Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the road safety and crime prevention benefits of introducing compulsory number plates for motor-assisted cycles.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

“Motor-assisted cycles” or e-bikes as they are otherwise referred to, are only road-legal where they comply in full of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983. This includes their maximum assisted speed being limited to 15.5mph.

Where the above regulations are not complied with, the e-bike is treated as a motor vehicle. This means it must be approved and registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, as a well as being taxed and insured. It must therefore have a compulsory number plate in order to be legally ridden on the road as a motor vehicle.

It would not be practical to fit compulsory number plates to e-bikes which are road-legal in their own right. The Department previously considered the case for such a system for of all cyclists and concluded that the costs and complexities of introducing it would far outweigh the benefits.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of expanding local rail services to local economies, and of increasing rail services into cities to reduce road congestion, improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Assessments of the benefits of expanding local rail services to local economies, and of increasing rail services into cities, are assessed on a case-by-case basis to reflect local economic conditions, using Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG).

Expanded local rail services can help drive local economic growth by opening up new development opportunities, unlocking housing, reducing costs for businesses and supporting people into work. TAG is used to assess the wider benefits of rail interventions including reduced road congestion, improved air quality and reduced carbon emissions.

The Government recognises the crucial role rail plays in delivering these benefits and is backing rail with the funding needed. The 2025 spending review committed £10.2 billion provided for rail enhancements in the period over the next four years.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his planned timetable is for informing local transport authorities of their Local Transport Grant allocation.

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

The Local Transport Grant (LTG) is a £2.3bn grant for local transport enhancements and maintenance, comprising both capital and resource funding from 2026/27 onwards. The grant is allocated to local transport authorities in England outside of London and areas that receive City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) or Transport for City Regions (TCR) funding.

In June, individual local transport authority allocations for the £2.2bn of LTG capital funding were published on gov.uk, covering the years 2026/27 to 2029/30. In September, allocations for the remaining £104m of LTG resource funding were published, covering the years 2026/27 to 2028/29.

Further transport funding allocations for local transport authorities from 2026/27 onwards, including for highways maintenance, buses and active travel, will be announced in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government which special orders the Secretary of State has made under section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 in connection with the Baker Viaduct project; and for each special order, what were the date of the movement, the length and width of the load, the site where the piece was manufactured, its destination, and details of the abnormality which brought it outside of the provisions of the Road Vehicles Authorisation of Special Types (General) Order 2003.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

I can confirm that no special exemptions have been issued for the Baker Viaduct Project under section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the mixed use railways team at Network Rail is being dissolved; and if so, what assessment they have made on the impact of that dissolution on the ability of light rail vehicles to operate on parts of the main line rail network.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Network Rail’s regional teams lead on the development of projects, including light rail proposals. Network Rail has light rail expertise centrally that supports the regions in the operation, design and implementation of light rail projects. The required resource level of this team will be reviewed as the project pipeline develops.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government where the Great British Railways signature station clock will be produced.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The railway timepiece unveiled at London Bridge station on 16 October was the result of an international competition run by Network Rail. The winning team ‘Design Bridge and Partners’ are based in London. The clock in London Bridge was built in Tamworth.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people signed up to take part in the digital rail tickets trial scheme between Harrogate and Leeds (a) before and (b) after it began.

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

The Digital Pay As You Go trials are an opportunity for passengers to test cutting-edge technology and benefit from simpler, more flexible tickets.

We have had good engagement from passengers across the trial routes so far, with 656 users on Trial 2. Before launch, 582 passengers expressed taking part in this trial. The Department and delivery partners are pushing for as close to 1000 participants per trial as possible to gather passenger views and effectively evaluate this innovative technology.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much of the planned £5 million towards the feasibility study for the extension of the Borders Railway to Hawick and Carlisle has been released to Scottish Borders Council.

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

Earlier this year, the Department reaffirmed its commitment of up to £5m towards feasibility work on the extension of the Borders Railway. As part of this, the Department has allocated c. £130k of funding to support the development of a Strategic Outline Business Case to explore ways to improve public transport across the region.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support transport workers who have been assaulted while at work.

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

Violence or abuse against public transport workers is unacceptable. The Government is committed to ensuring that staff across the network not only feel safe but are safe while carrying out their duties. The Department for Transport works closely with the transport industry and, on the railways, with the British Transport Police to maintain a safe environment for both staff and passengers.

Through the Bus Services (No.2) Act, we proposed to mandate training for staff working in the bus industry, including drivers and those who deal directly with the travelling public, on how to recognise and respond to incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour on public transport. We will make clear that training will require a person to take steps to prevent crime or anti-social behaviour only where it is safe to do so.

Rail operators take the personal safety of their staff seriously, with help given by the Department where required. Many have internal support systems in place for workers who have been assaulted or suffered abuse at work. In addition, whenever a crime is reported the police will signpost independent victim support services that the worker can contact at anytime for help and support.

It is essential that staff continue to report any instances of abuse or violence to the police so it can be investigated and offenders brought to justice. The British Transport Police are the dedicated police service for the railway and one of their priorities is ensuring it remains a safe place for staff and they will actively pursue offenders who abuse or are violent towards staff.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of the changes to income thresholds in the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules, HC 997, published on 1 July 2025, on the number of people employed on Skilled Worker Visas who no longer have leave to remain.

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

The Department currently sponsors 26 staff on skilled worker visas.  As and when each sponsorship ends, we consider individuals on a case-by-case basis under the UK’s sponsorship rules.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total cost was of the (a) rebrand, (b) design, (c) production and (d) promotion of the rebranded See it. Say it. Sorted. campaign.

