Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2026, to Question 17041, Parking Offences: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, what were the conclusions from the review, what is the Government's response to the review, and if she will publish the review.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department noted Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council’s conclusions following its 2025 trial. BCP then requested a further trial, which was granted. There are no plans to publish reviews of these trials, which have been held by BCP, and where the publication of any conclusions is for them.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2026 to Question 18773 on Biodiversity, whether it remains her Department's policy that biodiversity net gain applies to most development.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Most planning applications have always been exempt from Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) because they have little or no impact on nature. BNG continues to apply to many new housing and commercial developments and will be mandatory for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects from November 2026. Government expects BNG to continue to play an important role in recovering nature in England while supporting the homes and infrastructure we need.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with (a) Transport for London and (b) the Greater London Authority on the publication of guidance on applications for fully autonomous taxi passenger services; and what her policy is on the adoption of driverless taxis in London.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department engages regularly with Transport for London (TfL) and the Greater London Authority (GLA) on the Automated Passenger Services (APS) permitting framework established under the Automated Vehicles Act 2024.

This engagement has included discussions on the operation of the pilot permitting scheme, the roles of local licensing authorities and franchising bodies in their consent function, and the non-statutory guidance issued by the Department to support these processes.

Under the framework, where an automated passenger service resembles a taxi or private hire vehicle, the relevant licensing authority must provide its consent before a permit can be granted. There is no requirement for TfL, the GLA or any other consent authority to issue guidance on the role automated passenger services may play within their local areas.

Decisions on individual permit applications will be taken in accordance with the statutory framework, including the requirement for appropriate local consent. The Government considers that automated passenger services have the potential to improve transport options and support innovation, while maintaining public safety as the overriding priority.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the current amount of facility time given to the trade unions by DfT Operator Limited (DFTO) (a) in cash and (b) as percentage of paybill terms; and whether DFTO plans to increase this further as a consequence of the new Civil Service facility time framework.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The DfT Operator Limited is in the process of finalising a recognition agreement with the public sector unions whose members transferred from the Department and as such, there is no facility time in DfT Operator Limited.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 20 July 2026 to Question 18159 on Employees' Contributions and paragraph 1.27 of the Office for Budget Responsibility's document entitled Supplementary forecast information release: Costing of charging NICs on salary-sacrificed pension, published on 5 February 2026, if he will publish the calculation and assumptions used by HMRC to estimate that the mean average additional employee National Insurance contributions liability will be £84 in the first year.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The £84 average additional employee National Insurance Contributions (NICs) liability in the first year of impact (2029–30) is equivalent to the pre-behavioural salary sacrifice employee NICs yield divided by the number of affected employees.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 9 July 2026, to Question 16283, on National Highways: Public Relations, if she will place in the Library a copy of the (a) contract, (b) Scope of Work document and (c) project specification for the external public affairs contract; and whether the stakeholders include (i) MPs and (ii) Government departments.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In response to Questions 30028 and 30022, I refer the Hon. Member to the answers given on 9 July 2026 to PQ UIN 16283 and 8 September 2026 to PQ UIN 21982.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 28 August 2026 to Question 17510 on Department for Transport: Public Relations, if she will publish the (a) Scope of Work document and (b) project specification for the National Highways public affairs contract.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In response to Questions 30028 and 30022, I refer the Hon. Member to the answers given on 9 July 2026 to PQ UIN 16283 and 8 September 2026 to PQ UIN 21982.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2026 to Question 14930 on Railways: Standards, what information her Department holds on which state-owned Train Operating Companies record management information on service cancellations attributable to (a) short-notice staff sickness and (b) crew unavailability.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department does not hold information on which train operating companies record management information specifically on service cancellations attributable to short-notice staff sickness or crew unavailability.

