Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to establish a government-led inquiry into lessons to be learned from HS2.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
An independent review of the governance and assurance of major transport projects led by James Stewart, drawing on HS2 as a case study, was published in June 2025. The Government has accepted the findings of this review in full and is taking forward its recommendations as part of the ongoing HS2 programme reset, recognising that some principles extend for the lifetime of the programme. On 19 May 2026, the Government also published a report by Sir Stephen Lovegrove looking at how the Civil Service sought to oversee and control the programme and HS2 Ltd, which we will respond to in due course.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to ban e-bikes in the light of the rise in e-bike accidents.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Only e-bikes that comply with the requirements of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 are legal to use on the roads and the Government has no plans to ban them. These regulations limit the maximum (assisted) speed of e-bikes to 15.5mph.
Where these requirements are not fully complied with, the e-bike is treated as a motor vehicle and must therefore be approved and registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency, taxed and insured. The rider must wear a safety helmet and hold a driving licence. The police have the power to seize e-bikes not appropriately registered as motor vehicles under Section 165A of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and on the grounds that they would not be insured.
More broadly, the Road Safety Strategy published this year sets an ambitious target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads, including cyclists, by 65% by 2035. Well-designed infrastructure, particularly of the kind that provides protection from motor traffic, can improve both safety and perceptions of safety for cyclists.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether construction work is continuing on the cancelled routes of HS2; and if so, what is the cost of that work.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department is not continuing construction on the cancelled Phase 2a or Phase 2b routes of HS2.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to make functioning CCTV mandatory on trains, buses and coaches and associated stations.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The installation and use of CCTV on vehicles and at stations is an operational decision with many operators and local authorities choosing to install CCTV on their networks.
As of March 2024, 96% of buses used by local operators in England were equipped with CCTV, some coach operators already use CCTV on their vehicles, and most new train procurements since 1996 have included CCTV provision.
On the railway, where CCTV is installed, National Rail Contracts and Service Agreements require operators to comply with relevant industry guidance and standards. This includes ensuring that CCTV equipment is properly maintained and remains in working order, and that recorded images are securely stored and retained so they are available to support investigations when required. Train operators are expected to follow the Rail Safety and Standards Board’s Rail Industry Standard for on‑train camera monitoring systems, which covers matters such as system performance, image quality, secure storage and retention.
The Department recently announced nearly £17 million of funding for a project to connect railway station CCTV directly to the British Transport Police and is exploring expanding the provision and use of CCTV on the bus network, to increase feelings of safety and reduce the length of police investigations.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they plan to take to reduce the backlog of people waiting to take a driving test.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and improve access to driving tests that will break down barriers to opportunity as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
On the 12 November, the Secretary of State for Transport, updated the Transport Select Committee on the government’s ongoing response to high driving test waiting times. In the coming months, DVSA will:
Change the booking service to allow only learner car drivers to book and manage their tests
Introduce a limit on the number of times a learner car driver can move or swap a test to twice and also limit the area they can move a test to once booked.
Make use of MOD driving examiners for up to 12 months to help tackle driving test waiting times.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan for motorbikes to be zero-emission by 2030.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Decarbonising transport is critical to ensuring that the UK meets its net zero commitment by 2050. All road vehicles have a part to play in this, including motorcycles. The Government recognises that transitioning some motorcycles to zero emission equivalents is challenging but welcomes the increasing zero emission sales we have seen in certain segments of the market. We will set out any plans to decarbonise motorcycles in due course.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to launch a review into the planning decisions and financial mismanagement of the HS2 project.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We recognise the scale of the challenges highlighted by James Stewart and we accept his findings on HS2 in full. This Government is committed to implementing these recommendations and applying the lessons learned to improve its approach to infrastructure delivery, including on HS2. In addition, the Prime Minister has asked the Cabinet Secretary to consider the implications for the Civil Service and wider public sector of the issues raised in the report, including whether further action of investigation is warranted.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking against noise pollution caused by motorbikes.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport takes the impact of excessive noise on health, wellbeing and the natural environment seriously. Strict noise regulations for motorbikes are harmonised at an international level and require vehicles to demonstrate compliance before being placed on the market. Replacement silencers that are to be used on the road must also meet strict noise limits that are aligned with those of the original vehicle.
The Department published the results of roadside trials of noise camera technology last year and continues to keep a keen interest in this technology. However, it is ultimately for local authorities and the police to consider what the most appropriate enforcement routes may be within their area, based on their knowledge of the issue locally. The Department has limited means for influencing local decision making on enforcement priorities.
The police have powers to deal with noisy vehicles on a continuing basis. Under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 they can take action if they suspect a vehicle is being driven in a manner that makes excessive noise which is avoidable through reasonable driver care. In the same Regulations, exhausts and silencers are required to be maintained in good working order and not modified so as to increase noise.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
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 January (HL3851), what plans they have, if any, to phase out the sale of new petrol motorcycles, in line with plans to phase-out the sale of new petrol cars from 2030.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
All modes and vehicle types have a part to play in meeting net zero, including motorcycles. The Government will set out any plans to decarbonise motorcycles in due course. To encourage uptake of zero emission motorbikes, the Government has a plug-in motorcycle grant which is available until at least March 2025 and offers up to £500 off the cost of a zero-emission motorcycle.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ban all petrol and diesel motorcycles.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government has no plans to ban all petrol and diesel motorcycles.