Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Statement of 3 April 2025 on Local Government Best Value, HCWS576, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of Tees Valley Combined Authority's (a) management of and (b) accounting for the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement funding allocation between 2022-23 and 2026-27.

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

The City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) play a key role in improving local networks across the country. Alongside significant capital investment, CRSTS provides revenue funding to help places manage delivery effectively. Tees Valley’s programme business case was assessed by Government, and the Department works closely with Mayoral Combined Authorities to monitor delivery progress and expenditure through an agreed governance framework. Any relevant findings from the Best Value process will be duly considered as appropriate.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Statement of 3 April 2025 on Local Government Best Value, HCWS576, what assessment her Department has made of the capacity of the Tees Valley Combined Authority to (a) manage and (b) account for the use of the Transport for City Regions funding allocation between 2027-28 and 2031-32.

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

The Chancellor announced the £15.6 billion Transport for City Regions settlements on 4 June 2025. The settlements provide long-term funding certainty, including revenue funding, ensuring city regions have the resources they need to effectively manage programmes. The Department will also work closely with Mayoral Strategic Authorities on a governance framework to monitor delivery progress and expenditure. Any relevant findings from the Best Value process will be duly considered as appropriate.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance Active Travel England have issued on the use of compulsory purchase order powers for active travel routes.

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

To date Active Travel England has not issued any guidance on the use of compulsory purchase order powers. A range of approaches to establishing rural active travel routes will be set out in guidance due to be published later this year, including case studies on the use of compulsory purchase orders.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many permanent civil servants in her Department are staff without assigned posts; and how many are placed in an equivalent (a) people action team, (b) priority movers list, (c) redeployment register, (d) talent pool and (e) skills match hub in the most recent period for which data is available.

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

There are no permanent civil servants within DfTc and the Agencies without assigned posts.

The Department for Transport (DfTc and the Agencies) has a priority movers list/redeployment register. Within a payroll workforce of over 16000*, the number of people currently on the register for DfTc and the Agencies as of 6^th June 2025 is 61.

*Payroll staff total headcount DfT: workforce management information, April 2025 - GOV.UK

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made on (a) reducing insurance costs for drivers and (b) the cross-Government motor insurance taskforce.

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

This Government is committed to tackle the high costs of motor insurance. The cross-Government motor insurance taskforce, launched in October, is comprised of ministers from relevant government departments and the Financial Conduct Authority and Competition and Markets Authority. The taskforce is supported by a separate stakeholder panel of industry experts representing the insurance, motor, and consumer sector.

This Taskforce has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums. It will look at the increased insurance costs on consumers and the insurance industry, including how this impacts different demographics, geographies, and communities.

The Government will provide updates in due course.

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 UK-manufactured electric vehicles exported to foreign countries on UK environmental targets.

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

Industry data shows nearly 80% of vehicles made in the UK are exported. We do not expect this to impact the Government’s ability to meet the targets set out through the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate. A thriving zero emission vehicle export market is crucial to supporting a domestic automotive industry that will drive growth, deliver jobs, and support the UK’s environmental goals.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to transition from E10 to E15 fuel.

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

The UK Government made E10 the standard (or ‘premium’) grade petrol in Great Britain in September 2021. Previously the grade supplied at UK forecourts contained a lower bioethanol content known as E5.

In making the decision to mandate E10 the Department carried out extensive consultation and undertook a comprehensive public information campaign. The UK did not move to E10 without assurance that vehicles on UK roads were ready to safely use higher blends of bioethanol, and that such a transition would align with industry agreed fuel standards for petrol.

The industry agreed standard for petrol, EN228, currently only permits fuel suppliers to supply petrol containing up to 10% ethanol (E10). The Department continually reviews all policies relevant to biofuels, including on E10. Any changes to fuel regulation would require alignment with industry led fuel standards for petrol and a consultation.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 5.83 of the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, how much funding has been allocated to progress the next stage of Midlands Rail Hub West.

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

The Chancellor confirmed Midlands Rail Hub is a priority for the Government and £123m has been committed for the next phase of the Programme.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of abolishing peak time pricing on rail fares to and from Devon.

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

Peak and off-peak fares are an important tool to manage demand and alleviate crowding on peak time services by encouraging those who can travel off-peak to do so. Any changes to rail policy need to balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers to ensure everyone gets a fair deal.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will introduce step free access at Kirkby-in-Ashfield railway 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.

In May 2024, the previous government selected 50 stations for initial feasibility work for potential upgrades as part of our Access for All programme. This did not include Kirkby-in-Ashfield railway station.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of wheelchair accessible taxis in (a) rural areas and (b) Gloucestershire.

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

Disabled people should be able to travel easily, confidently, and with dignity and the Government understands the importance of accessible taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) in supporting them to live independent lives.

The Department collects and publishes statistics about the number of wheelchair accessible taxis and PHVs in England. As of 1 April 2024, 18.5% of taxis and 6.2% of PHVs licensed in Gloucestershire were wheelchair accessible. During the same period, in areas that are largely rural, 13.5% of taxis and 6.9% of PHVs met the same standard.

The proportion of licensed vehicles that are wheelchair accessible varies considerably across England and in some areas, it can be difficult for wheelchair users to obtain a suitable wheelchair accessible taxi or PHV when they need one. Ultimately, however, the licensing of taxis and PHVs is a matter for licensing authorities, and the Government expects them to anticipate the needs of people in their area proactively, and to ensure that services meet a wide range of passenger needs.

Government best practice guidance to licensing authorities in England, updated in November 2023, recommends that authorities assess the demand for wheelchair accessible vehicles and take steps to ensure that there are sufficient available, as part of a “mixed fleet” of vehicles suitable for a range of passenger needs.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the new NaFRA flood zone data, published on 25 March 2025 on plans for an East West Rail station at Tempsford.

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

The new flood risk assessment (NaFRA) published by the Environment Agency in March 2025 is an improved service which now includes surface water data. EWR Co. is already considering the new NaFRA flood zone data in the development of all its plans, including at the new Tempsford Station. This data will be built on where needed, with more detailed bespoke models to ensure proposals appropriately manage flood risk to new infrastructure and surrounding communities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to increase rail freight through the Channel Tunnel and support a more sustainable logistics network across the UK and Europe.

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

The Government is keen to see the growth of international rail freight, which supports the Government’s growth mission. DfT officials engage regularly with the sector to discuss the potential to increase the number of international freight flows through the Channel Tunnel.