Train operating companies monitor a range of management information locally in support of operational decision-making in addition to industry-standard cancellation attribution data. The Department does not maintain a record of whether individual operators record such information.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, Schedule 14, Part 1, Paragraph 18 for zebra crossings at floating bus stops.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government considers that the requirements set out in Schedule 14, Part 1, Paragraph 18 of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 provide an appropriate framework for zebra crossings, including those associated with floating bus stop designs.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2026 to Question 15005 on Large Goods Vehicles: Electric Vehicles, whether her Department plans to update its cost of ownership modelling for HGVs in the context of changes to zero-emission vehicle policies in the (a) European Union and (b) United States since the publication of the external analyses cited.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The assumptions underpinning the total cost of ownership analysis for zero emission heavy goods vehicles are kept under continuous review as evidence emerges. This includes consideration of developments in international markets where relevant. Further details will be published alongside the next consultation on the HGV CO2 emissions regulatory framework.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, further to the No10 press release, Cheaper travel for millions with a third off fares, of 22 July 2026, which international climate finance projects will have their funding converted into loans to fund the £454 million; whether the borrowing will core on the PSBR; and over what period the loans will be paid back.

Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is switching £400 million of grant funding set aside for future international climate finance projects into loans, providing more flexible ways to meet our international climate objectives.

This will support Government’s intention to invest £400m of loan finance into the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, a new global forests fund which aims to preserve tropical forests, support forest communities and protect critical global ecosystems. Funds that flow from the TFFF to forest countries will not have to be repaid.

As we are investing in the form of a repayable loan, it is not funded through additional borrowing. The terms of this loan is subject to the Funds finalisation, completions of our due diligence checks and our conditions being met, in line with normal value for money and Official Development Assistance requirements.

We are continuing to engage with HMT on savings.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much Greater Manchester Combined Authority has received in relation to the Electric Vehicle Pavement Channels Grant in the last three years.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Electric Vehicle Pavement Channels Grant was open for one financial year, 2025-2026.

Information on funding allocations for the Electric Vehicle Pavement Channel Grant is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electric-vehicle-ev-pavement-channels-grant-local-authority-allocations/electric-vehicle-ev-pavement-channels-grant-funding-amounts

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she will publish updated estimates of the impact of the SAF Mandate on average air fares, including the potential costs of buyout payments arising from insufficient fuel supply in (a) 2027, (b) 2028 and (c) 2030.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport plans to publish an annual Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Mandate statistics report following each reporting year. These reports will include information on compliance with the SAF Mandate, including the use of buy-out payments where applicable.

Projections of future buyout payments under the SAF Mandate, and associated impacts on air fares, are dependent on future market developments and form part of ongoing policy development and analysis. As such, the Department is not currently providing projections for specific future years.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2026 to WPQ 6817, what the staffing levels were for the latest month for which figures are available.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The table shows the number of full time equivalent (FTE) BIST staff working in, and on behalf of the UK in each overseas region as of September 2026, the latest available data point. Available data is held at regional level. The requested information is not readily available on a country-by-country basis but could be provided as a separate list.

BIST also has UK-based teams working across a broad range of business and trade activities, including support for international trade missions. Most staff are in the Trade Group. However, BIST uses a flexible resourcing model, some staff work across multiple functions. The department therefore cannot separately identify the proportion of wider UK-based roles that support international trade missions.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency issues on the (a) early termination of compulsory basic training instructor check rides, (b) consideration of new evidence following an unsuccessful appeal and (c) availability of independent review where an instructor's authority to provide training has been withdrawn.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) publishes guidance on the monitoring of Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) instructors and approved training bodies on GOV.UK, including how standards checks are conducted and the action that may be taken where standards are not met.

DVSA does not publish specific guidance on the early termination of standards checks due to risk or on the consideration of new evidence following an unsuccessful review.

