Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the compatibility of the government’s new ECG scheme with the principle of market competition.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Electric Car Grant is fully compatible with the principle of market competition.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will consider expanding the eligibility criteria of the Electric Car Grant.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Electric Car Grant criteria were designed to support British drivers to access affordable, sustainably manufactured electric vehicles. Over 40,000 drivers have benefited from this scheme to date. The grant's design was not discussed with industry during its development to avoid market distortion.
Following launch, the Department has engaged closely with vehicle manufacturers and will continue to do so as the grant develops. All grants are regularly reviewed to ensure value for money and eligibility criteria may evolve over time.
Officials continue to monitor the grant and assess its impact as the market responds.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her officials have produced an impact assessment on the market of the existing Electric Car Grant criteria; and whether she will publish it.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Electric Car Grant criteria were designed to support British drivers to access affordable, sustainably manufactured electric vehicles. Over 40,000 drivers have benefited from this scheme to date. The grant's design was not discussed with industry during its development to avoid market distortion.
Following launch, the Department has engaged closely with vehicle manufacturers and will continue to do so as the grant develops. All grants are regularly reviewed to ensure value for money and eligibility criteria may evolve over time.
Officials continue to monitor the grant and assess its impact as the market responds.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will set out how the electric car grant criteria were determined, including what discussions she had with the car sector.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Electric Car Grant criteria were designed to support British drivers to access affordable, sustainably manufactured electric vehicles. Over 40,000 drivers have benefited from this scheme to date. The grant's design was not discussed with industry during its development to avoid market distortion.
Following launch, the Department has engaged closely with vehicle manufacturers and will continue to do so as the grant develops. All grants are regularly reviewed to ensure value for money and eligibility criteria may evolve over time.
Officials continue to monitor the grant and assess its impact as the market responds.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Electric Car Grant criteria will change when the review of the Science Based Target Initiative is complete; and what time opportunity will her department offer to industry regarding the implementation of the new target.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
A Science Based Target validated by the Science Based Target Initiative is an eligibility requirement for the Electric Car Grant. Further details are included in the grant application guidance.
The Science Based Target Initiative is independent of Government and was not involved in the grant's creation to avoid potential market distortion.
All grants are kept under continuous monitoring and reviewed regularly to ensure they continue to deliver value for money.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions the Government have had with Science Based Targets Initiative through the formulation of the Electric Car Grant.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
A Science Based Target validated by the Science Based Target Initiative is an eligibility requirement for the Electric Car Grant. Further details are included in the grant application guidance.
The Science Based Target Initiative is independent of Government and was not involved in the grant's creation to avoid potential market distortion.
All grants are kept under continuous monitoring and reviewed regularly to ensure they continue to deliver value for money.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether manufacturers are required to have Science Based Targets to be eligible for the Electric Car Grant.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
A Science Based Target validated by the Science Based Target Initiative is an eligibility requirement for the Electric Car Grant. Further details are included in the grant application guidance.
The Science Based Target Initiative is independent of Government and was not involved in the grant's creation to avoid potential market distortion.
All grants are kept under continuous monitoring and reviewed regularly to ensure they continue to deliver value for money.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with regards new Aurora trains being introduced on the Midland Mainline, what changes to the internal layout of standard class carriages is being proposed compared to Meridian class trains in order to achieve the advertised increased numbers of seats.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The new Class 810 ‘Aurora’ trains fit more seats by using the space in standard class more efficiently than the older Class 222 ‘Meridian’ trains.
The main changes are:
The trains still include accessible toilets, priority seating, two wheelchair spaces and two bike spaces, and now have power at every seat and improved Wi‑Fi.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2025 to Quesiton 76239 on East Midlands Railway: Rolling Stock, when she expects the new rolling stock to come into service.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We expect the first train to enter passenger service in 2025 and a phased roll-out continuing through 2026.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the new Hitachi trains will be in service on Midland Mainline between Sheffield and London; and whether there will be improved (a) mobile and (b) wifi connectivity.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
East Midlands Railway (EMR) is reaching an exciting new phase of its train replacement programme for the East Midlands, with the launch of its brand-new Aurora trains this year. This will see the major investment start delivering significant improvements in passenger experience, including improved mobile connectivity and faster Wi-Fi.