Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 99588, when her Department plans to publish the evaluation of the £3 bus fare cap.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport is currently undertaking an evaluation of the £3 single bus fare cap and its impacts, with the full report expected to be published later this year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to replace the number-plate eyesight test with a standardised, clinically validated vision assessment.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

There are no plans to replace the number‑plate eyesight test.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of current eyesight standards for driving; and whether her Department plans to review the regulations governing driver vision requirements.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

All drivers, regardless of age, have a legal responsibility to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if they develop a medical condition that may affect their ability to drive.

On 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of the strategy, we launched a consultation on introducing mandatory eyesight testing for drivers aged 70 and over.

Once the consultation has concluded, we will publish our response in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to introduce a requirement for all drivers to have their eyesight tested by a qualified optometrist when applying for or renewing their driving licence.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

All drivers, regardless of age, have a legal responsibility to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if they develop a medical condition that may affect their ability to drive.

On 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of the strategy, we launched a consultation on introducing mandatory eyesight testing for drivers aged 70 and over.

Once the consultation has concluded, we will publish our response in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2026 to Question 109392, what engagement his Department undertook with ferry operators and representative bodies serving island and coastal communities in assessing the risk of traffic diversion arising from the expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to domestic maritime.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The UK ETS Authority consulted extensively with the maritime sector, including ferry operators and island and coastal communities, to ensure all perspectives informed policy development.

During the consultation period, the Government provided online engagement sessions with operators and industry, as well as bespoke engagement sessions for island communities.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2026 to Question 109240, what proportion of the estimated costs of extending the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to domestic maritime are attributable to administrative compliance.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Impact Assessment estimates £201 million in additional costs over 20 years, with about £179 million, from administrative compliance and around £22 million from emissions reduction investment.

Administrative costs are initially higher because around 2,000 maritime operators enter the scheme in 2026 due to the inclusion of emissions at berth.

The emissions introduced initially are relatively small, and estimates are conservative given overlap with existing UK and EU MRV requirements. On a per operator basis, the admin burden is low. The planned expansion to international maritime is expected to bring far more emissions into scope without increasing administrative burden.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support, including business rates relief, direct financial assistance, or other fiscal measures, is being offered to regional airports in England; and how this compares to the support provided to Heathrow and Gatwick.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The UK aviation market operates predominantly in the private sector. It is not possible for the Government to quantify, and therefore keep a record of, support received by airport, given different airports are subject to different regulatory and policy measures and vary greatly in size.

The government recognises the crucial role regional airports play in supporting thousands of local jobs, connecting communities to global opportunities, and strengthening social and economic ties across the four nations.

My department regularly engages with regional airports including through the Aviation Council, which includes a Regional Connectivity Working Group chaired by industry.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her policy of no reduced rate or exemption for children or family travelling in premium economy of Air Passenger Duty on families travelling with children in premium economy cabins on long haul flights; and how the UK’s approach compares with aviation passenger tax regimes in other European countries.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Air Passenger Duty (APD) applies to airlines, not individual passengers, and is the principal tax on the aviation sector. It is expected to raise £4.7 billion in 2025-26 and it aims to ensure that airlines make a fair contribution to the public finances, particularly given that tickets are VAT free and aviation fuel incurs no duty. The distance-based band structure ensures that those who travel furthest, and in the greatest comfort, incur a greater tax liability. Other countries also have different forms of aviation taxes.

Children under 16 years old on the date of the flight, and in the lowest class of travel, are exempt from APD. If children under 16 years old are travelling in any other class (such as premium economy) or in business jets, they are not exempt. Children under 2 years old without a seat are exempt from Air Passenger Duty for all classes of travel.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

On 22 January, the House approved the Remedial Order which will remove the conditional immunity for terrorists which was provided in the previous Government’s Legacy Act.

The Troubles Bill will establish a reformed, human rights compliant and wholly independent Legacy Commission which will carry out investigations and provide family reports.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of cancer patients in Mid Buckinghamshire constituency receive first treatment within the 62 day target.

