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 20 January 2026 to WPQ 104866, when her Department will be using enhanced data and insight capabilities on the freight and logistics system to inform its advice on transport infrastructure for the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority and the UK infrastructure pipeline.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport’s programme of work to identify, develop and provide enhanced data and insights capabilities on the freight and logistics system will be delivered through multiple projects over the next few years.
Further detail on projects will be shared in the upcoming freight plan due to be published this spring. The forthcoming change to update the road freight values of time in the Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG) is an example of this work and is expected to be released in May 2026.
As and when the department shares advice on transport infrastructure for the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) and the UK Infrastructure Pipeline, it is informed by the best available evidence. This evidence includes data and insights on the freight and logistics system, which is being enhanced by the programme of work.
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 5 March 2026 to Question 116791, whether engagement with organisations representing disabled people in relation to the guidance entitled Floating Bus Stops: Provision and Design was undertaken by (a) officials in her Department, (b) Active Travel England and (c) an external organisation.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The statutory guidance on the provision and design of floating bus stops is a joint publication between the Department and Active Travel England (ATE). Stakeholder engagement on the development of the guidance was undertaken by officials from both organisations. As part of this process, an external body Transport for All was commissioned to run workshops with a range of disability and road user groups and individuals with lived experience of disability to ensure the recommendations reflect their needs. The groups represented included:
The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee were consulted. The Department and ATE also sought feedback from the Urban Transport Group, Living Streets, Guide Dogs, RNIB, Transport for London, and ATE’s Technical Oversight and Advisory Group.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to publish details of staff costs of individual Train Operating Companies in the DFTO: Annual Report and Accounts 2025 to 2026.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The DFTO Annual Report and Accounts 2025-2026 will include the staff costs for all DFTO Group employees on a consolidated basis. The breakdown of staff costs by individual Train Operating Company will be available in the individual Annual Report and Accounts of each Train Operating Company.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate the Department for Transport has made of the vehicle excise duty (VED) revenue foregone as a result of early renewals by zero-emission vehicle owners prior to the introduction of new VED rates.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The information requested can be found in the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25 and can be viewed at www.gov.uk/government/publications/dvla-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the fee deficit of the Vehicle Certification Agency.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) is currently consulting on a proposal to increase certain fees. This would help to address the current financial deficit. The agency is currently undertaking a programme of internal efficiencies which will also support deficit reduction.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the fee deficit of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) keeps its fees under continual review. Any changes to fee levels would be subject to public consultation and Parliamentary approval.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she expects the third Road Investment Strategy period to commence in April 2026.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport intends to publish the third Road Investment Strategy by the end of this month, with the third Road Period commencing in April 2026 and covering the period from 2026/27 to 2030/31.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what evidence her Department holds that floating bus stops improve (a) actual cyclist safety and (b) cyclists’ perception of safety.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Cyclists face significant risk when interacting with motor vehicles: in 2024 there were 14,549 cyclist casualties on Great Britain’s roads, the overwhelming majority arising from collisions with motor vehicles rather than pedestrians or other cyclists.
The importance of perceived safety is reflected in survey evidence. The latest Walking and Cycling Index (2023) shows that 58% of residents support more cycle paths protected from traffic, reflecting continued strong public backing for protected cycling infrastructure.
Active Travel England is undertaking further research, reporting in 2027, to strengthen the evidence base on the safety, accessibility and user experience relating to Floating Bus Stops.
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 provided (a) funding and (b) advice to Clean Cities Campaign since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has not provided funding to the Clean Cities Campaign, but has met with them as part of routine official-level stakeholder engagement.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many hours has the Gov.uk vehicle tax system been unavailable during 2026 for which the latest data is available.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In the period between 1 January and 22 February 2026, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s online vehicle tax service was unavailable for just four hours and 15 minutes due to planned maintenance.