Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she held discussions with her Rwandan counterpart on the security of the British cycling team who competed in the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 22 October to Question 82441.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of British Transport Police’s recent changes to its policies on responding to bicycle thefts at railway stations; and what steps she is taking to ensure that cycle security is prioritised for (a) promoting active travel and (b) supporting the her cycling and walking strategy.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Everyone should be confident in choosing active travel, including cycling, as part of their everyday journeys.
Ensuring the railway remains safe for passengers and staff, and creating a hostile environment for criminals on the network is a priority for both the Department for Transport and the British Transport Police (BTP). Decisions on the use of resource and deployment of officers across the railway are for the BTP, as an operationally independent police service.
I would like to reassure you that the BTP have not taken the decision to stop investigating bike theft that cannot be narrowed to a two-hour window, which was reported in the media. The BTP’s screening policy, introduced in August 2024, takes into account factors including the possible time window an incident could have taken place in, but also the availability of witnesses and CCTV, the realistic prospect of a successful outcome, and a range of other factors. In some instances this may mean that an investigation is not progressed, but there is no blanket ruling and each case is judged on its own merits.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Dartmoor Railway Line into (a) North Cornwall constituency, (b) Launceston and (c) Bude.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the transport challenges faced by rural communities, including those in North Cornwall. While there are currently no plans to reintroduce rail services to North Cornwall, we encourage local authorities and transport providers, including Great Western Railway, to explore opportunities for enhancing integrated transport links, particularly between rail and bus services. For example, the new £15million Okehampton Interchange station is due to open in 2026, funded by the Government's Levelling Up Fund. This station will become a hub for trains and buses, including enabling improved bus services to North Cornwall, and improved walking and cycling links.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of rail connectivity in North Cornwall constituency.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the transport challenges faced by rural communities, including those in North Cornwall. While there are currently no plans to reintroduce rail services to North Cornwall, we encourage local authorities and transport providers, including Great Western Railway, to explore opportunities for enhancing integrated transport links, particularly between rail and bus services. For example, the new £15million Okehampton Interchange station is due to open in 2026, funded by the Government's Levelling Up Fund. This station will become a hub for trains and buses, including enabling improved bus services to North Cornwall, and improved walking and cycling links.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Spen Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help tackle potential barriers to the provision of lighting on (a) walking, (b) wheeling and (c) cycling paths.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Active Travel England (ATE) recognises that good lighting is essential for enabling safe and inclusive walking, wheeling and cycling, particularly during winter months and after dark.
The Spending Review in June 2025 allocated £616 million for Active Travel England to support local authorities to build and maintain walking and cycling infrastructure from 2026/27 onwards. This comes on top of £222.5 million announced in February 2025 for local authorities over 2024/25-25/26, which can be used by authorities to reduce barriers to the provision of lighting.
In addition, to address potential barriers to providing lighting, ATE Supports local authorities in relation to designing active travel schemes through guidance and our tools ensure that lighting is integrated into street design. Guidance is available such as in LTN 1/20 - Cycle Infrastructure Design (LTN 1/20), Manual for Streets, and Inclusive Mobility. In addition, the ATE Route Check Tool includes metrics for lighting coverage, visibility, and light pollution.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Spen Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of providing commuted sums for maintenance within active travel capital funding.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
In the Spending Review we announced that we are allocating £616 million for Active Travel England from 2026/27 to 2029/30 to support local authorities to both build and maintain cycling and walking infrastructure. This is in addition to almost £300 million for active travel between 2024/25 and 2025/26, which we announced in February.
It is for local authorities to determine how best to use the funding available to them, including what amount to set aside for maintenance purposes.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the (a) number and (b) monetary value of fines issued for non-compliance with obligatory lighting and reflectors for bicycles in the Thames Valley area in 2024.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Rule 60 of The Highway Code makes clear that cyclists must have their front and rear lights lit when riding at night, and reflectors must also be fitted to their cycle. The Department does not collect any information from the police with regards to fines issued for non-compliance with these rules.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she made an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of potential security threats posed to the British cycling team who competed in the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Travel Advice provides information and advice to help British nationals make informed decisions about foreign travel. The FCDO updated our Travel Advice for Rwanda on 18 September ahead of the UCI Road World Cycling Championships. Advice to groups on matters of safety and security will always be consistent with the advice available to the public in FCDO travel advice on GOV.UK. Our Travel Advice remains under constant review to ensure it reflects our latest assessment of risks to British nationals. These assessments are made by drawing on expert sources of information available to the Government including local knowledge from our embassies, information provided by the local authorities in each country, and in some cases, information gathered by the intelligence services.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding her Department is providing to local authorities to improve the (a) quality and (b) accessibility of pavements for (i) wheelchair users, (ii) people with mobility impairments and (iii) other people.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department provides a range of funding streams to local authorities that can be used to improve the quality and accessibility of pavements for wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, and other pedestrians.
In 2025/26, local authorities will receive a share of £1.6 billion highways maintenance capital funding, which includes a £500 million uplift from 2024/25. Authorities are encouraged to adopt a whole-life asset management approach, which includes maintaining footways and ensuring accessibility for all users.
In addition, the Integrated Transport Block and Local Transport Grant provide a combined total of £396 million in 2025/26 to support local transport enhancements, including improvements to pedestrian infrastructure. Eight eligible Mayoral Combined Authorities will also receive £5.7bn in funding between 2022 and 2027, to invest in local transport improvements, including enhancements to accessibility.
Beyond these funding pots, the Department has also announced dedicated funding for walking, wheeling and cycling. In the Spending Review, the Government announced £616 million for Active Travel England from 2026/27 to 2029/30 to support local authorities to build and maintain walking and cycling infrastructure. This is in addition to the almost £300 million funding for active travel in 2024/25 and 2025/26 which was announced in February 2025. This will help local authorities to provide high-quality and easily accessible active travel schemes across England and will enable more children to walk and cycle to school.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to promote regular exercise.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government and the National Health Service recognise that reducing physical inactivity in people of all ages is important in helping people live longer, healthier lives. Building movement back into people’s everyday lives is a key part of the Health Mission and requires action across the Government and the NHS to deliver, as part of the shift from treatment to prevention.
As committed to in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will develop a national movement campaign led by Brendan Foster and will explore ways to recognise what places and communities are doing to help people build movement back into everyday lives. Wider cross-Government action is underway to invest in grassroots sport, develop a new physical education and school sports partnership network, to support children in reaping the benefits of movement, and to support cycling and walking infrastructure and promote active travel.
The NHS Better Health Campaign promotes ways for people of all ages to move more, and signposts to digital support like the NHS Couch to 5k and the NHS Active 10 walking app providing free and accessible ways of building movement into everyday life.