Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department's net zero transport spending commitments on its capital allocation for (a) road maintenance, (b) HGV parking and (c) freight infrastructure.

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

All spending allocations were agreed as part of the Spending Review process to deliver Departmental priorities, including road maintenance, HGV parking and freight infrastructure, alongside specific commitments that would support delivery of net zero. This approach ensured that investment in net zero was considered alongside, not at the expense of, other essential priorities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with relevant stakeholders in the North East on developments to Active Travel England.

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

Active Travel England has a key role in the planning system as a statutory consultee for development management via Schedule 4 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015.

As part of this statutory role, Active Travel England officials regularly offer to hold discussions with local planning authorities, developers and local highway authorities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff in her Department (a) did not retain employment following completion of their probationary period and (b) had their probationary period extended in each of the last five years.

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

The Department for Transport’s probation policy and guidance advises managers on the steps to take to assess a new employee’s suitability for the post and to provide support to enable them to succeed. It also advises on the steps to take where performance, attendance or conduct are not satisfactory. This can include exiting the employee or extending their probation to provide further evidence for a final decision on their suitability. The table below shows how many employees of the central Department for Transport (DfTc) did not retain employment following completion of their probationary period or had their probationary period extended.

As requested this information is provided for the last five 5 years, noting that 2025 data covers 1 January to 24 October 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff in her Department are recorded as having a (a) mental health condition and (b) physical disability, broken down by grade.

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

Following a thorough search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by this Department. This is because it is not a requirement of the department to hold reasons for disability.

The Department invites employees to self-declare their disability status using pre-defined criteria, including ‘prefer not to say’. Of the employees who have chosen to complete their data as of the 30th of September 2025, 238 individuals have recorded their status as disabled in the central Department for Transport.

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 increasing (a) registration, (b) geofencing and (c) remote identification requirements for (i) drones and (ii) drone components in order to improve (A) traceability and (B) enforcement.

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

This Government is delivering the following reforms in the Unmanned Aircraft (Amendment) Regulations 2025.

(a) All drones weighing 100g or more with a camera must be registered from 1^st January 2026.

(b) Drones weighing 250g or more must have geo-awareness requirements from 1^st January 2026. Then, from 1^st January 2028, Geo-awareness requirements will apply to all drones weighing 100g or more with a camera.

(c) Drones weighing 250g or more must have remote identification (RID) requirements from 1^st January 2026. Then, from 1^st January 2028, RID will apply to drones weighing 100g or more with a camera.

These reforms will improve traceability because they will enforce the registration of a RID “digital numberplate” that can be linked to a registered operator. Geo-awareness and RID will help law enforcement to target the actively non-compliant drones that have switched off RID and are ignoring geo-awareness alerts of airspace restrictions, therefore reducing the volume of incidents and length of investigation for suspicious drone activity.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Engineering Recommendation G100: Technical Requirements for Customers’ Export and Import Limitation Schemes, published in July 2016, what steps she is taking to encourage District Network Operators to accept new EV charging technologies.

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

The Government is committed to enabling innovative electric vehicle (EV) charging technologies, including smart charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G), to reduce energy bills and support the decarbonisation of our energy system.

Engineering Recommendation G100 is the responsibility of the Distribution Network Operators (DNOs). It is regularly updated to facilitate connections, while ensuring they do not adversely impact on customers or the local electricity network.

As set out in the Clean Flexibility Roadmap published in July 2025, Ofgem and DESNZ are considering with industry how to improve grid connection processes and technical interoperability for V2G to ensure they are fit for purpose. This includes working with DNOs in relation to the grid codes which set out the technical requirements for connecting V2G systems.

More widely, Ofgem is working to improve the connections experience for all customers in its end to end review of connections.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 82986 on Aviation: Alternative Fuels, how many UK-based sustainable aviation fuel production facilities have (a) commenced construction and (b) reached final investment decision.

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

The only commercial scale SAF producer in the UK is P66’s Humberside Refinery. Through the Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF) we have awarded over £198m to 21 UK SAF projects. Information on these projects is published on gov.uk.

There are a wide range of SAF projects across the UK using different technologies and at different stages of development. However, much of the information on the development of fuel projects that DfT holds is commercially sensitive.

Our policies are both ambitious and pragmatic to the realities of the SAF industry. The SAF Mandate entered into force on 1 January 2025. In its first year, the mandate requires that SAF constitute 2% of total fossil jet fuel supplied, increasing to 10% by 2030 and 22% by 2040. Provisional data suggests the UK was already on track, with SAF accounting for approximately 2% of aviation fuel supplied in 2024.

On the supply side, we are creating the right environment to support the future construction of UK SAF production plants through measures such as the UK’s pioneering SAF Clearing House, AFF, and legislation to provide investor confidence via a Revenue Certainty Mechanism.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, who will be responsible for conducting the (a) economic and (b) environmental analysis of Heathrow Airport expansion.

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

The Department for Transport has commenced the review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) and will lead on conducting the economic and environmental analysis that supports that document. This will be in collaboration with other government departments and other expert bodies as appropriate.

As announced, we will also seek the independent view of the Climate Change Committee, and the Secretary of State will be writing to the Climate Change Committee shortly to set this out.

Before Heathrow expansion can proceed, a scheme promoter must also prepare and submit a full Environmental Statement as part of the Development Consent Order application.

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 rejoining the EU's European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service.

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

Through our regular engagement with the aviation industry, we are aware of the operational implications following the loss of access to the EU’s European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service.

The Department continues to work with the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, which is leading the Government’s business case on a future Satellite Based Augmentation System, to ensure that the aviation requirements are understood and considered as part of the decision-making process.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2025 to Question 84798 on Driving Licences, how many code 70s were issued in each of the last ten years.

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

The number of GB driving licences issued in exchange for a licence issued in a non-UK country (which will have code 70 shown on the licence) in each of the last ten years is shown in the table below:

To be eligible to exchange a foreign licence for a GB equivalent, the applicant would have to have passed their test in a European Union/European Economic Area country or a country designated for driving licence exchange.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she has taken with relevant stakeholders to help tackle illegal car sales.

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

While the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has no powers to govern how cars are bought and sold, it does play a key role in maintaining accurate records of vehicles and their registered keepers to support wider efforts to tackle vehicle-related crime. It is a legal requirement to notify the DVLA when a vehicle is bought or sold.

The latest available data shows that more than 93 per cent of vehicle keepers are contactable and traceable from the information held on the DVLA’s records. Of the remainder, around six per cent 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, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 84695 on Bus Services: Fares, when her Department expects to complete its evaluation of the £3 single bus fare cap scheme; and whether she plans to publish that evaluation in full once it is finalised.

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

The Department for Transport is currently undertaking an evaluation of the £3 single bus fare cap and its impacts, with the full report expected to be published next year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many performance reviews were undertaken for staff in (a) her Department and (b) its agencies in each of the last five years; in how many cases performance was rated as unsatisfactory or below; how many staff left as a result of such a rating; and what proportion of full-time equivalent staff this represented.

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

We have provided a response based on the number of submitted reviews over the entirety of a complete performance year (April 1 to March 31), for performance years 2024/25, 2023/24, 2022/23, 2021/22, 2020/21. This has been split, where possible, between Department for Transport (DfT) core and its agencies (Active Travel England (ATE), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)). In addition, data has been split by Senior Civil Servants (SCS) and delegated grades (Grade 6 and below), as performance is managed differently.

