Department for Transport

The previous government launched a consultation on amending licensing restrictions to allow 18 to 20-year-olds to drive a bus and coach for distances exceeding 50km when driving a regular service. The previous government did not publish a response to its consultation before it left office.

This government is now working closely with operators to obtain further evidence and will then consider next steps.

The previous government launched a consultation on amending licensing restrictions to allow 18 to 20-year-olds to drive a bus and coach for distances exceeding 50km when driving a regular service. The previous government did not publish a response to its consultation before it left office.

This government is now working closely with operators to obtain further evidence and will then consider next steps.

The previous government launched a consultation on amending licensing restrictions to allow 18 to 20-year-olds to drive a bus and coach for distances exceeding 50km when driving a regular service. The previous government did not publish a response to its consultation before it left office.

This government is now working closely with operators to obtain further evidence and will then consider next steps.

Shortlands rail station already has step free access into the station and to and between each platform via lifts.

South Western Railway (SWR) has been responsible for the provision of its own payroll and human resources services both before and after being taken into public ownership. The public ownership programme sees train operating companies transition into the Department for Transport Operator, not the Department itself. The Department did not enter into any external contracts with the specific purpose of transferring South Western Railway into public ownership.

The Final Road Investment Strategy 3 document (RIS3), and National Highways’s subsequent final Delivery Plan for RIS3, will set out in detail matters such as the amount of funding allocated to operations, maintenance, renewals and enhancements as well as wider investment to support specific outcomes. These will be informed by National Highways’s proposals in its draft Strategic Business Plan, and by the efficiency review of these proposals that is being carried out by the Office of Rail and Road.

In any portfolio of this size, there will always be schemes that have feasibility or value for money issues that appear through the course of development, and there will always be a need to spend money on schemes to develop them to a certain stage to make an informed decision on whether to proceed or not. National Highways reported the write-off costs associated with cancelled RIS2 schemes in its Annual Report and Accounts 2025.

The Government knows how important reliable and affordable bus services are in enabling people to access education, and is committed to delivering better buses throughout the country, including for school and college students.

The Government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill on 17 December as part of our ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill will put passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of the industry by putting the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England.

As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated £955 million to support and improve bus services in 2025/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, this can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people.  Warwickshire County Council was allocated £8.7 million. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers.

The Department for Transport is committed to ensuring that nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs), including major road schemes, are delivered efficiently and without unnecessary delay.

The Department is actively exploring options to streamline the Development Consent Order (DCO) process, and the Planning and Infrastructure Bill (PIB) includes provisions to remove mandatory pre-application consultations and revise acceptance tests to accelerate decision-making and reduce potential bottlenecks.

We are also legislating to tighten the judicial review process. Key reforms include removing the paper permission stage; limiting appeals for cases deemed “Totally Without Merit” at oral hearings; exploring target timescales for judicial reviews in collaboration with the judiciary. These reforms aim to prevent meritless claims from delaying critical infrastructure while ensuring legitimate challenges are heard promptly.

In parallel, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has also launched a public consultation on streamlining infrastructure planning. Proposals being consulted on include reforms to pre-application services, enhanced guidance for statutory bodies, and improvements to the fast-track process administered by the Planning Inspectorate.

The Draft Road Investment Strategy provided the first public indication of the likely size, shape and priorities for RIS3 over the period 2026/27 to 2030/31. National Highways has produced a draft Strategic Business Plan setting out how it intends to deliver the Government’s objectives within the proposed funding available, which the Office of Rail and Road is in the process of reviewing. This review will inform whether the proposed funding set out in the draft RIS is appropriate to deliver these objectives, taking account of matters such as likely inflationary and other cost pressures over the period.

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as expanding the eligibility criteria to people aged 19-25, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.

The government is committed to delivering better bus services and growing patronage, and as part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, allocated £955 million to support and improve bus services in 25/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, this can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Warwickshire County Council has been allocated £8.7 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include introducing new fares initiatives to reduce the cost of bus travel for 19-25 years olds.

All taxi and private hire vehicle licensing authorities in England have advised the Department that for drivers they require the highest level of vetting available, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and a check of both the children’s and adults’ Barred Lists.

