Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason the gov.uk Apply for a Blue Badge service asks for user's gender as (a) male, (b) female and (c) identify differently; and if he will ensure the Government Digital Service collects biological sex data.

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

This information is collected as part of the Blue Badge application process to ensure the application is handled sensitively and issue badges under the appropriate gender.

The Government Digital Service (GDS) is tasked with transforming the provision of online public services, and is a matter for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's polices on air travel safety of the plane crash at Southend airport in July 2025.

Answered by Mike Kane

I would like to reassure you that UK airspace and operators are among the safest in the world. However, we are not complacent, and the government is committed to maintaining and improving high safety standards in aviation in the UK and across the world.

The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is currently leading the investigation into the recent accident at Southend Airport. At this stage, we are unable to comment on the progress or findings of the investigation. However, should any safety concerns arise regarding the aircraft or its operator, the Department stands ready to take prompt and decisive action to mitigate any risks in collaboration with the AAIB and Civil Aviation Authority.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will issue guidance to local authorities on ensuring that bus stop bypasses are accessible to blind and partially sighted people.

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

The government has committed to publishing new statutory guidance for local authorities on the design of floating bus stops, also known as bus stop bypasses, within three months of the Bus Services (No.2) Bill receiving Royal Assent. We will engage with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee on the guidance and will also work with relevant stakeholders, including groups representing the needs of blind and partially sighted people.

The Bill also seeks a new power for the Secretary of State to develop statutory guidance on the safety and accessibility of bus stops and stations. It is our intention that the design guidance will complement the safety and accessibility guidance, helping to ensure that people are not prevented from using bus services because of inadequate accessibility.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the transport of carbon dioxide by ship.

Answered by Mike Kane

Officials within the department have engaged with their counterparts in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on non-pipeline transport of carbon dioxide, including via rail and ship. This includes inputting into the Call for Evidence on Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage on Non-Pipeline Transport and Cross border CO2 networks that ran between 7 May 2024 and 16 July 2024.

They are now working with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on their upcoming consultation on Non-Pipeline Transport of CO2, which is due for publication by the second half of this year [2025].

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with local transport authorities on the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of bus drivers.

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

The Department for Transport regularly meets with stakeholders, including local transport authorities, to discuss bus policy issues.

Bus services in England are predominantly run on a commercial basis by private operators who are ultimately responsible for effectively managing their workforce and the recruitment of bus drivers. However, the government will continue to work with the bus sector to support them in being able to meet both their current and future labour requirements.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to assist people impacted by the practice of illegitimate motor insurance.

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

All drivers must be insured to drive the vehicle they are using and for the purpose it is used for, and all drivers are subject to roadside enforcement by the police. Consumers should check that the firms they are purchasing insurance from are legitimate, which they can do by searching the Financial Conduct Authority’s Financial Services Register.

The Register lists all firms the FCA has approved, as well as firms that may be providing regulated products or services without the correct authorisation (including those deliberately running scams). It includes the different details unauthorised firms give out and whether they’re falsely claiming to be from an authorised firm.

The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) has been set up by the insurance industry to share intelligence on insurance claims and to identify dubious and repeated claims. The IFB looks for evidence of organised fraud on industry databases, develops cross-industry intelligence and coordinates investigations between insurers, the police and other agencies.

In October 2024, the government introduced a new Insurance Fraud Charter. This is a voluntary agreement between the government and the insurance sector to reduce fraud, designed to identify loopholes in the insurance market, enhance collaboration and criminal justice outcomes, better understand the scale of the problem and improve victim support. Home Office is also working to develop a new Fraud Strategy.

The Government regularly engages with a variety of stakeholders on issues relating to motor insurance, including fraud, and committed in its manifesto to tackle the high cost of motor insurance. To deliver on this, the Government formed a cross-government taskforce, co-chaired by the Department for Transport and His Majesty’s Treasury. The taskforce is expected to publish its final report in the autumn.

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 visual field testing for driving license holders diagnosed with glaucoma in (a) North Norfolk constituency, (b) Norfolk and (c) England.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) vision testing supplier, Specsavers, currently has 360 stores across England that provide visual field testing for DVLA purposes. In Norfolk six stores offer this service with the closest stores to North Norfolk constituency in Norwich or Wisbech.

Specsavers is contractually required to ensure that an optometrist is available within a 25-mile radius of a customer applying for a licence. Where this is not possible Specsavers engages with local independent stores to provide the necessary services (typically this has only been in the Highlands of Scotland)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the operators and management of each UK Airport on the increase in costs of passenger drop-offs and pick-ups; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of this on the livelihoods of people in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England.

Answered by Mike Kane

Most airports in the UK are managed and operated as private businesses, and parking arrangements are subject to contractual agreements between airport operators and car parking companies covered by consumer laws.

The provision and charging of car parking at airports (including drop off and pick charges) is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business to manage and justify.

Officials regularly engage with commercial airports on a large number of matters such as surface access, which includes the use of drop off charges, to improve access to airports whilst taking into account associated environmental impacts.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending eligibility for Blue Badges to include voluntary patient transport providers.

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

It is preferable for disabled individuals to hold their own Blue Badge, allowing them to use it in any vehicle they travel in, whether as a driver or a passenger. However, an organisational Blue Badge may be issued to an organisation for use in vehicles transporting disabled people who would individually qualify for a badge, as set out in Section 4(2) of the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) Regulations 2000.

Local authorities must be able to confirm that the organisation both cares for and regularly transports individuals who meet the eligibility criteria for a personal Blue Badge, and that there is a clear operational need for an organisational badge rather than relying on individual badges.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions has she had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) motor insurance companies on the prevalence of ghost broking in the motor insurance industry.

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

All drivers must be insured to drive the vehicle they are using and for the purpose it is used for, and all drivers are subject to roadside enforcement by the police. Consumers should check that the firms they are purchasing insurance from are legitimate, which they can do by searching the Financial Conduct Authority’s Financial Services Register.

The Register lists all firms the FCA has approved, as well as firms that may be providing regulated products or services without the correct authorisation (including those deliberately running scams). It includes the different details unauthorised firms give out and whether they’re falsely claiming to be from an authorised firm.

The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) has been set up by the insurance industry to share intelligence on insurance claims and to identify dubious and repeated claims. The IFB looks for evidence of organised fraud on industry databases, develops cross-industry intelligence and coordinates investigations between insurers, the police and other agencies.