The information provided does not include employees that have been marked as out of scope for review, and where figures within each business unit are below 5, these have been withheld for identification protection under S40(2) of the FOIA.

TOTAL REVIEWS CONDUCTED

NUMBER OF UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE RATINGS

NUMBER OF DIMISSALS AS A RESULT OF PERFORMANCE AND FTE PROPORTION

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her Department has to expand eligibility of the England National Concessionary Travel Scheme to (a) carers and (b) companions of (i) older and (ii) 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, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually, and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as expanding eligibility, would need careful consideration for the scheme’s financial sustainability

Local authorities in England have the power to use local resources to fund further concessions in addition to their statutory obligations, for example, offering companion passes or lowering the age of eligibility.

The government has confirmed over £1 billion for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country, of which Gloucestershire County Council has been allocated £8 million. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services for passengers can be used in whichever way they wish, including enhancing the concessionary travel offering in the local area.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 84700 on Road Traffic Control: Oxford, whether her Department holds information on the level of income the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has received from Oxfordshire County Council for access to vehicle registration data in each year since 2020.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has not directly provided vehicle keeper data to or received income directly from Oxfordshire County Council in the time frame specified.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff left her Department in each of the last five years, broken down by grade.

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

The table below presents the headcount of permanent civil servants who have left from the central Department for Transport over the past 5 years, categorised by grade. To ensure the inclusion of the most recent data, the data is provided on a rolling year basis from October to September.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of updating section 8.1.1 of her Department's guidance entitled MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles, updated on 11 August 2025, to make it mandatory for MOT test centres to assess for exhaust noise.

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

Excessive vehicle noise can be a serious disruption to people’s lives. This is why it is included in the MOT as an inspection of exhaust silencers and noise deafening material as well as a subjective assessment of excessive noise upon revving the vehicle. The MOT tester will fail the vehicle if they deem the exhaust noise is unreasonably above the level expected from a similar vehicle in average condition.

The Department and the DVSA included a question about noise testing using decibel meters in a 2023 call for evidence about updating the MOT. Responses highlighted both the benefits of identifying excessively noisy vehicles and the difficulty of testing with decibel meters in a noisy garage environment.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82735 on Great British Railways, how much her Department expects the rail passenger services subsidy to reduce by in each year over the period covered by the Spending Review 2025.

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

Rail passenger services subsidy is expected to reduce by over 50 per cent from £2.4 billion in 2024-25 over the period of the Spending Review.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 82745 on Roads: Freight, if she will publish all substantive written representations her Department has received from the road haulage industry on road user charges since 4 July 2024; and if she will publish her Department's responses to those representations.

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

The Department has received no written representations on road user charges from the road haulage industry since July 2024.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82409 on Railways: Public Ownership, whether her Department plans to draw on best practice from (a) devolved operators such as Transport for London, Merseyrail, ScotRail and Transport for Wales and (b) private sector train operating companies in developing guidance for publicly-owned operators.

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

We expect DfT Operator Limited (DFTO) to draw on best practice from across the rail sector, and other relevant sectors, for its operators.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 83382 on Railways: Safety, what proportion of the campaign’s (a) production and (b) promotion costs were borne by train operating companies (i) owned and (ii) controlled by her Department; and whether she has made an estimate of the cost to the public purse of that rebrand once the operators’ expenditure is included.

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

The production costs, referenced in the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 83382 on Railways: Safety, were all borne by the Department for Transport.

To minimise implementation costs, train operating companies (including those under public ownership) will gradually phase out the current See It. Say It. Sorted. campaign materials and are only required to introduce the new posters or announcements when these would usually be replaced through business-as-usual rotation of materials.

Campaign posters, both digital and physical, are required to be displayed only at locations which train operating companies already retain for public messaging campaigns or for their own content, and which are not otherwise used for commercial purposes, in order to avoid any loss of advertising revenue. We have not asked train operating companies to provide detailed production or implementation costs as we anticipate them being minimal on this basis.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 83387 on Large Goods Vehicles: Electric Vehicles, how much underspend has been identified to date; and what the revised total forecast spend for the programme is in (a) 2024–25 and (b) 2025–26.

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

The Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (R&D) programme had a total programme funding spend of approximately £106 million in the 2024-25 financial year. We are unable to confirm the spend for 2025-26 as the financial year is still in progress with projects placing orders for final zero emission HGVs and infrastructure sites.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish the names of the (a) people and (b) organisations responsible for the (i) leadership and (ii) operational design of Great British Railways; and what proportion of those people are (A) civil servants, (B) secondees from private companies and (C) external appointees from the rail industry.

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

Richard Goodman, Director General, is the Department for Transport’s Senior Responsible Officer for the design of Great British Railways and Chair of the Rail Reform and Strategy Portfolio Board that includes the NR CEO and DfTO CEO.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her timetable is for publishing the next Rail network enhancements pipeline.

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

This Government recognises the need to develop stable, long-term pipelines for investment and to give communities, investors and the supply chain visibility and certainty about those pipelines.

The Secretary of State set out the rail enhancement schemes across the country that are funded as part of the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline over the Spending Review period in July. We continue to make announcements on schemes as they progress or are added to the pipeline, such as the recent announcement of the Cowley Branch Line Upgrade on 23 October. Rail enhancements schemes are also set out in the UK Infrastructure pipeline published by NISTA 11 July, which government has committed to update regularly. This provides a level of transparency on the rail enhancements portfolio that has not been seen since October 2019 and the last RNEP update.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 84701 on Roads: Accidents, whether her Department has requested data from (a) the Home Office and (b) the police on the number of roadside drug-driving tests carried out since 2020.

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

While statistics on breath tests are published by the Home Office, the equivalent information on roadside drug-driving tests are not. Decisions relating to the collection and publication of this data would be a matter for the Home Office.

The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) provide information to the Department on the Christmas Drink and Drug Driving campaign, Operation Limit. This includes the number of drink and drug tests administered during the winter period.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 82997 on the Restoring Your Railway Fund, how much and what proportion of previously allocated funding has been (a) spent, (b) returned to the Treasury and (c) written off following the programme’s cancellation.

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

The Chancellor’s 29 July 2024 announcement confirmed that the Restoring Your Railway programme would be brought to a close, as one of the steps she was taking to address the pressures on the public finances created by unfunded policy announcements made by the previous government. At that time, £349.18m had been spent. The remaining funding anticipated for the Restoring Your Railways fund was reallocated to support other priorities within rail enhancements and across government as part of the Spending Review process. This included concluding work on the delivery of the Northumberland Line, and Dartmoor Line projects, previously part of the RYR fund. The Secretary of State has confirmed funding will be provided for Metrowest (Portishead), Haxby station, Wellington station and Cullompton station projects that had also previously been identified through RYR. No funding was "written off" as part of this process.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to provide financial support to small businesses to purchase zero emission heavy goods vehicles after 2026.

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

The Government has kickstarted the deployment of zero emission heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and their supporting charging and fuelling infrastructure through initiatives such as the Plug-In Truck Grant (PiTG), the £30 million Depot Charging Scheme, and the up to £200 million Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID).

These initiatives are open to all businesses, including small businesses, to support the uptake of zero emission HGVs by lowering upfront costs and supporting the provision of dedicated HGV charging infrastructure.