While it is ultimately a commercial decision for industry as to whether to operate new services, the Government is engaging with the International rail freight sector to examine potential measures to facilitate cross channel rail freight. The Department also welcomes ORR’s recent decision to reduce HS1 access charges for freight as part of its control period determination, as well as Network Rail’s freight track access charge discount scheme, both of which will help to facilitate growth in international rail freight.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will define the term "directing mind" in relation to Great British Railways.

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

The Railways Bill will set out Great British Railway's statutory functions, as the directing mind for the railway. In general terms Great British Railways (GBR) will manage cross-network planning and operations for current and future customer needs. With oversight by the Secretary of State and where necessary Scottish Ministers, GBR will make informed trade-offs between different uses of the railway, which is as crucial for the efficiency of freight operations as it is for passenger services.

Passengers and taxpayers expect a consistent service across the rail network, and the majority support the move to a publicly owned-rail network, as outlined in a YouGov survey from 2024.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings ministers in the Department for Transport have had with the Mayor of London to discuss proposals to expand Heathrow Airport since July 2024.

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

The Minister for Aviation, in the Department for Transport, regularly meets with stakeholders across the sector and values this engagement.

For the period in question, the Minister for Aviation has held no meetings with the Mayor of London, and therefore, has not discussed Heathrow Airport expansion proposals.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what threshold needs to be met by utility companies to start emergency roadworks without a permit under highway authority permit schemes.

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

Emergency works are defined in legislation as works needed to deal with dangers to life and property and so must be carried out urgently. For these, and other urgent works needed to restore customer connections or deal with leaks, permits must be submitted to the relevant highway authority within two hours of works starting on site. The authority can assess these permits and request works are completed by a particular time.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 46979 on Railways, what steps she plans to take to ensure that Great British Railways provides a more reliable system for passengers.

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

GBR will have the tools and operational independence it needs to plan and run the rail system on a long-term basis to deliver for passengers and freight. Most passengers will travel on GBR trains, running on GBR tracks, and working to a GBR timetable – all run by a single directing mind focused on delivering in the interests of users and providers of railway services, and the interests of the wider public. That will mean fewer delays and a simpler experience, which will provide a more reliable service for passengers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department provides to mobility scooter users who use public roads.

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

The Department has developed a comprehensive guide for users of mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs, including legal requirements and relevant Highway Code information. This is available online at www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobility-scooters-and-powered-wheelchairs-on-the-road-some-guidance-for-users

Further information about the classes of mobility scooters and the requirements to use them can be found online at www.gov.uk/mobility-scooters-and-powered-wheelchairs-rules/classes.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of trends in the number of casualties involving mobility scooters.

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

The table below shows the number of casualties, split by casualty severity, that resulted from road injury collisions involving at least one mobility scooter in Great Britain, for the most recent ten-year period that data is available for.

It should be noted that these figures include all casualties from collisions involving at least one mobility scooter. The casualties may be the mobility scooter users themselves, other road users, or pedestrians. There may also be other vehicles involved in the collision.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to reduce speeding (a) on small rural roads and (b) through village centres.

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

The Government’s THINK! campaign aims to change attitudes and behaviours among a primary audience of young men aged 17-24 who are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on our roads than those over 25. From January - March 2025, THINK! ran a speeding campaign highlighting the risks of driving too fast for the conditions on rural roads, circumstances that contribute to high numbers of young driver casualties. The campaign featured advertising in cinemas, radio, digital audio and gaming environments, as well as working with content creators and influential platforms to tackle speeding via voices the young audience trust.

Decisions on making local speed limits on roads in England rest with traffic authorities who have responsibility for roads in local areas. The Department for Transport issues best practice guidance to assist authorities setting local speed limits, designed to make sure that speed limits are appropriately and consistently set while allowing for flexibility to deal with local circumstances.

It is for local authorities to decide where reduced speed limits will be effective on the roads they manage, and consultation and community support should be at the heart of the process.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations she has received from Northumberland County Council on (a) the Road Investment Strategy, (b) Moor Farm roundabout and (c) Seaton Burn roundabout in the last 12 months.

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

Officials from my Department and National Highways met with the North East Combined Authority, of which Northumberland County Council is a member, in January 2025 to discuss these and other matters. National Highways will continue to engage key local stakeholders, including the relevant local authorities, on proposals to improve Moor Farm and Seaton Burn Roundabouts through its regular Stakeholder Reference Group meetings.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2025 to Question 44913 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, if he will hold discussions with the Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister on the reasons for the difference in the rate of public electric vehicle charging devices per 100,000 of population between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.

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

My officials regularly engage with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland on zero emission vehicle initiatives, including charging infrastructure development. Minister Lightwood met the Northern Ireland Minister for Infrastructure in April during the British-Irish Council meeting to discuss the electric vehicle transition. We will continue to work, where appropriate, with the Devolved Governments to improve transport outcomes for all people of the UK.

While transport is largely devolved to the Department for Infrastructure, the Department is supporting Northern Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles. Through Round 1 of the Levelling Up Fund, we are providing up to £3.27 million to upgrade and expand the EV charging network. Previously, two grants totalling £1.38 million were awarded under the On Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to introduce a National Parking Platform.

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

On 21 May the Government announced that, following successful collaboration with the industry sector, the British Parking Association will now take forward the development and running of the National Parking Platform (NPP).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the electrification of the train line between Uckfield and Hurst Green on economic growth in Sussex.

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

A Strategic Outline Business Case was developed by Network Rail in 2021 which considered the potential benefits of electrifying the line between Hurst Green and Uckfield. This assessment concluded that the scheme would have positive impacts on train service performance and reliability, together with wider economic benefits. The scheme was paused by the previous government following Spending Review 2021; no development work has taken place since that point.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding is available to local authorities to improve road safety in villages.

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

The Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. To this end, my Department is developing its Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course.

The Department for Transport makes highways and local transport funding available to local transport authorities, who decide how to use the funding to support local priorities. Local authorities have the responsibility of making decisions about the roads under their care, based on their knowledge of the area and taking into account local needs and considerations. This includes setting local speed limits and introducing traffic calming measures.

Local authorities are best placed to decide on delivery of road safety initiatives, because of their knowledge of the roads for which they are responsible. We aid local authorities by providing guidance and initiatives such as our flagship road safety campaign, THINK!

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the electrification of the train line between Uckfield and Hurst Green on train reliability.