The Department for Transport will legislate to tackle inconsistent standards of taxi and private hire vehicle driver licensing more broadly. We are considering all options including out of area working, national standards and enforcement – seeking the best overall outcomes for passenger safety. In the interim the Department is reviewing licensing authorities’ compliance with existing guidance and determining how the statutory guidance on protecting children and vulnerable adults can be strengthened to further protect the public.

Licensing authorities can already jointly authorise officers from other authorities so that compliance and enforcement action can be taken against licensees from outside their area. Such an agreement would set out the range of powers available, but these could include the ability to undertake compliance checks and immediately suspend a driver’s licence in the interests of public safety. This enables the use of the agreed powers regardless of which authority within the agreement the officer is employed by and which issued the licence.

A consultation on making all local transport authorities responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, which would increase consistency in licensing and make better use of enforcement powers, will be launched shortly.

All taxi and private hire vehicle licensing authorities in England have advised the Department that for drivers they require the highest level of vetting available, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and a check of both the children’s and adults’ Barred Lists.

The Department for Transport will legislate to tackle inconsistent standards of taxi and private hire vehicle driver licensing more broadly. We are considering all options including out of area working, national standards and enforcement – seeking the best overall outcomes for passenger safety. In the interim the Department is reviewing licensing authorities’ compliance with existing guidance and determining how the statutory guidance on protecting children and vulnerable adults can be strengthened to further protect the public.

Licensing authorities can already jointly authorise officers from other authorities so that compliance and enforcement action can be taken against licensees from outside their area. Such an agreement would set out the range of powers available, but these could include the ability to undertake compliance checks and immediately suspend a driver’s licence in the interests of public safety. This enables the use of the agreed powers regardless of which authority within the agreement the officer is employed by and which issued the licence.

A consultation on making all local transport authorities responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, which would increase consistency in licensing and make better use of enforcement powers, will be launched shortly.

All taxi and private hire vehicle licensing authorities in England have advised the Department that for drivers they require the highest level of vetting available, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and a check of both the children’s and adults’ Barred Lists.

The Department for Transport will legislate to tackle inconsistent standards of taxi and private hire vehicle driver licensing more broadly. We are considering all options including out of area working, national standards and enforcement – seeking the best overall outcomes for passenger safety. In the interim the Department is reviewing licensing authorities’ compliance with existing guidance and determining how the statutory guidance on protecting children and vulnerable adults can be strengthened to further protect the public.

Licensing authorities can already jointly authorise officers from other authorities so that compliance and enforcement action can be taken against licensees from outside their area. Such an agreement would set out the range of powers available, but these could include the ability to undertake compliance checks and immediately suspend a driver’s licence in the interests of public safety. This enables the use of the agreed powers regardless of which authority within the agreement the officer is employed by and which issued the licence.

A consultation on making all local transport authorities responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, which would increase consistency in licensing and make better use of enforcement powers, will be launched shortly.

All taxi and private hire vehicle licensing authorities in England have advised the Department that for drivers they require the highest level of vetting available, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and a check of both the children’s and adults’ Barred Lists.

The Department for Transport will legislate to tackle inconsistent standards of taxi and private hire vehicle driver licensing more broadly. We are considering all options including out of area working, national standards and enforcement – seeking the best overall outcomes for passenger safety. In the interim the Department is reviewing licensing authorities’ compliance with existing guidance and determining how the statutory guidance on protecting children and vulnerable adults can be strengthened to further protect the public.

Licensing authorities can already jointly authorise officers from other authorities so that compliance and enforcement action can be taken against licensees from outside their area. Such an agreement would set out the range of powers available, but these could include the ability to undertake compliance checks and immediately suspend a driver’s licence in the interests of public safety. This enables the use of the agreed powers regardless of which authority within the agreement the officer is employed by and which issued the licence.

A consultation on making all local transport authorities responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, which would increase consistency in licensing and make better use of enforcement powers, will be launched shortly.

Current driver licensing and testing standards in Moldova have been assessed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

The technical evaluation looks at the following, including:

• the minimum test vehicle requirements,

• the duration of the test,

• any specific requirements,

• the manoeuvres completed,

• and the standard of assessment applied.

The training and quality assurance arrangements for driving examiners of the applying country are also evaluated, along with the arrangements, content, technical approach and marking system for theory and hazard perception testing.

The Government remains committed to supporting efforts to improve the safety of road users but has no plans to bring forward legislation to allow motorcycles and other powered two wheelers to access bus lanes by default. Decisions on this matter are for local highway authorities to make on a case-by-case basis.

