Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 1 April 2026 to Question 123240, whether his Department has issued any formal guidance to airport operators on meeting surface access environmental targets.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The expectations around the development and monitoring of airports’ surface access plans were first set out in the Department’s “Guidance on Airport Transport Forums and Airport Surface Access Strategies” in 1999. It is for the airport operator, working with local stakeholders through its Airport Transport Forum, to create the strategy, taking into consideration national and local policy guidance and frameworks, planning conditions and local infrastructure considerations.

This government’s recent approvals of airport expansion projects at Gatwick and Luton also highlight specific surface access targets which must be met such as through the mode share targets at Gatwick and Green Controlled Growth Framework at Luton.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with Transport for London on delays arising from the introduction of new licensing software in 2025; what assessment she has made of the impact of the 2024 cyber incident on taxi and private hire licence processing times; how many drivers have received payments under Transport for London’s Goodwill Payment Scheme in 2026; and what the total value of payments made under that scheme has been.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Department for Transport is responsible for setting the regulatory structure within which local licensing authorities in England license the taxi and private hire vehicle trades but ultimately the licensing process is left at the discretion of local authorities. We work closely with Transport for London on a range of issues but the operation of private hire driver licensing is a matter solely for them.

The Department does not collect data on the processing times of licence applications but expects authorities to administer the system efficiently, including the processing of all applications when they have the necessary information.

The Department’s best practice guidance to licensing authorities in England makes clear that taxi and private hire vehicle licensing is a statutory function, and it is important for authorities to consider how best to deliver this service in a timely and efficient manner.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 27 April 2026 to Question 127220, if she will list the seven new lane rental schemes mentioned in the Answer.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Street Works (Charges for Occupation of the Highway) Order 2026 came into force on 27 April 2026. The information is available here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/424/article/2/made

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data is collected by Transport for London on instances of failed or declined contactless or Oyster transactions on buses; and what estimate has been made of the number of passengers who complete journeys without payment as a result.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 120039, what the purpose was of each flight to Qatar; which Ministers and senior officials approved each visit; how many officials travelled on each occasion and at what grade; what the cost was of each visit; and whether she assessed the potential merits of (a) conducting the engagements remotely and (b) combining the engagements with other travel.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the answer of 24 March 2026 to WPQ 120039, what the purpose was of each flight to Pakistan; which Ministers and senior officials approved each visit; how many officials travelled on each occasion and at what grade; what the cost was of each visit; and whether an assessment was made of whether those engagements could be (a) conducted remotely and (b) combined with other travel.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 120039, what the purpose was of each flight to Oman; which Ministers and senior officials approved each visit; how many officials travelled on each occasion and at what grade; what the cost was of each visit; and whether she assessed the potential merits of (a) conducting the engagements remotely and (b) combining the engagements with other travel.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 120039, (a) what the purpose was of each flight to Maldives; (b) which Ministers and senior officials approved each visit; (c) how many officials travelled on each occasion and at what grade; (d) what the cost was of each visit; and (e) whether an assessment was made of whether those engagements could be (i) conducted remotely and (ii) combined with other travel.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 120039, what the purpose was of each flight to Brazil; which Ministers and senior officials approved each visit; how many officials travelled on each occasion and at what grade; what the cost was of each visit; and whether she assessed the potential merits of (a) conducting the engagements remotely and (b) combining the engagements with other travel.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 19 March 2026 to Question 120368 on Parking: Private Sector, whether the Department has concluded its consideration of the findings of the consultation; and when her Department plans to publish further details.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is committed to laying the Private Parking Code of Practice in Parliament in autumn 2026 and intends to publish its consultation response at the same time.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has plans to renew the existing time-limited exemption from the technical requirements of AIR, due to end on 31 July 2026.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In 2024 Ministers reluctantly granted limited exemptions from the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 (AIR) to enable essential rail replacement services to continue operating due to a shortage of compliant coaches. We have been clear with the rail and coach sectors that we do not intend to extend this exemption.

