Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release entitled Cutting-edge rail ticket technology to be trialled across the Midlands and North, published on 1 September 2025, for what reason East Midlands Rail and Northern were selected for that trial.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The routes in the East Midlands and Yorkshire operated by East Midlands Railway and Northern were selected as being areas of the rail network that do not have existing or planned Pay-As-You-Go schemes and with large enough passenger numbers to give statistically significant results, a significant commuter demographic, and where existing fares structures supported trial delivery.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release entitled Cutting-edge rail ticket technology to be trialled across the Midlands and North, published on 1 September 2025, how she plans to measure the success of that trial.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
An independent evaluation of the Digital Pay-As-You-Go trials, including the one on East Midlands Railway between Leicester, Derby and Nottingham, has been commissioned. The trial is currently expected to end in 2027, and we intend to publish the findings in due course.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answers of 04 September 2025 to Questions 73487 and 73488, if she will set out the benefits to British consumers.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government’s investment of £4.5 billion will benefit British consumers by reducing the upfront price of new zero emission vehicles (ZEVs), supporting the rollout of charging infrastructure and investing in the manufacturing and supply chain of ZEVs through Drive35.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has carried out a value for money analysis of the Electric Car Grant.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Yes, the Department has completed an internal value for money assessment for the Electric Car Grant. Officials will continue to monitor the grant, and assess its value for money, to ensure taxpayers’ money is spent in a cost-effective manner.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release entitled First-time buyers to benefit from 40,000 new homes on brownfield railway land, published on 30 June 2025, whether these properties will be earmarked for first-time buyers.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
First time buyers will be amongst those to benefit from the 40,000 homes unlocked over the next decade on a mix of surplus Department for Transport land and third-party land. Platform4 is committed to providing a mix of housing, including affordable and build to rent. Planning policy on first time buyers will be locally led.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to provide more resources to Bedfordshire Police for increased enforcement against illegal usage of e-scooters.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government will continue to support the police to ensure they have the tools needed to enforce road traffic legislation, including those relating to offences involving e-scooters.
The police are operationally independent and decide how resources are deployed across a range of road policing priorities.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of rural roads on self-driving vehicles.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (AV Act) sets out a comprehensive legal framework with safety at its core.
The Act introduces a new authorisation process that will test self-driving capability and identify a corporation to be held accountable for vehicles behaviour. Companies applying to authorise their vehicle under the AV Act will have to set out the area in which the vehicle intends to operate, known as the operational design domain (ODD). This could include the area or road type the vehicle intends to operate in, such as motorways or rural roads.
During the authorisation process, it must be demonstrated that the vehicle is capable of operating to the safety standard required in all areas of the planned deployment.
We recognise the opportunities automated vehicles can bring in providing new freedoms to those who may be unable to drive. For example, through improving transport links in rural and isolated areas.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department has taken to make train journeys more affordable since July 2024.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We are overhauling the fares and ticketing system to make it easier for passengers to trust that they are buying the right ticket and getting the best fare, and the move to Great British Railways will also help ensure passengers get a more consistent offer across the network.
We are already making positive changes, including through expanding ticketing innovations such as Pay as You Go across the South East, working with Transport for West Midlands and Transport for Greater Manchester on contactless Pay as You Go pilots in Manchester and the West Midlands, and delivering Digital Pay as You Go trials in the North and East Midlands. For most passengers this brings with it a best price promise on the day of travel. We have also supported London North Eastern Railway to trial easier to understand fares on some long-distance routes, allowing passengers to benefit from increased flexibility at lower prices than before.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how Great British Railways will work with (a) Mayoral transport agencies and (b) Transport for London.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Great British Railways (GBR) will work in partnership with Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) and their transport agencies to ensure local priorities are reflected in rail planning and delivery. These partnerships will enable closer integration with local transport networks while balancing local influence with GBR’s responsibility for the wider regional and national network.
GBR will also maintain and strengthen collaborative arrangements with Transport for London (TfL), recognising its role in operating London Overground and Elizabeth Line services on the national network and supporting seamless journeys across modes.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release entitled £1 billion backed renewal of broken bridges, ruined roads and tired tunnels and new Thames Crossing cash, published on 16 June 2025, whether it is her Department’s policy that all weight-restricted bridges should be able to take HGVs.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Structures Fund will inject cash into repairing run down bridges, decaying flyovers and worn-out tunnels. It offers an opportunity to support places to repair local bridges that currently have weight restrictions placed on them so that these restrictions can be lifted and bridges re-opened to HGV traffic.
However, it is not Department for Transport policy for absolutely all weight restricted bridges to be able to take HGVs. Whether to introduce a weight limit on a structure is a decision for the relevant local highway authority and will depend on local circumstances. For example, it may not be appropriate or possible for some historic bridges or those with protected status to carry these kinds of vehicles.
We will publish more information about the Structures Fund and how local areas can get involved in due course.