Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to align with EU policy requiring Alcolock built-in breathalysers to be fitted in all new motor cars from 2022; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by George Freeman
The EU General Safety Regulation mandates the fitment of “alcohol interlock installation facilitation” or the “interface” in new cars from 2022 and does not mandate the fixture of any specific device.
The Road Safety Statement 2019 included an action to commission research into the effectiveness of alcolocks to understand the feasibility of introducing them in the UK.
As part of our preparations for negotiations with the EU over our future relationship, we will be considering all aspects of applicable EU law. We will ensure that our high safety standards are maintained on UK roads, while considering opportunities that may arise from the UK’s exit from the EU.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Inclusive Transport Strategy, published on 25 July 2018, when his Department plans to publish updated guidance for local authorities creating a shared space that is also accessible for visually impaired people.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Following the commitment in the Inclusive Transport Strategy, the Department is working with Transport Scotland on the research into inclusive street design. This is a collaborative project between the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland, which began in August and is scheduled to complete early next year. Following the conclusion of the research, we will consider the recommendations, and therefore how best to update our guidance.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Inclusive Transport Strategy, published on 25 July 2018, when his Department plans to publish guidance on what should be included in high quality training for bus drivers.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Government remains committed to publishing best practice guidance on the provision of high quality disability awareness training for bus and coach drivers, to support operators to ensure that every driver has the knowledge and skills to assist disabled passengers.
We will publish the guidance later in the year and will work with the bus and coach industry to encourage its adoption.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will make an assessment of the merits of extending the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme to cover all electric motorcycles.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government has no plans to carry out such an assessment at present. Government funding for the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme is focused on cars and vans, since they produce a much greater proportion of road transport emissions than motorcycles.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will conduct a review into the efficiency of the new rail ombudsman.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Rail Ombudsman, which is an industry scheme established and paid for on a voluntary basis by rail operators and Network Rail, was launched last November. The Rail Delivery Group, overseen by a panel of independent members, manages the contract for the new service and works with the supplier to ensure that it provides value to both scheme members and passengers.
In addition, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) will monitor the scheme’s performance, including its ability to drive improvements in rail companies, and seek improvements where necessary. As well as reporting on its performance and the outcome of its decisions direct to the ORR, the Ombudsman will also report direct to Transport Focus and London TravelWatch, as well as making this information publicly available thereby enabling scrutiny from other interested parties.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the safety of self-driving cars.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government has safety at the heart of its approach to automated vehicles, and the UK is leading work through the United Nations to create robust international standards for their safe introduction and use.
Last year the Department asked the Law Commission to conduct a regulatory review of the UK's legal framework in the context of automated vehicles. To support safe and responsible UK trials the Department has recently published an updated code of practice, and is developing processes to provide safety assurance for trials of increasingly advanced technology on public roads.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2019 to Question 221797 on Roads: Accidents, if his Department will make an assessment of the merits of recording the number of road accidents attributed to glare from (a) LED and (b) halogen bulbs in car headlights; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department periodically reviews the data collection on personal injury road accidents reported to the police, in a process called Stats19 reviews. A Stats19 review started in autumn 2018 and is currently considering what amendments need to be made to the collection.
In making recommendations for change, the review considers evidence on the burden this would impose on the police to collect it, the practicality and likely quality of the data collected and potential benefits in building the road safety evidence base to save lives. We aim to consult on potential changes to the collection in 2020 following detailed engagement with the police and road safety organisations in 2019.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of road accidents attributed to glare from (a) LED and (b) halogen bulbs in car headlights in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department does not collect data on road accidents which were attributed to glare from LED and halogen bulbs in particular.
The published table series RAS50 show contributory factors in reported road accidents involving personal injury: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/ras50-contributory-factors. This includes the contributory factor of ‘dazzling headlights’ where the driver/rider was dazzled by headlights.
In 2017, there were 315 reported accidents where ‘dazzling headlights’ were reported as a contributory factor in Great Britain. This represents 0.3% of all accidents where a police officer attended the scene and a contributory factor was allocated. The proportion remained stable since 2005 when the recording of contributory factors started.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will make an assessment of the merits of allowing the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to sell personal data to third parties; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The arrangements governing the release of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) data aim to strike a balance between protecting personal data and allowing vehicle keepers to be contacted by those with a legitimate need to do so.
The law allows the DVLA to release vehicle keeper details to third parties who can demonstrate that they have a reasonable cause to receive it. The DVLA operates a range of safeguards to protect personal data and to ensure it is used appropriately, including regular audits.
The fees levied for the release of data are intended to recover the full cost of providing the information, so that the DVLA neither profits at the expense of customers nor makes a loss which taxpayers must then subsidise.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much revenue the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency raised from selling personal data to third parties in the last financial year.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) neither promotes the release of personal data, nor does the DVLA seek to release personal data to generate a fee/revenue.
DVLA responds, as required, to each request for vehicle and driver data and while DVLA is permitted to charge a fee for the release of information under the reasonable cause provisions, DVLA is not permitted to profit from the release. The fee set is to recover the related administrative costs and this means that it is the applicant and not the taxpayer that funds this activity.
Total fees recognised by DVLA from charges for requests for vehicle and driver personal data for the most recent financial year available, is:
| 2017-18 |
Account | £000s |
Driver Fee Paying Enquiries | 4,597 |
Vehicle Fee Paying Enquiries | 350 |
Electronic Data Link Fee Paying Enquiries | 15,951 |
Receipts / Sale Vehicles including Bulk Data | 1,920 |
Total | 22,818 |