Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Note 27 of her Department’s 2025/26 annual accounts, what estimate she has made of the level of public subsidy to rail services in each of the next five years.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department regularly forecasts the financial support required for passenger rail services as part of its financial planning.
The precise level of subsidy in future years will depend on a range of factors, including passenger demand, farebox revenue, the cost of operating services and the delivery of planned efficiencies. The Department’s current plans assume that financial support to passenger rail services will reduce over the Spending Review period, as ridership and revenue increase and efficiencies are delivered.
Budgets for individual financial years are confirmed through the Parliamentary Supply Estimates process. The Government has not set detailed budgets covering all five years requested, as this period extends beyond the current Spending Review settlement.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the total costs of cancelling the A12 Widening Scheme.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The current estimate was disclosed in the Department's 2025-26 Annual Accounts, representing costs incurred up to the end of the 2025-26 financial year. Any further costs will be calculated in due course.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to publish a medium term business plan for Greater Anglia rail services.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Greater Anglia's plans continue to be developed through the Department's rolling business planning process. Industry-wide planning is also in progress across Anglia Railway, ensuring that track and train are working together to deliver for customers. Business plans will be finalised in due course.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the payments the Government will receive from the Greater Anglia rail services in each of the next five years.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As detailed in the response to Question 91938, I expect Greater Anglia will remain a net contributor; exact income levels will be agreed during the rolling business planning process. Information on the operator's income will be published in the statutory accounts, available from Companies House, in due course.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of changes in passenger numbers on Greater Anglia services in each of the next ten years.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Over each of the next ten financial years, I expect Greater Anglia to continue to grow passenger numbers. Projections will be firmed up during the rolling business planning process, taking into account regional long-term planning assessments.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an estimate of levels of congestion on (a) the A12 between junctions 19 and 25; and (b) the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey in each of the next 15 years compared to current levels.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways is currently undertaking a study on the A12 (junctions 19 to 25) that includes an assessment of current and future congestion levels on the corridor. This study is expected conclude by the end of this year.
National Highways is not currently undertaking a specific study to assess levels of congestion on the A120 corridor in each of the next 15 years compared to current levels.
The Local Plan process requires Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to assess the impacts of proposed growth allocations, including impacts on the Strategic Road Network (SRN). The LPAs of Chelmsford, Braintree, and Colchester are all in the process of updating their respective Local Plans. This work is ongoing and continues to build towards a fuller understanding of potential future impacts.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, (1) what funding she has made available for improvements to (a) safety; and (b) junctions between Junctions 19 and 25 on the A12 in each of the next five years; and (2) what funding she has made available for improvements to (a) safety; and (b) junctions between Braintree and Marks Tey on the A120 in each of the next five years.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We have committed over £27 billion to deliver the objectives set out in the third Road Investment Strategy to ensure the strategic road network continues to serve all users effectively. This includes £24.99 billion for National Highways to operate, maintain, renew, and enhance the network during this period covering 2026–31. National Highways is responsible for determining how this funding is best allocated to deliver the objectives of the third Road Investment Strategy.
For the A12 in Essex, National Highways forecasts a spend of c. £55 million for various capital renewals over the next five years, with £4.8 million allocated in 2026–27 and the remainder to be confirmed annually.
For the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey, c. £5.6 million has been allocated for various capital renewals for the next five years, including £3.2 million in 2026–27, with the remainder to be confirmed annually.
This investment enables safety and network resilience works and varies based on network needs, and could include measures such as improving road surfaces, visibility, and renewing ageing structural assets.
National Highways is also exploring proportionate, targeted small-scale interventions on the A12 corridor in Essex, subject to demonstrating alignment with wider government objectives for potential delivery in future road periods.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any costs were incurred by updating railway station announcements to convey a message from the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The cost of loading and subsequently removing the announcement was £350; this was proportionate as a means of informing passengers about the freeze of regulated rail fares.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what performance targets she has set for Greater Anglia rail services since nationalisation.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
GA Trains Limited has been set, and is required, to meet targets for punctuality, reliability, service quality and customer satisfaction under the Services Agreement, and is required to publish its performance against these targets on a regular basis.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has undertaken an assessment of the benefits of the proposed A120 dualling scheme.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Proposed improvements to the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey, where the A120 meets the A12, were considered in detail by National Highways and the Department during the second Road Period (2020-2025) as part of the pipeline of potential future major enhancements to the strategic road network. The Department will provide an update on the pipeline of potential future enhancements as part of the publication of RIS3, due in March.