Department for Transport

We work with our agencies and partners to support the transport network that helps the UK’s businesses and gets people and goods travelling around the country. We plan and invest in transport infrastructure to keep the UK on the move.



Secretary of State

Heidi Alexander
Secretary of State for Transport

Shadow Ministers / Spokeperson
Liberal Democrat
Baroness Pidgeon (LD - Life peer)
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Transport)

Scottish National Party
Graham Leadbitter (SNP - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Transport)

Green Party
Siân Berry (Green - Brighton Pavilion)
Green Spokesperson (Transport)

Conservative
Richard Holden (Con - Basildon and Billericay)
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport

Liberal Democrat
Olly Glover (LD - Didcot and Wantage)
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Transport)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Lord Moylan (Con - Life peer)
Shadow Minister (Transport)
Jerome Mayhew (Con - Broadland and Fakenham)
Shadow Minister (Transport)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Greg Smith (Con - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Transport)
Ministers of State
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab - Life peer)
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
Simon Lightwood (LAB - Wakefield and Rothwell)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Keir Mather (Lab - Selby)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Lilian Greenwood (Lab - Nottingham South)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There are no upcoming events identified
Debates
Tuesday 21st April 2026
Hammersmith Bridge
Westminster Hall
Select Committee Docs
Tuesday 21st April 2026
17:56
Select Committee Inquiry
Thursday 29th January 2026
Road Safety Strategy

The Government has published a new Road Safety Strategy setting out the Government’s approach to reducing death and serious injury. …

Written Answers
Wednesday 22nd April 2026
M6: Repairs and Maintenance
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential (a) economic, …
Secondary Legislation
Monday 20th April 2026
Clean Air Zones Central Services (Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
These Regulations amend regulation 3 of the Clean Air Zones Central Services (Fees) (England) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1444) (the “2020 …
Bills
Wednesday 5th November 2025
Railways Bill 2024-26
A Bill to make provision about railways and railway services; and for connected purposes.
Dept. Publications
Tuesday 21st April 2026
17:34

Department for Transport Commons Appearances

Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs

Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:
  • Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
  • Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
  • Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.

Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue

Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.

Most Recent Commons Appearances by Category
Mar. 26
Oral Questions
Nov. 05
Urgent Questions
Apr. 21
Westminster Hall
Apr. 14
Adjournment Debate
View All Department for Transport Commons Contibutions

Bills currently before Parliament

Department for Transport does not have Bills currently before Parliament


Acts of Parliament created in the 2024 Parliament

Introduced: 14th May 2025

A Bill to Make provision about sustainable aviation fuel.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 5th March 2026 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 17th December 2024

A bill to make provision about local and school bus services; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 27th October 2025 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 18th July 2024

A Bill to make provision for passenger railway services to be provided by public sector companies instead of by means of franchises.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 28th November 2024 and was enacted into law.

Department for Transport - Secondary Legislation

These Regulations amend regulation 3 of the Clean Air Zones Central Services (Fees) (England) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1444) (the “2020 Regulations”). Under the 2020 Regulations, where a payment is made under a charging scheme that has been established by a relevant charging authority, and that payment is processed by the clean air zones central services provided by or on behalf of the Secretary of State (a “processed payment”), that relevant charging authority is liable to pay a fee to the Secretary of State. These Regulations increase the fee payable by the relevant charging authority from £2 to £4 per processed payment, from 1st September 2026. The amendments also extend the period during which charging authorities are liable to pay fees to the Secretary of State in respect of processed payments, to 31st March 2031.
This Order is made on the application of Associated British Ports (“A.B. Ports”).
View All Department for Transport Secondary Legislation

Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

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Petition Debates Contributed
101,204
Petition Closed
27 Jun 2025
closed 9 months, 3 weeks ago

We call on the Government to extend free bus travel to all people over 60 years old in England outside London. We believe the current situation is unjust and we want equality for everyone over 60.

View All Department for Transport Petitions

Departmental Select Committee

Transport Committee

Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.

At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.

Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.


11 Members of the Transport Committee
Ruth Cadbury Portrait
Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Transport Committee Member since 11th September 2024
Rebecca Smith Portrait
Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Transport Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Katie Lam Portrait
Katie Lam (Conservative - Weald of Kent)
Transport Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Laurence Turner Portrait
Laurence Turner (Labour - Birmingham Northfield)
Transport Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Baggy Shanker Portrait
Baggy Shanker (Labour (Co-op) - Derby South)
Transport Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Alex Mayer Portrait
Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Transport Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Olly Glover Portrait
Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Transport Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Elsie Blundell Portrait
Elsie Blundell (Labour - Heywood and Middleton North)
Transport Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Scott Arthur Portrait
Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Transport Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Steff Aquarone Portrait
Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Transport Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Jacob Collier Portrait
Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
Transport Committee Member since 27th October 2025
Transport Committee: Upcoming Events
Transport Committee - Oral evidence
Work of National Highways
22 Apr 2026, 9:15 a.m.
At 9:15am: Oral evidence
Gareth Rhys Williams - Chair at National Highways
Nick Joyce - Interim Chief Executive Officer at National Highways
Elliot Shaw - Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at National Highways
Nicola Bell - Chief Capital Delivery Officer at National Highways
Duncan Smith - Chief Operating Officer at National Highways

