Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to regulate drop-off charges at airports.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The provision and charging of car parking at airports, including drop-off charges is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business to manage and justify. Government expects fees to be set in a way that is both fair and transparent.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2026 to Question 101850, if she will publish the British Transport Police’s crime-screening policy for pedal-cycle theft at railway stations.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The British Transport Police (BTP) Crime Screening Policy is an operational document owned by the BTP. Any decisions to publish the document are for BTP, as an operationally independent police service.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to WPQ 103428 answered on 19 January 2026 on Speed Limit: Fines, what National Highways' planned timescale is for the implementation of the solution to the speed camera anomaly.

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

As set out in response to WPQ 103428 on 19 January, a Home Office approved solution to this issue has been agreed, and National Highways and the police are continuing to work together to implement this as a priority.

In the meantime, National Highways has put in place measures including increased Traffic Patrol Officers, alongside the existing tactics that the police use to enforce speed limits on the Strategic Road Network including mobile camera deployments, roads policing patrols and average speed sites.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement on Local roads and highways, published on 12 January 2026, HCWS1232, when her Department told local authorities which data sets were to be used to complete this assessment.

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

The Prime Minister announced on 24 March 2025 that local highway authorities would be rated on their progress in maintaining local roads and highways. This was announced alongside the introduction of new reporting requirements for local highway authorities for the 2025/26 financial year, including a requirement to publish transparency reports to improve transparency for local residents so they can see how funding is being spent.

On the same day, the Director General for the Road Transport Group in the Department for Transport wrote to Chief Executives of all local highway authorities setting out the details and data that needed to be included in those transparency reports.

The ratings used the data provided in local highway authority transparency reports, as well as official statistics. Further information on the data sources used is published online, at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/methodology-used-to-calculate-ratings-for-local-road-maintenance.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has considered legislation to limit the sale of e-scooters in the UK.

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

Private e-scooters are illegal to use on public roads, cycle lanes and pavements. While it is not illegal to sell an e-scooter for use on private land, retailers are breaking the law if they knowingly mislead a buyer or do not make the legal restrictions on e-scooter use sufficiently clear.

Meanwhile, the Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles, which is likely to include e-scooters, when parliamentary time allows. This will provide a proportionate and more agile process for regulating the use of micromobility vehicles.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her planned timetable is for taking legislative steps to develop a regulatory framework for low and zero emission vehicles, following the commitment in the Road Safety Strategy.

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

As stated in the Road Safety Strategy, the Government has made a commitment to pursue legislative reform for micromobility vehicles when parliamentary time allows.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason the CAA cannot release occurrence information on pilot fatigue events.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Mandatory Occurrence Reporting (“MOR”) Regulations mean that the Civil Aviation Authority can only use information from MORs for the purpose for which they have been collected. The CAA does not make any information from MORs available. The CAA only uses information from MORs to maintain or improve aviation safety, not to attribute blame or liability.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many civil servants employed by their Department work in roles primarily focused on (a) transgender policy, (b) diversity, (c) equity and (d) inclusion; and at what annual salary cost.

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

The Department for Transport does not routinely collate information on specific words and collating this information would come at a disproportionate cost. Information on spending and staffing can be found in the Department's annual report and accounts.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the kerbside airport drop-off charges were at each of the major UK airports in (a) July 2024 and (b) today; and whether her Department has issued guidance on airport drop-off charges.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The provision and charging of car parking at airports, including drop-off charges, is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business to manage and justify. Government expects fees to be set in a way that is both fair and transparent for consumers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the potential impact of compensating victims of collisions involving illegal e-scooters and e-bikes on (a) the cost of motor insurance premiums for other motorists and (b) costs to the Motor Insurers' Bureau in the last 12 months.

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

We regularly engage with the Motor Insurer’s Bureau and are working with them to understand the impact of private e-scooters and illegal e-bikes on car drivers’ insurance premiums.

It is clear the law on e-scooters needs to change, which is why the Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles when parliamentary time allows. Any future regulations, including potential insurance requirements, will be publicly consulted on before they come into force.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the risks associated with hybrid vehicle battery fires following road traffic collisions; and whether she plans to commission guidance for manufacturers and emergency services.

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

The safety of hybrid-electric vehicles is of paramount importance to the Government and is kept under regular review. Insurance industry analysis suggests that hybrid vehicles are less likely to catch fire than internal combustion engine vehicles. Nevertheless, existing regulations covering vehicle construction include requirements to safeguard against the novel risks and potential concerns associated with hybrid-electric vehicles, including fire.

In addition to the Department for Transport’s published guidance for road recovery operators, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the National Fire Chiefs Council have produced guidance for their staff on dealing with hybrid and electric vehicles.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the data opportunities of connected and autonomous vehicles to reduce uninsured driving.

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

The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 sets out the regulations for insurance requirements of automated vehicles. The operator or owner of an automated vehicle must hold a policy of insurance that satisfies the conditions in section 145 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

The recent call for evidence, launched in December 2025, seeks views on various aspects of the automated vehicles regulatory framework, including insurance. Responses received will support future consultation on the proposed regulations, with full implementation of the Act anticipated by the second half of 2027.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the number of uninsured motorcycles on UK roads in each of the last five years.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Department does not hold this information.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme will be impacted by changes to Personal Independence Payment policy.

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

The statutory elements of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS), including the eligibility criteria for disabled people, are set out in concessionary travel legislation. Any changes to Personal Independence Payment policy will not change the statutory eligibility criteria as defined in concessionary travel legislation. Responsibility for administering the ENCTS sits with local authorities, or 'travel concessionary authorities' (TCAs). The Department for Transport provides guidance to TCAs on assessing the eligibility of disabled people for concessionary bus travel which includes guidance on the process around the passporting of eligibility for concessionary travel from other state benefits, such as certain Personal Independence Payment (PIP) awards.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she expects to receive the 10-year bus procurement analysis from the UK Bus Manufacturing Panel.

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

My Department is planning to publish the ten-year pipeline of projected orders shortly.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she has taken to ensure the fire safety of train stations in a) England and b) Romford constituency.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Infrastructure managers are under statutory duties to ensure the safety of those using railways stations in Great Britain and are overseen by the Office of Rail and Road as the independent rail safety regulator. They must ensure that stations meet all legal requirements, including those relating to fire safety. Network Rail is the infrastructure manager for most of the mainline railway, but some stations in the Romford constituency are managed by Transport for London.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what lessons they have learned from recent Russian-linked attempts to attack European logistics hubs; and what assessment they have made of whether current aviation and freight security measures are adequate.

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

The UK has one of the most robust aviation security regimes in the world. We continue to work with partners across government, internationally and with industry and will continue to monitor and mitigate existing and emerging threats to the transport sector.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January, what additional funding and resources they will allocate to (1) the police, (2) local authorities, and (3) other partners, to ensure a swift and effective post-crash response.

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

The Road Safety Strategy outlined a new safe system approach to road safety that includes consideration of any post-crash response. We’re continuing to recruit more police, with 3,000 more neighbourhood police officers on our streets by March and we are abolishing Police & Crime Commissioners – so much needed funding can go into frontline policing including post-crash responses. Also £2.7m is allocated to policing under the Roads Policing Innovation Programme this year and the next two. Ultimately however, it is up to local police forces to decide how best to deploy their resources and this funding.

Every road collision resulting in a fatality or serious injury leaves victims devastated so it is important that victims receive the support they need. This government will be increasing funding for victim support services year on year, from 2026 to 2029. In total, government will be investing £550 million in victim support services over the next three years – the biggest investment in victim support services to date.

The Ministry of Justice has committed to reviewing the Victims’ Code, a practical statutory guide for victims of crime, including victims of road traffic offences. Under the Victims’ Code, all victims are entitled to be given information about and be referred to victim support services by the police to help them cope and recover from the impact of a crime. Further, the Office of the Victims’ Commissioner has undertaken work to commission additional research to explore the victim journey for road traffic collisions and support for victims.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have carried out an impact assessment of the potential effect of lowering drink-driving limits on consumer behaviour in (1) rural communities, and (2) rural pubs.

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

An academic study following the reduction in the drink drive limit in Scotland in 2014 showed no impact on the hospitality industry. All evidence received as part of the consultation process will be considered before any decisions are made.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme to operate on a 24-hour basis; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of doing so on disabled people.

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

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age. The ENCTS costs around £795 million annually in reimbursement to operators and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as extending the travel time criteria, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability. The Government has conducted a review of the ENCTS, which included considering travel times for passholders and is currently considering next steps.

Currently, local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations under the ENCTS and offer additional discretionary concessions, such as extending the travel time criteria for the ENCTS.

