Asked by: Juliet Campbell (Labour - Broxtowe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Department holds records on the number of privately owned e-scooters currently in use by the general public that are not covered by appropriate motor vehicle insurance policies; and whether any specific enforcement measures are either in-place, or being considered to ensure compliance with relevant insurance requirements.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport does not hold the information requested.
Enforcement of illegal e-scooter use is a matter for the police and a range of motoring offences and penalties already apply.
Asked by: Juliet Campbell (Labour - Broxtowe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of driving tests in Broxtowe.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and improve access to driving tests that will break down barriers to opportunity as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
On the 12 November, the Secretary of State for Transport, updated the Transport Select Committee on the government’s ongoing response to high driving test waiting times.
In the coming months, DVSA will:
DVSA is also continuing with recruitment campaigns across the country to provide as many tests as possible. Since July last year, DVSA has recruited and trained 344 driving examiners (DE) who are now in post and delivering driving tests. A full-time DE can be expected to add approximately 1,200 tests per year to the booking system.
Nottingham Chilwell test centre serves candidates from Broxtowe. Since June 2024, DVSA has recruited six new entrant driving examiners who are now conducting tests at Chilwell.
DVSA has also advertised for this test centre in its recent recruitment campaign and applicants are working their way through the interview process. DVSA will be advertising again for this test centre in its next recruitment campaign.
Asked by: Juliet Campbell (Labour - Broxtowe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made on the full electrification of the Midland Main Line; and whether her Department has a planned timetable for its completion.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Electrification of the Midland Main Line (MML) between Kettering and Wigston is now complete and enhancements south of Bedford, are due to complete in August. Following the Spending Review, we will now be working to confirm our wider portfolio of rail enhancements, including the MML, which will be published as part of the government’s commitment to set out its overall infrastructure pipeline in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Juliet Campbell (Labour - Broxtowe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the length of time a driving theory test is valid for to tackle the backlog for practical tests.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The maximum duration of two years between passing the theory test and a subsequent practical test is in place to ensure a customer’s road safety knowledge and ability to identify developing hazards is current. This validity period is set in legislation, and the Government has no current plans to lay further legislation to extend it. It is important road safety knowledge and hazard perception skills are up to date at the critical point a person drives unsupervised for the first time.
Asked by: Juliet Campbell (Labour - Broxtowe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of transport infrastructure in the rural parts of the Broxtowe constituency.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government is committed to restoring pride and trust in a transport system that works – day in, day out – for the people who rely on it.
That is why we have allocated very substantial funding to the East Midlands Combined County Authority, to enable it to make the best decisions about how to maintain and improve its local transport network, including in Broxtowe.
This funding includes over £2 billion until 2031/32 from the Transport for City Regions settlements, as well as £75 million in 2025/26 for local highway maintenance and £40 million in 2025/26 in Local Authority Bus Grant.
Asked by: Juliet Campbell (Labour - Broxtowe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to tackle the illegal use of e-bikes.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Only e-bikes that comply in full with the requirements of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 can be legally used on public roads. This is the case regardless of whether the e-bike has been modified.
Where an e-bike does not comply with these Regulations, it counts as an e-moped or motorbike and must therefore be registered, taxed and insured. The rider must wear a safety helmet and hold the appropriate driving licence. Enforcement is a matter for the police.
Asked by: Juliet Campbell (Labour - Broxtowe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to prevent the use of illegally modified e-bikes.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Only e-bikes that comply in full with the requirements of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 can be legally used on public roads. This is the case regardless of whether the e-bike has been modified.
Where an e-bike does not comply with these Regulations, it counts as an e-moped or motorbike and must therefore be registered, taxed and insured. The rider must wear a safety helmet and hold the appropriate driving licence. Enforcement is a matter for the police.
Asked by: Juliet Campbell (Labour - Broxtowe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has for land safeguarded for HS2 in Nottinghamshire.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
This Government is thoroughly reviewing the position it has inherited on HS2 and wider rail infrastructure and will set out detailed plans in due course, including future plans for HS2 Phase 2b safeguarding in Nottinghamshire and a disposals programme for land and property acquired for HS2 that is no longer required.
Asked by: Juliet Campbell (Labour - Broxtowe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the merits of (a) self-healing asphalt and (b) other methods to tackle potholes.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government is committed to enabling local highway authorities to maintain and renew their local highway networks. Decisions on which materials to use to repair their roads are matters for local highway authorities, but the Government encourages them to trial innovative processes and materials. The Department is currently supporting a £30 million “Live Labs” research programme, part of which allows innovative and environmentally friendly road-mending materials of this sort to be trialled and evaluated. The lessons learned will be shared with other local highway authorities.
A number of UK research institutions, including Swansea and Cambridge universities, are working on advanced materials, including self-healing asphalt, for filling potholes and resurfacing roads. Self-healing asphalt could potentially help prevent cracks from turning into potholes, but the technology is at an early stage and has not been tested at scale.