View calendar - Save to Calendar
Transport Committee - Private Meeting
28 Apr 2026, 4 p.m.
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Transport Committee - Oral evidence
Supercharging the EV transition
29 Apr 2026, 9:15 a.m.
At 9:15am: Oral evidence
Nigel Topping CMG - Chair at Climate Change Committee
Dr Eoin Devane - Team Leader, Carbon Budget at Climate Change Committee
At 9:45am: Oral evidence
Keir Mather MP - Minister for Decarbonisation at Department for Transport
Richard Bruce CBE - Director at Office for Zero Emission Vehicles

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Transport Committee: Previous Inquiries
Young and novice drivers Coronavirus: implications for transport e-scooters HS2: update NATS: failure in air traffic management systems Railway network disruption over Christmas Work of the Department for Transport 2010-15 The work of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Volkswagen Group emissions violations Operation Stack inquiry Vehicle type approval inquiry All lane running inquiry Surface transport to airports inquiry Road traffic law enforcement inquiry Road haulage sector: Skills and workforce planning inquiry Maritime Policy and Coastguard Modernisation inquiry The Department for Transport and rail policy Investing in the railway NATS inquiry Network Rail: update Strategic river crossings Motoring of the future Smaller airports Government motoring agencies - the user perspective Transport's winter resilience: Christmas 2013 Transport's winter resilience: rail flooding Security on the railway The cost of motor insurance: whiplash Airports Commission: Interim Report Draft National Policy Statement on National Networks Cycling safety: follow up High Speed Rail: follow up Offshore helicopter safety Access to ports Transport and the Olympics The work of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) Local authority parking enforcement Cost of motor insurance: whiplash Aviation Strategy Competition in the local bus market Access to transport for people with disabilities Low Carbon Vehicles Marine Pilotage Land Transport Security Road Freight Road Safety Rail 2020 Rail franchising Transport's winter resilience The Work of Network Rail Local decision making on transport spending Better roads Maritime strategy Safety at level crossings Drink & drug driving law Transport and the economy Cost of motor insurance Bus services after the Spending Review Licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles Effective road and traffic management Impact on transport of adverse weather conditions Sulphur emissions by ships Cable theft on the railway Work of the DVLA and DSA Draft Civil Aviation Bill Flight time limitations Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (ATOL) reform Coastguard Service Regional breakdown of public transport expenditure Cancellation of the InterCity West Coast franchise competition Passenger transport in isolated communities Cancelled Rail electrification schemes inquiry Intercity East Coast rail franchise inquiry Traffic Commissioners inquiry Active travel inquiry Local roads funding and governance Pre-appointment hearing on ORR inquiry Rail timetable changes inquiry BMW vehicle recall inquiry Freight and Brexit inquiry Health of the bus market inquiry Network Rail priorities inquiry Taxi and private hire reform in England inquiry HS2: update with Allan Cook inquiry Pavement parking inquiry Road Safety inquiry Trains fit for the future? inquiry The work of Highways England inquiry Williams Rail Review inquiry Priorities of the new Secretary of State for Transport inquiry Departmental policy and performance: Update with the Secretary of State inquiry Railways: Update with the Rail Minister inquiry Road safety: young and novice drivers inquiry Road safety: mobile phones inquiry Community Transport inquiry Airports National Policy Statement (NPS) inquiry Policy priorities for the Department for Transport inquiry Aviation and Brexit inquiry Mobility as a Service inquiry Rail infrastructure investment inquiry National Drowning Prevention Strategy one-off session Transocean Winner incident and emergency towing vessels one-off session Maritime Growth Study inquiry Airspace management and modernisation inquiry Vauxhall vehicle fires one-off session Airports National Policy Statement inquiry Volkswagen emissions follow-up session Drones inquiry HS2: CH2M contract one-off session Rail compensation one-off session Rail franchising inquiry Rail technology: signalling and traffic management inquiry Improving the rail passenger experience inquiry Airport expansion in the South East inquiry Bus Services Bill inquiry Urban congestion inquiry Departmental priorities and annual report and accounts one-off session High Speed Two one-off session Rail safety inquiry Vauxhall Zafira B fires one-off session Trains fit for the future? Self-driving vehicles Accessible transport: legal obligations National Networks National Policy Statement Strategic road investment Our future transport Minimum service levels for rail Future of transport data Strategic transport objectives Buses connecting communities Managing the impact of street works Rail investment pipelines: ending boom and bust National Policy Statement for Ports Joined-up journeys: achieving and measuring transport integration Skills for transport manufacturing Licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles Railways Bill Supercharging the EV transition Road Safety Strategy Active travel Departmental policy and performance: Update with the Secretary of State Health of the bus market Local roads funding and governance Pavement parking Priorities of the new Secretary of State for Transport Railways: Update with the Rail Minister Road Safety Road safety: mobile phones Road safety: young and novice drivers Trains fit for the future? Williams Rail Review The work of Highways England

50 most recent Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department

14th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Free travel and new routes: government’s bus revolution hits another gear, published on 13 April 2026, whether she plans to help ensure that equivalent funding for bus services will be made available to Greater Essex once its mayoral elections take place in 2028.

