Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the Government doing to ensure residents without off-street parking can access domestic-rate electric vehicle charging.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV).
The £25 million EV Pavement Channel Grant supports local authorities to roll out cross-pavement solutions which enable residents without off-street parking to benefit from cheaper and more convenient domestic EV charging. Residents can also access the Electric Vehicle Charge point Grant for Households with On-Street Parking. As announced on 25 February 2026, from 1 April this year, eligible applicants can receive up to £500 off the cost of installing a domestic charge point when paired with a cross-pavement solution.
Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, will the Government provide guidance to local authorities on permitting cross-pavement EV charging for residents.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is working with local authorities to encourage cross-pavement solutions to support EV charging for those without off-street parking. In December 2024, the Government published cross-pavement solutions guidance to help local authorities understand what they need to consider for the roll-out of cross-pavement solutions. This includes relevant planning permissions, minimum existing standards, responsibilities and case studies from trials.
Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding is available to support local authorities in providing EV charging for residents without off-street parking.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government’s £400 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities to deliver over 100,000 further public charge points for residents without off-street parking. In addition, the £25 million EV Pavement Channel Grant supports local authorities to rollout cross-pavement solutions. This will ensure more residents can benefit from cheaper and more convenient domestic EV charging. This funding is to build on more than 118,000 publicly available chargers in England and Wales as of 1 March.
Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the Government plans to ensure cross-pavement EV charging solutions remain sustainable and avoid unnecessary costs in the event that properties change ownership.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The commercial arrangements between each local authority and cross‑pavement solution provider will determine who is responsible for maintenance, including when property ownership changes. It is the responsibility of local authorities to develop their own policies on maintenance and change of ownership. Published in December 2024, the Government’s cross‑pavement solutions guidance helps local authorities develop policies that account for both maintenance requirements and situations involving changes in property ownership.
Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will set targets for companies to provide accessible human customer service channels.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government is committed to improving accessibility, customer support, and helping to remove barriers to travel for all users of public transport. The Department recognises the important role staff play in providing face-to-face services on public transport and the reassurance this gives many customers, especially those who may feel vulnerable or may need more support.
Innovation across the sector offers significant opportunities to change and improve customer service. Digitalisation and technological improvements will form part of this, across different modes of transport. These should be inclusive of the needs of all passengers, including disabled people. Where adjustments such as in-person assistance may be required, these should be accounted for in planning and development.
Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential cost to the public purse of introducing a national free travel pass for NHS workers.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There are no current plans to introduce national rail discounts to NHS worker. Once established, Great British Railways will have the opportunity to take a fresh look at the eligibility and restrictions of concession schemes. Any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy requires balancing against the potential impacts on passengers and taxpayers.
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as expanding the eligibility criteria to include NHS workers, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.
However, as part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the government allocated £955 million to support and improve bus services in 25/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, this can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include introducing new fares initiatives to reduce the cost of bus travel for passengers, including NHS workers.
Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a national free travel pass for NHS workers.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There are no current plans to introduce national rail discounts to NHS worker. Once established, Great British Railways will have the opportunity to take a fresh look at the eligibility and restrictions of concession schemes. Any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy requires balancing against the potential impacts on passengers and taxpayers.
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as expanding the eligibility criteria to include NHS workers, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.
However, as part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the government allocated £955 million to support and improve bus services in 25/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, this can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include introducing new fares initiatives to reduce the cost of bus travel for passengers, including NHS workers.