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.
Shadow Ministers / Spokeperson
Liberal Democrat
Baroness Randerson (LD - Life peer)Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Transport)
Conservative
Helen Whately (Con - Faversham and Mid Kent)Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Alec Shelbrooke (Con - Wetherby and Easingwold)Shadow Minister (Transport)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Greg Smith (Con - Mid Buckinghamshire)Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Transport)
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle)
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
Lilian Greenwood (Lab - Nottingham South)Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Mike Kane (Lab - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Simon Lightwood (LAB - Wakefield and Rothwell)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
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The Transport Committee is inquiring into the potential uses of data to improve planning and delivery of transport services, management …
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the feasibility of electrifying the …
These Regulations revoke and replace the M621 Motorway (Speed Limit) Regulations 2000 which imposed speed limit restrictions on the M621 …
A Bill to make provision for a railway between a junction with Phase 2a of High Speed 2 south of …
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News and Communications
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.
Bills currently before Parliament
Department for Transport does not have Bills currently before Parliament
Acts of Parliament created in the 2024 Parliament
Department for Transport has not passed any Acts during the 2024 Parliament
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).
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.
0 Members of the Transport Committee
Transport Committee: 12 Current Inquiries
Transport Committee: Previous Inquiries
50 most recent Written Questions
(View all written questions)Midlands Connect, a sub-national transport body which researches, develops and progresses transport projects in the Midlands, is prioritising line speed improvements to this railway line over electrification. They are in the process of refreshing the Business Case for line speed improvements, which they plan to submit towards the end of 2024. It will be important to consider a range of options to progress decarbonisation of the rail network, and I expect to receive advice on this matter later this year.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In the second Road Investment Strategy (RIS2), National Highways committed to invest £400 million between 2020 and 2025 on the replacement and repair of England’s remaining concrete roads. The programme of replacing worn-out concrete roads is expected to continue into the 2030s. The scale of future investment in the concrete roads programme will be determined as part of the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) setting process for 2025-2030.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department and I are working closely with HS2 Ltd to ensure that, as we deliver the railway, local communities are involved, informed, and treated with the respect they deserve. Construction of a project on the scale of HS2 will inevitably affect many people, including residents of Aylesbury, but a wide range of controls are in place, including a comprehensive Code of Construction Practice, and independent Commissioners, to minimise disruption as far as possible and to respond to any concerns raised. In recognition of those impacts that remain, however, local people may be interested in applying to the HS2 Community and Environment Fund, which provides grant funding for beneficial projects along the line of the route, and to mitigate the impact of HS2 works.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Deregulation Act 2015 enabled Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) operators to sub-contract bookings to each other across licensing boundaries, but the legislation has always allowed taxis and PHVs to operate outside of the area in which they are licensed. Taxis can only ply for hire (pick up passengers at taxi ranks or be hailed in the street) in the area in which they are licensed, but pre-booked work by PHVs and taxis can be undertaken anywhere.
The Department for Transport does not hold any information about the number and proportion of PHV drivers operating in the Harlow area but licensed by other licensing authorities. As of 1 April 2023, there were 346,300 licensed taxi and PHV drivers in England, of which 264 were licensed by Harlow Council.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government knows that Britain needs a modern transport network to help kickstart economic growth. Good local bus services are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities. As announced in the King’s Speech, the government will pass the Better Buses Bill to put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, to ensure networks can meet the needs to the communities who rely on them, including in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
We also plan to empower local transport authorities through reforming bus funding. By giving local leaders more control and flexibility over bus funding they can plan ahead to deliver their local transport priorities. The Department will work closely with local leaders and bus operators to deliver on the government’s ambitions.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The performance of Avanti West Coast (AWC) has been inadequate, with too many cancellations and delays. Poor Network Rail infrastructure reliability has also contributed to the disruption experienced by passengers. The Secretary of State met with the Managing Director of AWC and the Network Rail Route Director on 16 July to challenge them on poor performance and demand immediate action to deliver urgent improvements.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The £2 National Bus Fare Cap is a voluntary scheme for eligible bus operators, who are provided a bespoke funding allocation to reimburse the difference between the cap and the shadow commercial fare. This is calculated using the Department for Transport’s methodology which uses each operator’s historic and present data to predict ticket sales for each period of the scheme.