The Government is providing a £3 million Bus Franchising Support Fund in 2026/27 for Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) in the process of developing and implementing bus franchising schemes, which is designed to aid transition. This fund is only available for those MSAs who have already started the journey to franchising services.

In addition, the Government is also providing an ongoing package of support to local authorities that are actively seeking to transition to a franchised network. This includes funding for authorities wishing to pursue franchising; which will fund a pre-feasibility study or franchising assessment. Applications for this fund have now closed for 2026/27, however it will open again for 2027/28 and 2028/29. The authorities who will make up Greater Essex Combined Authority may wish a to apply this fund in future years.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
14th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Statutory Instrument required to enable civil enforcement against unnecessary pavement obstruction has been drafted; and when he plans to lay that instrument before Parliament.

The Statutory Instrument is being drafted and will be laid before Parliament by the end of the year.

Lilian Greenwood
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
14th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2026 to question 121006, whether her Department will consider underlying geology within its review of the funding formula for the distribution of capital funding to local highways authorities.

The Department expects to consider underlying geology, as one of the many conditions that affect the wear and tear of local roads, as part of its review of the funding formula it uses to distribution highways maintenance funding to local highway authorities.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
14th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 121319 on Bus Services: Franchises, if she will provide a breakdown of the additional funding from 2026/27 by (a) funding stream, (b) annual allocation for each year of the Spending Review period and (c) by revenue and capital funding.

The Government is providing two funding streams to support authorities who wish to franchise their bus services. The first is a £3 million Bus Franchising Support Fund in 2026/27 for Mayoral Strategic Authorities that have commenced the statutory franchising process, to support their transition to franchised bus services. The second is a fund of approximately £10 million per year until 2029 for a franchising support package for local authorities that are actively seeking to transition to a franchised network. Both funds provide revenue funding only.

South Yorkshire Combined Authority, North East Combined Authority, Transport for West Midlands, Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority have each been allocated £500,000 of the £3 million fund. The Department is currently in the process of assessing expression of interest application forms from local authorities for the £10 million Franchise Support Fund.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
14th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the supply of coaches that are compliant with the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 for use in rail replacement services after the expiry of the current exemption on 31 July 2026.

The Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 (AIR) require the provision of audible and visible route and location information on board most local bus and coach services in Great Britain. Local services subject to the Regulations must comply with them by October 2026, and we expect operators to ensure this happens on time.

The government understands and recognises the specific challenges to comply with AIR within the rail replacement sector. We continue to work with partners, including the Rail Delivery Group, DfT Operator Limited and bus and coach trade bodies, to assess the sector’s readiness for full compliance across the whole rail network, and to provide support to help them achieve this. This includes the development of new technological solutions for providing information on board coaches, funding for smaller operators, alongside the existing time-limited exemption from the technical requirements of AIR, which is due to end on 31 July 2026. The exemption was put in place to ensure that rail passengers could still complete their journeys whilst rail replacement operators equip their fleets to comply with the Regulations.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
15th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve rural transport links in Yeovil constituency.

The Government knows the importance of reliable bus services in enabling people to stay connected and access education, work and vital services, particularly in rural areas where buses may be the only form of public transport. We are committed to delivering better bus services and the Bus Services Act 2025 puts passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of local bus services by putting the power back in the hands of local leaders right across England.

The Government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in the Spending Review, confirming over £3 billion from 2026/27 to support local leaders and bus operators across the country to improve bus services for millions of passengers. This includes multi-year allocations for local authorities under the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) totalling nearly £700 million per year, ending the short-term approach to bus funding and giving councils the certainty they need to plan ahead to improve services for local communities.

The formula used to calculate LABG allocations for 2026/27 onwards includes consideration of the rurality of local areas for the first time, acknowledging the challenges of running services in rural areas, in addition to population size, levels of deprivation, and the extent of existing bus services. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services can be used in whichever way they wish to deliver better services for passengers, this could include expanding current bus provision.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
15th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve the process of driver’s licence renewal.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online services are the quickest and easiest way to renew a driving licence. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their driving licence within a few days.

In the interests of road safety, the DVLA must be satisfied that the required medical standards are met before a licence is issued. Some medical cases take longer because the DVLA often needs information from third parties, including doctors or other healthcare professionals, before it can make a licensing decision.