The Government has confirmed over £3 billion from 2026/27 to support local leaders and bus operators across England to improve bus services over the spending review period. This includes multi-year allocations for local authorities under the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) totalling nearly £700 million per year. West Sussex County Council will be allocated £28.4 million under the LABG from 2026/27 to 2028/29, in addition to the £9.7 million they are already receiving this financial year. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services can be used in whichever way they wish to deliver better services for passengers, which could include extending discretionary concessions locally.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase public awareness of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, particularly among eligible disabled people.

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

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) is administered by local authorities or 'travel concession authorities' (TCAs). The Department for Transport provides guidance on administering the scheme, which makes clear that TCAs should ensure that people who are eligible to claim concessionary travel are able to do so, and that they should inform them of what they are entitled to, how they can obtain an ENCTS pass, how they can check their eligibility, what services they can use their pass on, and how they can obtain further information. The Department will continue to work with local authorities and monitor progress in this area.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 104846, what assessment has been made of the risk that AI initiatives described as operating on a test-and-learn basis do not deliver the scale of efficiency savings assumed in the Departmental Efficiency Plan.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The department has not undertaken a specific risk assessment on whether the AI initiatives operating on a test-and-learn basis will deliver the scale of efficiency savings forecast in the Departmental Efficiency Plan. The department has agreed to achieve net efficiency savings of £199m from corporate initiatives, and these will be enabled by a broad range of activities, including the use of digital tools and utilisation of technology beyond specific AI initiatives; we are continuing to assess the impact and potential benefits of implementing AI and will continue to develop our alignment on AI initiatives across DfT, it’s Arm's Length Bodies, and Agencies.

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 developing a national strategy for improving the long-term resilience of the local road network.

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

Following the publication of the Government’s Resilience Action Plan in July 2025, work is already underway to improve the short, medium and long-term resilience of the transport system, including the local road network, as part of the whole of society approach.

In December 2025, the Government published its Climate Adaptation Strategy for Transport, which now provides an overarching framework for improving the resilience of roads, rail and other transport networks to flooding and other climate risks. This includes commitments to introduce climate resilience standards by 2030, embed resilience into transport investment decisions, and work with sector bodies such as the UK Roads Leadership Group to support local highway authorities.

DfT also funds workshops delivered through the UK Roads Leadership Group to support capability‑building across the sector, and is updating the Well‑Managed Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice which will continue to reflect a risk‑based, resilience‑focused approach to asset management.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support is available to Surrey County Council to (a) trial and (b) adopt more durable road surfacing materials to tackle pothole formation on local road networks.

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

The Government recognises the importance of using durable materials and innovative techniques to reduce pothole formation and improve the long‑term condition of local roads.

Surrey County Council receives a significant allocation of highways maintenance funding from the Department for Transport, which can be used to trial new materials and construction techniques where that authority judges this to be appropriate. In November, the Government confirmed a record investment of £7.3 billion into local highways maintenance from 2026/27 to 2029/30. As part of this investment, Surrey County Council will be eligible to receive over £160 million in highways maintenance funding over the next four years.

The Department encourages and supports innovation in road surface repairs. It is updating the Code of Practice for Well-Managed Highway Infrastructure, to include new advice on matters such as surface treatments. The Department has also provided £30 million to the ADEPT ‘Live Labs’ research programme, enabling local authority-led consortia to trial innovative low-carbon ways of looking after their networks. One of the projects within the Live Labs programme is enabling novel resurfacing materials to be tested and evaluated through the Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads, led by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has undertaken of the effectiveness of local authority trials of innovative road surfacing materials intended to improve durability and reduce maintenance requirements.

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

The Government welcomes innovations that can help local highway authorities maintain their roads more effectively and efficiently.

The Department for Transport has provided £30 million to the ADEPT ‘Live Labs 2’ research programme, enabling local authority-led consortia to trial innovative low-carbon ways of looking after their networks. One of the projects within the Live Labs 2 programme is enabling novel resurfacing materials to be tested and evaluated through the Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads, led by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). A key part of this project is that it brings together and shares lessons from trials of road surfacing materials done by different local highway authorities, increasing the visibility of innovative solutions and helping authorities save money by reducing the need to repeat trials. Further information on these trials is available online, at:

https://kb.decarbonisingroads.co.uk/materials.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 101851, if she will publish any information held by her Department in whatever format it is held.

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

As set out in our answer to question 101851, the Department does not hold the data requested in a readily available form.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving mobility assessment centres operate in the UK; how many are managed by NHS Trusts; how many are operated by charitable organisations; and what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the long-term sustainability of the funding model for these centres.

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

There are fourteen mobility centres in operation in the UK. Four are managed by NHS Trusts, and nine by charitable organisations, with one Community Interest Company. The Department for Transport provides grant funding to mobility centres that have been accredited by Driving Mobility in England, and we work closely with them.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January, whether they have plans for a comprehensive communications plan about reducing the drink driving limit as part of their plan to introduce a lower alcohol limit for driving.

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

Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy that devastates families and communities. For too long, progress on road safety has stalled while other countries have moved ahead.

The Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January 2026 by this Government, marks a turning point. We are taking decisive action to make our roads safer for everyone, from new drivers taking their first lessons to older motorists wanting to maintain their independence.

As part of this, the Government is consulting on lowering the drink drive limit in England and Wales, which has remained unchanged since 1967 and is currently the highest in Europe.

Any changes to the legal alcohol limit for drink and drive offences in England and Wales will be communicated across government communications channels, to raise awareness and encourage compliance. We will also continue to deliver through the THINK! Campaign, partnership campaigns with 0% alcohol brands, and wider partners, to remind drivers to not drink alcohol when getting behind the wheel.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement on Local roads and highways, published on 12 January 2026, HCWS1232, whether the exercise carried out by her Department assessed physical road conditions.

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

This information, and the full methodology and data sources used to produce the ratings, has been published online, at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-road-maintenance-ratings/local-road-maintenance-ratings-2025-to-2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of community rail partnerships on local rail services; what funding her Department has allocated to community rail partnerships in this financial year; and what steps her Department is taking to promote and expand community rail activity.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Community Rail delivers projects which bring benefits to local rail through social, environmental, and economic growth. Work carried out by Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) includes projects to establish community hubs in underused station spaces, creation and maintenance of gardens at stations, and supporting all members of the community to travel with confidence, for example by improving station environments to accommodate all members of the community. These projects help improve the safety and inclusivity of the railway, as well as encouraging rail travel as a more sustainable mode of transport.

The Department has granted over £800,000 to the Community Rail Network (CRN) via core and project funding in this financial year (FY 2025-2026). The CRN provide access to grants and resources for its members (a mix of CRPs and Station Adoption Groups). Whilst the Department does not directly fund CRPs, financial support is provided directly via the train operating companies.

The Department continues to support the community rail sector, and as we move towards establishing Great British Railways (GBR), Community Rail will be integral to helping us deliver our priorities and will continue to deliver for passengers and communities. We will continue to work closely with the Community Rail Network to identify opportunities to support the community rail sector ahead of the standup of GBR.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has received a proposal for a community rail partnership for the C2C rail franchise; what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a community rail partnership for C2C services; and what steps she is taking to support the establishment of a community rail partnership for the C2C network.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Officials have not yet received a proposal for a community rail partnership from c2c. We understand the operator will be sharing a proposal in 2026/27 and officials will consider how this might best be facilitated.

In terms of merits, Community Rail Partnerships bring benefits to local communities through social, environmental, and economic growth. Projects help improve the safety and inclusivity of the railway, as well as encouraging rail travel as a more sustainable mode of transport.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2025 to Question 96490, how much revenue the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency received in 2024-25 from a) local authorities, and b) agents acting on behalf of local authorities, for the provision of vehicle keeper details.

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

The information requested is not readily available and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he make an assessment of the potential merits of installing a bridge over the level crossing in East Tilbury.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Network Rail are engaging with London Gateway and other stakeholders on the merits of level crossing interventions in the East Tilbury area and are keeping my officials updated.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how she plans to determine whether appropriate bodies are assigned responsibility for the adoption and long-term maintenance of Sustainable Drainage Systems under development consent orders for port developments; and whether she has made an estimate of the cost of those requirements for applicants and public bodies.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The proposal for a revised National Policy Statement for Ports (NPSP) contains extensive guidance on Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). The final version will be published in coming weeks.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what timetable exists for the rollout of shore power and grid capacity upgrades at UK ports ahead of the UK ETS entering force for domestic maritime in July 2026.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The policies in the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy, including the expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) to domestic maritime, will encourage investment in maritime decarbonisation. Vessel operators and ports are best placed to determine the timeline for when they invest in shore power rollout.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department publishes a table ranking each local authority in England regarding the maintenance conditions of their roads.