It is not possible to calculate the average cost per passenger journey in each Local Transport Authority (LTA) because the reimbursement is provided directly to bus operators, who do not operate exclusively within LTA boundaries. The total government investment to cap bus fares at £2 between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2024 is around £600 million.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government keeps all policies under review. We will be considering what actions can be taken to improve the existing taxi and private hire vehicle licensing system.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Delivering reliable and affordable public transport services for passengers is one of my top priorities as I know how important this is for passengers and for local growth. The government is urgently considering the most effective and affordable ways to deliver on these objectives.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
A temporary arrangement has been in place since 2018. The previous administration held a call for evidence last year and we will consider the evidence carefully before coming to a view.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Transport is an essential part of our mission to rebuild Britain and this Government is committed to delivering infrastructure that works for the whole country. We need a long-term approach to infrastructure and investment taking account of local transport priorities, which is what we will provide. We will thoroughly review the position we have inherited before setting out more detailed plans in due course.
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Department for Transport officials sent a letter to Birmingham City Council’s chief executive to acknowledge receipt of the letter in question and to offer a meeting to discuss the PFI contract. The letter from DfT officials will be deposited in the House of Commons Library.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government is committed to ensuring that people have access to transport that enables them to travel to the destinations they want to reach and meets their needs. As my Right Honourable Friend the Chancellor has set out, the first step is undertaking an assessment of the spending inheritance from the previous Government. This includes examining the funding commitments made in the Network North Command Paper.
The assessment of spending inheritance will be set out before the summer recess.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Both the Rail Minister and I are early in our tenure as Transport Ministers, and he is yet to speak to Network Rail regarding the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement. However, as Transport Ministers we recognise the benefits the scheme could bring for freight and passenger rail services in East Anglia, including the Cambridge to Norwich route. The Rail Minister looks forward to discussing these proposals with Network Rail and other stakeholders in due course.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing our road network as a priority, on which Ministers will say more in future.
The previous Government made a number of funding commitments in the Network North Command Paper, and these will be examined closely by this Government in the coming months.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways is constructing 150 additional Emergency Refuge Areas across the All Lane Running smart motorway network. Construction, which is already well underway, began in 2022. The project is expected to be completed by the end of March 2025.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is aware of the safety issues at the junction between the A30 and B3257 at Plusha. National Highways maintains regular contact with the officers and local Members of Cornwall Council, as well as emergency services and other key stakeholders, including Vision Zero South West, regarding possible safety improvements for this stretch of the A30 as part of its A30 Kennards House to Five Lanes Safety Study.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Active Travel England (ATE) provides funding and support to all local authorities in England, including those in rural areas. For example, ATE provides training on infrastructure design guidance and is developing specific guidance for good practice application in rural areas. In 2024, ATE also provided £1 million to the ten National Parks in England to help them develop better links to rural towns and villages.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department continues to work closely with West Midlands Trains (WMT), which operates London Northwestern Railway services to monitor its adequacy.
The Department also monitors compliance with WMT’s contractual obligations. Although operational performance has recently been impacted by a significant number of infrastructure and weather-related incident. WMT’s performance was above expectations and other contractual metrics have also been within acceptable levels overall.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government is committed to securing the long-term future of the aviation sector in the UK and recognises the benefits of the connectivity it creates between the UK and the rest of the world.
We have been clear that any expansion proposals at Heathrow Airport would need to demonstrate that they contribute to country-wide economic growth, are compatible with the UK’s legally binding climate change commitments and meet strict environmental standards on air quality and noise pollution.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We recognise the contribution of current and former members of the armed forces, with both the HM Forces Railcard and the Veteran’s Railcard offering excellent value for money. The Veteran’s Railcard is managed by the Rail Delivery Group whereas the HM Forces Railcard is administered by the Ministry of Defence. There are no current plans to change the cost of the Veteran’s Railcard.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In the most recent rail industry period, 25 May to 21 June, the Public Performance Measure (PPM) across the Greater Anglia network was at 94.9 per cent. In relation to the Southend line the annual PPM was 96.4 per cent. Customers taking Greater Anglia services have recently benefitted from a complete fleet of new trains and Network Rail has carried out replacement of overhead lines along sections of the route. Greater Anglia and Network Rail continue to work closely together on maintaining and further improving performance levels.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As Passenger-in-Chief, affordability is one of the Secretary of State’s key priorities for the rail network. As part of our plan for urgent action for the railways, we are committed to reviewing the overcomplicated fares system with a view to simplifying it and introducing digital innovations. We will explore the options for expanding ticketing innovations like digital pay as you go, and digital season tickets across the network.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Both the Rail Minister and I are early in our tenure as Transport Ministers. As such, he has yet to speak to Network Rail regarding the status of the Wymondham station accessibility project. The Department looks forward to discussing these proposals with Network Rail and other stakeholders in the near future.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
c2c are an operationally high performing train operating company. From 1 January to 31 March 2024, c2c were the highest performing train operating company in terms of cancellations (1.5 per cent) and third highest for on-time punctuality (81.3 per cent). The Department, Network Rail and c2c are focused on both maintaining high performance, as well as delivering incremental improvements. To deliver incremental improvements, c2c are developing joint performance plans with Network Rail, which has greater emphasis on key parts of the route.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
An application for revising the Torpoint Crossing tolls (for the Tamar Bridge and the Torpoint Ferry) was made by Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council on Thursday 2 May 2024. A Public Inquiry in respect of that application is due to begin on 15 October 2024. As this is a live application, I am unable to comment on what the final decision might be.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport collects information on the condition of roads from local highways authorities. Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard make up part of the local highway authority of Central Bedfordshire.
