Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 34686 on Cars: Lighting, if the Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of LED headlight brightness on (a) older drivers, (b) cyclists, and (c) pedestrians.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

All types of road vehicle headlamps, including those using LED technology, are designed, tested and approved to internationally recognised standards to help prevent undue glare on a broad range of roads and environments.

Police recorded collision statistics in Great Britain do not show any discernible trend over time that would suggest an underlying road safety issue linked to advances in lighting technology.

However, Government recognises increased public concern around headlamp glare and, as noted in my answer to Question 34686, has commissioned independent research. This is measuring light levels experienced by drivers during real driving on UK roads and considers factors like vehicle characteristics, weather conditions and ambient lighting. It also includes a programme of stakeholder engagement to build a comprehensive understanding of the issues. Careful consideration will be given to that work when it reports later this year to determine what future actions may be appropriate to ensure the safety of all road users.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 34686 on Cars: Lighting, if her Department will commission research into potential correlations between LED headlight brightness and road accidents caused by glare.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

All types of road vehicle headlamps, including those using LED technology, are designed, tested and approved to internationally recognised standards to help prevent undue glare on a broad range of roads and environments.

Police recorded collision statistics in Great Britain do not show any discernible trend over time that would suggest an underlying road safety issue linked to advances in lighting technology.

However, Government recognises increased public concern around headlamp glare and, as noted in my answer to Question 34686, has commissioned independent research. This is measuring light levels experienced by drivers during real driving on UK roads and considers factors like vehicle characteristics, weather conditions and ambient lighting. It also includes a programme of stakeholder engagement to build a comprehensive understanding of the issues. Careful consideration will be given to that work when it reports later this year to determine what future actions may be appropriate to ensure the safety of all road users.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 34686 on Cars: Lighting, what steps her Department is taking to (a) measure the causes of headlamp glare and (b) develop potential countermeasures to headlight glare.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

All types of road vehicle headlamps, including those using LED technology, are designed, tested and approved to internationally recognised standards to help prevent undue glare on a broad range of roads and environments.

Police recorded collision statistics in Great Britain do not show any discernible trend over time that would suggest an underlying road safety issue linked to advances in lighting technology.

However, Government recognises increased public concern around headlamp glare and, as noted in my answer to Question 34686, has commissioned independent research. This is measuring light levels experienced by drivers during real driving on UK roads and considers factors like vehicle characteristics, weather conditions and ambient lighting. It also includes a programme of stakeholder engagement to build a comprehensive understanding of the issues. Careful consideration will be given to that work when it reports later this year to determine what future actions may be appropriate to ensure the safety of all road users.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she is taking steps to ensure that vehicles sold in the UK will have automatic headlamp levelling systems by 2027.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Recognising the global nature of the automotive industry, the detailed technical requirements for new vehicles are typically developed within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), in which the UK is an active member. The UNECE amended its regulations in 2023 to include requirements for automatic headlamp levelling. Vehicle manufacturers can already approve vehicles to this latest regulation, but the transitional provisions covering these requirements run from September 2027 to September 2030 and it would breach our international treaty obligations to mandate these provisions for all vehicles sold during this period.

The domestic vehicle type-approval regulation sets the minimum standards to be met by vehicles before entering service in Great Britain, and is kept under constant review. A decision on automatic headlamp levelling will be taken in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to (a) bring forward legislative and (b) amend existing legislation to tackle noise pollution caused by (i) motorcycles and (ii) modified vehicle exhaust systems.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department does not have plans to amend existing vehicle noise legislation.

The Department takes the impact of noise pollution on health, wellbeing and the natural environment seriously. Strict noise regulations for motorcycles are harmonised at an international level and require vehicles to demonstrate compliance before being placed on the market. Replacement exhaust systems that are to be used on the road must also meet strict noise limits that are aligned with those of the original vehicle.

The police have powers to deal with noisy vehicles on an ongoing basis. Under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 they can take action if they suspect a vehicle is being driven in a manner that makes excessive noise which is avoidable through reasonable driver care. In the same Regulations, vehicle exhaust systems are required to be maintained in good working order and not altered so as to increase noise.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's reports entitled Roadside Vehicle Noise Measurement - Phase 2 Final Report, published August 2021, and Work Order T0218 Roadside Vehicle Noise Measurement – Phase 3 Parts A to C, published March 2024, what assessment she has made of noise camera trials in (a) controlled and (b) real-world conditions in (i) detecting and (ii) identifying excessively noisy vehicles.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department conducted controlled and real-world trials of noise camera technology between April 2022 and February 2023. Reports of these trials, including detailed assessment of the technology’s performance and potential merits, were published on 17 March 2024.

Overall, the trials demonstrated that noise cameras currently have the potential to detect and identify excessively noisy vehicles, but only when accompanied by human review of the recorded evidence, which is likely to lower the cost effectiveness of deploying the technology in many circumstances.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of establishing a dedicated Road Safety Investigation Branch to (a) investigate road deaths and incidents and (b) recommend necessary improvements.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Improving road safety is a key priority. Injuries and fatalities from road collisions caused by driving are unacceptable, and this Government is working hard to prevent these tragedies for all road users.

The Department is continuing to review potential future road safety interventions and available options to increase the overall safety of our roads.

We are committed to delivering a new Road Safety Strategy – the first in over a decade - and will set out next steps on this in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to integrate (a) e-scooter and (b) e-bike infrastructure with rural bus services.

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

The Government aims to deliver an integrated transport system that reduces emissions, improves journeys, and gives people choice over how they travel, and we are carefully considering how shared micromobility and active travel schemes can help to deliver these objectives right across the country.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will meet with the hon. Member for North Cornwall to discuss the potential availability of funding to extend the Camel Trail cycle path.

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

I commend the honourable gentleman for his continued advocacy for the Camel Trail cycle path in his constituency. As he will be aware, officials from the Department for Transport attended our meeting on 1 April, and prior input was sought from Active Travel England.

Decisions on future funding for active travel will be a matter for the Spending Review, and it is for Cornwall Council to make its own decisions about where to prioritise investment in local transport networks, including walking and cycling infrastructure.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) practical and (b) theory driving (i) lessons and (ii) tests are accessible for people who are d/Deaf.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) works with publishing partners, the Stationary Office, to publish The Highway Code and other materials to help people when learning to drive. The DVSA wants the content it produces to be as accessible as possible to everyone.

When booking a theory or practical test, candidates are advised to say if they have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition.

DVSA has recently worked with Cabinet Office to identify how the customer journey can be improved for d/Deaf candidates working towards their theory test. As a result, DVSA will be introducing improvements to British Sign Language (BSL) learning, theory test content, the theory test booking journey (including using BSL), and the experience at the theory test centre.

Candidates can already take their theory test in BSL if they are d/Deaf or have a hearing impairment; a BSL video appears on the screen next to the questions and answers.

Other options for theory test candidates include:

• having a sign language interpreter or lip speaker with them during the test

• using a listening aid (hearing loop)

It usually helps BSL users to learn their theory with a d/Deaf-aware driving instructor. The Disabled Driving Instructors association can help d/Deaf people with learning to drive and can be accessed at: www.disabilitydrivinginstructors.com/driving-advice/hearing-difficulties

When taking a car practical driving test, candidates can use a BSL interpreter, who can also be their driving instructor.

When taking the test, the driving examiner can use prompt cards to support a candidate that is d/Deaf or has hearing loss. These prompt cards give short written instructions and diagrams, so candidates know what they need to do.

These prompt cards are published on GOV.UK so learners can familiarise themselves with them before the test, and so that driving instructors can use them as part of their training or mock tests. Driving tests: prompt cards to support learner drivers who are deaf - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of (a) the potential merits of the West Midlands Rail Hub and (b) the potential impact of the West Midlands Rail Hub on (i) economic growth and (ii) connectivity.

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

Midlands Rail Hub would unlock thousands of homes and drive economic growth, with better connections regionally and nationally, and more reliable trains. It will provide up to 300 extra trains a day into Birmingham while improving the performance of services. In December, the Chancellor launched the second stage of the Spending Review. This is a ‘zero-based’ review, to ensure every line of spending – including the transport infrastructure portfolio – delivers the Plan for Change and provides good value for taxpayers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of rolling stock age on (a) reliability and (b) service quality on Great Western Railway routes.

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

The average age of Great Western Railway’s (GWR) rolling stock is 15 years, as published on the Office of Rail and Road website as at 31 March 2024.

My officials receive regular updates on GWR’s train fleet. Detailed maintenance arrangements are a matter for GWR, its maintenance providers and the rolling stock owning companies. GWR works closely with its maintainers and the supply chain to source parts to maintain the trains as required.