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

The Department announced a new traffic light rating system on 11 January. Under this system, all local highway authorities in England received a red, amber or green rating based on the condition of their roads, how much they spend to maintain their roads, and whether they do so using best practice. The ratings can be found online, at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-road-maintenance-ratings/local-road-maintenance-ratings-2025-to-2026.

The ratings are not designed to provide a ranked list of local authorities, but assign authorities a rating within the broader categories of red, amber, or green. The full methodology used to calculate the ratings is also set out online. This includes a table setting out methodological detail on the individual metrics and scores used to calculate local authorities' ratings. Further detail on this can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/methodology-used-to-calculate-ratings-for-local-road-maintenance.

The rating system enables drivers and residents to have a clear picture of how their local highway authority is looking for after local roads for the first time. It increases transparency, incentivises the adoption of best practice, and enables the Department to identify where local highway authorities need to improve and to support them to ensure road conditions improve nationwide.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of DVLA-mandated eye tests in rural and semi-rural communities.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s contract with Specsavers for vision testing services provide coverage across England, Wales and Scotland, with 436 stores able to perform the services required.

Specsavers is working to increase the number of stores available to carry out eyesight tests by supplying them with the appropriate equipment.

Specsavers may utilise local opticians for customers who live more than 25 miles from their nearest Specsavers branch, for example those living in rural or semi rural areas.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the potential impact of roadworks on the economy.

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

The Department is unable to provide a current estimate of the overall impact of roadworks on the economy. This is because road and street works are carried out by a wide range of organisations, for different purposes, and the Department does not collect the data that would be required to produce a reliable national estimate.

Road and street works are essential to maintaining and upgrading utility services and the road network, and they play a vital role in supporting economic growth by enabling continued investment in critical infrastructure. Where street and road works do result in disruption, we recognise the wider impacts this can have on the economy. We remain committed to minimising these effects wherever possible. This includes strengthening penalties to improve compliance, enhancing coordination through the use of digital tools, and supporting local highway authorities to adopt lane rental schemes, which encourage works promoters to plan and deliver works more efficiently, thereby reducing delays and congestion.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what evidence her Department has on the relationship between licence level (full motorcycle licence versus Compulsory Basic Training) and road safety outcomes for riders engaged in commercial delivery work.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Department for Transport does not hold evidence on the relationship between licence level and road safety outcomes for riders engaged in commercial delivery work. Licence type is not part of the current STATS19 specification agreed by the Standing Committee on Road Injury Collision Statistics (SCRICS), which seeks to balance the value of the road collision data with the burdens of collecting the data. Driving licence information is likely to be held within police systems, including the CRASH system managed by the Department, but is not routinely extracted for statistical purposes beyond identifying whether a licence is full or provisional.

On 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of the strategy the government has published a consultation on an ambitious package of reforms to modernise and improve the current training, testing and licensing regime for Category A moped and motorcycle licences in Great Britain. This consultation will help inform a targeted review of the training, testing and licensing regime. We will take account of both long-standing plans in the Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, and proposals received from the motorcycle sector.

As set out in the consultation, it is understood that a proportion of riders undertake Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) but don’t go on to take their theory and practical tests to gain a full motorcycle licence. Between March 2023 and March 2025 77,000 learner riders repeated their CBT course. One aim of the consultation is to determine if riders, including those engaged in commercial delivery work, should be prevented from continually riding on a provisional licence.

The safety of anyone driving on our roads is a priority, and that includes those who ride for work. That is why we also announced in our new Road Safety Strategy that we will pilot a National Work-Related Road Safety Charter for businesses that require people to drive or ride for them. This includes the use of HGVs, Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs), cars, motorcycles, e-cycles and cycles. The pilot will run for two years and will be monitored and fully evaluated. The aim of the Charter is to help employers to reduce work-related road risk and improve safety for all road users by promoting good practice, and to improve compliance with current legislation and guidance.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for its policies of the average time taken by Transport for London to process and issue private hire vehicle driver licences.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Department for Transport is responsible for setting the regulatory structure within which local licensing authorities in England license the taxi and private hire vehicle trades but ultimately the licensing process is left at the discretion of local authorities. We work closely with Transport for London on a range of issues but the operation of private hire driver licensing is a matter solely for them and it would not be appropriate for ministers to comment or intervene.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Written Statement of 12 January 2026 on Local roads and highways, HCWS1232, whether it is her policy that local authorities that have spent all of their Highway Maintenance Grant allocations can be categorised as Red.

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

Local highway authorities that stated they had plans to spend 100% of their DfT capital grant for highways maintenance on this purpose in 2025/26 received an amber, not red, spend scorecard. The vast majority of local highway authorities stated they had plans to spend an additional 30% or more in capital to maintain their highways, and these 113 local highway authorities received a green spend scorecard.

The ratings consider road condition, capital investment levels, and wider best practice to produce an overall rating, with each of these three elements making up a third of the overall rating. As such, it is possible for authorities to receive an overall red rating despite individual areas of good or mixed performance and where based on an overall assessment of all areas considered by the ratings the threshold for an amber rating was not met. All red-rated authorities will receive access to a dedicated support offer to help them improve their rating and to ensure road conditions improve nationwide.

This information, and the full methodology for the local road maintenance ratings has been published online, at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-road-maintenance-ratings/local-road-maintenance-ratings-2025-to-2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Pursuant to WPQ 103428 answered on 19 January 2026 on Speed Limit: Fines, what body is coordinating the independent investigation on the anomaly; and when that body will report.

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

The terms of reference were published on Monday 19 January 2026 at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-on-the-national-highways-nh-speeding-enforcement-issue-terms-of-reference/independent-review-on-the-national-highways-nh-speeding-enforcement-issue-terms-of-reference.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Department will treat the transfer of Dartford Crossing toll revenues to a private Lower Thames Crossing operator as a loss of income to the Department.

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

The Government's preferred financing option at this stage is the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model. Under the RAB model, ownership and operations of the Dartford Crossing would transfer to a new regulated private sector entity, which would be responsible for operating and maintaining both the Dartford Crossing and the new Lower Thames Crossing, ensuring a consistent and reliable service. This entity will be overseen by a regulator to ensure it performs and protects users. Charges from the Dartford Crossing and the new Lower Thames Crossing would be received by the entity under this model and this means charges will be used towards keeping the crossings well‑maintained and journeys running smoothly for users. This approach brings in private capital to fund the majority of construction, delivering better value for taxpayers and reducing the overall pressure on public budgets. The Department has built the effect of this into its financial forecasts.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the press release entitled £43 million boost for green aviation to drive growth, jobs and cleaner flights, published on 20 January 2026, what proportion of global aviation emissions her Department estimates will be removed as a result of the funding for green aviation projects.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Through the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, published on 29 October, the Government detailed policies in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fuels in aviation, and estimates of the emission reductions they would achieve. This package of funding will help to enable these emission reductions.

The nature of research and development activity creates challenges in assessing the exact expected CO2 benefits at the outset, as these depend on the extent to which the outputs of research and new technologies are adopted into commercial use, and the pace at which this happens. Government seed funding is integral in supporting early-stage research and development for technologies which are not yet commercially viable but could be scaled in future.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which local authorities have received funding from Government-funded schemes supporting the procurement of new buses, including zero-emission, electric, hydrogen and hybrid buses, in each of the last five years.

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

My department has published which local authorities have received funding from Government-funded schemes to procure new buses through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas programme on gov.uk.1

The West Midlands Combined Authority also received £50m in 2021 for the Coventry All Electric Bus City.

In addition, various local authorities have used devolved funding schemes to procure new zero emission buses.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what policy reason route-level impact assessments were not published for ferry-dependent communities ahead of laying secondary legislation for the domestic maritime UK ETS.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

It is neither proportionate nor expected to conduct individual route-level impact assessments for all routes in scope of the ETS. An Impact Assessment was published alongside the main Authority Response to the "UK Emissions Trading Scheme Scope Expansion: maritime sector” consultation, which includes analysis of regional and distributional impacts.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the press release entitled £43 million boost for green aviation to drive growth, jobs and cleaner flights, published on 20 January 2026, what proportion of the UK's aviation emissions her Department estimates this investment will remove.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Through the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, published on 29 October, the Government detailed policies in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fuels in aviation, and estimates of the emission reductions they would achieve. This package of funding will help to enable these emission reductions.

The nature of research and development activity creates challenges in assessing the exact expected CO2 benefits at the outset, as these depend on the extent to which the outputs of research and new technologies are adopted into commercial use, and the pace at which this happens. Government seed funding is integral in supporting early-stage research and development for technologies which are not yet commercially viable but could be scaled in future.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving tests were carried out in (a) September, (b) October, (c) November and (d) December 2025.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) publishes data on the number of practical driving tests conducted by month on GOV.UK.

