Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of integrated data and through-ticketing between rail services and airlines worldwide; and if she will take steps to make the UK a leader in integrated air-rail data sharing and through-ticketing.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The commercial independence of aviation and rail companies across the world means that worldwide integrated data of this kind is not currently held. The Government is creating Great British Railways which will ensure passengers benefit from a more consistent offer across the rail network.
We are already taking steps to overhaul the complex fares system and make it simpler for passengers to trust they are buying the right ticket and getting the best fare for their journey. Great British Railways will also be empowered to make commercial decisions and work with third parties, including airlines, where this delivers clear benefits for passengers.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of ADI part 2 and ADI part 3 tests in Oxfordshire.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is aware that demand for approved driving instructor (ADI) part 2 and part 3 tests is high in some areas across the country and recognises the time constraints this may place on trainee driving instructors.
As ADI examiners are deployed across multiple test centres, understanding when and where candidates wish to take tests helps DVSA deploy examiner resource appropriately. Consequently, DVSA does not publish waiting times for ADI tests. DVSA has recruited, and continues to recruit, additional ADI examiners and has increased its capacity to train new examiners.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000, what recent assessment she has made of the future viability of (a) parent funded school transport schemes and (b) spare seat schemes.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) set minimum accessibility requirements for buses and coaches, designed to carry over twenty-two passengers and used on local or scheduled services. They support millions of disabled people, including young people and children, to make the journeys important in their lives.
PSVAR have applied to certain home-to-school (HTS) services for 25 years. In response to widespread non-compliance in the sector, including HTS services where spare capacity is sold, the government issued exemptions to enable these essential services to continue operating whilst operators procured compliant coaches. The current Medium-Term Exemptions (MTE) for HTS and rail replacement coach services expire on 31st July.
In 2023 the previous Government began a review of PSVAR, including inviting feedback from local authority commissioners, providers and users of transport services, through a Call for Evidence, with a view to understanding the extent to which the Regulations remained appropriate and continued to serve disabled passengers. We continue to work with partners to understand the best way forward and we will announce our proposed next steps on PSVAR, including a decision on the future of the MTE scheme and its implications for HTS services, soon.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the (a) adequacy of support for low income families transitioning away from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and (b) potential impact of the 2030 ban on sales of new ICE vehicles.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is committed to supporting those on low incomes in accessing electric vehicles and the up to £1,400 running cost saving per year versus a comparable petrol car. We are investing over £3.5bn in grants to make zero emission vehicles more affordable as well as measures to increase access to charging. This includes cross-pavement charging solutions to help those without a driveway access the cheapest charging rates and support for local authorities to invest in infrastructure that suits their local areas. The 2030 phase-out applies only to new pure petrol and diesel cars and provides certainty to industry, enabling businesses and drivers to plan for the future.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of ageing tankers, such as the 21 year old Kusto, transiting through the Channel on the environment.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport is clear about the risks that ageing shadow fleet vessels pose to the safety of mariners, the marine environment and the UK’s national security. The Government remains committed to deterring and disrupting the shadow fleet.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has sanctioned over 500 vessels, including the Kusto in May 2025, which prohibits these vessels from entering into a UK port, and signals to the global maritime community that these vessels are dangerous and should not be interacted with.
DfT has operated the Voluntary Insurance Reporting Mechanism since October 2024, which increases scrutiny on shadow fleet vessels by challenging them for proof of their insurance as they transit the Channel. Since October 2024, over 600 vessels have been challenged.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of transits by sanctioned Russian‑linked vessels through the Channel on national security.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The UK Government constantly monitors UK waters to ensure the safety of mariners, protect the marine environment and uphold the UK’s national security, which includes monitoring sanctioned tankers.
The Department for Transport is continuing to increase scrutiny of these vessels as they transit through the Channel through our Voluntary Insurance Reporting Mechanism introduced in October 2024.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 103084, if she will publish policy proposals to implement the practice of collection of data of non-injury road traffic accidents in order to make an assessment of the risk at rural junctions.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
There are currently no plans to collect non-injury collision data from road traffic collisions to make an assessment of risk at rural junctions.
As announced in the recently published Road Safety Strategy, the department is exploring the possibility of breaking down rural roads into several subcategories to better define their purpose. This segmentation will help target safety interventions more effectively, ensuring resources are spent where they can have the greatest impact. We have also announced the establishment of a data-led Road Safety Investigation Branch, which will investigate collisions on a thematic basis.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of current statutory consultation requirements for introducing parking restrictions on main roads, and whether she plans to review these requirements.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
No such assessment has been made. We have not identified a need for change but will continue to monitor their impact as part of wider traffic management reviews.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of data on non‑injury road traffic accidents at rural junctions.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department for Transport does not collect data on non-injury road traffic accidents at rural junctions so is unable to make an assessment.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the sufficiency of current driving instruction in equipping new drivers with the knowledge and practical skills required for safe motorway driving, including appropriate lane usage; and whether consideration has been given to requiring supervised motorway driving as part of initial learner training and assessment.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to promote voluntary motorway lessons with approved instructors after theory test success, ensuring that all drivers can gain appropriate experience in a structured, supportive environment. However, DVSA has no current plans to mandate that all learner drivers must undertake motorway driving prior to their driving test, for several key reasons.
Not all learners have convenient access to motorways, with many candidates living in rural or remote areas where the nearest motorway may be some distance away. Requiring all candidates to drive on a motorway would risk creating an unfair barrier to test readiness and accessibility.
While motorway driving is valuable, the practical driving test already includes a strong focus on high-speed driving environments. Dual carriageways, which can present even greater risk due to variable traffic flows, mixed vehicle types, and more frequent junctions, are included in test routes, wherever possible. They provide critical opportunities to assess a candidate’s ability to manage higher speeds and complex traffic situations.