In October 2024, the government introduced a new Insurance Fraud Charter. This is a voluntary agreement between the government and the insurance sector to reduce fraud, designed to identify loopholes in the insurance market, enhance collaboration and criminal justice outcomes, better understand the scale of the problem and improve victim support. Home Office is also working to develop a new Fraud Strategy.

The Government regularly engages with a variety of stakeholders on issues relating to motor insurance, including fraud, and committed in its manifesto to tackle the high cost of motor insurance. To deliver on this, the Government formed a cross-government taskforce, co-chaired by the Department for Transport and His Majesty’s Treasury. The taskforce is expected to publish its final report in the autumn.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many publicly available roadside electric vehicle chargers there were in Huntingdon constituency as of 1 July 2025.

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

Data on public electric vehicle charging devices in the UK, held by the Department for Transport, are sourced from the electric vehicle charging platform Zapmap.

The table below presents public charging devices in the Huntingdon constituency as of 1st July 2025 broken down by location category.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on average cab temperatures on buses in periods of hot weather; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of average cab temperatures on the health of bus drivers.

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

The Department for Transport does not hold this information.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring all transport workers have access to suitable working conditions. The majority of bus services in England outside London are provided on a commercial basis by private operators, who are responsible for ensuring their employees have access to healthy and safe working conditions.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her planned timetable is for each stage of (a) consulting on and (b) ratifying the updated Airports National Policy Statement.

Answered by Mike Kane

The Government published a letter to potential promoters inviting proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer. The government is now assessing the proposals against the criteria set out in the letter. Once this is complete the Government will review the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS). We cannot speculate on the timings of the review at this stage, however when conducting the review, the Secretary of State will comply with the requirements in the Planning Act 2008, including consultation, publicity and parliamentary requirements.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many additional driving tests have been created in (a) Pwllheli and (b) Y Bala in each month since 23 April 2025.

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

Pwllheli test centre is an outstation with driving examiners (DE) deployed from Bangor/Rhyl driving test centres (DTC), where possible. Y Bala is also an outstation with DEs deployed from Wrexham DTC, where possible.

The table below shows how many driving tests have been conducted in Pwllheli and Y Bala in each month since 23 April 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to (a) monitor and (b) limit the level of parking fees at airports.

Answered by Mike Kane

The Department for Transport has no plans to monitor or limit the level of parking fees at airports.

The provision and charging of car parking at airports (including drop off and pick charges) is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business to manage and justify.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with (a) the equine sector, (b) local authorities and (c) road safety bodies on enforcing safe driving practices around horse riders.

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

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

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

Local authorities are responsible for road safety on the local road network. The Government treats road safety with the utmost seriousness and provides local authorities with guidance on road safety measures but it is up to individual authorities to determine how they meet their statutory duty.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve road safety for horse riders in Isle of Wight East constituency.

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

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

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

Local authorities are responsible for road safety on the local road network. The Government treats road safety with the utmost seriousness and provides local authorities with guidance on road safety measures but it is up to individual authorities to determine how they meet their statutory duty.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to (a) reduce street obstacles and (b) improve the accessibility of pavements for (i) blind and (ii) visually impaired people in Surrey Heath constituency.

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

Local authorities are responsible for managing their roads, including the provision of fixed street furniture such as benches, bins and cycle racks. It is for local authorities to manage their roads in such as way as to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty.

The Department’s guidance document Inclusive Mobility provides advice on designing accessible public realm and includes recommendations on placing street furniture in a way that does not create obstructions for disabled people.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the reduction in expenditure from the cancelling the electrification of the midland mainline north of Wigston.

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

The decisions taken in the Spending Review on rail enhancements were about prioritising the schemes that provided the greatest contribution to the government’s missions affordably. Rail enhancements are funded as a portfolio and this portfolio received increased funding from the Spending Review, meaning expenditure is expected to increase overall. The final investment decision on the electrification of the Midland Mainline north of Wigston had not been taken at the time of Spending Review, and it was not prioritised for progression in the period. While further Midland Main Line electrification is no longer expected to be funded over this Spending Review period, it has not been cancelled and will be kept under active review as part of our longer-term pipeline of schemes. This decision has not led to a reduction in expenditure on rail enhancements.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to include motorcycling in its planned Integrated National Transport Strategy.

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

Later this year, the department will publish the Integrated National Transport Strategy (INTS) and set the long-term vision for transport across England, placing people at the heart of how we plan, build, and operate transport. The Strategy will aim to address fragmentation and inefficiency across the transport system to ensure that people can easily, reliably, and safely carry out the journeys they want to make, however they choose to travel.

We have conducted extensive engagement with stakeholders and members of the public, including motorcyclists and motorcycle user representative groups, through a Call for Ideas, Regional Roadshows, and targeted sessions with seldom heard groups. As the Strategy is still in development, I am unable to comment on specific policy questions, but all the insights gathered through our engagement activities have been analysed and are being considered as the Strategy continues to evolve.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether motorcycling will be included in the Integrated National Transport Strategy.

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

Later this year, the department will publish the Integrated National Transport Strategy (INTS) and set the long-term vision for transport across England, placing people at the heart of how we plan, build, and operate transport. The Strategy will aim to address fragmentation and inefficiency across the transport system to ensure that people can easily, reliably, and safely carry out the journeys they want to make, however they choose to travel.

We have conducted extensive engagement with stakeholders and members of the public, including motorcyclists and motorcycle user representative groups, through a Call for Ideas, Regional Roadshows, and targeted sessions with seldom heard groups. As the Strategy is still in development, I am unable to comment on specific policy questions, but all the insights gathered through our engagement activities have been analysed and are being considered as the Strategy continues to evolve.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will review the default 60mph speed limit for rural roads.

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

The Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. The Department for Transport is developing its Road Safety Strategy and measures to address speeding will be considered for inclusion within the strategy. The Government will set more details out in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department has taken to increase public awareness of changes to the Highway Code made in 2022.

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

Following updates to the Highway Code in 2022 introducing a hierarchy of road users, the department ran a THINK! campaign to raise awareness of the changes as they came into effect. This was followed by broader behaviour change campaigns in the summer of 2022 and 2023, to help embed the changes and encourage understanding and uptake of the guidance.