Answered by Ashley Dalton

Data is not collected at a constituency level. Data on what proportion of cancer patients in the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board received a first treatment within the 62-day cancer waiting time standard can be found on the NHS England website at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancer-waiting-times/

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what evidential criteria were applied when assessing motorcycle bus lane consultation responses.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Details of the analysis carried out on the consultation responses are given in the consultation outcome published on 21 November 2024 and available at:

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/motorcycles-in-bus-lanes/outcome/motorcycles-in-bus-lanes-consultation-outcome.

The consultation response was informed by analysis commissioned by the Department. A copy of this report will be placed in the House library at the earliest opportunity.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 109244, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of shore power and grid capacity at UK ports by July 2026 to enable maritime operators to reduce emissions.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We are aware of at least nine ports, harbours, marinas, terminals and wharves that do have live operational shore power units allowing some vessels to run on shore power today, and at least another two locations that are currently installing shore power. Of these eleven locations, six of them received R&D funding through the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme.

In addition, the Government ran a call for evidence on Net Zero Ports which gathered evidence about the current grid capacity of ports and future grid capacity at ports, including what may be driving the increased energy demand at ports. We will consider this evidence as future policy is developed.

The policies set out in the Government’s Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy will encourage more investment in maritime decarbonisation, including shore power rollout at more ports. This Government will continue to support Ofgem, the independent regulator, in their work to incentivise network companies to invest strategically ahead of need, ensuring that future grid capacity planning reflects the emerging demands from electrifying sectors, including ports.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications of UK ETS rules for negotiations at the International Maritime Organisation on a global market-based measure.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Addressing international emissions from shipping is critical and it is important action is taken globally through the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Government firmly supported adoption of a global market-based measure, the IMO Net-Zero Framework, last autumn and is disappointed the decision has been postponed. We continue to work with other IMO Member States to secure adoption.

The Government also wants to ensure decarbonisation continues here in the UK and has proposed to expand the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to emissions from international voyages from 2028. If the IMO Net-Zero Framework is adopted, the Government will review the scope of the UK ETS to assess the effectiveness and fairness of the system for operators.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many practical car driving tests were cancelled with fewer than (a) three working days’ notice and (b) ten working days’ notice in each month since January 2024.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

From 8 April 2025, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) required learner drivers to give 10 full working days’ notice to change or cancel their car driving test without losing the test fee. Asking learner drivers to give more notice should give other people more chance to use the appointment. This will help to reduce driving test waiting times

The attached spreadsheet (WPQ-00061568) details how many car practical driving tests were cancelled by learners with fewer than (a) three working days’ notice and (b) ten working days’ notice in each month since January 2024.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of potential impact of restricting driving instructors and driver trainers from managing practical test bookings and amendments on behalf of learners on road safety; and if she will set out the safety mitigations to prevent learners from attempting practical tests before they are ready.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

On the 12 November 2025, The Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced next steps following the consultation on improving the rules for booking car driving tests.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) considered all of the representations made by different parties before reaching a final decision. The agency published the full results of their consultation on improving the rules for booking a driving test.

An options assessment of the proposed measures has been carried out and reviewed by the Better Regulation Unit. This assessment will be published once the statutory instrument amending the legislation has been laid before Parliament.

Approved driving instructors (ADI) and driving schools will continue to play their important role in advising learners when they are ready to take their practical driving test. DVSA’s Ready to Pass? campaign encourages learner drivers to take a test only when fully prepared and to follow guidance from their driving instructor. ADIs will continue to be able to decline to take a learner to a test if they do not consider they are ready to pass. DVSA will support ADIs who use their professional judgement to make this decision.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is seeking views on introducing a minimum time period between passing a theory test and taking a practical driving test. The consultation covers driving tests taken for a category B licence, the standard licence used to operate a car, and closes at 11:59pm on 31 March 2026.

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