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

A Strategic Outline Business Case was developed by Network Rail in 2021 which considered the potential benefits of electrifying the line between Hurst Green and Uckfield. This assessment concluded that the scheme would have positive impacts on train service performance and reliability, together with wider economic benefits. The scheme was paused by the previous government following Spending Review 2021; no development work has taken place since that point.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to support community transport.

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

The Government recognises the vital role community transport operators play in connecting people with their communities, enabling access to employment, education, and other essential services such as healthcare.

The Department makes available up to £3.8 million each year through the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) to community transport operators. An uplift of 60% has been added to BSOG claims for community transport operators until 31 March 2026. This means community transport operators will receive £1.60 for every £1 claimed, reflecting the increased costs faced by the sector.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of the funding agreements for the railway industry announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 4 June has been allocated for improved accessibility.

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

The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the £15.6 billion Transport for City Regions settlements for 9 eligible mayoral strategic authorities on 4 June 2025. As a devolved funding programme, it is for local areas to decide how to allocate this funding to address their local transport priorities. The Government’s wider investment plans for transport, including rail, have been set out in the Spending Review.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the economic impact of the closure of Heathrow Airport due to the fire at the North Hyde substation on 21 March.

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

The UK aviation sector is predominantly privately operated therefore airports are responsible for managing their own contingency plans and ensuring that they are robust and meet their own individual circumstances.

The Department does not formally assess the impact of individual resilience issues due to the complexity of the impact and vast range of indirect impacts across the economy.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to bring forward regulations under section 141A of the Transport Act 2000 to improve the collection of centrally held data on local coach journeys.

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

The government is committed to ensuring transparency in Local Transport Authority and operator service delivery. The Bus Services (No.2) Bill was introduced on 17 December as part of the government’s ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill will amend powers in section 141A of the Transport Act 2000 to enable the Secretary of State to bring forward regulations relating to the central collection and publishing of data about local bus services – including about registration and performance. Coach journeys may fall within the scope of any regulations made, if they are operating a local service as defined in the Transport Act 1985.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether owners of property purchased for the route of HS2 were required to enter non-disclosure agreements as a condition for receiving compensation, if so why, and who authorised this.

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

It is not a condition of receiving compensation for property purchased on the HS2 route that the owner must enter into a non-disclosure agreement.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of rural transport infrastructure in North Cornwall constituency.

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

This Government continues to work at pace to address the transport challenges people face in rural areas like North Cornwall.

We recently announced £2.3 billion of Local Transport Grant funding for local authorities over the four-year Spending Review period. This includes more than £24m for Cornwall Council for maintenance and enhancements, such as improving public transport, improving accessibility, and making our streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

We also confirmed £900 million in annual resource funding for local authorities to maintain and improve vital bus services, such as those helping people to travel in rural areas, at the same time as extending our £3 national bus fare cap until March 2027, to continue supporting cost of living pressures.

We look forward to presenting our Integrated National Transport Strategy later this year, which will present a place-based approach to empower local leaders to make appropriate decisions for their areas, including in rural communities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she has taken to work with relevant authorities to reduce drug or alcohol linked fatalities on roads in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency.

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

The enforcement of road traffic law and how available resources are deployed is the responsibility of individual Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners, taking into account the specific local problems and demands with which they are faced.

THINK!, the Government’s flagship road safety campaign, works closely with local authority partners and the police to align on road safety campaign activity. In November 2024, THINK! launched a new drink driving campaign that highlighted the risks of losing your licence after drinking even a little before driving.

The Government is considering policy options in respect of motoring offences, including around drink and drug driving. Details will follow in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people are eligible for free travel under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme due to disability in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

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

The Department for Transport does not hold data on the number of people eligible for free travel under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme due to disability at any geographic level.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the recommendations of the Safer Streets for All report by Living Streets and the Bikeability Trust, published on 19 May 2025.

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

The Department welcomes the findings of this report and will consider its recommendations carefully as we develop our future plans for active travel and road safety.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to consider the recommendations of the Safer Streets for All report by Living Streets and the Bikeability Trust, published on 19 May 2025, in the Road Safety Strategy.

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

The Department welcomes the findings of this report and will consider its recommendations carefully as we develop our future plans for active travel and road safety.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will respond to the recommendations of the Safer Streets for All report by Living Streets and the Bikeability Trust, published on 19 May 2025.

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

The Department welcomes the findings of this report and will consider its recommendations carefully as we develop our future plans for active travel and road safety.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 5.83 of the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, CP 1336, whether Kings Norton station will be upgraded as part of the next stage of Midlands Rail Hub West.

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

The west scope of the Midlands Rail Hub programme includes bringing the island platforms back into use and bringing the footbridge up to modern accessibility standards at Kings Norton Station.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding she has allocated to the completion of the Midlands Rail Hub.

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

The Chancellor’s commitment to progress Midlands Rail Hub West in the 2025 Spending Review follows the release of £123 million last year to design the first phase, which could be delivered by the early 2030s.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she has taken to work with relevant authorities to improve the safety of domestic air travel.

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

The Department for Transport is committed to maintaining the highest standards for aviation safety. The DfT chaired State Safety Board (SSB) oversees UK Aviation Authorities and works to improve UK aviation safety. It identifies and mitigates safety risks to achieve our safety objectives that are: as a minimum, no accidents involving commercial air transport that result in serious injuries or fatalities, and no serious injuries or fatalities to third parties as a result of aviation activities.

We will shortly be publishing the UK State Safety Programme (SSP) which sets out these functions and an overview of how we oversee the UK aviation system. The UK Aviation Authorities includes the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Isle of Man CAA, Channel Islands CAA, Gibraltar CAA, and Air Safety Support International (ASSI) which has oversight of the Overseas Territories. The UK Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) is also the designated independent body for accident and serious incident investigation across the UK Aviation Authorities. The AAIB drives safety improvements through reports and recommendations.

Furthermore, the Department engages across the aviation industry to develop informed policies that are both responsive to industry needs and capable of advancing safety.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation set the global standards for aviation safety, and the UK participates in the development of standards and recommended practices to continually improve global aviation safety.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the electrification of the train line between Uckfield and Hurst Green on passenger service.

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

A Strategic Outline Business Case was developed by Network Rail in 2021 which considered the potential benefits of electrifying the line between Hurst Green and Uckfield. This assessment concluded that the scheme would have positive impacts on train service performance and reliability, together with wider economic benefits. The scheme was paused by the previous government following Spending Review 2021; no development work has taken place since that point.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 46979 on Railways, what steps she plans to take to ensure that Great British Railways provides a more efficient system for passengers.