Judicial review is an important legal process that allows democratic challenge to the lawfulness of a decision. While it plays a vital role in upholding accountability and transparency, the Department has assessed that in some cases judicial reviews can have an impact on the delivery of nationally significant road infrastructure projects.

As set out in the draft RIS3 document published on 26 August 2025, the Department does indeed intend to publish the final Road Investment Strategy 3 by March 2026.

Local authorities have a legal responsibility to manage their roads and public spaces in a way that meets the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) under the Equality Act 2010. It is for them to ensure that their streets are designed and maintained in a way that takes account of the needs of everyone, including visually impaired people.

The Government has produced good practice guidance to help them in this, and this is available at

www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-mobility-making-transport-accessible-for-passengers-and-pedestrians

The Government recognises the problems that blind and partially sighted pedestrians can face when motorists park on pavements, and when e-scooters and e-bikes are left blocking pavements. It will make an announcement shortly on next steps on pavement parking, following the 2020 consultation, and is introducing new regulatory powers through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to help local authorities manage shared micromobility schemes more effectively.

The final Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3) document will confirm the enhancement projects being taken forward for delivery in the period from 2026/27 to 2030/31, and those in the pipeline being developed to be considered for possible delivery beyond 2031. It is due to be published in March 2026.

All drivers who notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) of an underlying medical condition that may affect their visual field, regardless of age, are required to have a visual field test with the DVLA’s contracted eye test provider. Specsavers. The current contract for this purpose was awarded to Specsavers in February 2025 following a competitive tender exercise.

The contract is for three years with the option to extend for up to another two years.

Following consultation, the Government announced its intention to double fixed penalty notices, extend overrun charges to apply on bank holidays and weekends, and permit highway authorities to allocate 50% of surplus funds from lane rental schemes towards road maintenance. The relevant Statutory Instrument will be laid shortly to enable the necessary changes to come into force, with practical implementation in early 2026, the intervening period will help ensure the industry and Local Highway Authorities have time to adapt and be ready for them.

Following consultation, the Government announced its intention to double fixed penalty notices, extend overrun charges to apply on bank holidays and weekends, and permit highway authorities to allocate 50% of surplus funds from lane rental schemes towards road maintenance. The relevant Statutory Instrument will be laid shortly to enable the necessary changes to come into force, with practical implementation in early 2026, the intervening period will help ensure the industry and Local Highway Authorities have time to adapt and be ready for them.

Following consultation, the Government announced its intention to double fixed penalty notices, extend overrun charges to apply on bank holidays and weekends, and permit highway authorities to allocate 50% of surplus funds from lane rental schemes towards road maintenance. The relevant Statutory Instrument will be laid shortly to enable the necessary changes to come into force, with practical implementation in early 2026, the intervening period will help ensure the industry and Local Highway Authorities have time to adapt and be ready for them.

Following the publication of the Draft Road Investment Strategy (RIS), National Highways has produced a draft Strategic Business Plan setting out how it intends to deliver the Government’s objectives within the proposed funding available, which the Office of Rail and Road is now in the process of assessing in its Efficiency Review. This review will include detailed considerations on matters such as the treatment of cost pressures and deliverability and will inform the final RIS which is due to be published next year.

The UK aviation market operates predominantly in the private sector. The cost of air fares is therefore determined by airlines, but airlines must always be compliant with competition and consumer protection laws when setting fares.

The Secretary of State is committed to improving rail services by working together with train operators, Network Rail, and where appropriate, Transport for London, to continue to improve reliability and punctuality in the South East. Slough already benefits from contactless ticketing, which we have announced will be further expanded to 49 more stations across the South East later this year.

The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for.

It is important to clarify that these figures do not represent confirmed cases of number plate cloning. While some of these reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may result from administrative errors, such as incorrect entry of registration numbers.

The DVLA continues to work closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned and ghost number plates.

Under UK law, suppliers of number plates must be registered with the DVLA and are required to verify that customers are entitled to the registration number. Suppliers must also maintain records of all plates issued.

The DVLA supports enforcement efforts by investigating reports of illegal trading and sharing intelligence with police and Trading Standards where appropriate.

The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for.

It is important to clarify that these figures do not represent confirmed cases of number plate cloning. While some of these reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may result from administrative errors, such as incorrect entry of registration numbers.