Published guidance provides for instructors and approved training bodies to make representations and submit supporting evidence before a decision is made. Where an instructor's authority to provide training has been withdrawn, DVSA's complaints process is available and, once that process has been exhausted, complaints about DVSA's handling of the matter may be referred to the Independent Complaints Assessor and subsequently to the Public Services Ombudsman through a Member of Parliament.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Zero Emission Vehicle mandate compliance costs on UK automotive manufacturing investment and employment.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate sets a clear direction for the UK’s automotive sector, providing the certainty industry needs to unlock jobs and secure investment. Data from the ZEV Mandate shows the average cost of trading ZEV allowances to meet compliance in the UK in 2024 was approximately £4,000 per traded ZEV allowance for cars. DfT analysis estimates the average additional cost of discounting for ZEVs was around £2,800 per vehicle in 2025. Both are substantially lower than the Mandate’s compliance payment levels. The Government will continue to engage with manufacturers om UK investment, including through our ongoing ZEV Mandate review consultation.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations his Department has received in the last 12 months on proposals to vary Vehicle Excise Duty according to vehicle width.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

In the last 12 months, HM Treasury has received a variety of representations on possible changes to VED, including changes to take greater account of the dimensions or weight of cars such as Sport Utility Vehicles.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, further to the No10 press release entitled Free bus travel 24/7 for disabled people as Prime Minister takes further action to ease cost of living, of 17 August 2026, whether this is (a) additional DWP spending, (b) spending from unallocated budgets and (c) from reductions to other budgets.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

The £60 million funding for Free bus travel 24/7 for disabled people comes from existing Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Department for Transport (DfT) budgets. It is made up of a £40 million contribution from DWP, and a £20 million contribution from DfT. Budgets for 2027/28 will be agreed through DWPs internal allocations process, which will conclude ahead of the new financial year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the description of Russia’s actions as being short of war by officials in his Department reflects a political or a military analysis.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Russia is conducting a campaign of hybrid attacks and sabotage across Europe. Russia is constantly probing and testing us, including through military posturing.

We are not at war with Russia, nor do we seek confrontation but with an increase in threats the UK will increase its warfighting readiness and meet its NATO commitments. The government is also acting against threats on our own shores.

Russia should be in no doubt that we are ready to defend every inch of NATO territory and will not be deterred in our unwavering support for Ukraine.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with Birmingham City Council on introducing blanket 20mph speed limits across the local authority area.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department has held no discussions with Birmingham City Council on introducing blanket 20 mph speed limits across its area.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 7 September 2026, to Question 26687, on Roads: Repairs and Maintenance, if she will list each road scheme which has had its delivery contract (a) terminated, (b) postponed or (c) rescheduled since July 2024, by (a) her Department and (b) National Highways, including the date of the decision to move the delivery date.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Detailed contractual information relating to projects that remain under active consideration, development or review is commercially sensitive and disclosure could prejudice future commercial activity and value for money. The Department therefore does not disclose contract-level information for such schemes.

For schemes that have been formally cancelled and will not proceed, Table 1 lists delivery contracts formally terminated by National Highways following cancellation of the associated scheme since July 2024.

Table 1

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will list which members of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee contributed to the Committee's submissions to her Department on floating bus stops dated (a) 24 October 2025 and (b) 2 December 2025.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In line with data protection requirements, names or other personal data of the members of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee who contributed to submissions relating to the floating bus stop statutory guidance will not be released.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 10 July 2026, to Question 15270, on Speed Limits: Cameras, whether any revenue from motoring fines is retained by the department.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

No revenue from motoring fines is retained by the Department for Transport.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the No10 press release entitled Prime Minister supports West Midlands to take public control of local bus network, published on 18 August 2026, from which budget and department is the £11.5m of new government funding coming from; whether this is (a) additional spending or (b) from an existing budget; and whether it will be part of integrated settlement funding.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Funding will be provided from within existing Department for Transport allocations over a 3-year period, with precise allocations depending on where potential efficiencies and savings are identified. A final decision has not yet been taken on whether this funding will be incorporated into the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Integrated Settlement.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to the written statement of 1 September 2026, HCWS297, on bus fares, whether (a) devolved administrations and (b) London will receive any consequential funding as a consequence of the £400 million of government funding from the DESNZ budget.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

This action to ease the cost of living is fully funded through an extra £454m (including funding for devolved governments) which comes from a reprioritisation of DESNZ’s budget.