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

The total cost for the relaunch of the See It. Say It. Sorted. campaign was £333,751.00 (+ VAT). This was the first update of the campaign since its launch in 2016.

Rail operators are mandated by security regulations to print and disseminate the campaign materials at their own cost, so there are no additional costs of production or promotion.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with Cheshire West and Chester Council on (a) road maintenance and (b) pothole repairs in Runcorn and Helsby constituency.

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

The Department regularly engages with local highway authorities and their representative bodies, such as the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT) and the Local Government Association (LGA) on matters relating to highway maintenance.

The Secretary of State for Transport has not had direct discussions with Halton Borough Council on road maintenance or pothole repairs in Runcorn, or with Cheshire West and Chester Council on road maintenance or pothole repairs in Runcorn and Helsby constituency.

In March, the Prime Minister announced that in order to receive their full share of this year's £500m uplift in highways maintenance funding, local highway authorities have to publish a report on their maintenance plans and demonstrate how they are complying with best practice in highways maintenance. Both councils have published these reports, which can be found on their websites.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with Halton Borough Council on (a) road maintenance and (b) pothole repairs in Runcorn.

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

The Department regularly engages with local highway authorities and their representative bodies, such as the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT) and the Local Government Association (LGA) on matters relating to highway maintenance.

The Secretary of State for Transport has not had direct discussions with Halton Borough Council on road maintenance or pothole repairs in Runcorn, or with Cheshire West and Chester Council on road maintenance or pothole repairs in Runcorn and Helsby constituency.

In March, the Prime Minister announced that in order to receive their full share of this year's £500m uplift in highways maintenance funding, local highway authorities have to publish a report on their maintenance plans and demonstrate how they are complying with best practice in highways maintenance. Both councils have published these reports, which can be found on their websites.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that UK airports provide autism-friendly (a) facilities and (b) support; and whether she plans to introduce national standards for accessibility provision for neurodiverse passengers.

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

Aviation must be accessible to all. To support this, the Department for Transport established the Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group, which published 19 recommendations on 16 July to improve aviation accessibility.

Two of these focus on non-visible impairments, including neurodivergence. One calls for pan-impairment requirements in airport accessibility reviews to ensure facilities, services, and support meet the needs of all passengers. The other recommends awareness campaigns to build confidence among passengers with non-visible impairments and improve understanding among staff and the public.

The Group will now support the sector in championing and implementing these recommendations.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the Welsh Government about the construction of a third road bridge across the Menai Strait.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

There have been no recent discussions between His Majesty's Government (HMG) and Welsh Government regarding a possible third road bridge across the Menai strait. HMG, through the Union Connectivity Development Fund, provided some financial support to Transport for Wales to undertake a study of the resilience of the existing Menai crossings.

The maintenance and improvement of the road network in Wales is a matter devolved to the Welsh Government.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help reduce the number of assaults on public transport in Devon.

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

The Department for Transport is working with industry to ensure that public transport is a safe environment for staff and passengers.

BTP are responsible for policing the railway, and they deploy their officers across the network, including in Devon, based on intelligence led briefings with daily taskings to provide reassurance to the public. BTP regularly carry out joint operations with Devon and Cornwall Police under Operation Servator which includes high visibility patrols at key railway infrastructure locations and known incident hotspots.

Through the Bus Services (No.2) Bill, we propose to mandate training for staff working in the bus industry, including drivers and those who deal directly with the travelling public, on how to recognise and respond to incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour on public transport. We intend to make clear that training will require a person to take steps to prevent crime or anti-social behaviour only where it is safe to do so.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps is she taking to a) support and b) encourage new open access rail applications.

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

We want a rail sector that is innovative and provides greater connectivity and understand that Open Access can support this aim. That is why we have been clear that we will support Open Access in the right circumstances, and why my department stands ready to engage with Open Access operators to assess the financial, operational and performance impacts of individual applications on a case-by-case basis. We will, however, only provide support to individual applications where benefits clearly outweigh costs to taxpayers and do not impact upon the efficient operation of the network.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2025 to Question 65284 on Railways: West Midlands, what assessment she made of the potential impact of the Midlands rail hub on (a) capacity and (b) connectivity with the Sutton Park line.

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

Midlands Rail Hub creates the capacity for additional trains benefiting rail users across the region; it does not propose any changes to the Sutton Park Line.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has held recent discussions with (a) DB Cargo and (b) railway preservation groups on preserving the 58050 locomotive.

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

Freight operators are private sector companies who lease or own their rolling stock. Any such decisions relating to the preservation of locomotives would be a commercial matter for those freight operators.

The department has not held any recent discussions with DB Cargo or railways preservation groups regarding the preservation of the 58050 locomotive.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what conditions for night time rail freight movements have been placed on the Oxford to Milton Keynes stretch of East West Rail.

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

A noise assessment for East West Rail (EWR) was undertaken for the Environmental Statement supporting the Transport and Works Act Order application for the railway. The assessment assumed a traffic flow of 8 freight trains composed of 36 wagons during the nighttime period (23:00 – 07:00). Mitigations have been provided for this in line with the Noise Insultation (Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems) Regulations.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many night time freight movements are permitted on East West Rail.

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

A noise assessment for East West Rail (EWR) was undertaken for the Environmental Statement supporting the Transport and Works Act Order application for the railway. The assessment assumed a traffic flow of 8 freight trains composed of 36 wagons during the nighttime period (23:00 – 07:00). Mitigations have been provided for this in line with the Noise Insultation (Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems) Regulations.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department issued any formal directions to DfT Operator Limited in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26 in respect of (i) service performance and (ii) financial control.

