Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to increase the availability of practical driving tests in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times right across the country.
I announced to Parliament via a Written Ministerial Statement on 18 December DVSA’s 7-point plan to reduce driving test waiting times. Details of that plan can be found on gov.uk (https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/car-practical-driving-test-waiting-times)
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of enlisting approved driving instructors to carry out practical driving tests on a temporary basis; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of doing so on (a) surge capacity and (b) the backlog in driving tests.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
It is not possible to allow approved driving instructors (ADI’s) to temporarily work as driving examiners. The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) 1999 regulations require driving test examiners to meet certain criteria and pass an initial qualification and examination and prohibits a person from being an active ADI and an examiner simultaneously.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her Department holds on the proportion of train journeys that had Wi-Fi available on board in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024 to date.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The department does not hold this data as it is currently a matter for individual train operators.
Under Great British Railways, a wider programme to deliver improved passenger Wi-Fi connectivity will be considered.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the report by the Climate Change Committee entitled 2023 Progress Report to Parliament, published on 28 June 2023, what assessment she has made of the compatibility of expanding Luton Airport with that report.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Climate Change Committee published its most recent Progress Report to Parliament on 18 July 2024. The government will carefully consider all of the CCC’s recommendations and respond later this year.
The statutory deadline for a decision on the application for a Development Consent Order for London Luton airport expansion is 3 January 2025. Given the Secretary of State’s role in determining the application, it would not be appropriate to comment on the application.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of airport expansion on the Government's ability to meet net zero targets.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This government does not oppose airport expansion as long as it provides economic growth and is compatible with strict environmental standards. We are considering our wider approach to decarbonising aviation and remain committed to achieving net zero target. We have made early progress on sustainable aviation fuel and we will deliver on airspace modernisation.