Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of safe evening transport for women in (a) rural areas and (b) Langley Vale.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Department for Transport is committed to making the transport network safer for everyone, including women and girls, whenever and wherever they are travelling. As part of the Government’s aims to reduce Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) by half over the next decade, the Department has an ambitious, evidence-based programme of work to help tackle VAWG on transport. This includes measures in the Bus Services Act 2025 such as training on how to recognise and respond to incidents of criminal and antisocial behaviour (ASB).

We know that women and girls are more likely than men to avoid travelling alone when it’s dark. The Department’s ‘Protected characteristics and public transport perceptions and safety’ research, published in 2023, also found that women were more concerned than men about the risk of violence regardless of the time of day. People living in rural areas were more likely to say they felt safe, albeit by a relatively small margin.

We are continuing to build our evidence base to better understand the prevalence of VAWG and ASB across the transport network so we can better target interventions. In the meantime, the Department will continue to work across government and with partners, including the British Transport Police (BTP), the transport industry and local authorities to ensure that everyone feels and is safe when travelling.

In relation to taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs), the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill is seeking a power to set in regulations national minimum standards for taxi and PHV licensing. The power was approved by the House of Commons at Report Stage, and the Bill is now being considered by the House of Lords. If passed, this would enable government to set robust standards for licensing right across England, to keep women and girls and, indeed, all members of the public safe, wherever they live or travel.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the prohibition on local authorities transferring Blue Badges between councils when a badge holder moves area on badge users, and whether she has plans to review this policy.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

There is no such prohibition. When a badge holder moves to a different council area, they can inform their new local authority which is able to request the information from their previous local authority. This information can be securely transferred via our Blue Badge Digital Service.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has she made of the potential vulnerability to being disabled of Chinese-origin buses that are reliant upon sim connection for software upgrades.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government takes national security seriously and recognises the systematic challenges of increased connectivity and the cyber security implications for almost every area of government policy, including vehicles. The Department works closely with the transport sector and other government departments to understand and respond to cyber vulnerabilities for all transport modes.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for upgrading rail infrastructure on the Uckfield line.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

A Strategic Outline Business Case was developed by Network Rail in 2021 which considered the potential benefits of upgrading rail infrastructure on the Uckfield line. This assessment concluded that the scheme would have positive impacts on train service performance and reliability, together with wider economic benefits. The scheme was paused by the previous government following Spending Review 2021; no development work has taken place since that point.

The Hon Member also may wish to contact Network Rail for information on their plans to maintain and renew rail infrastructure on the Uckfield line.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) assessment and (b) estimate she has made of the differential in her Department’s Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit budget in the (i) Spending Review and (ii) Autumn Budget 2025 in each year between 2024-25 and 2029-30.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Spending Review 2025 established allocations of Capital Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) up to financial year 2029-30, with further spending announcements made during Autumn Budget 2025. A profile of these spending limits is enclosed in the table below.

*CDEL is adjusted for TfL Business Rates Retention (£1.2bn p.a. from 2026-27).

Capital spending limits in future years and how they are allocated are subject to departmental business planning processes. Furthermore, the department will provide more detail on future spending plans at the appropriate Supply Estimate.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps are being taken to improve regional transport.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

This Department is delivering improved regional transport through the £92 billion Spending Review settlement it received, driving the biggest boost to transport infrastructure in a generation and unlocking schemes that deliver for the taxpayer and support growth. In addition, where transport is devolved, the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have received the largest ever block grants in real terms, giving them record funding to invest in their own priorities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many non-military flights landed at (a) Heathrow (b) RAF Northolt in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Data on aircraft movements at UK airports is collected and published by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). CAA aircraft movement data includes a ‘military’ category, but a split between arriving and departing flights is not provided.

Although Royal Air Force (RAF) Northolt does handle some civil flight movements, this is an RAF establishment, and data on aircraft movements at RAF Northolt is not collected by the CAA.

Data on the total number of aircraft movements at Heathrow, split by military and non-military, is provided in Table 03_1 of the annual CAA airport data publication and reproduced as Table 1 below. The last three complete years for which figures are available are 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Table 1: Aircraft movements at Heathrow Airport split by military and non-military

Note: Non-military category includes commercial, test and training, private, official and business aviation movements.

