Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow and Gateshead East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has considered using the Armed Forces Bill to clarify the legal status of maritime wrecks connected to the United Kingdom’s war effort which are not currently afforded protection comparable to military maritime graves.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The sinking of merchant vessels during the world wars, represents a tragic loss of life that we must all strive to remember and reflect upon. It is right that we honour and recognise this sacrifice and strive to ensure the grave sites of those who have been lost receive appropriate protection. While the specific scope and purpose of the Armed Forces Bill preclude such an extension to merchant wrecks, we will continue to ensure underwater cultural heritage receives the highest levels of protection available in accordance with international law and best practice.
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow and Gateshead East)
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 designating the wreck of the SS Tilawa, sunk in 1942, as a protected heritage site in recognition of its status as a Commonwealth wartime loss.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The sinking of the SS Tilawa, and many other merchant vessels during the world wars, represents a tragic loss of life that we must all strive to remember and reflect upon. It is right that we honour and recognise this sacrifice and strive to ensure the grave sites of those who have been lost receive the highest levels of protection in accordance with international law and best practice.
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow and Gateshead East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy introduce to a mandatory seafarers welfare charter.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The Seafarers’ Charter will initially launch on a voluntary basis. We continue to explore options to further enhance seafarer welfare and keep the need for further legislation under review.
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow and Gateshead East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, who owns the building which accommodates the DVSA South Shields Driving Test Centre on the Bede Industrial Estate in Jarrow.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency owns the building that accommodates South Shields driving test centre.
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow and Gateshead East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much income from driving tests the DVSA South Shields Test Centre has received in each of the last five years.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The ground lease at South Shields driving test centre (DTC) ends on 19/12/2119.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not pay annual rent for South Shields DTC, but it is responsible for all the annual running costs including maintenance.
Many of the sites used by the DVSA deliver more than just the driving test service, and vary in size and capacity. The DVSA estimates the average annual rental of single purpose driving test sites is £16,400 per annum.
There has only been one lease over the last 10 years, which is the current ground lease.
The following data shows the income from driving tests at South Shields DTC over the last five years:
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow and Gateshead East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the expired leases for (a) ground and (b) building at South Shields Driving Test Centre in the Jarrow constituency over the last 10 years.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The ground lease at South Shields driving test centre (DTC) ends on 19/12/2119.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not pay annual rent for South Shields DTC, but it is responsible for all the annual running costs including maintenance.
Many of the sites used by the DVSA deliver more than just the driving test service, and vary in size and capacity. The DVSA estimates the average annual rental of single purpose driving test sites is £16,400 per annum.
There has only been one lease over the last 10 years, which is the current ground lease.
The following data shows the income from driving tests at South Shields DTC over the last five years:
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow and Gateshead East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an estimate of the average annual rent costs for DVSA test centres across the UK.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The ground lease at South Shields driving test centre (DTC) ends on 19/12/2119.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not pay annual rent for South Shields DTC, but it is responsible for all the annual running costs including maintenance.
Many of the sites used by the DVSA deliver more than just the driving test service, and vary in size and capacity. The DVSA estimates the average annual rental of single purpose driving test sites is £16,400 per annum.
There has only been one lease over the last 10 years, which is the current ground lease.
The following data shows the income from driving tests at South Shields DTC over the last five years:
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow and Gateshead East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much annual rent is paid by the DVSA for the South Shields Test Centre in the Jarrow constituency.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The ground lease at South Shields driving test centre (DTC) ends on 19/12/2119.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not pay annual rent for South Shields DTC, but it is responsible for all the annual running costs including maintenance.
Many of the sites used by the DVSA deliver more than just the driving test service, and vary in size and capacity. The DVSA estimates the average annual rental of single purpose driving test sites is £16,400 per annum.
There has only been one lease over the last 10 years, which is the current ground lease.
The following data shows the income from driving tests at South Shields DTC over the last five years:
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow and Gateshead East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on what date the (a) ground lease and (b) any other leases are due to end at South Shields Driving Test Centre in the Jarrow constituency.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The ground lease at South Shields driving test centre (DTC) ends on 19/12/2119.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not pay annual rent for South Shields DTC, but it is responsible for all the annual running costs including maintenance.
Many of the sites used by the DVSA deliver more than just the driving test service, and vary in size and capacity. The DVSA estimates the average annual rental of single purpose driving test sites is £16,400 per annum.
There has only been one lease over the last 10 years, which is the current ground lease.
The following data shows the income from driving tests at South Shields DTC over the last five years:
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow and Gateshead East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) square footage, (b) facilities, (c) IT requirements, (d) energy supply, (e) health and safety and (f) specifications are required for each driving test centre examiner to carry out a test.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
As the Minister responsible for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Baroness Vere is happy to meet with the hon Member for Jarrow to discuss the closure of South Shields driving test centre.
DVSA is not able to release building running and occupancy costs as this information is commercially sensitive.
It is usual for the DVSA to allocate two parking bays per the maximum number of examiners that are deployed to test at each location. Facilities needed at a test centre would include two sets of WCs, a waiting room and car parking. The accommodation would need a mains electricity supply with access to plug points and lights, a water supply and the building must be heated and cleaned daily. The required square footage (sqft) per driving examiner is around 550 sqft including workspace (97 sqft in isolation), circulation, amenity, waiting room (for four people), and WC but excluding parking. In order to carry our administrative duties, driving examiners require access to the internet.
The DVSA would need Health & Safety evidence if a building was to be used as a test centre that complied with the statutory requirements as listed below. Compliance must be monitored and maintained in accordance with relevant legislation, regulation, British Standard and Approved Code of Practices:
If the building is multi-occupancy, the DVSA would need evidence that all common parts of the building were monitored and maintained for statutory purposes in accordance with relevant legislation, regulation, British Standard and Approved Code of Practices.