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

The Department holds the individual DFTO Train Operating Companies (TOC) to account on both their service and financial performance, with close review of their performance against their service agreements. If the Department issues a DFTO TOC with a Notice to Improve, the TOC is required to publicise this, alongside an explanation for what has caused the failure and what they are doing to remedy it.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce the (a) misuse (b) abuse and (c) theft of blue badges in Greater Manchester.

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

Local authorities have powers under the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) Regulations 2000, for local authorities to withdraw a badge if the holder consistently misuses it or allows it to be misused by others. Similarly, authorities have the power to withdraw the badge if the holder ceases to be eligible, for example because their impairment has improved or because they obtained the badge by false representation.

The Department provides non-statutory guidance to local authorities on operating the scheme, including advice on enforcing the scheme, and regularly engages with local authority stakeholder groups to help share best practice.

It also works closely with organisations such as the British Parking Association (BPA) and Disabled Motoring UK (DM:UK), who advocate for stronger enforcement powers and better data sharing between councils. These efforts have led to increased penalties and prosecutions for misuse, and the confiscation of fraudulent or stolen badges.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Office of Rail and Road’s 2024–25 train operator statistics, whether she plans to use the data on (a) cancellations, (b) delay minutes and (c) compensation claims as a baseline for new rigorous performance standards.

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

GBR will bring together track and train, and there will be a greater whole-industry focus for the growing group of public sector operators as we move towards GBR. The department will expect GBR to meet targets for punctuality, reliability, service quality and customer satisfaction, and will be required to publish its performance against these targets on a regular basis.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she has taken with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) local authorities to reduce regional variations in transport support for disabled people.

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

The Government recognises the importance of accessible transport to enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity. As part of our broader mission to break down barriers to opportunity, we recognise that more needs to be done to ensure transport is accessible to all, and we are committed to driving this change.

We are working closely with other government departments, operators, local authorities and passengers to achieve this – including through regularly meeting with the other lead ministers for disability to ensure we are doing all we can to remove barriers for disabled people.

We are committed to developing an Accessible Travel Charter. The charter is a commitment to a shared vision for accessible travel. It will aim to set out what disabled travellers can expect from their journeys and what to do when standards aren’t met, share best practice across organisations and create consistency in end-to-end journeys for disabled travellers. It will be co-designed by a range of stakeholders including local authorities to ensure it is achievable and impactful locally and nationally. The Accessible Travel Charter and our accessibility focus as a department is committed to making journeys accessible for all, irrespective of location or disability.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions has she had with Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway since their open access application was rejected in July 2025.

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

My Department provided its support for Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway’s (WSMR) original application in February 2025 and officials have met with WSMR since July to discuss its views regarding the regulator’s decision to reject their application due to lack of capacity on the West Coast Main Line.

The Department respects the ORR’s ruling and acknowledges that large areas of the network are already operating at full capacity, but remains open to further engagement with WSMR – and other Open Access operators – as may be required in the future.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring train operating companies to guarantee an adequate level of family-friendly design on new trains.

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

In advance of establishing Great British Railways, the Government is developing a long-term rolling stock and infrastructure strategy, which will be the first for over 30 years. The strategy will set out our assessment of the likely long-term future rolling stock needs, and how those needs can best be met.

Passengers will be at the heart of the strategy. It will move us towards more consistent and accessible train designs that meet the needs of the passengers that use them, including families.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of service reliability on annual passenger footfall at Narborough Station since 2019.

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

Unreliable rail services disrupt passengers’ journeys and undermine passenger confidence. This is why we are taking steps to improve train service performance across the country to better deliver for passengers. Passenger numbers across all CrossCountry routes are similar to those that were seen in 2019. Office of Rail and Road figures show growth in demand at Narborough station, with an estimated 240,000 entries and exits in the 2023-24 financial year. This is an increase of 32,000 on the year before.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress she has made on the appointment of a new CEO of DfT Operator Limited.

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

The contract for the current CEO of DfT Operator Limited is due to end in December 2025. In preparation for this, work is continuing to recruit a new CEO to ensure continued leadership for the organisation.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when passenger services from Oxford to Milton Keynes will commence on East West Rail.

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

The Department is working closely with Chiltern Railways and other partners to confirm a start date for the service. We are looking forward to commencing services as soon as all necessary authorisations and agreements are in place. Passenger services will commence once train testing and driver training have been completed.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress she has made on the Midlands Rail Hub West Chord link; and when this work will be completed.

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

In the 2025 Spending Review the Chancellor committed to progress the next stage of Midlands Rail Hub, building on £123m previously released. Network Rail are procuring a contractor to design and build the scheme. The western scope of MRH is due to be completed in the early 2030s.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) reliability and (b) punctuality of CrossCountry services operating between Birmingham, Leicester and Stansted Airport.

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

CrossCountry train services were not reliable enough in 2024 and the operator was subject to a Remedial Plan from August 2024 to March 2025. Since January 2025, CrossCountry train service performance has generally improved, although issues remain on Sundays. The Rail Minister has met CrossCountry Directors who are well aware that there is more for them to do. A new senior management team at CrossCountry is taking steps to address underlying issues within the business. We expect to see improvements for passengers, and will continue to hold the operator to account for delivery of the contractual performance benchmarks.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the cost per tonne of carbon dioxide reduction achieved through the Revenue Certainty Mechanism compared to other Sustainable Aviation Fuel pathways; and what assessment she has made of the value for money of this policy for taxpayers.

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

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Mandate is the UK’s key policy to decarbonise jet fuel, and could deliver up to 6.3 megatonnes of carbon savings in 2040. The SAF Revenue Certainty Mechanism (RCM) will support investment in UK SAF production and delivery of SAF Mandate targets. The relevant greenhouse gas savings have been accounted for in the SAF Mandate’s Cost-Benefit Analysis.

