Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish a list of externally procured training programmes used by civil servants in her Department between 5 July and 31 December 2024.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The information requested can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's Main Estimate 2025-26, whether the forecast £464.6 million reduction in net subsidy to Train Operating Companies relative to 2024-25 will be achieved; and what contingency plans are in place should passenger revenue fall below forecast levels.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The 2025-26 final outturn for Support for Passenger Rail Services was £2,159.2 million. This represented an actual reduction of £399.1 million, which is 86 per cent of the forecast £464.6 million reduction. The outturn was fully funded from within the Department’s overall funding limits.

The rail passenger service subsidy funding is set on a net basis, including both costs and revenue. Changes are addressed through regular forecasting and business planning processes. Mitigations to address any overall subsidy pressure may include a range of options to drive revenue and manage costs, depending on the overall train operator’s portfolio position, the specific circumstances at the time, and the long-term implications and the size of the challenge.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what expenditure has been incurred to date on the introduction of the Great British Railways brand; what estimate she has made of the cost of implementing that brand across the rail network; how much of that expenditure relates to (i) train repainting and livery, (ii) station signage, (iii) staff uniforms, (iv) marketing and communications, (v) digital services and ticketing applications and (vi) consultancy and design services; and over what period those costs will be incurred.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The introduction of the Great British Railways (GBR) brand marks a move to the railway putting passengers and the public interest first. It is being designed to maximise opportunities to grow revenue while ensuring value for money for the taxpayer. We are also moving away from the frequent brand changes we have previously seen as franchises changed hands every few years under privatisation.

Implementation of the brand will be gradual and designed to minimise unnecessary expenditure, with the brand unveiled in December 2025 developed in-house and the two trains currently under the new GBR livery have been delivered at no additional cost to the public purse. This will include primarily repainting trains when they are already due to be repainted, and changing station signage and other assets when they are life expired or otherwise due for replacement through routine maintenance cycles.

Using this approach, we do not expect significant additional costs in introducing the GBR brand. The Department will continue to ensure that the application of the GBR brand delivers value for money and avoids unnecessary cost to the public purse.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2026 to Question 1278, whether Network Rail has submitted the necessary permit applications to (a) the Environment Agency and (b) the Coal Authority for the permanent repair works at Bransty Tunnel; and what the target month is for those permits to be secured so that on-site works can commence.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Network Rail and the Mining Remediation Authority are currently undertaking further modelling work, so have not yet submitted applications for all of the necessary permits to undertake the repair works in Bransty Tunnel. This modelling work is expected to be completed by the end of July 2026 and applications for the remaining permits will hopefully then be able to be submitted, depending on the outcome of the modelling.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2026 to Question 3549 on High Speed 2 Line, when she expects the updating of the HS2 programme business case and the resetting of the benefits baseline to be completed; and whether she plans to publish the revised benefits baseline.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

DfT and HS2 Ltd are currently in the process of updating the programme business case and resetting the benefits baseline in line with the ongoing programme reset, which should be complete by Spring 2027. The programme benefits and how HS2 will realise them will be outlined in detail in the updated Business Case, which will be published. This is in line with our previous approach to publishing information on HS2 benefits.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for UK supply chain resilience of increased demand for critical minerals arising from the electrification of the heavy goods vehicle fleet.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy sets out the UK’s vision for securing the critical minerals it needs across the Industrial Strategy’s growth sectors, including advanced manufacturing. The strategy introduced a forward-looking growth minerals list, identifying minerals of increasing importance to future industries and economic growth. While this assessment focused on passenger and light commercial electric vehicles rather than heavy goods vehicles, the strategy recognises the growing demand for critical minerals due to electrification across the UK economy. To help meeting this growing demand, we are therefore committed to optimising our domestic production and building resilient UK and global supply chains.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to paragraph 3.12 of the National Audit Office report Sizewell C (HC 33), published in May 2026, what the funding model is for the proposed workforce academy.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Sizewell C project is being funded through the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model.

Detailed questions about the delivery of Sizewell C, including funding arrangements for the proposed workforce academy, are matters for Sizewell C Ltd.

Sizewell has said the project will support 17,000 direct and indirect jobs at peak construction, and plans to employ 1,500 apprentices, including at least 540 from Suffolk.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has modelled the effect of increased axle weights associated with zero-emission heavy goods vehicles on pavement deterioration rates across the strategic and local road network; and what estimate she has made of the associated long-term infrastructure costs.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

While zero-emission vehicles can be heavier than their petrol or diesel equivalents, the increasing weight of all road vehicles is one of a number of factors affecting the condition of the road network.

National Highways is currently undertaking research into the potential impacts of longer and heavier goods vehicles, including heavier zero-emission HGVs, on road condition across the Strategic Road Network. Initial findings indicate that the impact on road wear and deterioration is likely to vary depending on vehicle type, traffic growth, vehicle uptake and maintenance regimes.

As the research is ongoing, National Highways has not yet quantified any network-wide impact on maintenance costs, and any future implications will depend on the level of uptake of heavier zero-emission HGVs, traffic growth and the condition and type of existing pavement assets. The research is due to conclude in March 2027 and will help inform future asset management and maintenance strategies.

Research is also underway to assess the impact of heavier zero-emission heavy goods vehicles on bridges. While battery electric HGVs are currently slightly heavier than those with internal combustion engines, as battery technologies improve over time the weight difference is likely to reduce.

More broadly, guidance for local highway authorities highlights the need for maintenance plans to take account of changes in traffic and vehicle usage, including the presence of heavier vehicles.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what specific guidance her Department has issued to operators joining the self-driving vehicles pilot scheme to help ensure that services are (a) fully accessible to and (b) meet the needs of older and disabled passengers.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

My department has established an external Accessibility Advisory Panel to guide the development of policies and non-statutory guidance relating to the accessible deployment of Automated Passenger Services (APS).

The Panel has been tasked with shaping guidance on the statutory reporting requirement in the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 to show how the needs of older and disabled passengers have been met. The Panel will also inform non-statutory guidance for APS operators to help improve the accessibility of their services.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what was the cost to the public purse of (a) scheme design and development, (b) environmental surveys, (c) ground investigations, (d) land acquisition, (e) legal and planning costs, (f) consultancy costs and (g) preparatory works for the A47 Wansford to Sutton scheme.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

National Highways is unable to provide the breakdown of costs for this scheme under these headings as they have categorised costs by stage. Regarding land acquisition, National Highways had incurred £1.343 million in land costs for the A47 Wansford to Sutton Scheme as of 31 March 2026. This includes land acquisition, costs for district valuer-provided land costs estimates and associated legal fees. Some land cost will be recovered by selling assets.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2026 to Question 6390 on Euston Station: Finance, what contingency measures her Department has put in place to deliver HS2 Euston if a public-private partnership is not secured.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department’s focus over the next two years is to ensure it is well-placed to run a successful competitive procurement for HS2 Euston Station. The Department is using a well-understood public-private partnership model widely applied internationally, and our early market engagement indicates there is potential interest from global contractors, infrastructure investors and finance providers.

We will be advancing the design, working with delivery partners to develop the scheme’s technical requirements, and further market-testing the plans before procurement in order to identify and address any concerns. In any scenario, we will be able to benefit from this technical work and the discipline it brings, including if we choose to revert to a different commercial procurement model (e.g. public procurement).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving examiners ceased to practice in (a) April 2026 and (b) May 2026.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In April 2026, 8.73 full-time equivalent driving examiners left the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. The data for May is still being finalised and will be available later in June.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the introduction of the Highways (Financing) Bill and the transition of the Lower Thames Crossing to a Regulated Asset Base model, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of specific economic scenarios on delivering value for money..

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The project follows the standard Five Case Model used for government business cases, involving rigorous scrutiny and appraisal in line with Department for Transport standards and HM Treasury Green Book principles. The economic dimension assesses the economic costs and benefits under various scenarios. This position was considered in deciding to commit further public funding to the LTC project and take forward the RAB model as the government’s preferred financing model for the project, as set out in the “Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) accounting officer assessment summary (February 2026)”, which was published online. The economic dimension will continue to assess Value for Money alongside the other dimensions in future iterations of the business case, with the next iteration to be developed ahead of private sector investment. This will include consideration of value for money under relevant scenarios.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to WPQ 1283, what proportion of car hires made by her Department through Enterprise in the last 12 months were for a duration of (a) 5 days or fewer and (b) more than 5 days; and what estimate she has made of the number of short-term hires (5 days or fewer) that were electric vehicles.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The DfT does not hold this information.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2026 to Question 3329 on Electric Vehicles: Grants, what proportion of vehicles purchased with support from the Electric Car Grant have been manufactured in the United Kingdom.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