The DVLA has seen sustained growth in the volume and complexity of medical licence applications, increasing waiting times for some customers. To improve its services, the DVLA has introduced a new casework system and launched a new medical services portal so the majority of customers can now apply online through the DVLA’s driver and vehicle account.

These enhancements alongside the recruitment of additional staff to deal with these applications and answer telephone calls, will deliver real improvements in services and turnaround times for customers.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
14th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Third Report of the Transport Committee of Session 2021–22, Rollout and safety of smart motorways, HC26, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that emergency refuges on All Lane Running Smart Motorways are spaced no more than 1,500m apart, and no more than 1,000m apart where possible.

National Highways has completed construction of 151 additional emergency areas across the all lane running (ALR) smart motorway network through the National Emergency Area Retrofit (NEAR) programme. National Highways is evaluating the effectiveness of these additional emergency areas, including impacts on live-lane stops, safety outcomes and road-user perceptions. Initial findings are expected in 2026, with a full three-year evaluation concluding in 2028.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
15th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance she provides to local licensing authorities on what constitutes an operating base for private hire operators; and whether the Department has assessed the adequacy of existing definitions in the context of app-based operator models.

No guidance has been issued on this matter. An ‘operating base’ is not defined in law. All guidance is kept under review and the need for any amendments or additions considered. The Department consulted on revised best practice guidance in 2022 and it was subsequently updated in 2023.

The licensing regime in England is archaic, fragmented and inconsistent. We are considering, holistically, how the regulation of taxis and private hire vehicles could be reformed to achieve the best overall outcome for passengers by enabling the sector to deliver the range of safe, available, affordable and accessible services they need.

Lilian Greenwood
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
10th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what modelling has been undertaken on the potential impact of diverting traffic from the M6 onto local roads, including the A685, during the proposed closure of junction 38.

Current traffic management proposals for the M6 Lune Gorge project are being designed to keep traffic on the M6 motorway for the majority of the project. A contraflow system is planned on the M6 to provide a safe working area for construction, while maintaining sufficient lane capacity to avoid significant disruption to drivers.

There will need to be a limited number of full closures of the M6 overnight and at weekends. During these closures, traffic will be diverted onto the local road network using the A6, A591 and A590. This diversion route has been agreed with the relevant local highway authorities as the most suitable option.

National Highways’ current proposals for traffic management arrangements at Junction 38 would keep the junction partially open with traffic diverted via the M6 to the next junction and then back. National Highways is still considering options proposed by stakeholders, including temporary slip roads at junction 38 and other traffic mitigations.

National Highways does not intend to use the A685 as a diversion route. The decision to defer Lawtland House Bridge works, which the A685 runs over, was made to provide additional connectivity to the local community during the Lune Gorge project.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
10th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential (a) economic, (b) traffic and (c) community impacts of the proposed closure of M6 junction 38 during the Lune Gorge bridge replacement works.

National Highways’ current traffic management proposals would keep Junction 38 of M6 partially open, apart from a limited number of full weekend and overnight closures. For the majority of the works, slip road closures would be phased, with traffic diverted via the M6 to the next junction and then back. While disruptive, they would be required to carry out the bridge replacement works safely. National Highways is still considering options proposed by stakeholders, including temporary slip roads at junction 38, and other traffic mitigations.

Traffic impacts on diversion routes are being assessed through live surveys with Westmorland and Furness Unitary Authority.

National Highways has undertaken over 60 engagement sessions since 2023 to understand the impact on the local community and businesses. As the project progresses towards construction in Spring 2027, the construction methodology and traffic management plans will be finalised. This work will determine what mitigation measures are both necessary and feasible to deliver the scheme safely.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
16th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has assessed the potential merits of introducing lifetime driving bans for individuals who have received multiple disqualifications from driving as a result of dangerous driving convictions.

Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for our independent courts.

This includes whether to disqualify an offender from driving and, where appropriate, the length of any disqualification.

The courts already have powers to impose lifetime disqualification where that is justified.

Separately, under the “totting up” provisions, where a driver has accumulated 12 or more penalty points within a three-year period, the court must ordinarily order disqualification for at least the statutory minimum unless there are grounds to reduce or avoid that disqualification.

Lilian Greenwood
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
10th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of autonomous vehicle use on journey times for emergency services and buses, and the level of congestion on hospital access routes.

The Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) has regular meetings with the National Police Chiefs Council, Association for Ambulance Chief Executives and the National Fire Chiefs Council alongside frontline officers. This work aims to support the development of processes and protocols to ensure emergency services interacting with automated vehicles are able to perform their duties safely and effectively.

Any impact on local bus or hospital access routes would be a consideration during an application for an Automated Passenger Service (APS) permit and assessed on a case-by-case basis by the local traffic authority.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
10th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of a national strategy to discourage littering, particularly on roads and pavements.