The age of rolling stock is one of the factors that can impact on reliability and service quality. GWR and Network Rail have been working together to develop plans to replace ageing rolling stock with trains that will better meet the needs of passengers in the future. Any specific proposals are subject to both business case approval and funding being available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the availability of spare parts for ageing rolling stock operated by Great Western Railway.

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

The average age of Great Western Railway’s (GWR) rolling stock is 15 years, as published on the Office of Rail and Road website as at 31 March 2024.

My officials receive regular updates on GWR’s train fleet. Detailed maintenance arrangements are a matter for GWR, its maintenance providers and the rolling stock owning companies. GWR works closely with its maintainers and the supply chain to source parts to maintain the trains as required.

The age of rolling stock is one of the factors that can impact on reliability and service quality. GWR and Network Rail have been working together to develop plans to replace ageing rolling stock with trains that will better meet the needs of passengers in the future. Any specific proposals are subject to both business case approval and funding being available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average age is of Great Western Railway's current fleet of rolling stock.

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

The average age of Great Western Railway’s (GWR) rolling stock is 15 years, as published on the Office of Rail and Road website as at 31 March 2024.

My officials receive regular updates on GWR’s train fleet. Detailed maintenance arrangements are a matter for GWR, its maintenance providers and the rolling stock owning companies. GWR works closely with its maintainers and the supply chain to source parts to maintain the trains as required.

The age of rolling stock is one of the factors that can impact on reliability and service quality. GWR and Network Rail have been working together to develop plans to replace ageing rolling stock with trains that will better meet the needs of passengers in the future. Any specific proposals are subject to both business case approval and funding being available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what resources and support are available to people who are d/Deaf (a) in preparation for and (b) during their driving (i) theory and (ii) practical tests.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) works with publishing partners, the Stationary Office, to publish The Highway Code and other materials to help people when learning to drive. The DVSA wants the content it produces to be as accessible as possible to everyone.

When booking a theory or practical test, candidates are advised to say if they have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition.

DVSA has recently worked with Cabinet Office to identify how the customer journey can be improved for d/Deaf candidates working towards their theory test. As a result, DVSA will be introducing improvements to British Sign Language (BSL) learning, theory test content, the theory test booking journey (including using BSL), and the experience at the theory test centre.

Candidates can already take their theory test in BSL if they are d/Deaf or have a hearing impairment; a BSL video appears on the screen next to the questions and answers.

Other options for theory test candidates include:

• having a sign language interpreter or lip speaker with them during the test

• using a listening aid (hearing loop)

It usually helps BSL users to learn their theory with a d/Deaf-aware driving instructor. The Disabled Driving Instructors association can help d/Deaf people with learning to drive and can be accessed at: www.disabilitydrivinginstructors.com/driving-advice/hearing-difficulties

When taking a car practical driving test, candidates can use a BSL interpreter, who can also be their driving instructor.

When taking the test, the driving examiner can use prompt cards to support a candidate that is d/Deaf or has hearing loss. These prompt cards give short written instructions and diagrams, so candidates know what they need to do.

These prompt cards are published on GOV.UK so learners can familiarise themselves with them before the test, and so that driving instructors can use them as part of their training or mock tests. Driving tests: prompt cards to support learner drivers who are deaf - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press notice entitled PM tells councils to prove action on pothole plague to unlock extra cash and reveals £4.8 billion for major roads, published on 23 March 2025, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing information on councils' progress in mending potholes centrally.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In the first instance it will be up to local highway authorities to publish their progress reports on their own websites, as set out in the Department’s letter of 24 March to local authority chief executive officers which is available on gov.uk. The Department will review authorities’ reports and determine in due course what information to publish centrally.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department provides funding for safe cycling routes to schools in rural areas.

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

The Government recently announced £222.5 million for local authorities outside London for the delivery of walking and cycling schemes. It is for local authorities to decide on local priorities for investment in local transport networks, including walking and cycling routes to schools.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of the proposed West Midlands Rail Hub on rail (a) connectivity and (b) reliability in (i) the West Midlands and (ii) nationally.

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

Midlands Rail Hub would unlock thousands of homes and drive economic growth, with better connections regionally and nationally, and more reliable trains. It will provide up to 300 extra trains a day into Birmingham while improving the performance of services. In December, the Chancellor launched the second stage of the Spending Review. This is a ‘zero-based’ review, to ensure every line of spending – including the transport infrastructure portfolio – delivers the Plan for Change and provides good value for taxpayers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of supporting the West Midlands Rail Hub.

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

Midlands Rail Hub would unlock thousands of homes and drive economic growth, with better connections regionally and nationally, and more reliable trains. It will provide up to 300 extra trains a day into Birmingham while improving the performance of services. In December, the Chancellor launched the second stage of the Spending Review. This is a ‘zero-based’ review, to ensure every line of spending – including the transport infrastructure portfolio – delivers the Plan for Change and provides good value for taxpayers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with the National Cyber Security Centre on (a) preventing and (b) removing scam or impersonation websites that mimic (a) the DVLA and (b) government services.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) advises customers to use GOV.UK as the official and only website when seeking information or completing applications. All DVLA literature directs customers to the official GOV.UK website. The DVLA also uses its external communication channels, including social media, to publish advice and to remind motorists that GOV.UK is the only website for government motoring services.

The DVLA investigates reports of organisations which act illegally or are actively misleading users about their services. Where appropriate such sites can be and are taken down promptly.

DVLA officials have regular discussions and briefings, with the National Cyber Security Centre, to assess and prevent a range of risks. The DVLA is also a longstanding user of the National Cyber Security Centre active cyber defence services and regularly uses the Netcraft takedown service for removing malicious websites.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions her Department has had with Great Western Railway on the (a) maintenance and (b) servicing of older rolling stock.

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

The average age of Great Western Railway’s (GWR) rolling stock is 15 years, as published on the Office of Rail and Road website as at 31 March 2024.

My officials receive regular updates on GWR’s train fleet. Detailed maintenance arrangements are a matter for GWR, its maintenance providers and the rolling stock owning companies. GWR works closely with its maintainers and the supply chain to source parts to maintain the trains as required.

The age of rolling stock is one of the factors that can impact on reliability and service quality. GWR and Network Rail have been working together to develop plans to replace ageing rolling stock with trains that will better meet the needs of passengers in the future. Any specific proposals are subject to both business case approval and funding being available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2025 to Question 38040 on Roads: Hampshire, what the net increase in local authority road maintenance funding is in monetary cash terms in 2025-26 relative to the aggregation of the (a) HS2, (b) Network North and (c) other funding streams given to local authorities in 2024-25.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In 2024/25, local highway authorities received a total of £1,067 million of capital funding for local highway maintenance from various funding streams including the Highways Maintenance Block “needs” element, Highways Maintenance Block “incentive” element, potholes funding, and the £150 million Network North funding uplift (which came from redirected HS2 funding).

In 2025/26, the Government is providing £1,567 million of capital funding for local highway maintenance, meaning that the net increase in cash terms is £500 million. Further detail is provided on page 94 of the Budget 2024 document, and the details of allocations to local highway authorities in each year are available on gov.uk.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is taking steps to identify long-term solutions to (a) potholes and (b) other road defects.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to enabling local highway authorities to maintain and renew their local highway networks effectively. For this financial year 2025/26 we have already announced a funding uplift of £500 million, compared to the last financial year, for local authorities to spend on highway maintenance. Through our new reporting requirements we are encouraging local authorities to focus on long-term preventative strategies rather than the short-term patching of potholes.

The Department also encourages and supports innovation and best practice in road surface repairs in other ways. It is updating the Code of Practice for Well-Managed Highway Infrastructure, which will contain new advice on matters such as surface treatments. It is also supporting a £30 million research programme which is allowing local authorities to trial innovative low-carbon ways of looking after their networks. One of the projects is allowing novel resurfacing materials to be tested and evaluated.

National Highways is also trialling innovative ways of resurfacing parts of the Strategic Road Network to give longer-lasting and more environmentally friendly results. Their work on projects like the resurfacing of the A64 in Yorkshire could pave the way for industry-wide changes, resulting in significant carbon savings and improved road surfaces for drivers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she expects National Highways to decide on whether the lights along the M25 between Junctions 8 and 9 will be switched back on at night.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

National Highways expects to be in a position to make a decision on the lighting in this location once the current evaluation is finished and the appraisal is completed, which is expected to be in January 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with (a) Network Rail and (b) other stakeholders on creating a 12 car turn-back facility at Reigate train station since July 2024.

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

The Reigate 12 car scheme was closed by the previous Government following Spending Review 2021. No development work has taken place on the project since this point.