The PiTG remains in place until the end of the 2026/27 financial year. The ZEHID programme is funding hundreds of ZE HGVs and their associated recharging and refuelling sites by March 2026.

While the Depot Charging Scheme will close on or by 28 November 2025, by supporting necessary infrastructure, the funding will provide confidence to the logistics sector and support British businesses to transition to zero emission.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 83373 on DfT Operator, whether her Department has issued any (a) Notices to Improve or (b) written instructions to any DfT Operator train operating company in relation to (i) service performance or (ii) financial control since April 2024.

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

The Department has not issued any Notices to Improve to any of the DfT Operator train operating companies because none have been in breach of their formal contractual terms.

DfT regularly engages with all operators on service performance and financial management, aligned with this Government's priorities on improving performance and reducing subsidy.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the funding required for Network Rail to undertake detailed planning for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement Scheme.

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

The Secretary of State updated Parliament on the 7th of July regarding which rail and road infrastructure projects will progress following the completion of the 2025 Spending Review. The Ely Area Capacity Enhancement and upgrades to Haughley Junction were not among those projects funded at this time.

The previous government had committed to a number of infrastructure projects that were unfunded, this includes the EACE and Haughley Junction schemes.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the statistics entitled Monthly total number of electric vehicle public charging devices available in the UK, published on 1 October 2025, if she will provide a breakdown by local transport authority.

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

Geographic breakdowns of the number of public electric vehicle charging devices in the UK are published in the tables for Electric vehicle public charging infrastructure statistics: October 2025.

Table 1a summarises the number of public charging devices by region and local authority.

Table 7a summarises the number of public charging devices by parliamentary constituency.

The Department does not hold this data summarised at local transport authority level.

The tables are included as a supplementary attachment to this response.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make a comparative assessment of the potential impact of (a) 44-tonne, five-axle volumetric concrete mixers and (b) traditional drum mixers on (i) the number of vehicle movements, (ii) road wear and (iii) water usage.

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

The Department has not made a specific comparative assessment of the potential impact of 44-tonne, five-axle volumetric concrete mixers (VCMs) and traditional drum mixers.

The Department estimates there are in the region of 1,000 VCMs in operation alongside 20,000 drum mixers. The report undertaken by National Highways as part of the Department’s review of VCMs compared the forces exerted by the VCMs to the standard highway vehicle load model used for assessing bridges and found the effects were up to 17% greater than for vehicles complying with the current standard weight limits. This will likely result in increased wear and tear and may impact the durability and lifespan of existing bridges. In addition to the impact on bridges, heavier vehicles also put more stress on roads.

The outcome of the Department’s review into VCMs, including the report by National Highways, was published on 18 March 2025. This can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/volumetric-concrete-mixers-review

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the annual economic contribution of volumetric concrete mixers to the economy.

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

The Department for Transport acknowledges the contribution VCMs make to our economy, particularly to the UK construction industry.

The outcome of my department’s review into VCMs was published on 18 March 2025. This can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/volumetric-concrete-mixers-review

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve charging infrastructure for electric heavy goods vehicles.

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

The up to £200 million Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) is kickstarting the deployment of zero emission HGV infrastructure and has already funded 73 planned infrastructure locations, representing over 360 chargers. The Government is further supporting the installation of charging equipment at depots through the £30 million Depot Charging Scheme.

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 a zero emission vehicle mandate for heavy duty vehicles.

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

The Government believes that more needs to be done to decarbonise the road freight sector. We are considering our regulatory approach to decarbonise new non-zero emission heavy goods vehicles and will engage with stakeholders 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 airport expansion on tourism in coastal towns.

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

Airports are key gateways into the UK for international tourists and airport expansion will help to facilitate their ability to visit the United Kingdom, including our coastal towns.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many refrigerator vehicles are currently used in the UK.

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

The Department for Transport does not hold this information.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the value for money of public funding for (a) commercial vehicle charging and (b) hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.

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

The Government is supporting the uptake of zero emission commercial vehicles, and their supporting charging and fuelling infrastructure, through initiatives such as the Plug-In Truck and Van Grants, which are reducing upfront costs for heavy goods vehicles and vans, and the £30 million Depot Charging Scheme and the up to £200 million Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID). The Department continually monitors and reviews grants to optimise delivery and value for money.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 16 October (HL10758), whether the Green Book Guidance and the Transport Analysis Guidance make allowance for large scale delays in the commissioning of new and road improvement schemes, and accidents associated with those schemes.

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

Transport appraisals informed by HM Treasury’s Green Book and DfT’s Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG) take account of delays in the commissioning of road schemes via a few mechanisms.

As set out in the Transport Business Case Guidance, the established business case process is designed to be flexible, and responsive to evidence that emerges throughout the duration of the proposal’s development. This includes reflecting emerging evidence on project timelines in the analysis that informs the economic dimension.

TAG contains detailed guidance on setting an appropriate appraisal period, running from the scheme opening date. We intend to include plans to expand this guidance to make it more helpful for promoters assessing potential changes in opening dates, as part of our upcoming Appraisal, Modelling and Evaluation Strategy (AMES), to be published early next year.

Where scheme delivery is expected to take longer, TAG also contains advice on how to appraise impacts to existing transport users that occur during the construction of schemes.

Regarding accidents, TAG contains extensive guidance and tools to assist promoters in assessing the likely accident and safety impacts associated with a scheme. As with all TAG methods, these approaches are kept under review, and updated with robust evidence where appropriate.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps she has taken to tackle (a) violence and (b) verbal abuse towards public transport workers while at work in (i) Slough and (ii) the South East.

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

The Department for Transport is working with the transport industry to ensure that public transport is a safe environment for staff and passengers. Ensuring that staff feel safe at work is a priority.

Following the horrific attack on the 18:25 LNER Doncaster to London service at Huntingdon on the 1st November, my Department are working with British Transport Police (BTP) and the rail industry to understand if any immediate interventions are required. The heroic efforts of rail staff meant that further harm was avoided and undoubtedly saved lives.

Prior to the incident, this government brought in the Bus Services Act 2025 which mandates training for staff working in the bus industry, including drivers and those who deal directly with the travelling public, on how to recognise and respond to incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour on public transport. This training will require a person to take steps to prevent crime or anti-social behaviour only where it is safe to do so. This will apply to all bus operators including those in Slough and the South East.

BTP are responsible for policing the railway, and they deploy their officers across the network, including in Slough and the South East, based on intelligence led briefings with daily taskings to provide reassurance to the public. They work closely with rail operators that serve those areas to conduct joint operations and have regular engagement with staff and safeguarding and security managers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of legal protections for public transport workers who have been assaulted in the workplace.

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

Following the horrific attack on the 18:25 LNER Doncaster to London service on the 1st November, my Department are working with British Transport Police (BTP) and the rail industry to understand if any immediate interventions are required. The heroic efforts of rail staff meant that further harm was avoided and undoubtedly saved lives.

There is no place for abuse or assault of any worker. Public transport workers and the wider public should be assured that where offenders commit acts of violence they will be arrested and brought before the courts quickly and that the British Transport Police have a specific remit to protect all rail staff and passengers.