This data is updated monthly and currently shows data to December 2025.

The table below shows the number of practical driving tests conducted for September, October, November and December.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for road maintenance for metropolitan authorities.

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

The Government recognises that historic under-investment has made it difficult for authorities to maintain their roads in the way that they would want to. The Government has therefore confirmed a record £7.3 billion investment into local highways maintenance over the next four years. This new, four-year funding settlement is in addition to the Government's investment of £1.6 billion this year, a £500 million increase compared to last year. By confirming funding allocations for a four-year period, authorities have certainty to plan ahead and shift from short-term fixes to proactive, preventative maintenance.

Metropolitan authorities that are part of a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA) who receive a City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), receive their baseline highways maintenance funding consolidated into their City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) which is paid to the relevant MSA. From 2027/28, 9 eligible MSAs will receive increased funding from the Transport for City Regions (TCR) settlement.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes in doses of (a) insulin and (b) diabetic medication on driver license renewals.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) assesses licence applications from drivers using insulin or other diabetes medications based on the risk of hypoglycaemia and the stability of diabetes management.

Car and motorcycle drivers who use insulin must demonstrate adequate hypoglycaemic awareness and must not have experienced two or more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia in the previous 12 months. The most recent episode must have occurred more than three months prior to application. Drivers are also required to attend regular medical reviews and meet the statutory eyesight standards.

Drivers of lorries and buses are subject to more stringent medical requirements due to the size of their vehicles and the length of time they spend driving. They must have had no episodes of severe hypoglycaemia within the last 12 months, demonstrate full hypoglycaemic awareness, and provide medical evidence of stable diabetes control. This includes four weeks of glucose readings as part of an annual independent diabetes medical assessment when they apply for a licence.

All insulin-treated drivers must comply with glucose monitoring requirements, including checking glucose levels before driving and at regular intervals while driving. Monitoring may be undertaken using either finger-prick testing or continuous glucose monitoring systems, including Freestyle Libre.

For drivers using non-insulin diabetes medications, assessments focus on whether the treatment carries a risk of hypoglycaemia. Car and motorcycle drivers are required to notify the DVLA only if such a risk exists, while lorry and bus drivers must notify the DVLA of any diabetes medication use. In all cases, licence entitlement depends on evidence of stable diabetes management, appropriate monitoring, and effective hypoglycaemic control.

Changes to insulin or medication dosage do not automatically affect a person’s entitlement to drive.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will set out the process for driver licence renewals which are subject to the monitoring of blood sugar levels, including Freestyle Libre.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) assesses licence applications from drivers using insulin or other diabetes medications based on the risk of hypoglycaemia and the stability of diabetes management.

Car and motorcycle drivers who use insulin must demonstrate adequate hypoglycaemic awareness and must not have experienced two or more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia in the previous 12 months. The most recent episode must have occurred more than three months prior to application. Drivers are also required to attend regular medical reviews and meet the statutory eyesight standards.

Drivers of lorries and buses are subject to more stringent medical requirements due to the size of their vehicles and the length of time they spend driving. They must have had no episodes of severe hypoglycaemia within the last 12 months, demonstrate full hypoglycaemic awareness, and provide medical evidence of stable diabetes control. This includes four weeks of glucose readings as part of an annual independent diabetes medical assessment when they apply for a licence.

All insulin-treated drivers must comply with glucose monitoring requirements, including checking glucose levels before driving and at regular intervals while driving. Monitoring may be undertaken using either finger-prick testing or continuous glucose monitoring systems, including Freestyle Libre.

For drivers using non-insulin diabetes medications, assessments focus on whether the treatment carries a risk of hypoglycaemia. Car and motorcycle drivers are required to notify the DVLA only if such a risk exists, while lorry and bus drivers must notify the DVLA of any diabetes medication use. In all cases, licence entitlement depends on evidence of stable diabetes management, appropriate monitoring, and effective hypoglycaemic control.

Changes to insulin or medication dosage do not automatically affect a person’s entitlement to drive.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency use in the consideration of applications for licence renewals from drivers who take (a) insulin and (b) diabetes medication.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) assesses licence applications from drivers using insulin or other diabetes medications based on the risk of hypoglycaemia and the stability of diabetes management.

Car and motorcycle drivers who use insulin must demonstrate adequate hypoglycaemic awareness and must not have experienced two or more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia in the previous 12 months. The most recent episode must have occurred more than three months prior to application. Drivers are also required to attend regular medical reviews and meet the statutory eyesight standards.

Drivers of lorries and buses are subject to more stringent medical requirements due to the size of their vehicles and the length of time they spend driving. They must have had no episodes of severe hypoglycaemia within the last 12 months, demonstrate full hypoglycaemic awareness, and provide medical evidence of stable diabetes control. This includes four weeks of glucose readings as part of an annual independent diabetes medical assessment when they apply for a licence.

All insulin-treated drivers must comply with glucose monitoring requirements, including checking glucose levels before driving and at regular intervals while driving. Monitoring may be undertaken using either finger-prick testing or continuous glucose monitoring systems, including Freestyle Libre.

For drivers using non-insulin diabetes medications, assessments focus on whether the treatment carries a risk of hypoglycaemia. Car and motorcycle drivers are required to notify the DVLA only if such a risk exists, while lorry and bus drivers must notify the DVLA of any diabetes medication use. In all cases, licence entitlement depends on evidence of stable diabetes management, appropriate monitoring, and effective hypoglycaemic control.

Changes to insulin or medication dosage do not automatically affect a person’s entitlement to drive.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact on road safety, the environment and consumers of requiring vehicle manufacturers to offer all-season or winter-rated tyres as a standard or selectable factory-fit option on new vehicles sold in the UK, particularly for use in colder and rural regions; and whether he plans to review current regulations or guidance in this area.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Manufacturers are free to offer any tyre they choose but all new tyres, before they are permitted for sale in the UK, must demonstrate that they achieve a minimum wet grip performance. They are also required to display certain performance attributes at the point of sale to enable the consumer to make an informed choice.

The government’s view is that the relatively low frequency of heavy snow and ice experienced in the UK and the known disadvantages of using winter tyres - and to some extent all-season tyres - in warmer temperatures does not support a detailed assessment being conducted at this time.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the resilience of the passenger rail network in the South West.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Network Rail is investing significantly in assets throughout the Western and Wales region, including in resilience to protect against storms and flooding in the South West. The storm events and particularly flooding that we have seen in the region recently have posed greater challenges than we have seen in the last few years. The rail industry continues to build plans to make our infrastructure more resilient including focusing on known black spots so that flooding instances are reduced, and where flooding and storms do occur, recovery of rail services can happen more quickly.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time was for a driving test in Eastleigh constituency in each of the last ten years.

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

The attached Excel Spreadsheet shows the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time in weeks at driving test centres (DTC) that serve the Eastleigh constituency, for the financial years 2015/16 to the financial year to date (YTD).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average waiting time was for a practical car driving test at Macclesfield Test Centre in the most recent month for which data is available.

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

The average waiting time for a car practical driving test at Macclesfield driving test centre in December 2025, was 16 weeks.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the January 2026 Road Traffic Strategy, when she plans to publish the manual for streets.

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

The Department intends to publish an updated version of the Manual for Streets before the end of 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a) making DVLA driving licence data available to Electoral Registration Officers for the purposes of Automatic Voter Registration, and b) allowing people who update their address on their driving licences with DVLA to update their voter registration automatically at the same time.

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

While voter registration processes are a matter for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MCHLG), officials at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency are discussing the potential for using driver licensing information for these purposes with MCHLG officials.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to deliver well designed, well lit and safe cycling infrastructure in Stratford-on-Avon.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Active Travel England (ATE) recognises that high‑quality active travel routes must be well-designed, well-lit and safe to support walking, wheeling and cycling.

On 10 December, the Department announced £626 million of multi-year capability funding to support active travel across England. As part of this allocation, Warwickshire County Council, of which Stratford‑on‑Avon is a part, will receive £9,840,039 for the period 2026/27 to 2029/30. Local authorities may use this funding to plan and deliver well‑designed route layouts, appropriate and inclusive lighting, and safety improvements such as segregated cycle lanes and safer junction treatments.

ATE also provides technical support and guidance to ensure local authorities deliver high‑quality schemes. National guidance, including Local Transport Note 1/20: Cycle Infrastructure Design, Manual for Streets, and Inclusive Mobility, sets clear expectations for the design of safe and accessible cycling infrastructure.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to differentiate between motorcycles and driver-based vehicles in the development of transport and road safety policy, including within the Integrated National Transport Strategy.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Department for Transport already makes a differentiation between motorcycles and driver-based vehicles in the development of transport and road safety policy, including the upcoming national strategy for integrated transport. The Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January contains many measures that will directly or indirectly benefit all road users while also proposing specific measures that are distinct to motorcyclists for example the announced consultation on a package of reforms to motorcycle training, testing and licensing and for drivers for example minimum learning periods for learner drivers.