The Government is committed to delivering value for money. The RCM will be funded via a variable levy on aviation fuel suppliers. The Government will actively monitor and control scheme costs, including through the setting of strike prices and by controlling the scale and number of contracts awarded, and it has set out the potential costs and benefits that may arise from the RCM scheme in the Cost-Benefit Analysis, published in May 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has received proposals on improving the (a) reliability, (b) capacity and (c) frequency of services serving Narborough station from CrossCountry.

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

We expect operators to plan services balancing the need to meet expected passenger demand, improve train service performance, be affordable and provide value for money for taxpayers. Office of Rail and Road station statistics show that service reliability at Narborough has generally improved in the eight weeks to 13 September 2025. Officials monitor CrossCountry performance closely and will continue to hold them to account for delivery of the contractual performance benchmarks.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the number of UK-based sustainable aviation fuel production facilities that have commenced construction since July 2022; and how many jobs have been created through those production facilities.

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

Through the Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF) the government is providing funding to support first-of-a-kind commercial and demonstration-scale SAF projects in the UK. The Government is also introducing a revenue certainty mechanism to support UK-based SAF projects secure successful final investment decisions. The Department estimates that low carbon fuels production can support up to 15,000 jobs in the UK by 2050.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 28 July (HL9720), how many fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and over operating on the high seas they intend to declare following the United Kingdom's ratification of the International Maritime Organization 2012 Cape Town Agreement for the safety of fishing vessels.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The United Kingdom currently intends to declare 105 vessels upon accession of the International Maritime Organization 2012 Cape Town Agreement for the safety of fishing vessels.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Department has identified any (a) underspends, (b) extensions and (c) project delays in the delivery of funding under the HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Fund.

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

Through the HGV parking and driver welfare grant scheme the Department and industry partners are projected to deliver up to £35.7m of joint investment to enhance truck stops across England. This significant investment is in addition to joint investment by National Highways and industry of up to a further £30 million, aimed at improving lorry parking facilities along the strategic road network.

There has been no reduction in the government funding awarded through the scheme. Some operators who were awarded grants have, for a range of business and operational reasons beyond the government’s control, subsequently decided not to proceed with developments or reduced the scope of their projects.

Some of the reasons operators have given have been revisions to their projects’ scope, change of ownership, restructure at board level, financial difficulties and planning permission being denied for their works.

All applications that met the scheme’s criteria were approved funding by the DfT HGV Match Funding Grant Scheme. The scheme has been extended until March 2026 to allow more time for projects to be completed.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the importance of railways in improving economic growth, in particular the importance of opening new lines and stations.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

New rail lines and stations can help drive economic growth by opening up new development opportunities, unlocking housing, reducing costs for businesses and supporting people into work. The Government recognises the crucial role rail plays in kickstarting economic growth and is backing this with the funding needed to deliver.

The 2025 spending review committed £10.2bn provided for rail enhancements in the period over the next four years.  Estimates of the impact of new rail stations and lines on growth are assessed on a case-by-case basis so as to reflect local economic conditions.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of installing ticket barriers at Hayes station in Kent to help tackle (a) fare evasion and (b) anti-social behaviour.

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

Since coming into public ownership in 2021, Southeastern Trains have invested significantly in actions to tackle fare evasion and anti-social behaviour, including extra security trained staff at key locations, intelligence led revenue protection exercises, increased onboard ticket checks and increased gate line hours. Southeastern now have one of the lowest levels of ticketless travel across the country.

Installing a new gate line at an ungated station is expensive and therefore train operators prioritise stations that have higher levels of fare evasion and anti-social behaviour. Currently Southeastern Trains are focussing on projects to install gates at Ramsgate and Margate which will be delivered over the next 12-18 months. Southeastern Trains have conducted a high-level survey at Hayes which concluded that the station is suitable for the installation of ticket barriers, however further work is required over the coming months to develop the business case for future gating schemes.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to reintroduce development funding for rail freight enhancement schemes (a) paused and (b) cancelled after the Comprehensive Spending Review 2025.

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

No rail schemes were cancelled as a part of Spending Review 2025 but we had to prioritise the schemes that would have the greatest impact in supporting our missions in the shortest period, whilst maintaining an affordable and sustainable enhancements portfolio. This meant not all schemes could be progressed at this time. The Secretary of State made clear in her 8 July 2025 announcement on rail and road projects the schemes that have been prioritised for progression in the Spending Review period. A number of schemes, including potential freight schemes, some of which had been paused or cancelled prior to the Spending Review by the previous government, could not be taken forward at this time but will be kept under review as part of our pipeline for potential progression in future as funding becomes available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with HS2 Ltd on the the delay to the planned connection between High Speed 2 and the West Coast Main Line at Handsacre; what the additional cost to the public purse will be as a result of that delay; and what recent steps the she has taken to ensure that the HS2 project is delivered on time and within budget.

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

The Secretary of State for Transport and the Rail Minister have regular engagement with the CEO and Chair of HS2 Ltd to maintain oversight of the project and support their comprehensive reset of HS2.

The government has committed an unprecedented settlement of £25.3 billion to progress the delivery of HS2 and Euston up to 2029/30, which will fund construction of the new railway at the lowest reasonable cost. New estimates for the programme’s overall costs and schedule are being developed as part of the HS2 reset.

The four-year deferral of works between Delta Junction and Handsacre Junction will enable construction efforts to focus on the cost-efficient delivery of HS2’s opening stage between Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street.

