Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any monitoring visit to a British Overseas Territory since 4 July 2024 identified non-compliance with maritime safety or security requirements; and what follow-up action was taken in each case.

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

We do not routinely comment on security or intelligence related matters.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 22 May 2026 to Question 382 on Members: Correspondence, for what reason did Network Rail not write to the Rt. Hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay by the end of May; and when can he expect to receive his letter.

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

Network Rail wrote to the Rt. Hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay on 29 May 2026. The letter was sent via email at 2:16 pm and copied in the Hon. Member for Broadland and Fakenham and his parliamentary assistant. Network Rail would be happy to send the letter again if helpful.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2026 to Question 13067 on Network Rail: Biodiversity, how many protected species licences have been applied for (a) by and (b) on behalf of Network Rail in each of the last five years, broken down by species.

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

An organisational licence is a licence which permits an organisation to undertake activities (that are specified within the licence) which would otherwise require individual standard licences. Standard licences typically contain site- or project-specific conditions. Where Network Rail cannot use non-licensable techniques, it will apply for standard licences. Network Rail continues to explore the opportunity for organisational licences where application of multiple licences would be inefficient for them and the regulator.

Based on information held centrally by Network Rail the following protected species licences have been issued to, or on behalf of, Network Rail in England and Wales since 2021. These figures have not been subject to a further validation exercise with all Regions and Functions and are therefore a best estimate available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many full-time equivalent driving examiners recruited by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) were (a) in post and (b) delivering practical car driving tests in June 2026.

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

The answer to question 6277, 15 June 2026, provided data on the failure to attend (FTA) rate for car practical driving tests in April and May 2026. In June 2026, the FTA rate was 2.9%.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) monitors failure-to-attend rates and consider potential causes of those rates changing, together with potential interventions to reduce such rates, on an ongoing basis.

In June 2026 there were 1,644 full-time equivalent (FTE) driving examiners (DE) in post, and out of those, 1,589 were available to deliver practical car driving tests.

Data on waiting times can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/driving-test-and-theory-test-data-cars#car-driving-test-waiting-time-and-availability-data

In June 2026, 31 people successfully passed the new entrant driving examiner training course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the failure-to-attend rate for practical car driving tests was in (a) April 2026, (b) May 2026 and (c) June 2026.

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

The answer to question 6277, 15 June 2026, provided data on the failure to attend (FTA) rate for car practical driving tests in April and May 2026. In June 2026, the FTA rate was 2.9%.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) monitors failure-to-attend rates and consider potential causes of those rates changing, together with potential interventions to reduce such rates, on an ongoing basis.

In June 2026 there were 1,644 full-time equivalent (FTE) driving examiners (DE) in post, and out of those, 1,589 were available to deliver practical car driving tests.

Data on waiting times can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/driving-test-and-theory-test-data-cars#car-driving-test-waiting-time-and-availability-data

In June 2026, 31 people successfully passed the new entrant driving examiner training course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average waiting time for a practical car driving test was in June 2026.

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

The answer to question 6277, 15 June 2026, provided data on the failure to attend (FTA) rate for car practical driving tests in April and May 2026. In June 2026, the FTA rate was 2.9%.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) monitors failure-to-attend rates and consider potential causes of those rates changing, together with potential interventions to reduce such rates, on an ongoing basis.

In June 2026 there were 1,644 full-time equivalent (FTE) driving examiners (DE) in post, and out of those, 1,589 were available to deliver practical car driving tests.

Data on waiting times can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/driving-test-and-theory-test-data-cars#car-driving-test-waiting-time-and-availability-data

In June 2026, 31 people successfully passed the new entrant driving examiner training course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving examiners started to practice in June 2026.

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

The answer to question 6277, 15 June 2026, provided data on the failure to attend (FTA) rate for car practical driving tests in April and May 2026. In June 2026, the FTA rate was 2.9%.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) monitors failure-to-attend rates and consider potential causes of those rates changing, together with potential interventions to reduce such rates, on an ongoing basis.

In June 2026 there were 1,644 full-time equivalent (FTE) driving examiners (DE) in post, and out of those, 1,589 were available to deliver practical car driving tests.

Data on waiting times can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/driving-test-and-theory-test-data-cars#car-driving-test-waiting-time-and-availability-data

In June 2026, 31 people successfully passed the new entrant driving examiner training course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what was the remit of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee for its submissions on floating bus stops dated (a) 24 October 2025 and (b) 2 December 2025; and how many working days the Committee was given to prepare each submission.

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

DPTAC was asked to provide their feedback and comments on the draft statutory guidance on floating bus stops. This request was made on 13 October. A response was requested by 27 October if possible with feedback welcome after this date as well.

As part of the wider consultation on the guidance DPTAC was asked for any further comments they may have. This request was made on 26 November with a response requested by 2 December.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what safeguards are in place to ensure that Freedom of Information requests made to police bodies are considered on the basis of the information requested rather than the identity of the applicant.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Police forces and other police bodies are separate public authorities for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act and are independently responsible for complying with their obligations under the Act.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2026 to Question 13301 on Air Routes, what estimate she has made of the number of additional specialist personnel required to deliver the Airspace Modernisation Strategy.

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

Specialist resource, such as airspace designers, for the delivery of Airspace Modernisation are provided by private companies such as NATS. It is for NATS’ management to decide how to resource its operation and provide its services.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average time was between (a) a roadside drug test, (b) the taking of an evidential sample, (c) receipt of toxicology results and (d) the first court hearing for drug driving cases in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department does not hold data on the average time between each of the stages specified. Operational information relating to roadside testing, evidential samples and forensic toxicology is held by the police and forensic service providers, while court listing is a matter for the independent courts.

