Oral Answers to Questions

Lilian Greenwood Excerpts

Thursday 26th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Norwood) (Lab)]

6. What steps she is taking to improve road safety.

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

The road safety strategy envisages a safer future for everyone on the road, including targets to cut deaths and serious injuries by 65%, and 70% for children, by 2035. It promotes partnership working across Government, local authorities, police and emergency services, industry and others to save thousands of lives, ease pressure on the NHS and support the economy.

[Helen Hayes]

The Tulse Hill gyratory in my constituency is very dangerous. We see frequent accidents, near misses and, tragically, lives lost. We urgently need to see the transformation of the gyratory to make it safe for all road users, yet we are struggling because the availability of Transport for London funding for major junction improvements depends on there being substantial new development in the vicinity of the junction, which is not the case at Tulse Hill. Will the Minister meet me to discuss how the Government, Transport for London, Lambeth council and the local campaign group “Transform Tulse Hill” can achieve our important goal of making the Tulse Hill gyratory safe for all?

[Lilian Greenwood]

I know that there have been multiple pedestrian casualties at the gyratory in my hon. Friend’s constituency, and action is needed to prevent future issues. Last week, I met TfL to hear about its new Vision Zero action plan, and partnership working with great local leaders, such as Mayor Khan, is vital to achieving our ambitious targets for reducing deaths and serious injuries. I was pleased to hear that TfL has introduced interim safety measures to slow traffic and improve visibility while longer-term redesign options are being developed. I know that TfL and Lambeth borough council are working closely together on a proper solution, but I would of course be happy to meet my hon. Friend.

[Sir Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green) (Con)]

Yesterday, sadly, a young boy going to school on Snakes Lane East in my constituency was knocked down. He is receiving excellent treatment, and my thoughts are with his family, but this underlines a problem that we have in my constituency: Broadmead Road bridge, which crosses the central line, has been closed since 2024, and that causes chaos in traffic and heavy vehicles going down roads they would never normally go down. Many of my constituents are very fearful about the worsening road safety. Will the Minister meet me to discuss what we can do to get Broadmead Road bridge redone and reopened using money from both the Government and TfL?

[Lilian Greenwood]

I hope that the right hon. Member’s young constituent makes a speedy recovery. I am aware of Broadmead Road bridge and the difficulties faced. It sounds like a really strong contender for the forthcoming structures fund, and I am sure that the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Wakefield and Rothwell (Simon Lightwood), would be very happy to talk to the right hon. Member about the possibilities in that respect.

[Ruth Cadbury (Brentford and Isleworth) (Lab)]

For HGV drivers, the ability to stop and rest is essential to our road safety, yet HGV drivers and freight sector representatives recently told my Committee that the long-known critical shortage of HGV parking spaces continues. The Government do not need another survey, so when can we expect a diagnosis of the causes of this problem and then a plan to deliver more HGV parking spaces on all parts of our network?

[Lilian Greenwood]

I thank my hon. Friend for her important question. Planning has historically been a barrier to the development of lorry parks. We have introduced a dedicated freight policy in the national planning policy framework to ensure that planning properly reflects freight needs, including parking and access to the transport network. Alongside that, our new national lorry parking survey will be published in the autumn and will give local authorities the evidence needed to deliver good-quality facilities in the right places.

[Liz Saville Roberts (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (PC)]

The family of Mathew Hardy have set up a petition calling for the immediate forfeiture of driving licences upon a positive drink or drug test. They do this in circumstances where they lost their son just before Christmas. His partner is expecting a baby who will be born bereaved of a father. Does the Minister agree that the individual’s right to drive does not come before another individual’s right to life?

[Lilian Greenwood]

I thank the right hon. Member for raising this important case, and I send my condolences to the family in her constituency. Many people, including bereaved families, have raised with me how it feels when they see someone who has been arrested on drink or drug-driving charges being able to drive until their case comes to court. That is why suspension of licences is one of the issues covered in our motoring offences consultation. I hope that she, other Members and members of the public will respond positively to that proposal.

[Juliet Campbell (Broxtowe) (Lab)]

7. What steps she is taking with local authorities to help improve local bus services.

[Claire Young (Thornbury and Yate) (LD)]

18. What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of bus services.

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

Bus services are vital for connecting communities to jobs, education and essential services. We have confirmed over £3 billion for buses over the next three years, including providing multi-year, long-term funding to give local authorities the certainty to invest in local services, and our Bus Services Act 2025 is giving local leaders the tools to ensure that services meet the needs of local people.

