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Written Question
Trailers: Driving Instruction
Monday 16th January 2023

Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the number of drivers taking the trailer safety accreditation scheme.

Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport

The scheme is an industry-led initiative, overseen by the National Council for Accredited Trailer Towing. Data reported the DVSA since the scheme was launched on 18 May 2022 show 120 drivers have completed an accredited training course. The DVSA does not hold data on the number of drivers who might have completed trailer safety training courses outside the accredited scheme.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 14 Jun 2022
Portishead Railway

"I am disappointed to be debating this subject again, but I am pleased to support the right hon. Gentleman. Reopening the passenger line both ways is important, as he says, but opening new stations near Parson Street and Bedminster in Bristol South is crucial to pursuing low-carbon forms of transport …..."
Karin Smyth - View Speech

View all Karin Smyth (Lab - Bristol South) contributions to the debate on: Portishead Railway
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 14 Jun 2022
Portishead Railway

"I have been a Member of Parliament for only seven years. I do not recall, off the top of my head, how many Ministers I and the right hon. Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox) have appeared before on this very issue. A range of reasons have always been given …..."
Karin Smyth - View Speech

View all Karin Smyth (Lab - Bristol South) contributions to the debate on: Portishead Railway
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 17 Mar 2022
P&O Ferries

"We hear a lot of anger and sympathy from the Minister, but he is from the Government and the clue is in the title—they need to govern and take some action. We have not heard about any action whatsoever. It would be helpful to hear more from him on that. …..."
Karin Smyth - View Speech

View all Karin Smyth (Lab - Bristol South) contributions to the debate on: P&O Ferries
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 10 Mar 2022
International Women’s Day

"It is a genuine pleasure to follow my friend on the Select Committee, the hon. Member for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price). As a former Health Minister, her comments about the importance of Health Ministers paying heed to experts and patient safety are incredibly well made. What we are seeing now is …..."
Karin Smyth - View Speech

View all Karin Smyth (Lab - Bristol South) contributions to the debate on: International Women’s Day
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 10 Mar 2022
International Women’s Day

"To add to the point of my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull North (Dame Diana Johnson), I watched the faces of the many brilliant women MPs present when that was mentioned and I think that Conservative Members are not aware of what their Government are doing …..."
Karin Smyth - View Speech

View all Karin Smyth (Lab - Bristol South) contributions to the debate on: International Women’s Day
Written Question
Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties
Wednesday 19th January 2022

Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to tackle the rate of Vehicle Excise Duty evasion.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) collects around £7 billion in vehicle excise duty each year. The most recent estimate, published in November 2021, showed that 98.1 per cent of vehicles used on the road are licensed correctly.

The DVLA aims to make vehicle excise duty easy to pay but hard to avoid and keeps its processes for encouraging compliance and delivering a robust enforcement regime under review. The DVLA has a comprehensive package of measures to tackle those who do not pay vehicle excise duty. These range from reminder letters, penalties and court prosecutions through to the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras and the wheel clamping and removal of unlicensed vehicles.

The DVLA also works closely with the police and local authorities to address vehicle excise duty evasion at local levels and to share intelligence to target vehicle keepers who deliberately do not license their vehicles. Police forces and local authorities can also clamp and remove unlicensed vehicles by adopting the DVLA’s devolved powers.

Speech in General Committees - Mon 13 Dec 2021
Draft Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2021

"I rise to speak on behalf of my constituents, but also as chair of the all-party towing and trailer safety group. I put on record my strong opposition to the regulations on the Floor of the House on 8 November. Since then, the Government have created such chaos, through the …..."
Karin Smyth - View Speech

View all Karin Smyth (Lab - Bristol South) contributions to the debate on: Draft Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2021
Speech in General Committees - Mon 13 Dec 2021
Draft Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2021

"

I rise to speak on behalf of my constituents, but also as chair of the all-party towing and trailer safety group. I put on record my strong opposition to the regulations on the Floor of the House on 8 November. Since then, the Government have created such chaos, through the …

..."
Karin Smyth - View Speech

View all Karin Smyth (Lab - Bristol South) contributions to the debate on: Draft Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2021
Written Question
Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Training
Tuesday 30th November 2021

Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many available HGV vocational tests were unused in each of the last four weeks.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

The table below shows the numbers of available slots for vocational testing (Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) & Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV)). The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is not able to report LGV and PCV separately.

Available slots

Booked slots

% Available

w/c 25.10.21

546

2,328

19%

w/c 01.11.21

394

2,461

14%

w/c 08.11.21

321

2,617

11%

w/c 15.11.21

299

2,621

10%