Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of delays in reinstatement of a medically revoked driving licence on people's capacity to work.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Although a specific assessment has not been carried out, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and understands the impact delays can have on people’s lives. Road safety remains our most important priority and the DVLA must be satisfied that the required medical standards required for safe driving can be met before a licence is issued.
Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated before a licence can be issued can take longer to process as the DVLA is often reliant on receiving information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued. Where a driver contacts the DVLA to advise that they require their driving licence for employment, the application will be prioritised where possible.
The DVLA is currently rolling out a new casework system which will deliver significant improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions. This will enhance the handling of medical cases, support growing customer demand and help to reduce processing times. As part of this work, the DVLA has improved the quality of the correspondence provided to applicants and reviewed the questions asked of applicants and healthcare professionals when assessing medical fitness to drive, with a view to simplifying the process wherever possible.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the reasons for delays in the DVLA's system for the reissuing of revoked driver's licenses on medical grounds.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Although a specific assessment has not been carried out, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and understands the impact delays can have on people’s lives. Road safety remains our most important priority and the DVLA must be satisfied that the required medical standards required for safe driving can be met before a licence is issued.
Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated before a licence can be issued can take longer to process as the DVLA is often reliant on receiving information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued. Where a driver contacts the DVLA to advise that they require their driving licence for employment, the application will be prioritised where possible.
The DVLA is currently rolling out a new casework system which will deliver significant improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions. This will enhance the handling of medical cases, support growing customer demand and help to reduce processing times. As part of this work, the DVLA has improved the quality of the correspondence provided to applicants and reviewed the questions asked of applicants and healthcare professionals when assessing medical fitness to drive, with a view to simplifying the process wherever possible.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she make it her policy to consult the Climate Change Committee on proposals to expand Heathrow Airport.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In January, the Chancellor announced the government’s support for a third runway at Heathrow. In that announcement, the government committed to engaging the Climate Change Committee (CCC) as part of the review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), on how aviation expansion can be made consistent with our net zero framework.
Over summer, the Department for Transport has been assessing proposals for a third runway at Heathrow from potential scheme promoters. The government is considering the proposals to inform the ANPS review. Further details on the assessment of scheme proposals, ANPS review and how the CCC will be engaged as part of the review will be announced shortly.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support the uptake of low carbon fuels in the logistics sector.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport is actively supporting the uptake of low carbon fuels across the logistics sector through a range of measures. The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) remains a key policy tool, which has delivered 55 MtCO2e of greenhouse gas (GHG) savings since its inception in 2008, that’s about two thirds of transport’s GHG savings between 2008 and 2022.
In addition, the Department is advancing the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through the introduction of a SAF Mandate, the Advanced Fuels Fund to support UK producers, and the development of a revenue certainty mechanism to unlock private investment in domestic projects.
Recognising that achieving net zero in logistics will also require a transition to zero emission vehicles, we are accelerating the deployment of zero emission heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and the necessary refuelling and charging infrastructure through the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme.
The logistics sector plays a vital role in both economic growth and the UK’s net zero ambitions, and the Department remains committed to working closely with industry to support this transition.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the announcement of 13 June 2025 on the installation of over 100,000 new local electric vehicle chargepoints in England, what her planned timetable is for this; and how many have been installed to date.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund has allocated capital and resource funding to local authorities across England, to ensure public chargepoint rollout improves significantly across the country. In total, the LEVI Fund will support the installation of at least 100,000 chargepoints across England.
The majority of LEVI projects have now been approved to go to delivery, the first contracts have been signed between local authorities and chargepoint operators, and the first projects have now started to install chargepoints. Installation rates will increase as more projects enter delivery, with installation expected to continue over the coming years.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
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 enabling GPs and hospital consultants to issue temporary blue badges to patients with severe mobility limitations who are experiencing long NHS waiting times for major surgery, with such badges to be reviewed at six-month intervals.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The aim of the Blue Badge scheme is to help people with substantial and enduring mobility problems caused by visible and non-visible (‘hidden’) disabilities to access goods and services, by allowing them to park close to their destination. Blue Badges may therefore be awarded to an individual with a disability that is expected to endure in some way for the three-year badge issue period.