The Government understands and recognises the specific challenges to comply with AIR within the rail replacement sector. We continue to work with partners, including the Rail Delivery Group, DfT Operator Limited and bus and coach trade bodies, to assess the sector’s readiness for full compliance across the whole rail network, and to provide support to help them achieve this. This includes the development of new technological solutions for providing information on board coaches, funding for smaller operators, and the existing time-limited exemption from the technical requirements of AIR.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 23 April 2026 to Question 127591 on Electric Vehicles: Costs, whether the Treasury has made projections of when the proposed electric Vehicle Excise Duty pay-per-mile rates will reach parity with the equivalent per-mile rates of fuel duty for petrol and diesel vehicles.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to ensuring that driving an electric vehicle (EV) is an attractive choice for consumers. The electric vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) rate paid by electric car drivers will therefore be half the equivalent fuel duty paid by the average petrol or diesel driver, ensuring that it will still be cheaper to own and run an EV for the majority of EV drivers.

When eVED takes effect in April 2028, an average EV driving 8,000 miles per year will pay £240, or £20 a month, while an average petrol or diesel car driving the same distance will pay around £480 in fuel duty. eVED rates will increase in line with inflation each year, to ensure that the tax maintains its real-terms value.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will make it their policy to introduce nationally consistent guidance on the interpretation of regulations governing abnormal load movements and police escort requirements.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The National Police Chiefs’ Council issued national guidance to police forces on the management of abnormal loads which was last updated in May 2025. The guidance sets out consistent principles to guide police force’s decisions and promote national alignment where possible, while incorporating the need for variations according to local conditions. The National Police Chiefs Council is currently reviewing the guidance in line with a commitment to do so after 12 months.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when Ministers next plan to raise the case of Iain Guille with Turkish counterparts.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 28 April to Question 128803 and continue to receive updates on this case.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what dates Ministers have (a) met and (b) spoken with the Turkish Ambassador to the United Kingdom to discuss the case of Iain Guille; and what representations were made on those occasions.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 28 April to Question 128803 and continue to receive updates on this case.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Minister of State for Europe, North America and UK Overseas Territories has directed the British Ambassador in Turkey to visit Iain Guille.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 28 April to Question 128803 and continue to receive updates on this case.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department plans to publish the independent evaluation of the HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Matched Funding Scheme.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The independent evaluation of the HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Match Funding Scheme is due to be published in Summer 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to use incident data collected by the British Horse Society as a safety performance indicator for monitoring (a) the number of horses killed or seriously injured on roads and (b) the number of road incidents involving horses.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

A main focus for this Government is to make our roads safer for all users, including horse riders and carriage drivers.

Our new Road Safety Strategy was published on 07 January and sets out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. The Strategy sets an ambitious target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65% by 2035. This target will focus the efforts of road safety partners across Britain, with measures to improve road design, protect vulnerable road users, and review motoring offences.

Additionally, the Strategy commits to monitoring a variety of Safety Performance Indicators, and these will be kept under review. The numbers of horses killed or seriously injured on roads or incidents involving horses are not among these Safety Performance Indicators.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to hold data on (a) the number of fires involving road vehicles of all types attended by Fire and Rescue Services in England each year and (b) fires involving electric vehicles as a distinct category.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

MHCLG collects data on incidents attended by Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) in England through the Fire and Rescue Data Analysis Platform (FaRDaP), and previously through the Incident Recording System (IRS). This includes information on primary fires, fire-related fatalities, and non-fatal casualties in road vehicles.

Data on the number of fires involving road vehicles of all types attended by FRSs in England are published in the Department’s fire statistics data tables, available on gov.uk here. In particular, table FIRE 0302 ‘Primary fires, fatalities and non-fatal casualties in road vehicles by motive and vehicle type, England’ presents the number of primary fires for each recorded type of road vehicle per year.