The Highway Code clearly differentiates between the rules for motorcyclists and other road users, being structured with specific sections for the different road user types. In January 2022 the department updated The Highway Code and introduced the “Hierarchy of Road Users” which places the most vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists who are most at risk in the event of a collision at the top of the hierarchy, so that they have priority in certain situations. Motorcyclists are recognised as more vulnerable, than cars and heavy goods, vehicles drivers within this hierarchy. However, as set out in the strategy, more work is needed to continue embedding these changes and overall awareness of the Highway Code. We are considering options in this area, and further details will be shared in due course.

With consideration to the access of different vehicle types to segregated road lanes, in 2024 the Department ran a consultation on allowing motorcycles to access bus lanes by default, as is the case for pedal cycles. The responses did not provide a robust evidence base on which to amend the current policy. Decisions on whether to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes are a matter for the relevant local highway authority.

There is also a differentiation regarding technical approval as all vehicles registered in the UK must be approved under the relevant type approval framework which ensure they meet safety requirements that are specific to their design and use. There is a dedicated type approval processes for motorcycles which is distinct to those for other vehicle types.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the number of motorcycle riders operating on learner plates beyond two years through repeated completion of Compulsory Basic Training.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Currently, to gain a full motorcycle licence, individuals’ must pass a theory test and both parts of the practical test. Both Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) and theory certificates have a two-year validity, and if an individual has not passed their test within 2 years of taking the CBT & theory tests, they will have to start the process again.

As part of the Department for Transport’s Road Safety Strategy, on 7 January the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) launched a consultation on motorcycle training, testing and licencing in Great Britain. The consultation will help inform a targeted review of the training, testing and licensing regime for motorcyclists with the aim of making changes to improve safety, modernise and simplify people’s access to motorcycling.

As set out in the consultation, it is understood that a proportion of riders take CBT and don’t go on to take their theory and practical tests to gain a full motorcycle licence. Between March 2023 and March 2025 77,000 learner riders repeated their CBT course.

One aim of the consultation is to determine if riders should be prevented from continually riding on a provisional licence.

The consultation will close at 11:59pm on 31 March 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has assessed the potential impact of the Wheels to Work scheme on youth unemployment; and what steps she is taking to support that scheme.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

On 10 December the Government announced £626 million for local authorities from 2026 to 2030 to deliver new active travel schemes, building on nearly £300 million already allocated for 2024 to 2026.

While the Department has made no assessment of Wheels to Work schemes, which are designed and operated by local authorities, local authorities are able to use the active travel funding from Government to support the delivery of them.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her Department holds on the age of those responsible for road accidents.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Data on road collisions involving personal injury are reported to the Department by police forces in Great Britain via the STATS19 system. The latest year for which data is available is 2024.

STATS19 does not assign blame to any party involved in a collision. The number of drivers involved in road traffic collisions by age, in Great Britain for the least 10 years can be found in table RAS0501 here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/reported-road-accidents-vehicles-and-casualties-tables-for-great-britain#vehicles-and-drivers-ras05.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the Green Book cost benefit analysis accounts for (a) economic and (b) connectivity issues when assessing transport infrastructure proposals in rural areas like Cornwall.

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

The Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG) provides methods and advice for assessing the impacts of schemes on economic activity and connectivity. This is mainly from direct benefits to travel users from reductions in travel time, and service improvements such as increasing frequency and quality. TAG can also assess impacts for wider economic, social and environmental impacts. For example, better connectivity can lead to productivity gains to businesses taking advantage of access to new markets and opportunities, or better access to jobs for people. These methods are equally applicable to urban and non-urban areas.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of distinguishing between commercial and private motorcycle use in the UK’s licensing regime.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

For driving licence categories, we do not differentiate between commercial use and private use of vehicles. The driving test similarly, does not differentiate between commercial use and private use of vehicles. Those wishing to operate vehicles for commercial use, are often required to obtain additional entitlements; for vans and lorries – an Operator Licence. For buses and coaches – a Public Service Vehicle Licence. For Taxis – a Private Hire Vehicle Licence and there are other Licence schemes run either through the Traffic Commissioners or through Local Authorities. These are not considered a formal part of the driving licence regime.

We have announced as part of the Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026, that we will pilot a National Work-Related Road Safety Charter for businesses that require people to drive or ride for them. This includes the use of HGVs, Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs), cars, motorcycles, e-cycles and cycles. The pilot will run for two years.

The Road Safety Strategy also consists of a consultation paper, relating to the training, testing and licensing regime for Category A moped and motorcycle licences in Great Britain. We also will take into account both long-standing plans in the Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, and proposals received from the motorcycle sector, in considering reforms to this area.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of whether the current motorcycle licensing framework provides sufficient incentives for riders to progress from learner status to a full motorcycle licence.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Currently, to gain a full motorcycle licence, individuals’ must pass a theory test and both parts of the practical test. Both Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) and theory certificates have a two-year validity, and if an individual has not passed their test within 2 years of taking the CBT & theory tests, they will have to start the process again.

As part of the Department for Transport’s Road Safety Strategy, on 7 January the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) launched a consultation on motorcycle training, testing and licencing in Great Britain. The consultation will help inform a targeted review of the training, testing and licensing regime for motorcyclists with the aim of making changes to improve safety, modernise and simplify people’s access to motorcycling.

As set out in the consultation, it is understood that a proportion of riders take CBT and don’t go on to take their theory and practical tests to gain a full motorcycle licence. Between March 2023 and March 2025 77,000 learner riders repeated their CBT course.

One aim of the consultation is to determine if riders should be prevented from continually riding on a provisional licence.

The consultation will close at 11:59pm on 31 March 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much their department spent on X and xAI since July 2024.

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

The Department for Transport has spent £783.30 with X since July 2024.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the Green Book appraisal framework for reflecting the value of transport infrastructure funding in rural areas like Cornwall.

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

The Department for Transport’s Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG) is a robust framework for assessing the cost and benefits of different transport schemes, across different parts of the UK. TAG builds on the foundations set by HM Treasury’s Green Book with specific guidance for transport schemes, but it does not deviate from the key principles set by the Green Book. The Department plans to update TAG in response to HM Treasury’s Green Book Review published last July, including supporting the development of place-based business cases.

The Department is developing an Appraisal, Modelling and Evaluation Strategy to identify updates to TAG to prioritise improvements to appraisal over the next five years, so investment decisions prioritise people and places are underpinned by high quality and accessible analysis. We listened to feedback from our extensive stakeholder engagement programme as part of this, and an emerging action is to consider developing the appraisal guidance for non-urban areas – including rural areas like Cornwall.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the availability of specialist rail plant used in the maintenance of the rail network.

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

Network Rail is responsible for assessing the availability of specialist rail plant used in maintaining the rail network. It is currently reviewing its long-term equipment requirements for track maintenance and renewals, to ensure that it has the capacity, flexibility, and technology it needs to meet future demand efficiently.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department has issued to airports and transport authorities on allergy safety in public spaces, specifically latex allergy.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Food Standards Agency works with businesses and consumers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to improve allergen management and information, including offering free training and running awareness campaigns. It has recently published new guidance to help people with allergies eat out safely. The guidance sets out how businesses can provide clear allergen information, encourage communication about allergens between staff and consumers, and ensure that a consumer with allergies receives the right meal.

We would also encourage passengers travelling with a severe allergy to carry their medication with them in case of emergency, and it is recommended that they notify staff throughout their journey of their allergy. Guidance on travelling with an allergy is available from organisations such as Anaphylaxis UK or from the NHS.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with airports on allergy safety in public spaces.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Food Standards Agency works with businesses and consumers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to improve allergen management and information, including offering free training and running awareness campaigns. It has recently published new guidance to help people with allergies eat out safely. The guidance sets out how businesses can provide clear allergen information, encourage communication about allergens between staff and consumers, and ensure that a consumer with allergies receives the right meal.

We would also encourage passengers travelling with a severe allergy to carry their medication with them in case of emergency, and it is recommended that they notify staff throughout their journey of their allergy. Guidance on travelling with an allergy is available from organisations such as Anaphylaxis UK or from the NHS.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of illegal e-bikes and e-scooters on the L-Category sector; and what steps they are taking to ensure a fair, safe, and properly regulated micro-mobility market.