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

GBR will have the tools and operational independence it needs to plan and run the rail system on a long-term basis to deliver for passengers and freight. Most passengers will travel on GBR trains, running on GBR tracks, and working to a GBR timetable – all run by a single directing mind focused on delivering in the interests of users and providers of railway services, and the interests of the wider public. That will mean fewer delays and a simpler experience, which will provide a more efficient system for passengers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings the Secretary of State for Transport has had with the Mayor of London to discuss proposals to expand Heathrow Airport since July 2024.

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

The Secretary of State met with the Mayor of London in February 2025. The agenda of this meeting was not to discuss Heathrow Airport Expansion. However, the expansion proposal was briefly raised in the appendage of the meeting.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to amend section 81 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 so that local authorities can levy fines against utility companies that fail to maintain street apparatus to their reasonable satisfaction.

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

The Government does not currently have any plans to amend the legislation in this way. Utility companies already have a duty to maintain their apparatus in the street. Where a local authority becomes aware of defective apparatus they should notify the owner of the apparatus. If the apparatus presents a hazard that could result in danger to the public, then the authority should take any appropriate action, which might include an officer remaining on site until the owner of the apparatus attends, or ensuring that suitable actions to make the site safe are carried out. The authority can recover reasonable costs for doing so from the asset owner.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled Setting up a bus franchising scheme: December 2024, published in December 2024, whether a local transport authority is permitted to use surplus revenue generated from a micro-franchised area to fund supported bus services outside the boundaries of that micro-franchised area.

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

A local transport authority can use revenue generated from a franchising scheme to support bus services that are not part of the scheme, including those outside the scheme’s area.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 55867 on Rolling stock, what her timetable is for making an estimate of the potential impact of the time taken to introduce Class 701 rolling stock on the Waterloo-Reading line on costs to the public purse.

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

My officials are currently considering the most appropriate way to approach this issue. Given the complexity of this task, we are unable to commit to a timetable of when this work will be completed.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer to Question 49562 on Railways, if she will publish the rail demand scenarios for Thameslink she has modelled.

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

The Department undertakes a range of detailed forecasts for the rail network under different scenarios and these are used for both financial planning and business case analysis. We do not routinely publish route or train operating company level forecasts.

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 allowing local transport authorities to compel highways authorities to provide parking provision for shared mobility schemes.

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

The Department has not made a detailed assessment of this. It is up to local transport authorities to decide what parking provision to make in their areas, including for shared mobility schemes such as car clubs. In doing so they have to take into account, among other things, their statutory duties as set out in the Equality Act 2010.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many meetings (a) she has and (b) Ministers in her Department have had with hon. Members from (i) her party and (ii) other parties on rail infrastructure projects in their constituencies.

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

Ministers meet regularly with MPs of all parties to discuss rail infrastructure projects at surgeries.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her Department’s timetable is for announcing the next steps of the Access for All programme.

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

Access for All (AfA) funds accessibility improvements to station infrastructure and to date has delivered over 260 additional step-free stations across Britain.

We have funded Network Rail to undertake feasibility studies on 50 stations which could be upgraded through AfA and plan to update stakeholders during the summer.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made on improving the UK's international train connectivity.

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

The Government fully supports thriving and competitive international rail passenger services and freight markets, given the benefits this can bring, including potentially greater choice, new service offers and lower fares for passengers and more sustainable option for the movement of freight.

DfT Officials are actively engaging with relevant international partners and industry counterparts, including prospective operators, to help facilitate new routes or services where possible, particularly where there is a commercial proposition to do so.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2024 to Question 2344 on Railways: West Midlands, what impact her Department’s internal review of its capital spend portfolio had on the decision on Midlands Rail Hub.

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

As referenced by the Chancellor, this settlement shows the government's commitment to progress Midlands Rail Hub West, strengthening connections between Birmingham, the South-West and Wales.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the oral contribution of the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the Spending Review 2025 on 11 June 2025, what funding will be provided to progress the next stage of the Midlands Rail Hub.

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

The Chancellor’s commitment to progress Midlands Rail Hub West in the 2025 Spending Review follows the release of £123 million last year to design the first phase, which could be delivered by the early 2030s.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the merits of removing Appendix B from the Persons with Reduced Mobility National Technical Specification Notice.

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

We recently published the Accessibility National Technical Specification Notice (NTSN), replacing the Persons with Reduced Mobility NTSN following an extensive review and public consultation facilitated by the Rail Safety and Standards Board. The Accessibility NTSN updates many specifications inherited from EU law while preserving ones that did not have a clear case for change.

We did not receive feedback on Appendix B during the review and public consultation or any assessment suggesting merit in its removal. However, we keep all NTSN content under regular review and will consider all feedback as part of our ongoing monitoring process.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve the quality of catering across the rail network during the transition to Great British Railways.

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

Catering services are a commercial matter for each train operating company, and they are responsible for their catering offer. The Department expects operators to tailor their catering provision to local needs while driving value for the taxpayer. Once established, Great British Railways will be able to set appropriate levels of catering on its train services.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an comparative assessment of the quality of catering between rail franchises.

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

The Department has not carried out a comparative assessment of catering between train operating companies. Catering services are a commercial matter for each train operating company, and they are responsible for their catering offer. The Department expects operators to tailor their catering provision to local needs while driving value for the taxpayer.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 58292 on Bus Services: North Shropshire, what metrics will be used to evaluate whether the £4.5 million allocated to Shropshire Council for financial year 2025/2026 is delivering improvements in bus service (a) accessibility, (b) frequency and (c) affordability.

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

The government allocated £4.5 million to Shropshire Council in 2025/26 through the £712 million Local Authority Bus Grant to support and improve bus services. The government used a formula to determine Local Authority Bus Grant allocations in 2025/26 based on need, including population, the distance that buses travel, and the levels of deprivation. Under the formula, Shropshire Council has seen an increase in bus funding compared to 2024/25, when they were allocated £3.8 million.

While the Department closely monitors the finance and delivery performance of all Local Transport Authorities on a quarterly basis, LTAs can use their allocations in whichever way they wish provided this is consistent with the Department's guidance on Bus Service Improvement Plans. The Department encourages local authorities to focus their funding on the actions they and local bus operators believe will deliver the best overall outcomes in growing long-term patronage, revenues and therefore maintaining service levels, whilst maintaining essential social and economic connectivity for local communities.