For the devolved governments the Barnett formula applies when departmental budgets change, not when spending is announced. Barnett consequentials will be confirmed in the normal way at the next fiscal event. London will not receive any consequential funding under existing devolved arrangements in the capital.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to the No10 press release, "Free bus travel 24/7 for disabled people as Prime Minister takes further action to ease cost of living", of 17 August 2026, over what financial years is the £60 million being provided; and whether this is additional DfT spending, spending from unallocated budgets, or from reductions to other budgets.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The £60 million funding is being provided for financial year 2027-28. This will be met through reprioritisation within existing Department for Transport and Department for Work and Pensions budgets and will not require additional funding from taxpayers.

This is a permanent policy change and funding for future years will be confirmed at the next Spending Review.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 August 2026 to Question 18772 on Railways: Standards, what the average (a) 'Time to 3' performance and (b) cancellations rate for passenger rail services in Great Britain in each month from March 2026.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Office of Rail and Road is the statistical authority for the rail industry, and regularly publishes statistics for many aspects of the rail industry, including rail performance. The data relating to Time to 3 and cancellations for Great Britain can be found online at:

https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/performance/passenger-rail-performance/table-3138-train-punctuality-at-recorded-station-stops-by-operator-periodic/

https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/performance/passenger-rail-performance/table-3124-trains-planned-and-cancellations-by-operator-periodic/

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to the oral statement by the Prime Minister of 1 September 2026, Official Report, whether (1) No10 North and (2) the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet was (a) consulted and (b) involved in the recent pay rise agreed with Avanti West Coast.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The recent pay settlement reached at Avanti West Coast, with ASLEF, was taken forward in line with principles for 2026 rail pay settlements agreed with the previous Prime Minister’s office before No.10 North’s establishment.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2026 to Question 15270, on Speed Limits: Cameras, which body holds information on the revenue directed from motoring fines into the Consolidated Fund.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Receipts from fixed penalty notices (FPNs) including those issued for speeding offences and penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) are issued by the Police and collected by His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and accounted for in the annual HMCTS Trust Statement. By statute, these receipts are due to the Consolidated Fund; however, HM Treasury has agreed that annually £30 million of the receipts from paid FPNs plus an additional £10 per paid PND should be ring fenced for use by victim services. The remaining receipts, under the latest HM Treasury spending review, are to be retained by the Ministry of Justice and form part of their overall funding settlement.

In 2025-26, HMCTS collected £144.4 million from paid FPNs and PNDs of which £30.017 million was ring fenced to victim services and the remaining £114 million was retained by the Ministry of Justice.

The link to the latest published HMCTS Trust Statement is here: Trust Report 2025-26.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2026 to Question 21974, have there been any instances where an uncle/niece or aunt/nephew marriage which falls within the prohibited degrees of relationship under the Marriage Act 1949 have been recognised.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice does not collect data on the recognition of particular types of marriage.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2026 to Question 21974 on Social Security Benefits: Polygamy, if he will publish the required conditions under which an an overseas polygamous marriage is recognised under the law of England and Wales.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The law on the recognition of overseas marriage in matters for which the Lord Chancellor has policy responsibility is principally found in the common law.

Under the common law, an overseas marriage is normally recognised if it complied with the requirements for the form of the ceremony where it took place (meaning by whom, where, when and how it was conducted) and if both parties had capacity to marry according to the law of their domicile (home country).

If a party to the marriage was domiciled in England and Wales and had a spouse or civil partner at the time of the marriage, the marriage will be void under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. The court may also consider additional matters in deciding on recognition.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2026 to Question 21974 on Social Security Benefits: Polygamy, whether there is a statute law basis for recognising a polygamous marriage in England and Wales.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

In areas for which the Lord Chancellor has policy responsibility, the court will normally apply common law rules to determine whether an overseas marriage (including a polygamous marriage) is recognised in England and Wales.

The Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 reinforces the common law rules on capacity to enter into an overseas marriage.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish (a) his Department's strategy for major announcements and (b) a list of changes made since the Strategic Defence Review was published in 2025.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The strategy for future major announcements is managed by the Directorate of Defence Communications in conjunction with the Department’s Parliamentary Branch and the subject matter experts. Key announcements are planned and discussed with No. 10 in line with usual protocols. The MOD will always seek to ensure that Parliament is put first when announcing Defence policies and strategies.

The Government will continue to deliver on the vision set out in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), published in June 2025. The Defence Investment Plan (DIP), published in June 2026, further enables the delivery of this vision and this government’s commitment to the Armed Forces and to the nation’s security. It places Defence on a stronger, more sustainable footing, setting out the investment choices the Government has made for UK Defence to 2035, and backed by nearly £300 billion of investment over the next four years – including an additional £15 billion increase in spending power above that agreed at last year’s Spending Review. The document includes comprehensive information about the many changes and investments defence is making.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2026 to Question 12808 on High Speed 2 Line, what indicative timetable she has set for (a) a decision in principle, (b) the commencement of construction and (c) completion of a new high-speed rail line between Birmingham and Manchester.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The first step in our work to deliver a new railway between Birmingham to Manchester is a feasibility study involving local partners. This study is now underway and will develop options for the line of route, specification, delivery and funding arrangements.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) enforceability of requirements for stripes at zebra crossings under Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, Schedule 14, Part 1, Paragraph 18 at floating bus stops.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department does not hold information on the number of zebra crossings at floating bus stops that do or do not comply with TSRGD. Installation of floating bus stops, including zebra crossings, is the responsibility of local traffic authorities who are not required to inform the Department when doing so. It is for them to ensure measures on their network comply with relevant legislation.

The Department has made no assessment on the effectiveness and enforceability of requirements for stripes at zebra crossings under Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016. Enforcement of offences relating to zebra crossings is a matter for the police

Research is being carried out by Active Travel England on potential solutions to improve accessibility of floating bus stop designs. This includes work to identify existing floating bus stops at national level and evaluate collision records.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on the number of zebra crossings at floating bus stops that (a) do and (b) do not comply with Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, Schedule 14, Part 1, Paragraph 18.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department does not hold information on the number of zebra crossings at floating bus stops that do or do not comply with TSRGD. Installation of floating bus stops, including zebra crossings, is the responsibility of local traffic authorities who are not required to inform the Department when doing so. It is for them to ensure measures on their network comply with relevant legislation.

The Department has made no assessment on the effectiveness and enforceability of requirements for stripes at zebra crossings under Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016. Enforcement of offences relating to zebra crossings is a matter for the police

Research is being carried out by Active Travel England on potential solutions to improve accessibility of floating bus stop designs. This includes work to identify existing floating bus stops at national level and evaluate collision records.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2026 to Question 9167, on DfT: departmental responsibilities, what is the name of the internal plan which has replaced the Outcome Delivery Plan.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The name of the internal plan which has replaced the Outcome Delivery Plan is the DfT Strategic Plan.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of removing the A127 Economic Growth Corridor scheme from the Major Road Network programme on (a) congestion and journey times on the A127, (b) road safety and (c) the delivery of government targerts for development in south Essex; and what plans she has to support other improvements to the A127.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Major Road Network/Large Local Majors (MRN/LLM) Programme Review considered those 40 or so schemes that had not reached the Outline Business Case stage, despite being in the Programme for over six years. This included the A127 Corridor for Growth scheme, promoted by Essex County Council.

Our review considered many factors including whether the schemes were affordable to local authorities and central Government; how soon they could be delivered; their overall value for money; and how well they aligned with the Government’s priorities, including economic growth and housing development.

As the A127 scheme is at an early stage of development, full modelling and analysis on journey time savings and impacts of the interventions on road safety were not available to us.

Following the decision being relayed to the promoter (Essex County Council) on 8^th October, it is now for them to determine how best to take forward this scheme or other improvements on the A127.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to provide a report on the issues associated with the smart motorway speed cameras.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In December 2025, the Secretary of State appointed Tracy Westall OBE to lead an independent review into how this technical anomaly came about to ensure that lessons can be learnt.