The DVLA continues to work closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned and ghost number plates.

Under UK law, suppliers of number plates must be registered with the DVLA and are required to verify that customers are entitled to the registration number. Suppliers must also maintain records of all plates issued.

The DVLA supports enforcement efforts by investigating reports of illegal trading and sharing intelligence with police and Trading Standards where appropriate.

The Department does not hold any data on the scale of ride sharing car services.

However, to help better understand the scale of usage I have commissioned officials to consider how we can support and promote the use of car club and car-sharing schemes, starting with a roundtable of industry stakeholders.

The Department does not have any plans to provide advice on offering a discretionary concession to carers of disabled people, as offering this is a choice for the individual local authority to make.

In the year ending March 2025, 66% of Travel Concession Authorities in England outside London offered a discretionary concession for those travelling with a disabled person. The decision on whether to offer discretionary concessions is for the local authority to make depending on their needs and circumstances.

As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the government allocated £955 million to support and improve bus services in 25/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, of which Leicester City Council was allocated £9.4 million. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include funding discretionary concessions.

The Department does not have any plans to provide advice on offering a discretionary concession to carers of disabled people, as offering this is a choice for the individual local authority to make.

In the year ending March 2025, 66% of Travel Concession Authorities in England outside London offered a discretionary concession for those travelling with a disabled person. The decision on whether to offer discretionary concessions is for the local authority to make depending on their needs and circumstances.

As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the government allocated £955 million to support and improve bus services in 25/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, of which Leicester City Council was allocated £9.4 million. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include funding discretionary concessions.

The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to the 2020 pavement parking consultation and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them. We will announce the next steps and publish our formal response as soon as possible. The new research announced last week will not delay this; my officials are finalising its terms now. The Department will aim to publish within 12 weeks of agreeing final outputs, per Government Social Research protocols. Local authorities can make use of existing powers to manage pavement parking.

The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to the 2020 pavement parking consultation and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them. We will announce the next steps and publish our formal response as soon as possible. The new research announced last week will not delay this; my officials are finalising its terms now. The Department will aim to publish within 12 weeks of agreeing final outputs, per Government Social Research protocols. Local authorities can make use of existing powers to manage pavement parking.

The Department for Transport (DfT) works across Government to introduce relevant standards, guidance, and policy to ensure the cyber security and resilience of our essential services.

DfT uses both policy and regulatory levers to support the rail sector to effectively manage cyber risk and assist the sector to secure its networks and systems. We work closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the rail industry, and others to continuously assess and mitigate emerging cyber threats to the sector.

As Competent Authority under the Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018, DfT regulates rail Operators of Essential Servies (OES) to ensure that rail services which are most critical to the British public are compliant with relevant cyber standards. We will use the forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill (CSRB) to strengthen our regulatory powers, improve incident reporting, and expand the type of entities in scope.

The UK aviation market operates predominantly in the private sector. Regional airports invest in their infrastructure to attract passengers and airlines, while airlines are well placed to deliver services to their customers by responding to demand for different routes.

The Government continues to support vital connectivity to the regions through public service obligation routes whilst an expanded Heathrow could provide an opportunity to strengthen regional connectivity to the UK’s hub airport.

The budget for the British Transport Police for the financial year 2025/26 is £415m - a 5.9% increase on the year before.

The British Transport Police’s (BTP) budget is set by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). It is the executive non-departmental public body that oversees the Force and is their employer. BTPA sets the BTP’s budget annually following proposals from the Force and views from industry. BTP work closely with BTPA and industry operators to make final resourcing decisions with their agreed budget.

Since 17 June 2011, children under the age of three have been eligible for a Blue Badge if they fall under either or both of the following criteria:

(a) a child who, because of a condition, must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around with the child without great difficulty

(b) a child who, because of a condition, must always be kept near a motor vehicle so that, if necessary, treatment for that condition can be given in the vehicle or the child can be taken quickly in the vehicle to a place where such treatment can be given

Whilst the Department recommends that local authorities treat each application for children under the age of three as a special case, it does not consider that there is a compelling case for giving automatic Blue Badge eligibility to disabled children below the age of three who do not meet the above criteria. In most cases, they could reasonably be carried in a pram or pushchair, in much the same way as able-bodied children of a similar age.