In 2025/26 financial year, the Department will also introduce a pilot of an outcomes framework approach. The framework will play a vital role in driving up standards for passengers across England, including North Shropshire.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 58292 on Bus Services: North Shropshire, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the £4.5 million allocated to Shropshire Council for financial year 2025/2026 in meeting the bus transport needs of North Shropshire constituents.

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

The government allocated £4.5 million to Shropshire Council in 2025/26 through the £712 million Local Authority Bus Grant to support and improve bus services. The government used a formula to determine Local Authority Bus Grant allocations in 2025/26 based on need, including population, the distance that buses travel, and the levels of deprivation. Under the formula, Shropshire Council has seen an increase in bus funding compared to 2024/25, when they were allocated £3.8 million.

While the Department closely monitors the finance and delivery performance of all Local Transport Authorities on a quarterly basis, LTAs can use their allocations in whichever way they wish provided this is consistent with the Department's guidance on Bus Service Improvement Plans. The Department encourages local authorities to focus their funding on the actions they and local bus operators believe will deliver the best overall outcomes in growing long-term patronage, revenues and therefore maintaining service levels, whilst maintaining essential social and economic connectivity for local communities.

In 2025/26 financial year, the Department will also introduce a pilot of an outcomes framework approach. The framework will play a vital role in driving up standards for passengers across England, including North Shropshire.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of guidance from the Highway Authority and Utilities Committee that utilities beneath tram tracks must be diverted under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 on the cost of light rail schemes; and whether her Department is taking steps to (a) review the cost-allocation model for utility diversions and (b) review the requirement to move utilities in this way.

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

My Department works closely with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) - which brings together highway authorities, utilities and government with the aim of working safely and smartly to reduce the impact of street and road works on members of the public throughout the UK. The Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee is currently reviewing the Diversionary Works Code of Practice with my officials. There are currently no plans to review the regulations for cost allocation.

The New Road and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) balances the statutory rights of highway authorities and undertakers to carry out works with the need to minimise the disruption caused by these works. Financial incentives play an important role in ensuring compliance with requirements. There is a risk that by removing safeguards when utilities work on tram routes, reinstatements may not be fit for purpose, resulting in damage and possible safety issues that the tram company operator or local highway authority would then need to resolve.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 46979 on Railways, what steps she plans to take to ensure that Great British Railways will have a relentless focus on passengers.

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

GBR will have a statutory duty to run the railway in the interest of passengers. It will have the tools and operational independence it needs to plan and run the rail system on a long-term basis to meet the needs of current and future passengers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people were injured in collisions with mobility scooters in 2024.

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

Figures on the number of collisions involving mobility scooters for 2024 are not yet available as these statistics have not yet been published. These figures will be available following the publication of “Reported road casualties Great Britain, annual report: 2024” in September 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Transport Secretary acts to make thousands of extra driving tests available each month, published on 23 April 2025, whether an estimate has been made of the number of number of DVSA staff members who will return to examining roles by region.

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

On the 23 April, the Secretary of State (SoS) for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.

Further information on these actions and progress of DVSA’s plan to reduce driving test waiting times, which was announced in December 2024, can be found on GOV.UK.

The measures announced by SoS to make additional driving tests available each month were implemented on 1 June. It is too early to evaluate those measures, or their impact at a national or regional level.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles without valid Vehicle Excise Duty have been identified through automatic number plate recognition systems in the most recent 12 month period for which data is available; and what steps her Department is taking to improve vehicle excise duty compliance.

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

In the 12 months between June 2024 and May 2025, automatic number plate recognition systems operated by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and its contractors, generated 142,031 enforcement cases for vehicles identified as being unlicensed.

The DVLA operates a comprehensive package of measures to tackle vehicle tax evasion. These range from reminder letters, penalties and court prosecutions through to the use of automatic number plate recognition systems cameras, wheel clamping and the removal of unlicensed vehicles.

The DVLA aims to make vehicle tax easy to pay but hard to avoid, ensuring processes are regularly reviewed and refined to encourage compliance and to deliver a robust enforcement regime. These measures led to an overall compliance rate of 98.7% in the last roadside survey undertaken by the Department for Transport in 2023.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish the risk management plan for the M6 Lune Gorge structures project.

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

The M6 Lune Gorge structures project Risk Management Plan is a working document owned by National Highways. Therefore, it is not available for publication.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to increase the number of full time equivalent examiners at the Newton Abbot Driving Test Centre in the 2025-26 financial year.

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

On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport announced that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.

Since announcing these measures, DVSA has reintroduced overtime pay incentives for everyone delivering driving tests. The additional testing allowance scheme launched this month (June 2025).

The DVSA’s plan to reduce waiting times as set out in December last year, included recruiting and training 450 driving examiners (DE). As with all test centres in Great Britain, DVSA will assess the recruitment needs at Newton Abbot test centre when it launches any future recruitment campaigns.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving test examiners have been hired by the DVSA in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) the East Midlands in the last five years.

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

The attached Excel document shows the number of driving examiners that have left and started at driving test centres in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) the East Midlands in the last five years.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving test examiners have left the DVSA in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) the East Midlands in the last five years.

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

The attached Excel document shows the number of driving examiners that have left and started at driving test centres in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) the East Midlands in the last five years.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government why and when they authorised the use of cost-plus instead of fixed-price contracts for payment of contractors on HS2; what consultations they held prior to the change; and who authorised that change.

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

This government has been clear that the position on HS2 is totally unacceptable for passengers and taxpayers. It is acknowledged by this government and new CEO Mark Wild that the past contractual performance of our delivery partners has failed to meet cost and schedule expectations.

We have taken action to grip the project and tasked Mark Wild to reset the project, including reforming and resetting the relationship with the supply chain, and to deliver Phase 1 safely and at the lowest reasonable cost.

Throughout the development of the HS2 programme there has been engagement with industry, and input sought from wider government stakeholders, to seek to ensure that the commercial approaches and contracts adopted are appropriate for the individual assets being delivered. Consequently, a variety of different contract forms are in use across the HS2 programme including both fixed price and defined cost contracts (similar to cost plus), as well as other contract forms. For example, HS2 Ltd’s Main Works Civils Contracts (MWCC) are defined cost, incentivised, two-stage design and build contracts based on the NEC 3 Option C target cost contract model. Such NEC contracts are in common usage throughout the UK construction industry as they provide flexibility and encourage a collaborative approach.

