Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how UK maritime decarbonisation efforts will be impacted by the expansion of the Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The inclusion of the maritime sector in the UK ETS will, in combination with other enabling policies, strengthen the effectiveness of the scheme in incentivising investment in decarbonisation across the covered sectors.
Specifically, the scheme provides a clear price signal that supports investment in cleaner vessels, operational efficiency and emerging low carbon fuels.
The policy is expected to deliver a net reduction of approximately 645,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent over the next 20 years.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that UK maritime decarbonisation efforts are supported by revenues raised by the expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Receipts from the UK Emissions Trading Scheme support the Government’s wider priorities, including spending to support decarbonisation.
The Government recognises that decarbonising the maritime sector requires a suite of policies and is providing funding and policy support to facilitate this transition.
For example, between April 2022 and March 2026, the Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions programme has allocated £240m to the research and development of clean maritime solutions.
In September 2025, the Government announced a further £448m R&D funding for the programme for the period to 2030. This represents the biggest government investment ever in our commercial maritime industry.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the expansion of the Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime on cruise operations in the UK.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK Emissions Trading Scheme will only include emissions from domestic voyages and emissions within UK ports.
Emissions from voyages within the European Economic Area (EEA) and emissions within EEA ports are already in scope of the EU Emissions Trading System, which also applies to 50% of international voyage emissions.
The Government therefore expects no net loss of competitiveness for cruise visits to UK ports relative to EEA ports as a result of the inclusion in the UK ETS of the domestic maritime sector.
On this basis, the Government considers the impact on the cruise sector to be minimal.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January, whether they will consider the misuse of nitrous oxide gas as part of the planned work for drug driving evidence collection.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Alongside the Road Safety Strategy, the Department for Transport has published a consultation on motoring offences, including drink and drug driving and the evidence used to support enforcement. The consultation provides an opportunity for stakeholders to submit their views on issues such as nitrous oxide misuse and detection challenges, and we will consider all evidence received before taking decisions.
We will continue to work with partners across Government and operational stakeholders as this work develops.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January, what additional funding and resources they will allocate to (1) the police, (2) local authorities, and (3) other partners, to ensure a swift and effective post-crash response.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Road Safety Strategy outlined a new safe system approach to road safety that includes consideration of any post-crash response. We’re continuing to recruit more police, with 3,000 more neighbourhood police officers on our streets by March and we are abolishing Police & Crime Commissioners – so much needed funding can go into frontline policing including post-crash responses. Also £2.7m is allocated to policing under the Roads Policing Innovation Programme this year and the next two. Ultimately however, it is up to local police forces to decide how best to deploy their resources and this funding.
Every road collision resulting in a fatality or serious injury leaves victims devastated so it is important that victims receive the support they need. This government will be increasing funding for victim support services year on year, from 2026 to 2029. In total, government will be investing £550 million in victim support services over the next three years – the biggest investment in victim support services to date.
The Ministry of Justice has committed to reviewing the Victims’ Code, a practical statutory guide for victims of crime, including victims of road traffic offences. Under the Victims’ Code, all victims are entitled to be given information about and be referred to victim support services by the police to help them cope and recover from the impact of a crime. Further, the Office of the Victims’ Commissioner has undertaken work to commission additional research to explore the victim journey for road traffic collisions and support for victims.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January, whether they have plans for a comprehensive communications plan about reducing the drink driving limit as part of their plan to introduce a lower alcohol limit for driving.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy that devastates families and communities. For too long, progress on road safety has stalled while other countries have moved ahead.
The Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January 2026 by this Government, marks a turning point. We are taking decisive action to make our roads safer for everyone, from new drivers taking their first lessons to older motorists wanting to maintain their independence.
As part of this, the Government is consulting on lowering the drink drive limit in England and Wales, which has remained unchanged since 1967 and is currently the highest in Europe.
Any changes to the legal alcohol limit for drink and drive offences in England and Wales will be communicated across government communications channels, to raise awareness and encourage compliance. We will also continue to deliver through the THINK! Campaign, partnership campaigns with 0% alcohol brands, and wider partners, to remind drivers to not drink alcohol when getting behind the wheel.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the future role of Great British Railways in supporting use of shared micromobility to travel to and from train stations.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Once established, Great British Railways will be required to have regard to the Secretary of State's Long Term Rail strategy, including by improving the integration of rail with local and regional transport systems.
We know that a well-connected transport system will help more people make the journeys they need to and unlock access to opportunity which is why we will shortly publish our integrated national transport strategy. The strategy will set out this government's vision for people-focused transport in England, supporting the creation of unified and integrated transport systems at the national and local level.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure integration with (1) active travel, (2) shared transport, and (3) buses, at train stations during and after the transition to Great British Railways.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Once established, Great British Railways will be required to have regard to the Secretary of State's Long Term Rail strategy, including by improving the integration of rail with local and regional transport systems.
We know that a well-connected transport system will help more people make the journeys they need to and unlock access to opportunity which is why we will shortly publish our integrated national transport strategy. The strategy will set out this government's vision for people-focused transport in England, supporting the creation of unified and integrated transport systems at the national and local level.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January, what steps they will take to secure the linkage of police-recorded collision data and healthcare data between the Department for Transport, NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care; and what the timescale is for that work.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The DfT, together with NHS England, and DHSC are piloting the secure linkage of police collision and healthcare data to better understand the causes and impacts of road traffic incidents. Using the Pre-hospital Research and Audit Network (PRANA) framework, this initiative will enhance analysis of injury severity, collision outcomes, and NHS burden. This work started in 2025 and the department has published an initial feasibility study which can be found on the government website with further updates expected over the next year.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they are giving to the safety benefits of a crash detection service for motorcyclists.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. On 7 January 2026, we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all.
While there is no mandatory requirement for motorcycles to be fitted with collision notification systems, aftermarket products exist that are promoted as being compatible with motorcycle riding. The Government has not assessed the safety benefits of these systems.