Over £2.4million has been spent on paid advertising across the Highway Code campaign, utilising channels such as radio, digital audio, video on demand and social media advertising.

We continually review our campaign priorities using data and research to make sure we are addressing the most important road safety issues to help make our roads safer.

We also continue to promote the Highway Code in partnership with other organisations, through THINK! social channels and via education resources. In addition we run three radio filler adverts year-round, encouraging motorists to maintain safe passing distances from cyclists and horse riders, to use the Dutch Reach when opening car doors to help keep cyclists safe, and to raise awareness of pedestrian priority at junctions.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Local Transport) had with the Mayor of the West Midlands on Aldridge Train Station on 15 July 2025.

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

Mayor Richard Parker and I meet regularly, with discussions covering a range of transport issues.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to publish guidance on cross-pavement electric vehicle charging solutions.

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

In December 2024, the Government published cross-pavement guidance to help local authorities understand what they need to consider for the roll-out of cross-pavement solutions. This includes relevant permissions, minimum existing standards, responsibilities and case studies.

In addition to the guidance, in July 2025 Government announced the £25 million Electric Vehicle Pavement Channels Grant to further support local authorities to adopt pavement channels as part of their local charging strategies.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of GPS navigation services on the number of heavy goods vehicles travelling through villages.

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

There is no legal requirement for drivers of any vehicle to have or use satellite navigation equipment and the Government currently has no plans to mandate their use.

If such equipment is provided, it is important that it is suitable for the vehicle being driven and it is updated regularly to ensure it has the latest available maps. While these systems can be useful, they cannot replace a driver’s knowledge or skill, especially in the case of diversions due to road traffic collisions or roadworks.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to extend smart ticketing.

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

The Government is delivering on its ambition to overhaul ticketing for passengers and get more people on the railway. We have committed to expanding Pay As You Go (PAYG) with contactless ticketing to further stations in the South East, with an additional 49 stations to be rolled out this year. Additionally, PAYG pilots have been announced in both Manchester and the West Midlands, expanding PAYG to more than 90 additional rail stations, which are due to be launched in 2026. We are also launching trials on digital PAYG, to explore further smart ticketing initiatives.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to provide an interim digital rail retail solution before (a) train operating company retail websites are turned off and (b) the new Great British Railways retail offer goes live.

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

Once Great British Railways is established, it will retail online by consolidating individual train operators’ ticket websites. This will take place alongside a thriving private sector retail market, which will continue to play a key role in driving innovation and investment and encouraging more people to choose rail.

The Railways Bill consultation took place in the Spring. As part of this process, the Government consulted closely with industry, the private sector, and wider stakeholders including in relation to the future of the rail retail market. A formal update will be provided in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of international rail travel from Ashford International on economic growth.

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

The Government is keen to see the reinstatement of international rail services in Kent and recognises the benefits that international connectivity brings to local economies and to the UK.

The Government is engaging with Kent stakeholders, including MPs, councillors and representative organisations to discuss this issue and is committed to continue to explore all potential solutions including the reinstatement of these services by potential new operators.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Active Travel England recognises equestrians as users of active travel routes; and if she will take steps to ensure that equestrian access is (a) included and (b) considered in future active travel (i) projects and (ii) policies.

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

The needs of equestrians should be considered in the design of active travel routes. New or upgraded traffic-free paths or quiet country lanes can be designed to be attractive and safe for equestrians as well as walking, wheeling and cycling although in some situations it may not be possible to accommodate their needs on all active travel routes.

Active Travel England is presently developing its Rural Design Guidance and is currently engaging with relevant stakeholders including equestrian organisations such as the British Horse Society and the Byways and Bridleways Trust, which will be published later this year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to encourage cyclists to undertake Bikeability training.

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

In February, the Department and Active Travel England (ATE) announced £30 million to provide Bikeability cycle training to children. The Bikeability Trust operates a number of outreach programmes to encourage more people to access cycle training, including Cycle to School Week and Get Cycling in Schools. Outside of the Bikeability schools programme, local authorities can use revenue funding awarded by ATE to support cycle training delivery for children and adults.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she made of the adequacy of the UK 261 regulation in ensuring that passengers affected by short flight delays (a) late at night and (b) at any time are protected from (i) financial and (ii) logistical consequences.

Answered by Mike Kane

No assessment has been made of the adequacy of Regulation 261/2004 in protecting passengers from financial and logistical consequences caused by short flight delays.

The Regulation sets out passenger rights in cases of denied boarding, long delays (at least two hours), and cancellations. Airlines are required to provide care and assistance for delays of at least two hours, depending on flight length, including refreshments and overnight accommodation if necessary.

Passengers whose flights arrive at their final destination three hours or more later than scheduled may be entitled to compensation, depending on the cause of the delay.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's announcement Railway stations awarded Access for All accessibility funding, published on 24 May 2024, what her planned timetable is for the completion of Access for All construction at Bushey Railway Station.

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

In May 2024, the previous government identified 50 stations, including Bushey, for initial feasibility work to assess their potential for future upgrades under the Access for All programme. Network Rail has now completed this initial feasibility work. We plan to provide an update to stakeholders in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to publish a (a) transition plan for the transfer of retail responsibilities from train operating company retail websites to Great British Railways and (b) timetable for formal market (i) consultation and (ii) tendering for future Great British Railways retail ticketing.

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

Once Great British Railways is established, it will retail online by consolidating individual train operators’ ticket websites. This will take place alongside a thriving private sector retail market, which will continue to play a key role in driving innovation and investment and encouraging more people to choose rail.

The Railways Bill consultation took place in the Spring. As part of this process, the Government consulted closely with industry, the private sector, and wider stakeholders including in relation to the future of the rail retail market. A formal update will be provided in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2025 to Question 66340 on the South West Rail Resilience Programme, whether her Department has received the assessments completed by Network Rail in 2024 on the outline design options for Phase 5 of the Programme; and what her Department’s criteria are for determining whether to proceed to the next stage of development.

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

Following receipt of the Outline Business Case for Phase 5 of the Resilience Programme from Network Rail in 2024, the Department is funding further cliff monitoring and drainage works on this section of route. The project will be kept under review at future funding events once these works are complete.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 58049 on Kirkby-in-Ashfield Station: Access, when she next plans to select stations for accessibility upgrades; and whether Kirkby-in-Ashfield station will be considered.

