Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has reviewed the design of the Government Fleet Commitment to ensure that short-term vehicle hire is captured within its targets.

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

Short term vehicle hires, which can happen at short notice, are subject to vehicle availability at the time and the policies of each hire company. The previous Government did not include vehicles hired for fewer than six days within the Government Fleet Commitment, when it established the commitment, and the Department is not considering changing this.

Departments are expected to continue to take action to reduce their impact on the environment, including for example working with lease operators and hire companies to minimise the carbon intensity of their fleets and rental vehicles.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2026 to Question 118043, how many applications for driving examiner roles were received by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency in each of the last three years.

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

The table below shows the number of completed applications received for driving examiner (DE) roles in the years 2023 to 2025.

This data includes only completed application forms on Civil Service Jobs. It does not include those started but not completed.

For any recruitment campaign a candidate must complete the application on Civil Service Jobs by the application deadline. If a candidate starts the initial application but does not complete it, this application will not be considered as part of the final sift of applications.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the funding allocation for the Zero Emission Truck and Van represents a capped budget; and what estimate she has made of the total potential liability.

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

The Zero Emission Van and Truck Grants are subject to a set budget of £877 million to 2030 and will close when available funding has been allocated for this period.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2026 to Question 119471 on the Vehicle Certification Agency, what internal efficiency measures are being undertaken by the Vehicle Certification Agency; what the estimated annual savings from those measures are; and over what timeframe those savings are expected to be realised.

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

The Vehicle Certification Agency is taking forward a number of measures, including service digitisation, and updating legacy systems. This is estimated to deliver circa £1-1.5m in additional efficiency savings in the 2026/27 financial year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2026 to Question 110890, what estimate her Department has made of (a) the total number of HGV parking spaces originally expected to be delivered under the HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Matched Funding Scheme and (b) the revised number expected to be delivered following project withdrawals and scope changes.

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

The HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Match Funding Grant Scheme was initially estimated to have the potential to create up to an additional 1500 spaces. These figures were based on information provided to the Department by operators as part of the application process for projects where reconfiguration and expansion were taking place.

To date 16 projects have been withdrawn by operators with an estimated reduction of up to 177 parking spaces, reducing the initial estimate to up to 1,323 spaces.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions Ministers and officials held with the Northern Ireland Executive and DAERA in the period immediately preceding the Assembly vote on the UK ETS maritime extension.

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

The ETS Authority, made up of the four governments work together for the implementation and ongoing maintenance of the UK ETS. There is regular dialogue between DESNZ and the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) on ETS matters, including on maritime.

DAERA officials provide advice on ETS matters to the NI Executive and DAERA Ministers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, a) what assessment she has made of progress towards delivering an additional one million pothole repairs per year; b) whether the Government is currently on track to meet that target in (i) 2025–26 and (ii) 2026–27; c) what steps she plans to take if delivery is below the level required to meet that commitment.

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

The Government’s record £7.3 billion investment over the next four years will bring annual funding for local authorities to repair and renew their roads and fix potholes to over £2 billion annually, doubling annual funding by 2029-30 compared to 2024-25 levels. This funding increase is enough to enable local authorities to fill millions of additional potholes in each year of this Parliament when compared to 2024-25. At the same time, the Department is also expecting local highway authorities to adopt best practice in highways maintenance, which includes a greater focus on preventative maintenance so that fewer potholes form in the first place and a greater focus on permanent pothole repairs to reduce the need for repeated and more costly temporary repairs.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 116554, whether her Department has corroborated the findings of Thatcham Research; whether any UK fire and rescue services have provided data on hybrid vehicle fire incidence rates; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that policy is based on transparent and independently verifiable evidence.

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

The Department has not corroborated the findings of Thatcham Research, nor has it received data on hybrid vehicle fire incidents from Fire & Rescue Services. The Chief Scientific Advisors at the Department for Transport and Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government co-chair a regular Technical Steering Group, attended by Government officials, industry representatives, Fire & Rescue Service representatives, and academic experts to review current scientific literature relating to electric vehicle fires, identify gaps in understanding, and advise on how these may be addressed.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2026 to Question 118042, what alternative methods the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency uses to identify the source of applications for driving examiner roles.

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

All driving examiner (DE) applications are made through Civil Service Jobs on GOV.UK.

Whilst the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) cannot get details of applicant referral sources from the Government Recruitment Service, for campaigns up to November 2025, DVSA used the data available from the civil service recruitment standard applicants survey. This shows which advertising routes generate candidates, however the information does not give 100% coverage.