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

The Department continues to engage with the Motorcycle Industry Association to better understand how the micromobility and L-category sectors interact and can best support people in making the journeys that matter to them in a safe, efficient and cost-effective way.

The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles when parliamentary time allows. This will create safe, legal routes for people to use new transport technology, and help the police to crack down on those who use them in an irresponsible or anti-social way.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the future role of Great British Railways in supporting use of shared micromobility to travel to and from train stations.

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

Once established, Great British Railways will be required to have regard to the Secretary of State's Long Term Rail strategy, including by improving the integration of rail with local and regional transport systems.

We know that a well-connected transport system will help more people make the journeys they need to and unlock access to opportunity which is why we will shortly publish our integrated national transport strategy. The strategy will set out this government's vision for people-focused transport in England, supporting the creation of unified and integrated transport systems at the national and local level.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks of bright vehicle headlights impeding the vision of oncoming drivers.

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

The Department’s published road casualty statistics include figures for the number of collisions where ‘vision affected by dazzling headlights’ was recorded as a contributory factor by a police officer attending the scene. In 2023, the latest year for which this data is available, there were 216 reported injury collisions with this factor assigned which equates to 0.2% of overall collisions recorded.

In recognition of public concern about headlamp glare, the recently published Road Safety Strategy includes a commitment to carry out further research in this area.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure integration with (1) active travel, (2) shared transport, and (3) buses, at train stations during and after the transition to Great British Railways.

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

Once established, Great British Railways will be required to have regard to the Secretary of State's Long Term Rail strategy, including by improving the integration of rail with local and regional transport systems.

We know that a well-connected transport system will help more people make the journeys they need to and unlock access to opportunity which is why we will shortly publish our integrated national transport strategy. The strategy will set out this government's vision for people-focused transport in England, supporting the creation of unified and integrated transport systems at the national and local level.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many people were (1) killed, or (2) seriously injured, in road traffic accidents in England in the most recent year for which statistics are available; and what the comparable figures were for (1) 5 years, and (2) 10 years, earlier.

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

Data on road collisions involving personal injury are reported to the Department by police forces in Great Britain via the STATS19 system. The latest year for which data is available is 2024.

The number of killed or seriously injured casualties in reported road traffic collisions in England are shown in the table:

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential for UK hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to contribute to the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors such as (a) heavy machinery and (b) heavy transport.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government expects hydrogen to play a role in decarbonising applications where there are limited alternatives such as maritime, aviation, and off-road machinery. This includes through use as a fuel directly, in a fuel cell, and to produce other low-carbon fuels such as ammonia, methanol, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The Government plans to publish a renewed Hydrogen Strategy in early 2026 to sharpen our priorities, deepen industry collaboration, and unlock the full potential of hydrogen over the next decade.

The Department has long supported the research, development, and deployment of hydrogen‑powered transport, including through ensuring hydrogen is eligible for support under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation and the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate, through the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator, the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions, and the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas programme.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with Transport for West Midlands on improving bus reliability in the Black Country.

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

The Government is committed to helping local leaders improve local bus services and improve reliability across England, including in the West Midlands. The Department for Transport regularly engages with local authority representatives from the West Midlands Combined Authority, including as part of our support to local transport authorities pursuing bus franchising.

We are taking action to give local leaders the powers they need to deliver better bus services for passengers, including through the Bus Services Act 2025 which devolved powers to local authorities who know their local areas the best. In addition, the Government has confirmed over £3 billion from 2026/27 to support local leaders and bus operators to improve bus services over the spending review period. This includes multi-year allocations for local authorities under the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) totalling nearly £700 million per year.

The West Midlands Combined Authority will be allocated £119.4 million under the LABG from 2026/27 to 2028/29, in addition to the £37 million they are already receiving this year. This funding can be used to expand services and improve reliability.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of establishing a Neighbourhood Transport Grant to provide ringfenced, long-term funding for community transport organisations, allocated through strategic or local transport authorities, to support the reopening of bus routes.

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

The Department has made no assessment of establishing such a grant. However, the Government is investing in bus services long-term and has confirmed over £3 billion from 2026/27 to support local leaders and bus operators to improve bus services for millions of passengers over the remainder of the spending review period.

This includes multi-year allocations for local authorities under the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) totalling nearly £700 million per year, ending the short-term approach to bus funding and giving councils the certainty they need to plan ahead to improve services for local communities.

Hampshire County Council will be allocated £45 million under the LABG from 2026/27 to 2028/29, in addition to the £14.1 million they are already receiving this year. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services can be used in whichever way they wish to deliver better services for passengers, including expanding services and improving reliability or investing in community transport schemes.

Furthermore, community transport operators are eligible to claim the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG), the Department makes available up to £3.8 million each year through the BSOG to community transport operators. The BSOG is a grant paid to operators of eligible commercial bus services and community transport organisations to help them recover some of their operating costs.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the capacity of the West Coast Main Line at Stockport; and what steps she is taking to ensure that local rail services are not adversely impacted by the introduction of HS2-compatible trains on that line.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We recognise there are capacity constraints on the West Coast Mainline at Stockport. The Rail Minister has asked officials to work with Network Rail and the wider industry to explore options to address this and meet future demand.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how decision-makers should interpret the requirement for applicants to assess the implications of port developments for Shoreline Management Plans, marine plans and coastal defence capital programmes; and whether applicants may be required to fund mitigation or adaptation measures beyond the direct impacts of the proposed development.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

A final text of the National Policy Statement for Ports (NPSP) will be published in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what alternative schemes she is considering that will address the capacity issues on the Brighton Main Line, namely around Reigate and the Selhurst Triangle, which would have been addressed by the Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We are focused on prioritising the schemes that will make the greatest difference for passengers and support economic growth as quickly as possible. The previous government had committed to a number of projects that were unfunded, including the Croydon Area Remodelling scheme.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the introduction of non-tilting HS2-compatible trains on West Coast Main Line capacity.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We anticipate the use of non-tilting trains to have no impact on the capacity of the West Coast Mainline. We are currently developing the timetable for when HS2 opens and decisions will made closer to the start of services and will be subject to consultation.

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 diesel operation on the Midland Main Line north of Leicester on emissions and air quality in a) Leicester and b) the East Midlands.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Prior to the decision being made to pause the Midland Main Line Electrification programme as part of Spending Review 2025, the benefits of the scheme were being assessed. The benefits of fully electrifying the Midland Main Line (MML) are predominately those that would deliver greener transport, such as reducing carbon and improving local air quality, particularly at stations, through trains using electric traction rather than diesel.

Whilst not as clean as fully electric trains, the new intercity bi-mode trains currently being introduced by East Midland’s Railway are much cleaner and will contribute to improving air quality on the route.

Station managers in areas with poor air quality are required to develop and implement Air Quality Improvement Plans (AQIPs) which should outline feasible measures to improve air quality. The AQIPs for Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, and Sheffield stations on the MML have been developed and must be reviewed and updated annually.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to extend land powers for the HS2 route between Birmingham and Crewe beyond 10 February 2025; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of those powers lapsing on future northern rail connectivity.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Northern Growth Strategy set out the Government’s intention to ultimately deliver a full North-South new line between Birmingham and Manchester. As part of this announcement, the Government confirmed that its existing land holdings between the West Midlands and Crewe will be retained.

We are aware that the existing land acquisition powers for the HS2 Phase 2a route expire in February 2026. We will set out our future intentions shortly.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her Department has to conduct an annual review of (a) the duration of closures of public level crossings, (b) the potential impact of those closures on local economies and (c) the potential merits of replacing high-delay road crossings with alternative means of crossing railway lines.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Network Rail is responsible for the safe management and operation of level crossings across the rail network, which includes monitoring their performance and usage and the duration of closures arising from train operations.

The Department for Transport has no current plans to conduct an annual review of closure durations or their economic impacts. However, Network Rail already assesses level crossing performance and considers a range of factors when reviewing whether upgrades or alternative solutions—such as bridges, underpasses or road realignments—may be justified. These decisions take account of safety risk, operational needs, local circumstances and the potential impacts on communities and the wider network. The Department continues to work with Network Rail and the safety regulator to support proportionate improvements where they deliver clear safety and network benefits.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to review the UK Emissions Trading Scheme once the International Maritime Organisation rules come into force.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Addressing international emissions from shipping is critical and it is important action is taken globally through the International Maritime Organization (IMO). If the IMO Net-Zero Framework is introduced, the Government will review the scope of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to assess the effectiveness and fairness of the system for operators.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Question 85338 on Driving Instruction: Standards, how many individuals or organisations have been investigated by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s Counter Fraud and Investigation team in relation to (a) driving test fraud and (b) illegal driving instruction in each of the last five years.

