Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has assessed the potential merits of building more driving test centres to meet demand.
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.
On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.
These actions include incentivised additional testing offers for driving examiners, doubling permanent training capacity for new driving examiners, and a call for volunteers from those currently in other roles (but qualified to examine) to carry out practical driving tests. DVSA continues to run recruitment campaigns for new driving examiners.
DVSA has no current plans to open any further practical driving test centres. DVSA is committed to providing its customers with the best service possible and continually reviews its estate to ensure it represents good value for money and is efficient.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to tackle the impact of covid-19 on driving test backlogs.
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.
On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.
These actions include incentivised additional testing offers for driving examiners, doubling permanent training capacity for new driving examiners, and a call for volunteers from those currently in other roles (but qualified to examine) to carry out practical driving tests. DVSA continues to run recruitment campaigns for new driving examiners.
DVSA has no current plans to open any further practical driving test centres. DVSA is committed to providing its customers with the best service possible and continually reviews its estate to ensure it represents good value for money and is efficient.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department are taking to ensure drivers leave at least 1.5 metres of space when overtaking cyclists.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Highway Code was updated in 2022 to include changes to improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders, including guidance on safe passing distances and speeds and the introduction of a hierarchy of road users. The Department ran a THINK! campaign to raise awareness of the changes as they came into effect. This was followed by broader behaviour change campaigns in the summer of 2022 and 2023, to help embed the changes and encourage understanding and uptake of the guidance.
We also promote cycle safety advice for cyclists and motorists via THINK! social channels, education resources and run radio filler advertising encouraging motorists to maintain safe driving distances from cyclists and horse riders and to use the Dutch Reach when opening car doors to help keep cyclists safe.
The Department has not made any assessment of the potential impact of increasing the size of car bonnets on pedestrian or cyclist safety. All mass-produced cars are required to meet pedestrian protection requirements which are designed to protect pedestrians and cyclists in the event of a crash.
However, we are aware of the issue and intend to commission some work in this area to fully understand the impact of the trend in increased bonnet height.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the size of car bonnets on (a) pedestrian and (b) cyclist safety.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Highway Code was updated in 2022 to include changes to improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders, including guidance on safe passing distances and speeds and the introduction of a hierarchy of road users. The Department ran a THINK! campaign to raise awareness of the changes as they came into effect. This was followed by broader behaviour change campaigns in the summer of 2022 and 2023, to help embed the changes and encourage understanding and uptake of the guidance.
We also promote cycle safety advice for cyclists and motorists via THINK! social channels, education resources and run radio filler advertising encouraging motorists to maintain safe driving distances from cyclists and horse riders and to use the Dutch Reach when opening car doors to help keep cyclists safe.
The Department has not made any assessment of the potential impact of increasing the size of car bonnets on pedestrian or cyclist safety. All mass-produced cars are required to meet pedestrian protection requirements which are designed to protect pedestrians and cyclists in the event of a crash.
However, we are aware of the issue and intend to commission some work in this area to fully understand the impact of the trend in increased bonnet height.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure the safety of cyclists.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Highway Code was updated in 2022 to include changes to improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders, including guidance on safe passing distances and speeds and the introduction of a hierarchy of road users. The Department ran a THINK! campaign to raise awareness of the changes as they came into effect. This was followed by broader behaviour change campaigns in the summer of 2022 and 2023, to help embed the changes and encourage understanding and uptake of the guidance.
We also promote cycle safety advice for cyclists and motorists via THINK! social channels, education resources and run radio filler advertising encouraging motorists to maintain safe driving distances from cyclists and horse riders and to use the Dutch Reach when opening car doors to help keep cyclists safe.
The Department has not made any assessment of the potential impact of increasing the size of car bonnets on pedestrian or cyclist safety. All mass-produced cars are required to meet pedestrian protection requirements which are designed to protect pedestrians and cyclists in the event of a crash.
However, we are aware of the issue and intend to commission some work in this area to fully understand the impact of the trend in increased bonnet height.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking with local authorities to increase the number of dedicated cycle lines.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Spending Review in June 2025 allocated £616 million for Active Travel England to support local authorities to build and maintain walking and cycling infrastructure from 2026/27 onwards, including dedicated cycling routes. This comes on top of £222.5 million announced in February 2025 for local authorities over 2024/25-25/26. Local authorities are responsible for deciding on how to invest the funding, in line with local priorities.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for the British Transport Police.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The British Transport Police’s (BTP) budget is set by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). It is the executive non-departmental public body that oversees the Force and is their employer. BTPA sets the BTP’s budget annually following proposals from the Force and views from industry. Set against a backdrop of wider public sector efficiencies and affordability by the rail industry it has agreed a budget increase for the financial year 2025/26 of 5.9%. BTP work closely with BTPA and industry operators to make final resourcing decisions with their agreed budget.
The cost of policing the rail network in Great Britain is primarily covered through the funding agreements that the British Transport Police Authority holds with Network Rail, the rail operators and Transport for London.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
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 establishment of Great British Railways on funding for the British Transport Police.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The British Transport Police’s (BTP) budget is set currently set by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). It is the executive non-departmental public body that oversees the Force and is their employer. BTPA sets the BTP’s budget annually following proposals from the Force and views from industry.
We anticipate that the level of funding for the BTP during the transition to and commencement of Great British Railways will similarly balance the needs of the industry and the force against public sector affordability.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 4.72 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, whether she plans to hold a consultation on the rolling stock strategy.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is in the early stages of formulating a rolling stock strategy. The strategy will include considerations around the timelines for new build, refurbishments, and potential cascades which will provide more visibility to the rolling stock market.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish his Department's approved budget for the 2023-24 financial year.
Answered by Anthony Browne
HM Treasury will publish the Supplementary Estimates for 2023-24 by the end of the current financial year. This will include the Department for Transport's final, approved budget for the 2023-24 financial year.