Public transport workers do of course already have extensive protection in existing legislation such as the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 which also covers more serious violence such as actual bodily harm (ABH) and grievous bodily harm (GBH), and courts must already consider offences against public facing workers as an aggravating factor under the Police Crime and Sentencing Act 2022.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she will review the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations which limiting local authorities ability to offer paid seats on non-compliant vehicles with more than 22 seats for school transport.

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

The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) set minimum accessibility standards for physical features on buses and coaches designed to carry over twenty-two passengers and used on local or scheduled services. Introduced to help disabled people, including children and young people to travel safely and in reasonable comfort, the Regulations have applied to certain home-to-school (HTS) services for 25 years. In recognition of the shortfall of compliant vehicles and to enable essential services to keep operating, including HTS where spare capacity is sold, the Department has offered medium-term exemptions. These exemptions are due to expire on 31 July 2026.

In 2023 the previous Government began a review of PSVAR, including inviting feedback from local authority commissioners, providers and users of transport services, through a Call for Evidence, with a view to understanding the extent to which the Regulations remained appropriate and continued to serve disabled passengers. We continue to consider the Review findings and potential future action, and we will announce any next steps on PSVAR in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to help tackle (a) violence and (b) verbal abuse towards public transport workers in (i) Lincolnshire and (ii) other rural areas.

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

The Department for Transport works with the transport industry to ensure that public transport is a safe environment for staff and passengers. Ensuring that staff feel safe at work is a priority.

Following the horrific attack on the 18:25 LNER Doncaster to London service at Huntingdon on the 1st November, my Department are working with British Transport Police (BTP) and the rail industry to understand if any immediate interventions are required. The heroic efforts of rail staff meant that further harm was avoided and undoubtedly saved lives.

Prior to the incident, this government introduced the Bus Services (no.2) Act which mandates training for staff working in the bus industry, including drivers and those who deal directly with the travelling public, on how to recognise and respond to incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour on public transport. This training will require a person to take steps to prevent crime or anti-social behaviour only where it is safe to do so. This will apply to all bus operators including those operating in Lincolnshire and servicing rural areas.

BTP are responsible for policing the railway, and they deploy their officers across the network, including in Lincolnshire and rural areas, based on intelligence led briefings with daily taskings to provide reassurance to the public. They work closely with rail operators that serve those areas to conduct joint operations and have regular engagement with staff and safeguarding and security managers. In Lincoln, BTP maintains a local presence supported by officers from Nottingham to provide 24-hour response cover.

BTP’s approach to rail staff assaults is intelligence led, focusing resources on areas and individuals identified through crime data and repeat offending patterns. Where repeat offenders are identified, BTP actively manages them through targeted patrol plans and, where appropriate, applications for Criminal Behaviour Orders to prevent further offences.

BTP also work closely with Train Operating Companies to improve incident reporting, ensuring that all forms of abuse or threatening behaviour are recorded, strengthening intelligence and enabling more effective operational planning. In addition to this, BTP promotes the use of body worn video and engage directly with staff and safeguarding managers to encourage reporting and supporting prosecutions.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with relevant stakeholders on tackling harassment on public transport against women and girls in the North East.

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

The Department is working across government and with partners, including the British Transport Police (BTP), the transport industry and local authorities to ensure that everyone feels and is safe when travelling. And, as part of that, I meet with a range of stakeholders from across the country to discuss issues across my portfolio, including the safety of women and girls on public transport.

Last month, the Department and Greater Manchester Combined Authority jointly hosted a Safer Streets, Safer Transport Summit which brought together representatives from across the transport industry, Government, local authorities (including the North East Combined Authority), the third sector and policing to commit to taking action against anti-social behaviour (ASB) and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

As part of the Government’s aims to reduce VAWG by half over the next decade, the Department has an ambitious, evidence-based programme of work to help tackle VAWG on transport. This includes measures in the Bus Services Act 2025 such as training on how to recognise and respond to incidents of criminal and anti-social behaviour. The Act also enables all Local Transport Authorities to introduce byelaws to tackle ASB on vehicles, as well as within and at bus-related infrastructure (for example bus stations).

The Department supports BTP’s zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment and sexual offences. This includes using a range of policing techniques to pursue offenders on the rail network to ensure it remains a safe environment and encourage reporting of incidents via BTP’s 61016 text number or 999 in an emergency.

BTP officers in the North East attend the local Safer Transport Regional Group and the Violence Against Women and Girls on Transport Partnership Working Group, strengthening collaboration with partners and focusing joint efforts on preventing these offences.

BTP also deliver numerous public campaigns to increase VAWG reporting across the network including in the North East. The Rail Delivery Group also delivers its ‘zero tolerance’ campaign, which is aimed at educating people about the different types of sexual harassment and encouraging reporting to the BTP or anonymously to crime stoppers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to implement a national ban on pavement parking; and whether she has held recent discussions with (a) Guide Dogs and (b) other relevant charities on this matter.

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

Ministers and Department officials have met with Guide Dogs and other relevant charities earlier this year to discuss pavement parking. 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 soon.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 82998 on HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Grant Scheme, what plans she has for (a) unspent and (b) returned grant funding; and whether those monies will be (i) retained for driver welfare improvements and (ii) reallocated elsewhere within her Department’s budget.

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

As set out in my response to Question 85923, underspent specific budgets are reallocated to other priorities within DfT where possible. Any departmental underspend at the end of the financial year is returned to HMT.

Under the terms of the Lorry Parking and Driver Welfare Matched Funding Grant Scheme there is no provision for returned funding from operators. The Department issues payment for the monies operators claim only once the Department has reviewed appropriate evidence of the completed stages of works.

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 increasing (a) the regulation of and (b) enforcement against people driving vehicles for (i) delivery and (ii) courier work with L plates but without valid driving licences.

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

The department has not had any discussions with gig economy operators about trends in the level of people working as delivery drivers through their platforms without appropriate driving licences, or steps being taken to prevent such practices. Drivers must hold a full licence to work as a delivery driver. Motorcyclists must hold a valid provisional licence to work as a delivery rider.

Employers have a duty to manage the risks of their work activities, including where driving for work is required. Employees and self-employed workers have a responsibility to drive appropriately and comply with relevant laws.

The department with the Health and Safety Executive updated joint guidance called ‘Driving and riding safely for work’ in September 2021 that sets out those obligations. In December 2024, Minister Simon Lightwood MP wrote to the Chief Executives of the largest food delivery companies to remind them of the importance the Government places on the safety of food delivery riders and other road users, and of their responsibilities and obligations towards them. It is essential that delivery drivers and riders follow The Highway Code.

The department has not made an assessment about people engaged in delivery work without valid documentation on road safety, or about the merits of increasing regulation of people driving delivery and courier vehicles for any reason. We are considering plans to review the training, testing, and licensing requirements for motorcycles. Enforcement of the law is a matter for the police who will decide, on the evidence of each individual case, whether an offence has been committed and the appropriate action to take.

The Road Safety Strategy is under development and will include a broad range of policies. More details will be set out 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 people without valid (a) work and (b) driving documentation being engaged in delivery work on road safety.

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

The department has not had any discussions with gig economy operators about trends in the level of people working as delivery drivers through their platforms without appropriate driving licences, or steps being taken to prevent such practices. Drivers must hold a full licence to work as a delivery driver. Motorcyclists must hold a valid provisional licence to work as a delivery rider.

