Asked by: Sarah Edwards (Labour - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support UK bus manufacturing and strengthen the domestic supply chain, in the context of increasing competition from China in the zero-emission bus market; and what assessment she has made of the impact of this trend on UK jobs, investment, and long-term industrial capacity in the bus manufacturing sector.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the important role of a vibrant UK bus manufacturing sector.
That is why the Government is committed to supporting the full transition to zero-emission buses (ZEBs). In March, we announced up to £73.2m in additional funding to support the delivery of approximately 484 ZEBs across 10 projects in England, on top of £38 million announced last April.
In addition, our modern Industrial Strategy launched DRIVE35, the biggest government investment in the automotive industry of the post‑war era. With £4bn in capital and R&D funding to 2035, DRIVE35 will accelerate UK innovation in strategic vehicle technologies, support their commercial scale‑up, and unlock investment across all aspects of automotive manufacturing and electrification, including buses.
Furthermore, in March 2025, the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel was launched, bringing together industry experts and local leaders to ensure the UK remains a leader in bus manufacturing. The final meeting was held in March 2026. At the meeting, Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) agreed a set of Commitments which included a 10% minimum application of social value in all future bus procurement exercises and to explore collective procurement options across MCAs.
It also agreed that the 10-year zero emission bus order pipeline, that was published in March 2026, will be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure an accurate forward look on ZEB manufacturing.
The Government is aware of concerns raised by UK manufacturers regarding increasing competition in the zero-emission bus market and the potential implications for jobs, investment and industrial capability. Where industry is concerned that increased competition is as a result of unfair foreign trade practices – i.e., dumping, subsidisation or an unforeseen surge of imports – they can apply to the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) for a trade remedy investigation.
We will continue to engage and work with the industry to ensure a competitive UK bus manufacturing sector.
Asked by: Sarah Edwards (Labour - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what measures she is taking to support small and medium sized businesses in the UK bus manufacturing supply chain.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the important role our smaller and medium sized companies play as part of a vibrant UK bus manufacturing sector.
That is why the Government is committed to supporting the full transition to zero-emission buses (ZEBs). In March, we announced up to £73.2 million in additional funding to support the delivery of approximately 484 ZEBs across 10 projects in England, on top of £38 million announced last April.
In addition, our modern Industrial Strategy launched DRIVE35, the biggest government investment in the automotive industry of the post‑war era. With £4bn in capital and R&D funding to 2035, DRIVE35 will accelerate UK innovation in strategic vehicle technologies, support their commercial scale‑up, and unlock investment across all aspects of automotive manufacturing and electrification, including buses.
Furthermore, in March 2025, the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel was launched, bringing together industry experts and local leaders to ensure the UK remains a leader in bus manufacturing. The final meeting was held in March 2026. At the meeting, Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) agreed a set of Commitments which included a 10% minimum application of social value in all future bus procurement exercises and to explore collective procurement options across MCAs.
It also agreed that the 10-year zero emission bus order pipeline, that was published in March 2026, will be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure an accurate forward look on ZEB manufacturing.
We will continue to engage and work with the industry to ensure a competitive UK bus manufacturing sector.
Asked by: Sarah Edwards (Labour - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the time taken for Section 278 approvals on SME development timelines.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises that the road adoption process under the Highways Act 1980, including Section 278 agreements where developers modify existing public highways, has become increasingly fragmented and prolonged across England. This has contributed to a decline in road adoption rates. In response, the Department for Transport is conducting research to better understand the underlying causes and identify opportunities for improvement.
Asked by: Sarah Edwards (Labour - Tamworth)
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 excluding used battery electric vehicles from eligibility for the new Electric Car Grant on (a) market uptake, (b) affordability and (c) value for money.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Electric Car Grant (ECG) is designed to cut costs for drivers who want to switch to a new electric car, as well as supporting environmentally sustainable manufacturing processes. The Government expects that the ECG will have some benefit in the used market due to a higher supply of affordable vehicles in future years, and the grant’s requirement for an 8-year or 100,000-mile warranty for the vehicle’s battery. We continue to work with industry to support a sustainable second-hand zero emission vehicle market.
Asked by: Sarah Edwards (Labour - Tamworth)
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 extending the eligibility criteria for the Electric Car Grant to include used electric vehicles.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Electric Car Grant (ECG) is designed to cut costs for drivers who want to switch to a new electric car, as well as supporting environmentally sustainable manufacturing processes. The Government expects that the ECG will have some benefit in the used market due to a higher supply of affordable vehicles in future years, and the grant’s requirement for an 8-year or 100,000-mile warranty for the vehicle’s battery. We continue to work with industry to support a sustainable second-hand zero emission vehicle market.
Asked by: Sarah Edwards (Labour - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will issue guidance to local authorities on ensuring that bus stop bypasses are accessible to blind and partially sighted people.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government has committed to publishing new statutory guidance for local authorities on the design of floating bus stops, also known as bus stop bypasses, within three months of the Bus Services (No.2) Bill receiving Royal Assent. We will engage with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee on the guidance and will also work with relevant stakeholders, including groups representing the needs of blind and partially sighted people.
The Bill also seeks a new power for the Secretary of State to develop statutory guidance on the safety and accessibility of bus stops and stations. It is our intention that the design guidance will complement the safety and accessibility guidance, helping to ensure that people are not prevented from using bus services because of inadequate accessibility.
Asked by: Sarah Edwards (Labour - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many roadside inspections on Operator License Operated Mini Buses have been undertaken in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The table below shows volumes of roadside inspections the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has carried out for public service vehicle (PSV) minibuses that had an operator licence recorded. DVSA only holds records for this data as far back as 2019:
Year | PSV Minibus Operator Licence Encounters |
2019/20 | 1330 |
2020/21 | 145 |
2021/22 | 898 |
2022/23 | 1009 |
2023/24 | 862 |
2024/25 | 654 |
Grand Total | 4898 |
DVSA does not record if any school or other type of minibus it inspects, whether at the side of the road or at annual MOT tests for PSVs, are subject to a section 19 permit.
Asked by: Sarah Edwards (Labour - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) school and (b) other minibuses have failed inspections under Section 19 of the Transport Act 1985 in the last 10 years.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The table below shows volumes of roadside inspections the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has carried out for public service vehicle (PSV) minibuses that had an operator licence recorded. DVSA only holds records for this data as far back as 2019:
Year | PSV Minibus Operator Licence Encounters |
2019/20 | 1330 |
2020/21 | 145 |
2021/22 | 898 |
2022/23 | 1009 |
2023/24 | 862 |
2024/25 | 654 |
Grand Total | 4898 |
DVSA does not record if any school or other type of minibus it inspects, whether at the side of the road or at annual MOT tests for PSVs, are subject to a section 19 permit.
Asked by: Sarah Edwards (Labour - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many roadside inspections of Permit 19 Minibuses have been undertaken in each of the last ten years.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not record if any minibuses it inspects at the side of the road are subject to a section 19 permit. Roadside inspections of minibuses could be completed by DVSA, local Police or local authorities.
Asked by: Sarah Edwards (Labour - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has for land that was formerly earmarked for HS2.
Answered by Huw Merriman
Any property that is no longer required will be disposed of and a programme is being developed to do this. We will ensure it is compliant with requirements on the disposal of surplus government property, delivers value for money for taxpayers and does not disrupt local property markets.