Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, who his Department consulted when selecting the areas to be used for the new noise camera trials announced on 30 April 2022.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The shortlisted sites in Bristol, Great Yarmouth, Keighley and Rubery were chosen based on a number of factors, including the ability to use existing infrastructure and street furniture, and the type of vehicle noise problem at each site in order to achieve a sufficiently wide range of road types to test the noise camera technology. The current trials completed on 1 February, with data from the trials being evaluated later this year. If the trials prove to be successful, noise cameras may be considered for wider rollout.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, by what process his Department selected the areas to be used for the new noise camera trials announced on 30 April 2022.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The shortlisted sites in Bristol, Great Yarmouth, Keighley and Rubery were chosen based on a number of factors, including the ability to use existing infrastructure and street furniture, and the type of vehicle noise problem at each site in order to achieve a sufficiently wide range of road types to test the noise camera technology. The current trials completed on 1 February, with data from the trials being evaluated later this year. If the trials prove to be successful, noise cameras may be considered for wider rollout.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria his Department used to select the sites to be used for the new noise camera trials announced on 30 April 2022.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The shortlisted sites in Bristol, Great Yarmouth, Keighley and Rubery were chosen based on a number of factors, including the ability to use existing infrastructure and street furniture, and the type of vehicle noise problem at each site in order to achieve a sufficiently wide range of road types to test the noise camera technology. The current trials completed on 1 February, with data from the trials being evaluated later this year. If the trials prove to be successful, noise cameras may be considered for wider rollout.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the quality of the facilities and infrastructure at Aston railway station.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
As with all stations on the West Midlands Trains network, Aston station is subject to regular audits and inspections as part of a Service Quality regime under the National Rail Contract. Along with nearby Witton, Aston station serves the local football stadium at Villa Park and I know their CEO has recently written to my Rt Hon Friend the Transport Secretary to discuss increasing capacity at the station on matchdays. It is fully accessible, with lift access from the platforms to street level and, as well as having CCTV and ticket purchasing facilities, has recently been fitted with new digital customer information screens.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take to improve the processing time for driving licence applications.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example if medical investigations are needed. The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here.
The majority of applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information can be found online here.
The information requested on the average processing time for driving licence applications cannot be retrieved in the format requested in the time available. Officials from the DVLA will write to the Honourable Member when the information is available.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the average processing time for applications for (a) provisional and (b) full driving licences in (i) 2021-22 to date, (ii) 2020-21 and (iii) 2019-20.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example if medical investigations are needed. The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here.
The majority of applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information can be found online here.
The information requested on the average processing time for driving licence applications cannot be retrieved in the format requested in the time available. Officials from the DVLA will write to the Honourable Member when the information is available.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the economic impact of the potential agglomeration of Nottingham and Birmingham, which will be made possible by the introduction of high speed trains.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Analysis of IRP options has focused on benefits to transport users (including businesses) alongside some impacts on the wider economy – specifically the productivity improvements associated with reducing journey times between two places. By improving regional connectivity, the Integrated Rail Plan will unify labour markets, so that people can access a much wider range of jobs; effectively bring businesses closer together; and improve access to key international gateways and markets so they become more even more attractive locations for business investment.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Integrated Rail Plan, whether the Midlands will receive the same amount of public transport funding per head as London and the South East.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
To help level-up across the country, we are delivering a step change in investment in public transport focused outside of London and the South East. The recently announced Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands outlined a £96 billion strategy of rail construction and upgrades. This builds on the substantive investment that is targeted outside of London announced at the Budget which included £5.7 billion for our major cities through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements; over £2.7 billion for local road maintenance; and a new, dedicated £1.2 billion programme to improve bus infrastructure, fares and services.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the economic benefits for the Midlands from the roll-out of smart ticketing as outlined in the Integrated Rail Plan.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
This year’s spending review set aside £360 million investment to modernise industry ticketing and retailing systems. This includes an expansion of
pay-as-you-go travel on rail to more than 700 stations in urban areas across the country.
This investment will deliver significant benefits to passengers in the Midlands and other areas by making the process of paying for travel convenient and simple, removing the uncertainty from having to select a ticket in advance. It also frees up staff to support passengers, unlocking economic benefits as people have more flexibility in how they travel. Our assessment will be developed and refined as the project progresses to ensure that the full economic potential to the Midlands is realised.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs that will be created as a result of the Midlands Rail Hub in (a) Birmingham Ladywood constituency, (b) Birmingham City region and (c) the West Midlands.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The objectives of the Midlands Rail Hub are to support economic growth across the region. At this early stage of development, no detailed assessment of the number of jobs created either directly or indirectly by the scheme has been undertaken.