Asked by: Viscount Hanworth (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they favour the deployment of hydrogen fuel cells in trains and heavy goods vehicles in replacement of diesel engines.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the important role of hydrogen in decarbonising the economy, and expects hydrogen and its derivatives to play a role in sectors where there are limited alternative solutions with each transport mode driving progress on the solution that is most appropriate to them.
The Department is supporting the transition to low carbon fuels in surface transport through the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, alongside driving hydrogen research, development and deployment through programmes such as the SAF and ZEV Mandates, ZEHID, UK SHORE, the Advanced Fuels Fund, and the CAA’s Hydrogen in Aviation Regulatory Challenge. The Government will also be publishing a renewed Hydrogen Strategy in 2026 to sharpen priorities and deepen industry collaboration, alongside a forthcoming Zero Emission HGV and Coach Infrastructure Strategy.
Asked by: Tony Vaughan (Labour - Folkestone and Hythe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help reduce the number of driving test appointments wasted due to candidates failing to attend.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
To reduce missed appointments, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) issues text reminders to learners between 2 and 12 days beforehand to help learners plan for their test. Learners can also get email alerts, check their test details online, and find resources on the GOV.UK website.
Driving examiners will terminate a test on public safety grounds only where it is necessary to manage risk to the learner, the examiner or other road users. Through its "Ready to Pass?" campaign, DVSA encourages learners to make sure that they will be ready and able to take the test they have booked and to change or cancel their appointment in good time if they are not.
Asked by: Tony Vaughan (Labour - Folkestone and Hythe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of driving tests terminated on the grounds of public safety.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
To reduce missed appointments, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) issues text reminders to learners between 2 and 12 days beforehand to help learners plan for their test. Learners can also get email alerts, check their test details online, and find resources on the GOV.UK website.
Driving examiners will terminate a test on public safety grounds only where it is necessary to manage risk to the learner, the examiner or other road users. Through its "Ready to Pass?" campaign, DVSA encourages learners to make sure that they will be ready and able to take the test they have booked and to change or cancel their appointment in good time if they are not.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2026 to WPQ 120039, what the purpose was of each flight to Brunei; which Ministers and senior officials approved each visit; how many officials travelled on each occasion and at what grade; what the cost was of each visit; and whether an assessment was made of whether those engagements could be (a) conducted remotely and (b) combined with other travel.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Two officials, one Grade 6 and one SEO travelled to/from Brunei at a total cost of £5,374.73 which was signed off in advance by a Senior Civil Servant, in line with departmental policy. The purpose of the trip was to conduct detailed multilateral air services negotiations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to update air services arrangements. It was not possible to conduct these negotiations remotely.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's Guide to the Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) Scheme, published in January 2026, how many MSRS-supported freight movements have travelled through East Tilbury station in each of the last three years.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport does not collect information about MSRS-supported freight movements via stations. The scheme divides Great Britain into 18 zones. Zone 1 covers East Tilbury station. The number of intermodal rail freight flows to and from Zone 1 over the past three financial years awarded at the main February bid rounds are as follows:
Financial Year | No. of Flows |
2026/27 | 10 |
2025/26 | 9 |
2024/25 | 9 |
Asked by: Tony Vaughan (Labour - Folkestone and Hythe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to increase road safety.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
On 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. Alongside the strategy, 5 consultations were published, and they will be open until 11 May:
The Strategy sets ambitious targets to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65%, and 70% for children under 16, by 2035. Five consultations were launched alongside the Strategy addressing vulnerable road users, vehicle safety technologies and motoring offences.
The steps we take to improve road safety will be supported and monitored by a new Road Safety Board which I will chair as the Minister for Local Transport.
Road safety is a shared responsibility, and the new strategy reflects that. It considers action needed by government, local authorities, industry, emergency services and communities to tackle the causes of collisions and save lives. By investing in infrastructure, education, and enforcement, we are taking decisive steps to make our roads safer for everyone.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's Guide to the Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) Scheme, published in January 2026, what assessment has she made of the adequacy of infrastructure serving East Tilbury station and the road traffic affected by its level crossing, to support increased uptake of the scheme.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme is designed to encourage modal shift by assisting with the operating costs associated with running rail or inland water freight transport instead of road, where rail or inland waterway transport is more expensive. Infrastructure improvements cannot be funded through the scheme; as a result, the Department does not assess the adequacy of infrastructure to support increased uptake of the scheme.
The MSRS continues to support freight movement near East Tilbury station and London Gateway, with 10 freight flows supported in 2026/27 with a total grant award of £6.9m.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has considered alternatives to the staff travel pass for Brighton and Hove Buses and Metrobus staff for use on the GTR network.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Travel arrangements with bus operators are typically not in scope for the Department’s rail Public Ownership Programme. Under the TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006) process, the Department is currently consulting Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) staff affected by the removal of this reciprocal travel benefit arrangement. Current reciprocal travel arrangements between Brighton & Hove and Metrobus and GTR are internal travel benefits provided by Go-Ahead Group. GTR’s successor public sector organisation, Thameslink Southern Great Northern Limited, will not be part of Go-Ahead Group.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Restore Britain - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department issues to local licensing authorities on minimum English language proficiency requirements for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers; and whether her Department has collected or reviewed any evidence or audits in the last five years on the ability of non‑native English‑speaking drivers to communicate effectively in English with passengers.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The department recognises the importance of proficiency in English language. That’s why its existing statutory guidance recommends that all licensing authorities should require taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to demonstrate written and oral English language proficiency. Licensing authorities are responsible for deciding how English language proficiency is demonstrated. As of 1 April 2024, 81% of licensing authorities in England reported that they required the taxi drivers they license to demonstrate English language proficiency and 82% of licensing authorities in England reported that they required the private hire vehicle drivers they license to demonstrate English language proficiency.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what grounds was the decision taken to terminate staff rail pass, the reciprocal travel arrangement between Govia Thameslink Railway and the local bus operators Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus, when the rail service is nationalised.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Travel arrangements with bus operators are typically not in scope for the Department’s rail Public Ownership Programme. Under the TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006) process, the Department is currently consulting Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) staff affected by the removal of this reciprocal travel benefit arrangement. Current reciprocal travel arrangements between Brighton & Hove and Metrobus and GTR are internal travel benefits provided by Go-Ahead Group. GTR’s successor public sector organisation, Thameslink Southern Great Northern Limited, will not be part of Go-Ahead Group.