Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the level of the bus fare cap on rates of bus travel in Gosport constituency.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In the Budget on 30 October, the government confirmed it will invest over £150 million to introduce a new £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London from 1 January until 31 December 2025. Under the plans of the previous administration, the current £2 cap on bus fares had been due to expire on 31 December 2024, and prior to the Budget, there was no further funding available to maintain the cap beyond this point.
Considering all its impacts, the fare cap is not financially sustainable for taxpayers and bus operators at £2. Capping fares at £3 will keep bus travel affordable while ensuring the cap is fair to taxpayers, helping millions of people access better opportunities, travel for less and protect vital bus routes, including in Gosport.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of driving tests within (a) half an hour, (b) an hour and (c) two hours travel of the Gosport peninsula.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA’s) main priority is to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, whilst upholding road safety standards.
DVSA continues to take measures to increase test availability. These include the recruitment of driving examiners, conducting tests outside regular hours, including at weekends and on public holidays and buying back annual leave from driving examiners.
As of 21 October 2024, there were 567,344 car practical driving tests booked, and 84,092 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.
The table below shows the current average waiting time and number of tests available at the driving test centres within up to two hours traveling distance from the Gosport peninsula.
Driving test centre (DTC) | Travelling distance from the Gosport peninsula | Average car practical driving test waiting time (Sept 24) | Booked tests (As of 21/10/2024) | Tests available in 24 week booking window |
Lee On Solent | Within half an hour | 24 | 4,123 | 203 |
Portsmouth | Within half an hour | 24 | 4,143 | 231 |
Chichester | Within an hour | 24 | 4,146 | 44 |
Southampton (Maybush) | Within an hour | 24 | 3006 | 32 |
Winchester | Within an hour | 24 | 1082 | 24 |
Basingstoke | Within two hours | 24 | 1511 | 31 |
Burgess Hill | Within two hours | 24 | 2,479 | 116 |
Crawley | Within two hours | 24 | 2,502 | 119 |
Dorchester | Within two hours | 24 | 1622 | 34 |
Farnborough | Within two hours | 18 | 2,774 | 129 |
Greenham | Within two hours | 7 | 650 | 22 |
Guildford | Within two hours | 15.8 | 836 | 50 |
Newport (Isle of Wight) | Within two hours | 24 | 1527 | 65 |
Oxford (Cowley) | Within two hours | 8 | 1454 | 15 |
Poole | Within two hours | 24 | 3977 | 10 |
Reading | Within two hours | 24 | 1,364 | 47 |
Salisbury | Within two hours | 24 | 1915 | 45 |
Swindon | Within two hours | 24 | 2878 | 28 |
Trowbridge | Within two hours | 24 | 680 | 10 |
Worthing | Within two hours | 19.2 | 1,821 | 94 |
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the (a) number and (b) frequency of train services in the South Hampshire region.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Department officials work closely with all operators on seeking to increase service levels. The Department needs to balance demand with taxpayer money when approving additional service levels across the country.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with train operating companies on the feasibility of increasing the frequency of train services in South Hampshire.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Department officials work closely with all operators on seeking to increase service levels. The Department needs to balance demand with taxpayer money when approving additional service levels across the country.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
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 introducing five-year funding settlements for (a) local transport and (b) bus service improvement plans.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This government is committed to providing greater stability to local government by giving councils multi-year funding settlements and ending wasteful competitive bidding.
Improving bus services is a key part of this Government’s growth mission, and the government has set out plans to deliver better services, grow passenger numbers and drive opportunity to under-served regions. This plan includes reforming bus funding by giving local leaders more control and flexibility over bus funding and allowing them to plan ahead to deliver their local transport priorities.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to maintain the £2 bus fare cap after 31 December 2024.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Delivering reliable and affordable public transport services for passengers is one of the government’s top priorities as we know how important this is for passengers and for local growth. The Department for Transport is looking at the future of the £2 fare cap as a matter of urgency and is considering the most appropriate and affordable approach for the future of the scheme.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2023 to Question 3453 on Motorcycles: Carbon Emissions, what support the Government has provided to the Powered Light Vehicle Community in the last 12 months.
Answered by Anthony Browne
The Government has provided the powered light vehicle sector with a variety of support to assist in the transition to zero emission vehicles. The plug-in motorcycle grant, introduced in 2017 to stimulate the early market for zero emission mopeds and motorcycles, has provided over £8m to support the purchase of over 12,000 zero emission mopeds and motorcycles. To grow and develop the zero-emission powered light vehicle supply chain in the UK, the Government has made up to £350,000 of funding available for research and development projects.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) architectural and (b) safety requirements for L-Category vehicles on the transition of those vehicles to net zero emissions.
Answered by Anthony Browne
Zero emission L-category vehicles can currently be brought to market through the existing regulatory regime which includes electrical safety requirements. These type approval standards primarily flow from international regulations which are constantly monitored to ensure they remain fit for purpose with respect to evolving technology.
We expect to consult on introducing a new GB type approval scheme in the future which will provide an opportunity to reflect on the potential for new categories or technical requirements.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2023 to Question 3453 on Motorcycles: Carbon Emissions, what progress he has made on delivering powered light vehicle action plan items (a) 1, (b) 4, (c) 5, (d) 7, (e) 8 and (f) 10.
Answered by Anthony Browne
The Government continues to engage with industry to deliver the Motorcycle Industry Association and Zemo Partnership’s Action Plan where appropriate.
On action 1, pressures on the legislative timetable mean that Government is not planning to legislate for micromobility in the Fourth Session but remains committed to obtaining further evidence for future legislation to strengthen the evidence base.
On action 4, the plug-in motorcycle grant, introduced in 2017 to stimulate the early market for zero emission mopeds and motorcycles, has provided over £8m to support the purchase of over 12,000 zero emission mopeds and motorcycles.
On action 5, Government recently worked with the Energy Saving Trust to promote zero emission L-category vehicles to consumers and businesses where they had potential to significantly decarbonise personal transport and light freight, enabling people to choose how best to make journeys.
On action 7, the Government published its Future of Transport Rural Transport Innovation guidance in November 2023. This set out how innovative new transport technologies and services can help local authorities respond to rural-specific transport challenges, as well as making up to £3 million available for local authorities to trial and test these technologies.
On action 8, the Department will continue to engage with Local Authorities to help support them decarbonise their transport systems.
On action 10, as the zero-emission powered light vehicle sector grows, Government will continue to work with the sector to support and consider how to best overcome demand side challenges, including the infrastructure needs of these vehicles.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2023 to Question 5003 on Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on the UK L-Category sector of the creation of a new vehicle category as a result of regulatory misalignment with international markets.
Answered by Anthony Browne
L-category vehicles must be type approved to technical standards that primarily flow from international regulations. These are constantly monitored to ensure they remain fit for purpose with respect to evolving technology.
We expect to consult on introducing a new GB type approval scheme in the future which will provide an opportunity to reflect on the potential for new categories and technical requirements.