Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has taken steps to update The Air Navigation Order 2016 to reflect advances in drone capability.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In 2023, the Department for Transport (DfT) commissioned the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to review the UK drone Regulation which was undertaken through a public consultation. The CAA published its consultation reply on 8 May 2025.
DfT is now updating the rules for drones to make them simpler, safer, and better suited to how they are used today and in the future. This includes updating the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with UK aviation authorities on the certification of the Royal Air Force’s Protector MQ-9B.
Answered by Mike Kane
The UK’s independent aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is leading work with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and NATS towards developing the necessary approvals to integrate the RAF’s Protector MQ-9B.
The aim of this collaborative approach is to ensure that this technology can operate safely within the UK’s controlled airspace alongside other users.
I receive regular updates from the CAA on all aviation matters.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people will be required to move home in order to facilitate the third runway at Heathrow.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Government is currently assessing proposals for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow. Detailed impacts, including on homes, social infrastructure and community facilities, will depend on the final scheme design and boundary, which have not yet been confirmed. Further updates will be provided as the assessment progresses.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to integrate the Royal Air Force’s Protector MQ-9B’s automatic (a) take-off and (b) landing capability with civilian (i) air traffic and (ii) air traffic control.
Answered by Mike Kane
The aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and NATS continue to work collaboratively towards integrating the RAF Protector (MQ-9B) technology so that it can be safely used within the UK’s controlled airspace.
The CAA and the MoD will only give the necessary approvals for Protector to be fully integrated into controlled airspace when it is safe to do so.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 56675 on Hinchingbrooke Hospital: Roads, what discussions she has had with National Highways on returning land adjacent to Views Common to Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department is not directly involved in negotiations concerning land acquired for the A14 scheme near Views Common. National Highways has been in discussions with Cambridgeshire Constabulary regarding surplus land in that area. A final compensation proposal has been accepted, and documentation is being progressed to enable payment and the return of land.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of homes that would need to be compulsory purchased in order to deliver the third runway at Heathrow.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Government is currently assessing proposals for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow. Detailed impacts, including on homes, social infrastructure and community facilities, will depend on the final scheme design and boundary, which have not yet been confirmed. Further updates will be provided as the assessment progresses.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the number of social housing properties that will be demolished in the building of the third runway at Heathrow.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Government is currently assessing proposals for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow. Detailed impacts, including on homes, social infrastructure and community facilities, will depend on the final scheme design and boundary, which have not yet been confirmed. Further updates will be provided as the assessment progresses.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which schools will be demolished as a result of the third runway at Heathrow.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Government is currently assessing proposals for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow. Detailed impacts, including on homes, social infrastructure and community facilities, will depend on the final scheme design and boundary, which have not yet been confirmed. Further updates will be provided as the assessment progresses.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many publicly available roadside electric vehicle chargers there were in Huntingdon constituency as of 1 July 2025.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Data on public electric vehicle charging devices in the UK, held by the Department for Transport, are sourced from the electric vehicle charging platform Zapmap.
The table below presents public charging devices in the Huntingdon constituency as of 1st July 2025 broken down by location category.
| On street | En route | Destination | Other | Total public charging devices
|
Huntingdon constituency | 5 | 25 | 92 | 7 | 129 |
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the level of use of infra-red reflective number plates.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, various police forces and Trading Standards in relation to the supply and use of infra-red number plates. Work is ongoing to quantify the number of illegal number plates that are in circulation. The evidence gathered will support future initiatives needed to address this issue.