Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost of deaths and injuries caused by e-bikes and e-scooters in each of the last three years; and what steps they intend to take to reduce these costs and make riders of e-bikes and e-scooters more responsible for their actions.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
While no assessment of the cost of injuries or deaths caused by in e-bikes and e-scooters has been made, riders of such vehicles should, like all road users, comply with the Highway Code and ride in a safe and responsible manner.
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 introduced new offences for cyclists, including e-bikes riders, who cause the death or serious injury of another person, with penalties for those offences brought into line with those for motorists.
The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles, including e-scooters, when parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what urgent steps they intend to take to reduce the incidence of injuries and deaths caused by e-bikes and e-scooters.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
While no assessment of the cost of injuries or deaths caused by in e-bikes and e-scooters has been made, riders of such vehicles should, like all road users, comply with the Highway Code and ride in a safe and responsible manner.
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 introduced new offences for cyclists, including e-bikes riders, who cause the death or serious injury of another person, with penalties for those offences brought into line with those for motorists.
The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles, including e-scooters, when parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the total cost of injuries caused by e-bikes and e-scooters in each of the past three years for which figures are available.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Statistics on road collisions and casualties are published on the government site which include data on the overall cost of prevention of road casualties and collisions. However, the published figures do not provide a breakdown of the costs attributable to a particular vehicle type.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) fines have been issued, (2) prosecutions made in the last six months following breaches of the Road Traffic Act 1988 by cyclists; and what plans they have, if any, to keep this under review.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The collection of data on prosecutions is a matter for the Ministry of Justice, and they hold information up to December 2025. Therefore, no information is available for the last six months.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Westminster City Council about (1) the safety assessment of the cycle lane outside Parliament on Abingdon Street, and (2) ensuring pedestrian safety.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Responsibility for managing London’s road network is shared between Transport for London, National Highways, the 32 London boroughs and the City of London Corporation. Abingdon Street falls under the responsibility of Westminster City Council, and the Department has had no involvement in the development or delivery of this cycling scheme.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that e-bikes sold in the UK comply with the legal requirements for electrically assisted pedal cycles; and what enforcement action is being taken against the sale of non-compliant e-bikes.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency have market surveillance powers to tackle the supply of e-bikes where users are being deliberately misled about where they can and cannot be used.
According to the most recent data available (for 2024), the DVSA’s market surveillance programme identified 39 suppliers of e-bikes. 21 of these suppliers were found to be selling e-bikes that were compliant with the relevant Regulations.
Subsequent mystery shopper exercises, carried out by the DVSA and involving 18 suppliers, found 2 suppliers to be selling non-compliant e-bikes for use on the roads. One of these suppliers has since brought their selling practices into compliance while the other is being investigated further. In addition, over 400 listings of non-compliant e-bikes have been removed from online marketplaces following intervention by DVSA.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the unrestricted sale of e-scooters and e-bikes that do not meet the legal requirements for road use; and what steps they plan to take to prevent such vehicles entering circulation.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
E-bikes and e-scooters must comply with the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 to be placed on the UK market.
While it is not illegal to sell an e-scooter for use on private land, retailers are breaking the law if they knowingly mislead a buyer or do not make the legal restrictions on e-scooter use sufficiently clear. To provide a more proportionate and agile process for regulating e-scooters, the Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform when parliamentary time allows.
Regarding e-bikes, those that do not comply with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 are treated as motor vehicles. They cannot therefore be legally used on the road unless they are approved and registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency, taxed and insured.
It is for the police to take enforcement action where such vehicles are used on the road illegally, and the Government will continue to support the police to ensure they have the tools needed to enforce road traffic legislation.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many penalties have been issued for driving with non-compliant number plates in each of the past three years; and what plans they have to strengthen enforcement.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the impact of number plate fraud and non- compliance, including the potential harm it can cause. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is committed to working with partners including the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime.
Information on the number of penalties issued for driving with non-compliant plates is not held by the DVLA. Penalties are typically issued as part of on-road enforcement by the police.
The government published its new Road Safety Strategy on 7 January, setting out its vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of this, the Department for Transport is reviewing motoring offences and has published a consultation which seeks views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect/altered/false number plate. Following this consultation, consideration will be given to whether legislative changes are required.
The DVLA is also considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers. This includes reviewing the joining fee, scheme structure, resources, and funding.
DVLA enforcement officers also work with the police and Trading Standards to conduct compliance visits to number plate suppliers, inspecting practices and records as necessary.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to strengthen penalties for uninsured driving following the Road Safety Strategy consultation; and what their timetable is for implementation.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government published a consultation on motoring offences alongside the Road Safety Strategy on 7 January 2026. It is split into four sections, exploring drink and drug driving, non-seatbelt use, failure to stop and report, and introducing new penalties for certain offences and other road traffic matters, including whether the minimum penalties for driving without motor insurance should be increased.
Once the Motoring Offences Consultation concludes, we will confirm any changes to the policy on penalties for driving uninsured.
The timelines for bringing forward any changes, including those relating to uninsured driving, will then depend on legislative time.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost to motor insurance policyholders of compensating victims of collisions involving illegally used e-scooters and e-bikes; and what steps they are taking to address this.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State has made no such assessment. The setting of premiums is a commercial decision for insurers, and the Government does not intervene or seek to control the market.