The works in this area were already paused, meaning the further deferral will not incur demobilisation costs. There will be some additional costs from prolongation and inflation, but these are necessary given the HS2 reset and the need to budget carefully in the wider context of total government spending.

The Secretary of State informed the House of the action she took to bring HS2’s delivery under control in an oral statement she made in June 2025 and in her HS2 progress report of July 2025. Further updates will be provided in the Department’s future six-monthly reports to Parliament.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether South Western Railway, Greater Anglia or c2c will run Boxing Day services this year, following the nationalisation of those companies.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Greater Anglia plans to run Stansted Express services on Boxing Day this year. Services are expected to operate every 30 minutes and due to engineering work these services will start and terminate from Tottenham Hale.

South Western Railway and c2c are not running Boxing Day services this year.

The Department requires its operators to plan services and rail timetables that are designed to meet expected passenger demand. These should be resilient and provide value for money for the taxpayer.

Typically, demand for services on Boxing Day is low and much of the network is closed to provide opportunity for essential maintenance. We expect operators and in future, Great British Railways, to continue to consider the case for Boxing Day services where there is demand and they do not further increase the burden on taxpayers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had recent discussions with Chiltern Railways on the refurbishment of Haddenham & Thame Parkway car park.

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

My Officials have been in regular contact with Chiltern Railways regarding the refurbishment of Haddenham & Thame Parkway car park, particularly in light of the closure of the upper deck and the resulting capacity challenges.

The Department will continue to engage with Chiltern Railways to ensure that car park improvements deliver meaningful benefits for rail users and the wider local community.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with CrossCountry on increasing capacity on (a) peak services between Leicester and Narborough and (b) the 17:18 weekday service from Leicester to Birmingham.

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

In December 2024, CrossCountry removed First Class accommodation from the trains used on the Birmingham to Stansted Airport route, increasing the number of seats available to all ticket holders. All operators are expected to plan capacity on individual services to best match the expected level of demand, whilst making efficient use of the train fleet and train crew resources available to them. Officials are working with CrossCountry to develop a business case to further expand their Inter-City train fleet.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of electrifying the branch between London Gateway and Thames Haven Junction on (a) the efficiency, (b) the reliability and (c) the reduction in emissions of freights.

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

Initial assessments do indicate that electrifying the branch between London Gateway and Thames Haven Junction would improve the efficiency and reliability of rail freight while reducing emissions. We will continue to work closely with Network Rail and other industry partners in assessing the viability and affordability of this proposal.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of freight capacity of (a) the Ely Area Capacity Enhancements, (b) the Northallerton–Eaglescliffe Gauge Clearance and (c) other schemes identified in Network Rail’s pipeline following the Comprehensive Spending Review.

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

The Department has previously approved initial progression of development work with Network Rail on a) Ely Area Capacity and b) Northallerton-Eaglescliffe Gauge Clearance schemes, both of which identified potential for increasing the capacity for freight on the routes. These schemes and a number of c) others, were not prioritised in the Spending Review for progression at this time but will be kept under review as part of our pipeline for potential progression in future as funding becomes available. The Secretary of State set out the road and rail schemes that have been prioritised for progression in the Spending Review period 8 July 2025, which includes schemes that will have benefits for freight capacity.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to decide whether her Department will progress the Ely Area Capacity Enhancements scheme to the next development stage.

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

Secretary of State set out the schemes that have been prioritised for the Spending Review period in her 8 July announcement and made clear that other schemes would be kept under review as part of our pipeline for potential progression in future as funding becomes available. The Ely Area Capacity scheme was closed by the previous government and it has not been possible to reprioritise it at the most recent Spending Review.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve rail freight access between PD Teesport and London Gateway.

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

Network Rail have taken steps to increase port connectivity by increasing the number of paths from both Teesport and London Gateway. Collaborative working between Network Rail, DP World and freight operators has led to capacity out of London Gateway more than doubling in the past year, increasing from 10 to 22 available paths.

Launched in Summer 2024, Network Rail’s Access Charges Discount Policy offers timebound 6-month discounts on track access charges for new freight flows, whilst volumes on new services build up and become financially sustainable.

In April of this year, under the Discounts Policy, a new daily service between Teesport and Doncaster was approved, releasing more capacity from the North East to South Yorkshire. In the same month, a new service from London Gateway to Tinsley commenced, running six additional trains per week.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made on resolving clearance issues at Marle Pit on the Midland Main Line.

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

Following the decision to pause further electrification of the Midland Main Line, the department has been in discussion with Network Rail regarding their plans to conclude their current activities in a safe and controlled way. This has included a review of planned route clearance works in Sutton Bonington, Nottinghamshire. As part of this review, the works at Marle Pit bridge will be replanned when funding becomes available and electrification of the route can be re-started. While this is not expected to be within the next four years, the programme is being kept under active review as part of our longer-term pipeline of schemes.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has received updated cost estimates for Channel Tunnel container gauge clearance.

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

I am aware of industry proposals to enhance Kent routes to ‘W12’, in order to enable more containerised traffic from Europe, which was estimated by Network Rail to cost around £200m. Network Rail has been considering more affordable, incremental gauge clearance proposal as a step towards W12, with estimated costs below £50m. However, any investment decision will be subject to the usual business case process, working with industry, and will need to clearly demonstrate demand for enhanced infrastructure.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance she provides to local transport authorities on creating Local Transport Plans.

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

The Government is aware that Local Transport Plan Guidance hasn’t been updated in over a decade. We are currently developing new guidance for Local Transport Authorities in line with our wider priorities. The Government intends to publish updated Local Transport Plan guidance in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to publish the new Road Safety Strategy.