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

In May 2024, the previous government identified 50 stations for initial feasibility work to assess their potential for future upgrades under the Access for All programme. This did not include Kirkby-in-Ashfield station.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of airports charging cars to drop off travelling passengers on blue badge holders.

Answered by Mike Kane

The Secretary of State for Transport has made no assessment of the potential impact of airports charging cars to drop of travelling passengers on blue badge holders.

Most airports in the UK are managed and operated as private businesses, and parking arrangements are subject to contractual agreements between airport operators and car parking companies covered by consumer laws.

The provision and charging of car parking at airports (including drop off and pick charges) is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business to manage and justify.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of heavy goods vehicles travelling through villages on (a) traffic and (b) pollution.

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

I recognise that heavy goods vehicles (HGV) can have negative safety and environmental impact on villages, particularly where roads and pavements are narrow.

Local traffic authorities have powers under Sections 1 & 2 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, which allow for the restriction or prohibition of the use of HGVs on any road, for a wide range of safety and environmental reasons. These measures can be implemented by making Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) without reference to the Department for Transport.

The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 provide various signs for authorities to consider if they choose to do this, including signs informing motorists that certain roads are unsuitable for HGVs or if a weight limit is in place. The restrictions are then enforceable by the police.

Local authorities can also introduce extra controls on emissions if there are air quality problems in their area. If air quality falls below required standards, the council should declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and make plans for improvements.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her oral statement of 8 July on Road and Rail Projects, Official Report, column 815-817, what the benefit-cost ratio is for each project.

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

Business case documents, costs and benefit cost ratios for major schemes, including for the Strategic Road Network and for relevant schemes in the Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline are published on gov.uk.

For the set of 50 schemes referenced in the Secretary of State’s statement on 8 July 2025, detailed Green Book analyses, costs, and benefit cost ratios for each scheme have not been published as a single package.

As each scheme progresses, further documentation is released and made available on gov.uk as appropriate. The Government is committed to transparency and will continue to make business case documents available in line with Green Book and Treasury guidance as schemes move forward.

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 to the document entitled Maritime & Coastguard Agency Safety Code for Small Commercial Motor Vessels under MG280, updated on 22 January 2025.

Answered by Mike Kane

There have not been any updates or amendments made to either the ‘Code of Practice for the Safety of Small Commercial Motor Vessels’ (the ‘Yellow Code’), or Marine Guidance Note (MGN) 280(M) ‘Small Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure, Workboats and Pilot Boats – Alternative Construction Standards’ in 2025.

However, according to Maritime and Coastguard Agency records there were two amendments made to the Workboat Code Edition 3 in January 2025. The first amendment reinstated a requirement of the Code pertaining to the control of the discharge of oil which had been erroneously omitted when the Code was updated in 2023. As this change simply reinstated a previous requirement the impact was considered lesser than the impact of not reinstating the requirement and therefore negligible.

The second amendment was to Annex 3 - The Safety of Police Boats. This two-part amendment was made to allow the required ‘second person’ on board to hold a Powerboat Advanced certificate, and to introduce the addition of a new paragraph to provide an appropriate construction standard for police vessels operating in Category C or Category D waters only.

The amendments to the Safety of Police Boats Annex were undertaken in consultation with, and with the full cooperation of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (Maritime Policing Portfolio), representing all police forces in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and were also considered negligible, especially given the short period of time since the introduction of Annex 3 and the amendment being made.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to mitigate the impact of heavy goods vehicles travelling through villages.

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

Local traffic authorities have powers under Sections 1 & 2 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, which allow for the restriction or prohibition of the use of HGVs on any road, for a wide range of safety and environmental reasons. These measures can be implemented by making Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) without reference to the Department for Transport.

The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 provide various signs for authorities to consider if they choose to do this, including signs informing motorists that certain roads are unsuitable for HGVs or if a weight limit is in place. The restrictions are then enforceable by the police.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 58611 on Railways: Access, when her Department will fund Network Rail to undertake the next round of feasibility studies.

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

Network Rail has completed initial feasibility work for the 50 projects being considered for inclusion in the Access for All programme within the 2025 Spending Review funding period.

We plan to update stakeholders in due course.

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 accession to the EUROFIMA convention.

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

The Government is committed to developing a long-term industrial strategy for rolling stock, supporting British manufacturing, fostering innovation, and enhancing the rail passenger experience. As part of this work, the Department is exploring a range of financing structures to support investment, in partnership with private finance. This includes active engagement with Eurofima to assess how its financing mechanisms could support future investment in the UK rolling stock market.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support regional airports.

Answered by Mike Kane

Regional airports are vital in addressing transport inequity by connecting all regions of the UK to national and international opportunities. They serve our local communities by supporting thousands of jobs while maintaining social and family ties and strengthening the bonds between the four nations.

Government supports connectivity across the union through our joint funding of three Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes into London from Newquay, Dundee and Derry/Londonderry.

The UK aviation market operates predominantly in the private sector. Airports invest in their infrastructure to attract passengers and airlines, while airlines are well placed to deliver services to their customers by responding to demand for different routes.

Ministers and officials at the Department meet regularly with regional airports to discuss issues such as regional air connectivity.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will (a) limit and (b) regulate the (i) number and (ii) frequency of (A) pleasure and (B) display flights by small aircraft above National Landscapes that are home to protected wildlife.

Answered by Mike Kane

The Air Navigation Guidance 2017 states that National Parks and Areas of Natural Beauty are designated areas with specific statutory purposes to ensure their continued protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty. Given the finite amount of airspace available, it will not always be possible to avoid overflying these areas, and there are no legislative requirements to do so.

When airspace changes are being considered, the guidance states that local circumstances, including community views on specific areas that should be avoided, should be taken into account where possible. This applies to controlled airspace, although most pleasure flights by small aircraft use uncontrolled airspace, which does not contain restrictions for flying over National Parks and Areas of Natural Beauty. However, all airspace users must follow the Rules of the Air 2007.

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 availability of driving tests within (a) half an hour, (b) an hour and (c) two hours travel of the Gosport peninsula.

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

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

As of 1 September 2025, there were 640,907 car practical driving tests booked, and 30,339 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.

The table below shows the current average waiting time and number of tests available at the driving test centres within up to two hours traveling distance from the Gosport peninsula.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much of her Department’s budget for (a) investment spending until 2029-30 and (b) day-to-day spending until 2028-29 is allocated to the Access for All scheme.

