Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of electric vehicle purchases in the last 12 months.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government closely monitors developments in the EV market. 2024 was a record year for the sale of new zero emission cars. In 2024 over 380,000 electric cars were sold, the highest number ever in the UK. These made up a fifth of the new car market – also the highest ever. In 2024, the UK overtook Germany to become the largest electric car market in Europe and the market as a whole grew by 2.6%, faster than France, Germany, and the EU.
The electric van market also continues to experience growth. New electric van volumes increased by 3.3% in 2024, compared to the previous year.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many claims have been successful for vehicles that have been damaged by potholes in the last year.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
On England’s Strategic Road Network, compensation claims of this sort are a matter for National Highways, and their website provides further details of how claims are dealt with. Between 1 January and 31 December 2024, National Highways received 1552 claims for vehicle damage due to potholes, of which 717 (or 46%) have been successful.
On local roads, compensation claims of this sort are a matter for the relevant local highway authority and the Department does not collect data on it.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to help ensure that airports are accessible.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Department for Transport launched the Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group in November 2024. Led by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, it brings together experts from industry and consumer representatives to develop practical and achievable industry-led actions to improve aviation accessibility throughout the consumer journey.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) - the sector’s independent regulator – is also responsible for ensuring industry is meeting its legal obligations in relation to aviation accessibility. It undertakes annual assessments of airports against the Airport Accessibility Performance Framework, which provides a ranking of UK airports.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the safety of LED headlights on cars (a) generally and (b) on country roads.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
All types of road vehicle headlamps are designed, tested, and approved to internationally recognised standards to help prevent undue glare and ensure safety on a broad range of roads and environments.
However, noting increased public concern about headlamp glare, Government has commissioned independent research to better understand the root causes and develop potential countermeasures. This work is underway and due to deliver in summer 2025; it will include real-world assessment of glare on a broad range of road types and scenarios including country roads.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to help ensure rail stations are step free.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Since April 2024, step free upgrades at 13 stations have been completed, with a further 18 due to be completed by April 2025. This will be the most stations completed in one year since the programme started in 2006. This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of waiting times for practical driving tests on the duration of the validity of driving theory tests.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
It is important road safety knowledge and hazard perception skills are up to date at the critical point a person drives unsupervised for the first time.
The maximum duration of two years between passing the theory test and a subsequent practical test is in place to ensure a candidate’s road safety knowledge and ability to identify developing hazards is current. This validity period is set in legislation and the Government has no current plans to lay further legislation to extend it.
Ensuring new drivers have current relevant knowledge and skills is a vital part of the preparation of new drivers, who are disproportionality represented in casualty statistics. Learners will therefore need to pass another theory test if their certificate expires.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of access to public electric vehicle charging points.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As of 1 December 2024, the Government and industry have supported the installation of over 72,271 publicly available charging devices.
The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle. Through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund almost £400m government funding is being provided to local authorities in England to support the delivery of over 100,000 public chargepoints. These chargepoints will transform the public charging network to ensure that everyone can access and charge their electric vehicle.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will encourage sustainable aviation fuel developers to additionally produce biopropane.
Answered by Mike Kane
Biopropane is a low carbon alternative to liquid petroleum gas and is suitable for use in road vehicles and non-road mobile machinery, such as forklift trucks. Biopropane is eligible for support under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) where it meets sustainability criteria and is for a relevant end use. This could include biopropane where it is a co-product of a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) developer’s production process.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure on school bus services fin rural areas.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
School bus services in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive. My department regularly engages with colleagues in the Department for Infrastructure to discuss matters of mutual interest.
Policy responsibility for home to school transport within England is the responsibility of the Department for Education.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Department of Infrastructure on (a) pothole repairs and (b) resurfacing.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Secretary of State met her counterpart in the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure in her first days of office and the departments regularly discuss matters of mutual interest.