Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her department plans to introduce (i) increased safety standards for US-style pickup trucks and (ii) measures to limit the number of US style pick-up trucks in urban areas.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
New pick-up trucks are subject to approval against rigorous performance-based standards. These standards are developed by the UK and our international partners to ensure vehicles are safe to use on the road and protect occupants and other road users, including pedestrians, in the event of a collision.
There are currently no plans to introduce increased safety standards for US style pick-up trucks or to introduce measures to limit the number of US style pick-up trucks in urban areas. In the Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January, the government has committed to collaborating with stakeholders and vehicle manufacturers to further understand safety concerns regarding increasing vehicle size.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department has issued to airports and transport authorities on allergy safety in public spaces, specifically latex allergy.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Food Standards Agency works with businesses and consumers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to improve allergen management and information, including offering free training and running awareness campaigns. It has recently published new guidance to help people with allergies eat out safely. The guidance sets out how businesses can provide clear allergen information, encourage communication about allergens between staff and consumers, and ensure that a consumer with allergies receives the right meal.
We would also encourage passengers travelling with a severe allergy to carry their medication with them in case of emergency, and it is recommended that they notify staff throughout their journey of their allergy. Guidance on travelling with an allergy is available from organisations such as Anaphylaxis UK or from the NHS.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with airports on allergy safety in public spaces.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Food Standards Agency works with businesses and consumers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to improve allergen management and information, including offering free training and running awareness campaigns. It has recently published new guidance to help people with allergies eat out safely. The guidance sets out how businesses can provide clear allergen information, encourage communication about allergens between staff and consumers, and ensure that a consumer with allergies receives the right meal.
We would also encourage passengers travelling with a severe allergy to carry their medication with them in case of emergency, and it is recommended that they notify staff throughout their journey of their allergy. Guidance on travelling with an allergy is available from organisations such as Anaphylaxis UK or from the NHS.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her Department has to ensure national public awareness of recent Highway Code changes as part of the Road Safety Strategy.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Injuries and fatalities from road collisions caused by driving are unacceptable, and this Government will work hard to prevent these tragedies for all road users.
That is why on 7 January 2026, we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all.
Following updates to the Highway Code in 2022, the department ran large-scale THINK! advertising campaigns to raise awareness of the changes.
Via the THINK! campaign, we are also running year-round radio filler adverts encouraging compliance with the guidance to improve safety for those walking, cycling and horse riding. We will also continue to promote the changes via THINK! and Department for Transport social media channels, as well as through partner organisations.
However, as set out in the strategy, more work is needed to continue embedding these changes and overall awareness of the Highway Code. We are considering options in this area, and further details will be shared in due course.
As our road environment and technologies evolve, providing education for all road users throughout their lifetime is vital to improving road safety. As announced in the strategy to support a Lifelong Learning approach in the UK, the government will publish for the first time national guidance on the development and delivery of road safety education, training and publicity. Alongside this, the government will publish a manual to support the implementation of a Lifelong Learning approach for road safety.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to (a) improve accountability for air traffic control delays and (b) provide access to compensation for affected passengers.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
NATS, the provider of en-route Air Traffic Control (ATC) services in the UK is regulated against service targets set by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). NATS has annual incentives linked to its performance and if this falls below target levels it may incur penalties. However, NATS is not penalised for individual incidents such as the technical failure of August 2023.
UK airport tower ATC services operate in a commercial market, with contractual agreements in place between the provider and the airport concerned. Providers have responsibility for ensuring that they have sufficient staff to safely and efficiently operate these services.
Neither the Government nor the CAA has regulatory oversight of these commercial arrangements.
My officials and the CAA, however, have and continue to engage with ATC providers, airports, airlines and relevant stakeholders to ensure that robust plans are in place to minimise possible disruption and to prevent delays to flights.
Airlines are responsible for the rights of their passengers, including providing refunds or re-routing for cancelled flights and care and assistance, such as refreshments or hotel accommodation where an overnight stay is necessary, whilst passengers are waiting for their flight.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of air traffic control staffing levels at airports during the summer of 2025.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Air Traffic Control (ATC) services at airports in the UK operate in a commercial market, with contractual agreements in place between the provider of ATC and the airport concerned. It is the responsibility of ATC services and airports to ensuring that they have sufficient staff to safely and efficiently operate these services.
Neither the Government nor the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has regulatory oversight of these commercial arrangements which are agreed between private businesses.
My officials and the CAA, however, have and continue to engage with ATC providers, airports, airlines and relevant stakeholders to ensure that robust plans are in place to minimise possible disruption and to prevent delays to flights.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that National Air Traffic Services maintains sufficient trained staff to prevent flight delays.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
NATS, the leading provider of Air Traffic Control services in the UK and other providers operate privately and have responsibility for ensuring that they have sufficient staff and resources to safely and efficiently operate these services.
My department will soon introduce secondary legislation which will enable the Civil Aviation Authority to accept the previous experience of third country and UK military air traffic control officers (ATCOs) towards achieving a UK civil licence. This measure will have a positive impact and help to increase ATCO resourcing levels in the UK.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of providing free bus travel to all under-22s in England; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of doing so on (a) the economy and (b) society.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government knows how important affordable and reliable bus services are in enabling people to get to education, work and access vital services. On 1 January, we introduced a £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London to help passengers continue to access cheaper bus services and better opportunities. At the Spending Review we announced the cap would be extended until March 2027.
At present, the majority of bus services operate on a commercial basis by private operators, and any decisions regarding the level at which fares are set outside the scope of the £3 bus fare cap are commercial decisions for operators. Bus operators can choose to offer discounted fares for young people, and in the year ending March 2025, youth discounts were offered by at least one commercial bus operator in 73 out of 85 local authority areas in England outside London.
As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated over £1 billion to support and improve bus services in 2025/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, which can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Greater Manchester Mayoral Combined Authority has been allocated £66.4 million of this funding.
Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include introducing new fares initiatives to reduce the cost of bus travel for young people. The Bee Network in Greater Manchester offers discounted bus period tickets for young people aged 18–21 who live in Greater Manchester.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of introducing free bus travel for under-22s on access to (a) education, (b) training and (c) employment.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government knows how important affordable and reliable bus services are in enabling people to get to education, work and access vital services. On 1 January, we introduced a £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London to help passengers continue to access cheaper bus services and better opportunities. At the Spending Review we announced the cap would be extended until March 2027.
At present, the majority of bus services operate on a commercial basis by private operators, and any decisions regarding the level at which fares are set outside the scope of the £3 bus fare cap are commercial decisions for operators. Bus operators can choose to offer discounted fares for young people, and in the year ending March 2025, youth discounts were offered by at least one commercial bus operator in 73 out of 85 local authority areas in England outside London.
As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated over £1 billion to support and improve bus services in 2025/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, which can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Greater Manchester Mayoral Combined Authority has been allocated £66.4 million of this funding.
Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include introducing new fares initiatives to reduce the cost of bus travel for young people. The Bee Network in Greater Manchester offers discounted bus period tickets for young people aged 18–21 who live in Greater Manchester.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with local transport authorities in Greater Manchester on the potential merits of introducing free bus travel for under-22s.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government knows how important affordable and reliable bus services are in enabling people to get to education, work and access vital services. On 1 January, we introduced a £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London to help passengers continue to access cheaper bus services and better opportunities. At the Spending Review we announced the cap would be extended until March 2027.
At present, the majority of bus services operate on a commercial basis by private operators, and any decisions regarding the level at which fares are set outside the scope of the £3 bus fare cap are commercial decisions for operators. Bus operators can choose to offer discounted fares for young people, and in the year ending March 2025, youth discounts were offered by at least one commercial bus operator in 73 out of 85 local authority areas in England outside London.
As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated over £1 billion to support and improve bus services in 2025/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, which can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Greater Manchester Mayoral Combined Authority has been allocated £66.4 million of this funding.
Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include introducing new fares initiatives to reduce the cost of bus travel for young people. The Bee Network in Greater Manchester offers discounted bus period tickets for young people aged 18–21 who live in Greater Manchester.