Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the opportunities presented by Great British Railways to improve access to rail‑side infrastructure for mobile connectivity, including by addressing historic barriers related to trackside deployment and in‑carriage signal penetration.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department provided funding to Network Rail as part of its 'open for business' initiative:
The Department has secured funding as part of the Spending Review to deploy low earth orbit satellite to improve on train Wi-Fi on our mainline trains, and we have also asked Network Rail to explore how passenger mobile connectivity can be improved through its upgrade from the existing system, GSM-R, to the Future Railway Mobile Communication System.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much money she has committed to the (a) Safety National Programme and (b) Small Schemes National Programme elements RIS3.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
RIS3 included for the first time a set of four National Programmes, which are a new way for National Highways to deliver defined outputs that support RIS3 objectives, where these are not funded in other programmes. Details of the funding for each National Programme will be confirmed in National Highways’ Delivery Plan for 2026-31, which is expected to be published in the summer.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of reconnecting London to the Marches by rail on the economy.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the economic impact of reconnecting London to the Marches by rail. Any future proposals would be considered in accordance with established Department appraisal guidance, including analysis of effects on connectivity, regional development and the wider economy. The Department has also responded to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) on current applications submitted by open access operators.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve rail connectivity in North Shropshire.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Services in North Shropshire are provided by Transport for Wales (TfW) in accordance with its Train Service Requirement which is agreed with the Department with respect to services at stations in England. The Department keeps the performance and connectivity of the rail network under continual review including through regular engagement with TfW. There are no active proposals to increase services on this route.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to provide guidance to bus manufacturers on the legislative requirements on size and location of wheelchair space, in the context of the consultation on the Public Service Vehicles Access Regulations.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is committed to improving passenger transport services, so they are more inclusive and enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity. As part of our broader mission to break down barriers to opportunity, we recognise that more needs to be done to ensure transport is accessible to all.
Our Bus Services Act 2025 includes a comprehensive package of measures to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of local transport. This includes requiring local authorities to regularly review the accessibility of their bus networks through the development and publishing of a Bus Network Accessibility Plan. We are also providing nearly £700 million a year to local transport authorities through the Local Authority Bus Grant over the next three years to maintain and improve local bus services. These allocations include capital funding for most areas, which can be used to improve the accessibility of transport infrastructure.
The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) set accessibility minimum standards for physical features on board buses and coaches designed to carry over twenty-two passengers and used on local or scheduled services. These include requirements for the size and location of the wheelchair space. In 2023 the Department undertook a Call for Evidence to understand the efficacy of PSVAR, and we continue to engage regularly with stakeholders, including local authorities, on the impact of the Regulations and how they can support accessible journeys sustainably. We will announce any next steps on PSVAR in the coming weeks.
In March 2025, we launched the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel. Over 12 months, this panel brought together industry experts and local leaders to support UK bus manufacturing, develop a pipeline of future bus orders to give better planning certainty to the sector, and to prioritise passenger-centric bus design. The last meeting of the Panel took place on 18 March, during which we secured agreement from Mayors on a set of commitments, including on adopting standards and driving continuous improvement on accessible and inclusive zero emission bus design.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department plans to announce new legislative standards for vehicle accessibility requirements, in the context of the review of the Public Service Vehicles Access Regulations .
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is committed to improving passenger transport services, so they are more inclusive and enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity. As part of our broader mission to break down barriers to opportunity, we recognise that more needs to be done to ensure transport is accessible to all.
Our Bus Services Act 2025 includes a comprehensive package of measures to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of local transport. This includes requiring local authorities to regularly review the accessibility of their bus networks through the development and publishing of a Bus Network Accessibility Plan. We are also providing nearly £700 million a year to local transport authorities through the Local Authority Bus Grant over the next three years to maintain and improve local bus services. These allocations include capital funding for most areas, which can be used to improve the accessibility of transport infrastructure.
The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) set accessibility minimum standards for physical features on board buses and coaches designed to carry over twenty-two passengers and used on local or scheduled services. These include requirements for the size and location of the wheelchair space. In 2023 the Department undertook a Call for Evidence to understand the efficacy of PSVAR, and we continue to engage regularly with stakeholders, including local authorities, on the impact of the Regulations and how they can support accessible journeys sustainably. We will announce any next steps on PSVAR in the coming weeks.
