Found: Letter from the Secretary of State for Transport relating to the introduction of the Highways (Financing) Bill

Found: you envisage being brought forward under the Regulated Asset Base model enabled by the Highways (Financing) Bill

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to require operators of privately operated tolled crossings that have statutory powers to issue penalty charges to provide access to independent adjudication of those charges.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Most privately-operated tolled undertakings still require payment at tollbooths and so do not rely on the issuing of penalty charges for non-payment to ensure compliance. The Department does not currently have the power to impose a requirement for independent adjudication on the few undertakings that have already converted from tollbooths to remote payment systems. However, it is something that we will be seeking to require as and when further tolled undertakings convert to remote payment operation. The Highways (Financing) Bill includes clauses that would provide a simple legal route for tolled undertakings to convert from tollbooth to free-flow/remote payment operation. This would allow for an independent adjudication process to be required in future conversions.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with (a) private road operators, (b) freight and logistics industry representatives and (c) regional transport bodies in the development of the proposed Highways (Finance) Bill.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

During development of the Highways (Financing) Bill, my Department has engaged with a range of stakeholders, including representatives of major businesses, road haulage and logistics companies, local authorities, and other relevant groups. This was to assist with policy development. My officials will continue to engage with key stakeholders during Bill passage.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to lay the Highways (Financing) Bill before Parliament; and through what mechanisms they intend for the Bill to increase public control of key utilities.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Highways (Financing) Bill will be brought forward when Parliamentary time allows. This House will have full opportunity to scrutinise this legislation in the usual way at that time. The Bill will be concerned with a new financing model for our largest road projects, not with utilities more generally.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to use the powers contained in the Highways (Finance) Bill to introduce user charging or tolls on any road that is currently free to use.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government has no plans to use the powers in the Highways (Financing) Bill to introduce user charging or tolls on any road that is currently free to use.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the introduction of the Highways (Financing) Bill and the transition of the Lower Thames Crossing to a Regulated Asset Base model, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of specific economic scenarios on delivering value for money..

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The project follows the standard Five Case Model used for government business cases, involving rigorous scrutiny and appraisal in line with Department for Transport standards and HM Treasury Green Book principles. The economic dimension assesses the economic costs and benefits under various scenarios. This position was considered in deciding to commit further public funding to the LTC project and take forward the RAB model as the government’s preferred financing model for the project, as set out in the “Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) accounting officer assessment summary (February 2026)”, which was published online. The economic dimension will continue to assess Value for Money alongside the other dimensions in future iterations of the business case, with the next iteration to be developed ahead of private sector investment. This will include consideration of value for money under relevant scenarios.

Found: Highways (Financing) Bill 2026-27

Found: Highways (Financing) Bill

Found: Highways (Financing) Bill

Found: Highways (Financing) Bill

Found: Highways (Financing) Bill

Found: Highways (Financing) Bill

Found: The Highways (Financing) Bill is expected to introduce the ability to apply a new Regulated Asset Base

Found: RPC opinion: impact of Highways (Financing) Bill