Officials in my Department are in regular discussions with Network Rail on opportunities to improve services across the Brighton Main Line, including the Reigate area. In preparing for Spending Review 2025 we are assessing potential transport investments, ensuring every penny spent supports our missions and the plan for growth.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to improve accessibility at Earlswood train station.

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

This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. We are carefully considering the best approach to the Access for All programme and will announce the next steps after completion of the Spending Review.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to maintain the current number of driving test centres in rural communities.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is committed to providing its customers, including those in rural areas, with the best service possible. DVSA continually reviews its estate to ensure it represents good value for money and is efficient.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she has taken to prevent the loss of driving licence entitlements during DVLA system updates, and how frequently these measures are reviewed for effectiveness.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Updates to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) systems are rigorously planned and assessed so that impacts and risks are understood.

The DVLA has recorded 176 instances where drivers claimed they were missing entitlement between 2020 and 2024. These mainly relate back to when the DVLA was established and driving records were computerised. The DVLA undertakes a full investigation in each case including a search of existing and archived records. If no information is held, the driver will be asked to supply any information they may have to evidence previous entitlement.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many instances of missing driving licence entitlements have been reported to the DVLA in the last five years; and what steps she has taken to help tackle these cases.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Updates to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) systems are rigorously planned and assessed so that impacts and risks are understood.

The DVLA has recorded 176 instances where drivers claimed they were missing entitlement between 2020 and 2024. These mainly relate back to when the DVLA was established and driving records were computerised. The DVLA undertakes a full investigation in each case including a search of existing and archived records. If no information is held, the driver will be asked to supply any information they may have to evidence previous entitlement.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release entitled PM tells councils to prove action on pothole plague to unlock extra cash and reveals £4.8 billion for major roads, published on 23 March 2025, whether her Department has made an estimate of the potential cost of publishing details by local authorities.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The additional costs to local highway authorities of complying with the Department’s new reporting requirements are likely to be minimal. The Department has made clear that it is looking for short reports in plain English, to be published on authorities’ websites, and it has provided templates for these to make the task simpler. It is only right that local highway authorities should be held to account in this way for their use of the £500 million of additional highway maintenance funding in the current financial year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department will provide funding to Dorset Council to improve parking facilities at Dorchester South station.

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

This Government recognises the importance of sufficient parking provision at railway stations. Decisions on specific projects are a matter for the relevant local authority. However, we have recently announced that Dorset Council will receive nearly £2 million as part of the Integrated Transport Block which can be used to support a wide variety of schemes and make transport more accessible. In addition, the Council has been allocated over £3.8 million to make improvements to their local bus services. This funding gives Local Authorities an opportunity to consider whether it would be viable to integrate public transport provision with local railway stations, offering an alternative mode of transport for people to travel to those locations.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an estimate of the number of additional lorry drivers required when volumetric concrete mixers operate at the standard weight limit for HGVs.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The call for evidence on Volumetric Concrete Mixers (VCMs) conducted by the Department for Transport from October to December 2023 was an opportunity for respondents to present evidence, but it did not reveal significant new evidence supporting a change in policy.

The outcome of this review was published on 18 March. This can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/volumetric-concrete-mixers-review

Current exemptions to weight limits for VCMs will expire in 2028. This policy is being maintained.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions her Department has had with equestrian organisations on improving (a) infrastructure and (b) safety measures for horse riders on rural roads.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

This Government is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads and my Department works with a broad range of stakeholders, including the British Horse Society, to help us achieve our aim.

In 2022, The Highway Code was updated to improve the safety of all road users, particularly the most vulnerable. Key changes included the introduction of a Hierarchy of Road Users, which ensures that those who do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat that they pose to others, along with the strengthening of guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking horse-riders.

THINK!, the Government's flagship road safety campaign, plays an important role in raising awareness of, and encouraging compliance with, new road safety legislation. This includes the recent changes to The Highway Code. THINK!, ran campaigns to alert road users of the changes as they came into effect, and broader behaviour campaigns to encourage understanding and uptake of the guidance. Results from the last campaign showed that by September 2023, 93% of drivers agreed it was their responsibility to give space to vulnerable road users. We will continue to promote The Highway Code changes on THINK! and DfT social media channels and via our partner organisations.

Local authorities are responsible for road safety on the local road network. Section 39 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 puts a 'statutory duty' on local authorities to provide a safe local road network. This includes road construction, accident investigation and analysis, traffic calming and setting speed limits.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to issue (a) further guidance or (b) an awareness campaign to drivers on how to safely share the road with horse riders.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

This Government is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads and my Department works with a broad range of stakeholders, including the British Horse Society, to help us achieve our aim.

In 2022, The Highway Code was updated to improve the safety of all road users, particularly the most vulnerable. Key changes included the introduction of a Hierarchy of Road Users, which ensures that those who do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat that they pose to others, along with the strengthening of guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking horse-riders.

THINK!, the Government's flagship road safety campaign, plays an important role in raising awareness of, and encouraging compliance with, new road safety legislation. This includes the recent changes to The Highway Code. THINK!, ran campaigns to alert road users of the changes as they came into effect, and broader behaviour campaigns to encourage understanding and uptake of the guidance. Results from the last campaign showed that by September 2023, 93% of drivers agreed it was their responsibility to give space to vulnerable road users. We will continue to promote The Highway Code changes on THINK! and DfT social media channels and via our partner organisations.

Local authorities are responsible for road safety on the local road network. Section 39 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 puts a 'statutory duty' on local authorities to provide a safe local road network. This includes road construction, accident investigation and analysis, traffic calming and setting speed limits.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of recent changes to the Highway Code at improving safety outcomes for horse riders.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

This Government is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads and my Department works with a broad range of stakeholders, including the British Horse Society, to help us achieve our aim.

In 2022, The Highway Code was updated to improve the safety of all road users, particularly the most vulnerable. Key changes included the introduction of a Hierarchy of Road Users, which ensures that those who do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat that they pose to others, along with the strengthening of guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking horse-riders.

THINK!, the Government's flagship road safety campaign, plays an important role in raising awareness of, and encouraging compliance with, new road safety legislation. This includes the recent changes to The Highway Code. THINK!, ran campaigns to alert road users of the changes as they came into effect, and broader behaviour campaigns to encourage understanding and uptake of the guidance. Results from the last campaign showed that by September 2023, 93% of drivers agreed it was their responsibility to give space to vulnerable road users. We will continue to promote The Highway Code changes on THINK! and DfT social media channels and via our partner organisations.

Local authorities are responsible for road safety on the local road network. Section 39 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 puts a 'statutory duty' on local authorities to provide a safe local road network. This includes road construction, accident investigation and analysis, traffic calming and setting speed limits.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve the accessibility of (a) e-scooters, (b) e-bikes and (c) bicycles in rural areas.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government wants to make smaller, lighter vehicles an everyday transport option, including for those in rural areas where it works for their journeys.

On 28 March the Government announced to Parliament its intention to publish a third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS3) following the conclusion of the Spending Review. This will allow us to say more on the long-term ambition and funding for active travel as required by the legislation. The Government will consult on the strategy, with relevant stakeholders, ahead of its publication.

The Government recognises the benefits that rental schemes can bring, especially for those who otherwise could not afford to purchase a e-scooter, cycle or e-cycle. We are giving local leaders the powers to manage schemes in their areas, to give them the confidence they need that these schemes can work for whole communities, including through tackling anti-social behaviour and poor parking.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will support the development of a new bypass to link the A6 at Hazel Grove with the M60 at Bredbury.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

This Government is committed to renewing national infrastructure, improving England’s road network and driving growth as part of its Plan for Change. It has been clear that any funding decisions will be part of a long-term infrastructure strategy for this country, as stated within the manifesto. Decisions on funding more generally beyond 2025/26 is a matter for the forthcoming Spending Review.

Any assessment of the adequacy of the current or projected future capacity of the A6 road corridor between Hazel Grove and Whaley Bridge is a matter for the local highway authority.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, following the the 18 month assessment period for light switch off between junctions 8 and 9 of the M25, when she expects the TA 501 road lighting appraisal to be available.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

National Highways expect the appraisal to be completed in January 2026 and the TA501 assessment will be made available from National Highways, upon request, after a decision has been made on the future of the lighting in this location.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2025 to Question 35855 on Govia Thameslink Railway: Standards, whether the timetable referred to would reduce the number of services provided on a given line in some cases.

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

Currently all train operators are required to plan services and timetables designed to meet both current and future passenger demand, while also ensuring value for money for the taxpayer.