In March 2025, we launched the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel. Over 12 months, this panel brought together industry experts and local leaders to support UK bus manufacturing, develop a pipeline of future bus orders to give better planning certainty to the sector, and to prioritise passenger-centric bus design. The last meeting of the Panel took place on 18 March, during which we secured agreement from Mayors on a set of commitments, including on adopting standards and driving continuous improvement on accessible and inclusive zero emission bus design.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase wheelchair accessibility on buses.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is committed to improving passenger transport services, so they are more inclusive and enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity. As part of our broader mission to break down barriers to opportunity, we recognise that more needs to be done to ensure transport is accessible to all.
Our Bus Services Act 2025 includes a comprehensive package of measures to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of local transport. This includes requiring local authorities to regularly review the accessibility of their bus networks through the development and publishing of a Bus Network Accessibility Plan. We are also providing nearly £700 million a year to local transport authorities through the Local Authority Bus Grant over the next three years to maintain and improve local bus services. These allocations include capital funding for most areas, which can be used to improve the accessibility of transport infrastructure.
The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) set accessibility minimum standards for physical features on board buses and coaches designed to carry over twenty-two passengers and used on local or scheduled services. These include requirements for the size and location of the wheelchair space. In 2023 the Department undertook a Call for Evidence to understand the efficacy of PSVAR, and we continue to engage regularly with stakeholders, including local authorities, on the impact of the Regulations and how they can support accessible journeys sustainably. We will announce any next steps on PSVAR in the coming weeks.
In March 2025, we launched the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel. Over 12 months, this panel brought together industry experts and local leaders to support UK bus manufacturing, develop a pipeline of future bus orders to give better planning certainty to the sector, and to prioritise passenger-centric bus design. The last meeting of the Panel took place on 18 March, during which we secured agreement from Mayors on a set of commitments, including on adopting standards and driving continuous improvement on accessible and inclusive zero emission bus design.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to publish a response to her Department's consultation on Public Service Vehicles Access Regulations, which closed on 4 September 2023.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is committed to improving passenger transport services, so they are more inclusive and enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity. As part of our broader mission to break down barriers to opportunity, we recognise that more needs to be done to ensure transport is accessible to all.
Our Bus Services Act 2025 includes a comprehensive package of measures to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of local transport. This includes requiring local authorities to regularly review the accessibility of their bus networks through the development and publishing of a Bus Network Accessibility Plan. We are also providing nearly £700 million a year to local transport authorities through the Local Authority Bus Grant over the next three years to maintain and improve local bus services. These allocations include capital funding for most areas, which can be used to improve the accessibility of transport infrastructure.
The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) set accessibility minimum standards for physical features on board buses and coaches designed to carry over twenty-two passengers and used on local or scheduled services. These include requirements for the size and location of the wheelchair space. In 2023 the Department undertook a Call for Evidence to understand the efficacy of PSVAR, and we continue to engage regularly with stakeholders, including local authorities, on the impact of the Regulations and how they can support accessible journeys sustainably. We will announce any next steps on PSVAR in the coming weeks.
In March 2025, we launched the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel. Over 12 months, this panel brought together industry experts and local leaders to support UK bus manufacturing, develop a pipeline of future bus orders to give better planning certainty to the sector, and to prioritise passenger-centric bus design. The last meeting of the Panel took place on 18 March, during which we secured agreement from Mayors on a set of commitments, including on adopting standards and driving continuous improvement on accessible and inclusive zero emission bus design.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department will confirm the funding allocations of the Road Investment Strategy 3.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) is due to be published later in March. It will confirm the funding and objectives for National Highways’ investment in the strategic road network over the five-year period from 2026/27 to 2030/31.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the National Highways' investigations into proposals to improve road safety at the Llynclys crossroads on the A483.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
National Highways has assessed the safety performance of the 6-mile section of the A483 between Oswestry and the Welsh Border, which includes the Llynclys Crossroads. Improvements to the route are being considered for delivery as part of the Safety National Programme within RIS3, which is due to be published later in March.