Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve the availability of electric vehicle recharging stations.

We want the UK to continue to have one of the best electric vehicle charging networks in the world. To help achieve that aim we have put in place a range of grant schemes to support the installation of charging infrastructure - on-street, off-street and at workplaces. Highways England also has a commitment of £15m to ensure there are chargepoints (rapid where possible) every 20 miles on 95% of the Strategic Road Network. In addition, at Autumn Budget 2017 the Chancellor announced £400 million for a new Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund (£200m new Government investment to be matched by private investors). This funding is supported by a range of policy measures including the Automated and Electric Vehicle Bill, currently in Parliament, which will help ensure that there are sufficient electric vehicle chargepoints throughout the UK, and that they are convenient and easy to access for all drivers.