Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's consultation entitled The third cycling and walking investment strategy (CWIS), published on 3 November 2025, if she will set out the percentage increase in the level of walking and cycling stages per person by 2030 necessary to achieve the CWIS3 objective.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The consultation on the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, is seeking the views of stakeholders on a national vision, statutory objectives and underlying performance indicators. The shape of the final strategy, intended to be published, next year including targets concerning walking and cycling stages, will be informed by the responses to the consultation.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has she made of the (a) adequacy of the application process, (b) financial cost of the application and (c) potential impact of time restrictions on the (i) uptake and (ii) utility to users of (A) Blue Badges, (B) Disabled Person’s Bus Passes and (C) other forms of disability-related transport support available to qualifying people.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Blue Badge scheme helps people with significant mobility issues - both visible and hidden - park closer to their destination, whether they’re drivers or passengers. It offers national on-street parking concessions, including free and time-unlimited parking in restricted areas and up to three hours on yellow lines (unless loading restrictions apply). Local authorities manage the scheme, while the Department manages and supports improvements to the digital application process.
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel for eligible disabled people and those of state pension age. The scheme costs around £700 million annually, and any changes must consider financial sustainability. A recent review included travel times for disabled passholders, and next steps are being considered. Local authorities administer ENCTS and may offer additional concessions at their own expense.
The Disabled Persons Railcard offers a third off rail fares for the cardholder and a companion, with over 348,000 in circulation as of March 2025. It is valid during peak times and provides excellent value. A review of the scheme has been completed, and any updates will be announced shortly.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she has taken with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) local authorities to reduce regional variations in transport support for disabled people.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the importance of accessible transport to enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity. As part of our broader mission to break down barriers to opportunity, we recognise that more needs to be done to ensure transport is accessible to all, and we are committed to driving this change.
We are working closely with other government departments, operators, local authorities and passengers to achieve this – including through regularly meeting with the other lead ministers for disability to ensure we are doing all we can to remove barriers for disabled people.
We are committed to developing an Accessible Travel Charter. The charter is a commitment to a shared vision for accessible travel. It will aim to set out what disabled travellers can expect from their journeys and what to do when standards aren’t met, share best practice across organisations and create consistency in end-to-end journeys for disabled travellers. It will be co-designed by a range of stakeholders including local authorities to ensure it is achievable and impactful locally and nationally. The Accessible Travel Charter and our accessibility focus as a department is committed to making journeys accessible for all, irrespective of location or disability.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times their Department has accepted in full the position of the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s (a) findings and (b) recommendations on (i) issuing an apology and (ii) other forms of redress in the last 10 years.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Department does not readily hold this information in the format requested and therefore could only be provided at a disproportionate cost to the Department.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the (a) capacity and (b) adequacy of the supporting infrastructure of (i) the Port of Liverpool, (ii) Manchester airport and (iii) the rail connections between them when negotiating recent trade deals.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department has made no assessment of the potential impact of the capacity and adequacy of infrastructure supporting Manchester Airport, the Port of Liverpool, and the rail connections between them on the negotiation of recent trade deals.
The Department welcomes recent investment into Manchester Airport’s terminals and the Port of Liverpool. We would welcome further infrastructure that supports connectivity between the two sites, in as far as any scheme is delivered in line with the UK’s legal, climate and environmental obligations.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
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 improving infrastructure surrounding (a) Manchester Airport and (b) the Port of Liverpool on levels of (i) trade through recent international trade deals and (ii) foreign direct investment in those areas.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department has no plans currently to make an assessment of the potential impact of improving infrastructure surrounding Manchester Airport and the Port of Liverpool on levels of trade through recent international trade deals and foreign direct investment in those areas.
The Department for Transport welcomes recent investment into Manchester Airport’s terminals and the Port of Liverpool.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to improve access to Manchester Airport from the regions surrounding Greater Manchester.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government recommends that masterplans and surface access strategies are updated every five years, and we work closely with all airports, including Manchester Airport, as they develop and update their plans.
It is the responsibility of airports to work closely with local stakeholders to develop masterplans and surface access strategies to improve airport access, noting that improvements to airport surface access are generally funded by the airport themselves.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the potential cost of increasing the capacity of the railway connection between Manchester and Liverpool; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the capacity of that connection on (a) the number of commuters and (b) levels of commerce between those cities.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is actively considering improvements between Liverpool and Manchester, starting with options to lengthen trains in the near term, modernise the route via Warrington and the potential provision of new trains as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.
As announced in the Autumn 2024 budget, we are maintaining momentum on Northern Powerhouse Rail by progressing planning and design works to support future delivery. We intend to set out more details in due course.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the (a) adequacy of the service on and (b) potential merits of renovating the Liverpool-to-Manchester railway line.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is actively considering improvements between Liverpool and Manchester, starting with options to lengthen trains in the near term, modernise the route via Warrington and the potential provision of new trains as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.
As announced in the Autumn 2024 budget, we are maintaining momentum on Northern Powerhouse Rail by progressing planning and design works to support future delivery. We intend to set out more details in due course.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 38013, what steps she plans to take ensure Highways England and its contractors meet the legal requirements in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for the removal of litter, debris and detritus from the highway, reservations, slip roads, embankments and verges (a) nationwide and (b) on the M60 and M67 in Gorton and Denton constituency.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Environment Protection Act 1990 governs the responsibility for clearing highway litter and sweeping carriageways. National Highways is responsible for litter collection on motorways and some ‘A’ roads while the relevant Local Authority manages litter collection on the rest of the roads in England.
National Highways undertakes weekly safety inspections on the M60 and M67. National Highways’ most recent inspection of the M67 and M60 in Denton took place on 20 March 2025. The performance of contractors and their completion of maintenance activities are reviewed and monitored monthly by National Highways.