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

The recent Spending Review confirmed the Government’s commitment to the Access for All (AfA) programme. Total funding of £280m has been allocated to AfA over the four years of the Spending Review 2025 period, which for capital investment runs from 2026/27 to 2029/30.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps she has taken to help reduce waiting lists for Approved Driving Instructor exams; and what recent progress her Department has made in reducing those backlogs.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is seeing an increased demand for Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) tests for those wishing to qualify as driving instructors. Since 2018-19, DVSA has seen a 152% increase in the number of those applying to start the ADI qualification process. This number continues to rise significantly and has increased to over 19,000 in 2024-25, a 17% increase compared to 2023-24

DVSA recommends trainee ADIs use the ‘Book to Hold’ service. All tests must be paid for at the time of booking, including where tests are booked to ‘hold’. This gives DVSA an accurate picture of where demand is, and it can then ensure that it deploys its examiner resources in the right areas. Once ADI examiner programmes have been finalised, the DVSA will contact those on the hold list in the order they booked their test to hold to arrange a test.

DVSA aims to train four more ADI examiners by the end of 2025. The agency has an ongoing national campaign to recruit more ADI examiners. This will help to increase the number of available ADI tests.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with the DVLA on reducing the number of vehicles with no registered keeper on the roads.

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

There are long-standing and robust measures, including legislative requirements, in place to ensure that keepers notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) when they buy and sell a vehicle. It is already an offence to use a vehicle that does not have a registered keeper.

The DVLA is working to reduce the number of vehicles on UK roads that have no registered keeper or are unlicensed. The DVLA works with more than 80 local authorities and police forces to identify and act on vehicles which do not have a registered keeper. It also deploys Automatic Number Plate Recognition vehicles to detect unlicensed or unregistered vehicles.

Based on the latest available data, more than 93 per cent of vehicle keepers are contactable and traceable from the information held on the DVLA’s vehicle record. Of the remainder, around 6% are in the motor trade, where a vehicle may legitimately have no registered keeper.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the number and proportion of vehicles that have no registered keeper.

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

There are long-standing and robust measures, including legislative requirements, in place to ensure that keepers notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) when they buy and sell a vehicle. It is already an offence to use a vehicle that does not have a registered keeper.

The DVLA is working to reduce the number of vehicles on UK roads that have no registered keeper or are unlicensed. The DVLA works with more than 80 local authorities and police forces to identify and act on vehicles which do not have a registered keeper. It also deploys Automatic Number Plate Recognition vehicles to detect unlicensed or unregistered vehicles.

Based on the latest available data, more than 93 per cent of vehicle keepers are contactable and traceable from the information held on the DVLA’s vehicle record. Of the remainder, around 6% are in the motor trade, where a vehicle may legitimately have no registered keeper.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to reform the role of the Traffic Commissioner function for Great Britain.

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

A functional review conducted by the Ministry of Justice, published in May 2023, found the function generally effective and offered proposals for improvement. My Department is considering these proposals, alongside a range of reform options, aiming to ensure that the powers and functions of Traffic Commissioners remain robust and effective.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many drivers with three or more driving-related convictions retained their driving licence in each of the last five years.

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

A scan of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s driving licence database is required to provide the information requested. DVLA officials will write to the Honourable Member with this information when it is available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the eligibility criteria for the Electric Car Grant to include used electric vehicles.

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

The Electric Car Grant (ECG) is designed to cut costs for drivers who want to switch to a new electric car, as well as supporting environmentally sustainable manufacturing processes. The Government expects that the ECG will have some benefit in the used market due to a higher supply of affordable vehicles in future years, and the grant’s requirement for an 8-year or 100,000-mile warranty for the vehicle’s battery. We continue to work with industry to support a sustainable second-hand zero emission vehicle market.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will take steps to help (a) address delays in Citroën’s airbag recall repairs and (b) ensure drivers receive appropriate (i) support and (ii) reimbursement.

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

The Secretary of State recently wrote to Stellantis to express serious concerns about the customer impact of the stop-drive recall currently affecting Citroën and DS Automobiles cars in the United Kingdom. That correspondence urged Stellantis to take immediate steps to:

• Improve the effectiveness of their customer support, and that they make effective their commitments for ensuring that all affected owners – especially those with urgent mobility needs – are provided with viable alternatives, whether through courtesy cars, financial compensation, or at-home repair services

• Prioritise vulnerable customers who rely on their vehicles for essential travel – such as key workers, carers, and individuals with disabilities

• Enhance transparency by clearly communicating the timelines for resolution, and the alternative transport or compensation provisions that are in place.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2025 to Question HL9412 on Heathrow Airport: Planning Permission, what the provisional timetable is for the review of the Airports National Policy Statement; and what her planned target date is for (a) publication for consultation and (b) ratification by Parliament of a revised National Policy Statement.

Answered by Mike Kane

The Government published a letter to potential promoters inviting proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer. The Government is now assessing the proposals against the criteria set out in the letter. Once this is complete the Government will move quickly to review the Airports National Policy Statement. We cannot speculate on the timings of the review at this stage, however when conducting the review, the Secretary of State will comply with the requirements in the Planning Act 2008, including consultation, publicity and parliamentary requirements.

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 reintroducing mutual recognition of commercial pilot licences between the UK Civil Aviation Authority and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency; and what steps she is taking to help streamline the current licence conversion process for European Union Aviation Safety Agency-qualified pilots seeking to work in the UK.

Answered by Mike Kane

The Government has been clear that it will work to reset the relationship with Europe, to strengthen ties and tackle barriers to trade. Agreements on UK-EU licensing recognition must be established through the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and agreed by the UK-EU Specialised Committee on Aviation Safety. The Government continues to seek expansions to the Aviation Safety Chapter of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement where appropriate. An effective aviation licensing regime that supports UK aviation remains a priority, and the UK is keen to establish closer cooperation on personnel licensing where possible to ease the current burden on UK and EU personnel and industry.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has a policy on airlines using (a) individualized and (b) surveillance pricing when setting air fares.

