Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help prevent regional inconsistencies in pavement parking enforcement policy; and when statutory guidance for local authorities to enforce against unnecessary obstruction of the pavement will be published.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
On 8 January 2026, the Secretary of State announced the publication of the government’s formal response to the 2020 public consultation 'Pavement parking: options for change' which sets out the legislative measures to tackle pavement parking. The government will publish statutory guidance by end of 2026 to assist local authorities in carrying out enforcement in a fair and proportionate manner.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to reduce the cost to (a) the public purse, and (b) farepayers of the cost of maintaining payments to the current Rolling Stock companies (ROSCOs).
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We expect that, once established, Great British Railways (GBR) will continue to lease rolling stock where this offers value for money. The private-sector rolling stock market has brought significant benefits to passengers and taxpayers, with private investment worth over £20 billion since 1995. However, we are determined to work with the market to ensure it delivers best value for passengers and taxpayers in the future. That is why, even before establishing GBR, we are now developing a comprehensive long-term strategy for rolling stock and associated infrastructure – the first in more than thirty years. We intend to publish this next summer.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how she is engaging with aviation workers and their unions about increasing the sustainability of aviation policy, including through the the Airports National Policy Statement review (ANPS) and its review of the Jet Zero strategy; and will she consider deliberative and participatory consultation methods such as a Workers' or Citizens' Assembly.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government is committed to delivering greener transport and we are making significant progress in supporting aviation to become more sustainable. The government engages with the aviation sector and trade unions on aviation decarbonisation, including via the Jet Zero Taskforce. The Taskforce aims to identify, and advise on, unblocking key barriers to delivering greener aviation.
On 4 December 2025, I met the aviation sector Trade Unions and made clear my support for decarbonisation and addressing the skills gap.
Any proposed changes to policy in the Airports National Policy Statement as a result of the ongoing review will be subject to public consultation in summer 2026, providing the opportunity for aviation workers and their unions to respond. We have also recently published our approach to stakeholder engagement which sets out how we intend to gather a broad range of views as part of the review, which can be found here: Engagement during the Airports National Policy Statement review - GOV.UK
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that the Cycle to Work scheme supports equitable access for employees, including (a) those with disabilities who require specially adapted bicycles, (b) individuals undertaking longer or rural commutes, and (c) older employees who may benefit from electric bicycles.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Cycle to Work Scheme has helped millions of people choose a healthier, greener way to travel while boosting local economies and supporting jobs.
It is for employers to decide whether and how to provide cycles for their workforce under the Cycle to Work Scheme. Any scheme must operate within rules set by HM Revenue and Customs, HM Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
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 the Motability Foundation on an accessible transition to EVs.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department works with Motability on an accessible transition to EVs. This includes initiatives to ensure public charging infrastructure is accessible for drivers with disabilities, such as the joint sponsorship of the Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 1899:2022 for chargepoint accessibility.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of diesel vehicles equipped with defeat devices on levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution in urban areas; and whether she plans to introduce (a) targeted air pollution mitigation and (b) vehicle retirement schemes in areas most affected by non-compliant diesel vehicle emissions.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is committed to reducing air pollution from all forms of transport. Elevated NOx emissions from diesel vehicles contribute to poor air quality.
The Department has not produced a specific UK-only assessment of the potential impact of diesel vehicles equipped with defeat devices on NO2 pollution in urban areas. However, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s Market Surveillance Unit (MSU) is investigating cases of possible non-compliant diesel emissions in cars and vans. The investigations aim to ensure any non-compliance found is fixed as soon as reasonably possible, working together with manufacturers to achieve real-world impacts on air quality.
Clean Air Zones have been implemented locally where evidence shows they are the quickest route to reduce NO2 pollution, and where no equally effective alternatives can be identified. Local authorities are best placed to determine the most appropriate measures to meet legally binding air quality obligations.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 88125, what current through-ticketed rail-sail routes are available through (a) train operators and (b) ferry operators for (i) domestic travel and (ii) international travel.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The current through-ticketed rail-sail routes available through train operators and ferry operators for domestic travel is to Northern Ireland (Cairnryan or Holyhead to Belfast), the Isle of Wight (Portsmouth-Ryde, Southampton to Cowes, Lymington to Yarmouth), and the Isle of Man (Liverpool and Heysham to Douglas). For international travel it is to Ireland via Fishguard (currently Pembroke) to Rosslare, Holyhead to Dublin and Harwich to Hook of Holland.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answers to question 87756 on 14 November 2025 and question 87421 on 11 November 2025, what consideration has she made of the value for money of (a) continuing to leave current railway rolling stock leasing arrangements in the private sector, and (b) bringing future procurement of railway rolling stock into the public sector.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Rolling Stock Leasing Companies (ROSCOs) play an important role in the industry, bringing benefits to both taxpayers and passengers. Since 1995 there has been significant private sector investment in rolling stock totalling over £20 billion.
The Government is now working to develop a long-term strategy for rolling stock and associated infrastructure, which will consider how the public sector can secure best value from the rolling stock market in future, but we expect Great British Railways to continue to lease rolling stock from ROSCOs where they can offer value for money terms.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer to question 88126 on 17 November 2025, whether the environmental impact assessment for the review of the Airports National Policy Statement will include Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions specifically.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As part of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) review, the Secretary of State will carry out an Appraisal of Sustainability which will include a Strategic Environmental Assessment, which will consider greenhouse gas emissions.
As per the Appraisal of Sustainability for the existing ANPS, this will include consideration of emissions from the way people travel to and from the airport, as well as aircraft movements. It will be for individual promoters to submit Environmental Impact Assessments as part of any Development Consent Application in relation to Heathrow expansion.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to ensure that diesel vehicle manufacturers responsible for illegal emissions practices contribute to environmental remediation or compensation schemes.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government takes illegal emissions practices extremely seriously. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s Market Surveillance Unit (MSU) is investigating cases of possible non-compliant diesel emissions in cars and vans. The investigations aim to ensure any non-compliance found is fixed as soon as reasonably possible, working together with manufacturers to achieve real-world impacts on air quality.