Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to allow oral appeals for Penalty Charge Notices for people with dyslexia.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Under Regulation 5 of The Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Representations and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2022 drivers may make representations to the local authority issuing the Penalty Charge Notice in accordance with procedures put in place by the local authority. The regulations also allow for drivers and any representatives to attend adjudication hearings in person.
In establishing such processes, local authorities have statutory duties as set out in the Equality Act 2010. Section 149 places a Public Sector Equality Duty on all public bodies, including local authorities and the independent adjudicator to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between persons who share relevant protected characteristics, including age and disability amongst others.
It is the responsibility of local authorities to ensure their processes, including appeals against Penalty Charge Notices are designed to comply accordingly and are accessible to everyone.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 25 July 2023 to Question 194820 on Smart Devices: China, which areas of the transport sector employ cellular internet of things module technology as of 22 November 2023.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
A cellular internet of things (IoT) device can be considered to be a low-power device with long battery life, which sends small amounts of data on an infrequent basis. The UK’s transport sector currently employs only a limited amount of devices that match this specification. As mobile network operators upgrade their networks, new low-power wide-area networks are emerging that have been developed to enable a wide range of IoT devices and services as part of the continued development and roll out of 5G connectivity.
Lead Government Departments, informed by threat assessments from a range of organisations, are responsible for leading work to determine national security risks to critical national infrastructure in their sectors. This is done in collaboration with partners including the National Cyber Security Centre and National Protective Security Authority as UK national technical authorities for cyber and physical security.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 25 July 2023 to Question 194820 on Smart Devices: China, which agency is responsible for monitoring the potential security threat posed by Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules in critical infrastructure.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Lead Government Departments, informed by threat assessments from a range of organisations, are responsible for leading work to determine national security risks to critical national infrastructure in their sectors. This is done in collaboration with partners including the National Cyber Security Centre and National Protective Security Authority as UK national technical authorities for cyber and physical security.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is taking steps to monitor the potential threat posed by Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules to (a) aviation, (b) cars, (c) roads, (d) the rail network and (e) other parts of the UK transport system.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department takes transport security very seriously and regularly monitors for any potential security threats. Whilst the UK’s transport sector employs a limited amount of cellular internet of things module technology, reliance is low. The Department encourages the transport sector to follow Government Security Group, National Cyber Security Centre and National Protective Security Authority supply chain guidance when selecting a technology supplier.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will make an assessment of the (a) prevalence of the use and (b) reliance on the supply of Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules in (a) aviation, (b) cars, (c) roads, (d) the rail network and (e) other parts of the UK transport system.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The UK’s transport sector employs a limited amount of cellular internet of things module technology. Reliance on this technology across the various transport modes is low. The Department encourages the transport sector to follow Government Security Group, National Cyber Security Centre and National Protective Security Authority supply chain guidance when selecting a technology supplier.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to protect people whose driving theory test has expired and who have been unable to book a practical driving test as a result of the covid-19 outbreak from incurring additional financial costs.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
There are no current plans to waive the charge of a theory test for those whose theory test certificates have expired, given that they will have already received the service for which they paid.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) pays its contractor, Pearson, per theory test delivered. If candidates were exempted from having to pay for a retake then the DVSA and in turn other fee payers would incur these costs. This would be unfair to fee payers who would not benefit from the arrangement. In addition, applications for a re-test would need to be validated and systems amended to remove the requirement for payment in these cases. The DVSA’s focus should rightly be on developing solutions to address the backlog of practical driving tests that has arisen as a result of the pandemic.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency on increasing the number of available bookings for driving theory tests.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Since theory tests re-started in August last year, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has implemented measures to provide additional testing capacity. This included extending opening and closing times where possible, and extending the booking window from three months to four months to give candidates more choice of available dates.
Once testing can resume safely, the DVSA will continue to work closely with its theory test provider, Pearson, to monitor demand and explore ways in which it can further expand theory testing capacity and reduce the waiting times for theory tests.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency on issuing a further recall for Vauxhall Zafira cars following reports that some vehicles that have already had both recalls are still having problems with burning and melting to the heater systems.
Answered by Andrew Jones
I have had discussions with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) about the progress of the Vauxhall Zafira safety recalls. DVSA is investigating reports concerning the safety of the Zafira, including reports of thermal incidents in vehicles subject to the recall, and those that have had the second recall. If needed, DVSA will explore the possibility of extending the existing recall, and is keeping this matter under review. DVSA will continue to press Vauxhall to meet its safety obligations under the General Product Safety Regulations and associated legislation.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will assess the potential effect of the Peugeot-Citroen deal to buy Vauxhall-Opel on the (a) availability and (b) level of compensation for customers affected by Vauxhall car fires.
Answered by Andrew Jones
A change in corporate ownership has no impact on the responsibilities of the producer/distributor towards the consumer. Compensation for vehicles affected by a safety recall is a matter for the producer/distributor to agree with the individual consumer. Any Vauxhall vehicle that is currently subject to a safety recall will remain so irrespective of a change in corporate ownership.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what matters were discussed at his meeting with lawyers acting for claimants against Volkswagen on 22 February 2017.
Answered by John Hayes
The Government wants Volkswagen to face the appropriate legal consequences for their actions.
On the 22 February I met representatives of legal firms preparing civil action against Volkswagen. They set out how they believe the Government could support their action and I am now considering these requests.
As these matters relate to potential legal action it is not appropriate to comment further.