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 plan to introduce additional night and motorway driving lessons or requirements as part of (1) the proposed minimum learning period for learner drivers, or (2) the probation period.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The new Road Safety Strategy sets out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. This includes consulting on a Minimum Learning Period before learner drivers can take their test. This would allow learners more time to gain essential experience, for example in different weather conditions, before driving independently and reduce the risk to themselves and other drivers.
Learner drivers are already able to gain experience in both night‑time and motorway driving under the current system. Since June 2018, learners have been permitted to take motorway driving lessons with an approved driving instructor in a dual‑controlled car, which provides structured exposure to higher‑speed environments before they take their test.
While night driving is not mandatory, it is already covered within the DVSA‑recommended syllabus, and many instructors introduce it as part of their training programmes where appropriate.
The Government will consider all responses to the Minimum Learning Period consultation before deciding on next steps and a response to the consultation will be published in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will provide further detail on the proposals to protect motorcyclists set out in the Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January; and what is the timescale for a consultation on those proposals.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
On 7 January 2026, we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. The Strategy sets an ambitious target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65% by 2035.
The Strategy is an opportunity to reflect on the changes and challenges faced by motorcycle riders and to consider ways to modernise and improve the current system of motorcycle training, testing and licensing whilst maintaining quality and road safety standards. Therefore, the government has announced a consultation on an ambitious package of reforms to the training, testing and licensing regime for Category A moped and motorcycle licences in Great Britain. This consultation, which opened on 7 January and will close on 31 March, will help inform a targeted review of the training, testing and licensing regime.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication of the Department for Transport's Consultation on a New Heavy Goods Vehicle CO₂ Emissions Regulatory Framework for the United Kingdom, published in January, what assessment they have made of the potential impact on air quality of each regulatory option set out in the document.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Beyond significant carbon savings, the transition to zero emission HGVs is expected to reduce overall air pollution from road transport including through reduced noise pollution and improvements in air quality, leading to better public health.
The consultation explores the potential regulatory design of a new framework and all options remain on the table. A full impact assessment will accompany any final proposal for regulation.
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 suitability of the HS2 order of 8-carriage trains with 504 seats and no tilt ability compared to the current Pendolino trains, particularly in regard to journey times between London and Scotland.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
High-speed services will provide more reliable and faster end-to-end journeys to Birmingham, the Northwest and Scotland using the new, dedicated high-speed infrastructure despite the train's inability to tilt on the west coast Mainline. Moving long distance trains onto HS2 will create opportunities for additional services on the West Coast Mainline. No decisions have been made on the timetable which will operate when HS2 opens. These decisions will be made nearer the time and be subject to consultation.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
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 2025 (HL9776), what recent progress they have made towards ensuring that every platform has level boarding at the new Old Oak Common station.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Old Oak Common station will provide full street to platform step-free access, with HS2 platforms designed to offer full level boarding. Platforms serving the Elizabeth Line and conventional rail services have been designed to accommodate different kinds of rolling stock that have different boarding heights. Work to establish the feasibility and safety of deviating from standard 915mm platform heights on the relief line platforms (platforms 5-8, which will predominantly serve the Elizabeth Line) is continuing. Completed assessments to enable a final decision on this issue are expected by Spring 2026, with an announcement expected by the end of the year.
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 hybrid trains and the reliability of those trains for long distance journeys, following recent reported issues with generator units on Great Western Railway trains.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Hybrid trains play an important role in providing connectivity across the UK. Great Western Railway (GWR) has been working with its supplier Hitachi, which manufactured and maintains GWR’s Intercity Express Trains, to understand and address the significant recent and current issues with generator units. The Government expects all rail industry partners to work together urgently to deliver reliable services for passengers.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what work they are undertaking towards the electrification of railways lines, in particular the Midland Main Line, and what is the timescale for that work.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Midland Main Line (MML) is now electrified as far as Wigston, south of Leicester, which has enabled the phased introduction of East Midland Railway’s new bi-mode intercity trains to begin. As part of Spending Review 2025, however, the decision was taken to pause electrification of the remainder of the route to Nottingham and Sheffield via Derby.
Continued electrification remains part of this government’s approach to decarbonising our railways and this includes electrification of the MML. Although it is not currently funded within this Spending Review period, further electrification of the MML will be kept under active review and consideration, as part of our longer-term pipeline of proposed rail investment schemes.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to carry out an assessment of rolling stock as part of the move to Great British Railways to ensure that new trains meet passenger needs and the required speed of travel.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government is developing a long-term rolling stock and infrastructure strategy, for the first time in over 30 years, and we expect to publish it this summer. The strategy will pursue modern standards of carbon-friendly traction, passenger comfort and accessibility that can unlock jobs, opportunities and economic growth right across the country. The strategy will outline our expectations for our future rolling stock needs, including consideration of capacity and reliability, and how these can best be met.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to assess and monitor the quality of revenue protection services provided by publicly managed train operators; what assessment they have made of whether railway byelaws and the British Railways Act 1989 are being used proportionately and appropriately; and what training they are providing to publicly run train operators to ensure consistency and appropriate use of those regulations.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Our priority is to ensure that fare evasion is addressed, with passengers treated fairly and in accordance with the correct procedures. DFT Operator (DFTO) has reviewed the revenue protection practices of its operators to ensure they are acting consistently and in accordance with legislation. Before an operator enters public ownership, DFTO reviews their practices and prepares to take any action that is required to align activity as appropriate. The Office for Rail and Road carried out a review of revenue protection, and we have accepted all of their recommendations. The Department will publish an update on this in due course which will outline the actions we and industry are taking to ensure revenue protection is addressed.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the cost to date of the installation of new emergency areas on smart motorways, broken down by motorway.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
A total of £390 million was previously committed for National Highways to construct over 150 additional Emergency Areas across the All Lane Running smart motorway network through the National Emergency Area Retrofit programme. Work was completed at the end of March 2025, and all Emergency Areas are now open with no permanent traffic management in place.
National Highways is continuing close-out activities in relation to this programme and final costs, broken down on a scheme-by-scheme basis, are expected to be available by end of June 2026.