This information is not held by the Department because some eligible models are manufactured in more than one location. The Department is unable to provide a per model breakdown of vehicles supported through the Electric Car Grant due to commercial sensitivity.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2026 to Question 4292, if she will list the specific automotive manufacturers, industry trade bodies, and consumer groups that have submitted representations requesting an acceleration or alteration of the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate review timetable since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government keeps the ZEV Mandate under continual review, to ensure it remains fit for purpose, with ongoing engagement across the automotive and charging sectors. We have a long-standing commitment to publish a review of the ZEV Mandate by early 2027, and we are beginning discussions so stakeholders can be properly consulted.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the completion schedule is for the deep cleaning, minor repairs, and toilet resurfacing across all 115 Class 700 units on Thameslink: and what anti-graffiti measures are being introduced during this refresh.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

On 31 May 2026, the Thameslink Service transferred into public ownership to deliver more reliable, passenger-centred services across the network. As part of a programme of planned improvements, the train operator is wrapping Thameslink train toilets with a tough protective film to deter graffiti and reduce cleaning times and costs. It expects half the fleet of Class 700s to be fitted by the end of this year with full completion anticipated by the end of 2027.

The operator is also carrying out a programme of enhanced internal cleaning across the Thameslink fleet, with all unit interiors scheduled for completion by August and external cleaning of all exterior paintwork due to be completed by October 2026.

The train operator is also taking a range of wider anti-graffiti initiatives including trialling rapid detection technology and enhancing collaboration with Transport for London and the British Transport Police to improve intelligence gathering and support enforcement action.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2026 to Question 3807, how many times the CCAV Expert Advisory Panel has met since May 2024; and on how many occasions Unite the Union was present.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) Expert Advisory Panel has met six times since May 2024. The Panel membership was revised in 2025 to reflect a shift in focus to implementing the Automated Vehicles Act 2024. Unite the Union joined the Panel in 2025. Since then, there have been four Panel meetings. Unite attended two of these meetings and sent apologies for two.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many unresolved (a) technical and (b) compliance queries his Department has identified relating to the maritime extension of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme; and what steps his Department is taking to provide definitive guidance to operators ahead of implementation.

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.

The regulators have also published five maritime newsletters, YouTube tutorial videos and hosted webinar Q&A sessions.

The Environment Agency, as regulator for the majority of maritime operators, operates a dedicated maritime helpdesk and reports on query themes to inform ongoing guidance.

The Government does not hold a central record of individual operator queries.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that local authority highways consultations are representative of the wider motoring public in circumstances where response rates comprise a statistically minor proportion of the local population.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Local authorities are responsible for designing and delivering consultation on highways schemes, reflecting the needs of their local areas. However, the Department provides guidance to support robust and inclusive engagement.

The Department’s statutory guidance on Local Transport Plans makes clear that local transport authorities should engage widely when developing their plans, including working with communities, businesses and a broad range of stakeholders to ensure an inclusive and representative evidence base. This guidance is available online, at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-transport-plans/local-transport-plans#suggested-list-of-stakeholders-for-local-transport-authorities-to-consult.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2026 to Question 3885 on Aviation: Crew, whether mutual recognition of UK pilot licences forms part of the Government's discussions with the EU on strengthening the UK-EU relationship.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government has reset our relations with European partners in order to improve our economic and security cooperation following Brexit. We are committed to a constructive, and forward-looking relationship with the EU on aviation safety, including seeking closer cooperation with the EU on pilot licensing, where possible.

The Government continues to work constructively to identify opportunities for pragmatic improvements in these areas, including through the UK-EU Specialised Committees.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2026 to Question 5014 on Driving Licences: Health, what the average processing time was for medical driving licence renewal applications in (a) January, (b) February, (c) March, (d) April and (e) May 2026.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The table below shows the average number of working days taken to process medical driving licence applications for both group 1 (cars and motorcycle) and group 2 (lorry and bus) applications.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to strengthen market regulation and accountability for online marketplaces regarding the sale of non-EAPC electric bikes and high-powered conversion kits.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Existing regulations require all e-bikes and conversion kits to be safe when they are placed on the market. Government is committed to modernising the UK’s product safety framework and has launched a consultation that includes proposals to introduce strong and clear responsibilities for online marketplaces to ensure products on their sites are safe and sellers act responsibly. The consultation is open until 23 June and we welcome views.

