Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress LNER has made on replacing passenger information screens at York and Newcastle stations since 17 December 2025; and what steps she is taking to enhance passenger information across LNER-managed stations.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has completed the roll out of the very latest colour customer information screens, that also feature British Sign Language, on the main departure boards at York and Newcastle stations. LNER will replace customer information screens on platforms throughout these stations over the next two years. In addition, new ticket vending machines will transform how information is delivered, featuring dual-screen technology for an improved customer experience. This remains on track to be delivered by Spring 2027.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent analysis her Department has undertaken of prevailing EV market demand and trajectories required under the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate sets ambitious trajectories through headline annual targets. These are supported by a range of flexibilities to help manufacturers comply. These tools are designed to accommodate different product portfolios and compliance strategies. More generous flexibilities were introduced in legislation at the start of this year to help ease industry pressures.
The UK electric vehicle (EV) market is growing fast. According to industry figures, in 2025 the UK had the largest EV market share of any major European economy, with 23.4% of new cars being zero emission. In April 2026, battery EVs represented over a quarter (26.2%) of new car sales in the UK.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with stakeholders on (a) the location, (b) the timetable for implementation, and (c) the delivery and operational framework for the proposed sandbox for marine autonomy.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As announced in the King’s Speech, the Regulating for Growth Bill will create cross-economy “sandboxing powers”. The Department for Transport will explore the use of these powers to establish a regulatory sandbox for maritime autonomy.
The sandbox is not a physical location. The intention of the sandbox is to enable controlled, live‑market trials where existing laws can be modified or suspended to allow experimentation, while generating robust evidence on safety, security and environmental protection.
The Regulating for Growth Bill is planned for the second session, and Government will work in collaboration with industry, including Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, to ensure the sandbox delivers real change that responds to the sector’s needs.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of a sandbox for marine autonomy on innovation and growth among Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As announced in the King’s Speech, the Regulating for Growth Bill will create cross-economy “sandboxing powers”. The Department for Transport will explore the use of these powers to establish a regulatory sandbox for maritime autonomy.
The sandbox is not a physical location. The intention of the sandbox is to enable controlled, live‑market trials where existing laws can be modified or suspended to allow experimentation, while generating robust evidence on safety, security and environmental protection.
The Regulating for Growth Bill is planned for the second session, and Government will work in collaboration with industry, including Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, to ensure the sandbox delivers real change that responds to the sector’s needs.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to undertake an urgent review of the EV transition, including the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government has a long-standing commitment to publish a review of the ZEV Mandate by early 2027. We are beginning discussions to inform the review so stakeholders can be properly consulted.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress LNER has made on the development and delivery of AI-powered instant disruption updates to customers; and whether this system remains on track for delivery in 2026.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
London Northeastern Railway (LNER) has been developing AI and data proof of concepts to determine possible solutions. If successful, the plan is to begin building the tools for customers from Summer 2026.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 9 January 2026 to Question 100955, if she will provide a breakdown of the capital expenditure programmes Trinity House is committed to for the decarbonisation of its lighthouse estate and vessel fleet by 2050; and how much of this is funded via the General Lighthouse Fund.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
All of Trinity House’s capital expenditure programmes are funded through the General Lighthouse Fund and are set out in their corporate plans, which cover rolling five-year periods and are updated and approved annually. The most recent Trinity House corporate plan (2026-31) sets out capital expenditure of £44.8 million over the five-year period, which includes spending on programmes which support decarbonisation.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 9 January 2026 to Question 100955 on Department for Transport: Carbon Emissions, if she will set out the programmes Transport Focus is undertaking to ensure its advocacy work and passenger research support the 2050 Net Zero target; and what the associated cost to the public purse is.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Transport Focus supports the Government’s 2050 Net Zero target by ensuring that its passenger advocacy and research activities recognise the need for a more sustainable transport system. This includes incorporating questions on environmental priorities and decarbonisation into its passenger surveys, using evidence from research to inform advice to the Department and the transport industry on how passenger behaviour and expectations can support modal shift, and engaging with operators and policymakers on the passenger implications of decarbonisation measures.
Transport Focus does not have a separate programme or ring‑fenced budget specifically for Net Zero activity. This work is undertaken as part of its core statutory functions and is funded from its existing grant‑in‑aid from the Department for Transport. As such, there are no additional or separately identifiable costs to the public purse arising from this activity.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 9 January 2026 to Question 100955 on Department for Transport: Carbon Emissions, what assessment she has made of the administrative costs required for the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain to adapt HGV and PSV licensing regulations to support the transition to zero-emission commercial fleets by 2050.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Traffic Commissioners (TCs) have an important role in regulating the operator licence regime for both goods vehicle and public service vehicles, ensuring operators meet requirements for safety, compliance, and professional competence. Their core function is to protect road safety, fair competition, and (to a more limited extent) the local environment, rather than to regulate vehicle emissions or carbon performance directly.
The exact role, if any, for the TCs is yet to be decided within future regulatory enforcement of the zero-emission strategy or if any changes to the HGV and PSV licensing will be required to support the transition to zero-emission. We will continue to assess any future impacts on the Traffic Commissioner function through the transition to all zero emission commercial fleets.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her Department holds on the average number of carriages provided per service for each train operating company holding a National Rail contract in each of the last 18 months.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department does not hold data on the average number of carriages provided per service and has not carried out an assessment of regional variation in the proportion of rail services operated with fewer carriages than planned in the last 18 months. The Department expects all operators to run services at planned capacity where possible, and to mitigate the impact on passengers where services are disrupted.