[Juliet Campbell]

Many residents in Beeston Rylands in my constituency have contacted me about the infrequency and unreliability of buses serving their area. This particularly affects elderly residents, as bus services can be a lifeline for that community. Will the Minister outline how the Government are working with regional mayors such as Claire Ward in the east midlands to bolster bus services in underserved areas such as Beeston Rylands?

[Lilian Greenwood]

We are committed to working with local leaders, including Mayor Claire Ward, to improve buses. We are providing the East Midlands combined county authority with £65 million between now and 2028-29, which can be used to increase bus provision across the local area. I know that Mayor Claire would be very happy to work with my hon. Friend to help plan bus networks that work for local people, including those living in Beeston Rylands.

[Mr Mohindra]

South Oxhey was previously served by three buses per hour operating across two routes, but since last July that has been reduced to an hourly 328 service, which is sometimes cancelled leaving a two-hour gap between buses. The Minister has previously stated that the Bus Services Act 2025 will provide local authorities with the tools to manage bus services, but what steps will the Department take to hold bus operators to account on this issue?

[Lilian Greenwood]

It is for local authorities, who have been given both the funding and the tools, to decide what works for their local area. Obviously they can have bus enhanced partnerships with local operators, but they can also consider franchising when they feel that that is necessary in order to provide the services that local people need. I know that Hertfordshire is one of the places that is piloting franchising appropriate for rural areas.

[Claire Young]

Those transport authorities that delayed tendering for post-July bus services because of the lack of Government criteria for using finding are now going out to tender, but market information suggests that costs are shooting up due to the war in the middle east. Will the Secretary of State meet me and local representatives to discuss how the Government can support bus services during this crisis?

[Lilian Greenwood]

The hon. Member raises an important point. We recognise that the increased costs for bus operators, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, can have an impact on services. My officials are in contact with operators to understand better the impact of increased fuel costs as a result of the crisis in the middle east. I am sure that the Minister responsible for roads and buses, my hon. Friend the Member for Wakefield and Rothwell (Simon Lightwood), will be considering that issue further and will be happy to hear from her.

[Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)]

In York, we are ambitious to see modal shifts that get people out of their cars and on to buses, but we have an affordability problem. The mayor has a very generous transport budget, but only 6% can be spent on revenue. Will the Minister look at the ability to transfer capital funding into revenue, so that we can really boost our buses?

[Lilian Greenwood]

We in the Department work extremely closely with all our local mayors, including the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire. I know that my hon. Friend had a meeting with him only yesterday, and we would be happy to work with him to look at how we can better support bus services across that whole area.

[Ben Obese-Jecty (Huntingdon) (Con)]

8. Whether she has reviewed with Cabinet colleagues the status of land used for environmental mitigation along the A14 in Huntingdon constituency.

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[Mrs Elsie Blundell (Heywood and Middleton North) (Lab)]

11. What recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for bus services in mayoral strategic authorities.

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

This Government believe in better buses across the UK, and half of the £1.4 billion local authority bus grant resource funding is going to support services in mayoral strategic authorities. Altogether, they will receive more than £11.5 billion of consolidated funding up to 2030 to improve and deliver better local transport services and modern infrastructure, and that includes £1.6 billion for Greater Manchester.

[Mrs Blundell]

As the Minister knows, since my election I have been campaigning for an express bus service from my constituency to Manchester city centre. Following key improvements to the network across Greater Manchester, a consultation that I did across my constituency shows that we still need the introduction of that express bus service. What conversations are taking place between the Department for Transport, the Treasury and our transport authorities specifically to prioritise closing gaps in bus provision and to ensure that there is sustained, long-term funding for buses to make that possible?

[Lilian Greenwood]

My hon. Friend is a great champion for local transport. This Government are committed to supporting improved bus services, and at the spending review we confirmed more than £3 billion in long-term funding until 2028-29. We believe that local leaders are best placed to make decisions about services in their areas, and this funding includes £133.5 million for Greater Manchester that the local authority can use to expand the Bee Network, as she suggests. Of course, we very regularly meet Mayor Andy Burnham to discuss that.