Source: https://www.caa.co.uk/data-and-analysis/uk-aviation-market/airports/uk-airport-data/

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the discrepancy between traffic regulations that encourage drivers to use lay-bys for rest breaks to improve road safety and caravan site licensing regulations that require caravans to be sited at prescribed distances apart for fire safety and planning compliance on car and caravan drivers; and whether her Department plans to issue guidance to motorists using caravans or motorhomes on using lay-bys for rest periods.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department has no such plans. Provision of lay-bys is a matter for local highway authorities. Advice to drivers on the safe use of roads, including taking appropriate breaks, is given in the Highway Code. There are no traffic regulations that encourage drivers to use lay-bys for rest breaks.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions her Department had with Hammersmith and Fulham Council on the reconvening of the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

My Department regularly hold discussions regarding the viable engineering options for the next stage of works on Hammersmith Bridge with their counterparts at both the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and Transport for London. The Government intends to convene a further meeting of the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce in the near future to discuss next steps for the project. My Department’s officials will be in touch with key local stakeholders to arrange this in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to reconvene the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce prior to the Spring Statement.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government intends to convene a further meeting of the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce in the near future to discuss next steps for the project. My Department’s officials will be in touch with key local stakeholders to arrange this in due course.

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Found: parliament.uk/eacom The Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Transport, Department for Transport

Found: For example, how can DBT, DFE and the DfT coordinate in a way than improves matters at a local level

Found: appointing a single senior official as a cross-Whitehall ‘account manager’ to coordinate work across DBT, DfT

Found: pro-growth policies, so too does the Department of Health and Social Care, the NHS, the Department for Transport

Found: For example, clean hydrogen policy spans multiple departments including DESNZ, DBT, DfT, DEFRA, and

Found: DHL would like to see this strategy led by DBT, with input from DFT and DESNZ as key enabling departments

Found: Current DfT modelling suggests SAF will cost airlines $3- $4 billion in 2030, with the majority picked

Found: In particular, the Department for Transport runs the “Continuing Survey of Road Goods Transport (CSRGT

Found: across the Ministry of Defence, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and Department for Transport

Found: Cover how the Department for Business and Trade, working with DfT, Cabinet Office and the Treasury,

Found: For example, how can DBT, DFE and the DfT coordinate in a way than improves matters at a local level

Found: particularly at a time when you are making decisions about the resourcing of overseas posts and the DfT

Found: -26 Report Title Page Fiftieth report: Local Bus Services in England 2 Department for Transport

Found: -26 Report Title Page Fiftieth report: Local Bus Services in England 2 Department for Transport

Found: -26 Report Title Page Fiftieth report: Local Bus Services in England 2 Department for Transport

Found: -26 Report Title Page Fiftieth report: Local Bus Services in England 2 Department for Transport

Found: -26 Report Title Page Fiftieth report: Local Bus Services in England 2 Department for Transport

Found: -26 Report Title Page Fiftieth report: Local Bus Services in England 2 Department for Transport

Found: -26 Report Title Page Fiftieth report: Local Bus Services in England 2 Department for Transport

Found: That is something that the Department for Transport is looking at as part of its investment plans and

Found: As an example, there have been a number of high-profile announcements from the Department for Transport

Found: As an example, there have been a number of high-profile announcements from the Department for Transport

Found: and we have benefited from Department of Health and Social Care funding, DFE funding and Department for Transport

Found: agree that, in general, a car is beneficial to disabled people’s employment outcomes. 2 Department for Transport

Found: If you look at the DfT stats for Dover, they have seen a significant decrease in the number of accompanied

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Found: presume the 20 Environment Agency, lots of local planning authorities and I presume the Department for Transport

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Department for Transport guidance entitled Cycle infrastructure design (LTN 1/20), published on 27 July 2020, whether he plans to revise (a) the National Planning Policy Framework and (b) guidance to require new residential and mixed-use developments to provide high-quality permeability for walking and cycling.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that transport issues should be considered from the earliest stages of plan-making and development proposals, using a vision-led approach to identify transport solutions that deliver well-designed, sustainable, and popular places. This should involve identifying and pursuing opportunities to promote walking and cycling.

The Framework also outlines that when assessing sites that may be allocated in local development plans, or specific development applications, it should be ensured that sustainable transport modes are prioritised taking account of the vision for the site, the type of development and its location, and that safe and suitable access to the site can be achieved for all users. Within this context, applications for development should give priority first to pedestrian and cycle movements, both within the scheme and with neighbouring areas, and should create places that are safe, secure, and attractive and which minimise scope for conflicts between pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.

We are currently consulting on changes to the Framework, including updated policies on sustainable transport which seek to further embed a vision-led approach to transport planning. The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the ambulance costs from road collisions in Surrey in the past five years.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

No specific estimation has been made. Data on the number of road traffic collisions is collected and published by the Department for Transport.

Ambulance services do not routinely report costs at the level of individual incident types. However, the most recent National Cost Collection indicates that the average cost of an ambulance ‘see, treat and convey’ response is approximately £489.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support police forces in reducing serious and fatal road traffic collisions.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The safety of all road users is a priority for this Government. While the operational enforcement of road traffic laws is a matter for individual police forces, the Home Office is committed to supporting them in reducing serious and fatal collisions.