Overall policy responsibility for litter sits with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which has recently published an updated Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse. The Department for Transport supports local authorities and National Highways in tackling litter through a range of existing frameworks and initiatives, including activity focused on encouraging positive behaviour change and the effective use of enforcement powers.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
14th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 122116, whether the Government has plans to establish a targeted national relief scheme specifically for disruption arising from roadworks.

The Government has no plans to establish a targeted national relief scheme specifically for disruption arising from roadworks. Local authorities are responsible for managing and mitigating the impacts of roadworks in their areas.

The Government’s focus is on minimising disruption through stronger coordination, enforcement, and tools such as permit schemes and lane rental.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
26th Mar 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Access for All programme, what reasons were provided for the lack of progression of the Wivelsfield bid; and whether it will be considered in future rounds.

As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 15 January 2026, schemes were prioritised for Access for All funding, considering a range of factors including passenger benefit, geographic spread, the level of scheme development and the availability of third-party contributions. This applied to the decision that Wivelsfield station will not progress at this time. However, it remains eligible for consideration in future phases of the programme.

The Rail Minister recently met with the Hon Member for Mid Sussex to discuss his decision regarding Wivelsfield station. He encouraged her to work with the rail industry and local partners on lower cost accessibility interventions and alternative funding sources.

I would encourage the Hon. Member to work with Lewes District Council and Southern to explore accessibility improvements at Wivelsfield in the meantime.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
16th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of increases in fuel prices on the road haulage sector; and what steps is she taking to mitigate these.

The Department for Transport recognises growing concerns around rising fuel and transport costs caused by the conflict in the Middle East. The Department fully recognises the need to maintain the continuity of critical supply chains and is actively monitoring any potential impacts. The Department will continue to work with industry to understand the pressures and options to mitigate any risks.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
16th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, where revenues raised from the Heavy Goods Vehicle Road User Levy have been used in new road infrastructure and transport planning.

The HGV Road User Levy Act 2013 specifies that the levy is paid into the Consolidated Fund. This revenue is then available for general public expenditure, which includes transport investment.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
10th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 104661 on M6: Repairs and Maintenance, if she will publish the assessments undertaken by National Highways in (a) 2019 and (b) 2025 on the feasibility of temporary slip roads at junction 38 of the M6.

National Highways shared its 2019 option assessment work for the M6 Lune Gorge scheme with local stakeholders, which considered mitigation measures, including the consideration of temporary slip roads at junction 38.

Following further stakeholder engagement, National Highways revisited this option and commissioned a feasibility exercise in August 2025. They presented their findings from the feasibility exercise in September 2025. Subsequently, BWB Consulting have put forward alternative proposals on behalf of local stakeholders. We are keen to work with local people and National Highways have committed to review these further proposals. National Highways will feed back on this.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
15th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) Notices to Improve and (b) written instructions her Department issued to train operating companies for which the Department is the operator in relation to (i) service performance and (ii) financial control in each month since December 2025 up to and including the most recent month for which figures are available.

The Department's priority objectives for train operators are to improve performance and reduce financial subsidy. It does not routinely publish specific instructions made to operators.

We have asked train operators to reflect how they will deliver these priorities in their plans for the next five years. The output of those plans will be published in due course.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
14th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the flights listed to Canada in WPQ 120039, a) what the purpose was of each such visit; b) which Ministers or senior officials approved each visit; c) how many officials travelled on each occasion and at what grade; d) what the total cost was of each visit; and e) what assessment was made of whether those engagements could be conducted remotely or combined with other travel.

The flights to Canada listed in WPQ 120039 cover numerous trips and to provide detail on each individual trip would be at a disproportionate cost.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
15th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she expects the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe to publish a timeline for measures to be implemented by car manufacturers to help reduce the occurrence of headlamp glare.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) glare prevention taskforce is currently drafting recommendations for submission to the international lighting expert group in October this year. Implementation, including associated timelines, will depend on progress made in future negotiations with the wide range of UNECE countries that have agreed to be bound by these vehicle construction regulations.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
14th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the flights listed to the British Virgin Islands in WPQ 120039, a) what the purpose was of each such visit; b) which Ministers or senior officials approved each visit; c) how many officials travelled on each occasion and at what grade; d) what the total cost was of each visit; and e) what assessment was made of whether those engagements could be conducted remotely or combined with other travel.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has a statutory requirement under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code to monitor port security in the British Overseas Territories.

Both visits in 2025 were security assessments of 13 port facilities undertaken within five days on each visit. Meetings were also conducted, including with the Governor’s Office, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and with port security officials. DfT officials additionally delivered capability‑building training during the April visit, supporting enhanced security delivery at port facilities

The April visit involved three officials – two Senior Executive Officers (SEOs) and one Higher Executive Officer (HEO). The November visit involved one SEO and one HEO. No Ministers or Senior Officials attended.

The total cost of the April visit was £11,581.19. November was £12,706.58.