[Anna Sabine (Frome and East Somerset) (LD)]

Part of my constituency falls in the West of England mayoral combined authority, which oversees some local bus services. Although recent Government funding has been allocated to improve bus transport across the authority, much of it appears to be concentrated on getting people in and out of Bristol, rather than around the surrounding towns and villages. If the Government are committed to driving economic growth, should they not recognise the importance of investing in reliable rural transport networks to enable such communities to grow and thrive?

[Lilian Greenwood]

The hon. Lady is absolutely right. Rural communities also need access to good public transport, which is why we are exploring the ways in which we can better support rural bus services. As I mentioned earlier, there are five pilots looking at the possibilities of franchising in rural areas, which I know will be of interest to people, including Mayor Helen Godwin.

[Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) (LD)]

12. What recent discussions she has had with the aviation industry on the potential merits of the UK rejoining the European geostationary navigation overlay service.

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

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to highlight the benefits of active travel. This Government are so enthusiastic about that, and we have set out £626 million of active travel funding to support it. Very shortly we will publish our cycling and walking investment strategy, which will guide local authorities on how best to spend the money.

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

T5. The sorry state of Scotland’s roads proves that the SNP cannot get the basics right. The UK Labour Government funding to repair potholes adds to the significant Barnett consequentials falling to Scotland. Does the Minister agree that Scottish Labour’s pledge to establish a new roads repair fund, worth £350 million, to fix 5 million potholes is one worth voting for on 7 May?

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[Lorraine Beavers (Blackpool North and Fleetwood) (Lab)]

T6. I recently met the Rail Minister, who agreed with me that the reintroduction of the Fleetwood to Poulton rail line would be transformative for the many people in my constituency, but it cannot happen without the support of Lancashire county council. Will the Secretary of State join me in calling for the Reform-led council to put the reopening of the rail line at the top of its transport plans, so that we can finally see this happen?

[Lilian Greenwood]

My hon. Friend remains a great champion for this project. The Government are delivering on devolution. We are providing the Lancashire combined county authority with £641 million in this spending review. The decision about whether to progress this scheme as a local priority is one for the authority. I encourage my hon. Friend to continue engaging with it with the same enthusiasm with which she engages with our Department.

[Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) (LD)]

T8. Airlines are already adding fuel surcharges to ticket prices as a consequence of current events. That may not be surprising, but does the Secretary of State agree with me that, if they are going to do that, they should at the same time publish a trigger point, so that customers will know when those fuel surcharges will be removed from ticket prices?

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[Sir Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con)]

Can the Secretary of State tell us what the Government are doing to address the problem of number plate fraud? Number plates are being falsely registered to wrong addresses by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, vehicle number plates are being cloned, and false number plates are being used, all of which is contributing to an increase in petrol theft from our forecourts. What are the Government doing about it?

[Lilian Greenwood]

The hon. Member is right to raise this question, which a number of my hon. Friends have also raised. The DVLA is working very closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and, as he will know, alongside the road safety strategy we have a consultation on motoring offences, which includes proposals for tougher penalties for those displaying illegal plates.

[Alistair Strathern (Hitchin) (Lab)]

Rail users at Hitchin and Arlesey stations in my constituency have to put up with services that simply are not reliable enough. I am glad that, after pushing the operator, Ministers and officials, we have been able to drive up driver recruitment and secure crucial investment to upgrade the back-up signalling capacity that has caused a lot of disruption over the past 12 months. With the operator coming back into public ownership later this year, what further steps can we take to finally give my constituents the rail service they deserve?

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[Sir Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con)]

The Government are rightly focused on bus services, but can I urge them to also think carefully about safety in bus stations? We have a big problem at Skipton bus station at the moment and there is no CCTV. I encourage the Minister to focus on local authorities and mayors to get obligatory CCTV in our bus stations to keep people safe.

[Lilian Greenwood]

The Government have committed to a number of ideas to improve the safety of the travelling public, especially women and girls, and that includes looking at safety in bus stations. I will ensure that the particular issue the right hon. Gentleman raises is examined.

[Dave Robertson (Lichfield) (Lab)]

I again thank the ministerial team for what they have done to get the midlands rail hub project so far along so quickly, with funding now unlocked for the west and central sections, but the east section is dragging ever so slightly behind. Will they look again at whether the south Staffordshire line can be included in rail hub east, to unlock the wonderful benefits of cross-regional travel via that line for my constituents and those in Uttoxeter and Derby?