Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve (i) rail connectivity and (ii) bus services between Paddock Wood and Brighton.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is committed to improving both rail and bus connectivity so that passengers can make reliable, affordable and integrated journeys. Through Better Connected: A Strategy for Integrated Transport, we have set out our vision for a transport system that is safe, reliable, affordable and accessible, while empowering local leaders to shape transport networks that reflect local needs.
Officials work closely with DFTO and Network Rail to ensure timetables are planned that both meet expected passenger demand and provide value for money for the taxpayer. Train operators use their extensive knowledge and expertise to undertake the detailed planning of services.
Looking ahead to Great British Railways, this offers the opportunity to go further with optimising train services and driving up utilisation. Through Great British Railways’ directing mind function, services and timetables will be developed in a coherent fashion that drives up network performance and improves the journey experience.
For bus services, the Government has confirmed more than £3 billion of funding from 2026/27 to support local leaders and bus operators to improve services across England. This includes nearly £700 million per year through the Local Authority Bus Grant, giving local transport authorities greater certainty to plan and improve local transport networks. Decisions on individual bus routes and service levels are generally matters for local transport authorities and operators, which are best placed to determine how services can meet local passenger demand.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to integrate DVLA and DWP data systems so that disabled people who qualify for vehicle tax reductions through receipt of PIP or DLA are not required to complete a separate annual renewal process with DVLA, given that their eligibility is already subject to review by DWP.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The law requires that entitlement to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is checked when a vehicle is taxed.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) remains committed to working with the Department for Work and Pensions to review and improve the process for customers who receive the standard rate mobility component of PIP, which entitles them to a 50 per cent reduction in the rate of vehicle excise duty payable. Customers who receive the enhanced rate mobility component of PIP and whose vehicles are licensed in the disabled taxation class can already transact online.
The DVLA will look to develop and introduce a full digital service for customers in receipt of the standard rate of PIP but this work will not start until after the delivery of electric Vehicle Excise Duty changes in 2028.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding has been made available to South Eastern Railway to undertake outline designs to improve car park provision at Paddock Wood station.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
I can confirm that there has been no funding from the Department to Southeastern to improve car park provision at Paddock Wood train station. The Rail Minister has asked the Managing Director of South Eastern Railway to contact the MP about this matter.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the Civil Aviation Authority’s CAP1616 airspace change process in relation to Gatwick Airport.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the United Kingdom’s independent aviation and aerospace regulator. CAP1616 is the CAA’s process for all airspace changes in the UK, including potential airspace changes at Gatwick Airport. The CAA has recently consulted on potential changes to CAP1616 to ensure that it fair, transparent, consistent, and proportionate.
The Department for Transport consulted on potential changes to the statutory guidance (The Air Navigation Guidance) it provides to the CAA and interested parties for creating, changing or assessing flightpaths. This guidance is used by the CAA to inform its airspace change process. The consultation closed on 26 January 2026 and responses are now being reviewed.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the noise from aircraft operating between 4,000 and 7,000 feet under the proposed Aviation Navigation Guidance 2026 on affected communities; and whether that is a material consideration in airspace change decisions.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport consultation on changes to the Air Navigation Guidance closed on 26 January 2026 and responses are now being reviewed. The consultation included a proposal for new airspace design priorities which would prioritise flight efficiency and reducing carbon emissions from 4,000 feet and above, with minimising noise impacts prioritised below that altitude.
An Options Appraisal was published alongside the consultation. The detailed assessment of the impacts of a specific airspace change would be carried out as part of that airspace change proposal. As well as taking account of the airspace design priorities it would also reflect other airspace modernisation measures which can have a positive impact on noise, such as steeper climbs and descents, meaning that aircraft spend less time at lower altitudes.
A key requirement for any airspace change proposal is, and will continue to be, that people who may be affected by a change have the necessary information and are consulted before any final decisions are made.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of ringfencing Section 31 grants.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department does not routinely ringfence the section 31 grants it pays. We have listened to what local government needs and we are consolidating and simplifying the funding we pay to authorities. Local Transport Authorities know their areas better than government can, so this greater freedom and flexibility will help authorities to spend on the most important and impactful local projects. The Government will use Outcomes Frameworks to ensure that spending is used to improve transport for all its users.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to extend the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint and Infrastructure Grants for Landlords beyond 31 March 2026.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
An announcement on the available chargepoint grants for 2026-27 will be made shortly.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Minister for Rail plans to respond to the correspondence of 11 August 2025 from the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells on accessibility at High Brooms Station.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
On behalf of the Rail Minister, I apologise to the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells for the delay in responding to his correspondence regarding accessibility at High Brooms Station. A full response to the hon. Member was issued on 16 September.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of reopening closed passenger rail lines.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Spending Review shows the government’s commitment to investment in the railways and in schemes that support economic growth. The settlement represents an increase in funding on what has been spent on rail enhancements in recent years. While some key schemes have already been referenced by the Chancellor, my officials are now working to confirm our wider portfolio of rail enhancements, which will be published as part of the government’s commitment to set out its overall infrastructure pipeline.
The Restoring Your Railway programme was closed by the government as announced by the Chancellor in July 2024 and currently has no plans to revisit this decision. Most of the Restoring Your Railway schemes that were announced by the previous government were unfunded, which is why the programme was closed.
It is possible that Local Transport Authorities may wish to press ahead with developing individual local rail enhancement projects for funding in the future as this government believes that local authorities are best placed to advocate for projects that will most benefit their local areas.
The aim is to encourage strong business cases that effectively identify the optimal transport solution supporting growth, more homes and increased job opportunities.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
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 mandating new cars sold to have speed limiters.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
We currently have no plans to introduce mandatory speed limiters for new vehicles.