Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether gagging clauses have been used in contracts between his Department and charities, voluntary sector organisations, social enterprises or companies with the intention of stopping any criticism of Ministers of his Department.

The information below covers the central Department for Transport and four executive agencies as follows:

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)

Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)

Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)

We do not place ‘gagging orders’ but we do require contractors (and their employees and sub-contractors) to seek prior approval of any media engagement regarding the contract itself.

By way of background – see Condition E5 at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/657713/general-conditions-of-contract-for-services.pdf