Asked by: Dave Robertson (Labour - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessments have been made of the effectiveness of alternative funding models for rolling stock procurement under Great British Railways.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Rolling Stock and Infrastructure Strategy, published on 28 September 2026, sets out how Great British Railways will take an integrated approach to planning trains, infrastructure, depots and maintenance. For future procurements, GBR will assess whether direct public ownership, leasing or other financing arrangements offer the best value for taxpayers and fare payers.
Leasing will remain in place for existing contracts and may still be appropriate in future. Decisions will be made case by case, considering whole-life value for money, affordability, operational requirements and the best overall outcome for passengers and taxpayers.
Asked by: Dave Robertson (Labour - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor for Exchequer on alternative financing models for rolling stock.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Department for Transport officials hold regular discussions with HM Treasury officials on a range of matters, including in relation to the procurement of rolling stock. However, no discussions have taken place between the Secretary of State for Transport and the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the use of alternative financing models to fund the purchase of new trains.
Asked by: Dave Robertson (Labour - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support small and medium enterprises in haulage to transition to low-emission heavy good vehicles.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government has kickstarted the deployment of zero emission heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and their supporting charging and fuelling infrastructure through initiatives such as the Plug-In Truck Grant, the Depot Charging Scheme, and the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme.
These initiatives are open to all businesses, including SMEs, to support the uptake of zero emission HGVs by lowering upfront costs and supporting the provision of dedicated HGV charging infrastructure. We also work with trade bodies, such as the Road Haulage Association - for whom 85% of their membership is SMEs, to promote such initiatives.
Asked by: Dave Robertson (Labour - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many prosecutions of driving licence holders there have been for failure to notify of a change of address in the most recent year for which information is available.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
No such estimate has been made as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) would only become aware of a potentially inaccurate address when informed by customers. Driving licence holders are legally responsible for notifying the DVLA of a change of address or inaccuracy in the details on their licence.
The Department does not hold information on the number of prosecutions of driving licence holders for failing to notify of a change of address as such prosecutions are a matter for the police.
It is an offence to provide false or misleading information and the DVLA’s operational fraud team monitors driving licence records for evidence of fraud and acts on intelligence received from the police and other sources. This includes investigating possible anomalies in the use of addresses provided.
Asked by: Dave Robertson (Labour - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has estimated the proportion of driving licence addresses which are inaccurate.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
No such estimate has been made as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) would only become aware of a potentially inaccurate address when informed by customers. Driving licence holders are legally responsible for notifying the DVLA of a change of address or inaccuracy in the details on their licence.
The Department does not hold information on the number of prosecutions of driving licence holders for failing to notify of a change of address as such prosecutions are a matter for the police.
It is an offence to provide false or misleading information and the DVLA’s operational fraud team monitors driving licence records for evidence of fraud and acts on intelligence received from the police and other sources. This includes investigating possible anomalies in the use of addresses provided.