In December 2025, DVSA introduced a DVSA specific survey. This is sent to everyone who is offered an interview. This is then followed by another survey sent to anyone who successfully moves onto training. DVSA will cross-reference the data from these two surveys going forward, but for now DVSA has data for only one complete and one ongoing campaign.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential economic merits of zero rating VAT on admission tickets for children's play centres.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the vital role that children’s play centres play in supporting working families and their contribution to communities across the country. To support them and other businesses we are introducing new permanently lower business rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including soft play centres. These tax reductions are worth nearly £1 billion per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. A tax relief here would come at a cost to the Exchequer, reducing the revenue available for vital public services and would have to represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Department for Education on the effect of VAT on the affordability for families of children's play centres.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the vital role that children’s play centres play in supporting working families and their contribution to communities across the country. To support them and other businesses we are introducing new permanently lower business rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including soft play centres. These tax reductions are worth nearly £1 billion per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. A tax relief here would come at a cost to the Exchequer, reducing the revenue available for vital public services and would have to represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the cost impact on the public purse of zero rating VAT for children's play centres.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the vital role that children’s play centres play in supporting working families and their contribution to communities across the country. To support them and other businesses we are introducing new permanently lower business rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including soft play centres. These tax reductions are worth nearly £1 billion per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. A tax relief here would come at a cost to the Exchequer, reducing the revenue available for vital public services and would have to represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2026 to WPQ 120039, what the purpose was of each flight to Albania; which Ministers and senior officials approved each visit; how many officials travelled on each occasion and at what grade; what the cost was of each visit; and whether an assessment was made of whether those engagements could be (a) conducted remotely and (b) combined with other travel.

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

There was a single return flight to Albania, and this was to enable an official to attend a conference of the joint United Nations and World Health Organisation Pan European Programme for Transport, Health and the Environment. A single official at HEO grade attended and no ministers or senior officials were present. The cost of the flight was £144.96. There was no option to attend this event remotely.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether DEFRA has established whether Equal Experts, in conducting the BNG Metric Tool Discovery phase under contract C24064, accessed software products developed by private sector BNG technology companies without those companies' knowledge or consent; and whether her Department has asked this question of Equal Experts in writing.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The statutory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) metric is a Government‑owned tool and is currently only available to users in spreadsheet format. The existing tool has well‑recognised issues relating to accessibility, usability, and data integrity, which the Government's digitisation project will address. Contract C24064 is for Application Development Services and provides digital specialist support and programme delivery capability. The Discovery phase of the BNG metric digitisation project explored a wide range of user needs and potential options and does not represent a delivery commitment. Discovery reports are not routinely published but can be made available on request. Defra first became aware of written representations from private sector companies alleging procedural irregularities in the BNG metric digitisation procurement on 4 March 2026. Checks were undertaken to make sure the work is following due process. User research activities conducted during the Discovery phase were reviewed and found to be compliant with Government standards for research, and therefore further advice has not been sought. We are keen to work with private sector BNG technology providers to ensure digitisation of the BNG metric is a success.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2026 to Question 122220, what the total cost is of mobilising the new sponsorship model and team referred to in that Answer.

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

There has been no additional cost to the public purse in establishing the new DFTO sponsorship model and team. The team was formed by redeploying existing staff.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking following the trial of higher parking penalty charge notices in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council in August 2025.

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

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has published a report on their month‑long trial of higher PCNs. The Department is reviewing the findings of this trial.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the level of parking penalty charge notices in deterring nuisance parking.

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

The British Parking Association, the Local Government Association and other key stakeholders have been collaborating to gather comprehensive evidence on the effectiveness of current PCN levels in England outside London. Their findings and recommendations have been submitted to the Department for Transport which will be carefully considered before any decisions are taken.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2026 to Question 123516, whether her Department plans to begin holding data on average or individual replacement battery costs for electric vehicles.

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

The Department has no plans to collect and hold the data on average or individual replacement battery costs for EVs, but will closely monitor this issue through continued engagement with industry and consumer groups.

The Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate regulations require manufacturers to provide a warranty of 8 years or 100,000 miles on EV batteries. During the warranty period, if battery capacity drops below 70% for cars or 65% for vans, the manufacturer must provide a replacement battery. Additionally, eligibility for the Government’s Electric Car Grant requires manufacturers to offer customers a 2-year extension on the warranty to 10 years, ensuring vehicles and their batteries have long useable lives.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2026 to Question 123517 on Electric Vehicles: Costs, when her Department expects to conclude its exploration of regulatory options on battery state of health information; and whether she plans to lay proposals before the House.

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

On 13 April 2026, the Department launched a public consultation on updating the minimum emission standards for new road vehicles to Euro 7. As part of these proposals, manufacturers would be required to fit electric vehicles with accurate, accessible and comparable battery health monitors. The consultation will remain open until 25 May 2026.

The Government is seeking views on these proposals through that consultation. No final decisions have been taken. Should the proposals be taken forward, they would be laid before the House.