Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of (a) vehicles, (b) trailers and (c) load configurations operating outside the requirements of Construction and Use Regulations on road safety.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The UK has historically been a global leader in road safety. However, the government recognises that there is always more that can be done to build a safer future for all road users. That is why we published our new Road Safety Strategy earlier this year, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all.
Vehicles or vehicle configurations that exceed the limits set out in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 are classified as abnormal and indivisible loads and these are regulated under the Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) Order 2003. As these vehicles are typically heavier and/or larger than is allowed for standard vehicles, hauliers must notify the police, local highway authorities, and bridge or structure owners prior to beginning their route. Depending on the width and overall size, these vehicle movements may require attendants, pilot cars, or police escorts. Operators must also provide indemnities to highway and bridge authorities for potential road wear or infrastructure damage.
Any vehicle which exceeds any of the requirements under the Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) Order 2003 needs specific authorisation, via a Vehicle Special Order issued under Section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. This authorisation allows the vehicle to be used legally on public roads despite its non-compliance.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps are being taken to ensure that solar panel installation can be scaled to cover new build properties.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government published the Future Homes and Buildings Standards (FHBS) on 24 March 2026. New homes built to these standards will have high levels of energy-efficiency, excellent insulation, and low carbon heating, such as heat pumps and heat networks. They will also be zero-carbon ready, meaning they will become zero-carbon in operation as the electricity grid decarbonises without the need for further retrofit.
The FHBS includes a functional requirement for all new homes to have a system of on-site renewable electricity generation, subject to practical site constraints. In most cases, we expect this will be met with the installation of solar panels. The FHBS sets energy efficiency requirements for new homes in performance terms, without prescribing specific technologies to be used. This allows developers to innovate and select the most practical and cost-effective solutions appropriate for the site.
The FHBS comes into force for most non-higher risk building work on 24 March 2027, followed by a further 12-month transitional period to give industries, such as the solar installation industry, time to prepare to meet the demand.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to review the adequacy of current legislation relating to the accountability of corporate entities that benefit from transport operations involving (a) vehicles, (b) trailers or (c) load configurations that do not comply with statutory Construction and Use Regulations.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport takes compliance with vehicle, trailer and load safety requirements seriously. Existing legislation provides enforcement powers and sanctions where statutory requirements are breached. We keep the effectiveness of the legislative framework under review, but there are currently no plans to undertake a specific review of the accountability of corporate entities who use transport operators in relation to breaches of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations.
Where operators fail to comply with relevant legal requirements, Traffic Commissioners may take action against their operator licence, including curtailment, suspension or revocation.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of non-compliance with Construction and Use Regulations on competition in the haulage and logistics sector.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The department has not made a specific assessment of the impact of non-compliance with the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 on competition in the haulage and logistics sector. Compliance with vehicle standards is enforced through DVSA's roadside enforcement activity and the operator licensing regime overseen by the Traffic Commissioners. The government expects all operators to comply with the legal requirements that apply to them to ensure fairness and safety.
DVSA adopts an intelligence-led approach to enforcement, targeting resources towards areas of greatest risk and non-compliance. This approach is intended to maximise the effectiveness of enforcement activity while avoiding unnecessary burdens on compliant operators.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) powers and (b) resources of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency to enforce compliance with Construction and Use Regulations relating to (i) trailers lengths and (ii) abnormal load configurations.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport, through the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), collects data on non-compliant vehicles, trailers and load configurations through roadside inspections and targeted enforcement activity. This includes offences and defects relating to roadworthiness, vehicle dimensions, weight limits, load security and compliance with the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. Information on enforcement action, including prohibitions, fixed penalties and prosecutions, is also recorded.
DVSA has powers under road traffic legislation to stop, inspect, weigh and prohibit non-compliant vehicles. DVSA conducts enforcement activities using a targeted enforcement approach, using Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology and intelligence and data insights, to focus resources on the operators and vehicles posing the greatest risk to road safety. DVSA officers are trained and accredited to exercise these powers, and enforcement policies and operational guidance are kept under review to ensure they remain effective and proportionate.
In 2025-26, DVSA detected 28,837 serious roadworthiness defects and traffic offences through its enforcement activity, demonstrating the continued effectiveness of its targeted approach to improving compliance and road safety.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her Department collects on the use of non-compliant (a) vehicles, (b) trailers and (c) load configurations on the road network.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport, through the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), collects data on non-compliant vehicles, trailers and load configurations through roadside inspections and targeted enforcement activity. This includes offences and defects relating to roadworthiness, vehicle dimensions, weight limits, load security and compliance with the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. Information on enforcement action, including prohibitions, fixed penalties and prosecutions, is also recorded.
DVSA has powers under road traffic legislation to stop, inspect, weigh and prohibit non-compliant vehicles. DVSA conducts enforcement activities using a targeted enforcement approach, using Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology and intelligence and data insights, to focus resources on the operators and vehicles posing the greatest risk to road safety. DVSA officers are trained and accredited to exercise these powers, and enforcement policies and operational guidance are kept under review to ensure they remain effective and proportionate.
In 2025-26, DVSA detected 28,837 serious roadworthiness defects and traffic offences through its enforcement activity, demonstrating the continued effectiveness of its targeted approach to improving compliance and road safety.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what consideration he has given to the potential merits of notifying Universal Credit claimants of their eligibility for free school meals via online journal entries.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Department is committed to ensuring that people receiving Universal Credit can access the support to which they may be entitled. Eligibility rules for Free School Meals are the responsibility of the Department for Education in England, with eligibility determined using Universal Credit information where appropriate.
The Department keeps its communications with Universal Credit claimants under regular review, including the information provided through digital channels such as the Universal Credit journal. However, no decision has been taken to introduce routine journal notifications relating to potential Free School Meals entitlement.
The journal is primarily used to communicate information relevant to the administration of a claimant’s Universal Credit award and is not generally used to provide speculative notifications about possible entitlement to support administered by other organisations.
Claimants can access information about additional support that may be available alongside Universal Credit, including Free School Meals, through existing guidance and application routes provided by the relevant authorities.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps are being taken to reduce the number of delays that passengers face on train journeys.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In response to Ministers’ challenge, the rail industry has set out a Performance Restoration Framework, to improve punctuality and reliability by addressing the root causes of delays and cancellations, including timetable resilience, staffing, fleet reliability and infrastructure performance.
DfT Operator (DfTO), as the Government’s public sector rail owning group, will continue to work with Network Rail and train operators to drive whole-system improvement and deliver tangible change for customers. The Department will continue to hold DfTO and Network Rail to account for delivery of operational performance.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the number of train delays affecting Mid Cheshire constituency in the last 12 months.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department does not compile delay statistics on a constituency basis. We have made punctuality and cancellation data available at more than 1,700 stations across England, including Hartford, Winsford, Northwich and Greenbank, which can be accessed via the Office of Rail and Road’s new data portal which is available at the following website:
https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/performance.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve passenger safety at train stations, as part of rail improvement works.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is continually working with Network Rail, train operators and the British Transport Police to improve the passenger experience at stations, including safety.
When station improvement programmes are underway, substantial consideration is given to improvements to enhance the safety of the travelling public. This can include better lighting, CCTV coverage, enhanced surveillance, accessibility upgrades, station design enhancements, staff training and measures to protect vulnerable passengers. In parallel, we are working to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour through increased British Transport Police patrols, enhanced surveillance and monitoring, and targeted enforcement operations at crime hotspots to deter and prosecute offenders.