Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she has made an estimate of the number of food delivery drivers who operate on a provisional motorcycle driving license.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Around 180,000 compulsory basic training (CBT) certificates are issued by the motorcycle instructor training industry per year. Neither the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency nor the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency hold data on the professions of those holding a provisional motorcycle driving license.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if stations on East West Rail will have step-free access.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
All new and refurbished stations as part of the East-West Rail (EWR) project will have step-free access for users once the full route between Oxford and Cambridge opens in the mid-2030s and will meet robust accessibility requirements set out by EWR Co’s inclusive design team. EWR Co also has an accessibility advisory panel, which is made up of people with a range of disabilities, who are consulted on EWR Co’s designs to ensure these promote accessible travel for all.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding she plans to allocate to direct rail links between the UK and Germany; and what proportion of that will be allocated in the UK.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government fully supports the growth of international rail passenger services, including potential new direct connections, and recognises the socio-economic benefits that these provide for UK citizens and businesses.
The Government signed a joint declaration with Germany in August which formalises our joint commitment to exploring the potential for direct rail services in future and establishes a Taskforce to take this forward. This work is in the very early stages, and any services established will be operated on a commercial basis without Government funding, as is the case for all international rail passenger services from the UK.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to support increasing the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels in addition to legislating for the certainty mechanism.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The SAF Bill, currently before the House, will deliver a SAF Revenue Certainty Mechanism that will help unlock investment in UK SAF production. In addition, we are building demand through the SAF Mandate introduced on 1 January. We are also supporting the growth of UK SAF production through the Advanced Fuels Fund, under which £63 million has been allocated across 17 UK projects for this financial year.
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 an assessment of the potential merits of increasing Sustainable Aviation Fuel production in the UK.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is clear on the merits of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and that increasing its use is a key measure to decarbonising aviation. We want the UK to capture its share of the global SAF market and are helping businesses in the UK play a leading role in SAF’s development, production and use.
To that end we are building demand through the SAF Mandate introduced on 1 January. We are supporting the growth of UK SAF production through the Advanced Fuels Fund, under which £63 million has been allocated across 17 UK projects for this financial year. In addition, the SAF Bill, currently before the House, will deliver a SAF Revenue Certainty Mechanism that will help unlock investment in UK SAF production.
We will continue to work across government on increasing UK SAF production, including with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). We are similarly working with lead departments including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on policies to increase the uptake of SAF produced from waste. This includes SAF made from non-recyclable municipal solid waste, which has been backed through the Advanced Fuels Fund. We are also working with other government departments on waste feedstock availability, including through the Circular Economy taskforce.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on sourcing black bin waste from councils for use in the production of sustainable aviation fuels.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is clear on the merits of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and that increasing its use is a key measure to decarbonising aviation. We want the UK to capture its share of the global SAF market and are helping businesses in the UK play a leading role in SAF’s development, production and use.
To that end we are building demand through the SAF Mandate introduced on 1 January. We are supporting the growth of UK SAF production through the Advanced Fuels Fund, under which £63 million has been allocated across 17 UK projects for this financial year. In addition, the SAF Bill, currently before the House, will deliver a SAF Revenue Certainty Mechanism that will help unlock investment in UK SAF production.
We will continue to work across government on increasing UK SAF production, including with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). We are similarly working with lead departments including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on policies to increase the uptake of SAF produced from waste. This includes SAF made from non-recyclable municipal solid waste, which has been backed through the Advanced Fuels Fund. We are also working with other government departments on waste feedstock availability, including through the Circular Economy taskforce.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on increasing sustainable aviation fuel production in the UK.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is clear on the merits of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and that increasing its use is a key measure to decarbonising aviation. We want the UK to capture its share of the global SAF market and are helping businesses in the UK play a leading role in SAF’s development, production and use.
To that end we are building demand through the SAF Mandate introduced on 1 January. We are supporting the growth of UK SAF production through the Advanced Fuels Fund, under which £63 million has been allocated across 17 UK projects for this financial year. In addition, the SAF Bill, currently before the House, will deliver a SAF Revenue Certainty Mechanism that will help unlock investment in UK SAF production.
We will continue to work across government on increasing UK SAF production, including with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). We are similarly working with lead departments including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on policies to increase the uptake of SAF produced from waste. This includes SAF made from non-recyclable municipal solid waste, which has been backed through the Advanced Fuels Fund. We are also working with other government departments on waste feedstock availability, including through the Circular Economy taskforce.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to introduce incentives for British businesses that produce Sustainable Aviation Fuels.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is clear on the merits of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and that increasing its use is a key measure to decarbonising aviation. We want the UK to capture its share of the global SAF market and are helping businesses in the UK play a leading role in SAF’s development, production and use.
To that end we are building demand through the SAF Mandate introduced on 1 January. We are supporting the growth of UK SAF production through the Advanced Fuels Fund, under which £63 million has been allocated across 17 UK projects for this financial year. In addition, the SAF Bill, currently before the House, will deliver a SAF Revenue Certainty Mechanism that will help unlock investment in UK SAF production.
We will continue to work across government on increasing UK SAF production, including with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). We are similarly working with lead departments including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on policies to increase the uptake of SAF produced from waste. This includes SAF made from non-recyclable municipal solid waste, which has been backed through the Advanced Fuels Fund. We are also working with other government departments on waste feedstock availability, including through the Circular Economy taskforce.
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 Government protects thousands of miles of bus services from being scrapped, published on 3 June 2025, whether her Department plans to provide additional funding to local authorities who establish bus companies.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Repealing the ban on establishing new local authority bus companies (LABCos) will give local leaders the freedom and flexibility to establish a bus company that matches the needs of their passengers, their aims and ambitions for the network, and the available funding.
The government confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £712 million for local authorities across the country, of which Central Bedfordshire Council was allocated over £3 million. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services can be used in whichever way they wish to deliver better services for passengers, which could include setting up a LABCo.
The Bus Services (No.2) Bill also removes restrictions on existing LABCos accessing private borrowing, if they are doing so for the purposes of providing local services. This provides a level playing field for existing and new LABCos to access private borrowing if prudent and beneficial to do so.
The Department is providing support to local authorities who will wish to explore this option, and we will work with local leaders to ensure this support reflects their needs and priorities.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending Eurostar services to Bedford in the context of the Universal UK theme park.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government fully supports the growth and expansion of international rail services given the benefits they provide, including more sustainable connections to Europe. Whilst it is a commercial decision for operators, the Government stands ready to engage with industry where there is a commercial proposition, particularly given the unique requirements of operating through the Channel Tunnel, including establishing juxtaposed border and security controls.
There would be significant technical changes to extend the international gauge to serve Bedford station and would require the establishment of significant border controls requiring a change to the Treaty arrangements with France. These changes are not currently being considered.