In the future Great British Railways (GBR) will be accountable for decisions on the use of the railway including in relation to the planning of train services. GBR will plan and implement an achievable, reliable timetable, so that the services promised to passengers are delivered. It is anticipated that better coordination of the timetable will reduce delays, improve reliability and reduce costs.

GBR will need to continually reassess its services to ensure it provides rail timetables that meet passenger travel patterns, are fit for the future, and carefully balance cost, capacity and performance. This could potentially result in increases or decreases in service levels across different routes to ensure the best outcomes for both passengers and taxpayers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) current and (b) projected future capacity of the A6 road corridor between Hazel Grove and Whaley Bridge.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

This Government is committed to renewing national infrastructure, improving England’s road network and driving growth as part of its Plan for Change. It has been clear that any funding decisions will be part of a long-term infrastructure strategy for this country, as stated within the manifesto. Decisions on funding more generally beyond 2025/26 is a matter for the forthcoming Spending Review.

Any assessment of the adequacy of the current or projected future capacity of the A6 road corridor between Hazel Grove and Whaley Bridge is a matter for the local highway authority.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her Department's original budget for HS2 Phase 2 was; how much her Department has spent since that project started; and what the estimated final cost is in (a) real and (b) current terms.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The original funding envelopes (in 2015 prices) for Phase 2a was £3.72bn and £24.8bn for Phase 2b. Spend on the HS2 project can be found in the latest Parliamentary Report here , which is updated and published at regular intervals. The project currently reports estimated final costs in 2019 prices.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any (a) land and (b) infrastructure used for the new Universal Studios Theme Park in Bedfordshire be acquired via compulsory purchase order.

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

At this early stage there is no land that is expected to be acquired via compulsory purchase order for the Universal Studios theme park or its associated transport infrastructure.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she has taken to work with the Northern Ireland Assembly to improve public transportation in Northern Ireland.

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

Transport is largely devolved in Northern Ireland, but the UK Government has supported Northern Ireland with funding for the Northern Ireland EV Charging Network, upgrades at Belfast International Airport, and extensions to the Comber–Newtownards and Newtownards–Bangor Greenways. Since 2017, the Department and the Northern Ireland Executive have jointly funded a Public Service Obligation (PSO) between City of Derry Airport and London. We recently agreed to continue supporting the PSO until March 2027. During a visit to Belfast for the British-Irish Council earlier this month, I also met Liz Kimmins, the Executive's Infrastructure Minister, where we discussed active travel and progress in the transition to electric vehicles.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to prevent third-party websites from misleading members of the public by imitating the DVLA online services.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) advises customers to use GOV.UK as the official and only website when seeking information or completing applications. All DVLA literature directs customers to the official GOV.UK website. The DVLA also uses its external communication channels, including social media, to publish advice and to remind motorists that GOV.UK is the only website for government motoring services.

The DVLA investigates reports of organisations which act illegally or are actively misleading users about their services. Where appropriate such sites can be and are taken down promptly.

DVLA officials have regular discussions and briefings, with the National Cyber Security Centre, to assess and prevent a range of risks. The DVLA is also a longstanding user of the National Cyber Security Centre active cyber defence services and regularly uses the Netcraft takedown service for removing malicious websites.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consultation her Department has undertaken with the construction industry in advance of a reduction in the maximum operating weight for a volumetric concrete mobile plant.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

A call for evidence conducted from October to December 2023 was an opportunity for interested parties, including the construction industry, to present evidence, but it did not reveal significant new evidence supporting a change in policy.

The decision announced reflects the continuation of the existing policy, as set out in 2018, that the temporary weight exemption for VCMs will come to an end in 2028.

My Department engaged with hon. Members and industry stakeholders through correspondence prior to the publication of the outcome of the call for evidence.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2010.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has offered apprenticeships every year since 2015. Specific data wasn’t collected before 2015 although apprenticeships were available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the contribution of businesses utilising rail travel to the effectiveness of the rail network; and what steps she is taking to consult with business on her planned reforms to the rail sector.

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

We recognise that business travel is a significant reason for using the railways. Research just published has shown that 15 per cent of journeys on DfT-contracted rail passenger services were made for business travel.

On 18 February we launched the eight-week public consultation on the Railways Bill, which closes on 15 April. The proposals will put passengers back at the heart of our railways.

This consultation is very much the beginning of an ongoing process of engagement that will continue throughout the policy development and legislative process.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with National Highways on its programme of (a) turning off and (b) removing lights on motorways.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department meets monthly with National Highways to discuss its performance and delivery. This includes discussions on the company’s actions to meet its Key Performance Indicator targets, one of which is Corporate Carbon reduction. Electricity used to light the strategic road network is by far the biggest contributor to National Highways’ overall carbon emissions. To meet the reduction target, National Highways has been trialling turning off some sections of lighting, where it has been assessed safe to do so, alongside its LED replacement programme.

The Office of Rail and Road, as the independent highways monitor, also meets the Department monthly to provide advice on National Highways’ plans and ongoing performance, also covering the Company’s actions to reduce its carbon emissions.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to increase the £2.50 fee charged by private parking companies for each V888/3 application to access vehicle keeper data from the DVLA to use in issuing parking charge notices.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The £2.50 fee is set to recover the cost of providing the information and ensures that the cost is borne by the requester, not passed on to the taxpayer. In line with Managing Public Money, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency reviews its fees regularly to ensure that fees are set to recover the costs of providing the service.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with Northern Rail on the potential impact of the proposed reduction in (a) Sunday and (b) late evening services between Westhoughton Station and Manchester central stations on local connectivity.

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

Northern trains have no plans to reduce services on the Manchester-Southport line that serves Westhoughton. Some Sunday services have been temporarily removed from the timetable. This was agreed by Northern leaders as part of Northern’s work to stabilise and then improve services, including to Westhoughton.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with Dorset Council on on-street parking around Dorchester South railway station.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department has not had discussions with Dorset Council on this matter. Responsibility for implementing parking restrictions rests with the appropriate local authority, as they are best placed to consider how to balance the needs of residents, emergency services, local business and those who work in and visit the area. Dorset Council has civil parking enforcement powers to deal with any contraventions of their parking restrictions.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she expects contactless ticketing to be rolled out to Reigate train station.

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

The Department announced last year that Reigate would be included in the next tranche of pay-as-you-go stations during contactless expansion. Further details on timing are not available at this stage, but Reigate Station will get contactless ticketing before the end of 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Office of Rail and Road has offered apprenticeships since 2010.

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

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has offered apprenticeships since 2017. ORR currently has 15 people undertaking an apprenticeship.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making the national driver offender retraining scheme course a standard part of the driving theory test.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The government has no plans to make the national driver offender retraining scheme (NDORS) course a standard part of the driving theory test.

NDORS courses are designed for drivers who have committed appropriate road traffic offences; not those learning to drive. NDORS courses cover the most up to date road rules and legal requirements, as set by The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, and are already assessed in the theory test for learner drivers.

NDORS courses are developed using nationally recognised behavioural change techniques by industry experts and academics. Courses focus on changing minds and behaviour to prevent future re-offending relating to appropriate road traffic offences.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether permission from her Department was required by Avanti West Coast to undertake its station rostering review.

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

Permission is not required to undertake a review of working practices made in the ordinary course of business. If potential staff rostering affected changes to ticket office opening hours, the train operator would need to follow the process of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement conditions and Secretary of State guidance.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the potential impact of East West Rail on passenger numbers on Thameslink services (a) from London to Bedford, (b) from Bedford to London, (c) northbound on the East Coast Main Line and (d) southbound on the East Coast Main Line.

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

East West Rail Co. will be considering abstraction of passengers from other services as part of the Outline Business Case for East West Rail.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with construction companies on potential changes to volumetric concrete mixers.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

My Department has engaged with hon. Members and the Volumetric Concrete Mixer (VCM) industry through correspondence. The call for evidence on this topic conducted from October to December 2023 was an opportunity for interested parties to present evidence, but it did not reveal significant new evidence supporting a change in policy.

The decision announced reflects the continuation of the existing policy, as set out in 2018, that the temporary weight exemption for VCMs will come to an end in 2028.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with (a) Network Rail and (b) other stakeholders on transport improvements in Reigate constituency.

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

Officials in my Department are in regular discussions with Network Rail on opportunities to improve services across the Brighton Main Line, including in the Reigate area. As part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan, £900 million is being invested in renewing the railway across the route between 2024 and 2029. In preparing for Spending Review 2025 we are assessing potential transport investments, ensuring every penny spent supports our missions and the plan for growth.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to alleviate congestion caused by on-street parking around Dorchester South railway station.

