Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Douglas McAllister and Simon Lightwood

Thursday 26th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

T5. The sorry state of Scotland’s roads proves that the SNP cannot get the basics right. The UK Labour Government funding to repair potholes adds to the significant Barnett consequentials falling to Scotland. Does the Minister agree that Scottish Labour’s pledge to establish a new roads repair fund, worth £350 million, to fix 5 million potholes is one worth voting for on 7 May?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Simon Lightwood)]

I agree with my hon. Friend. We have ambitious plans in England, and a record £7.3 billion investment and clear standards to ensure that councils fix roads properly for the long term. Only Scottish Labour has a plan to build on this approach and to end the pothole plague north of the border.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Douglas McAllister and Simon Lightwood

Thursday 20th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

T2. In June this year, the average wait time for a driving test in the UK was over 22 weeks. That backlog is holding back learners in my constituency. Can the Secretary of State outline what action she is taking to deliver extra tests and remove those barriers for young people in West Dunbartonshire?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Simon Lightwood)]

Driving test wait times remain too high, and this Government are committed to getting them down. Last week, the Secretary of State announced further actions to do so, including measures to prevent tests being booked up and resold by bots, and bringing in the Army to bolster examiner numbers. We continue to develop and assess further measures to tackle this serious issue.