Asked by: Ian Levy (Conservative - Blyth Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on the roll-out of electric vehicle charging points on the motorway network.
Answered by Anthony Browne
Around 96% of motorway service areas (MSAs) in England have charging available. There are now 260 ultra-rapid (150kw+) chargepoints, and more than 480 open-access (can be used with any electric vehicle) rapid (50kW) and ultra-rapid chargepoints at MSAs in total.
The Rapid Charging Fund (RCF) will help to future-proof electrical capacity at strategic locations where it is not currently commercially viable for industry to do so in order to enable a visible, functional and long-distance charging network, which is vital for mass EV adoption.
The RCF will also support the market to deliver and grow by subsidising the uncommercial costs of new or additional electricity connections. In addition, the RCF will ensure that the private sector can continue to expand the charging network and future-proof electricity network capacity 10 years ahead to a minimum of 2035, with a stretch target of 2050.
A pilot for the RCF is expected to open for applications soon.
Asked by: Ian Levy (Conservative - Blyth Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the Government's response to the consultation on the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The Government response to the rail reform legislation consultation will be published this summer. This consulted on elements of the Plan for Rail White Paper which require legislation to implement.