Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
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.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
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.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
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.
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, 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, 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, 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 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)
Certain sectors, such as agriculture and horticulture, retained access to red diesel after it was withdrawn from most sectors in 2022. In contrast to full duty diesel, taxed at 52.95 pence per litre (ppl), red diesel currently incurs a duty of 10.18 ppl.
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.
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.