Active Travel England is working with local authorities to provide high-quality cycling infrastructure which aims to help women feel safer when cycling. Design guidance for new infrastructure, such as that funded through the Active Travel Fund, requires that new schemes are accessible to all users, including women. This can include providing lighting for walking and cycling schemes, improving social safety, and delivering road safety improvements to existing schemes.

In February, we announced almost £300 million funding for active travel in 2024/25 and 2025/26. This can be used by local authorities to support the development of direct and safe cycling routes. Surrey Council has been awarded over £1.4 million in capital funding for 24/25 and over £4.4 million in revenue funding for 24/25 and capital funding for 25/26.

Following updates to the Highway Code in 2022 introducing a hierarchy of road users, the department ran a THINK! campaign to raise awareness of the changes as they came into effect. This refreshed guidance placed particular emphasis on the safety of vulnerable road users, including cyclists, pedestrians, and horse riders. The campaign specifically highlighted the new rules and educated both drivers and cyclists, ensuring that cyclists understood their rights and responsibilities while clarifying how drivers should behave around them.

Currently, THINK! is running a “Pedestrian Crossing” radio advert via the Fillers service, which allows broadcasters to air public service messages at no cost. The advert raises awareness about safe driving speeds and passing distances, reminding drivers to leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists and to give adequate space to horse riders.

Active Travel England is working with local authorities to provide high-quality cycling infrastructure which aims to help women feel safer when cycling. Design guidance for new infrastructure, such as that funded through the Active Travel Fund, requires that new schemes are accessible to all users, including women. This can include providing lighting for walking and cycling schemes, improving social safety, and delivering road safety improvements to existing schemes.

In February, we announced almost £300 million funding for active travel in 2024/25 and 2025/26. This can be used by local authorities to support the development of direct and safe cycling routes. Surrey Council has been awarded over £1.4 million in capital funding for 24/25 and over £4.4 million in revenue funding for 24/25 and capital funding for 25/26.

Following updates to the Highway Code in 2022 introducing a hierarchy of road users, the department ran a THINK! campaign to raise awareness of the changes as they came into effect. This refreshed guidance placed particular emphasis on the safety of vulnerable road users, including cyclists, pedestrians, and horse riders. The campaign specifically highlighted the new rules and educated both drivers and cyclists, ensuring that cyclists understood their rights and responsibilities while clarifying how drivers should behave around them.

Currently, THINK! is running a “Pedestrian Crossing” radio advert via the Fillers service, which allows broadcasters to air public service messages at no cost. The advert raises awareness about safe driving speeds and passing distances, reminding drivers to leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists and to give adequate space to horse riders.

Active Travel England is working with local authorities to provide high-quality cycling infrastructure which aims to help women feel safer when cycling. Design guidance for new infrastructure, such as that funded through the Active Travel Fund, requires that new schemes are accessible to all users, including women. This can include providing lighting for walking and cycling schemes, improving social safety, and delivering road safety improvements to existing schemes.

In February, we announced almost £300 million funding for active travel in 2024/25 and 2025/26. This can be used by local authorities to support the development of direct and safe cycling routes. Surrey Council has been awarded over £1.4 million in capital funding for 24/25 and over £4.4 million in revenue funding for 24/25 and capital funding for 25/26.

Following updates to the Highway Code in 2022 introducing a hierarchy of road users, the department ran a THINK! campaign to raise awareness of the changes as they came into effect. This refreshed guidance placed particular emphasis on the safety of vulnerable road users, including cyclists, pedestrians, and horse riders. The campaign specifically highlighted the new rules and educated both drivers and cyclists, ensuring that cyclists understood their rights and responsibilities while clarifying how drivers should behave around them.

Currently, THINK! is running a “Pedestrian Crossing” radio advert via the Fillers service, which allows broadcasters to air public service messages at no cost. The advert raises awareness about safe driving speeds and passing distances, reminding drivers to leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists and to give adequate space to horse riders.

At our main London headquarters building the Union Flag is flown every day. The only other main site where there is a flag pole is Spring Place in Southampton. The Red Ensign, and the Coastguard Flag, which have the Union Flag incorporated within it, are flown Monday to Friday every week at this site.

We recognise the socio-economic benefits that the proposed Bakerloo Line Extension could offer regionally and nationally, and we want to improve transport and services for passengers. As transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London, it is for them to make decisions on the merits of investment including any upgrade to the Bakerloo Line.