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

Improving road safety is one of my Department’s highest priorities. This Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. Our Road Safety Strategy is under development and will include a broad range of policies. We intend to publish by the end of the year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the compliance of East Cambridgeshire District Council with her Department's guidance on the provision of restricted private hire vehicle licences.

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

The Government is responsible for setting the regulatory structure within which 263 licensing authorities in England administer the taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing regime. Licensing authorities must determine that all taxi and PHV drivers and PHV operators are ‘fit and proper’ to hold a licence but have flexibility on the requirements that must be met to demonstrate this. They must also ensure that vehicles are safe to carry members of the public.

The Department for Transport issues guidance to assist licensing authorities to enable the provision of safe and accessible services through proportionate regulation. The Department’s statutory guidance to licensing authorities on exercising their taxi and PHV licensing functions to protect children and vulnerable adults sets out a robust set of safeguarding measures. Licensing authorities must have regard to the guidance and my Department expects them to implement the recommendations unless there is a compelling local reason not to do so. The statutory guidance applies across taxi and PHV licensing, including licences issued on a “restricted” basis.

As recommended in the statutory guidance, all taxi and PHV licensing authorities in England (including East Cambridgeshire District Council) 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.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of safeguards for restricted private hire vehicle licences issued by local authorities.

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

The Government is responsible for setting the regulatory structure within which 263 licensing authorities in England administer the taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing regime. Licensing authorities must determine that all taxi and PHV drivers and PHV operators are ‘fit and proper’ to hold a licence but have flexibility on the requirements that must be met to demonstrate this. They must also ensure that vehicles are safe to carry members of the public.

The Department for Transport issues guidance to assist licensing authorities to enable the provision of safe and accessible services through proportionate regulation. The Department’s statutory guidance to licensing authorities on exercising their taxi and PHV licensing functions to protect children and vulnerable adults sets out a robust set of safeguarding measures. Licensing authorities must have regard to the guidance and my Department expects them to implement the recommendations unless there is a compelling local reason not to do so. The statutory guidance applies across taxi and PHV licensing, including licences issued on a “restricted” basis.

As recommended in the statutory guidance, all taxi and PHV licensing authorities in England (including East Cambridgeshire District Council) 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.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the safety of public transportation workers from (a) violence and (b) other abuse.

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

Violence or abuse against public transport workers is unacceptable. The Government is committed to ensuring that staff across the network not only feel safe but are safe while carrying out their duties. The Department for Transport works closely with the transport industry and, on the railways, with the British Transport Police to maintain a safe environment for both staff and passengers.

Through the Bus Services (No.2) Bill, the Government is proposing mandatory training for bus industry staff, including drivers and other frontline staff, to help them recognise and respond to crime and anti-social behaviour on the network. This training will make clear that staff should only intervene where it is safe to do so.

On the railways, the Department for Transport and British Transport Police continue to encourage operators to prioritise staff safety, including the wider adoption of Body Worn Video (BWV). A 2019 academic trial showed that BWV reduced violence against station staff wearing the devices by 47%.

It remains essential that all incidents of abuse or violence are reported to the police, so they can be properly investigated and offenders held to account.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what regulatory oversight they are developing for autonomous vehicle AI, in the light of Waymo’s plan to launch driverless taxis in London next year.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 is delivering one of the most comprehensive legal frameworks of its kind anywhere in the world for self-driving vehicles, with safety at its core. This government announced in June 2025 that we are accelerating delivery of the Automated Passenger Services (APS) statutory instrument to Spring 2026.

The APS permitting scheme will regulate deployments of automated taxi-, private-hire -and bus-like vehicles. Where required, stringent safety assessments with be conducted by the Vehicle Certification Agency, and permits will be subject to consent by the relevant Local Authority.

Our consultation on the permitting scheme and draft statutory instrument closed on 28 September and responses are now being analysed. We aim to publish the government response in early 2026. We aim to implement the remainder of the AV Act in the second half of 2027.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Clauses 6, 12 and 13 of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill, what estimate she has made of the total cost to (a) passengers, (b) taxpayers, and (c) fuel suppliers arising from revenue certainty contracts and associated levy payments; and what steps she is taking to ensure that this support does not (i) create long-term subsidy dependence and (ii) disproportionately benefit overseas producers.

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

The Government set out the potential costs and benefits arising from the RCM scheme in the Cost-Benefit Analysis, published in May 2025, including potential costs for passengers and fuel suppliers. The scheme will be funded via a variable levy placed on aviation fuel suppliers, not by the taxpayer.

The RCM contracts will only be signed with UK-based SAF producers. These contracts will have a defined term length to ensure a clear end date to the subsidy and also sets a cap on the support for the sales of SAF to control the scale of the scheme. In addition, clause 1 (7) of the SAF Bill provides an end date, 10 years from the day on which the Act is passed, to new contracts being entered into.

We expect UK SAF production to be internationally competitive, with the RCM playing a key role to attracting investment for UK producers in a nascent market that is using innovative technologies. Whilst we are designing contracts, there is careful consideration towards how the volumes are sold under the RCM, including who are the offtakers and the end user’s location.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of Section 6.2.2. of the British Standard BS 8300-1:2018 entitled Design of an accessible and inclusive built environment, published on 31 January 2018 on the guidance entitled LTN 1/20 Cycle Infrastructure Design, published on 27 July 2020.

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

Section 6.2.2. of British Standard 8300-1:2018 gives advice on designing bus stops in relation to cycle facilities, including what are sometimes called ‘floating bus stops’. It has the status of good practice guidance as there is no requirement in legislation to comply with it. Section 6.2.2 would in practice prevent local authorities from implementing any kind of floating bus stop.

