Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) to discourage the use of private combustion engine motor vehicles in cities, and (2) to promote the use of public transport in cities and elsewhere, during the remainder of 2020.

The Government is providing £225 million of emergency funding to local authorities in the current financial year to enable them to introduce measures to support more cycling and walking. The Department for Transport issued guidance to local authorities in May, which suggested that they should make significant changes to their road layouts to give more space to cyclists and pedestrians. This will help give people a safe alternative to the car for short journeys.

The Government is also supporting the transition to cleaner vehicles by investing around £2.5bn,? with grants available for plug in vehicles, as well as funding to support charge point infrastructure at homes, workplaces, on residential streets and across the wider roads network.

Since March, the Department for Transport has announced over £700 million to support the continued operation of bus and light rail services. The latest funding packages, running from August 4, include £37.4 million over 12 weeks for light rail operators and a rolling package of funding of £27.3 million per week for bus operators in England, outside London. It is also developing plans for a national marketing campaign to promote travel by bus.