Answered by Mike Kane

The UK aviation market operates predominantly in the private sector with the cost of flights determined by airlines according to a range of factors. The Minister for Aviation and officials from the Department for Transport meet regularly with airlines to discuss a range of topics, including pricing.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has statutory competition functions in relation to airline markets. In addition, the CMA and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) both have responsibilities for enforcing consumer protections relating to price transparency, contract terms and passenger rights, including those during flight disruption.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she could publish a breakdown of the Government's £4.5 billion spend on the transition to electric vehicles by (a) scheme and (b) year.

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

The Government is investing over £4.5 billion to help industry and consumers transition to zero emission vehicles.

Following the Spending Review, the Government committed £1.8 billion in investment to decarbonise road transport from 2026-27 to 2029-30.  This includes £1.4 billion to support the continued uptake of zero emission vehicles, including vans and HGVs, and £400 million to support the rollout of charging infrastructure. The £400m includes funding for charging along the strategic road network in England, charging infrastructure to facilitate the deployment of zero emission vans and HGVs, and existing grants.

In financial year 2025/26, £320m was made available at the Autumn Statement in 2024 to support investment in charging infrastructure and the uptake of zero emission vehicles. A further £2.5 billion has been made available to industry through the DRIVE35 programme.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of homes that would need to be compulsory purchased in order to deliver the third runway at Heathrow.

Answered by Mike Kane

The Government is currently assessing proposals for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow. Detailed impacts, including on homes, social infrastructure and community facilities, will depend on the final scheme design and boundary, which have not yet been confirmed. Further updates will be provided as the assessment progresses.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the number of social housing properties that will be demolished in the building of the third runway at Heathrow.

Answered by Mike Kane

The Government is currently assessing proposals for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow. Detailed impacts, including on homes, social infrastructure and community facilities, will depend on the final scheme design and boundary, which have not yet been confirmed. Further updates will be provided as the assessment progresses.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing targeted funding support for the purchase of used battery electric vehicles; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure parity of financial assistance between the (a) new and (b) used battery electric vehicle markets.

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

We continue to work with industry to support a sustainable second-hand zero emission vehicle market. The Government expects that the Electric Car Grant (ECG) will have some benefit in the used market due to a higher supply of affordable vehicles in future years, and the grant’s requirement for an 8-year or 100,000-mile warranty for the vehicle’s battery, ensuring it will have a long useful life.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to defer the ban on the sale of new (a) petrol and (b) diesel vehicles indefinitely; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of such a deferment on UK-based vehicle producers.

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

The Government has provided crucial certainty to British industry by re-instating the 2030 phase-out date for new cars relying solely on internal combustion engines. We are committing £4.5 billion to support the public and our automakers on the journey to fully decarbonising new cars and vans by 2035, including £650 million specifically to reduce the prices of new EVs. The certainty these commitments provide industry unlocks investment and benefits British consumers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to defer the ban on the sale of new (a) petrol and (b) diesel vehicles indefinitely; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of such a deferment on the price of new cars.

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

The Government has provided crucial certainty to British industry by re-instating the 2030 phase-out date for new cars relying solely on internal combustion engines. We are committing £4.5 billion to support the public and our automakers on the journey to fully decarbonising new cars and vans by 2035, including £650 million specifically to reduce the prices of new EVs. The certainty these commitments provide industry unlocks investment and benefits British consumers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which schools will be demolished as a result of the third runway at Heathrow.

Answered by Mike Kane

The Government is currently assessing proposals for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow. Detailed impacts, including on homes, social infrastructure and community facilities, will depend on the final scheme design and boundary, which have not yet been confirmed. Further updates will be provided as the assessment progresses.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that people (a) living in terrace housing and (b) who do not have access to off-street parking are able to access EV chargepoints.

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

The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of affordable and accessible charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV). As of 1 August 2025, the Government and industry have supported the installation of 83,851 publicly available charging devices, up 26% on this time last year.

The £381 million Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund will support the installation over 100,000 further local chargers, ensuring the rollout continues at pace to support drivers across the country.

The Department is also working with local authorities to encourage the use of cross-pavement solutions and on the 13 July, announced the £25m Electric Vehicle Pavement Channel grant.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will ensure that claimants in receipt of an indefinite award for the mobility part of PIP can receive a Blue Badge for the same period.

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

Blue Badge holders generally must reapply for a Blue Badge every three years; this gives local authorities the opportunity to ensure that they continue to meet the criteria which make them eligible for a badge. It also helps ensure that the details local authorities hold about the badge holder remain correct and that the details displayed on the badge itself remain legible. Depending on the circumstances an authority may choose not to reassess.

In cases where a person's disability or condition is unlikely to change, local authorities will generally process applications as quickly and efficiently as possible. Once a person’s data is captured on the system it should become easier and less time-consuming for them to reapply for a new badge ahead of their current one expiring.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to remove the requirement to reapply for a Blue Badge for people over the age of 80.

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

Blue Badge holders generally must reapply for a Blue Badge every three years; this gives local authorities the opportunity to ensure that they continue to meet the criteria which make them eligible for a badge. It also helps ensure that the details local authorities hold about the badge holder remain correct and that the details displayed on the badge itself remain legible. Depending on the circumstances an authority may choose not to reassess.

In cases where a person's disability or condition is unlikely to change, local authorities will generally process applications as quickly and efficiently as possible. Once a person’s data is captured on the system it should become easier and less time-consuming for them to reapply for a new badge ahead of their current one expiring.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of (a) trends in the level of pavement parking in rural areas and (b) the potential impact of this on (i) wheelchair users (ii) parents with pushchairs and (iii) partially sighted people.

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

The Government fully understands the problems that vehicles parked on the pavement can cause for pedestrians.

This is particularly the case in certain locations and for certain people, such as those with mobility or sight impairments, those pushing prams or pushchairs, and wheelchair users. The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to the 2020 pavement parking consultation and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them. We will announce the next steps and publish our formal response in due course.

In the meantime, local authorities can make use of existing powers to manage pavement parking, and it is up to them to decide where to restrict pavement parking and what enforcement is appropriate.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing legislation to give local authorities enforcement powers over pavement parking.

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

The Government fully understands the problems that vehicles parked on the pavement can cause for pedestrians.

This is particularly the case in certain locations and for certain people, such as those with mobility or sight impairments, those pushing prams or pushchairs, and wheelchair users. The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to the 2020 pavement parking consultation and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them. We will announce the next steps and publish our formal response in due course.