The legal use of e-bikes and related conversion kits on public land is the responsibility of the Department for Transport, enforced by the police.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the National Audit Office report Innovation in Transport cited in the Answer of 4 June 2026 to Question 5446, what central mechanisms her Department uses to track and evaluate the number of business cases that utilise these flexible approval processes; and how many projects have been logged under these mechanisms since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Business cases are reviewed by the appropriate investment board. The business cases are assessed in line with the principles set out in the Green Book. A proportionate and flexible approach enables the department to use the most appropriate methodology to assess the value for money, including for an innovative activity, considering risk versus reward. All projects are carefully tracked through that process.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the total projected expenditure required by Network Rail to achieve a 4 per cent biodiversity net gain by December 2029; and how much of that funding has been formally allocated within the current Control Period budget.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

It is not possible to separate the cost of achieving 4 per cent biodiversity net gain by December 2029 from the cost of general planned management activity on Network Rail’s estate, as progress towards biodiversity net gain is not a discrete activity with a separable cost.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consultation the Maritime and Coastguard Agency undertook with a) Coastguard Rescue Officers, b) coastal communities, c) island communities and d) local resilience forums before introducing the revised volunteer model.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

There has been significant engagement with the Coastguard Rescue Service over the past few months leading up to and since the Court of Appeal judgement, on the implications for the service, and since the changes to the model were communicated to members. This has included continual engagement through Area Management Teams, senior leadership visits and national representative forums, as well as two all-member surveys which played a direct part in understanding the impact of models upon the service. This engagement was part of a careful consideration of the available options.

His Majesty’s Coastguard will continue to engage closely over the coming weeks to help members understand what the new changes mean for them as individuals.

Strategic Partners have been advised of the changes to the current Coastguard Rescue Service model.

Public safety remains our priority and careful consideration was given to the options for a revised operating model.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has set a target for the installation of electric vehicle charging points across the prison estate; and how many charging points have been installed to date.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Department has not set a specific target for installation of electric vehicle changing points in prisons. However, the Ministry of Justice has already installed over 250 charging points across the prison estate with plans to install more in the future.

Due to the varied nature of the prison estate and diverse vehicle fleet, rather than have a specific target, we are working to install charging points where they are most needed to enable continued transition towards a zero-emission vehicle fleet.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2026 to Question 3238, what proportion of the £256.2 million in Police Service Agreements to be entered into by public sector companies is projected to be covered by passenger fare revenue; and how much direct financial assistance her Department will provide in 2026-27.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Passenger revenue in Train Operating Companies is not directly attributable to particular costs, it offsets the entire cost base which will include a contribution to the British Transport Police. The British Transport Police is wholly funded by the contributions from the Train Operating Companies, Network Rail, Transport for London and other operators.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department maintains an internal Outcome Delivery Plan.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

No. The Outcome Delivery Plan has been replaced by an internal plan.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to publish her Department’s Outcome Delivery Plan for 2025-26.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The department used Outcome Delivery Plans (ODP) as a tool for internal planning and performance management.

We will continue to provide transparency through existing published reports and updates to Parliament but as an internal document, we do not intend to publish the 2025-26 ODP in the same way the Department did not publish ODPs under the previous government after 2021.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2026 to Question 5043 on Railways: Nature Conservation, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to Network Rail arising from vegetation clearance works being (i) delayed and (ii) rescheduled following the identification of (a) nesting birds, (b) bats and (c) great crested newts in each of the last five years.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Neither the Department nor Network Rail have estimated the cost to Network Rail arising from vegetation management works being delayed or rescheduled following the identification of protected species. Activities such as environmental checks and surveys in advance of vegetation management works are carried out routinely to enable Network Rail to undertake work legally and safely. If work in one area is found not to be possible at a specific time due to protected species, teams will reprioritise to ensure that works are carried out in other locations instead.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2026 to Question 5044 on Railways: Nature Conservation, on how many occasions planned railway maintenance, vegetation management and infrastructure works were (a) delayed, (b) postponed and (c) altered following advice from an ecologist relating to nesting birds in each of the last five financial years.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Neither the Department nor Network Rail hold data on delays, postponements and alterations to work that may have occurred due to advice from ecologists specifically relating to nesting birds. Network Rail routinely undertakes checks in advance of vegetation management and infrastructure works during the nesting season so that work can continue in a safe and legal manner. In most cases, collaboration between railway engineers and ecologists means that essential works can continue whilst having due regard to the legislation protecting nesting birds.