Both visits were approved by a Deputy Director (Senior Civil Servant) in DfT’s Transport Security Division in line with departmental policy.

The majority of DfT’s port security engagement with the Overseas Territories is undertaken online, however an effective assessment on whether a port is delivering on its security requirements is best completed by an onsite visit.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
10th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of freight operations associated with Sizewell C on (a) passenger capacity, (b) journey times and (c) service frequency on the East Suffolk Line in the long-term.

The train operator Greater Anglia is aware that freight traffic in relation to the constructions of Sizewell C is likely to increase in the future. Network Rail will continue to work closely with operators to assess how best to accommodate the additional freight services while protecting current passenger train service levels on the route.

There has been a specific workstream dedicated to operational readiness including timetabling and capacity and Network Rail identified capacity within the timetable to enable four additional Sizewell freight trains to operate some time ago.

Separately, Sizewell has also commissioned Network Rail to do a feasibility study on what would need to be true to improve passenger services on the East Suffolk branch line to support the local area.

The Rail Minister recently met with Jenny Riddell-Carpenter on 24 March to discuss this matter. Greater Anglia has recently confirmed that from the May 2026 timetable change, additional later trains will operate from Lowestoft to Beccles and from Beccles to Lowestoft on Mondays to Saturdays.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
26th Mar 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 122319, on Driving Tests: Vacancies, if she will provide, for each recruitment campaign undertaken by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency in each of the last three financial years, details of (a) the campaign name, intended audience and description, (b) the channels used, (c) the geographic areas targeted and (d) the job roles advertised.

The table below details: the campaign name, channels used and the geographic areas targeted for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) 10 driving examiner recruitment campaigns in the 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years. In terms of the intended audience, all campaigns aim to target the widest group that could be interested. DVSA advertises all driving examiner vacancies on Civil Service Jobs on GOV.UK. DVSA also uses posters in driving test centres and external online job sites to reach a wider pool of applicants.

Date

Campaign name

Channels used

Geographical area targeted

May-23

Driving Examiner

Civil Service Jobs, Social Media, various job boards

National (except London and South East England)

Sep-23

Driving Examiner

Civil Service Jobs, Social Media, various job boards

National

Feb-24

Driving Examiner

Civil Service Jobs, Social Media, various job boards

National

Jun-24

Driving Examiner

Civil Service Jobs, Social Media, various job boards

National

Sep-24

Driving Examiner

Civil Service Jobs, Social Media, various job boards. radio/Spotify adverts

National

Mar-25

Driving Examiner

Civil Service Jobs, Social Media, various job boards. radio adverts

National

Jul-25

Driving Examiner

Civil Service Jobs, Social Media, various job boards

National

Sep-25

Driving Examiner

Civil Service Jobs, Social Media, various job boards

National

Dec-25

Driving Examiner

Civil Service Jobs, Social Media, various job boards

National

Feb-26

Driving Examiner

Civil Service Jobs, Social Media, various job boards

Southern England, East Midlands, East Anglia & London

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
13th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to introduce additional regulatory or statutory oversight to control air pollution on major public transport hubs, including the London Underground; and whether it intends to place specific statutory duties on bodies such as Transport for London to comply with the Air Quality Standards Regulations and the Environment Act 2021 in enclosed transport environments.

The Mayor of London and Transport for London are responsible for the management of air quality on the London Underground. However, the Government remains committed to improving air quality to deliver benefits for public health, the environment, and the economy. We are committed to cleaning up our air and protecting the public from the harms of pollution by tackling air pollution across the transport network. There are currently no plans to introduce additional regulatory or statutory requirements on major public transport hubs.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
13th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, (b) shipowner representatives and (c) port owners on compliance with the Seafarers Wages Regulations 2024 amongst operators of ro-ro ferries from UK ports.

The Department for Transport maintains regular and ongoing engagement with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) through the Regulatory Compliance Investigations Team regarding the implementation, compliance, and enforcement of legislation relating to seafarer pay. This covers the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023, the Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024, and the National Minimum Wage (Offshore Employment) (Amendment) Order 2020.This engagement has featured recent updates from the MCA to the Department on its enforcement approach and compliance activity undertaken so far, which have informed departmental oversight of how the legislation is being implemented across the sector, and how operators and harbour authorities are responding to their statutory responsibilities. The Department and the MCA also engage on enforcement activity covering seafarers working in UK territorial waters and, where applicable, on vessels operating between offshore oil and gas installations and UK ports. This ensures a consistent and effective enforcement framework across the relevant statutory regimes.

The Department for Business and Trade have recently published the Fair Work Agency Enforcement Policy Statement, confirming that it is responsible for enforcement of the National Minimum Wage, including the National Minimum Wage (Offshore Employment) (Amendment) Order 2020.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
13th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussion she has had with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (Offshore Employment) (Amendment) Order 2020 for seafarers working (a) in UK territorial waters and (b) on vessels working between an offshore oil and gas installation and a UK port.