Information on the condition of roads specifically in Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard would be held by the local highway authority of Central Bedfordshire. Unfortunately, it is not held by the Department at this level of granularity.
Information on the condition of roads in England is collected and published by the Department annually here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/road-network-size-and-condition. However, no information for the condition of roads in Central Bedfordshire has been provided to the Department since the financial year ending March 2019.
The data held by the Department for the financial years ending March 2010 to March 2019 showed that:
- The percentage of A road that should have been considered for maintenance (‘red roads’) was between 1% and 3% for Central Bedfordshire, while during the same time-period the national level of red road was between 3% and 5%.
- The percentage of red B & C road was between 2% and 5%, whereas the national level was between 6% and 10%.
- The percentage of red Unclassified (‘U’) road was between 3% and 21%, and the national level was between 15% to 18%.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
I recognise that The Tamar Crossings are a very important local issue. The Crossings are funded on a ‘user pays’ principle from toll income. No funding is received from Government or from the owners of the Tamar Crossings – Plymouth City Council and Cornwall Council. I do not expect this to change.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has measures in place to ensure that keepers notify them when they buy and sell a vehicle. Based on the latest available data, more than 92 per cent of vehicle keepers are contactable and traceable, based on the information held on the DVLA’s records. Of those remaining, the majority will be in the motor trade. There are no current plans to introduce new legislation to restrict the sale of vehicles.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is committed to putting transport at the heart of mission-driven government to support economic growth, promote social mobility and tackle regional inequality. The Chancellor has committed to presenting to Parliament, before summer recess, an assessment of the state of the new Government’s spending inheritance. We will consider proposals for the A39 Camelford bypass alongside other future road projects and will provide an update in due course.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is committed to putting transport at the heart of mission-driven government to support economic growth, promote social mobility and tackle regional inequality. The Chancellor has committed to presenting to Parliament, before summer recess, an assessment of the state of the new Government’s spending inheritance. We will consider proposals for the A39 Camelford bypass alongside other future road projects and will provide an update in due course.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Somerset Council are the relevant highways authority for the A361 around Frome and are responsible for any assessments on road safety. However, I am aware that Somerset’s Road Safety Team have been active in engaging with the community and are working with the Police over further road safety engagement and enforcement plans for later this year. I understand they are also undertaking a reassessment of traffic engineering measures at certain locations to see if any measures might help to reduce the likelihood of collisions occurring.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government has committed to investing £5.7bn in the transport networks of eight city regions in England until 2027 through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS). This includes £1.07bn for Greater Manchester. CRSTS supports investments in public and sustainable transport across a range of modes including rail, bus, tram, and walking and cycling. The Greater Manchester CRSTS programme includes the development of a tram-train link to Heywood.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The previous Government made a number of funding commitments in the Network North Command Paper and these will be examined closely by my Government in the coming months.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Transport is an essential part of our mission to rebuild Britain, and this Government is committed to delivering infrastructure that works for the whole country.
We are currently considering options on future rail infrastructure, including how we best support economic growth in the North and Midlands and tackle issues on the West Coast Main Line.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Transport is an essential part of our mission to rebuild Britain, and this Government is committed to delivering infrastructure that works for the whole country. This includes improving rail connectivity across the north of England.
Re-introducing the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill is the first step in doing so, by providing powers to develop, construct and operate rail infrastructure that is key to improving inter-regional and northern rail connectivity.