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

This Government recognises the need to ensure people can travel to and from railway stations with minimal delays. The relevant local authority is responsible for dealing with traffic management issues and these include governing on-street parking provision and restrictions. They are in the best position to determine how to manage these so that congestion can be reduced for local people as much as possible.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help promote private funding for new EV charging infrastructure at motorway service areas.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Access to a comprehensive charging network will enable more consumers to confidently purchase electric vehicles. Government is committed to supporting industry deliver a visible, reliable charging infrastructure on the Strategic Road Network, ahead of need, and support industry's own investment in transport decarbonisation.

There has been great progress on the rollout of chargepoint infrastructure on our Strategic Road Network. Rapid and ultra-rapid chargepoint numbers at motorway service areas have increased by around 125% over the last 18 months (based on industry data). Within one mile of the Strategic Road Network, there are over 5,250 open-access rapid and ultra-rapid chargers - an increase of around 100% in the last 18 months (based on data from Zapmap).

Industry has already committed over £6bn investment to support the rollout of public chargepoints across the UK, and government is working closely with industry to target government support where it is needed, including gaps in provision on the Strategic Road Network due to barriers such as high connection costs.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason she announced the expansion of Luton Airport before publishing a climate emissions framework.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Secretary of State’s considerations on the London Luton Airport Expansion scheme are explained in the Decision Letter, published 3 April 2025 on the Planning Inspectorate website, and this sets out the Secretary of States reasoning. Decisions on applications for development consent for nationally significant infrastructure projects are taken independently of the timing of policy announcements on other issues. The Honourable Member will understand that following the decision to grant consent, there is now a period when applications for judicial review may be made and during that period, I am unable to comment further on the decision.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department sought legal advice on the compatibility of its decision to expand Luton Airport on the UK's commitments under the 2015 Paris climate accord.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The full reasons for the Secretary of State’s decision on 3 April 2025 to grant consent to the London Luton Airport Expansion scheme, including consideration of carbon emissions and the Paris climate accord, are set out in her decision letter which is published on the Planning Inspectorate’s website. Following the decision to grant consent, there is now a period when applications for judicial review may be made and during that period, I am unable to comment further on the decision.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of expanding Luton Airport on economic growth; and if she will publish the modelling that underpins that assessment.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The full reasons for the Secretary of State’s decision on 3 April 2025 to grant consent to the London Luton Airport Expansion scheme, including assessment of the potential impact of expanding Luton Airport on economic growth, are set out in her decision letter which is published on the Planning Inspectorate’s website. Following the decision to grant consent, there is now a period when applications for judicial review may be made and during that period, I am unable to comment further on the decision.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support the (a) early commencement of services and (b) reliability of bus services between (i) Tring, (ii) Aylesbury, and (iii) Hemel Hempstead.

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

The Government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England, including in Tring, Aylesbury and Hemel Hempstead.

In addition, the Government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Hertfordshire County Council has been allocated over £12 million of this funding, and Buckinghamshire over £6 million. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, support early morning or evening services and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with (a) InnovateUK and (b) the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on the appraisal of projects funded in each round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) is funded by the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme in the Department for Transport, to support innovation in the maritime sector. The CMDC is delivered and managed by Innovate UK on behalf of the Department.

We are committed to a robust evaluation of the UK SHORE programme. The Department has commissioned Frontier Economics and SYSTRA Ltd to conduct a comprehensive independent evaluation of the UK SHORE programme, which is assessing the processes and impact of all UK SHORE schemes and will inform future policy development.

In March 2025, the Department for Transport published a report setting out the early outcomes of the evaluation of the UK SHORE programme to date, including completed projects in the CMDC, with the final report due in Autumn 2025.

Officials regularly discuss the appraisal of CMDC projects with Innovate UK, who play a key role in collecting project monitoring data to inform the evaluation programme.

We work jointly across Government to develop policies, regulation and mechanisms to support maritime environment and decarbonisation, including with the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the development of seafarer (a) training, (b) skills and (c) employment policy as a result of projects funded through the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport has been in frequent discussion with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), which oversees UK seafarer training, to ensure green skills are embedded in the new training scheme. This scheme, developed with industry input and coordinated by the MCA, will launch in September 2025. It includes training on future fuels and new technologies, complementing the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition's projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Furthermore, the MCA has a formal role in both the design and delivery of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition's programme and was closely involved in the design of the latest funding competition, which includes provision for bids covering training and skills.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 43027 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, how many public charging devices for electric vehicles there were per head of population in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales, and (d) Northern Ireland as of 1 January 2025.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The below table shows public electric vehicle charging devices per 100,000 of the population in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as of 1 January 2025.

Data on public electric vehicle charging devices in the UK, held by the Department for Transport, are sourced from the electric vehicle charging platform Zapmap. Charging devices not recorded on Zapmap are not included and the true number of charging devices may be slightly higher than recorded in these figures.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the status is of the revised Harbour Revision Order relating to the Harbour managed by Dorset Council; and when she expects it to be approved.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The department does not manage the process of Harbour orders, as this process is led by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The MMO is unusually busy with Harbour orders at present but is working continuously to process all harbour orders.

For an accurate status update of the harbour order in question, we suggest the Council contacts the MMO directly.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department holds data on (a) vessel operation and (b) maritime skills recorded as part of Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition projects funded by the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions in her Department.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) is funded by the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme in the Department for Transport. The CMDC has supported a range of feasibility studies, pre-deployment trials and short demonstrations.

We are committed to a robust evaluation of the UK SHORE programme. The Department has commissioned Frontier Economics and SYSTRA Ltd to conduct a comprehensive independent evaluation of the UK SHORE programme, which is assessing the processes and impact of all UK SHORE schemes, including environmental impacts and job creation.

In March 2025, the Department for Transport published a report setting out the early outcomes of the evaluation of the UK SHORE programme to date, including completed projects in the CMDC. The majority of the CMDC demonstration projects only concluded at the end of March 2025. Therefore, data about their impact will be captured through the ongoing evaluation, due to conclude later this year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the availability of practical driving tests at (a) Arbroath Test Centre and (b) Dundee Test Centre.

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.

On the 18 December 2024, DVSA set out further plans to reduce driving test waiting times across the country. These steps include recruiting 450 driving examiners (DEs). Full details of these steps can be found on GOV.UK.

DVSA continues to recruit DEs at Arbroath and Dundee driving test centres (DTC) and is currently working through the recruitment process from recent campaigns. As part of this, DVSA has two potential new DEs, one is booked on a training course and one is undergoing pre-employment checks. Additionally, one DE successfully passed training and is now conducting driving tests at Dundee and Arbroath.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, who the sub-contractors were who were involved in (a) the supply of crew to operate the Pacific Grebe during the sea trials phase and (b) other aspects of the Winds of Change project funded by the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Winds of Change project was awarded funding through the third round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC). The CMDC is funded by the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) Research and Development programme in the Department for Transport and delivered and managed by Innovate UK, on behalf of the Department.

Applications for CMDC funding undergo an independent assessment process, managed by Innovate UK. Project partners of all successful bids are published online. Innovate UK and the Department for Transport are not responsible for the procurement of subcontractors, but the rules around the use of subcontractors are set out in the competition scope.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the revised Lyme Regis and Bridport Harbour Order (revision of October 2022) for Dorset Council will include provisions to allow the granting of longer leases; and what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the revised order on potential leaseholders.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The department does not manage the process of Harbour orders, as this process is led by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The MMO is unusually busy with Harbour orders at present but is working continuously to process all harbour orders.

Whilst the department is a consultee of all HROs, the department does not comment on the content of orders unless it affects the position or powers of the department. As such, no assessment has been made on the impact of the order on leaseholders.

For an accurate status update of the harbour order in question and for an update as to its content, we suggest the Council contacts the MMO directly.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the time taken to consider the revised Lyme Regis and Bridport Harbour Order (revision of October 2022) on Dorset Council.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The department does not manage the process of Harbour orders, as this process is led by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The MMO is unusually busy with Harbour orders at present but is working continuously to process all harbour orders. While the Department is keen to work with the MMO to understand how we can support more sustainable efficiencies in the longer term, no assessment has been made of the impact of time taken for this order or any other.

For an accurate status update of the harbour order in question, we suggest the Council contacts the MMO directly.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2010.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency has offered apprenticeships in each year, since 2018.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Report to the Shipbuilding Enterprise for Growth Group by the Centres of Excellence Task & Finish Group, published in September 2024, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on potential domestic maritime employment opportunities in the pipeline of shipbuilding contracts identified in that report.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Shipbuilding skills and employment is led by the National Shipbuilding Office (NSO), which is hosted by the Ministry of Defence. My officials are in regular contact with the NSO to understand where the Department can support their work.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Access for All funding allocated to Thirsk Station has been placed on hold.