Employers have a duty to manage the risks of their work activities, including where driving for work is required. Employees and self-employed workers have a responsibility to drive appropriately and comply with relevant laws.

The department with the Health and Safety Executive updated joint guidance called ‘Driving and riding safely for work’ in September 2021 that sets out those obligations. In December 2024, Minister Simon Lightwood MP wrote to the Chief Executives of the largest food delivery companies to remind them of the importance the Government places on the safety of food delivery riders and other road users, and of their responsibilities and obligations towards them. It is essential that delivery drivers and riders follow The Highway Code.

The department has not made an assessment about people engaged in delivery work without valid documentation on road safety, or about the merits of increasing regulation of people driving delivery and courier vehicles for any reason. We are considering plans to review the training, testing, and licensing requirements for motorcycles. Enforcement of the law is a matter for the police who will decide, on the evidence of each individual case, whether an offence has been committed and the appropriate action to take.

The Road Safety Strategy is under development and will include a broad range of policies. More details will be set out in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to require MOT tests to check that (a) front windows and (b) windscreens comply with legal light transmission limits.

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

Driver visibility is an important safety consideration at the MOT, with the tester required to check the driver’s field of vision for obstructions. This includes inspecting the windscreen and front side windows for excessive tinting and discolouration. The MOT tester will fail the vehicle if the windscreen or window are excessively tinted and visibility through the swept area of the windscreen, or of an obligatory external mirror, is seriously affected.

This approach aligns with legal light transmission levels that are intended to ensure the driver has good visibility of the road for safety purposes.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many concessionary bus journeys were taken by (a) elderly and (b) disabled people in (i) 2018-19, (ii) 2023-24 and (iii) 2024-25.

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

The Department publishes statistics on concessionary travel in England in the Concessionary Travel Statistics release, which are based on survey data collected from Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs). Concessionary travel relates to when eligible people travel on reduced (or free) fares.

The latest concessionary travel statistics, including figures on concessionary bus passenger journeys in England for the year ending March 2019 to the year ending March 2024 for older and disabled people are provided in the table below:

More information can be found in the Department’s Concessionary Travel Statistics release, which is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/concessionary-travel-statistics-year-ending-march-2024

The Department does not currently hold data separately for elderly and disabled concessionary passenger journeys.

Data for the year ending March 2025 is not currently available but is scheduled for publication on GOV.UK on 26 November 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of concessionary bus journeys undertaken by (a) elderly and (b) disabled people.

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

The Department publishes statistics on concessionary travel in England in the Concessionary Travel Statistics release, which are based on survey data collected from Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs). Concessionary travel relates to when eligible people travel on reduced (or free) fares.

The latest concessionary travel statistics, including figures on concessionary bus passenger journeys in England for the year ending March 2019 to the year ending March 2024 for older and disabled people are provided in the table below:

More information can be found in the Department’s Concessionary Travel Statistics release, which is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/concessionary-travel-statistics-year-ending-march-2024

The Department does not currently hold data separately for elderly and disabled concessionary passenger journeys.

Data for the year ending March 2025 is not currently available but is scheduled for publication on GOV.UK on 26 November 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 27 October (HL11342), what were the forecast effects of (1) the Elizabeth Line, and (2) Worcestershire Parkway Station prior to their opening; and what are the latest measured effects of those schemes.

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

The forecast effects and latest measured effects of the Elizabeth Line are set out in two post-opening evaluation reports published in 2024 and 2025. Both reports can be found on the Transport for London website.

In summary, the evaluation evidence finds that the Elizabeth Line has had positive impact on both employment growth and housing growth, although the impacts have not been uniform across all areas. The evaluation finds that between 2015 and 2023, employment growth around Elizabeth line stations consistently outperformed the total London average (25% growth around Elizabeth line stations compared to 14% in London). The growth in jobs and connectivity has been accompanied by a surge in housebuilding. 71,000 new homes have been delivered around Elizabeth line stations since 2015. By 2024, the residential property stock around inner London Elizabeth line stations increased by 19% compared to 10% for all inner London.

The forecast effects of the opening of the Worcestershire Parkway Station were expected to be: (i) reducing road congestion and road vehicle carbon emissions by reducing road vehicle usage; (ii) address Worcestershire's poor accessibility to and from London arising from the limited frequency and length of journey time of North Cotswold Line services; (iii) transform access to the rail network for Worcestershire passengers; and (iv) tackle Worcestershire's exclusion from the Cross Country network (Bristol-Birmingham-North West/North East).

No post-opening evaluation of Worcestershire Parkway Station has as yet been carried out. However, latest measured impacts of the station are assessed as:

• Passenger numbers: Over 2 million journeys in five years, far exceeding forecasts.

• Carbon impact: Achieved carbon neutrality within five years; saves ~1.8 million kgCO₂e annually.

• Economic and transport role: Significant modal shift to rail, reducing congestion and supporting sustainable travel; demand strong enough to trigger plans for car park expansion and service enhancements.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2025 to Question 69838 on Railway Stations: Aldridge, if she will publish details of any (a) discussions and (b) correspondence that (i) she and (ii) her Department has had with (A) Mayor Parker and (B) his office on Aldridge station.

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

The Department has regular meetings with Mayor Richard Parker and his officials, with discussions covering a range of transport issues.

My officials are in regular contact with West Midlands Combined Authority about the continuing design work for Aldridge, which is forecast to complete next year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many concessionary bus journeys were available in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2023-24 and (c) 2024-25.

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

The Department publishes statistics on concessionary travel in England in the Concessionary Travel Statistics release, which are based on survey data collected from Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs). Concessionary travel relates to when eligible people travel on reduced (or free) fares.

The latest concessionary travel statistics, including figures on concessionary bus passenger journeys in England for the year ending March 2019 to the year ending March 2024 for older and disabled people are provided in the table below:

More information can be found in the Department’s Concessionary Travel Statistics release, which is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/concessionary-travel-statistics-year-ending-march-2024

The Department does not currently hold data separately for elderly and disabled concessionary passenger journeys.

Data for the year ending March 2025 is not currently available but is scheduled for publication on GOV.UK on 26 November 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 27 October (HL11342), what has been the effect on projected housing growth and access to employment in the relevant areas of (1) the Elizabeth Line, and (2) Worcestershire Parkway Station.

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

The latest evidence on the effect of the Elizabeth Line on housing growth and access to employment can be found in the 2024 and 2025 post-opening evaluation reports. Both reports can be found on the Transport for London website.

In summary, the evaluation evidence finds that the Elizabeth Line has had positive impact on both employment growth and housing growth, although the impacts have not been uniform across all areas. The evaluation finds that between 2015 and 2023, employment growth around Elizabeth line stations consistently outperformed the total London average (25% growth around Elizabeth line stations compared to 14% in London). The growth in jobs and connectivity has been accompanied by a surge in housebuilding. 71,000 new homes have been delivered around Elizabeth line stations since 2015. By 2024, the residential property stock around inner London Elizabeth line stations increased by 19% compared to 10% for all inner London.

No post-opening evaluation of Worcestershire Parkway Station has as yet been carried out. However, the measured impact on housing and access to employment of the station are assessed as:

• Housing: Strategic growth area planned for up to 10,000 homes and a new town centre; initial phase aims for 5,000 dwellings and 50 hectares of employment land by 2041.