Notice to Proceed was granted on HS2 Ltd’s Phase One Main Works Contracts in 2020. At that time there was no prospect of determining a reliable fixed price, nor getting the supply chain to agree to such a model given the residual risk. Therefore fixed price contracts were not viewed as viable.

As with all procurement activity on HS2, these contracts were let in line with HS2 Ltd’s governance and assurance requirements which conform with UK procurement law.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of electrifying rail routes.

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

This government expects electrification to play an important role to achieve our Net Zero 2050 target and, as such, we will continue to invest in electrification projects which will deliver value for money for the taxpayer. Electrification can also have wider benefits for the railway including increased reliability, cheaper operating costs and quicker journeys compared to diesel vehicles. Our strategy will be to focus on being more efficient with where we deliver electrification by leveraging the recent progress in battery technology. This will help to reduce the amount of electrification infrastructure that needs to be delivered to achieve our Net Zero target.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increasing service frequency and electrification on the Lytham to Preston line on the local (a) economy and (b) environment.

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

Fylde Council’s business case found there was some potential to increase frequency. Economic benefits were assessed as part of the study, which also recommended further development of infrastructure options including electrification. It is now for the Local Transport Authority to decide if this project should go forward.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government why the new Oxford–Cambridge railway line is classified as an England and Wales project.

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

The UK Government is responsible for heavy rail infrastructure across England and Wales so spends money on this in Wales rather than funding the Welsh Government to do so through the Barnett formula. This approach applies to investment in heavy rail by the Department for Transport, including HS2 and East-West Rail, and is consistent with the funding arrangements for all other policy areas reserved in Wales as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with major delivery organisations regarding the importance of ensuring compliance with regulators governing the use of electric bicycles; and what has been the outcome of those discussions.

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

In December last year the Minister for Local Transport wrote to the main food delivery companies to remind them of their obligations including the use of modified e-cycles by some delivery riders. The letter signposted government guidance on the safe use of e-cycle batteries including the Office for Product Safety and Standard’s ‘Buy Safe, Be Safe’ campaign. The Department is considering next steps in the light of the responses received.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much they provided to local authorities for the planning and construction of cycle lanes in the past year.

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

In the 2024/25 financial year, Active Travel England provided £40.5m of revenue funding through the Capability Fund, and £54.2m of capital funding through the Active Travel Fund 5 to local authorities outside of London. This funding supports a range of activities to boost active travel, including the planning and construction of schemes to improve walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure. Further funding for active travel has been confirmed for 2025/26.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the June 2025 Statement of Funding Policy, published on 11 June, and the oral contribution of the Secretary of State for Wales during the oral question on Devolution: Crown Estate of 11 June, Official Report, column 958, whether the East-West rail project is classified by her department as carrying a 100% comparability factor for Wales.

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

The East-West rail project is classified as an England and Wales project. This approach applies to investment in heavy rail by the Department for Transport, including HS2 and East-West Rail, and is consistent with the funding arrangements for all other policy areas reserved in Wales as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department classifies heavy rail projects located entirely within England as (a) local and (b) national projects.

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

The UK Government is responsible for heavy rail infrastructure across England and Wales so spends money on this in Wales rather than funding the Welsh Government to do so through the Barnett formula. This approach applies to investment in heavy rail by the Department for Transport, including HS2 and East-West Rail, and is consistent with the funding arrangements for all other policy areas reserved in Wales as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of available driving tests in Chichester constituency.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.

On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.

Further information on these actions and progress of DVSA’s plan to reduce driving test waiting times, which was announced in December 2024, can be found on GOV.UK.

To increase the number of tests available in Chichester, DVSA is deploying additional driving examiner (DE) resource from neighbouring driving test centres.

From recent recruitment campaigns for the area, DVSA has a potential new DE starting training later this month. DVSA has also offered another candidate a training course starting later in the year.

DVSA will continue to recruit in the area and has begun its next recruitment campaign. Once the campaign has closed, DVSA will make offers to successful applicants.

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 is taking to reduce driving test waiting times in rural areas.

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 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.

Further information on these actions and progress of DVSA’s plan to reduce driving test waiting times, which was announced in December 2024, can be found on GOV.UK.

To increase the number of tests available in Chichester, DVSA is deploying additional driving examiner (DE) resource from neighbouring driving test centres.

From recent recruitment campaigns for the area, DVSA has a potential new DE starting training later this month. DVSA has also offered another candidate a training course starting later in the year.

DVSA will continue to recruit in the area and has begun its next recruitment campaign. Once the campaign has closed, DVSA will make offers to successful applicants.

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, if her Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of the availability of driving tests in Stockport.

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 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across the country.

As acknowledged in the announcement regarding these measures, DVSA understands the potential impact high waiting times have on learner drivers and the importance of helping learners pass quickly.

Further information on these actions and progress on the DVSA’s 7-point plan, which was set out last year, can be found on GOV.UK.

The table below shows the average waiting time for a car practical driving test in May 2025, at centres that serve customers in Stockport.

From recruitment campaigns, one potential new driving examiner (DE) will be starting their training course on 23 June for West Didsbury. A further potential new DE for Sale will start their course on 25 August. DVSA has made three further offers, with applicants scheduled for courses in the late summer/early autumn. The latest recruitment campaign has yielded nine recruitment drives for the cluster, all of which will be completed by 14 June.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to mandate a defined minimum learning period before learner drivers can take their test.

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

We are considering measures and assessing their potential impacts to tackle the root causes of young and novice driver collisions. We will set out more details in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to lower the drink drive limit in England.

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

The Government is considering policy options in respect of motoring offences, including around drink and drug driving. Details will follow in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many permanent civil servants in her Department had their contract of employment terminated as a result of poor performance in the (a) 2022-23, (b) 2023-24 and (c) 2024-25 financial years.

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

Based on the case records held on the Civil Service HR (CSHR) Casework “Casework Management Application” (CMA) database, the number of DfTc staff dismissed due to ‘Managing Poor Performance’ or for Poor Performance whilst on Probation are in the attached table.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support access to public transport for care leavers.

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

This government recognises the importance of supporting care leavers and is keeping public transport accessible and affordable for them with the £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London and investment of over £1 billion to improve bus service reliability and frequency. Care leavers can also access the 16-25 Railcard, which provides 1/3 off the cost of rail travel for young passengers. We continue to support Strategic Authorities and Local Authorities who use their local transport funding, including the Local Authority Bus Grant, to provide targeted support for care leavers, such as through offering discounted fares.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of long waiting times for driving tests on social and economic mobility of young people in (a) Mid Bedfordshire and (b) other rural areas.

