Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2026 to Question 31269 on Electric Vehicles, whether she has made representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer ahead of the Budget on increasing the £7.5 billion allocated to supporting the transition to zero emission vehicles; and whether her Department plans to introduce additional financial incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Ministers in the Department for Transport regularly discuss a wide range of topics with Ministers in HM Treasury.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to designate Heathrow expansion as Critical National Growth Infrastructure; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of that designation on the planning process.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement (HENPS) proposes designating Heathrow expansion as Critical National Growth Infrastructure (CNGI), recognising its potential importance to national growth. How that proposed CNGI policy would interact with the planning process is set out in the draft HENPS, located here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a3923ed0bea238415c9a3a9/proposed-draft-revision-to-the-anps-to-be-known-as-the-henps.pdf
We have consulted on this approach, and the Government will carefully consider the views received through the consultation, alongside the Transport Select Committee's recommendations, before setting out its response and any next steps in relation to the HENPS.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has undertaken analysis of whether implementation of the recommendations of the Independent Review of NATS (En Route) plc’s Performance on 28 August 2023 would have (a) prevented and (b) mitigated the NATS technical incident on 8 September 2026.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We are still in the process of understanding the impact of the 8 September NATS outage across the UK, including its impact on airlines. I recognise the significant disruption this outage caused for passengers, airlines, and airports. The Government is taking steps to ensure the right lessons are learnt. This includes asking the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to conduct an independent review into the incidents.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the costs incurred by airlines as a result of the NATS technical failures on 8 and 21 September 2026.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We are still in the process of understanding the impact of the 8 September NATS outage across the UK, including its impact on airlines. I recognise the significant disruption this outage caused for passengers, airlines, and airports. The Government is taking steps to ensure the right lessons are learnt. This includes asking the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to conduct an independent review into the incidents.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has received any (a) representations and (b) correspondence from the hon. Member for East Wiltshire since 15 September 2025 relating to the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down project.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2026 to Question 29628 on Cars: Manufacturing Industries, what assessment her Department has made of the ability of vehicle manufacturers to meet Zero Emission Vehicle mandate targets in each year to 2030.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government continues to engage with vehicle manufacturers on a regular basis regarding the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, including as part of the long-committed ZEV Mandate Review, which is currently subject to consultation. No policy decisions have yet been taken with regards to the Mandate’s headline annual targets, or any other aspect of the Mandate. The consultation closes on 23 October, and we will publish the outcome of the review in our consultation response.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2026 to Question 29628 on Cars: Manufacturing Industries, what her Department's policy is on revising annual Zero Emission Vehicle mandate targets.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government continues to engage with vehicle manufacturers on a regular basis regarding the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, including as part of the long-committed ZEV Mandate Review, which is currently subject to consultation. No policy decisions have yet been taken with regards to the Mandate’s headline annual targets, or any other aspect of the Mandate. The consultation closes on 23 October, and we will publish the outcome of the review in our consultation response.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what role her Department plays in determining NATS executive remuneration; and whether she has sought changes to bonus criteria following disruption caused by NATS system failures.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
NATS is a private company, run by its own board. The Transport Secretary appoints three Non-Executive Directors to the NATS’ board, who oversee the Government’s shareholding interest in the company. Pay and bonuses for senior NATS executives, are set through the governance structures which manage the business. The Government has no role in dictating salary levels.
As part of the independent review into NATS’ performance following the incidents that occurred on 8 and 21 September this year, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will complete a broader assessment of NATS' resilience, capital investment and modernisation plans, as well as the effectiveness of the CAA's own regulatory oversight. An initial findings report is due to be completed by end of January 2027, with a final report submitted by the end of March 2027.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with Greater Manchester Combined Authority on commissioning local rail services through a public service contract with Great British Railways.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government and the rail industry are working closely with Transport for Greater Manchester on future partnership arrangements with Great British Railways. Exact contracting arrangements are still to be determined.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to her Written Ministerial Statement of 26 March 2026, HCWS1466, what the estimated Government funding contribution was for each scheme in the Major Road Network and Large Local Majors programme that has subsequently been withdrawn or removed from the programme.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.