The Department for Transport maintains regular and ongoing engagement with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) through the Regulatory Compliance Investigations Team regarding the implementation, compliance, and enforcement of legislation relating to seafarer pay. This covers the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023, the Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024, and the National Minimum Wage (Offshore Employment) (Amendment) Order 2020.This engagement has featured recent updates from the MCA to the Department on its enforcement approach and compliance activity undertaken so far, which have informed departmental oversight of how the legislation is being implemented across the sector, and how operators and harbour authorities are responding to their statutory responsibilities. The Department and the MCA also engage on enforcement activity covering seafarers working in UK territorial waters and, where applicable, on vessels operating between offshore oil and gas installations and UK ports. This ensures a consistent and effective enforcement framework across the relevant statutory regimes.

The Department for Business and Trade have recently published the Fair Work Agency Enforcement Policy Statement, confirming that it is responsible for enforcement of the National Minimum Wage, including the National Minimum Wage (Offshore Employment) (Amendment) Order 2020.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
16th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the monthly average waiting time was for a car practical driving test at each driving test centre and zone for a) March and b) April 2026.

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
15th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 122317 on Railways: North of England, what the timetable is for (a) completing and (b) publishing a long-term strategy for the York area.

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
14th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2026 to Question 122220, what the total cost is of mobilising the new sponsorship model and team referred to in that Answer.

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
16th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many reports of untaxed vehicles being parked on public roads in (a) Langley and (b) Slough were received by the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency in each of the last three years; and what proportion of those reports were followed up on.

The information requested is not readily available. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency officials will write to the honourable member when the information requested has been extracted and assured.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
13th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the UK Chief Medical Officers’ Annual Report 2022, what specific actions the Government is taking to help address the public health risks arising from exposure to air pollution on the London Underground.

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL). The Department has regular discussions with TfL on a range of issues, however, the management of air quality on the London Underground is a matter solely for them. I would suggest that you contact the Mayor and TfL directly regarding this issue.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
13th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with TfL on progress implementing the interventions identified as urgent in the UK Chief Medical Officers’ Annual Report 2022, including improvements to ventilation and filtration systems on the London Underground; and what assessment has been made of their effectiveness to date.

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL). The Department has regular discussions with TfL on a range of issues, however, the management of air quality on the London Underground is a matter solely for them. I would suggest that you contact the Mayor and TfL directly regarding this issue.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
13th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants’ recommendation in 2019 for a comprehensive toxicological study of particulate matter on the London Underground, what the current status of that study is.

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL). The Department has regular discussions with TfL on a range of issues, however, the management of air quality on the London Underground is a matter solely for them. I would suggest that you contact the Mayor and TfL directly regarding this issue.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
13th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with Transport for London on interim measures it is currently implementing on the London Underground to reduce passenger exposure, including that of children and clinically vulnerable groups, to particulate matter concentrations that substantially exceed ambient outdoor air levels.

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL). The Department has regular discussions with TfL on a range of issues, however, the management of air quality on the London Underground is a matter solely for them. I would suggest that you contact the Mayor and TfL directly regarding this issue.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
13th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2026 to Question 104693, what conclusions were reached at the meeting between National Highways, BWB Consulting and Kier on 17 December 2025 regarding temporary slip roads at M6 junction 38.

At the meeting, National Highways shared information on its proposed delivery approach and emerging design and construction methodology. BWB Consulting raised questions and outlined high‑level proposals.

National Highways committed to further engagement.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
15th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2026 to Question 122891 on Driving Licences: Medical Records , what the timetable is for the (a) completion of updates to DVLA's online service (b) start of the operation of the new casework system.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 125013.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
26th Mar 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what was the purchase price for an individual of an a) Network Railcard, b) 16-17 Saver, c) 16-25 Railcard, d) 26-30 Railcard, e) Family & Friends Railcard, f)) Two Together Railcard, g) Senior Railcard, h) Disabled Persons Railcard and i) Veterans Railcard in each year of the last 10 years.

The table below contains the prices of these railcards for each of the last 10 years (or from their introduction if this is more recent). In addition, the final column shows what the cost would be now in 2025/26 if the price had been increased by RPI cumulatively since 2016/17:

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

2025/26

What the price would be in 25/26 if the price had been increased by cumulative RPI since 2016/17

Network Railcard

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£35

£45

16-17 Saver

N/A

N/A

N/A

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£35

£45

16-25 Railcard

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£35

£45

26-30 Railcard

N/A

N/A

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£35

£45

Family & Friends Railcard

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£35

£45

Two Together Railcard

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£35

£45

Senior Railcard

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£30

£35

£45

Disabled Persons Railcard

£20

£20

£20

£20

£20

£20

£20

£20

£20

£20

£30

Veterans Railcard

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

£21

£30

£30

£30

£30

£35

£45

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
15th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 April 2026 to Question 123864 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, if she will provide a breakdown of the funding allocated at (a) Autumn Budget 2024, (b) Spending Review 2025 and (c) Autumn Budget 2025 by (i) support for electric vehicle uptake and (ii) investment in charging infrastructure.

