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.

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.

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.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the cost of Red Diesel on a) agriculture and horticulture, b) forestry, c) rail and d) marine; and what steps she is taking to help mitigate changes in prices.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

At Budget 2025, the Government extended the temporary 5p fuel duty cut alongside extending the proportionate percentage cut for rebated fuels, which includes red diesel. This maintains the red diesel rate at the levels set in March 2022 at 10.18 ppl until the end of August 2026, with rates then gradually returning to March 2022 levels by March 2027, an increase of less than 1 ppl. The planned inflation increase for 2026-27 has also been cancelled. As the Chancellor has set out, the Government will keep fuel duty under review.

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.

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:

• Age UK
• All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking
• Bikeability Trust
• Campaign for Better Transport
• Confederation for Passenger Transport
• Cycling UK
• Guide Dogs
• Mencap
• Motability Foundation
• Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety
• Policy Connect
• Transport for All
• Transport for All members
• Wheels for Wellbeing
• Walk Wheel Cycle Trust

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.

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.

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.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what information his Department holds on the average industrial electricity price for automotive manufacturers in (a) the UK and (b) international competitors.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The department publishes an annual comparison of the UK’s industrial electricity prices to the IEA and a bi-annual comparison of the UK’s non-domestic electricity prices to the EU.

International non-domestic energy prices - GOV.UK

These are average prices for industry and the non-domestic sector and do not disaggregate by sector of manufacturing.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of when electric vehicles will reach price parity with internal combustion engine vehicles.

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

As part of the October 2023 Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), the Department for Transport published projections for the costs of zero emission cars and vans to 2050. The analysis can be found here :https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6554be55544aea000dfb2d59/zev-mandate-consultation-final-cost-benefit-analysis.pdf.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average cost per kWh was for public rapid electric vehicle charging in each year since 2021.

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

This information is available from external industry sources such as Zapmap, who estimate that the current average cost of rapid/ultra rapid public charging is around 76p/kWh, as of February 2026. This price level has remained broadly constant over the past year. Average public charging price data is produced and published by Zapmap here: https://www.zapmap.com/ev-stats/charging-price-index.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations she has made to her Turkish counterpart on the pre-trial detention of Iain Guille, and what steps she is taking to help protect his welfare.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Minister of State for Europe, Stephen Doughty, has discussed Iain Guille's detention and welfare with his Turkish counterpart on two occasions, most recently in February 2026. UK Consular officials, in conjunction with their Canadian counterparts, have raised concerns about Mr Guille's welfare with the Turkish authorities, and will continue to monitor his health and welfare while he is detained, engaging with the relevant authorities as appropriate.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government Property Agency has made an estimate of staff time or resource allocated to measuring, collecting, reporting or validating greenhouse gas emissions across the parts of the estate for which it is responsible.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

I refer to my answer for 116583. The GPA calculates greenhouse gas emissions for office space occupied by GPA staff and provides utility consumption data for departments occupying other buildings within its managed estate. As this activity is performed by staff as part of their wider duties, the exact amount of time allocated to this specific activity is not centrally recorded.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in which month will the first East West Rail services operate from Oxford to Oxford Park Way.

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

The Department continues to work closely with Chiltern Railways and other partners to confirm a start date for the first EWR services between Oxford and Oxford Parkway. For passenger services to commence, trains will need to have been modified and fully tested, and driver training will need to have been completed. Winslow station also needs to be fully handed over, and future staffing arrangements also remain to be agreed.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has been made of the role ferry services to the Isle of Wight play in providing access to essential services, including healthcare, education and employment.

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

The Government recognises that communities rely on Cross-Solent ferry services for accessing jobs, education and healthcare. They operate in a commercial environment without intervention from the Government. The Department has regular discussions on these services.