Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve the uptake of (a) mopeds, (b) motorcycles and (c) other powered light vehicles.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
At present, the Government has no policy to encourage greater use of motorcycles, mopeds or other powered light vehicles.
The Government supports the purchase of zero emission motorcycles with the plug-in motorcycle grant for those who want to switch to an electric motorcycle. This is available until at least March 2025 and since 2016 has supported the purchase of over 12,000 mopeds and motorcycles.
Resolving the longstanding problems and missed opportunities of micromobility, including e-scooters, is a priority for the Department for Transport and we will work with colleagues across Government to tackle this as soon as possible.
In November, the Government launched its plan to develop an Integrated National Transport Strategy, which will set out how all modes of transport should be designed, built and operated to better serve all the people who use it, and enable them to live fulfilling lives.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what meetings (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department have had with motorcycle manufacturers.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Ministers have not met with motorcycle manufacturers. Officials continue to meet with the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA), which represents and oversees the interests of motorcycle, moped, scooter and Powered Light Vehicle (PLV) industry.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of the licensing regime proposed in the report entitled A licence to net zero, published by the Motorcycle Industry Association in October 2023.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has received additional evidence from the Motorcycle Industry Association on the road safety considerations for the proposals set out in their report ‘A Licence to Net Zero’, which proposed changes to the existing licensing regime for mopeds, motorcycles and light powered vehicles. Officials are currently analysing this.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2024 to Question 4347 on Motorcycles: Driving Licences, when the Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group is next scheduled to meet; and whether that meeting will discuss user licensing reform.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The planned meeting of The Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group for autumn 2024 has now been rescheduled for 20 January 2025. The Government is considering plans to review existing requirements for motorcycle training, testing and licensing, taking account of long-standing Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency plans and recent sector proposals.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2024 to Question 4347 on Motorcycles: Driving Licences, whether the Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group met in autumn 2024.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The planned meeting of The Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group for autumn 2024 has now been rescheduled for 20 January 2025. The Government is considering plans to review existing requirements for motorcycle training, testing and licensing, taking account of long-standing Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency plans and recent sector proposals.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
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 simplifying the licensing process for (a) mopeds, (b) motorcycles and (c) other powered light vehicles.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has received additional evidence from the Motorcycle Industry Association on the road safety considerations for the proposals set out in their report ‘A Licence to Net Zero’, which proposed changes to the existing licensing regime for mopeds, motorcycles and light powered vehicles. Officials are currently analysing this.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with her (a) European and (b) international counterparts on end of sales dates for new non zero emission powered light vehicles.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State has not yet had any discussions with international counterparts on end of sales dates for new non-zero emission powered light vehicles. We remain committed to decarbonising transport, including powered light vehicles, as we shift to zero emission mobility.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the report by the Motorcycle Industry Association entitled A Licence to Net Zero: Unleashing Our Potential, License Reform Essential: L-Category Licensing Reform Proposals, published on 16 October 2023, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the proposals in that report on the licensing regime for (a) mopeds, (b) motorcycles and (c) other powered light vehicles; and if she will hold discussions with relevant stakeholders on that matter.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport continues to meet with representatives from the motorcycling industry to discuss proposals on Category L licensing reform. We are awaiting evidence from the Motorcycle Industry Association on their proposals.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the evidential basis is for (a) licensing requirements and (b) age restrictions for (i) mopeds, (ii) motorcycles and (iii) other powered light vehicles.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The current licensing requirements and age restrictions for moped, motorcycles were implemented in 2012 when the UK transposed the requirements of the European Union’s Third Driving Licence Directive. These regulations were drafted after extensive public consultation, impact assessments and Parliamentary scrutiny via the European Scrutiny Committee. Furthermore, these regulations were subject to a Post Implementation Review in 2017, published on the legislation.uk website.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Motorcycle Strategy Focus Group is next scheduled to meet; and whether the agenda will include a review of (a) moped and (b) motorcycle licensing requirements.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group plan to meet in autumn 2024. The date and agenda for the meeting have yet to be decided.