Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any increased risk to the safety of (1) pedestrians, and (2) other road users, due to delays in the completion of the Transport and Works Act 1992 order process to modify or close level crossings.

The Department does not carry out any assessment of risks associated with level crossings that are applied for either modification or closure under the Transport and Works Act 1992. It is for Network Rail to manage the risk at crossings owned by them, in its capacity as the duty holder. This risk must be managed and mitigated regardless of the length of time it takes for an application under the Transport and Works Act to complete and for the level crossing to be modified or closed.