In the meantime, local authorities can make use of existing powers to manage pavement parking, and it is up to them to decide where to restrict pavement parking and what enforcement is appropriate.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to respond to the 2020 consultation on Pavement parking: options for change.

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

The Government fully understands the problems that vehicles parked on the pavement can cause for pedestrians.

This is particularly the case in certain locations and for certain people, such as those with mobility or sight impairments, those pushing prams or pushchairs, and wheelchair users. The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to the 2020 pavement parking consultation and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them. We will announce the next steps and publish our formal response in due course.

In the meantime, local authorities can make use of existing powers to manage pavement parking, and it is up to them to decide where to restrict pavement parking and what enforcement is appropriate.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to allow motorcycles to access bus lanes by default.

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

The Government remains committed to supporting efforts to improve the safety of motorcyclists, but has no plans to bring forward legislation to allow motorcycles to access bus lanes by default. Decisions on this matter are for local highway authorities to make on a case by case basis.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many full-time equivalent staff are working on responding to the Managing Pavement Parking consultation.

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

My Department currently has a 0.6 full-time equivalent (FTE) policy lead working on pavement parking. This individual is supported by officials from various Civil Service professions across the Department, including analysts and lawyers, who provide occasional support as necessary as part of their jobs. The timing of the consultation response publication is not dependent on resource, but rather on ensuring the policy decision is correct. A policy announcement is expected imminently and plans are in place to resource the work necessary after an announcement.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of traffic congestion on the economy.

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

The Department for Transport publishes transport analysis guidance to help assess the economic cost of congestion associated with different policy interventions. It also regularly publishes statistics on speeds, delay and reliability on different types of roads. However, it does not routinely assess the economic cost of congestion on the road network as a whole.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will review the maximum value of fixed penalty notices for breach of permit conditions, relating to offences under the New Roads and Street Works Act to provide a stronger deterrent to utilities companies against breach of those conditions.

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

The Government is taking decisive action to reduce unnecessary disruption caused by street works by increasing the value of Fixed Penalty Notices. For certain offences, such as undertaking works without a permit, breaching permit conditions, or failing to provide timely notifications of reinstatements or start/stop notices, the penalties will be doubled. This measure is intended to strengthen compliance and ensure that street works are carried out responsibly and with minimal impact to road users and the public.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce the backlog for medical driving licence assessments.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. Driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated before a licence can be issued can take longer as the DVLA is often reliant on information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.

The quickest way to transact with the DVLA is by using its extensive suite of online services. Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, visual impairments, sleep conditions or heart conditions can renew their driving licence online.

The DVLA continues to make improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions and is currently rolling out a new casework system. This is expected to deliver significant improvements which will enhance the handling of medical cases, support growing customer demand and help to reduce processing times.

It is important to note that most applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will estimate the number of potholes repaired in the North East since 2020.

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

The Government’s road condition statistics consider a broader definition of road condition than numbers of potholes, and so official data on this aspect of road condition is not available for the years requested. However, as announced in March, local highway authorities must publish transparency reports about their maintenance activities to unlock their full share of the Government’s £500m uplift for local highways maintenance this year. This includes publishing an estimate of the number of potholes they have filled in each of the last five years. Reports are available on local highway authorities’ websites and officials are in the process of reviewing these.

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 excluding used battery electric vehicles from eligibility for the new Electric Car Grant on (a) market uptake, (b) affordability and (c) value for money.

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

The Electric Car Grant (ECG) is designed to cut costs for drivers who want to switch to a new electric car, as well as supporting environmentally sustainable manufacturing processes. The Government expects that the ECG will have some benefit in the used market due to a higher supply of affordable vehicles in future years, and the grant’s requirement for an 8-year or 100,000-mile warranty for the vehicle’s battery. We continue to work with industry to support a sustainable second-hand zero emission vehicle market.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of driving tests in (a) Kendal and (b) Heysham; and what steps her Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for practical driving tests in these areas.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is aware that car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this is having on learner drivers.

DVSA is continuing to recruit as many driving examiners (DE) as possible, including at Kendal, Heysham and Barrow in Furness. From a previous recruitment campaign, two potential new DEs, following successful completion of training, will be joining Kendal and Barrow in Furness in late autumn.

Currently DEs from Kendal and Heysham are being deployed to Barrow in Furness to meet testing demand. As part of its current recruitment campaign, DVSA has advertised for DEs for Barrow in Furness. This will enable DVSA to meet local demand in Barrow in Furness and increase test availability in Kendal and Heysham.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with UK aviation authorities on the certification of the Royal Air Force’s Protector MQ-9B.

Answered by Mike Kane

The UK’s independent aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is leading work with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and NATS towards developing the necessary approvals to integrate the RAF’s Protector MQ-9B.

The aim of this collaborative approach is to ensure that this technology can operate safely within the UK’s controlled airspace alongside other users.

I receive regular updates from the CAA on all aviation matters.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of clean air zone enforcement policies.

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

Clean Air Zones work. Between 2019-2023, in the areas of cities that have a CAZ, NO2 concentrations have reduced by between 15% and 42%.

Local authorities are responsible for the implementation and enforcement of Clean Air Zones, for example issuing Penalty Charge Notices. Therefore, any assessment of the effectiveness of enforcement policy is a matter for them.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking with her European counterparts to (a) improve air traffic control capacity and (b) reduce delays for UK travellers (i) during peak summer travel periods and (ii) at all times.

Answered by Mike Kane

The UK is a member of EUROCONTROL, a Pan-European inter-governmental body, which is responsible for working with Member States and their Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP’s) to ensure that the airspace across Europe is used efficiently. My department has and continues to engage with European states and industry to discuss air traffic control capacity and mitigations to delays which impact UK airspace users and passengers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people will be required to move home in order to facilitate the third runway at Heathrow.

Answered by Mike Kane

The Government is currently assessing proposals for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow. Detailed impacts, including on homes, social infrastructure and community facilities, will depend on the final scheme design and boundary, which have not yet been confirmed. Further updates will be provided as the assessment progresses.

Question to the Department for Transport:

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

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

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

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

Further information on these actions and progress on the plan can be found on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-acts-to-make-thousands-of-extra-driving-tests-available-each-month.

Hazel Grove is served by Bredbury, West Didsbury and Sale cluster of driving test centres. At Bredbury DTC one driving examiner (DE) has now returned from a long absence, this will help to increase the number of tests available at this centre.

From a recent recruitment campaign, one new DE has joined West Didsbury DTC. A further two new entrant DEs will be starting training this month, following successful completion, they will join Sale DTC.

Some customers from this area choose to travel to Macclesfield and Buxton DTCs, where since July, three new entrant DEs have started testing at these centres, with a further two due to start in October.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the (a) quality and (b) timeliness of DVLA communications with medical driving licence applicants; and whether the DVLA is taking steps to improve the quality of its (i) updates to applicants and (ii) plain-English correspondence.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. Driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated before a licence can take longer. This is because the DVLA is often reliant on receiving information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.

The DVLA is currently rolling out a new casework system which is expected to deliver significant improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions. This will enhance the handling of medical cases, support growing customer demand and help to reduce processing times. As part of this work, the DVLA has improved the quality of the correspondence provided to applicants and reviewed the questions asked of applicants and healthcare professionals when assessing medical fitness to drive with a view to simplify the process wherever possible.

It is important to note that most applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information on this can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1180997/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.pdf.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the DVLA is taking steps to reduce the time taken for medical driver's license applications to be processed.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. Driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated before a licence can take longer. This is because the DVLA is often reliant on receiving information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.

The DVLA is currently rolling out a new casework system which is expected to deliver significant improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions. This will enhance the handling of medical cases, support growing customer demand and help to reduce processing times. As part of this work, the DVLA has improved the quality of the correspondence provided to applicants and reviewed the questions asked of applicants and healthcare professionals when assessing medical fitness to drive with a view to simplify the process wherever possible.

It is important to note that most applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information on this can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1180997/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.pdf.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of increased coordination with the European Union on the mutual recognition of the Blue badge parking scheme for UK citizens travelling in EU member states.

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

This Government is committed to championing greater accessibility for disabled people and has informal reciprocal agreements in place with many other European countries so that Blue Badges can be used there; information and guidance on this can be found on GOV.UK. Those travelling overseas should check local rules before using their Blue Badge abroad.

Through close working and partnership with our French and Spanish friends and allies, this Government has now secured the mutual recognition of each other’s disabled parking permits. This means that UK Blue Badge holders can now travel with confidence when heading to France or Spain for their holidays or travel.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to publish a list of community-owned helipads currently closed to Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopters due to CAP1264 Version 3 compliance requirements.

Answered by Mike Kane

HMCG SAR helicopter provider, Bristow Helicopters Limited (BHL) conducted a review of all Hospital Helicopter Landing Sites (HHLS) against the revised safety guidance in CAP1264. BHL wrote to all impacted hospitals advising them that SAR helicopters will be unable to land on their HHLS until further safety assessments and assurances have been made. Bristows and HMCG have continued to work with the NHS and other stakeholders to reopen sites where there is an operational need.

Found: Amendment) Regulations 2025 Instruments not reported 2 Annex 2 Appendix 1: Memorandum from the Department for Transport

Found: AECN0063 - Airport expansion and climate and nature targets Department for Transport Written Evidence

Found: AECN0063 - Airport expansion and climate and nature targets Department for Transport Written Evidence

Found: We learned from the oral session that the Department for Transport has a dedicated team to consider

Found: As part of this review, the DfT published a survey about the effectiveness of EPs, to which RMT responded

Found: Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport relating to the six-monthly report

Found: Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport relating to the updated response

Found: Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport relating to the oral evidence session

Found: Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport and High Speed Two Limited Chief

Found: Secretary of State for Business and Trade and senior officials from my department and the Department for Transport

Found: figures on 21 May, an error was discovered in the licensed vehicles data provided by the Department for Transport

Found: closely with the Institute of Licencing, the National Taxi & Private Hire working group which includes DFT

Found: including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; the Foreign Office; the Department for Transport

Found: Grey-Thompson Aviation Task and Finish Group  Chair of Maritime and Aviation – DPTAC – Department for Transport

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has conducted region-specific modelling of economic spillover effects in (a) Wiltshire and (b) other counties.

Answered by Gareth Thomas

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has not undertaken region-specific modelling of economic spillover effects for (a) Wiltshire or (b) other individual counties. In developing place-based policy, DBT may draw on cross-government evidence—for example, Office for National Statistics publications (e.g., subnational trade flows; UK input–output tables) and Department for Transport scheme appraisals of “wider economic impacts”—but these are not DBT analyses, are method- and scheme-specific, and are not designed to produce county-level spillover estimates. DBT keeps the available evidence under review to inform programmes where appropriate.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help improve the protection of cargo ships in the Red Sea from Houthi missile and drone attacks.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The UK Government strongly condemns the illegal and abhorrent attacks by the Houthis on merchant vessels; we are clear the Houthis must end their aggression immediately.

The Department for Transport, supported by the Royal Navy's UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organisation, continue to provide UK-flagged shipping with advice on the risk posed by the Houthis to merchant vessels.

We continue to seek to work with regional partners on a long-term strategy to contain the Houthi threat and are committed to a future Yemen Peace Process.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of drivers convicted of (a) dangerous driving and (b) careless driving offences in the last five years were repeat offenders.

Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Vice Chamberlain (HM Household) (Whip, House of Commons)

The information requested is provided in the tables attached.

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

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with local authorities in areas where the EU Entry/Exit System will come into force on 12 October 2025.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The EU Entry/Exit System will be implemented at the juxtaposed border controls in the UK. Ministers and officials have been working closely with key affected stakeholders to ensure the necessary preparations are in place. This includes frequent engagement between the Department for Transport and local authorities including Kent County Council.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she plans to introduce stricter penalties for dangerous driving.

Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Vice Chamberlain (HM Household) (Whip, House of Commons)

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

Provisions in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 increased the maximum penalty from 14 years’ imprisonment to life imprisonment for the offences of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs, and causing death by dangerous driving. These measures came into force on 28 June 2022 and apply to offences committed on or after that date.

The Sentencing Council has reflected these changes in the sentencing guidelines and the starting point for cases falling into the highest level of seriousness is now 12 years’ imprisonment – a significant increase from the previous 8 years’ starting point. The sentence range for the most serious instances is now 8 to 18 years’ imprisonment.

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

Found: International aid and development Department for Transport

Found: David was Director General and SRO, High Speed 2, Department for Transport from January 2013 to June

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