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 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.

As acknowledged in the announcement regarding these measures, DVSA understands the potential impact high waiting times have on learner drivers, including younger drivers, and the importance of helping learners pass quickly.

Further information on these actions and progress on the DVSA’s 7-point plan, which was set out last year, can be found on GOV.UK.

From recruitment campaigns, beginning last year at driving test centres that serve customers in Mid Bedfordshire, DVSA has recruited three new driving examiners (DE).

DVSA will continue to recruit in the area and has begun its next recruitment campaign. Once the campaign has closed, DVSA will make offers to successful applicants.

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, whether her Department has received representations from the Welsh Government requesting that the East-West rail project be reclassified as an England only project.

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

There have been no formal representations from the Welsh Government on this matter.

The UK Government is responsible for heavy rail infrastructure across England and Wales so spends money on this in Wales rather than funding the Welsh Government to do so through the Barnett formula. This approach applies to investment in heavy rail by the Department for Transport, including HS2 and East-West Rail, and is consistent with the funding arrangements for all other policy areas reserved in Wales as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she has taken to work with relevant authorities to reduce fatalities involving young drivers in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency.

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

Local authorities have a statutory duty to take steps both to reduce and prevent collisions, and the powers to make their own decisions about the design of the streets under their care, taking account of the relevant legislation and official guidance.

My Department is developing its Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course. We absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads, and we are exploring options to tackle the root causes of this.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress she has made on expanding the use of solar power at train stations.

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

The government is committed to establishing Great British Energy and significantly increasing the amount of renewable energy generation in the UK by 2030.

Network Rail has already installed assets for the generation of renewable energy on the rail estate, including at stations, and is continuing the roll out of new assets.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to mandate that learner drivers have practiced driving on motorways prior to taking a driving test.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has no current plans to mandate that all learner drivers must undertake motorway driving prior to their driving test, for several key reasons.

Not all learners have convenient access to motorways, with many candidates living in rural or remote areas where the nearest motorway may be some distance away. Requiring all candidates to drive on a motorway would risk creating an unfair barrier to test readiness and accessibility.

While motorway driving is valuable, the practical driving test already includes a strong focus on high-speed driving environments. Dual carriageways, which can present even greater risk due to variable traffic flows, mixed vehicle types, and more frequent junctions, are included in test routes, wherever possible. They provide critical opportunities to assess a candidate’s ability to manage higher speeds and complex traffic situations.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the number of vehicles under the jurisdiction of her Department coming to their end of life; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making those vehicles available to the Ukrainian military.

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

The Department has not made a specific estimate of the number of vehicles under its jurisdiction that are approaching the end of their operational life. It is also important to note that a proportion of vehicles are leased rather than owned outright, and therefore would not be available for disposal by the Department.

Decisions regarding the disposal or repurposing of vehicles are made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account operational requirements, value for money, and relevant legal and security considerations. At present, there are no plans to assess the potential merits of making such vehicles available to the Ukrainian military. Any such decision would need to be considered in the context of broader cross-government policy on defence support and international assistance.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to include mobility scooters within the scope of dangerous (a) driving and (b) cycling legislation.

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

While we keep the scope of the dangerous driving and cycling legislation under review, we do not currently have any plans to extend this to mobility scooters.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to modernise public transport technology for buses in Surrey Heath constituency.

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

The government is committed to delivering better bus services for passengers, and has confirmed investment of £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £712 million allocated to local authorities which can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, including modernising the technology used to support bus services. Surrey County Council has been allocated £12.1 million of this funding.

The Department for Transport is also working with representatives from the bus industry, Midlands Connect and Transport for the West Midlands to develop a national technology solution to facilitate multi-operator ticketing on buses and trams, focusing on contactless bank card payments and enabling fares capping outside of London, which could help to modernise public transport technology in Surrey Heath.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in buses at the Spending Review by confirming around £900 million of revenue funding each year to maintain and improve vital bus services, including taking forward franchising pilots and extending the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027.

The Spending Review also confirmed £2.3 billion through the Local Transport Grant over the Spending Review period for local transport improvements in places outside areas receiving Transport for City Regions settlements, which could include supporting improvements to bus technology and infrastructure. Surrey County Council have been allocated £38.2 million of this funding.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the readiness of combined authorities to exercise new franchising powers under the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill.

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

We recognise the fundamental importance of building the capacity and capability of local transport authorities to drive improvements to bus services and exercise franchising powers if they wish.

The Department is working with Local Transport Authorities who are in the process of or are interested in franchising, to understand how the process could be improved and to provide a tailored programme of support.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what mechanisms her Department has to coordinate maintenance responsibilities between multiple local authorities on A roads that do not fall under the remit of National Highways.

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

Under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 local highway authorities have a duty to maintain the highways network in their area. DfT does not have legal mechanisms under the act to co-ordinate maintenance responsibilities between multiple authorities on A roads that do not fall under the remit of National Highways. Section 8 of the Act provides for agreements to be made between neighbouring local highways authorities.

Found: Harbour Revision Order 2025 Instruments not reported 3 Annex 3 Appendix 1: Memorandum from the Department for Transport

Found: 5a7c461ae5274a1b00422a88/pf2_infrastruc ture_new_approach_to_public_private_parnerships_051212.pdf In 2018 the Department for Transport

Found: The AFF was launched in July 2022 by the Department for Transport to support the previous Government

Found: Ruth is presenting an application for a debate on the spending and priorities of the Department for Transport

Found: observing them was something on which we had a very good discussion with the CAA, promoted by Department for Transport

Found: The Department for Transport has provided funding of £300 million for active travel in 2024/5 and 2025

Found: Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport relating to the 2nd Report of Session

Found: The government has been excellent in bringing together Ofcom, CAA, UKSA, and DFT to develop a regulatory

Found: Scientists of the Department of Business, Education and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Department for Transport

Found: of the government’s wider aviation strategy”, paras. 5-7, emphasis added). [14] a. [14] Department for Transport

Found: If you look at highways, there is a need for the Department for Transport to properly integrate the

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of increased tariff-free imports of ethanol under the US-UK trade agreement on (a) the viability of (i) Ensus UK and (ii) other domestic producers, (b) wider supply chains, (c) employment and (d) levels of future investment in (A) the Tees Valley and (B) other affected regions.