The funding breakdown is as follows:

Autumn Budget 2024: £120 million for zero emission vehicle uptake and £200 million for charging infrastructure.

Spending Review 2025: £1.4 billion for zero emission vehicle uptake and £400 million for charging infrastructure.

Autumn Budget 2025: £1.3 billion for zero emission vehicle uptake and £200 million for charging infrastructure.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
10th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2026 to Question 122220 on DfT Operator, what was the cost to the public purse of establishing the new sponsorship model and team; how many staff are employed in that team; from which directorates those staff have been drawn; and what the team's annual budget is.

There has been no additional cost to the public purse in establishing the new DFTO sponsorship model and team. The team was formed by redeploying existing staff. This approach ensured that existing expertise and institutional knowledge were retained. Day‑to‑day engagement with DFTO on specific policy and delivery matters is led by relevant policy teams across the Department, which act as clients. This is brought together through a small central sponsorship team of three full‑time staff, which provides overall coordination and oversight.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
13th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with a) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and b) members of the Northern Ireland Executive on the potential impact of jet fuel shortages on travel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Government is monitoring the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on fuel supplies, including jet fuel. In coordination with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero we have worked with fuel suppliers, airlines and airports to understand levels of jet fuel and pricing.

Officials are engaging regularly with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive and keeping Ministers briefed as necessary.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
13th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with her European counterparts on the potential impact of jet fuel shortages on travel between the United Kingdom and mainland Europe.

The Government is monitoring the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on fuel supplies, including jet fuel. In coordination with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero we have worked with fuel suppliers, airlines and airports to understand levels of jet fuel and pricing.

Officials are engaging with international counterparts to monitor the situation and plan accordingly and are keeping Ministers briefed as necessary.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
13th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of Heathrow Airport's debt.

As a private company, Heathrow Airport's financing decisions are a matter for the airport. Since this is a private sector project, it is up to the potential promoters to develop and finance expansion proposals, and to demonstrate that any scheme is financially viable.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
13th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the economic and environmental review of Heathrow expansion has been completed.

The economic and environmental review of Heathrow expansion is ongoing. We intend to consult on a revised Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), which will include the proposed outcomes of the review, in summer this year. The review will not be complete until the final ANPS (post-consultation) is laid in Parliament, which we intend to do by the end of the year.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
13th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the potential planning costs for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow.

The Government recognises the importance of making sure that any scheme for Heathrow expansion is both deliverable and affordable. It is for potential promoters to develop plans for expansion as part of their Development Consent Order application. As the independent economic regulator for expansion, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will determine the recovery of costs incurred by potential promoters of expansion.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
15th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2026 to Question 122888, whether her Department has set a timetable for the further work required to develop plans for a North–South line between Birmingham and Manchester.

The Northern Growth Strategy set out the Government’s intention to ultimately deliver a full North-South new line between Birmingham and Manchester. Further work will be carried out in collaboration with local partners on what will be delivered and when, but we expect the delivery timelines for this line to follow the completion of HS2 and NPR.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
16th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what timetable Network Rail has set for the clearance of construction and maintenance waste from lineside land across the rail network.

When work is being undertaken, how any waste will be removed is part of Network Rail’s plan for the works and, in general, waste is removed at the end of works. At times, material will be left lineside for forthcoming works in the same area.

On occasion, it may be difficult for Network Rail to remove material at the end of works due to availability of appropriate equipment, for example a specific recovery train may be needed. Depending on the location, it may be more cost effective to leave materials lineside for some time until the required logistics can be planned. There is no specific timeframe for this, but Network Rail is aware there is value in all its materials either via reuse internally, for onward sale, or recycling, so materials will not be left lineside if cost efficient recovery is feasible. Network Rail’s track materials currently have a reuse rate of almost 80% with 19.9% recycled and less than 1% sent for recovery (generally contaminated material).

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
13th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of seafarers in the UK’s short sea international ferry sector that are paid an hourly wage that is (a) broadly equivalent to or (b) above the National Minimum Wage.

The Department has not made any such estimate. The Seafarers' Wages Act 2023 makes payment of the equivalent of National Minimum Wage a condition of port access for operators of services calling at a UK port at least 120 times a year. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is responsible for enforcement of this legislation and conducts in-person engagement and robust inspection activities with ports and operators to ensure compliance and provide regulatory assurance.

Whilst the Department cannot give exact figures, an impact assessment was published for the Act, which makes some assumptions about the number of seafarers on board different vessel types per journey in order to estimate costs to businesses, but it does not make any estimates of the total number of seafarers that would be paid the National Minimum Wage equivalent (see https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62e2aa8ed3bf7f75af0923d5/seafarers-wages-impact-assessment.pdf ).

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)