Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that cycle lanes are not a danger to (a) visually impaired and (b) blind pedestrians.
Answered by Guy Opperman
Design guidance for cycle infrastructure issued by the Department for Transport sets out that there should be separation of pedestrian and cycle infrastructure wherever possible. This guidance was developed in collaboration with stakeholders, including disability groups.
The Department for Transport established Active Travel England (ATE) to up-skill local authorities, enabling the installation of changes that are well thought through for all modes of travel, and disseminating best practice. As part of this, ATE has recently published a suite of design assistance and scheme review tools to support the development of accessible active travel schemes. The agency has also commissioned West Midlands Combined Authority to undertake research into crossing detection systems.
ATE will continue to work with organisations representing blind and visually impaired people to improve standards and further reduce the rare occasions that collisions occur.
Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he has made an assessment of the potential merits of altering the legislation to enable the Civil Aviation Authority to allow drones to be operated out of the line of sight by the (a) police and (b) armed forces.
Answered by Anthony Browne
Legislation already allows for police to fly drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) when certain conditions are met. Additionally, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the National Police Chiefs’ Council are considering developing a regulatory framework to support police drone use, and the Department for Transport will consider any recommendations they have, including whether any changes to legislation are appropriate.
The armed forces’ use of drones is a matter for the Ministry of Defence to comment on, as it is outside of the remit of civil aviation.
Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that blind and partially-sighted people continue to have access to ticket offices at railway stations.
Answered by Huw Merriman
When proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours, including closures, operators are required to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of disabled passengers; and to include this in the notice of the proposal sent to other operators and passenger groups. We would also expect operators to consider all equality related needs and make this clear in their consultation.
Together with the industry, we want to improve and modernise the passenger experience by moving staff out from ticket offices to provide more help and advice in customer focused roles. No currently staffed station will be unstaffed as a result of industry changes, and train operators will ensure staff are well located to meet passenger needs in future.
Station staff will still provide face-to-face services on the railways, which assists those who need additional support, and cannot or do not want to use contactless or mobile tickets. All staff in customer facing roles or with managed responsibilities undertake enhanced disability awareness training and TOCs are already required to provide this. These reforms will not affect these arrangements.
The Department recently hosted roundtable discussions with industry and accessibility and transport groups to discuss this matter and ensure their views are understood. We continue to engage with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee through the process.
Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will issue guidance to local authorities on tackling the cloning of vehicle number plates for use in criminal activity; and if he will take steps to require the relevant authorities issuing motoring penalties to provide (a) photographic evidence and (b) contact information.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is currently working closely with the National Police Chiefs Council, Trading Standards, local authorities and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime.
The police are responsible for on-road enforcement of vehicle offences, including cloned plates. Local authorities have procedures in place to deal with number plate cloning and registered keepers are advised to return any fines they receive to the issuing authorities along with any evidence to show that their vehicle was not in the area at the time. Registered keepers may also request photographic evidence and other information from the relevant authorities who have issued the penalty.
Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is considering extending grandfather rights to all those who possess a full driving licence in order to increase the number of potential HGV drivers.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Acquired rights (grandfather rights) for car drivers who passed their test prior to 1 January 1997 allowed drivers with a Category B (car) licence entitlement to drive vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes (Category C1). We have no existing plans to amend the requirements for acquiring a C1 licence.
Drivers wishing to obtain a Category C or C+E licence for heavy goods vehicles are required to complete the driving test for that category of vehicle.
Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department plans to take to revert to the system for renewing driving licences that was in use prior to the covid-19 outbreak, including the process used for (a) renewing and (b) reapplying for a short-term medical licence.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The process for renewing driving licences, including for those with medical conditions, has not changed.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) online services have been available throughout the pandemic and are the quickest and easiest way to renew a driving licence.
Paper renewal applications will take longer. Ongoing industrial action by members of the Public and Commercial Services union, fewer operational staff on site at the DVLA to allow for social distancing in line with Welsh Government requirements and an increased demand for services has led to delays in dealing with paper applications.
The DVLA has recently trialed a simplified renewal process for some medical conditions. This has significantly reduced turnaround times for some drivers. However, there will be further delays if the DVLA requires further medical information from NHS health care staff before it can make a licensing decision.
Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of (a) the potential merits of making the DVLA's off-road registration scheme mandatory for off road motorcycle users and (b) whether that scheme could be made mandatory with no cost to users.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
There is no legal requirement for vehicles that are used off-road to be registered. In 1994 the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency introduced a voluntary scheme to register ‘off-road’ motorcycles. This scheme was extended in 1996 to include all mechanically propelled vehicles which are used off-road. The details of vehicles registered under this scheme are held on the DVLA’s database and on the Police National Computer.
There are no plans to make the registration of vehicles that are only used off-road mandatory.
Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that theory test pass certificates of learner drivers do not expire during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The two-year validity period of the theory test certificate is set in legislation. This is so the candidate’s theoretical knowledge remains current. To extend the validity period would require legislative change, which would need the relevant Parliamentary process to happen. This situation is being given urgent attention.
Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of suspending medical examinations for people who need to renew their HGV licenses during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
To keep bus and lorry drivers on the road, the Government has made temporary provisions to remove the requirement to submit a medical report when applying to renew a bus or lorry driving licence, until further notice. Provided they have no notifiable medical conditions, drivers will be issued a licence that is valid for one year instead of the usual five. This only applies if the licence expired after 1 January 2020 or is due to expire.
As is always the case, drivers must ensure they are medically fit to drive and they are legally obliged to notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency about the onset or worsening of any medical condition.
Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 1.132 of the Budget 2020 Red Book, how much funding will local authorities in Don Valley receive to repair potholes.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the Budget 2020 that £500 million is being made available in 2020/21 to local highway authorities in England, outside London, to repair potholes. Yorkshire and the Humber’s share is £53.3 million. The Department will shortly publish details of the individual funding allocations we are making available.