DVSA understands how disappointing it is when driving tests are cancelled and therefore will only cancel appointments as an absolute last resort. Those affected by cancellations will automatically be offered a new appointment at the original test centre on the next earliest date available. If this is unsuitable, a candidate can check the booking service for alternative appointments.
Measures in place to reduce waiting times for customers in DTCs, include the recruitment of driving examiners, conducting tests outside of regular hours, including at weekends and on public holidays, and buying back annual leave from driving examiners. The DVSA also continues to deploy examiners from areas with lower waiting times into those centres with longer waiting times. This is in addition to the DVSA recruiting additional examiners across the country into areas where waiting times are highest.
The table below shows the average waiting time for driving tests at each of the DTCs in Cornwall. Waiting time information per DTC is only available from April 2015 onwards. It is not possible to know the number of people who are waiting to take a test.
Financial year | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | Apr 24 - Aug 24 |
Bodmin | 8 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 7.1 | 7.6 | 10.9 | 10.7 | 9.8 | 15.4 |
Camborne | 4.5 | 4.3 | 5.6 | 5.9 | 7.2 | 9.5 | 14.5 | 15.1 | 12.7 | 15 |
Isles of Scilly* | 4 | 18 | 16.5 | Nil | 14.6 | Nil | 7.5 | 21.7 | 20.9 | 21.6 |
Launceston | 6.9 | 4.2 | 3 | 2.4 | 8.6 | 11.9 | 13.5 | 8.8 | 11 | 12 |
Penzance** | 7 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 7.7 | 4.9 | 15.8 | 21.7 | 20.4 | 23.9 |
*Isles of Scilly DTC is a remote DTC and operates a book-to-hold system. Examiners are deployed once candidates have booked to hold.
** Penzance DTC operates on a part time basis (2 days per week).
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help reduce waiting times for practical driving tests at (a) Launceston and (b) Bodmin driving test centres.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, whilst upholding road safety standards.
As of 2 September 2024, there were 552,863 car practical driving tests booked, and 94,169 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.
The two driving test centres (DTC) within the North Cornwall constituency of Bodmin and Launceston are shown in the table below. The table shows the August 2024 average waiting time, number of booked car practical driving tests, and available tests as of 2 September 2024 at both DTCs.
DTC | Average car practical driving test waiting time Aug 24 | Booked tests | Tests available to book in 24 week booking window |
Launceston | 10 | 818 | 55 |
Bodmin | 18.3 | 1,974 | 422 |
National | 18.4 | 552,863 | 94,169 |
The DVSA understands how disappointing it is when driving tests are cancelled and therefore will only cancel appointments as an absolute last resort. Those affected by cancellations will automatically be offered a new appointment at the original test centre on the next earliest date available. If this is unsuitable, a candidate can check the booking service for alternative appointments.
Measures in place to reduce waiting times for customers in DTCs, include the recruitment of driving examiners, conducting tests outside of regular hours, including at weekends and on public holidays, and buying back annual leave from driving examiners. The DVSA also continues to deploy examiners from areas with lower waiting times into those centres with longer waiting times. This is in addition to the DVSA recruiting additional examiners across the country into areas where waiting times are highest.
The table below shows the average waiting time for driving tests at each of the DTCs in Cornwall. Waiting time information per DTC is only available from April 2015 onwards. It is not possible to know the number of people who are waiting to take a test.
Financial year | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | Apr 24 - Aug 24 |
Bodmin | 8 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 7.1 | 7.6 | 10.9 | 10.7 | 9.8 | 15.4 |
Camborne | 4.5 | 4.3 | 5.6 | 5.9 | 7.2 | 9.5 | 14.5 | 15.1 | 12.7 | 15 |
Isles of Scilly* | 4 | 18 | 16.5 | Nil | 14.6 | Nil | 7.5 | 21.7 | 20.9 | 21.6 |
Launceston | 6.9 | 4.2 | 3 | 2.4 | 8.6 | 11.9 | 13.5 | 8.8 | 11 | 12 |
Penzance** | 7 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 7.7 | 4.9 | 15.8 | 21.7 | 20.4 | 23.9 |
*Isles of Scilly DTC is a remote DTC and operates a book-to-hold system. Examiners are deployed once candidates have booked to hold.
** Penzance DTC operates on a part time basis (2 days per week).
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility at Bodmin Parkway railway station.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We are carefully considering the best approach to the Access for All programme. This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending railway routes into North Cornwall constituency.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Following the General Election and the State Opening of Parliament, the Government is now formulating its plans. The Department will announce its policy intentions in due course.