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 plans his Department has to publish a single, authoritative source of guidance on compliance requirements for maritime operators under the UK ETS.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has built a high-quality digital-first system with an online emissions monitoring and reporting platform that has embedded guidance for the whole process. Free voluntary onboarding has been available since November 2025 for at least 96% of operators.
In addition to this, the UK ETS regulators will publish 'How to Comply' guidance on GOV.UK ahead of scheme commencement on 1 July 2026.
Alongside this, the Government and regulators have provided extensive support including YouTube tutorial videos, operator newsletters, webinars, and live virtual sessions. Operators can also contact their regulator for support directly too.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what determination he intends to make in response to the Schedule 3 paragraph 15 referrals he has received from coroners; and what his planned timetable is for making a determination.
Answered by Catherine Atkinson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Where referrals for a determination under Schedule 3, paragraph 15 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 are received, they will be responded to on an individual basis as soon as practicable.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 24 March 2026, to Question 121019 on Network Rail and Platform 4: Trade Unions, whether Platform 4 is deemed a public authority for the purposes of (a) the public sector equality duty, (b) the Human Rights Act, (c) Freedom of Information Act, and (d) Environmental Information Act regulations; and whether it is considered an Arm’s Length Body.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Platform4 was created through the merger of London & Continental Railways (LCR) and Network Rail’s property development businesses, and it is owned by Network Rail Infrastructure Limited.
Network Rail Limited itself operates as an arm’s length body of the Department for Transport.
Platform4 is classified as a public corporation. Where it carries out public functions, it gives due consideration to the Public Sector Equality Duty.
For the purposes of the Human Rights Act 1998, Platform4 is not generally considered a public authority, except where it may be performing qualifying public functions. Its primary role, however, is focused on commercial property operations.
Platform4 is subject to the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress c2c has made on upgrading Barking station since 17 December 2025; and whether the upgraded ticket office, new lift and extended gateline remain on schedule for completion in 2026.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
c2c continue to make positive progress on the Barking station upgrade. Since 17 December 2025, both gatelines have been installed and are operational, the upgraded ticket office is 95% complete and the lift works are complete with lifts returning to service on 18 May 2026. Remaining works include cladding the gatelines and installation of permanent gateline power. Full completion of the station project is due for autumn 2026, and we will continue to hold c2c to account to deliver by this date.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has issued guidance to local highways authorities on the issuing of (a) on-street and (b) off-street municipal parking fines by outsourced contractors where contractors provide financial incentives to their parking wardens.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport’s ‘Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities in England on Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions’ provides advice to local authorities intending to contract out civil parking enforcement functions either on-street or off-street. This states that such contracts should not involve rewards or penalties that incentivise the use of enforcement agents. Under Section 87 of the Traffic Management Act 2004, local authorities in England with civil parking enforcement powers must have regard to this statutory guidance.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the extent to which the Electric Car Grant supports UK-based vehicle manufacturing and associated supply chains; and what steps she is taking to ensure that the scheme aligns with the Government’s objective of strengthening domestic automotive production.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Electric Car Grant has been designed to support sustainable manufacturing, an area in which the United Kingdom is a world leader. The Department works closely with UK and other vehicle manufacturers and will continue to do so as the grant evolves. To date, the grant has helped over 110,000 drivers choose an electric vehicle.
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 May 2026 to Question 1259, whether the Department has plans to review and amend the 1999 Guidance on Airport Transport Forums and Airport Surface Access Strategies.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The 1999 Guidance on Airport Transport Forums and Airport Surface Access Strategies establishes a clear framework for airport operators and local stakeholders to collaborate on surface access planning. This partnership approach continues to work effectively at airports across the country. The Department regularly engages with the aviation sector and other relevant stakeholders to monitor the effectiveness of this guidance and ensure its continuing relevance. There are no immediate plans to review or amend this guidance.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 9 January 2026 to Question 100955 on Department for Transport: Carbon Emissions, what steps the Office of Rail and Road is taking to integrate Net Zero targets into its economic and safety regulatory frameworks for Network Rail and National Highways; and what the administrative cost of these steps is.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is an independent regulator and decisions regarding net zero targets for Network Rail is a matter for the ORR Board.
The ORR does not set the targets for National Highways. Government has set its requirements and targets for National Highways for the next five-year road period (RP3) in the third road investment strategy (RIS3). This reiterates National Highways’ commitments to support the achievement of net zero by 2050 through achieving: net zero for its own operations by 2030; net zero for maintenance and construction by 2040; and net zero carbon travel on the Strategic Road Network by 2050. The RIS sets out two untargeted performance metrics over the next road period for corporate carbon emissions and construction and maintenance carbon emissions.
The ORR holds National Highways to account to deliver the RIS set by the Government and ensure that it does so in compliance with its licence, which includes wider consideration of environmental matters and a requirement to comply with Government policy. The ORR’s approach to undertaking its role is set out in its HTA policy and its RIS3 monitoring letter.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the health of the zero emission vehicle rental and fleet market.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the important role the fleet and rental sectors play in advancing the UK’s transition to zero emission road transport, particularly through high market share of new zero emission vehicle (ZEV) purchases and the success of ZEV adoption through salary sacrifice schemes.
To support both markets, the Government has worked closely with stakeholders to address barriers to ZEV uptake across a range of vehicle types, such as lowering upfront costs of ZEVs through grants, increasing availability of charge points, for example through the Depot Charging Scheme, maintaining beneficial tax rates, and reducing regulatory burdens on 3.5 to 4.25 tonne vans.
However, it is clear that challenges remain, including residual value risk and consumer demand in the rental sector. The Government will continue to engage closely with stakeholders to monitor the continued health of the market, ensuring the UK’s ZEV transition remains robust and competitive.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 9 January 2026 to Question 100955 on Department for Transport: Carbon Emissions, if she will provide a breakdown of the specific programmes National Highways is undertaking to achieve its Net Zero targets; and what the estimated cost to the public purse is of those programmes.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways has set out its plans for achieving net zero on its website at https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-work/environment/net-zero-highways/ and within its Net Zero Highways plan publications available on this dedicated webpage. National Highways published its Net Zero Highways Plan in 2021. National Highways is committed to achieving net zero carbon for its own operations by 2030, for maintenance and construction by 2040, and for travel on the strategic road network by 2050.
National Highways will publish more detail and updates on actions that it is taking to support Net Zero targets in its Delivery Plan for Roads Period 3 (2026-31) and supporting documents.