• Employment: Mixed-use development includes logistics and office space; Midlands Rail Hub proposals could add 140 weekly services, expanding access to jobs in Birmingham, Cardiff, and beyond.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82733 on Mobility Scooters: Pedestrian Areas, when her Department plans to commence the powered mobility device review; and what its objectives will be.

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

The powered mobility device review is already underway, and we intend to consult with the public before the end of the year, to ensure regulations are designed with, not for, disabled people. The consultation will also gather views on the Department’s proposed objectives for the review. We will work with a wide range of stakeholders once the consultation is published to ensure it reaches everyone who would like to contribute.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with gig economy operators on (a) trends in the level of people (i) driving and (ii) delivering through their platforms without appropriate driving licences and (b) steps they are taking to prevent such practices.

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

The department has not had any discussions with gig economy operators about trends in the level of people working as delivery drivers through their platforms without appropriate driving licences, or steps being taken to prevent such practices. Drivers must hold a full licence to work as a delivery driver. Motorcyclists must hold a valid provisional licence to work as a delivery rider.

Employers have a duty to manage the risks of their work activities, including where driving for work is required. Employees and self-employed workers have a responsibility to drive appropriately and comply with relevant laws.

The department with the Health and Safety Executive updated joint guidance called ‘Driving and riding safely for work’ in September 2021 that sets out those obligations. In December 2024, Minister Simon Lightwood MP wrote to the Chief Executives of the largest food delivery companies to remind them of the importance the Government places on the safety of food delivery riders and other road users, and of their responsibilities and obligations towards them. It is essential that delivery drivers and riders follow The Highway Code.

The department has not made an assessment about people engaged in delivery work without valid documentation on road safety, or about the merits of increasing regulation of people driving delivery and courier vehicles for any reason. We are considering plans to review the training, testing, and licensing requirements for motorcycles. Enforcement of the law is a matter for the police who will decide, on the evidence of each individual case, whether an offence has been committed and the appropriate action to take.

The Road Safety Strategy is under development and will include a broad range of policies. More details will be set out in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 27 October (HL11341), what delays faced by road users during  the works were factored into the calculations of overall reduction in congestion and journey times.

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

In line with the Department for Transport’s Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG) Unit A1.3, User and Provider Impacts, costs to existing transport users due to the construction of a road investment scheme are recorded in the appraisal. The impact of delays during construction and maintenance are estimated using the same transport models used to predict the overall traffic effects of the scheme. Bespoke software packages, as described in TAG, are used to value the delays to transport users using standard economic parameters.

The Transport Economic Efficiency (TEE) table, produced for all road investment schemes, allows for the user delays during construction and maintenance to be recorded alongside the travel time benefits of the road investment scheme, to ensure that the economic appraisal accounts for both the benefits and disbenefits for users of the road investment scheme.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to retain the rail freight growth target of 75% growth in freight carried by rail by 2050; and whether she plans to (a) put that target on a statutory footing, (b) introduce interim milestones and (c) adopt regional targets.

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

The Government recognises that the economic and environmental potential of rail freight is significant and is committed to the target of at least a 75% increase in freight moved by rail by 2050. The recently published draft Railways Bill sets out a duty on the Secretary of State to set a growth target and for GBR to have regard to it.

The Secretary of State is currently considering whether to set interim targets for 2040 and what those targets will be.

In addition, Network Rail has the target of a 7.5% increase in rail freight growth by the end of March 2029.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Midlands Rail Hub on (a) capacity on the West Coast Main Line and (b) passenger services into central Birmingham; and what discussions she has had with the West Midlands Combined Authority on the use of devolved transport funding to develop those proposals.

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

Midlands Rail Hub supports economic and housing growth in the region by creating capacity for more trains in central Birmingham. The additional capacity will support improved reliability of services running through New Street station, including trains that use the West Coast Main Line and will also mean more services from Worcester, South Wales and the South West.

The West Midlands Combined Authority and West Midlands Rail Executive are closely involved in the development, design and delivery of Midlands Rail Hub.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 83840 on Railways: West Midlands, if her Department will explore the use of the Sutton Park freight line for passenger services; and whether its inclusion in the Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline was considered.

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

The Department for Transport is not actively exploring this proposal for the Sutton Park freight line, but local authorities, such as West Midlands Combined Authority, are free to develop local proposals for investment using their own devolved transport funding.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the net Government funding of the rail sector was per passenger, per journey in the (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25 financial year; and what estimate her Department has made of the net Government funding of the rail sector was per passenger, per journey in each financial year between 2025-26 and 2029-30.

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

The Department for Transport's support for the 14 contracted operators and Network Rail was £9.60 per passenger journey in 2023/24 and £8.47 in 2024/25.  It is currently estimated that this will steadily decrease to circa £7.40 in 2028/29, primarily driven by a declining rail passenger services subsidy as passenger ridership and revenue continue to recover post COVID-19 and efficiencies and savings are made through public ownership.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish a breakdown of the number of registered number plate suppliers registered to each of the most commonly used PO boxes.

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

Of the 34,455 registered number plate suppliers, seven (0.02%) have a PO box address. All seven of these PO box addresses are different.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of registered number plate suppliers have addresses registered to PO boxes.

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

Of the 34,455 registered number plate suppliers, seven (0.02%) have a PO box address. All seven of these PO box addresses are different.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 85702 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, what information his Department holds on whether the 127 additional electric vehicle charging points will be (a) publicly available and (b) implemented during the four year period.

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

The On-Street Residential Charging Scheme funds publicly available chargepoints. Installation timescales will be agreed between the funded councils and their appointed chargepoint operator.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 82990 on Railways: Essex, what estimate her Department has made of the capital cost of that proposal; and what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposal on (a) efficiency and (b) emissions.

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

As per the answer of 27th October, Initial assessments indicate that electrifying the branch between London Gateway and Thames Haven Junction would improve the efficiency and reliability of rail freight while reducing emissions. We will continue to work closely with Network Rail and other industry partners in assessing the viability and affordability of this proposal.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment the adequacy of the enforcement basis of drop-off charge systems operated by airports; and what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that motorists receive (a) clear and (b) accurate information on (i) airport drop-off charge system enforcement practices and (ii) the authority for issuing any related fines.

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

The provision and charging of car parking at airports, including drop-off and pick-up charges, is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business to manage and justify. Any issue relating to car parking charges should be raised with the airport operator directly. However, the Department expects car parking at airports to be managed appropriately and for consumers to be treated fairly, which could include providing information on choices for parking, along with information on how to access them.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 82992 on Railways: Freight, which schemes set out in the Spending Review were identified as having potential for increasing the capacity for freight on the routes; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of those schemes on freight network performance.

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

The government recognises that the economic and environmental potential of rail freight is significant and that is why we are committed to supporting its growth.

The Spending Review confirmed a number of infrastructure schemes across the country to help support the economy, housing and jobs. These include £3.5 billion for the TransPennine Route Upgrade and £2.5 billion for the continued delivery of East-West Rail between Oxford and Cambridge. Both projects will deliver benefits for rail freight, as well as passenger services.

Options are currently being developed for the Transpennine Route Upgrade to provide increased capacity for rail freight from east and west coast ports to inland terminals.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of the 23 October 2025 to Question 83549 on utilities: repairs and maintenance, what steps her Department is taking to improve regulations governing emergency repairs by utilities that disrupt use of the highway.