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

The feasibility work for Thirsk station is underway and we expect all 50 of the feasibility studies announced last year to be complete in the spring. We expect to be able to confirm which stations will move forward over the summer. The Access for All programme continues to be heavily oversubscribed.

We remain committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognise the valuable social and economic benefits this brings to communities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the availability of practical driving tests.

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.

On the 18 December 2024, DVSA set out a 7-point plan to reduce driving test waiting times across the country. Details of which are available on gov.uk (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dvsa-sets-out-plan-to-reduce-driving-test-waiting-times).

On 23 April, the Secretary of State announced further action that the government is taking to reduce driving test wait times. Details of these measures have also been published on gov.uk (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-acts-to-make-thousands-of-extra-driving-tests-available-each-month).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the number and proportion of (a) taxi and (b) private hire vehicles that use number plates that do not conform with regulations.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, various police forces and Trading Standards in relation to the supply and use of illegal number plates as well as number plates with raised characters, commonly known as ‘4D plates’. Some 4D plates can also be described as ‘ghost’ plates where the characters are constructed from materials that are unable to be read by infrared Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems. Work is currently ongoing to quantify the number of illegal plates that may be in circulation, which would include on taxis and private hire vehicles.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the additional time taken to introduce the South Western Railway Arterio rolling stock fleet.

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

Arterio delays were initially caused by manufacturing and software issues, the responsibility of Alstom. There have been a number of more recent issues including driver training and platform infrastructure readiness, the responsibility of South Western Railway, which have impacted the ability to bring further units into passenger service as envisaged. My officials are actively engaged in ensuring all appropriate actions are being taken in the interests of passengers and taxpayers.

The Rail Minister has asked FirstGroup and MTR, the current owners of SWR, to meet with me urgently to explain what they are doing to address these issues as a priority.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of remodelling Manchester Oxford Road railway station on rail capacity.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Improving rail capacity and performance are key aims of the Government’s investment programme for Manchester, hence the prioritisation of improvements to Oxford Road station which is a key constraint on the network. As the Oxford Road project develops over the next couple of years, further timetable and station capacity studies will be made.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the expansion of Heathrow Airport on the environment.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The government has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer. Once proposals have been received, the government will review the Airports National Policy Statement, which provides the basis for decision making on granting development consent for a new runway at Heathrow.

The government has been clear that any airport expansion proposals need to demonstrate that they contribute to economic growth, can be delivered in line with the UK’s legally binding commitments on carbon and meet strict environmental requirements on air quality and noise pollution.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what external analysis her Department has commissioned on the potential impact of Heathrow expansion.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The government has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer. Once proposals have been received, the government will review the Airports National Policy Statement, which provides the basis for decision making on granting development consent for a new runway at Heathrow.

The government has been clear that any airport expansion proposals need to demonstrate that they contribute to economic growth, can be delivered in line with the UK’s legally binding commitments on carbon and meet strict environmental requirements on air quality and noise pollution.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has undertaken a health impact assessment on the expansion of Heathrow airport.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The government has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer. Once proposals have been received, the government will review the Airports National Policy Statement, which provides the basis for decision making on granting development consent for a new runway at Heathrow.

The government has been clear that any airport expansion proposals need to demonstrate that they contribute to economic growth, can be delivered in line with the UK’s legally binding commitments on carbon and meet strict environmental requirements on air quality and noise pollution.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the expansion of Heathrow Airport on economic growth.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The government has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer. Once proposals have been received, the government will review the Airports National Policy Statement, which provides the basis for decision making on granting development consent for a new runway at Heathrow.

The government has been clear that any airport expansion proposals need to demonstrate that they contribute to economic growth, can be delivered in line with the UK’s legally binding commitments on carbon and meet strict environmental requirements on air quality and noise pollution.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of public transport to hospitals in Hampshire and Surrey.

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

The Government knows that a modern public transport network is vital to providing access to services and keeping communities connected. The government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill on 17 December 2024 as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform.

The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England, including ensuring access to vital local services such as hospitals. The government has committed to increasing accountability by including a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services.

In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities, of which Hampshire County Council has been allocated over £14 million and Surry County Council over £12 million. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will ask (a) local authorities and (b) combined authorities to undertake an audit of bus stops in order to identify those that fall below the standard.

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

The Government recognises the value that high-quality public transport infrastructure provides to passengers, including bus stops. Local authorities are responsible for the bus stops in their area, and the government has allocated over £712 million to local authorities in England outside London in this financial year to support and improve bus services. This includes capital funding which can be used to improve infrastructure such as bus stations and stops. The Department has also published Local Transport Note (LTN) 1/24 Bus User Priority which provides guidance on good practice in the design of bus stops.

The Government also knows how important safe and accessible bus stations and stops are in supporting people to make inclusive journeys on local bus services. The Bus Services (No.2) Bill, introduced on 17 December, sets out a comprehensive package of measures which will make bus travel more accessible and inclusive. This includes a requirement on Local Transport Authorities to publish Bus Network Accessibility Plans setting out an assessment of existing provision and measures to improve this in future. These plans could include an assessment of bus stops in the local area.

The Bill also introduces a power to enable the Secretary of State to publish statutory guidance on the safety and accessibility of bus stations and stops, and to require specified public sector bodies to pay regard to it when they provide new or upgrade existing facilities. The guidance will help authorities to provide infrastructure that people can and want to use, helping to ensure that they are not prevented from using bus services because of inadequate accessibility or safety.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of moving to multi-year funding settlements for local authorities to support long-term transport infrastructure investment.

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

This government is committed to providing greater stability to local government by giving councils multi-year funding settlements and ending wasteful competitive bidding.

Funding to local authorities for transport in future years is being considered as part of the current Spending Review, the outcome of which will be confirmed in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the recent £2 million Bus Service Improvement Plan funding allocated to Dorset Council is effectively utilised to enhance bus services in underserved rural communities within West Dorset.

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

The Government is committed to seeing better, more reliable bus services delivered right across England, including in West Dorset and other rural communities.

Local transport authorities are encouraged to use funding for Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs) on schemes that they, and local operators, believe will deliver the best overall outcomes in growing long term patronage, revenues and therefore maintaining service levels, whilst ensuring essential social and economic connectivity for local communities.

This will be different for each area. We believe local leaders know their areas best and so are best placed to make decisions about how to improve services to ensure they meet the needs of local communities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her Department's original budget for the Great Western Railway modernisation project was; how much her Department has spent since that project started; and what the estimated final cost is in (a) real and (b) current terms.

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

The Great Western Route Modernisation Programme was estimated to cost £2,967m at the time of the 2015 Business Case. The outturn cost for the Programme in 2021/22 was £3,863m.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with farming communities on the potential impact of rural road infrastructure on farming operations.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Local highway authorities are responsible for their local roads, in both rural and urban areas. It is up to them to engage as necessary with relevant stakeholders, including farming communities, on matters of this sort.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what long-term investment her Department is making in cycling and walking infrastructure within the Comprehensive Spending Review.

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

Future government investment in cycling and walking is being considered alongside all other transport priorities as part of the Spending Review. On 28 March, I informed Parliament of my intention to publish a third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy following the conclusion of the Spending Review. This will allow us to say more on the long-term funding for active travel, as required by the 2015 Infrastructure Act.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will hold discussions with British Airways on the frequency of flights between the UK and Ghana.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

DfT officials hold regular discussions with airlines, airports and international partners, including Ghana, to facilitate global connectivity. Routes operated, the frequency and management of those routes, are commercial decisions made freely by airlines as an independent business. As these are commercial decisions, the DfT has not had any discussions with British Airways on the frequency of its UK-Ghana route. The recently updated UK- Ghana Air Services Agreement allows for additional direct flights to operate between the UK and Ghana to be operated by an interested and designated UK or Ghanaian airline.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help improve bus connectivity in )a) Great Gaddesden and (b) other rural areas.

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

The Government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England, including in Tring, Aylesbury and Hemel Hempstead.

In addition, the Government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Hertfordshire County Council has been allocated over £12 million of this funding, and Buckinghamshire over £6 million. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, support early morning or evening services and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2025 to Question 32060 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to publish a cross-departmental consultation on measures to help tackle delays facing (a) transport and (b) other infrastructure organisations in securing permission to install a distribution network operator connection from highways authorities.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We continue to work with other government departments, such as MHCLG and DESNZ, to understand what changes are required to remove barriers to installing chargepoints and obtaining grid connections.