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

Since the announcement of the UK-US Economic Deal on 8 May, the Secretary of State and senior officials from the Department for Business and Trade have been meeting with representatives of the bioethanol sector in the Tees Valley and Humberside to discuss how the quota will impact their businesses.

In parallel, DBT officials are continuing to work closely with other government departments, including the Department for Transport and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, to monitor and assess risks across the supply chain.

We will continue to work closely with the industry to understand the impacts of the trade deal and other pressures on the UK’s bioethanol sector.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the quantity of ethanol permitted to enter the UK tariff-free under the UK-US trade agreement on the UK bioethanol industry; and what steps his Department plans to take to help support domestic (a) producers and (b) supply chains.

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

Since the announcement of the UK-US Economic Deal on 8 May, the Secretary of State and senior officials from the Department for Business and Trade have been meeting with representatives of the bioethanol sector in the Tees Valley and Humberside to discuss how the quota will impact their businesses.

In parallel, DBT officials are continuing to work closely with other government departments, including the Department for Transport and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, to monitor and assess risks across the supply chain.

We will continue to work closely with the industry to understand the impacts of the trade deal and other pressures on the UK’s bioethanol sector.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 55229 on Electric Bicycles: Sales, what plans his Department has to improve consumer awareness of the legal requirements for electric bikes and the risks of using illegally modified versions.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

As part of DBT's programme of activity tackling unsafe e-bikes and associated products, last October I launched a consumer awareness campaign Buy Safe, Be Safe to encourage consumers to buy safe e-bikes from reputable sellers; to only use manufacturer recommended replacements; and to only engage professionals if modifying products. DBT partners with fire services, consumer bodies and relevant businesses to ensure these messages reach gig economy workers and those most likely to use e-bikes. DBT also collaborates with other departments, including MHCLG on fire safety, and DfT on safe road use, to raise public awareness on using e-bikes safely.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will take steps to introduce mandatory prison sentences for people convicted of drug driving offences in cases where no accident has occurred.

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

The safety of our roads is an absolute priority for this Government. That is why the Department for Transport is committed to delivering a new Road Safety Strategy – the first in over a decade. They will set out next steps on this in due course.

While independent judges decide sentences, we are committed to making sure the courts have the sentencing powers to ensure punishments fit the severity of the crime.

Provisions in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (the Act) increased the maximum penalty from 14 years’ imprisonment to life for the offences of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs, and causing death by dangerous driving.

We continue to work alongside the Department for Transport to ensure sentencing law for driving offences is appropriate.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of using domestically sourced lithium in the manufacture of electric buses.

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

The new Critical Minerals Strategy will set out how the government will maximise the domestic production of key critical minerals like lithium, for which the UK has significant projects underway. As part of this, the government will continue to engage with downstream manufacturers- including the transport sector - to explore how the domestic production of critical minerals can support UK manufacturers.

Additionally, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) will support the Department for Transport (DfT) broader commitment to transitioning to zero-emission buses (ZEBs), which are central to delivering cleaner, quieter journeys and supporting UK manufacturing.

Found: .77 Since 2010, the MMO has exercised the power to grant harbour orders on behalf of the Department for Transport

Found: Estimates Day Debate: Spending of the Department for Transport

Found: accounts for around half of this (£10.0 billion), with almost all the rest going to the Department for Transport

Found: In 2018, the Department for Transport carried out a consultation: New cycling offences: causing death

Found: .77 Since 2010, the MMO has exercised the power to grant harbour orders on behalf of the Department for Transport

Found: Local Government with the support of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Transport

Found: Once agreed, DVLA seeks approval from the Department for Transport (DfT) – its sponsor department.

Found: Levelling Up Fund was a large fund that was jointly managed by DLUHC, HM Treasury and the Department for Transport

British Buses APPG
Thursday 19th June 2025

Found: To achieve this, the APPG recommends the Department for Transport works in partnership with the Department

British Buses APPG
Thursday 19th June 2025

Found: It is an update to the private paper submitted to the Department for Transport by the APPG in 2022, titled

Found: increases across the entire project Apr 2020 35 45 Phase 1 Business Case in April 2020 Nov 2023 45 54 DfT

Found: been identified in an extract of the licensed vehicles data provided to the ONS by the Department for Transport

Found: The cost per webinar for co-trainers includes two people, 48 Department for Transport (2022).

Found: of plan Leads Timeframe Details Transport (existing approach) Third Road Investment Strategy (RIS) DfT

Found: of plan Leads Timeframe Details Transport (existing approach) Third Road Investment Strategy (RIS) DfT

Found: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Q1 2025 Department for Transport

Found: 352 350 0 2 182 Department for Science, Innovation and Technology [note 4] 171 171 0 0 7 Department for Transport

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Found: The Department for Transport should close this loophole immediately and introduce more rigorous standards

Found: (Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh) Piers Frank Bruce LE MARQUAND Senior Lawyer, Department for Transport

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Found: Secretary of State for Defence while in the execution of core duties; (e) Officers of the Department for Transport

Found: Birmingham International whilst travelling to London to attend Trains to Cranes events and meeting with DfT

Found: Crown copyright 2022 ISSN 0309-4278 Published by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, Department for Transport

Found: Crown copyright 2022 ISSN 0309-4278 Published by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, Department for Transport

Found: Subgroup are representatives from relevant local authorities, Historic England, HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport

Found: include representatives from relevant local authorities, Historic England, HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport

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Found: Coastguard Agency” or “MCA” means the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport

Found: Such DfT-funded schemes have already supported over 100,000 young adults across the country to consider

Found: From: High Speed Two (HS2) Limited and Department for Transport Published 18 June 2025 Get

Found: Piers Le Marquand works in GLD’s Department for Transport Legal Advisory team.

Found: Bikeability is a national cycle training program for children and adults, launched by the UK Department for Transport

Found: are subject to independent validation by statisticians at the Advanced Analytics Division (AAD) at DfT

Found: of plan Leads Timeframe Details Transport (existing approach) Third Road Investment Strategy (RIS) DfT

Found: of plan Leads Timeframe Details Transport (existing approach) Third Road Investment Strategy (RIS) DfT

Found: been identified in an extract of the licensed vehicles data provided to the ONS by the Department for Transport

Found: 22 April2 and 24 April 3 prepared by (variously) the Home Office, Ministry of Justice, Department for Transport

Found: increases strengthen this conclusion.10 Separate analysis by the CEC in 2022 applied Department for Transport

Found: excise taxes, Journal of Public Economics 221 National Centre for Social Research for the Department for Transport