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

In response to the Honourable Member’s question on 23 October 2025, the data, sourced from Street Manager, the Government’s digital platform for managing highway works, shows no evidence of widespread misuse of immediate permits. The Department for Transport will work with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee to revise the Co-ordination Code of Practice, aiming to provide clearer guidance on the appropriate use of immediate permits.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer received on 23 October 2025 to Question 83549 on utilities: repairs and maintenance, what the evidential basis is to suggest potential misuse of emergency repair provisions by utilities is low.

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

In response to the Honourable Member’s question on 23 October 2025, the data, sourced from Street Manager, the Government’s digital platform for managing highway works, shows no evidence of widespread misuse of immediate permits. The Department for Transport will work with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee to revise the Co-ordination Code of Practice, aiming to provide clearer guidance on the appropriate use of immediate permits.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she expects the (a) economic and (b) environmental analysis of Heathrow Airport expansion to (i) commence and (ii) be completed.

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

On 22 October, the Secretary of State for Transport launched a review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), which provides the primary basis for decision-making on whether to grant development consent for a new northwest runway at Heathrow. As part of the review, the Department for Transport will develop analysis on the economic and environmental impacts of expansion at Heathrow, and the outputs will be published alongside any amends to the ANPS for consultation by summer 2026. Any promoter will then need to prepare and submit a development consent order, including their own analysis, for expansion for consideration by the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State for Transport.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 77156 on Rolling Stock: Leasing, whether any of the train operating companies transferred into public ownership since July 2024 have seen rolling stock leasing arrangements novated unchanged to the new public sector operator; and what the total annual cost to the public purse is of those unchanged existing agreements.

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

We are transferring currently franchised services into public ownership as current contracts expire, after they reach their contractual break point or if the contractual right to terminate is met - avoiding the need to pay compensation to the current operators for early termination. The services of three train operating companies have transferred into public ownership since July 2024, South Western Railway, c2c and Greater Anglia. The leasing arrangements for both c2c and Greater Anglia were novated on their existing terms. The Government had already been covering the costs of these since the pandemic. The annual cost of rolling stock to operators is published on an annual basis by the Office for Rail and Road.

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 the establishment of Great British Railways on the cost of rail services for passengers.

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

The Secretary of State will set the overall parameters for fares, reflecting their role in balancing affordability and taxpayer contributions to the railway, while Great British Railways (GBR) will set and manage individual fares for its services, creating a simpler, more consistent fares structure that passengers can trust. These decisions will be made in future once GBR is established.

The new framework will also continue to safeguard existing statutory discount schemes, including those for disabled, senior, and younger passengers, currently delivered as railcards. There are no plans to withdraw other railcard schemes (e.g. Veterans or 26–30 railcards). GBR will have the flexibility to evolve these offers over time in line with passenger needs.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her planned timetable is for announcing further details on the regulation of private electric scooters, as indicated in the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan.

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

The Government is committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles when parliamentary time allows.

We understand the importance of providing a clear legislative timeline and my Department is working with colleagues across government to secure this.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will adopt the World Health Organization's noise level guidelines to address noise pollution from the operations of Heathrow Airport.

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

The Government is reviewing the evidence underpinning the World Health Organization's Guidelines together with more recent evidence. This review is being undertaken by the Government’s Interdepartmental Group on Costs and Benefits (Noise) to consider whether any updates should be made to relevant Government guidance.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many different transactions or processes between members of the public and DVLA can only be completed if payment is made by a member of the public by (a) cash, (b) cheque and (c) postal order.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) offers nearly 50 main customer facing services and the vast majority of these are available online with a range of payment options. Only seven applications currently require payment by cash, cheque or postal order and these are listed below. These services require a manual payment as the applications must currently be submitted in paper form because (for example) original documentation may need to be submitted or these transactions cannot yet be carried out online.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will provide an update on the Government’s plans to address pavement parking; and if she will set out a timetable for when local authorities will be given further powers to tackle this issue.

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

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 as soon as possible. Local authorities can make use of Traffic Regulation Order powers to manage pavement parking.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release entitled £1 billion backed renewal of broken bridges, ruined roads and tired tunnels and new Thames Crossing cash, published on 16 June 2025, whether it is her Department’s policy that all weight-restricted bridges should be able to take HGVs.

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

The Structures Fund will inject cash into repairing run down bridges, decaying flyovers and worn-out tunnels. It offers an opportunity to support places to repair local bridges that currently have weight restrictions placed on them so that these restrictions can be lifted and bridges re-opened to HGV traffic.

However, it is not Department for Transport policy for absolutely all weight restricted bridges to be able to take HGVs. Whether to introduce a weight limit on a structure is a decision for the relevant local highway authority and will depend on local circumstances. For example, it may not be appropriate or possible for some historic bridges or those with protected status to carry these kinds of vehicles.

We will publish more information about the Structures Fund and how local areas can get involved 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 merits of mandating zero-emission transport refrigeration units for refrigerated transport to replace diesel units.

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

The Department for Transport is working with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to develop an Off-Road Machinery Decarbonisation Strategy, the scope of which includes transport refrigeration units (TRUs). This strategy will set out how off-road machinery can further decarbonise while maintaining competitiveness, attracting investment, and supporting growth. Decisions on the long-term approach towards refrigerated units will be taken in the context of this strategy.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she has made an estimate of the number of food delivery drivers who operate on a provisional motorcycle driving license.

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

Around 180,000 compulsory basic training (CBT) certificates are issued by the motorcycle instructor training industry per year. Neither the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency nor the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency hold data on the professions of those holding a provisional motorcycle driving license.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce the cost of creating new walking, wheeling and cycling routes on disused railways.

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

Local authorities are empowered to decide where investment is made in their areas. As such, it is for local authorities to consider whether disused railway lines would be suitable for active travel routes and to work with National Highways, in their role as custodians of the historic rail estate, to assess the viability of any particular routes.

In the Spending Review we announced that we are allocating £616 million for Active Travel England from 2026-27 to 2029-30 to support local authorities to build and maintain walking and cycling infrastructure. This is in addition to the almost £300 million funding for active travel in 2024/25 and 2025/26 which we announced in February.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the timeline for making a decision on the application from Transport for London to run the Northern City Line between Moorgate and Hertfordshire.

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

Transport for London (TfL) has submitted a business case for the devolution of Great Northern inner services, which include the Northern City Line. No decision has yet been made. The Department is reviewing the proposal and working with TfL to assess its benefits and wider implications, such as supporting housing growth—for example, the potential development of 21,000 homes at Crew’s Hill. A timeline for a decision has not been set, but this work is continuing.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of pavement parking on levelks of (a) wellbeing, (b) social isolation and (c) economic opportunities of disabled people.

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

The Government fully understands the serious problems that vehicles parked on the pavement, and other obstacles on the pavement, can cause for pedestrians, especially for people with mobility or sight impairments and disabled people with wheelchairs, prams or pushchairs. To inform next steps, the Department has considered the potential options, assessing the costs and benefits to households and businesses, which includes well-being, social isolation and economic opportunities. This assessment drew on existing evidence, including the 2020 pavement parking consultation. We will announce the next steps and publish our formal response as soon as possible.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that motorway and service station operators provide a sufficient number of accessible parking bays for disabled motorists.