In December 2024, we announced further changes to planning permission for off-street locations and published a grid connections review specifically focused on electric vehicle charging. We continue to work with industry stakeholders to streamline relevant processes.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the transition to an online- only application process for the Blue Badge scheme has made on (a) neurodiverse people and (b) people with disabilities.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government has no current plans to make Blue Badge applications online-only. For online applications, the Department for Transport works continuously to improve online badge applications so they are quicker and easier for applicants. This includes undertaking specific research and testing to identify innovative improvements to the online application process. The service also undergoes regular accessibility and assurance testing to guarantee compliance with the Government’s digital standards.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department will make an assessment of the impact of (a) unfilled station staff vacancies and (b) use of fixed-term contracts at Avanti West Coast-managed railway stations on (i) trends in the length of delays at ticket offices and (ii) trends in the number of unscheduled closures of ticket offices.

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

The Department expects all train operating companies to use reasonable endeavours to meet their obligations for regulated staffed ticket office opening hours under Schedule 17 of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement. As such, we regularly review ticket office opening hours compliance and the causes of any negative trends, including staff vacancies.

Train operating companies are also required to achieve challenging customer experience targets across a range of measures, including ticket offices being open at advertised times. These standards are regularly and independently inspected via the Service Quality Regime and there are accountability and financial consequences for failure.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in (a) London and (b) Romford constituency.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of affordable charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV). As of April 2025, the Government and industry have supported the installation of 76,507 publicly available charging devices, up 28% on this time last year.

London, which includes Romford constituency, was allocated over £41m capital and resource funding through the Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund to increase the number of local public chargepoints across the area. The £381m LEVI Fund will support the installation of at least 100,000 on-street chargepoints across the country.

As of 1 January 2025, there were 22,200 public electric vehicle charging devices in London, 1,341 of which had a power rating of 50kW or above. 48 of these devices were in the constituency of Romford, of which 33 had a power rating of 50kW or above.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish the carbon assessment for the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The ZEV Mandate remains the Government’s largest single carbon saving measure. The carbon impacts of the ZEV mandate were summarised within the cost benefit analysis published alongside the original legislation.

On 7 April 2025, the Government announced policy changes to the ZEV Mandate to further support the UK’s automotive industry. The policy changes are expected to have a minor carbon impact when compared to the savings delivered by the ZEV Mandate as a whole. We estimate a 1% decrease (-4.2 Mt CO₂) in CO₂ savings from the original ZEV mandate (420 Mt CO₂) across 2024 to 2050. A breakdown of this carbon analysis has been published alongside the government response.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) Kingswood and (b) other villages benefit from a local bus service.

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

The Government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them, including in Kingswood and villages right across England.

In addition, the Government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Surrey County Council has been allocated over £12 million of this funding. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to bring forward regulations to require all road cyclists to wear an approved safety helmet.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Highway Code recommends that cyclists should wear helmets. The Government encourages cyclists, particularly children, to do so, but has no plans to make this a legal requirement. The safety benefits of mandating helmets would be likely to be outweighed by the fact that it would put some people off cycling, thereby reducing the wider health and environmental benefits.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to raise the retirement age for commercial pilots.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Age limits for commercial pilots are set out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in standards and recommended practices, which the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) apply. These are under review by ICAO and the CAA remain engaged with them on reviewing the evidence base for future changes to age limits and making progress in this area when we can safely do so.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to make it an offence for non-electric vehicles to park in an electric vehicle charging space.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Parking enforcement on local highways is a local authority matter. Local authorities can use traffic regulation orders to designate and enforce electric vehicle (EV) only bays. For private land, enforcement falls to the landowner.

Found: priorities for resilience. [52] The 2022 UK National Strategy for Maritime Security, led by the Department for Transport

Found: It is working with Defra, MMO, DfT and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to improve awareness

Found: issue-specific roles for agencies such as the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), part of the Department for Transport

Found: Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology; Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Department for Transport

Found: Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) would be advantageous, with these also extending to both Department for Transport

Found: to the UK’s Clean Maritime Plan, which was published in 2019.2 Since the hearing, the Department for Transport

Found: points with the Department for Health and Social Care and the Department for Transport

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Found: We are funded by Department for Transport, and we get a small income from satellite licensing, but it

Found: Chris Whitehouse: We have engaged with MHCLG and DfT, but I am not aware of their current thoughts on

Found: We are funded by Department for Transport, and we get a small income from satellite licensing, but it

Found: We are funded by Department for Transport, and we get a small income from satellite licensing, but it

Found: Q535 Gregor Poynton: You probably speak to the Department for Transport, the Department for Business

Found: Phase 2 of Northstowe was held up by the fact that the Department for Transport had not promoted the

Found: in here, so I do not know whether it has been or will be announced, but I know that the Department for Transport

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the Integrated National Transport Strategy.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Ministers and senior officials from the Department of Health and Social Care and Department for Transport have a range of discussions about policy issues of interest to both Departments. We expect to work closely together to ensure that health can be appropriately considered within the Integrated National Transport Strategy as it develops.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the loss of supply routes to the US following the imposition of tariffs on UK companies; and if he will consider tariffs on imported metal goods.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Department for Business and Trade are working closely with colleagues in DfT to understand and assess the impacts on supply routes of goods globally due to US tariffs. This is complex analysis and requires collaboration between multiple government departments.

We remain committed to discussions with the US on a wider economic deal and this government will do what is necessary to defend the UK’s national interest. That is why on 3 April, the government launched a Request for Input from businesses, to keep all options on the table; and help inform the UK's response to US tariffs.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing guidance on the sentencing of freight crime.

Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

This Government is highly aware of the rising frequency of freight crime and the significant and damaging impact it can have on businesses and drivers. We are determined to crack down on it.

We are committed to tackling crime and restoring public confidence in policing through our Safer Streets Mission and Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, which will deliver thousands of officers across England and Wales. We are continuing to work closely with the police, wider automative industry and the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) to strengthen our response to vehicle crime. We are also continuing to work closely with Opal, the police’s national intelligence unit focused on serious organised acquisitive crime, including freight crime. The Department for Transport (DfT) hosts the Freight Council, which discusses crime against freight companies, and the Home Office works closely with DfT to engage with the sector on this issue through the Freight Council.

With regards to guidelines, guidelines for sentencing are developed and reviewed by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales, in fulfilment of its statutory duty to do so. The guidelines produced provide the Court with guidance on factors that should be considered, which may affect the sentence given. They set out different levels of sentence based on the harm caused and how culpable the offender is.

It is open to individuals to approach the Council to ask that they review their guidelines. As an independent body, it is at the Council’s discretion whether to review particular guidelines, in line with its published criteria for developing or revising guidelines. This is available on its website at: https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/sentencing-and-the-council/about-the-sentencing-council/our-criteria-for-developing-or-revising-guidelines/.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the impact on business of freight crime in (a) England and (b) the West Midlands; and if she will undertake an assessment of trends in the level of freight crime in (i) England and (ii) the West Midlands.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

This Government understands the significant and damaging impact freight crime has on businesses and drivers and we are carefully monitoring the increases in its frequency. The experience of cargo theft, where criminals are ripping the sides of lorries and taking the goods inside, is a highly alarming one for dedicated HGV drivers to go through, and the Government is committed to tackling this crime, and protecting those drivers.

We will continue to work with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders towards those ends, and I recently met with Rachel Taylor MP, and Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads at the Department for Transport (DfT), specifically to discuss freight crime. The DfT also hosts the Freight Council, which regularly discusses crime against freight companies, and which is attended by Home Office officials to engage with the sector on this issue.

We also recognise the strong links between freight crime and serious, organised crime, which is a major threat to our country’s national security and prosperity and is estimated to cost the UK at least £47 billion annually. This Government is committed to tackling serious and organised crime in all its forms, and we are continuing to work closely with Opal, the police’s national intelligence unit focused on serious organised acquisitive crime, which has multiple thematic desks, including a vehicle crime intelligence desk which covers freight crime.

As well as wider offence data, the Home Office collects and publishes data on specific crimes affecting commercial business premises in England and Wales, including premises in the Transport, Accommodation and Food sector, as part of the Commercial Victimisation Survey (CVS). Neither data source currently provides the level of detail necessary to separately identify freight crimes, or the number of offences taking place in different regions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support Staffordshire Police to reduce rates of freight crime.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

This Government understands the significant and damaging impact freight crime has on businesses and drivers and we are carefully monitoring the increases in its frequency. The experience of cargo theft, where criminals are ripping the sides of lorries and taking the goods inside, is a highly alarming one for dedicated HGV drivers to go through, and the Government is committed to tackling this crime, and protecting those drivers.

We will continue to work with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders towards those ends, and I recently met with Rachel Taylor MP, and Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads at the Department for Transport (DfT), specifically to discuss freight crime. The DfT also hosts the Freight Council, which regularly discusses crime against freight companies, and which is attended by Home Office officials to engage with the sector on this issue.