The Government is strengthening police powers to enforce traffic law, through measures in the Crime and Policing Bill which will enable officers to seize vehicles without having to serve a notice and to tackle dangerous driving more effectively.We support police forces in targeting speeding, drink and drug driving, mobile phone use while driving and failure to wear seatbelts, through enforcement campaigns and educational schemes such as BikeSafe and the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme.

The Home Office is also working closely with the Department for Transport on the recently published Road Safety Strategy which sets an ambitious target to reduce deaths and serious injuries by 65% by 2035. This includes measures to strengthen enforcement, improve vehicle safety and enhance collision investigation capability.

Through these combined efforts, we are ensuring that police forces have the tools, powers and partnerships needed to make our roads safer and reduce the tragic toll of serious and fatal collisions.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025, to Question, 90238, on Government Communications Service: Staff, if he will publish the number of (a) headcount and (b) FTE Government Communication Service staff in each government department, central public body and Arm’s Length Body, including NHS, according to information collated in the most recent Government Communications Service audit; and what are the aggregate figures.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Please see the table below that contains the full-time equivalent figures for departments. These figures incorporate the ALBs, which are grouped under their respective sponsoring organisations.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance is issued to local authorities on recording and recovering costs incurred during environmental clean-up operations following maritime incidents; and whether such guidance allows for costs incurred by organised charity, conservation, or wildlife groups supporting those clean-up efforts to be included within claims made against responsible commercial parties.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

MHCLG is not responsible for maritime or environmental clean-up operations. The Lead Government Department responsibility for these sits with the Department for Transport and the Environment Agency, which are responsible for guidance to local authorities on these issues. I would also refer the hon Lady to the Answer my hon. Friend the Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security gave to the Member for North West Norfolk (James Wild) on 29 April 2025 UIN 46848.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support his Department provides to local authorities responding to maritime incidents that result in environmental contamination or significant shoreline clean-up operations.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

MHCLG is not responsible for maritime or environmental clean-up operations. The Lead Government Department responsibility for these sits with the Department for Transport and the Environment Agency, which are responsible for guidance to local authorities on these issues. I would also refer the hon Lady to the Answer my hon. Friend the Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security gave to the Member for North West Norfolk (James Wild) on 29 April 2025 UIN 46848.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance exists on public communication and safety messaging by local authorities during environmental incidents affecting coastal communities.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

MHCLG is not responsible for maritime or environmental clean-up operations. The Lead Government Department responsibility for these sits with the Department for Transport and the Environment Agency, which are responsible for guidance to local authorities on these issues. I would also refer the hon Lady to the Answer my hon. Friend the Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security gave to the Member for North West Norfolk (James Wild) on 29 April 2025 UIN 46848.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ghost plates pose on (a) national security and (b) the ability of hostile or organised criminal actors to evade detection by ANPR technology; and whether she has commissioned a cross-government review on the potential impact of the use of illegal plates on investigative leads, including those related to violent crime, terrorism, and serious organised criminal activity.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Under the new Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January by the Department for Transport, the Government has announced firm action to tackle illegal or ‘ghost’ numberplates. This includes consulting on tougher penalties, including penalty points and vehicle seizure, more robust checks on number plate suppliers, and higher industry standards for numberplates. We also intend to commission targeted research to explore the potential use of artificial intelligence to identify illegal plates.

In addition, the Government has pledged £2.7m for each of the next three years to support a roads policing innovation programme. As part of this innovation programme, the Department for Transport and Home Office are working in collaboration with National Police Chiefs' Council and others to consider new approaches to tackling the issue of illegal plate usage.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Valuation Office Agency has (a) access to the data and (b) intends to makes use of the Department for Transport’s new Connectivity Tool when undertaking (a) council tax and (b) business rate valuations in (i) England and (ii) Wales.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the (a) terms of reference and (b) membership of the Undersea Infrastructure Security Oversight Board.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Undersea Infrastructure Security Oversight Board provides a joined-up function and sets strategic direction across government on undersea infrastructure security.

The core membership includes key government stakeholders with an interest in undersea infrastructure security. This includes representation from DSIT, DESNZ, MOD, Defra, DFT, Home Office, Royal Navy and others as required. It is chaired and convened by the Cabinet Office.

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Found: £616 million since 2026-27 in active travel infrastructure, with investment led by the Department for Transport

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Found: Department for Transport: 14.1. Maritime and Coastguard Agency; 14.2.

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Found: the UK, with a research centre for connected and autonomous vehicles established by the Department for Transport

Found: run-off have on our water environment, we will also continue to work in partnership with the Department for Transport

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Found: -26 Report Title Page Fiftieth report: Local Bus Services in England 2 Department for Transport

Found: -26 Report Title Page Fiftieth report: Local Bus Services in England 2 Department for Transport

Found: the UK, with a research centre for connected and autonomous vehicles established by the Department for Transport

Found: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and delivers a range of functions on behalf of the Department for Transport

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Found: .• Statisticians within the Department for Transport have devised a method for adjusting the road casualty

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