Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data their Department holds on (a) collisions and (b) injuries involving e-bikes operated through hire schemes in each of the last three years.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department does not currently collect data on collisions or injuries involving e-bikes operated through hire schemes.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions they have had with e-bike hire operators on compliance with minimum age policies and user safety requirements.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is introducing a licensing regime for shared cycle services and this will be implemented through a combination of regulations and detailed guidance, following in-depth consultation.
In the meantime, Ministers and officials continue to discuss a range of matters with e-bike rental operators, including potential measures which may be included in the future licensing framework.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to require e-bike hire operators to hold public liability insurance as a condition of operating on the public highway.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The licensing regime for shared cycle schemes which we are bringing forward through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will create a legal requirement for shared e-cycle schemes to be licensed, which will be implemented through a combination of regulations and detailed guidance, following in-depth consultation.
No final policy decisions have yet been taken, but licence conditions could include a requirement for age verification of users or public liability insurance for operators.
Safety will be a priority when considering future policy in this area.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to introduce minimum standards for age verification for e-bike hire operators.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Licensing for shared cycle services will be implemented following in-depth consultation through a combination of regulations and detailed guidance.
No decisions taken yet on final policy design etc. Safety will be a priority when considering future policy in this area.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) guidance and (b) requirements exist for employers to verify the (i) licensing status, (ii) training and (iii) safety of any motor scooter riders they engage.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Employers have a duty to manage the safety of their employees, and their employees in turn have a responsibility to ride or drive appropriately and to comply with relevant laws. Guidance for companies employing people to drive including verifying their licence status is provided at: Employing people to drive - GOV.UK
The Department for Transport worked closely with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to update the joint DfT/HSE guidance on work related road safety. The revised guidance, published in September 2021 and called Driving and riding safely for work, clearly sets out what commercial organisations and their employees must do to manage work related road safety and what their obligations are under law. This includes how to assess risks while on the road, considerations for other road users and distractions from mobile devices.
The Minister for Local Transport wrote to the main food delivery companies in December 2024, to remind them of their obligations, and of the importance the Government places on the safety of all road users. Enforcement of road traffic legislation, including that relating to e-scooters, is a matter for the police.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Department has considered alternative forms of verification for transport concessions for rough sleepers.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Concessionary travel legislation for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme requires that applicants must have their sole or primary residence in the local area in which they apply for a bus pass, but it does not stipulate the types of evidence which are acceptable as proof. Whilst it is ultimately up to local authorities to ensure that they comply with the law, the Department for Transport would urge them to consider making alternative arrangements, where required, to ensure that otherwise eligible older or disabled people who only have non-standard proofs of residency are still able to access the statutory concession.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of riders who complete Compulsory Basic Training subsequently progress to a full motorcycle licence within the two-year validity period.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government is considering plans to review existing requirements for motorcycle training, testing, and licensing, including Compulsory Basic Training (CBT). This will take in to account long-standing DfT and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) plans, and the recent proposals suggested by the motorcycle industry.
DVSA does not hold precise data on the proportion of riders who complete CBT and subsequently progress to a full motorcycle licence within the two-year validity period of their CBT certificate. In the financial year 2023/24 180,425 certificates were sold to the motorcycle training industry, in the same period 39,935 riders passed their on road motorcycle test.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to review the Compulsory Basic Training framework.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government is considering plans to review existing requirements for motorcycle training, testing, and licensing, including Compulsory Basic Training (CBT). This will take in to account long-standing DfT and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) plans, and the recent proposals suggested by the motorcycle industry.
DVSA does not hold precise data on the proportion of riders who complete CBT and subsequently progress to a full motorcycle licence within the two-year validity period of their CBT certificate. In the financial year 2023/24 180,425 certificates were sold to the motorcycle training industry, in the same period 39,935 riders passed their on road motorcycle test.