We also recognise the strong links between freight crime and serious, organised crime, which is a major threat to our country’s national security and prosperity and is estimated to cost the UK at least £47 billion annually. This Government is committed to tackling serious and organised crime in all its forms, and we are continuing to work closely with Opal, the police’s national intelligence unit focused on serious organised acquisitive crime, which has multiple thematic desks, including a vehicle crime intelligence desk which covers freight crime.

As well as wider offence data, the Home Office collects and publishes data on specific crimes affecting commercial business premises in England and Wales, including premises in the Transport, Accommodation and Food sector, as part of the Commercial Victimisation Survey (CVS). Neither data source currently provides the level of detail necessary to separately identify freight crimes, or the number of offences taking place in different regions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department plans to take to tackle freight crime.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

This Government understands the significant and damaging impact freight crime has on businesses and drivers and we are carefully monitoring the increases in its frequency. The experience of cargo theft, where criminals are ripping the sides of lorries and taking the goods inside, is a highly alarming one for dedicated HGV drivers to go through, and the Government is committed to tackling this crime, and protecting those drivers.

We will continue to work with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders towards those ends, and I recently met with Rachel Taylor MP, and Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads at the Department for Transport (DfT), specifically to discuss freight crime. The DfT also hosts the Freight Council, which regularly discusses crime against freight companies, and which is attended by Home Office officials to engage with the sector on this issue.

We also recognise the strong links between freight crime and serious, organised crime, which is a major threat to our country’s national security and prosperity and is estimated to cost the UK at least £47 billion annually. This Government is committed to tackling serious and organised crime in all its forms, and we are continuing to work closely with Opal, the police’s national intelligence unit focused on serious organised acquisitive crime, which has multiple thematic desks, including a vehicle crime intelligence desk which covers freight crime.

As well as wider offence data, the Home Office collects and publishes data on specific crimes affecting commercial business premises in England and Wales, including premises in the Transport, Accommodation and Food sector, as part of the Commercial Victimisation Survey (CVS). Neither data source currently provides the level of detail necessary to separately identify freight crimes, or the number of offences taking place in different regions.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answers of 12 March 2025 to Questions (a) 35320, (b) 35322 and (c) 35324, what was the date of the most recent official meeting between ministers from his Department and ministers from (a) the Department for Transport and (b) the Department for Business and Trade to discuss policies for developing the UK ammonia market.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

There is regular engagement between DESNZ, DfT and DBT to discuss a range of policy issues. Officials are working closely with other departments to understand the potential role of ammonia in the UK’s future low carbon economy and how it should be considered within our policy frameworks.

Ministers from DESNZ are in regular communication with ministers from DfT & DBT on all issues.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much funding the Scottish Government will receive through Barnett consequentials as a result of highway maintenance funding being provided to England and Wales.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

At Phase 1 of the 2025 Spending Review, the UK Government allocated an additional £500 million to the Department for Transport for local highways maintenance in 2025-26. The Barnett formula was applied in the usual way to changes in the Department for Transport’s Delegated Expenditure Limit (DEL) budget.

At Spending Reviews, the Barnett formula is applied to changes to each UK Government department’s overall DEL budget, not to individual programmes.

The Scottish Government is receiving over £47.7 billion in 2025-26 following Phase 1 of the Spending Review 2025. This is the largest in real terms of any settlement since devolution and ensures that the Scottish Government continue to receive at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK.

The Block Grant Transparency publication breaks down all changes in the devolved governments’ block grant funding from the 2015 Spending Review up to and including Main Estimates 2023-24. The most recent report was published in July 2023. An update to Block Grant Transparency to include Autumn Budget 2024 changes will be published in due course:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/block-grant-transparency-july-2023

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of drone regulation to support the delivery of (a) blood, (b) organs, (c) pharmaceuticals and (d) other medical supplies within the NHS.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to innovation in drones and other growth sectors, and work is ongoing across the Government, including between the Department and the Civil Aviation Authority, to support the safe and effective introduction of drones into medical logistics. Further information on the Government’s support for drones is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-20-million-to-help-drones-and-flying-taxis-take-to-uk-skies

Last year, the Department of Health and Social Care, working in collaboration with the Department for Transport, Innovate UK, and UK Research and Innovation, supported five pilot projects, allocating them a total of £500,000, to explore the use of drones in the National Health Service. Given the potential of drones to improve how the NHS delivers patient care, the Department of Health and Social Care is supportive of trials that explore the use of drones in medical logistics. Recent drone trials in the NHS have included pathology deliveries in Cornwall, blood deliveries in London, and the transport of chemotherapy to the Isle of Wight, where drone use reduced journey times from four hours by road and sea to a 30-minute flight.

The Department of Health and Social Care continuously reviews the available evidence surrounding the use of drones in medical logistics and is supportive of new trials to further build this evidence base.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the cost-effectiveness of using (a) drones and (b) traditional delivery methods for medical logistics.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to innovation in drones and other growth sectors, and work is ongoing across the Government, including between the Department and the Civil Aviation Authority, to support the safe and effective introduction of drones into medical logistics. Further information on the Government’s support for drones is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-20-million-to-help-drones-and-flying-taxis-take-to-uk-skies

Last year, the Department of Health and Social Care, working in collaboration with the Department for Transport, Innovate UK, and UK Research and Innovation, supported five pilot projects, allocating them a total of £500,000, to explore the use of drones in the National Health Service. Given the potential of drones to improve how the NHS delivers patient care, the Department of Health and Social Care is supportive of trials that explore the use of drones in medical logistics. Recent drone trials in the NHS have included pathology deliveries in Cornwall, blood deliveries in London, and the transport of chemotherapy to the Isle of Wight, where drone use reduced journey times from four hours by road and sea to a 30-minute flight.

The Department of Health and Social Care continuously reviews the available evidence surrounding the use of drones in medical logistics and is supportive of new trials to further build this evidence base.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to integrate drone technology into existing NHS logistics and emergency response frameworks.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to innovation in drones and other growth sectors, and work is ongoing across the Government, including between the Department and the Civil Aviation Authority, to support the safe and effective introduction of drones into medical logistics. Further information on the Government’s support for drones is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-20-million-to-help-drones-and-flying-taxis-take-to-uk-skies

Last year, the Department of Health and Social Care, working in collaboration with the Department for Transport, Innovate UK, and UK Research and Innovation, supported five pilot projects, allocating them a total of £500,000, to explore the use of drones in the National Health Service. Given the potential of drones to improve how the NHS delivers patient care, the Department of Health and Social Care is supportive of trials that explore the use of drones in medical logistics. Recent drone trials in the NHS have included pathology deliveries in Cornwall, blood deliveries in London, and the transport of chemotherapy to the Isle of Wight, where drone use reduced journey times from four hours by road and sea to a 30-minute flight.

The Department of Health and Social Care continuously reviews the available evidence surrounding the use of drones in medical logistics and is supportive of new trials to further build this evidence base.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with the Civil Aviation Authority on (a) the regulatory framework for Beyond Visual Line of Sight drone operations and (b) how this impacts NHS and emergency service deployments.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to innovation in drones and other growth sectors, and work is ongoing across the Government, including between the Department and the Civil Aviation Authority, to support the safe and effective introduction of drones into medical logistics. Further information on the Government’s support for drones is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-20-million-to-help-drones-and-flying-taxis-take-to-uk-skies

Last year, the Department of Health and Social Care, working in collaboration with the Department for Transport, Innovate UK, and UK Research and Innovation, supported five pilot projects, allocating them a total of £500,000, to explore the use of drones in the National Health Service. Given the potential of drones to improve how the NHS delivers patient care, the Department of Health and Social Care is supportive of trials that explore the use of drones in medical logistics. Recent drone trials in the NHS have included pathology deliveries in Cornwall, blood deliveries in London, and the transport of chemotherapy to the Isle of Wight, where drone use reduced journey times from four hours by road and sea to a 30-minute flight.

The Department of Health and Social Care continuously reviews the available evidence surrounding the use of drones in medical logistics and is supportive of new trials to further build this evidence base.

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Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill, which is currently being considered by the House of Lords.

Answered by Hyslop, Fiona - Cabinet Secretary for Transport

My officials have had multiple discussions with their counterparts in the Department for Transport on the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill both before and after it was introduced in the House of Lords.

In addition, the Minister for Local Transport, Rt. Hon. Simon Lightwood MP, wrote to me in December when the Bill was introduced, setting out the Bill’s purpose, territorial extent and application, and its interaction with Scotland. We also discussed the UK Government proposals when Mr Lightwood and I met in person on 3 April 2025.

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