Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Julie Minns and Wera Hobhouse

Thursday 16th July 2026 Commons Chamber

[Ms Julie Minns (Carlisle) (Lab)]

1. What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the sale of kits used to convert pedal cycles into e-bikes that do not meet the definition of an electrically assisted pedal cycle.

[Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)]

12. What steps her Department is taking to help tackle the use of illegal and non-compliant e-bikes.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Lilian Greenwood)]

Illegal e-bikes have no place on our roads. My Department has published guidance to make it clear that e-bikes that exceed the legal power and speed limits are treated as motor vehicles and must be registered, taxed and insured. The police have powers to enforce those rules. The same applies to pedal cycles that have been converted using e-bike kits. Consumers should be made aware by those selling such kits that a conversion may mean that a cycle no longer meets the legal definition of an “electrically assisted pedal cycle”.