Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she will take to help tackle the use of vehicle number plates which are (a) false or (b) unreadable by automatic number plate recognition technology, with regard to (i) increasing penalties for (A) using and (B) supplying such plates, (ii) including number plate verification as a component of MOT tests, (iii) requiring number plate suppliers to be subject to criminal record checks and other background screening, and (iv) supplying police forces with appropriate detection equipment and training.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the impact of number plate crime and is committed to addressing this issue. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) works closely with police forces and the National Police Chiefs’ Council to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime.
In its Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026, the Government set out its vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of this, the Department for Transport is reviewing motoring offences and has sought views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect, altered or false number plate. The consultation closed on 11 May and responses are being considered.
A visual inspection of a vehicle’s number plate is already included as part of the MOT test. The test checks front and rear number plates for security, legibility, visibility and legal conformity.
The DVLA is also considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier process, which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers and the plates they supply. Options being considered include reviewing fees, scheme structure, resources and funding.
The DVLA offers support and training for police forces on the illegal display and supply of number plates.
In addition, the Department for Transport is funding a new National Roads Policing Coordination Centre, which brings together police forces from across England to share intelligence, improve collaboration and make better use of data. Its work includes stepping up enforcement against illegal number plates and trialling new technology to help detect plates designed to evade cameras.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason her Department did not pause the installation of additional floating bus stops until further research on safety had been carried out in the context of the advice of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee; what analysis she has undertaken of the likelihood of cyclists giving way to blind people trying to cross cycle lanes to board and alight from buses at floating bus stops; and what consideration she has given to representations on that subject by the National Federation of the Blind of the UK and other charitable bodies.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
On 20 November 2025, the Government put a pause on new floating bus stops that require people to board or alight directly from or into a cycle track.
During the passage of the Bus Services Act, officials met with NFBUK who presented their views on the issue. Meetings were also held with other groups representing vision-impaired people.
Active Travel England is currently carrying out research into the safety, accessibility and suitability of floating bus stops across different contexts that will consider potential design solutions to improve accessibility.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 62523 on Shipping: Russia, if she will publish the instructions her Department has issued in respect of the (a) interception and (b) onboard inspection of vessels suspected of belonging to Russia's shadow fleet when in transit through UK waters.
Answered by Mike Kane
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer I gave on 30 June 2025 to Question 62523. As a signatory of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the UK Government adheres to international maritime law and protects the innocent passage of vessels transiting through UK waters.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her policy is on the (a) tracking, (b) interception and (c) onboard inspection of vessels suspected of belonging to Russia's shadow fleet when in transit through UK waters.
Answered by Mike Kane
The UK Government consistently monitors UK waters to uphold the safety of mariners, the marine environment and the UK’s national security, which includes monitoring of tankers that are suspected of being associated with the movement of Russian oil.
As a signatory of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the UK Government adheres to international maritime law and protects the innocent passage of vessels transiting through UK waters.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish the findings of the Review of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme in August 2024; and whether she plans to introduce a statutory requirement on local authorities to include Companion Bus Passes as part of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as including companion passes, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.
The Department for Transport conducted a review of the ENCTS and is currently considering next steps. The review did not consider adding companion passes to the statutory criteria for the scheme.
Currently, local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations under the ENCTS and offer additional discretionary concessions, such as extending the travel time criteria for the ENCTS.
The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Hampshire County Council has been allocated £14 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services for passengers can be used in whichever way they wish. This could include extending the discretionary concessions available in the local area to include companion passes.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will expand the statutory requirements for local authorities to make mandatory the provision of free journeys for companions of people with (a) physical disabilities, (b) visual impairment and (c) learning disabilities who cannot travel on buses without those companions.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as extending the eligibility criteria, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.
Local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations under the ENCTS and offer additional discretionary concessions, such as offering companion passes for those travelling with someone eligible for the ENCTS.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's policy is on whether survey results on proposed passenger service reinstatement should be presented (a) on an overall basis for the entire area and (b) broken down according to subdivisions of the area through which the reinstated service would operate; and for what reason Network Rail is refusing to release the results of the survey which are specific to the Marchwood Ward of New Forest District Council.
Answered by Huw Merriman
Network Rail undertook a public consultation during the summer of 2022 as part of its assessment of the case for reopening the Waterside line as part of the Restoring Your Railway initiative. I understand that publication of detailed responses for the Marchwood Ward could place Network Rail in breach of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2022 to Question 115826 on Cycling: Highway Code, whether the advice to cyclists to ride in the centre of the lane in certain situations, permits and encourages cyclists to do so in situations where a dedicated lane is available for use by cyclists alongside the carriageway and (b) by what means the number of (i) accidents and (ii) road-rage incidents, arising from cyclists obstructing the carriageway, will be recorded.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Cycle lanes offer cyclists an alternative to cycling in the main carriageway and The Highway Code encourages their use where provided. However, it is not compulsory for cyclists to use them, and the Government has no plans to change this. The majority of cyclists generally use cycle lanes, but there are times when it may be more appropriate for them to use the main carriageway, such as when they are overtaking slower cyclists or avoiding obstructions in the cycle lane, or where it offers a faster, more direct route.
We do not have any plans to record incidents arising from cyclists riding in the middle of the lane, as the recent update to The Highway Code simply reinforces the safe and responsible advice being given to cyclists for many years through the national standard for cycle training.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason the revised highway code gives priority to cyclists to ride in the middle of single carriageway roads which have dedicated cycle lanes alongside the carriageway; what arrangements are available on a regional basis to monitor any increase in (a) road-rage incidents and (b) accidents arising from cyclists declining for protracted periods to allow motorists to overtake them; and if he will make it his policy to publish on a quarterly basis national (i) totals of and (ii) statistical trends arising from such incidents.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The advisory changes introduced to The Highway Code on 29 January are an extension to the previous advice and guidance. They are not expected to pose any major challenges as they simply reinforce the good behaviours that we would expect every road user to adhere to. Cyclists are advised to ride in the centre of the lane in certain situations and this is taught as part of the national standard of cycle training. The Code now includes that safety advice for consistency.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of motorists being dazzled by the brightness of LED headlights in oncoming vehicles as a factor in causing accidents after dark; what legal limitations are in place on the permitted level of brightness of those headlights, for the purpose of reducing the likelihood of their causing accidents; what (a) rules and (b) guidelines have been issued to car manufacturers on permitted brightness levels for headlights; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Police routinely collect data on road collisions in Great Britain and the officer attending the scene can record up to six contributory factors based on their initial assessment of the incident. Although LED lighting technology is increasingly common, from 2010 to 2020, dazzle from headlamps is recorded in 0.25 percent to 0.34 per cent of accidents and shows no discernible increase over that time period.
Prior to registration, vehicle manufacturers must supply evidence that their vehicles comply with international road vehicle approval requirements. Provisions for vehicle headlamps define maximum and minimum intensity, light pattern and position on the vehicle. Domestic legislation also prohibits the use of headlamps that cause undue dazzle or discomfort for other road users.
There are no current plans to amend these rules but the Department’s officials are supporting international activity reviewing the technical standards, and a report is expected early next year.