The Government does not believe that a complete ban on floating bus stops is appropriate, given the need to improve safety for cyclists and to enable more people to cycle.

The Government is fully aware of the concerns raised – particularly from visually impaired people and organisations on their behalf – about floating bus stops. The Bus Services (No. 2) Bill includes a requirement for the Secretary of State to produce statutory guidance for local authorities in England on the provision and design of floating bus stops. Alongside this, the Government has committed to asking local authorities to pause certain types of shared-use design in which the cycle route runs between the kerb and the shelter, requiring people to board or alight straight into a cycle track. More information will be provided to local authorities at Royal Assent of the Bill.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many HGV (a) parking and (b) roadside welfare upgrade projects funded through the HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Fund have been completed; and when each was (i) started and (ii) completed.

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

The HGV Parking Matched Funding Grant Scheme (MFGS) was launched in 2022 to fund investment in HGV driver welfare facilities, lorry parking provision, site security, and decarbonisation.

These priorities were identified through the National Survey of Lorry Parking (2022) which also provided an estimate of the shortfall in on site overnight parking spaces in England.

A total of 69 projects that received funding from the MFGS have been completed to date.

Window 1 – Awarded on 11 September 2023

Window 2 – Awarded on 4 March 2024

Window 3 - Awarded on 10 October 2024

Overall Total

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the cost of (a) electric and (b) hydrogen HGVs for small and medium-sized enterprises since July 2024; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the (i) 2035 and (ii) 2040 end-of-sale dates for new diesel HGVs on (A) logistics costs and (B) delivery prices.

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

More needs to be done to ensure that UK haulage companies can switch to zero emission HGVs (battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell). This is particularly true as most UK haulage companies are SMEs and operate on small profit margins. As more zero emission HGVs are deployed, the costs of these HGVs should begin to fall due to economies of scale in manufacturing, which when combined with running and maintenance savings, should reduce the total cost of ownership and support a second-hand market.

We are supporting UK haulage companies while seeking to minimise the impact of the transition on costs and delivery prices through programmes such as the Plug in Truck Grant, the £30m Depot Charging Scheme and the up to £200m Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator.

We will shortly be consulting on options for the end of sales dates for new non-zero emission HGVs and will continue to support UK hauliers with appropriate incentives and clear regulatory approach.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to review the process for disabled customers to claim reduced rates of vehicle tax.

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

Customers who receive the enhanced rate mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and whose vehicles are already licensed in the disabled taxation class can renew their vehicle excise duty (VED) exemption online.

Those customers who receive the standard rate mobility component of PIP, which entitles them to a 50 per cent reduction in the rate of VED payable, must send their application to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Facilitating online applications by disabled customers to claim reduced rates of VED requires the electronic exchange of data held by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) with the DVLA. Officials are considering how to improve the ability for customers in receipt of PIP to transact with the DVLA.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the risk of (a) harm and (b) disruption from unauthorised drone activity to (i) UK commercial airports and (ii) commercial air traffic operating in UK airspace.

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

UK aviation operates in the private sector. It is therefore the responsibility of industry to ensure there are appropriate contingency plans in place to minimise potential disruption.

The Department for Transport, Home Office and Ministry of Defence engage regularly with the aviation sector to gain assurances of their security plans, including in response to drone incursions at UK airports.

The Department for Transport is going further by mandating the use of Remote Identification (RID) for drones allowing them to be tracked and identified. RID will protect the airspace, its users and the public from unlawful and unsafe drones operating without adequate permissions, including around UK airports.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 81178, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of volumetric concrete mixers which operate over the incoming 32 tonne limit.

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

The Department does not hold specific data on the proportion of volumetric concrete mixers that operate above the forthcoming 32-tonne weight limit.

In the concrete delivery sector, the Department estimates there are in the region of 1,000 VCMs in operation. Existing vehicles can continue to operate beyond the end of the temporary arrangement provided they are loaded to the lower weight limits (for example, up to 32 tonnes for 4 or more axle rigid vehicles).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) new and (b) upgraded HGV parking spaces have been provided through the HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Fund; and when each was completed.

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

The HGV Parking Matched Funding Grant Scheme (MFGS) was launched in 2022 to fund investment in HGV driver welfare facilities, lorry parking provision, site security, and decarbonisation.

These priorities were identified through the National Survey of Lorry Parking (2022) which also provided an estimate of the shortfall in on site overnight parking spaces in England.

A total of 69 projects that received funding from the MFGS have been completed to date.

Window 1 – Awarded on 11 September 2023

Window 2 – Awarded on 4 March 2024

Window 3 - Awarded on 10 October 2024

Overall Total

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the availability of funding for a fixed-link viability study to the Isle of Wight.

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

The Department for Transport has not made an assessment of the availability of funding for a fixed-link viability study to the Isle of Wight. We believe that decisions on transport interventions for a local community are best made at local level and it would be for the Local Authority to lead any feasibility study work.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of using the Sutton Park freight line for passenger services on (a) the capacity of the West Coast main line and (b) passenger services into central Birmingham.

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

The Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline investment portfolio was set out in the June 2025 Spending Review settlement.

The Department for Transport is not actively exploring this proposal for the Sutton Park freight line, but local authorities such as West Midlands Combined Authority, are free to develop local proposals for investment using their own devolved transport funding.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to ratify the International Maritime Organisation 2012 Cape Town Agreement on the safety of fishing vessels.

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

We have been working to ensure that the UK is in a position to accede to the Cape Town Agreement and I can confirm that, subject to Parliamentary Scrutiny, we will instruct the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to conclude accession by Spring 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with Surrey County Council on the disruption caused by Heavy Goods Vehicles in busy (a) village and (b) town centres in the Surrey Heath constituency.

