Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to relocate the Traffic Commissioner for Wales to an office in Wales.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Traffic Commissioner for Wales has use of an office in Cardiff as a temporary measure whilst the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) takes forward plans to locate a permanent base in Cardiff.
Work is being undertaken by DVSA Estates to agree a lease and layout plan for premises in St Mary’s Street, Cardiff. It is expected that the traffic commissioner will move into this office in September 2017.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what date has been appointed for the introduction of the Union flag on all driving licences issued to drivers in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Driving licences displaying the Union flag will be issued to drivers in England, Scotland and Wales at the same time. The date for this will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to appoint a Traffic Commissioner for Wales who is based in Wales.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Traffic Commissioner for Wales is a joint appointment with that of the Traffic Commissioner for the West Midlands. There is an insufficient volume of operators to justify a separate Welsh commissioner. All public inquires for Welsh operators are heard in Wales.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he has made on putting a Union flag on all new and renewed driving licences.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Good progress is being made on the introduction of the Union flag on all driving licences issued to drivers in England, Scotland and Wales. I am confident that DVLA are on track to deliver this in the future.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to ensure that cases before the Transport Commissioner originating from Wales are heard in Wales.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Traffic Commissioner for Wales and the Office of the Traffic Commissioner continue to be committed to, in general, holding all hearings for Welsh operators and drivers in Wales unless they request otherwise.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he received from the general public and others in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) England before deciding to put the Union flag on driving licences, in favour of that change.
Answered by Claire Perry
No representations from the general public were received prior to the decision to include the Union flag on driving licences. Collective Government agreement was secured.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of (a) the initial extra and (b) the subsequent ongoing annual costs of putting the Welsh flag on the driving licence for drivers in Wales.
Answered by Claire Perry
Separate costs have not been estimated for putting the Welsh flag on the driving licence as these fall within the overall costs associated with providing any choices. The Government did consider giving motorists the choice of whether or not to have a licence showing the Union flag and offering a choice of national symbol. However, the costs involved in making the system and other changes required to offer such a choice were prohibitive.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the date by which all driving licences in Britain will carry the Union flag through the process of licence renewal.
Answered by Claire Perry
All licences for drivers in England, Scotland and Wales issued from summer 2015 will carry the Union flag.
Drivers are required to renew their photocard driving licences every ten years. To meet legislative requirements every licence in circulation will be a photocard by 2033. All valid driving licences will carry the Union flag by then.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he had with the (a) Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, (b) Secretary of State for Scotland, (c) Welsh Government, (d) Scottish Government and (e) Northern Ireland Executive prior to the decision to display the Union flag on driving licences in Wales, Scotland and England.
Answered by Claire Perry
I discussed this issue with the Minister of State for Northern Ireland (Dr Andrew Murrison MP). Also, as part of the collective agreement process, Ministers in all UK government departments, including the Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland offices, were consulted on the change before the announcement was made.
The relevant Ministers in the Welsh Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive were informed ahead of the announcement being made.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how long it will take to implement the decision to display the Union flag on driving licences in Wales, Scotland and England.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is planning to issue driving licences that include the Union flag from summer 2015.