However, the data currently collected by FRSs does not identify whether a vehicle involved in a fire was an electric vehicle. The Department is therefore not able to provide data on fires involving electric vehicles as a distinct category.

Work is ongoing to update the data FaRDaP will collect covering both the questions and answer categories to capture lithium-ion batteries, electric vehicles, and more.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 22 April 2026 to Question 127338 on Parking: Pedestrian Areas, in which month will the Statutory Instrument be laid before Parliament.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

It is not possible to specify the month the Statutory Instrument will be laid before Parliament.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 30 March 2026 to Question 122531 on Bus Lanes: Motorcycles, whether her Department has published the analysis commissioned to inform the motorcycles in bus lanes consultation and placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport has placed the analysis commissioned to inform the Motorcycles in Bus Lanes Consultation in the Libraries of both Houses as a deposited paper (DEP2026‑0310). It will be published on the Department’s website shortly.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Department's review of the highways maintenance guidance it provides to local highway authorities in the Well Managed Highways Infrastructure Code of Practice is on track to be completed by the end of 2026.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Yes. The review and updating of the Well Managed Highways Infrastructure Code of Practice is on track for completion by the end of 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessments her Department has made on the potential impact the UK Emissions Trading Scheme maritime expansion will have on transport and supply chain costs to and from the Isle of Wight.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

As set out in the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy, emissions pricing is a vital policy to decarbonise the sector and expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to domestic maritime was assessed on a scheme wide basis.

The Impact Assessment concluded that the indirect consumer impacts of UK ETS expansion to domestic maritime, through cost pass-through, are likely to be modest. The extent of cost pass-through is a commercial decision for operators.

The Government will continue to engage with operators to understand the impacts and closely monitor this going forward. The UK ETS Maritime regime will be reviewed in 2028.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 6 March 2026 to Question 116792, whether a written ministerial direction, submission, or other formal decision document exists in relation to the March 2024 decision to defer the start of construction on the A12 widening scheme; and if she will publish a link to that document.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Ministers took the decision in March 2024 to defer the start of construction on the A12 widening scheme following advice from officials. There is a long-standing convention not to release advice received by previous administrations. There is no written ministerial direction in relation to the decision.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 28 April 2026 to Question 129277 on Immobilisation of Vehicles, what measures are being considered to improve the securing chains on wheel clamps; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of those measures in preventing unlawful removal.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Measures under consideration include stronger, heavier-duty steel chains to make wheel clamps more resistant to cutting and wear.

Any changes would need to balance weight, handling, environmental impact and cost. While they would not prevent all deliberate damage, they should make unlawful removal more difficult and time-consuming.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 22 April 2026 to Question 124214 on Parking: Private Sector, whether her Department plans to conclude its review of the £2.50 fee for the release of vehicle keeper data.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The review of the £2.50 fee for the release of vehicle keeper data is concluding and the outcome of this review, together with next steps, will be communicated in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on fare revenue of the removal of cash payments on London Buses.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what mechanisms her Department will use to monitor whether local transport authorities are complying with the expectation to recognise and plan for the role of coach services within their transport strategies, as set out in the Department’s “Better Connected” strategy.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Local Transport Plan guidance and “Better Connected” strategy set out what local authorities should consider in developing their Local Transport Plans.

The Department will not routinely review Local Transport Plans. It is for the authorities to decide what arrangements to put in place for coaches in their areas.

The Department continues to engage with coach trade associations to understand the issues and challenges facing the sector.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what enforcement powers are available to her Department where a local transport authority fails to make adequate provision for coach parking, pick-up and drop-off facilities in its local transport plan.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Local Transport Plan guidance and “Better Connected” strategy set out what local authorities should consider in developing their Local Transport Plans.

The Department will not routinely review Local Transport Plans. It is for the authorities to decide what arrangements to put in place for coaches in their areas.