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

The Department for Transport sets out minimum car parking requirements for disabled users at motorway service areas, motorway rest areas and all-purpose trunk road service areas in Department for Transport Circular 01/2022 Strategic road network and the delivery of sustainable development.

At motorway service areas (MSAs) the minimum car parking requirement for disabled users is 5% of the number of car parking spaces required. Where that number falls below 5, a minimum of 5 spaces shall be provided. There is also a minimum of two additional car parking spaces for disabled users for lodges (hotels located at MSAs). The minimum parking requirements for caravan/motorhome/vehicle and trailer parking for disabled users is 5% of the number of parking spaces required for these vehicles, and where the number falls below 2, a minimum of 2 spaces shall be provided

The parking requirements for a motorway rest area are half of those required for a motorway service area rounded up to a whole number as necessary.

The minimum car parking requirements for disabled users at all-purpose trunk road service areas is 3 spaces and an additional minimum of 2 spaces for lodges. The minimum parking requirements for caravan/motorhome/vehicle and trailer parking for disabled users is 1.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle delays in processing re-applications to the DVLA following the voluntarily surrender of driving licences on medical grounds.

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

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. 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 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 to the handling of medical cases, support growing customer demand and helping to reduce processing times.

To help reduce the time taken to deal with medical applications, the DVLA has introduced a simplified licence renewal process for some medical conditions. This has reduced the need for further information from medical professionals, enabling more licensing decisions to be made based on the information provided by the driver.

Those applying for a driving licence after previously surrendering it voluntarily may be able to drive while their application is being processed, providing they can meet specific criteria. More information on this can be found online 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, when she expects temporary restrictions on the carrying of liquids by passengers using airports that fully operate Next Generation Security Checkpoints to be lifted.

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

Passengers can already carry liquids in containers up to 2L where their airport has upgraded to equipment which has passed relevant certifications.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish the metrics of each of the four tests that proposed schemes to expand Heathrow Airport will have to meet, and if so, when.

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

On 22 October the Government formally commenced the review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), which provides the primary basis for decision-making on whether to grant development consent for a new runway at Heathrow. The review will reflect important changes in legislation, policy, and data and set the four tests that any proposed scheme must meet on economic growth, climate, air quality and noise.

As part of the review, the Government will develop analysis on the economic and environmental impacts of expansion at Heathrow, which will inform the four tests. We expect to publish any revisions to the ANPS for consultation by summer 2026, together with supporting assessments.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 84309 on High Speed 2, what her Department’s latest estimate is of (a) the additional cost arising from the four-year deferral of works between Delta Junction and Handsacre Junction, (b) the revised total cost of the HS2 programme and (c) the expected date for completion of the final connection between High Speed 2 and the West Coast Main Line.

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

The previous Government paused works between Delta Junction and Handsacre Junction in March 2023. HS2 Ltd provided an estimate at the time in 2023 that the cost of demobilisation of these works was c.£35m (2019 prices). Further deferral will not incur demobilisation costs as the work has already been demobilised.

Any additional costs are being considered as part of Mark Wild’s comprehensive review of HS2. As part of his reset work, he will advise on a revised cost estimate and schedule for HS2, including the scope between Delta Junction and Handsacre Junction.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential economic cost of value of road freight travel time due to delays at Moor Farm roundabout in each of the last five years.

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

As part of the consideration of potential improvements to Moor Farm junction, analysis underpinning value for money assessments will look at the value of delays to road freight, with Transport Analysis Guidance being updated to reflect the latest position on this in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the value of road freight travel time through Moor Farm roundabout in each of the last five years.

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

As part of the consideration of potential improvements to Moor Farm junction, analysis underpinning value for money assessments will look at the value of delays to road freight, with Transport Analysis Guidance being updated to reflect the latest position on this in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to publish a (a) draft licence for Great British Railways and (b) consultation on the licence terms.

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

Under the 1993 Railways Act, the Department is required to publish and consult on a draft licence, and this will not change with the Railways Bill. We intend to consult on the draft GBR licence during the Bill Passage. This will give interested parties the opportunity to share their views on the proposed contents. Further details will be made available in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate she has made of the potential impact of (a) her rail reform policies and (b) the establishment of Great British Railways on costs to the public purse.

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

The Impact Assessment presents an estimate of the set-up costs for Great British Railways and the Passenger Watchdog of approximately £200-400 million, with total transitional costs representing around 1-2% of the annual operational costs for DfT contracted operators and Network Rail combined. This investment will set GBR up on the right footing to achieve benefits for users and realise financial efficiencies once fully established.

This builds on our continuing programme to bring all currently franchised services into public ownership. This will save the taxpayer up to £150 million a year in fees that would otherwise have been paid to private operators.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support car dealers in Northern Ireland unable to access the UK market for vehicles due to manufacturers choosing not to dual approve under the UK–NI type approval system.

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

This Government is committed to meeting our obligations under the Windsor Framework relating to the approval of vehicles for the market in Northern Ireland, and to ensuring that dealers and consumers in NI are not restricted in their choice of vehicles.

Since the requirements for vehicle approval in Great Britain are derived from the EU's it makes sense to consider amendments made by the EU favourably. This government closely monitors those amendments and takes an explicit presumption in favour of alignment with them.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether powers given to Great British Railways to (a) design and (b) implement the (i) access, (ii) contracting and (iii) pricing regime would be subject to (A) regulatory oversight equivalent to the current framework and (B) a continued presumption in favour of access growth.

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

The new framework will allow GBR to strategically plan the best use of the network.  This will include working with operators like freight and open access to identify services vital to growing the economy. GBR will be required to design and consult on its access and use policy which will include how it will take capacity allocation, access and charging decisions. The ORR will be a statutory consultee on GBR’s access and use policies, able to hold GBR to account, ensuring decisions are fair and consistent with its duties, and through its new and robust appeals function will be able to hold GBR to account, ensuring decisions are fair and consistent with its duties. The ORR will be able apply remedies including to direct GBR to change a decision or substitute a GBR decision with its own.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to maintain the schedule 8 compensation mechanism for unplanned service disruption for operators outside Great British Railways.

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

GBR will be required to have a performance and incentives scheme that covers planned and unplanned disruption to protect all users operating services on the network.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to maintain the schedule 4 compensation mechanism for planned service disruption for operators outside Great British Railways.

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

GBR will be required to have a performance and incentives scheme that covers planned and unplanned disruption to protect all users operating services on the network.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Transport (Duty to Cooperate) Bill on the economy.

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

The Government will outline its position on this Bill during the scheduled second reading.

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Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the (a) governance structure, (b) terms of reference for the (i) Senior Steering Group, (ii) Champions Network and (iii) Expert Advisory Group, (c) minutes, (d) declared interests and (e) any recorded conflicts of interest and information on how these were managed for One Big Thing 2024.

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

The following sets out the key individuals and groups that made up the governance structure for One Big Thing 2024, including their roles:

No conflicts of interest were recorded. The Expert Advisory Group had representation from external experts from the private sector and academia. Their role was limited to providing subject matter expertise, with no decision-making/ sign-off authority or involvement with delivery.

We are unable to publish the minutes of meetings, as requested, as the effective design of One Big Thing is reliant upon these being internal forums for free and frank discussions, with attendees often providing informal opinions or preliminary views.

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