We intend to publish the independent review report in full and update the House once all relevant work associated with it is complete.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has had discussions or correspondence on introducing traffic filters in any localities other than Oxford.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department has had no such discussions or correspondence.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the implications for her policies of municipal (a) on-street and (b) off-street parking charges which impose additional charges on cars based on the vehicle weight or size.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport has not made any such assessment.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) discussions and (b) correspondence her Department had with (i) combined authorities and (ii) other local authorities on the potential introduction of workplace parking taxes since July 2024.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

My officials have had communications regarding potential workplace parking levies with Birmingham City Council; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council; Bristol City Council; Leeds City Council; and Oxfordshire County Council.

The introduction of a workplace parking levy is a matter for the local traffic authority. None of these authorities have sought confirmation of a workplace parking levy scheme from the Secretary of State, as required under the Transport Act 2000.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2026, to Question 16636, on DfT: Public Relations, whether (a) JOE Media and (b) the News Movement, were paid from the public purse for those campaigns.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Since July 2024, Department for Transport has delivered some THINK! road safety campaign activity via its contracted partnerships and public relations agency 23Red, enabling us to reach young men with road safety messages.

The budget previously released was paid directly to 23Red from the THINK! Campaign, which is funded by the public purse. The figures include a range of costs and fees associated with the delivery of this activity. Payment to Joe Media and The News Movement channels was managed by 23Red and not paid directly by the department.

All campaign expenditure is subject to a rigorous approvals and assurance process via Cabinet Office, with proposals scrutinised to ensure spend is justified, proportionate and represents value for money before funding is committed.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2026 to WPQ 7223, what the analysis of the benefit to cost ratio of the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement showed.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The March 2022 Outline Business Case for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement scheme indicated a benefit cost ratio of 4.89 : 1. These assessments have not been updated since the scheme was paused by the previous Government in 2022. The Ely scheme remains under consideration and will be reviewed as future funding opportunities arise.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of their proposal to apply the 2018 Nutrient Profiling Model to food advertising restrictions on business investment.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answers provided on 31 March in response to Question 120152 and on 7 September in response to Question 19910.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2026 to Question 14937 on Department for Transport: Public Relations, what expenditure Active Travel England has undertaken since July 2024 on external (a) public affairs, (b) stakeholder management and (c) public relations companies; and through what firms.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Active Travel England has incurred no expenditure on external public affairs, stakeholder management or public relations companies since July 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of how the National Planning Policy Framework addresses the cumulative and wider effects on (a) education, (b) primary healthcare, (c) transport, (d) parking, (e) drainage and (f) other local infrastructure arising from development assessed on a site-by-site basis; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of clearer national guidance on the aggregation of impacts for cases such as the Astley warehouse development that extend beyond individual planning applications.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to policies DM4, P3, P4 and E3 of the new National Planning Policy Framework published on 17 August.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 22 September 2026 to Question 29179 on Births: Medical Records, if she will publish the assessment and evidence used to determine that SNOMED coded information should be permitted but not required in the Maternity Services Data Set.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answers given on 2 September to Question 29179 and on 25 June to Question 10241.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2026 to Question 29628 on Cars: Manufacturing Industries, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Zero Emission Vehicle mandate compliance costs on (a) investment in UK vehicle manufacturing, (b) UK vehicle production and (c) employment in the automotive sector.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department continues to monitor factors affecting investment, production and employment in the UK automotive sector, including the impact of regulatory requirements and associated compliance costs alongside wider factors including trade policy, energy and production costs, and measures influencing zero emission vehicle demand, such as the Electric Car Grant and charging infrastructure. It would not be appropriate to disclose insights from confidential, commercially sensitive discussions with industry. The Government remains committed to supporting a competitive UK automotive sector, securing investment and safeguarding manufacturing and jobs as the industry transitions to zero emission vehicles.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what changes National Highways have made to their initial plans for diversionary routes following local consultation regarding the Lune Gorge Bridge replacement works and impact on Junction 38 since the start of the year.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

National Highways is currently developing options on the approach to the essential renewals required on the seven bridges of the M6 in Lune Gorge.