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

In 24/25, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) received 927 reports of illegal instruction and 2133 reports of fraud at point of theory test and practical test. DVSA thoroughly investigate all allegations, and action can range from issuing a warning to pursuing prosecution.

DVSA does not maintain records regarding the total number of investigations completed in previous years.

Whilst the volume and levels of undetected fraud are unknown, it should be noted that when compared to the number of theory and practical tests conducted in 24/25, identified cases of fraud in relation to these tests equate to roughly 0.06% for theory tests and roughly 0.01% of practical test tests respectively.

In January 2023, DVSA changed the terms and conditions for using the booking service to help prevent anyone from selling tests at profit.

On 6 January 2025, DVSA introduced new terms and conditions for use of the service driving instructors and trainers use to book and manage practical driving tests for their pupils. Where businesses and driving instructors have been found to have broken these terms and conditions by misuse of the booking service, DVSA has taken steps to remove access or close business accounts. Additionally in the coming months, DVSA will:

• Change the booking service to allow only learner car drivers to book and manage their tests

• Introduce a limit on the number of times a learner car driver can move or swap a test to twice and also limit the area they can move a test to once booked.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the DVLA has taken to investigate individuals or organisations involved in (a) reselling driving test appointments and (b) bulk booking or profiteering from driving test slots.

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

In 24/25, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) received 927 reports of illegal instruction and 2133 reports of fraud at point of theory test and practical test. DVSA thoroughly investigate all allegations, and action can range from issuing a warning to pursuing prosecution.

DVSA does not maintain records regarding the total number of investigations completed in previous years.

Whilst the volume and levels of undetected fraud are unknown, it should be noted that when compared to the number of theory and practical tests conducted in 24/25, identified cases of fraud in relation to these tests equate to roughly 0.06% for theory tests and roughly 0.01% of practical test tests respectively.

In January 2023, DVSA changed the terms and conditions for using the booking service to help prevent anyone from selling tests at profit.

On 6 January 2025, DVSA introduced new terms and conditions for use of the service driving instructors and trainers use to book and manage practical driving tests for their pupils. Where businesses and driving instructors have been found to have broken these terms and conditions by misuse of the booking service, DVSA has taken steps to remove access or close business accounts. Additionally in the coming months, DVSA will:

• Change the booking service to allow only learner car drivers to book and manage their tests

• Introduce a limit on the number of times a learner car driver can move or swap a test to twice and also limit the area they can move a test to once booked.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving examiner vacancies currently exist in the East of England.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - 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.

DVSA acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers, including those living in rural and semi-rural communities. The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training, as part of our Plan for Change.

It is not possible to confirm how many people are waiting to book a practical driving test. DVSA only holds data on the number of tests booked.

DVSA continually reviews its recruitment needs to ensure the agency maintains the right level of resource to meet customer demand. The Agency’s latest national recruitment campaign closed in December 2025. As a result, it has a number of candidates progressing through the final recruitment stages. In the East of England. This includes:

• 11 potential driving examiners (DE) booked onto training courses.

• 14 potential DEs currently undergoing pre-employment checks.

• 72 applicants currently working their way through recruitment processes.

DVSA is working hard to provide as many practical driving test appointments as possible at all test centres and regularly conducts tests outside of normal hours, including evenings, weekends and on public holidays. Between June - December 2025, DVSA conducted 1,158,458 car practical driving tests. This is an increase of 102,290 more car practical driving tests when compared to the same period in 2024. This increase can largely be attributed to the additional test allowance scheme introduced in June 2025.

DVSA publishes data on car practical test cancellation reasons by month and driving test centre (DTC) on GOV.UK. This data, in report DRT122B, is updated annually and currently shows data to March 2025. The next update is due to be published in June 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many learner drivers are on waiting lists for practical driving tests in the East of England.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - 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.

DVSA acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers, including those living in rural and semi-rural communities. The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training, as part of our Plan for Change.

It is not possible to confirm how many people are waiting to book a practical driving test. DVSA only holds data on the number of tests booked.

DVSA continually reviews its recruitment needs to ensure the agency maintains the right level of resource to meet customer demand. The Agency’s latest national recruitment campaign closed in December 2025. As a result, it has a number of candidates progressing through the final recruitment stages. In the East of England. This includes:

• 11 potential driving examiners (DE) booked onto training courses.

• 14 potential DEs currently undergoing pre-employment checks.

• 72 applicants currently working their way through recruitment processes.

DVSA is working hard to provide as many practical driving test appointments as possible at all test centres and regularly conducts tests outside of normal hours, including evenings, weekends and on public holidays. Between June - December 2025, DVSA conducted 1,158,458 car practical driving tests. This is an increase of 102,290 more car practical driving tests when compared to the same period in 2024. This increase can largely be attributed to the additional test allowance scheme introduced in June 2025.

DVSA publishes data on car practical test cancellation reasons by month and driving test centre (DTC) on GOV.UK. This data, in report DRT122B, is updated annually and currently shows data to March 2025. The next update is due to be published in June 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average waiting time was for a practical car driving test at driving test centres in (a) Stockport and (b) Greater Manchester in each of the last ten years.

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

The attached Excel document shows what the average waiting time was for a practical car driving test at driving test centres in (a) Stockport and (b) Greater Manchester in each of the last ten years.

Please note there is no data available for Chadderton test centre for 2015. Chadderton was commissioned for practical car driving tests on 19 January 2017. For 2016/17 only partial data is available based on just over two months of operation.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve flood resilience on (a) key arterial roads and (b) motorways in (i) Surrey and (ii) the South East.

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

National Highways manages the risk and impacts of flooding across England’s Strategic Road Network (SRN). It has a range of proactive controls and response measures, including a programme of targeted interventions for flood risk sites across the network, including the South East region. The third Road Investment Strategy will emphasise the need to improve the SRN’s resilience to future climate change, including new flood risk.

On local roads, the Government is providing local authorities with £7.3 billion of funding for local highway maintenance over the next four years, which supports measures to improve resilience. The Department is also working with the UK Roads Leadership Group to help local highway authorities understand and deal with the effects of climate change, including flooding.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department considers the level of rail infrastructure investment in (a) Leicester and (b) the East Midlands to be proportionate to its population.

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

Decisions made by the Government on investment in rail infrastructure are taken to ensure that the railways are funded to operate safely and efficiently and in line with our strategic goals.

The funding identified for rail infrastructure enhancements as part of Spending Review 2025 was not apportioned regionally. Schemes were prioritised for funding on a value for money basis and we needed to make difficult decisions to reach an affordable and sustainable position.

In addition to funding for rail enhancements, the Office of Rail and Roads’ periodic review process determines Network Rail’s funding allocation for the Operation, Support, Maintenance and Renewal (OSMR) of the network. The periodic review process is undertaken on a regional basis. Funding for Network Rail to operate, maintain and renew the railway in the East Midlands during Control Period 7 (from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2029) is included in their £9.6bn settlement for the Eastern region.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to integrate climate change projections and increased storm frequency into long-term planning for transport and coastal defence infrastructure in Newton Abbot constituency.

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

The Department for Transport has plans in place and underway with industry to adapt to and mitigate the risks of extreme weather caused by climate change. In 2024, the rail industry agreed a set of climate scenarios. This will harmonise data and methods and will help the industry develop consistent approaches to assess physical risks.

Network Rail is undertaking a programme of adaptation pathways across the network, including in Wales and Western region, which covers the Newton Abbot constituency, to develop a long-term strategic adaptation plan and identify priority areas for further adaptation investment. This approach will help identify those parts of the network which may require transformational change to enable safe and reliable services to continue in the future. Network Rail has also produced regional weather resilience and climate change adaptation plans (WRCCA). These explain Network Rail’s understanding of how weather and climate change can affect infrastructure at a more targeted, local level. This work is already informing discussions for future funding periods.

In addition, the Department has requested its train operating companies, including Great Western Railway, South Western Railway and CrossCountry, to produce their own WRCCA strategies due at the end of January 2026 and these will add further detail to our understanding of regional risks.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of a) extended working hours and b) weekend testing in reducing driving test waiting times.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - 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.

DVSA acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers, including those living in rural and semi-rural communities. The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training, as part of our Plan for Change.

It is not possible to confirm how many people are waiting to book a practical driving test. DVSA only holds data on the number of tests booked.

DVSA continually reviews its recruitment needs to ensure the agency maintains the right level of resource to meet customer demand. The Agency’s latest national recruitment campaign closed in December 2025. As a result, it has a number of candidates progressing through the final recruitment stages. In the East of England. This includes:

• 11 potential driving examiners (DE) booked onto training courses.

• 14 potential DEs currently undergoing pre-employment checks.

• 72 applicants currently working their way through recruitment processes.