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

My Department has not discussed this matter with Surrey County Council. Management of traffic, including HGVs, on local roads is the responsibility of the local highway authority. They have a range of measures available to them to manage inappropriate use of roads by HGVs, such as weight restrictions and signing strategies. It is for them to determine what measures are appropriate for individual situations.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has had discussions on disruption by drones at airports with (a) pilots, (b) other aviation professionals (c) the Ministry of Defence and (d) governments of other European countries that have experienced such disruption; and what steps her Department plans to take to counter such risks to commercial aviation.

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

UK aviation operates in the private sector. It is therefore the responsibility of industry to ensure there are appropriate contingency plans in place to minimise potential disruption.

The Department for Transport, Home Office and Ministry of Defence engage regularly with the aviation sector to gain assurances of their security plans, including in response to drone incursions at UK airports.

The Department for Transport is going further by mandating the use of Remote Identification (RID) for drones allowing them to be tracked and identified. RID will protect the airspace, its users and the public from unlawful and unsafe drones operating without adequate permissions, including around UK airports.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to extend the (a) 38.4 and (b) 44 tonne limits for lower carbon construction vehicles after 2028.

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

The Department ran a call for evidence from October to December 2023 seeking views on three potential options on weight limits for Volumetric Concrete Mixers (VCMs). The outcome of this review was published on 18 March 2025.

VCMs will continue to be permitted on our roads, but as planned, a temporary weight limit exemption for this type of vehicle (via vehicle special orders) will end on 31 March 2028, after which VCMs must operate at the legal weight limits applicable to other heavy good vehicles. This is not a ban or change in policy.

There are no plans to extend the 38.4 or 44 tonne weight limits for Volumetric Concrete Mixers beyond 2028.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to improve accessibility at Staveley railway station.

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

This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. Since 2006, the Access for All (AfA) programme has delivered step free access at more than 270 stations across Britain.

In 2022, the previous government sought nominations from train operators and transport authorities for potential upgrades through the AfA programme. Staveley station was not nominated.

The hon member may wish to engage with Northern Trains and the local transport authority to make that case that Staveley station is a priority in any future rounds of funding.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce train delays on the West Coast Mainline.

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

Improving rail performance is one of this Government’s strategic priorities for transport. We are determined to deliver more punctual and reliable services as well as better value for money for the taxpayer.

In response to our challenge to improve performance, the rail industry has set out a Performance Restoration Framework, with five clear areas of focus to recover performance to acceptable levels, including timetable resilience, staffing and how to keep trains moving during disruptive events.

Avanti West Coast (AWC) is beginning to see consistent and steady performance improvements on the network. However, there is still more to do with punctuality behind the industry average and Network Rail infrastructure reliability continuing to be a leading cause of passenger disruption on the West Coast Mainline.

The Rail Minister is in regular contact with the AWC Managing Director and Network Rail, to challenge poor performance and demand immediate action to deliver urgent improvements.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps with her Scottish counterpart to help prevent issues on the railways in Scotland that cause northbound trains on the West Coast Mainline to terminate at Preston rather than continuing up to Carlisle.

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

The Secretary of State is aware of difficulties passengers face during disruption in the North-West of England with limited options to keep services moving on the West Coast Mainline north of Preston.

The Rail Minister has strongly pressed Network Rail and Avanti West Coast, requesting that they urgently work together to come up with solutions for passengers during disruption.

Network Rail is undertaking an upgrade programme on the West Coast Main Line north of Crewe to improve the performance and reliability of the railway. This section of the route was last upgraded in the 1970s and suffers from performance issues today.

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Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of nationalising the rail network on the Government's (a) balance sheet, (b) debt and (c) future liabilities in each of the next ten years.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) are responsible for classification decisions and measurement of public debt. Both publicly and privately owned DfT-contracted train operating companies are already included in the public sector, classified currently by the ONS as public non-financial corporations. Network Rail is also already classified to central government. HM Treasury and Department for Transport officials will assist the ONS in this work as required.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to improve 4G and 5G mobile connectivity on major motorway routes in areas where there are known signal black spots.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

According to Ofcom’s Connected Nations Spring update, published on 8 May 2025, 4G in-vehicle coverage on UK major roads is 96% from at least one mobile network operator (MNO) and 81% from all four MNOs.

The Shared Rural Network has improved 4G mobile coverage along 16,000km of roads. The 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy (June 2025) committed to work with Ofcom and other regulators to assess the telecommunications needs of the transport sector, including the future requirements of roads, by December 2026. My officials are undertaking this assessment alongside the Department for Transport and the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Civil Air Publication 1616 airspace change processes on his Department's ability to (a) test and (b) develop uncrewed air systems.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Airspace within the UK Flight Information Regions is neither specifically military nor civilian. The Joint Air Navigation Services Council is responsible for the management of airspace and Air Traffic Service provision with a Joint and Integrated Approach between the Department for Transport and the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

The practical policy guidance to enact an airspace change is published in CAP1616. The MOD, through the Defence Airspace and Air Traffic Management (DAATM) organisation, is invited to comment on any relevant Airspace Change Proposal. DAATM is a stakeholder in the public consultation launched by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on 25 September 2025 on ways to modernise and streamline the CAP1616 airspace change process and will comment on behalf of the MOD in time for the 18 December 2025 deadline.

The update of CAP 1616 seeks to streamline the processes for modernisation of airspace requirements and the integration of new and innovative types of airspace users. Airspace requirements for military uncrewed air systems testing and development also fall under CAP1616.

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