Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he is taking to process the backlog of applications at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The quickest and easiest way to make an application to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is by using its extensive suite of online services. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their documents within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application. The DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day and industrial action by members of the Public and Commercial Services union has led to delays for customers. The DVLA has been working with a significantly reduced number of staff on site to ensure social distancing in line with Welsh Government requirements. The current increased demand for the DVLA’s services has also contributed to delays with paper applications.
The DVLA has introduced additional online services and recruited additional staff. The DVLA is urgently securing extra office space to house more staff as surge capacity accommodation and resource to help reduce waiting times while providing future resilience and business continuity.
The DVLA understands the impact that delays can have on people’s everyday lives and is working as quickly as possible to process paper applications and return people’s documentation to them.
Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which stakeholder groups the DVLA engaged with when deciding that autistic spectrum disorders needed to be declared.
Answered by Jesse Norman
There has been some confusion as a result of a good-faith attempt by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to remove some inconsistency in relation to the longstanding guidance for drivers with an autism spectrum disorder. The online advice for both drivers and medical professionals now makes clear that drivers with an autism spectrum disorder are only under an obligation to tell the DVLA if their condition could affect their driving. This has been communicated via social and other media.
The DVLA regularly engages with charities representing the needs of drivers with medical conditions to ensure their views are considered.
Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the DVLA has taken to ensure that people with autism spectrum disorders are aware of the recent changes that mean they need to declare their diagnosis.
Answered by Jesse Norman
There has been some confusion as a result of a good-faith attempt by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to remove some inconsistency in relation to the longstanding guidance for drivers with an autism spectrum disorder. The online advice for both drivers and medical professionals now makes clear that drivers with an autism spectrum disorder are only under an obligation to tell the DVLA if their condition could affect their driving. This has been communicated via social and other media.
The DVLA regularly engages with charities representing the needs of drivers with medical conditions to ensure their views are considered.
Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the evidential basis was for the DVLA's decision to classify autism spectrum disorders as a condition which must be declared.
Answered by Jesse Norman
There has been some confusion as a result of a good-faith attempt by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to remove some inconsistency in relation to the longstanding guidance for drivers with an autism spectrum disorder. The online advice for both drivers and medical professionals now makes clear that drivers with an autism spectrum disorder are only under an obligation to tell the DVLA if their condition could affect their driving. This has been communicated via social and other media.
The DVLA regularly engages with charities representing the needs of drivers with medical conditions to ensure their views are considered.
Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any Ministers in his Department attended the Presidents Club Charity Dinner run by the Meller Educatonal Trust in an official capacity.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
No Department for Transport Ministers attended the Presidents Club Charity Dinner run by the Meller Educational trust.
Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 15 October 2015 to Question 10706, and to the letter sent by Network Rail to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley on 14 July 2016, what the expected timescale is for accessibility alterations for Stechford railway station.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Network Rail have completed the option selection process for the Access for All scheme at Stechford and are working on a detailed design for the project. The Network Rail sponsor for the project would be happy to meet the hon Member to discuss plans for improving access at the station.
Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the accessibility alterations for Stechford Railway Station will begin.
Answered by Claire Perry
Network Rail have now finished assessing options for an accessible route at Stechford and will begin detailed design next month. Work should start on site late next year and take around eight months to complete.
Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham, Yardley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what effect reductions in funding for rail infrastructure will have on the Access for All work at Stechford Station.
Answered by Claire Perry
There is no reduction in funding for rail infrastructure. There is therefore no impact on the funding for the Access for All project at Stechford.