As set out in legislation, the scheme is administered locally by the respective local authority, who are responsible for determining and implementing the administrative, assessment, and enforcement procedures which they believe are in accordance with the governing legislation. The Government has no plans to change how the scheme is administered at a local level.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate (a) her Department and (b) HS2 Limited have made of the cost of construction of HS2 in each of the last five years.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Construction of HS2 Phase One started following notice to proceed in April 2020. Since October 2020, the cost to date of delivering HS2 is set out in the 6 monthly Parliamentary Report. Capital expenditure on Phase One is reported in the HS2 Ltd Annual Report and Accounts – expenditure for each of the last 5 years is summarised in the table below:
Year | Capital Expenditure on HS2 Phase One |
2020/21 | £3.1 billion |
2021/22 | £4.8 billion |
2022/23 | £6.6 billion |
2023/24 | £7.2 billion |
2024/25 | £6.8 billion |
The Spending Review settlement has also provided £25.3 billion to progress delivery of HS2 from the West Midlands to London Euston covering financial years 2026-2027 to 2029-2030.
The programme is currently undergoing a fundamental reset under the leadership of CEO of HS2 Ltd, Mark Wild. As part of this reset, a revised cost estimate will be agreed and reported to Parliament in due course.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the funding arrangements are for the (a) Department for Transport Operator Limited and (b) transfer of staff from Rail Service, Rail Strategy and Reform and Corporate Delivery.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Department for Transport Operator Limited (formerly DfT OLR Holding Limited) is the government’s public sector rail owning group and is currently funded by charging its train operating company subsidiaries for services provided but also by dividends when received. The Department for Transport will be able to confirm future funding arrangements for Department for Transport Operator Limited in due course.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she expects Project Reach to be completed.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Network Rail’s Reach partners are developing a detailed delivery plan and hope to have made significant improvements to coverage this control period (end of 2029).
Asked by: Alex Barros-Curtis (Labour - Cardiff West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support access to (a) public transport and (b) mobility schemes for people with epilepsy who are unable to drive.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government wants everyone to have access to reliable and affordable public transport, and we appreciate how important this is for people who are unable to drive.
We are committed to improving bus services, so they are more inclusive and enable everyone to travel safely and confidently. In December last year, the government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill which includes a comprehensive package of measures to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of local bus services. From safer and more accessible bus stops and stations, to more comprehensive disability training for drivers and frontline staff and a new requirement for local authorities to regularly review the accessibility of their bus networks, the Bill will help ensure that local bus services better meet the needs of the communities who rely on them, including disabled people who are unable to drive.
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free bus travel in England, to those of state pension age and those with eligible disabilities between 9:30 and 23:00 on weekdays, and all day at weekends and bank holidays. Those who would, if they applied for a driving licence, have their application refused on the grounds of medical fitness, are eligible for an ENCTS bus pass.
The government also has ambitious plans to reform the rail sector, unifying track and train under one organisation. The cornerstone of the Government’s plan for rail reform is to establish Great British Railways (GBR), a publicly owned arm’s length body charged with running Britain’s railways in the public interest. GBR will be a new, publicly owned company with accountable, integrated leadership across track and train, sitting at the heart of the reformed rail sector. This will help drive a more consistent passenger experience ensuring a relentless focus on high performance and service standards for Britain’s railways.
Accessibility is one of the Government’s six priorities for the railway and will be central to GBR. To support this, the Railways Bill includes legal requirements relating to accessibility that will ensure that the interests of passengers, including those with accessibility needs, will be a fundamental part of decision-making on the railways.
We are already taking action ahead of the establishment of GBR to make rail travel easier and more reliable for disabled passengers, including investing over £10 million in upgrades to the Passenger Assist Scheme which supports disabled passengers and those with additional needs to use the rail network with confidence and in safety. We have improved information about the facilities available to provide support to passengers at stations and will be publishing a rail accessibility roadmap which sets out the actions we are taking to make the railway more accessible ahead of GBR being established.