Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2023 to Question 150416 on regulation of e-scooters, what his Department's timeframe is for (a) the consultation process and (b) agreeing potential consequential regulatory measures.

Government plans to introduce legislation for private and rental e-scooter use when parliamentary time allows and will consult on regulations in due course. No final decisions about e-scooter regulations have been or will be made before interested parties have had an opportunity to offer views.

The Department also intends to introduce a rental framework which will allow local transport authorities to manage rental services of cycles, e-cycles and e-scooters, so that matters such as fleet sizes and parking can be kept under local control.

Local authorities already have legal powers to remove e-cycles and other items that are abandoned on the road or pathway. The Department will continue to work with local authorities and keep under review ways to prevent e-cycles and e-scooters from becoming obstructive to other road users and pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities.