Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have plan to ensure better data sharing between the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the police, insurers and the Motor Insurers' Bureau to ensure action is taken against uninsured driving and driving after being banned.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Arrangements are already in place to support data sharing to tackle uninsured driving through Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE). Under CIE, DVLA vehicle records are compared with insurance data held by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau to identify vehicles that appear to be uninsured, enabling reminder letters to be issued and, where no action is taken, penalties and further enforcement action.
In addition, the Motor Insurers’ Bureau shares insurance data with police forces to support roadside enforcement, including through Automatic Number Plate Recognition and national activity such as Operation Tutelage. The Department and DVLA continue to work closely with law enforcement and insurance partners to ensure data is shared lawfully, effectively and proportionately, and keep these arrangements under review.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to improve public awareness of the penalties for (1) uninsured driving, and (2) failing to stop after an accident.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Enforcement of road traffic law is an operational matter for the police, and sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the independent courts.
Since 2011, Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) has enabled action to be taken against those who keep a vehicle without insurance. The scheme allows uninsured vehicles to be identified from a comparison of the DVLA’s vehicle register and the Motor Insurance Database of insurance policies managed by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). Under CIE keepers of vehicles which appear to be uninsured are sent reminder letters. Those who take no action receive a fixed penalty of £100, followed by enforcement action including prosecution.
CIE supplements enforcement action taken by the police on the road. Since 2005 the police have had the power to seize vehicles that are being driven without insurance. In addition to a £300 fixed penalty and 6 penalty points on their licence for the offence, those whose vehicles have been seized face a cost to recover the vehicle and must provide proof that the vehicle has been insured. Seized vehicles that are not claimed within 14 days can be sold or crushed.
The Department for Transport published the consultation, “Proposed changes to penalties for motoring offences” on 7 January 2026. It sought views on changes to the motoring offences framework, including consideration of whether the minimum penalties for the offence of driving uninsured and failure to stop and report should be increased.
The consultation closed on 11 May 2026, and the Government is considering the responses.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, for measures to address road users who continue to drive after having been banned from driving.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Driving whilst disqualified is already a criminal offence, carrying a maximum penalty of an unlimited fine and/or 6 months’ imprisonment. This is in addition to any penalties for other offences committed during the same incident, such as driving without insurance, careless or dangerous driving, or drink or drug driving.
Enforcement of this offence is an operational matter for the police. Sentencing in individual cases, including the appropriate length of any sentence or further disqualification, is a matter for the independent courts. The courts may take account of relevant aggravating factors, including previous convictions and repeated non-compliance with court orders.
The Department keeps under review the penalties for the road traffic offences for which it is responsible to ensure that they remain appropriate and effective. As part of the recent motoring offences consultation, the Department sought views on whether, in cases where death or serious injury has occurred, the statutory time limit for driving unlicensed, uninsured or disqualified should be extended from 6 months to 18 months. Responses are now being analysed.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to address road users who drive without insurance.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Enforcement of road traffic law is an operational matter for the police, and sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the independent courts.
Since 2011, Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) has enabled action to be taken against those who keep a vehicle without insurance. The scheme allows uninsured vehicles to be identified from a comparison of the DVLA’s vehicle register and the Motor Insurance Database of insurance policies managed by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). Under CIE keepers of vehicles which appear to be uninsured are sent reminder letters. Those who take no action receive a fixed penalty of £100, followed by enforcement action including prosecution.
CIE supplements enforcement action taken by the police on the road. Since 2005 the police have had the power to seize vehicles that are being driven without insurance. In addition to a £300 fixed penalty and 6 penalty points on their licence for the offence, those whose vehicles have been seized face a cost to recover the vehicle and must provide proof that the vehicle has been insured. Seized vehicles that are not claimed within 14 days can be sold or crushed.
The Department for Transport published the consultation, “Proposed changes to penalties for motoring offences” on 7 January 2026. It sought views on changes to the motoring offences framework, including consideration of whether the minimum penalties for the offence of driving uninsured and failure to stop and report should be increased.
The consultation closed on 11 May 2026, and the Government is considering the responses.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the importance for road safety of encouraging road users to select tyres carefully and fit them correctly, and to pay special attention to maintaining the rear axle of vehicles.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Maintaining tyres in good condition and ensuring they are appropriate for the vehicle, including across the same axle, is important for road safety. The MOT test includes checks to ensure that tyres are in a safe condition, are suitable for the vehicle, and are compatible across an axle. This includes consideration of tyre size and fitment to ensure they are not obviously unsuitable for use. However, it is not a substitute for proper maintenance and correct tyre selection by the user.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 25 February (HL14520), what assessment they have made of the utilisation of police community support officers and other publicly employed wardens to supplement enforcement of moving traffic; and what steps they are taking to promote this utilisation to Chief Constables.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Decisions on how community support officers are designated with powers for traffic enforcement is an operational matter for chief officers. Chief Officers will take decisions with consideration for local policing plans.
Other enforcement officers, including wardens and civil enforcement officers, are employed by local authorities and public bodies to support the management and enforcement of traffic in England and Wales, under civil or limited statutory powers.
The Home Office does not collect data on the utilisation of such powers.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government further to the publication of the White Paper From local to national: a new model for policing on 26 January, what assessment they have made of the resources available for enforcement in relation to lower-level offences, in particular moving traffic offences; and what plans they have to review these resources as part of any reform to the structure of policing in England and Wales.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The reforms outlined within the Police Reform White Paper will put the right policing in the right place to ensure we more effectively tackle crime. At a local level, this means local police areas will be entirely focused on their community and the epidemic of so-called lower-level offences they face.
It is for Chief Constables to determine the appropriate resourcing model for their force. However, this Government is supporting Chief Constables and the wider policy system with £21 billion of funding via the police funding settlement in 2026/27, an increase of £1.3 billion on 2025/26.
On traffic offences in particular, these offences are increasingly detected and enforced through technology rather than through traditional officer‑led activity. Digital tools allow high‑volume, consistent enforcement without requiring significant additional frontline resource. A reformed policing system is an essential step in unlocking consistent and capable technology across all of policing.
Further, the Road Safety strategy announced on 7 January, will consult on range of motoring offences including the use of technology and introduces a new Roads Policing Innovation Programme to improve road safety and targeted enforcement including for low level offences such as speeding.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the upcoming expiration in February 2026 of the compulsory purchase powers for phase 2a of HS2 to Crewe, what alternative plans they have to relieve congestion on the west coast main line north of Birmingham.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Whilst we will not reverse the previous government’s decision to cancel Phase 2, we recognise concerns about rail capacity and connectivity between Birmingham and Manchester. We are reviewing our plans for future connectivity in the Midlands and the North, and we hope to say more soon, including our plans for land and property between Birmingham and Crewe.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government from which country the solar panels for the Port of Barrow's Cavendish Dock solar array will be supplied.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government does not hold this information.
Commercial decisions about the procurement of components are left to developers.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the provision of a wider range of railway services on Boxing Day in 2026.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The department currently requires its operators to plan services and rail timetables that are designed to meet expected passenger demand 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, GBR, to continue to consider the case for Boxing Day services where there is demand and they do not further increase the burden on taxpayers.