Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2025 to Question 61225 on Department for Transport: Public Expenditure, how many lines of activity in her Department were considered as part of the zero based review.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
At Spending Review 2025, the government conducted the first zero-based review (ZBR) of department budgets in 18 years, with every line of spending scrutinised to ensure value for money.
To ensure consistency in approach, cross-government guidance set expectations for the level of granularity each review should consider, recommending that departments review all spending within individual programme expenditure – at a minimum reflecting any lines of spending in excess of £1m per annum.
Savings identified through this process will support delivery of the government's commitment for all departments to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028-29.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she expects to make a decision on proposals for improvements to the A17 Pullover Junction in King’s Lynn; and what the next stages are in the consideration of those proposals.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The A17 Pullover Junction scheme forms part of the Department’s Major Road Network (MRN) programme. The Secretary of State announced a review of the programme in July 2025, as part of which local authorities were asked to confirm whether or not they wished to proceed with each individual scheme. In its response to the review, Norfolk County Council has said that it will have to withdraw the scheme from the programme, because it can longer afford its local funding contribution to the scheme and because of impending local government reorganisation.
Henceforth any decision on the future of the scheme is likely to become the responsibility of the new Mayoral Combined Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk, following the election in May 2026, or the successor unitary authority covering King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her planned timetable is for improvements to the A17 Pullover Junction in King’s Lynn.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The A17 Pullover Junction scheme forms part of the Department’s Major Road Network (MRN) programme. The Secretary of State announced a review of the programme in July 2025, as part of which local authorities were asked to confirm whether or not they wished to proceed with each individual scheme. In its response to the review, Norfolk County Council has said that it will have to withdraw the scheme from the programme, because it can longer afford its local funding contribution to the scheme and because of impending local government reorganisation.
Henceforth any decision on the future of the scheme is likely to become the responsibility of the new Mayoral Combined Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk, following the election in May 2026, or the successor unitary authority covering King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether funding has been allocated for improvements to the A17 Pullover Junction in King’s Lynn.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The A17 Pullover Junction scheme forms part of the Department’s Major Road Network (MRN) programme. The Secretary of State announced a review of the programme in July 2025, as part of which local authorities were asked to confirm whether or not they wished to proceed with each individual scheme. In its response to the review, Norfolk County Council has said that it will have to withdraw the scheme from the programme, because it can longer afford its local funding contribution to the scheme and because of impending local government reorganisation.
Henceforth any decision on the future of the scheme is likely to become the responsibility of the new Mayoral Combined Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk, following the election in May 2026, or the successor unitary authority covering King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of grade separation to alleviate congestion at the A17 Pullover Junction in King’s Lynn.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The A17 Pullover Junction scheme forms part of the Department’s Major Road Network (MRN) programme. The Secretary of State announced a review of the programme in July 2025, as part of which local authorities were asked to confirm whether or not they wished to proceed with each individual scheme. In its response to the review, Norfolk County Council has said that it will have to withdraw the scheme from the programme, because it can longer afford its local funding contribution to the scheme and because of impending local government reorganisation.
Henceforth any decision on the future of the scheme is likely to become the responsibility of the new Mayoral Combined Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk, following the election in May 2026, or the successor unitary authority covering King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve public transport connections in (a) North West Norfolk constituency and (b) rural areas.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government knows that a modern public transport network is vital to providing access to services and keeping communities connected. We have introduced the Bus Services Act 2025 to put power over local bus services back into the hands of local leaders, including in rural areas. In addition, the Government has confirmed over £1 billion for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. Norfolk County Council has been allocated £15.9 million of this funding, helping to improve bus services and connectivity across the area, including North West Norfolk.
Rail services in North West Norfolk are supported by requirements on train operators to plan services and design timetables to meet both current and future passenger demand, while also ensuring value for money for the taxpayer. The Government commitment to public ownership through Great British Railways will also help to deliver a unified system that focuses on reliable, affordable, high-quality and efficient transport services, whilst also ensuring safety and accessibility. Under public ownership, passenger services can be operated in the interests of passengers, not shareholders.
The Government also intends to publish its Integrated National Transport Strategy. It will focus on creating a transport network that works well for people, including those in rural areas.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many penalties have been issued for using a rental e-scooter without holding a provisional or full UK driving licence with a category Q entitlement in each of the last three years.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government does not hold centralised data on the number of penalties issued for using rental e-scooters without a valid driving licence. Local police forces are best placed to provide information on any penalties issued in their respective areas.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to allow the use of privately owned e-scooters on public roads prior to completion of rental e-scooter trials in 2028.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles, which will include e-scooters, when parliamentary time allows. We understand the importance of providing a clear legislative timeline and we are working with colleagues across Government to deliver this.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that local authorities verify that rental e-scooter users have a provisional or full UK driving licence with a category Q entitlement when operating trials in their areas.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has issued clear guidance for local authorities and operators participating in e-scooter trials, which includes a requirement for driving licence verification of all users. Compliance with this guidance is a condition of the legal order that enables each trial to proceed.
Before renting an e-scooter, users are required to provide their name, driving licence number, and a photograph of their licence. Operators must then confirm the validity of each licence, either through automated licence-checking systems or manual verification by their customer service teams. These checks help ensure that only individuals with a valid driving licence are permitted to participate in the trials.
Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that any operator they appoint adheres to all trial requirements. The Department does not carry out independent verification of operator compliance.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will consider the potential merits of allowing the use of privately owned e-scooters if covered by a motor vehicle insurance policy.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Private e-scooters are currently illegal to use on public roads as they meet the definition of a ‘motor vehicle’ under the Road Traffic Act 1988. As such, they must comply with all applicable legal requirements, not only the need for motor vehicle insurance policy.
The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles when parliamentary time allows, and will consult on any new proposed regulations, including on insurance requirements, before they come into force.