The intention is to consult on the final options early in February 2027. This will provide the community, businesses, road users and wider stakeholders with the opportunity to give their views on how the work should be carried out, including proposed diversion routes.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2026 to Question 29628 on Cars: Manufacturing Industries, whether his Department has recommended changes to the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate to the Department for Transport.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Government launched the long-committed ZEV Mandate Review consultation to seek views from stakeholders to ensure the Mandate remains fit for purpose. We are committed to getting the balance right, ensuring the ZEV Mandate targets are realistic to ensure the ZEV transition remains achievable and that costs of compliance are affordable for industry. As the consultation is still live, no decisions have been taken, and it would not be appropriate to prejudge the outcome of the review. Officials across Government in key Departments, including DfT and BIST, continue to engage closely.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 15 July 2026 to Question 16606 on Railways: Greater London, if she will publish that representation.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The representations received from the Mayor of London and Transport for London include a business case relating to the proposed devolution of Great Northern Inner services. This business case remains subject to ongoing scrutiny and development between Transport for London, the Department and relevant rail industry partners. The Department therefore does not intend to publish this as discussions remain ongoing.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the National Fire Chiefs Council has withdrawn its advice of May 2025 that the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations could increase the danger to firefighters and the public.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) submitted a formal response to the consultation on the 2025 burning regulations and this was considered, alongside a range of responses, as part of the development of the regulations. The Government issued a comprehensive response addressing concerns around wildfires and we engaged with NFCC following their response.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many projects have left the portfolio in each year since NISTA began reporting because they were a) completed and b) cancelled; what the i) value and ii) cost of cancellation was of those projects; and what the lead department was for those projects.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

In the 2025-26 financial year, 26 projects left the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) having successfully delivered their intended objectives, while seven projects left the portfolio following a decision to stop the project or bring it to an early closure. For further information on these projects, including project costs and lead departments, I refer the Hon. Member to the annual reports published to date by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA):

• NISTA Annual Report 2024/25: https://ar25.nista.grid.civilservice.gov.uk/
• NISTA Major Projects Annual Report 2025/26: https://ar26.nista.grid.civilservice.gov.uk/

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether his Department has conducted an analysis of the impact of Chinese-manufactured vehicles on the UK automotive sector.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recognises that imports of Chinese-manufactured vehicles are increasing and continues to monitor the situation closely. We continue to work with UK automotive manufacturers to understand the implications of China's policies and practices on UK industry interests.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support participation in gliding.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government recognises the role that gliding plays within the UK's general aviation sector, offering many unique opportunities and experiences for young people, supporting their development and helping to provide pathways to exciting new careers.

The Government supports opportunities for young people to enter aviation through the Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund, which has provided over £4 million for outreach, skills and careers programmes across the aviation sector.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support the deepest possible knowledge of the Holocaust in the education system; and how her Department supports educational visits for schools to the death camps.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The Holocaust is the only historic event which is compulsory within the current national curriculum for history at key stage 3. The government has made a commitment that the Holocaust will remain a compulsory topic in the reformed national curriculum, which will also be required teaching in academy schools when it is implemented.

Additionally, the government funds programmes to support Holocaust teaching which provide high-quality, rigorous education about the Holocaust. This includes the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz project, which gives pupils aged 16 to 18 the opportunity to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau.

The department funds teachers’ professional development in this subject through University College London’s Centre for Holocaust Education. The Supporting Holocaust Survivor Testimony in Teaching programme also supports schools in using recorded Holocaust survivor testimony in their teaching.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of whether the impact assessment accompanying the Department of Health and Social Care's consultation on the 2018 Nutrient Profiling Model complies with the Better Regulation Framework.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The consultation stage impact assessment contains the key evidence and analysis expected as part of the Better Regulation Framework (BRF). As required by the BRF, the department also submitted an earlier options assessment to the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) for independent scrutiny. The RPC’s scrutiny of the options assessment was published on 30^th March 2026.

Senior Courts of England and Wales