The Department continues to engage with coach trade associations to understand the issues and challenges facing the sector.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, a) what estimate her Department has made, in each set of projections published since 1 January 2019, of the proportion of new car registrations that will be zero emission vehicles in 2027 under (i) central, (ii) low, and (iii) high uptake scenarios; b) on what dates those projections were published; and c) what assessment her Department has made of the reasons for any changes in those projections over time.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The latest published projections were included in the Cost Benefit Analysis accompanying the Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2025. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/1101/pdfs/uksiod_20251101_en_001.pdf .

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the answer of 24 April 2026 to Question 127159, whether DfTO will provide financial or in-kind support to the Railway Benefit Fund at levels comparable to those previously provided by Train Operating Companies.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

DfT Operator Limited (DFTO) manages passenger rail operations in public ownership on behalf of the Secretary of State. The Railway Benefit Fund (RBF) is an independent charity and decisions relating to its fundraising and activities are for the charity and its trustees.

DFTO and the operators it manages recognise the valuable support the RBF provides to current and former railway employees and their families. However, DFTO does not have a standing commitment to provide financial or in-kind support to the RBF at levels comparable to those provided by private Train Operating Companies. Any support, including facilitation of fundraising activity, would be considered by the relevant operator in line with charity law, governance requirements, value for money and budget availability.

We do not anticipate that rail reform, including the establishment of Great British Railways, will have an adverse effect on the RBF.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 126523 on Ferries: Conditions of Employment, when the Department expects to publicly confirm which operators have met the required standard under the Seafarers’ Charter for Verified Charter Status.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department intends to confirm the operators that have achieved Verified Charter Status later this year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 120876 on Northern Trains: Rolling Stock, what the ten Northern Trains routes with the highest number of short-formed services were in the last 18 months; and for each route, how many and what proportion of services operated with fewer carriages than planned.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The ten Northern Trains routes with the highest number of short-formed services over the last 18 months – with the proportion of total services along these routes included – are displayed in the table below.

It should be noted that these figures are for all services along these routes, regardless of the time of day or the day of the week. This means that these figures include all very early or late services, as well as all weekend services, some of which are very lightly used and where short-forming therefore does not impact on passengers.

To address short-forming, Northern has begun discussions with train manufacturers to procure around 250 new train sets to replace the oldest trains in its fleet. Approximately two-thirds of its existing fleet is targeted to be replaced in the next ten years. The initial order, which is due to enter service in 2030-31, will consist of 130 units: 92 diesel-hybrids to replace its Class 15Xs, 30 electric and diesel-hybrid trains to support the TransPennine Route Upgrade, and 8 battery-powered trains to test their potential as an alternative to diesel-hybrids.

In the meantime, Northern is talking to other operators to identify any suitable rolling stock that could be cascaded to provide additional capacity or replace trains that have reached the end of their lives. Where any such additional stock is used is an operational matter for Northern, based on the demands on its services and the capacity of its depots and staff.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of delays to taxi and private hire licence renewals caused by difficulties in obtaining medical assessments to Group 2 standards; whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on improving access to GP appointments for the purposes of licence medicals; what guidance is issued to licensing authorities on handling delays arising from medical assessments; and what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the average time taken for medical-related licensing decisions involving the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Medical suitability to hold a taxi or private hire vehicle driver licence is a matter for licensing authorities not the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

The Department for Transport’s guidance to licensing authorities in England on the medical suitability of drivers is that they should seek the same information to inform their decision as required by the DVLA for category C and D licences (Group 2) required for an entitlement to driver lorries (category C) and for buses (category D). All initial category C and D licence applications require a medical assessment by a registered medical practitioner - recorded on the D4 form, this does not need to be the applicant’s GP. It is suggested in the Department’s guidance to licensing authorities that that the DVLA’s medical examination report (D4) is used as a template to gather relevant information.

The guidance is clear that it is the responsibility of licensing authorities to assess the medical information they receive and decide whether a taxi or private hire vehicle licence should be issued.

Energy Conservation

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