DVSA is working hard to provide as many practical driving test appointments as possible at all test centres and regularly conducts tests outside of normal hours, including evenings, weekends and on public holidays. Between June - December 2025, DVSA conducted 1,158,458 car practical driving tests. This is an increase of 102,290 more car practical driving tests when compared to the same period in 2024. This increase can largely be attributed to the additional test allowance scheme introduced in June 2025.

DVSA publishes data on car practical test cancellation reasons by month and driving test centre (DTC) on GOV.UK. This data, in report DRT122B, is updated annually and currently shows data to March 2025. The next update is due to be published in June 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of driving test delays on employment opportunities in rural areas.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - 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.

DVSA acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers, including those living in rural and semi-rural communities. The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training, as part of our Plan for Change.

It is not possible to confirm how many people are waiting to book a practical driving test. DVSA only holds data on the number of tests booked.

DVSA continually reviews its recruitment needs to ensure the agency maintains the right level of resource to meet customer demand. The Agency’s latest national recruitment campaign closed in December 2025. As a result, it has a number of candidates progressing through the final recruitment stages. In the East of England. This includes:

• 11 potential driving examiners (DE) booked onto training courses.

• 14 potential DEs currently undergoing pre-employment checks.

• 72 applicants currently working their way through recruitment processes.

DVSA is working hard to provide as many practical driving test appointments as possible at all test centres and regularly conducts tests outside of normal hours, including evenings, weekends and on public holidays. Between June - December 2025, DVSA conducted 1,158,458 car practical driving tests. This is an increase of 102,290 more car practical driving tests when compared to the same period in 2024. This increase can largely be attributed to the additional test allowance scheme introduced in June 2025.

DVSA publishes data on car practical test cancellation reasons by month and driving test centre (DTC) on GOV.UK. This data, in report DRT122B, is updated annually and currently shows data to March 2025. The next update is due to be published in June 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many practical driving tests were cancelled by the DVSA in the last 12 months; and for what reasons.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - 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.

DVSA acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers, including those living in rural and semi-rural communities. The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training, as part of our Plan for Change.

It is not possible to confirm how many people are waiting to book a practical driving test. DVSA only holds data on the number of tests booked.

DVSA continually reviews its recruitment needs to ensure the agency maintains the right level of resource to meet customer demand. The Agency’s latest national recruitment campaign closed in December 2025. As a result, it has a number of candidates progressing through the final recruitment stages. In the East of England. This includes:

• 11 potential driving examiners (DE) booked onto training courses.

• 14 potential DEs currently undergoing pre-employment checks.

• 72 applicants currently working their way through recruitment processes.

DVSA is working hard to provide as many practical driving test appointments as possible at all test centres and regularly conducts tests outside of normal hours, including evenings, weekends and on public holidays. Between June - December 2025, DVSA conducted 1,158,458 car practical driving tests. This is an increase of 102,290 more car practical driving tests when compared to the same period in 2024. This increase can largely be attributed to the additional test allowance scheme introduced in June 2025.

DVSA publishes data on car practical test cancellation reasons by month and driving test centre (DTC) on GOV.UK. This data, in report DRT122B, is updated annually and currently shows data to March 2025. The next update is due to be published in June 2026.

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Found: My team hold the risk registers and the monitoring for DEFRA, DFT and other Departments, and the Department

Found: My team hold the risk registers and the monitoring for DEFRA, DFT and other Departments, and the Department

Found: Released by Department for Transport, under FOI, ref: FOI-00045627, on 19 August 2025.

Found: This could be achieved in collaboration with the Department for Transport, Active Travel England, regional

Found: The Department for Transport and HM Treasury working together to address the poverty premium in car

Found: departmental collaboration with other Ministries, such as the Department for Education, Department for Transport

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Found: Authority (GLA) for Scotland and the Isle of Man, an Arm’s Length Body responsible to the Department for Transport

Found: have programme boards where we bring together cross- Government bodies such as DESNZ, the Department for Transport

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question 104268 on Blue Badge Scheme: EU Countries, if he will hold discussions with his EU counterparts at the next UK–EU summit on EU recognition of the UK-issued Blue Badges for disabled drivers.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The majority of EU Member States already recognise Blue Badges. In 2025, the UK agreed further mutual recognition with France and agreed in the 2025 strategic bilateral framework with Spain to work to sign an arrangement to ensure mutual recognition of parking permits and Blue Badges for Disabled people. The Department for Transport will continue to engage bilaterally with Member States where they don't recognise Blue Badges.

Further information on Blue Badge recognition can be found here: Using a Blue Badge in Europe - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has assessed the potential merits of extending eligibility for government-backed student finance to standalone commercial pilot training courses; and what discussions her Department has had with the Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority on the potential merits of recognising pilot training as an eligible education route.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The courses designated for higher education student finance are set out in secondary legislation. To attract funding, students studying in England must generally be undertaking a course leading to a designated qualification at a provider registered with the Office for Students.

The funding available for designated programmes, including pilot training, does not normally extend to costs associated with the commercial pilot’s licence and flying experience.

The department has previously explained this position to the Department for Transport.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what support her Department is providing to the Regulatory Innovation Office to help ensure greater commercial and non-military drone adoption.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The RIO is a key Government lever for achieving its transformative ambitions in regulatory innovation. It has been established as an in-house function within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

The RIO has been working in partnership with the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to deliver regulatory reform to support drone adoption and commercialisation since its founding in October 2024. In March 2025, RIO and DfT ministers agreed six priorities for the CAA’s regulation of drones, including an extension and simplification of airspace change processes and a commitment to develop options for electronic conspicuity (technology that allows aircraft to be digitally aware of one another). The RIO has supported the CAA to develop and expand its atypical air environments policy, making commercial activity possible using drones in airspace where there is low risk of collision with other aircraft. The RIO has provided funding to support the CAA’s efficiency by using AI in its drone approvals processes and to make drone deliveries in specific use cases, such as to Argyll & Bute, routine. The RIO has also worked with the CAA to publish a set of drone regulation performance metrics to ensure there is transparency for the sector. The RIO partnered with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to clear the regulatory pathway for drones to be adopted for commercial agricultural activities.

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Found: The chair of the group submitted his report in July 2018, the Department for Transport (DfT) issued

Found: The chair of the group submitted his report in July 2018, the Department for Transport (DfT) issued

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Found: Around 98% of motorway service areas in England have open-access chargepoints available [DfT Analysis

Found: efficiency policies for road vehicles, rail electrification and active travel spending from the Department for Transport

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Found: The campus will bring together expertise from across the region from the Department for Transport, Ministry

Found: The Department for Transport is currently conducting a Post Implementation Review of the Space Industry

Found: The Department for Transport is currently conducting a Post Implementation Review of the Space Industry

Found: Birmingham City Council © HS2 Ltd. gov.uk/hs2 High Speed Two (HS2) Limited has been tasked by the Department for Transport

Found: High Speed Two (HS2) Limited has been tasked by the Department for Transport (DfT) with managing the

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Found: Borough Council © HS2 Ltd. gov.uk/hs2 High Speed Two (HS2) Limited has been tasked by the Department for Transport

Found: High Speed Two (HS2) Limited has been tasked by the Department for Transport (DfT) with managing the

Found: of Hillingdon © HS2 Ltd. gov.uk/hs2 High Speed Two (HS2) Limited has been tasked by the Department for Transport

Found: High Speed Two (HS2) Limited has been tasked by the Department for Transport (DfT) with managing the

Found: The report is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the DfT (including the MCA) and the

Found: The report is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the DfT (including the MCA) and the

Found: The report is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the DfT (including the MCA) and the

Found: The report is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the DfT (including the MCA) and the

Found: The report is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the DfT (including the MCA) and the

Found: The report is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the DfT (including the MCA) and the

Found: The report is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the DfT (including the MCA) and the

Found: The report is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the DfT (including the MCA) and the

Found: The report is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the DfT (including the MCA) and the

Found: The report is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the DfT (including the MCA) and the

Found: The report is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the DfT (including the MCA) and the

Found: The report is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the DfT (including the MCA) and the

Found: The report is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the DfT (including the MCA) and the

Found: The report is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the DfT (including the MCA) and the

Found: The report is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the DfT (including the MCA) and the

Found: The report is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the DfT (including the MCA) and the

Found: Railway and West Midlands Railway services) has transferred into public ownership and is being managed by DfT

Found: now be run by a new public sector operator – WM Trains Limited – a subsidiary of public corporation DfT

Found: Justice That Works: Report of the Scottish Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission 129 24 Department for Transport

Found: However, DfT has indicated that it is difficult even for them to influence UK Government

Found: .• Statisticians within the Department for Transport have devised a method for adjusting the