The Department has not estimated the number of people arrested or charged for a drug-driving offence who were subsequently arrested for a further alleged drug-driving offence before the conclusion of the original proceedings in each of the last five years. This information is not held centrally by the Department for Transport.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the number of people arrested or charged for a drug driving offence who were subsequently arrested for a further alleged drug driving offence before the conclusion of the original proceedings in each of the last five years.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department does not hold data on the average time between each of the stages specified. Operational information relating to roadside testing, evidential samples and forensic toxicology is held by the police and forensic service providers, while court listing is a matter for the independent courts.

The Department has not estimated the number of people arrested or charged for a drug-driving offence who were subsequently arrested for a further alleged drug-driving offence before the conclusion of the original proceedings in each of the last five years. This information is not held centrally by the Department for Transport.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the speech by Baroness Merron on 3 March 2026 on the proposed retail licensing scheme for tobacco, vaping and nicotine products, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 1169 to 1171, when he plans to consult on that scheme; and what assessment his Department has made of the implications for the enforcement of restrictions on the packaging, appearance and retail display of vaping and nicotine products.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

On 10 July, we launched a United Kingdom-wide consultation on new proposals to restrict tobacco, vape, and nicotine product packaging, flavour descriptors, device appearance, and changing where and how vapes and nicotine products are displayed in shops. Enforcement authorities will be able to take proportionate enforcement action against non-compliance with future regulations made under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026.

A future retail licensing scheme for tobacco, vapes, and nicotine products will strengthen enforcement and support law-abiding retailers, while tackling those who break the law. Those found to be in breach of a condition of their licence, or other statutory requirements, could face potential licence revocation. Whilst the specific grounds on which a licence may be granted, suspended, revoked, or varied will be subject to consultation, we want to ensure retailers are operating responsibly and in line with legal requirements.

We intend to consult on our proposals for a retail licensing scheme for tobacco, vapes, and nicotine products in 2027.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release entitled Cycling and walking boom with £4.5 billion for thousands of new routes and safer crossings, of 12 June 2026, how much funding has been allocated in each financial year; how much of the funding is outside the Spending Review period; what the title is of the funding stream; and whether it is ring-fenced.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

It is not possible to provide a breakdown by year because the funding projections cover the entire CWIS3 period and are not broken down by year. Information on the funding streams and the relevant time period can be found in the answer of 18 June 2026 to Question 10054 and the answer of 18 June 2026 to Question 9719.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with her US counterpart on allowing airports in Northern Ireland whose departing travellers fly to the United States to clear immigration in US airports as domestic flights.

Answered by Mike Tapp

A decision to explore the introduction of US pre-clearance at a UK airport is primarily a commercial decision for airport operators. An outline commercial agreement between an airport operator and US authorities would be required before any formal discussions between the UK and US governments could take place, however we stand ready to negotiate should this be forthcoming.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the use of roadside evidential drug testing devices in other countries; and whether she plans to introduce comparable technology in England and Wales.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Transport has consulted on the potential use of alternative specimens, including oral fluid, saliva and sweat, in drug-driving forensic analysis. We are considering the responses received and will set out next steps in the usual way. No decision has been taken on whether to introduce roadside evidential drug-testing devices in England and Wales.

The Department works very closely with the Home Office, policing partners and scientific advisers on drug-driving enforcement and emerging testing technologies.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with the Home Office on the introduction of roadside evidential drug testing devices for drug driving offences since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Transport has consulted on the potential use of alternative specimens, including oral fluid, saliva and sweat, in drug-driving forensic analysis. We are considering the responses received and will set out next steps in the usual way. No decision has been taken on whether to introduce roadside evidential drug-testing devices in England and Wales.

The Department works very closely with the Home Office, policing partners and scientific advisers on drug-driving enforcement and emerging testing technologies.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what factors are preventing the acceptance and entry into passenger service of the Class 810 fleet.

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

The first Class 810 trains entered passenger service in December 2025 and entry into service is continuing. Delays from the train manufacturer, Hitachi Rail, including technical issues, are currently affecting the rollout of new trains to East Midlands Railway.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what protected species licensing requirements Network Rail is required to comply with when undertaking (a) maintenance and (b) enhancement projects on the railway network.

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

Network Rail is required to comply with a range of protected species legislation when undertaking both maintenance and enhancement activities on the railway network. The primary legislation includes the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. Licencing requirements in relation to the species protected by those laws are determined by the relevant statutory nature conservation body (Natural England, Natural Resources Wales or NatureScot).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate has been made of the level of buy-out under the sustainable aviation fuel Mandate that would prompt a review of the trajectory of the advanced fuel and power-to-liquid sub-mandates.

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

There is not a specified level of buyout that would prompt a review of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Mandate. We consistently monitor the performance of the SAF Mandate and it has a built-in review process so the government can take action if necessary. On 16 June the government published a call for evidence titled “SAF Mandate: SAF supply and industry certainty in an evolving market”. The call for evidence explicitly asks respondents whether they believe any changes to the HEFA cap or PtL obligation are required. We look forward to industry’s engagement in this exercise.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many knife-enabled crimes were recorded by the British Transport Police as having occurred on board trains in each of the last 30 years.

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

British Transport Police (BTP) holds readily extractable, comparable data for knife-enabled crimes on board trains over the past five years. Providing comparable figures for each of the last 30 years would require a manual review of historic records which was not possible within the required timescales.

Found: ; St Ives) Paulette Hamilton (Labour; Birmingham Erdington) Alex McIntyre (Labour; Gloucester) Joe Robertson

Found: Order No. 137A): Jen Craft, Josh Fenton-Glynn, Andrew George, Paulette Hamilton, Layla Moran, Joe Robertson

Found: meeting Members present: Layla Moran (Chair); Danny Beales; Josh Fenton-Glynn; Andrew George; Joe Robertson