We need a long-term approach to infrastructure and investment which takes account of local transport priorities. We will provide this, and thoroughly review the position we have inherited before setting out more detailed plans in due course.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Both the Rail Minister and I are early in our tenure as Transport Ministers. As such, he is yet to speak to Network Rail regarding the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement. However, we do recognise the benefits the scheme could bring for freight and passenger rail services in East Anglia. The Department looks forward to discussing these proposals with Network Rail, and other stakeholders, in the near future.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government is urgently considering the most effective ways to ensure public transport services are reliable and affordable. We will conclude this as quickly as possible.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government is urgently considering the most effective ways to ensure public transport services are reliable and affordable. We will conclude this as quickly as possible.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Rail North Partnership (RNP), through which the department jointly manages Northern Trains’ contract with Transport for the North, monitors operators’ planned train deployment to ensure this falls within the requirement on them to match capacity to demand. While we have no evidence passengers’ safety is being compromised, RNP will discuss the loading on Durham Coast services with Northern and ensure it takes the actions open to it to meet its targets
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Rail North Partnership (RNP), through which the department jointly manages Northern Trains’ contract with Transport for the North, monitors operators’ planned train deployment to ensure this falls within the requirement on them to match capacity to demand. While we have no evidence passengers’ safety is being compromised, RNP will discuss the loading on Durham Coast services with Northern and ensure it takes the actions open to it to meet its targets
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport published an interim report on the £2 fare cap in September 2023 setting out emerging trends in key outcomes from the first two months of the scheme. It is available on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-2-bus-fare-cap/2-bus-fare-cap-evaluation-interim-report-february-2023.
Bus patronage appears to be continuing to recover following the COVID-19 pandemic, and people making additional bus trips with the £2 bus fare cap in place are likely to be existing bus users and make a small number of additional trips.
DfT is considering the overall value for money of the £2 fare cap as part of our ongoing evaluation, which will continue over the coming months and provide richer conclusions on its effects and people’s attitudes.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Local highway authorities are responsible for maintaining the highway. This includes the removal of graffiti from publicly owned highway assets, such as bridges, traffic signs, and street furniture, as well as council-owned and other public buildings. The Department has no plans to extend this requirement to privately owned structures adjacent to the highway.
However, we do expect private owners of structures to act to remove offensive graffiti. If graffiti or flyposting is on private property, councils can issue a Defacement Removal Notice to the property owner, which requires them to remove the graffiti within 28 days.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
I am grateful to the Honorable Member for his continued support for the scheme and I would be very happy to meet him to discuss it. The Outline Business Case submitted by Derbyshire County Council has been assessed in detail by officials, who have obtained additional information from Derbyshire County Council to help Ministers in their considerations.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government has announced that it intends to publish a new Strategic Framework for Road Safety, the first in over a decade. Work is already underway on this.
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The government knows that Britain needs a modern transport network to help kickstart economic growth. Good local bus services are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities. As announced in the King’s Speech, the Government will introduce the Better Buses Bill to put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, to ensure networks can meet the needs of the communities who rely on them, including in North Shropshire and other rural areas across England.
We also plan to empower local transport authorities by reforming bus funding. By giving local leaders more control and flexibility over bus funding they can plan ahead to deliver their local transport priorities. The Department will work closely with local leaders and bus operators to deliver on the government’s ambitions.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department recognises the need for a more consistent approach to speed limits on the A483 between Llanymynech and Pant. National Highways is working with Shropshire Council and Transport Wales to consider the case for changing the speed limit of the A483 between Llanymynech and Pant alongside a more substantive review into improving safety on this section of the strategic road network as part of the next Road Investment Strategy.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Comprehensive monitoring, in compliance with Environment Agency and water company standards and practices, is undertaken by HS2 Ltd’s supply chain in the vicinity of all HS2 construction activities. All of the monitoring data is subsequently shared and reviewed regularly with the Environment Agency, and for the Colne Valley area, with Affinity Water.
No adverse effects on groundwater or surface water ecosystems have been detected to date during construction of the Colne Valley Viaduct or Chilterns Tunnels, or from other construction activities across the wider Chalk aquifer through which HS2 passes. Monitoring will continue into the post-construction phase to confirm that there are no residual or developing water related issues.
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Following the General Election and the State Opening of Parliament, the Government is now formulating its plans. The Department will announce its policy intentions in due course and aims to provide an update on next steps for the Oswestry to Gobowen line project soon.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)