Contributions
1,117 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDriving Tests: Secondary MarketThis system has to allow people to book tests at the time that they need them. I did not say that 25% had been through one of these websites; I said that a quarter of total test…13 Jan 2025HANSARDDriving Tests: Secondary MarketThe Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has announced measures to review the driving test booking system. It launched a call for evidence on 18 December seeking views on the…13 Jan 2025HANSARDDriving Tests: Secondary MarketOne consideration in improving the relationship between driving examiners and the DVSA is to have enough of them to conduct tests on a basis where people do not feel excluded or…13 Jan 2025HANSARDDriving Tests: Secondary MarketThat must be self-evident. The real answer to this whole issue is to reduce the amount of time it takes from an application to the test occurring. If, as we expect, we can reduce…13 Jan 2025HANSARDDriving Tests: Secondary MarketThe one thing that driving examiners cannot do is work in an office.13 Jan 2025HANSARDDriving Tests: Secondary MarketI thank my noble friend for his question. Many tests are booked by the applicants themselves, and there cannot be any reason why you could not be able to do that, as a potential…13 Jan 2025HANSARDDriving Tests: Secondary MarketOne of my colleagues said, sotto voce, “For the same reason that you did not”, which is perhaps not an unreasonable point.13 Jan 2025HANSARDDriving Tests: Secondary MarketI have no need to do that; my noble friend has just done it for me.13 Jan 2025HANSARDDriving Tests: Secondary MarketAs a matter of fact, the statistics I can quote back to him are that 344 warnings and 791 suspensions have been issued, and 811 business accounts have been closed since the new…13 Jan 2025HANSARDDriving Tests: Secondary MarketI thank the noble Baroness for her question. The issue with the availability of tests is very substantially related to the availability of driving examiners, rather than the…13 Jan 2025HANSARDDriving Tests: Secondary MarketI thank the noble Lord for his research. He is right that there are some people making money out of this and they should not do it. My Answer was not just no; one of the…13 Jan 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL]My Lords, I thank those who have engaged in today’s lively debate on the Bill. I have listened carefully and with much interest to the excellent points being raised across your…08 Jan 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL]It was a long time ago; the noble Lord, Lord Moylan, and I completely agree. I wanted only to say that I do not claim particular credit for it; if you lead a team, you should give…08 Jan 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL]That the bill be committed to a Grand Committee, and that it be an instruction to the Grand Committee that they consider the bill in the following order: Clauses 1 to 10,…08 Jan 2025HANSARDOld Oak Common: Train DisruptionMy Lords, building Old Oak Common station will enable HS2 to start operations by providing a new interchange with the Elizabeth line. Without it, HS2 cannot open. The complex…08 Jan 2025HANSARDOld Oak Common: Train DisruptionI have to give your Lordships a brief description of railway geography in west London. The Great Western main line at Old Oak Common has two pairs of tracks. One is called the…08 Jan 2025HANSARDOld Oak Common: Train DisruptionI was pleased to discuss this matter with the noble Baroness personally recently. Of course, there will be some benefits to travellers on the Great Western main lines and,…08 Jan 2025HANSARDOld Oak Common: Train DisruptionI thank the noble Baroness for her question. I was at Old Oak Common with the new chief executive of HS2 on the day of his appointment and I raised the question about platform…08 Jan 2025HANSARDOld Oak Common: Train DisruptionI will answer the second part of the question first. Our construction methods are a good deal safer than Chinese construction methods. Saving lives and preventing accidents on…08 Jan 2025HANSARDOld Oak Common: Train DisruptionThe noble Lord is right to criticise a railway that cannot operate reliably on Sundays and a lot of work is going into making sure that the optional working arrangement for…08 Jan 2025