Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2025 to Question 96256 on Railways: Tickets, how the proportion of rail journeys using fully digital tickets varies between train operating companies in November 2025 and in each month since and including July 2024.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department does not hold this information at this level. The Rail Delivery Group and individual train operating companies hold the data.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has had with the fishing industry in the South West on the sinking of a vessel off the coast of South Devon on 11 October 2025.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The MCA did not liaise with the fishing industry in the South West during the operation pertaining to the sinking of a vessel off the coast of South Devon.
The incident is currently subject to a debriefing process wherein upon completion there will be engagement directly with industry.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, given the forthcoming report of the Cranston Public Inquiry into the tragic loss of 27 lives in the English Channel in November 2021, has she undertaken a review of Channel small boat search and rescue operations and the capability provided by UK Border Force.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Cranston Public Inquiry will shortly be publishing its report into the tragic loss of 27 lives in the English Channel in November 2021.
Operational risks are assessed daily by the joint HM Coastguard and UK Border Security Command teams tasked with the delivery of small boat SAR. The capability that the Home Office provides through UK Border Force is an essential and welcome addition to the small boat SAR response network.
Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to review the effectiveness of her Department's policies on reducing road accidents.
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. The Strategy sets an ambitious target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65% by 2035. This target will focus the efforts of road safety partners across Britain, with measures to improve road design, protect vulnerable road users, and review motoring offences. All of this will be supported and monitored by a new Road Safety Board chaired by the Minister for Local Transport.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
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 car sharing clubs on her (a) decongestion and (b) decarbonisation targets.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Government understands the value of car sharing as a sustainable travel option that can offer a flexible, cost effective alternative to private car ownership for drivers. Alongside our actions to deliver excellent public transport, promote active travel and our support for electric vehicles, car clubs can help people get where they need to go, whilst easing congestion. Car clubs often feature newer vehicles, which are more likely to be electric or have lower emissions than many private cars, which helps reduce carbon emissions and air pollution.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the impact of rising and unpredictable police escort costs on the abnormal load haulage sector and the wider tourism supply chain, particularly in rural and coastal areas.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has not assessed the impact of police escort costs on the abnormal load haulage sector and the wider tourism supply chain.
The provision and charging for police escorts is an operational matter for individual police forces. We are aware of concerns raised about some police forces increasing the costs for escorting abnormal loads. The Department therefore welcomes the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s revised guidance on abnormal loads, which aims to provide greater consistency and clarity in the approach to abnormal load movements and costs across the country.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
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 logistics industry to the achievement of the Modern Industrial Strategy.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Government recognises the logistics industry as a critical enabler of the Modern Industrial Strategy (IS) and its wider economic growth ambitions. The IS identifies freight and logistics as a cross-cutting sector, essential to the success of the Government’s growth ambitions across the eight frontier industries.
Page 159 of the Strategy also recognises ports as a key foundational sector, providing critical inputs that enable growth across these frontier industries. This approach is supported by the National Wealth Fund, which will help unlock long-term private investment in strategically important infrastructure, including ports and associated logistics capacity, where this supports economic growth, industrial competitiveness and the transition to net zero.
Logistics therefore plays a central role in strengthening national supply chain resilience and supporting delivery of the Industrial Strategy. This contribution will be further reflected in the forthcoming plan for freight, which will set out how Government will work with industry and investors to support long-term growth.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria her Department uses when deciding whether a major transport project should be added to the Government’s Major Projects Portfolio.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP), including which projects and programmes are included, is managed by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA). The criteria for GMPP projects are typically those where approval is required from HM Treasury (HMT), either because the budget exceeds the department’s delegated authority level and/or because the project is novel, complex, contentious, or requires primary legislation. The department engages with NISTA on a monthly basis to ensure that the correct projects and programmes are added to the GMPP.
NISTA is currently undergoing a review of the Government Major Projects Portfolio, which currently comprises over 200 projects, programmes and portfolios. It is expected that it will significantly reduce the number of major projects that the centre of government actively supports.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department meet with representatives from Heathrow Airport prior to the Chancellor's announcement of the Government's support for a third runway at Heathrow in January 2025.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Heathrow Airport is a key stakeholder for a range of aviation and transport policy areas, and it is routine for officials to engage with airport operators and other industry stakeholders as part of the Department’s ongoing work. My officials continue to meet with representatives of Heathrow Airport regularly to discuss a range of issues.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many used electric vehicles were sold in (a) November 2025 and (b) each month since July 2024.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport does not hold this information.