The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency\u2019s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.<\/p>
<\/p>
Measures in place to reduce waiting times for customers at all driving test centres (DTC), include the recruitment of new driving examiners (DE), conducting tests outside regular hours, including at weekends and on public holidays, and buying back annual leave from DEs. DVSA also continues to deploy DEs from areas with lower waiting times into those where waiting times are longer.<\/p>
<\/p>
As part of a recent recruitment exercise, DVSA hopes to offer training courses to two potential new DEs at Slough DTC in the new year. In future recruitment campaigns, DVSA will continue to look to fill additional examiner roles at Slough DTC.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4029", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lilian Greenwood"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Nottingham South"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lilian Greenwood"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-12-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-12-05T16:57:03.943Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-12-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Driving Tests: Slough"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to increase the availability of driving tests in Slough constituency.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4638", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Slough"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi"} ], "uin" : "17585"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1746692", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business and Trade"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1746692/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail\u2019s commercial decisions, including the prices of stamps and other services.<\/p>
<\/p>
In setting its prices, Royal Mail must observe the regulatory framework set by Ofcom which imposes price controls, \u2018safeguard caps\u2019, on certain second-class products to ensure a basic universal service is available to all at affordable prices.<\/p>
<\/p>
Information on Ofcom\u2019s decisions regarding retail price caps on Royal Mail\u2019s universal postal services to apply from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027 is available on its website: www.ofcom.org.uk/post/deliveries-and-charges/consultation-review-of-second-class-safeguard-caps-2024<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4418", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Madders"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ellesmere Port and Bromborough"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Justin Madders"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-12-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-12-05T17:39:23.26Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "214"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business and Trade"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business and Trade"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-12-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Business and Consumers"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of proposed increases in stamp prices on (a) consumers and (b) businesses.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/5361", "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Basildon and East Thurrock"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "James McMurdock"}
], "uin" : "17755"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1745960", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Culture, Media and Sport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1745960/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " My department has made no recent assessment of the potential impact of digital copying on artists' and performers' remuneration. However, the Government wants to see remuneration arrangements that create the right conditions for sparking and driving innovation and investment, whilst rewarding creators for their work and is proud that it was a Labour Government that introduced the Artists Resale Right which is administered by DACS.<\/p> We recognise the importance of copyright protection in ensuring creators are protected and rewarded. The Government welcomes the publication of this informative report from the Design and Artists Copyright Society.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1446", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Chris Bryant"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rhondda and Ogmore"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Bryant"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-12-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-12-05T15:58:16.163Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "217"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-12-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Arts: Copyright"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sports, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Design and Artists Copyright Society\u2019s report entitled, UK Visual Artists a survey of earnings and contracts, published on 25 November 2024; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of digital copying on artists' and performers' remuneration.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4595", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Gareth Snell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stoke-on-Trent Central"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Gareth Snell"}
], "uin" : "17194"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1745969", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1745969/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Over the last two financial years since Spring 2022, the Plug in Van Grant has supported the purchase over 30,000 zero emission vans.<\/p> <\/p> The Government continues to recognise the importance of grants, providing £120 million for next financial year to incentivise the uptake of zero emission vans and wheelchair accessible electric vehicles. All grants remain under review to ensure best value for money for the taxpayer.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4029", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lilian Greenwood"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Nottingham South"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lilian Greenwood"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-12-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-12-05T17:09:29.317Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-12-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Electric Vehicles: Grants"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding from the Spring Budget 2022 for the purchase of new electric vans via the plug-in vehicle grant remains available.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kevin Hollinrake"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thirsk and Malton"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Kevin Hollinrake"}
], "uin" : "17125"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1745973", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1745973/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " As announced in the Get Britain Working White Paper published 26 November 2024 Get Britain Working White Paper - GOV.UK<\/a>, the new voluntary, locally led, supported employment programme Connect to Work will be the first programme under the Government\u2019s new Get Britain Working Strategy. Whilst Connect to Work will use the funding that was initially reserved for the Universal Support Programme, Connect to Work has been co-designed with Local Authorities and has flexibility to meet local needs at its core.<\/p> <\/p>