Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to report on the newly commissioned assessment of the HS2 project, including the new budget and timescale needed to complete the railway.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
On 23 March 2026, we published this government’s latest report to Parliament on HS2, which updated on delivery progress. It also outlined the commission for HS2 Ltd to assess how much taxpayers’ money and construction time could be saved by adopting a specification for HS2 that is more in line with the high-speed railways successfully delivered by the rest of the world.
The Secretary of State has asked Mark Wild to report back to her before the summer recess. The government will reflect on the early outcomes of this work, alongside progress on engagement with HS2 Ltd’s main suppliers, ahead of publishing the new cost and schedule estimates. We are taking the time to ensure the updated estimates are robust, rather than rush the process and risk publishing figures that we do not trust. We will publish the new estimates shortly once they have been fully assured and approved.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish the initial assessment carried out by Mark Wild about the current status of the HS2 project.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We published Mark Wild’s initial assessment as HS2 Ltd CEO of HS2’s current position regarding cost and schedule on 18 June 2025.
On 23 March 2026, we published this government’s latest report to Parliament on HS2. This outlined that Mark has been asked to assess how much money and time could be saved by adopting a specification for HS2 that is more in line with the high-speed railways successfully delivered by the rest of the world. The Secretary of State has asked Mark Wild to report back to her before the summer recess. The government will reflect on the early outcomes of this work, alongside progress on engagement with HS2 Ltd’s main suppliers, ahead of publishing the new cost and schedule estimates once they have been fully assured and approved.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what further steps they plan to take to promote cross pavement channels to support electric vehicle adoption.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Over 80% of eligible local authorities have applied to the Electric Vehicle Pavement Channel Grant, launched in August last year, and nearly all grants have been issued. Local authorities are beginning to launch schemes for their residents. Over time the funding will support the installation of thousands of pavement channels across England, helping residents benefit from convenient charging and domestic electricity tariffs. Government will continue to support local authorities to deliver through guidance, promotion of best practice and one-to-one support.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the electric vehicle pavement channels grant to date; how many local authorities have received funding from that grant; and what estimate they have made of the number of households who have been assisted by that grant.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Over 80% of eligible local authorities have applied to the Electric Vehicle Pavement Channel Grant, launched in August last year, and nearly all grants have been issued. Local authorities are beginning to launch schemes for their residents. Over time the funding will support the installation of thousands of pavement channels across England, helping residents benefit from convenient charging and domestic electricity tariffs. Government will continue to support local authorities to deliver through guidance, promotion of best practice and one-to-one support.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to establishing an ombudsman to oversee the aviation sector, in particular the work of the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The work of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is subject to the oversight of Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
The Government has ensured that the CAA have a robust set of internal and external remedies for those who are dissatisfied with the CAA’s customer service.
The remedies are, successively: internal review by the CAA; consideration by the Independent Complaints Assessor; and referral via their Member of Parliament to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
These remedies cannot address dissatisfaction with a regulatory decision which the CAA has taken (such as an aviation safety decision) but regulatory decisions are subject to bespoke internal review procedures and subsequently in most cases, challenge by way of judicial review. There are some exceptions such as economic regulation decisions may be appealed to the Competition and Markets Authority and airline operating licence decisions may be appealed to the Secretary of State. Additionally, some airspace design decisions can be called-in to be made by the Secretary of State rather than the CAA.
These pathways are prominently set out on the CAA’s website and we wish to see that they are used wherever appropriate.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the current status of the planned new station at Haxby in North Yorkshire; and what further steps are required before construction of the station can commence.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The 2025 Spending Review allocated £19.5 million to deliver a new two-platform station at Haxby on the York-Scarborough line. Work has started to secure planning consents, and the project is progressing toward contractor appointment to deliver the station.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January, whether they will consider the misuse of nitrous oxide gas as part of the planned work for drug driving evidence collection.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Alongside the Road Safety Strategy, the Department for Transport has published a consultation on motoring offences, including drink and drug driving and the evidence used to support enforcement. The consultation provides an opportunity for stakeholders to submit their views on issues such as nitrous oxide misuse and detection challenges, and we will consider all evidence received before taking decisions.
We will continue to work with partners across Government and operational stakeholders as this work develops.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January, what additional funding and resources they will allocate to (1) the police, (2) local authorities, and (3) other partners, to ensure a swift and effective post-crash response.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Road Safety Strategy outlined a new safe system approach to road safety that includes consideration of any post-crash response. We’re continuing to recruit more police, with 3,000 more neighbourhood police officers on our streets by March and we are abolishing Police & Crime Commissioners – so much needed funding can go into frontline policing including post-crash responses. Also £2.7m is allocated to policing under the Roads Policing Innovation Programme this year and the next two. Ultimately however, it is up to local police forces to decide how best to deploy their resources and this funding.
Every road collision resulting in a fatality or serious injury leaves victims devastated so it is important that victims receive the support they need. This government will be increasing funding for victim support services year on year, from 2026 to 2029. In total, government will be investing £550 million in victim support services over the next three years – the biggest investment in victim support services to date.
The Ministry of Justice has committed to reviewing the Victims’ Code, a practical statutory guide for victims of crime, including victims of road traffic offences. Under the Victims’ Code, all victims are entitled to be given information about and be referred to victim support services by the police to help them cope and recover from the impact of a crime. Further, the Office of the Victims’ Commissioner has undertaken work to commission additional research to explore the victim journey for road traffic collisions and support for victims.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January, whether they have plans for a comprehensive communications plan about reducing the drink driving limit as part of their plan to introduce a lower alcohol limit for driving.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy that devastates families and communities. For too long, progress on road safety has stalled while other countries have moved ahead.
The Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January 2026 by this Government, marks a turning point. We are taking decisive action to make our roads safer for everyone, from new drivers taking their first lessons to older motorists wanting to maintain their independence.
As part of this, the Government is consulting on lowering the drink drive limit in England and Wales, which has remained unchanged since 1967 and is currently the highest in Europe.
Any changes to the legal alcohol limit for drink and drive offences in England and Wales will be communicated across government communications channels, to raise awareness and encourage compliance. We will also continue to deliver through the THINK! Campaign, partnership campaigns with 0% alcohol brands, and wider partners, to remind drivers to not drink alcohol when getting behind the wheel.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the future role of Great British Railways in supporting use of shared micromobility to travel to and from train stations.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Once established, Great British Railways will be required to have regard to the Secretary of State's Long Term Rail strategy, including by improving the integration of rail with local and regional transport systems.
We know that a well-connected transport system will help more people make the journeys they need to and unlock access to opportunity which is why we will shortly publish our integrated national transport strategy. The strategy will set out this government's vision for people-focused transport in England, supporting the creation of unified and integrated transport systems at the national and local level.