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Written Question
Driving Tests
Wednesday 18th June 2025

Asked by: Lewis Cocking (Conservative - Broxbourne)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's press release entitled, Transport Secretary acts to make thousands of extra driving tests available each month, published on 23 April 2025, whether the measures have been implemented.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Since the announcement by the Secretary of State for Transport, 23 April 2025, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has:

  • Asked volunteers currently working in other roles, but qualified to examine, to carry out practical driving tests.

  • Reintroduced overtime pay incentives for everyone delivering driving tests. The additional testing allowance (ATA) scheme launched 1 June 2025. DVSA believes the introduction of the ATA will encourage those in other roles to provide tests.

As part of the measures announced, 23 April, DVSA also has:

  • Continued to work towards doubling new entrant training capacity. By 31 July 2025, DVSA aims to double its permanent training resource from 13 to 26 trainers. This will ensure newly recruited driving examiners can qualify as quickly as possible.

  • Launched a public consultation on improving the rules for booking car driving tests, on 28 May. Views are being sought from the driver training industry, learner drivers and other interested parties on changes which aim to prevent learner drivers being exploited by those who resell tests at a higher price. The consultation will close at 11:59pm on 23 July 2025.

Further information on these actions and progress of DVSA’s plan to reduce driving test waiting times, which was announced in December 2024, can be found on GOV.UK.


Written Question
Pedicabs: Greater London
Wednesday 4th June 2025

Asked by: Lewis Cocking (Conservative - Broxbourne)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had recent discussions with the Mayor of London on the potential impact of (a) unlicensed and (b) unregulated pedicab operators on (i) public safety and (ii) anti-social behaviour in central London.

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

The Pedicabs (London) Act 2024 conferred powers onto Transport for London (TfL) to regulate London’s pedicab industry for the first time, giving TfL the tools it needs to tackle the unsafe, anti-social and nuisance behaviours of certain pedicab operators and drivers. TfL is currently analysing responses to a public consultation in order to inform the design and implementation of future pedicab regulations. Department for Transport Ministers and officials have regular conversations with the Mayor of London and TfL on a range of matters including pedicabs.


Written Question
Pedicabs: Greater London
Wednesday 4th June 2025

Asked by: Lewis Cocking (Conservative - Broxbourne)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Mayor of London on introducing regulations under the Pedicabs (London) Act 2024.

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

The Pedicabs (London) Act 2024 conferred powers onto Transport for London (TfL) to regulate London’s pedicab industry for the first time, giving TfL the tools it needs to tackle the unsafe, anti-social and nuisance behaviours of certain pedicab operators and drivers. TfL is currently analysing responses to a public consultation in order to inform the design and implementation of future pedicab regulations. Department for Transport Ministers and officials have regular conversations with the Mayor of London and TfL on a range of matters including pedicabs.


Written Question
Public Transport: Greater London
Wednesday 4th June 2025

Asked by: Lewis Cocking (Conservative - Broxbourne)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with the Mayor of London on the effectiveness of enforcement measures against fare evasion on Transport for London services.

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

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor, and TfL is responsible for operational decisions to support reduced fare evasion. Department for Transport ministers and officials have regular conversations with Transport for London on a variety of issues including fare evasion on their network. TfL has informed the department of their activity to tackle this important issue which includes an expanded dedicated team of investigators and 500 uniformed TfL officers deployed across the TfL network with 360 offenders found guilty at court in 2024.


Written Question
Road Works
Friday 17th January 2025

Asked by: Lewis Cocking (Conservative - Broxbourne)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the utilities industry on minimising disruption caused by street works.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport works closely with industry stakeholders, including utility companies, as we continue to review our legislation, statutory guidance and guidance, to identify areas where the regime can be improved to minimise the impact of street works. We have recently announced to the industry that we will be clamping down on disruptive works by doubling fixed penalty notices for utility companies who fail to comply with rules and extending charges for works that overrun into weekends.

As more highway authorities are progressing with their applications to operate lane rental schemes to target the most disruptive works on our roads, my Department have been engaging with utility companies directly as part of a series of regional visits. Utility companies have also been invited, along with a range of other stakeholders, to take part in a consultation on proposals to improve and simplify the lane rental application process.


Written Question
Road Works
Friday 17th January 2025

Asked by: Lewis Cocking (Conservative - Broxbourne)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many street works carried out under emergency procedures she considers as evidence of misuse.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department have examined data from our Street Manager digital service and spoken to industry representatives and found no evidence of misuse. Emergency works are needed to deal with danger to life and urgent works are needed, for example, to repair leaks, restore customer connections, and repair dangerous potholes. The Government believes, however, that there is scope to improve how such works are managed and communicated to road users and we are working with the sector to develop proposals to address this.


Written Question
Fares: Non-payment
Thursday 16th January 2025

Asked by: Lewis Cocking (Conservative - Broxbourne)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking with Transport for London to reduce fare evasion.

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

Ministers and officials have regular conversations with Transport for London on a variety of issues including fare evasion on their network. Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor and TfL is responsible for operational decisions to support reduced fare evasion.


Written Question
Railways: Accidents
Thursday 19th December 2024

Asked by: Lewis Cocking (Conservative - Broxbourne)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many train collisions with people have been reported in each train operating company's network area in the last 12 months; and how many people were involved in such collisions in each area.

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

The number of people struck by trains in the last 12 months within each of Network Rail’s regions and routes is set out below. This data shows whether the incident led to a fatality or injury, and if it was classified as a suspected suicide or as non-suicidal. The total number of people struck by trains over this period was 339.

NR Region

Fatalities

Injuries

Suicidal

Non-suicidal

Suicidal

Non-suicidal

Eastern

98

1

11

9

North West and Central

63

3

11

8

Scotland's Railway

16

0

2

1

Southern

47

1

3

6

Wales and Western

50

2

1

6

NR Route

Fatalities

Injuries

Suicidal

Non-suicidal

Suicidal

Non-suicidal

Anglia

29

1

4

1

East Coast

20

0

2

4

East Midlands

18

0

3

4

North & East

31

0

2

0

Central

18

0

5

2

North West

35

3

5

5

West Coast Mainline South

10

0

1

1

Scotland's Railway

16

0

2

1

Kent

12

0

1

3

Sussex

16

0

2

1

Wessex

19

1

0

2

Wales and Borders

11

1

1

2

Western

39

1

0

4


Written Question
Road Works
Wednesday 18th December 2024

Asked by: Lewis Cocking (Conservative - Broxbourne)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure the adequacy of the Street Manager service.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Street Manager service is closely managed by the Department, with officials also overseeing ongoing development and improvement of the service in line with Government Digital Services best practice. There is a governance group made up of elected representatives from the public and private sector whom officials meet monthly, and a small group of subject matter experts are consulted on a weekly basis. A roadmap setting out future enhancements of the service is agreed with the governance group and published every six months. Users can provide feedback and raise any concerns they have about the service at any point, and a yearly survey monitors satisfaction.


Written Question
Road Works: Fees and Charges
Monday 16th December 2024

Asked by: Lewis Cocking (Conservative - Broxbourne)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to encourage local authorities to apply for lane rental schemes.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department is in the process of updating its lane rental guidance and has recently announced a new assessment process for lane rental applications to improve and streamline the application process for authorities. We have been speaking to authorities directly as part of a series of regional visits and are also working with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC) to develop their guidance for local authorities who are considering applying for a scheme.