Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the press release entitled £43 million boost for green aviation to drive growth, jobs and cleaner flights, published on 20 January 2026, what proportion of global aviation emissions her Department estimates will be removed as a result of the funding for green aviation projects.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Through the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, published on 29 October, the Government detailed policies in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fuels in aviation, and estimates of the emission reductions they would achieve. This package of funding will help to enable these emission reductions.
The nature of research and development activity creates challenges in assessing the exact expected CO2 benefits at the outset, as these depend on the extent to which the outputs of research and new technologies are adopted into commercial use, and the pace at which this happens. Government seed funding is integral in supporting early-stage research and development for technologies which are not yet commercially viable but could be scaled in future.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the press release entitled £43 million boost for green aviation to drive growth, jobs and cleaner flights, published on 20 January 2026, what proportion of the UK's aviation emissions her Department estimates this investment will remove.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Through the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, published on 29 October, the Government detailed policies in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fuels in aviation, and estimates of the emission reductions they would achieve. This package of funding will help to enable these emission reductions.
The nature of research and development activity creates challenges in assessing the exact expected CO2 benefits at the outset, as these depend on the extent to which the outputs of research and new technologies are adopted into commercial use, and the pace at which this happens. Government seed funding is integral in supporting early-stage research and development for technologies which are not yet commercially viable but could be scaled in future.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving examiner vacancies currently exist in the East of England.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.
DVSA acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers, including those living in rural and semi-rural communities. The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training, as part of our Plan for Change.
It is not possible to confirm how many people are waiting to book a practical driving test. DVSA only holds data on the number of tests booked.
DVSA continually reviews its recruitment needs to ensure the agency maintains the right level of resource to meet customer demand. The Agency’s latest national recruitment campaign closed in December 2025. As a result, it has a number of candidates progressing through the final recruitment stages. In the East of England. This includes:
11 potential driving examiners (DE) booked onto training courses.
14 potential DEs currently undergoing pre-employment checks.
72 applicants currently working their way through recruitment processes.
DVSA is working hard to provide as many practical driving test appointments as possible at all test centres and regularly conducts tests outside of normal hours, including evenings, weekends and on public holidays. Between June - December 2025, DVSA conducted 1,158,458 car practical driving tests. This is an increase of 102,290 more car practical driving tests when compared to the same period in 2024. This increase can largely be attributed to the additional test allowance scheme introduced in June 2025.
DVSA publishes data on car practical test cancellation reasons by month and driving test centre (DTC) on GOV.UK. This data, in report DRT122B, is updated annually and currently shows data to March 2025. The next update is due to be published in June 2026.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many learner drivers are on waiting lists for practical driving tests in the East of England.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.
DVSA acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers, including those living in rural and semi-rural communities. The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training, as part of our Plan for Change.
It is not possible to confirm how many people are waiting to book a practical driving test. DVSA only holds data on the number of tests booked.
DVSA continually reviews its recruitment needs to ensure the agency maintains the right level of resource to meet customer demand. The Agency’s latest national recruitment campaign closed in December 2025. As a result, it has a number of candidates progressing through the final recruitment stages. In the East of England. This includes:
11 potential driving examiners (DE) booked onto training courses.
14 potential DEs currently undergoing pre-employment checks.
72 applicants currently working their way through recruitment processes.
DVSA is working hard to provide as many practical driving test appointments as possible at all test centres and regularly conducts tests outside of normal hours, including evenings, weekends and on public holidays. Between June - December 2025, DVSA conducted 1,158,458 car practical driving tests. This is an increase of 102,290 more car practical driving tests when compared to the same period in 2024. This increase can largely be attributed to the additional test allowance scheme introduced in June 2025.
DVSA publishes data on car practical test cancellation reasons by month and driving test centre (DTC) on GOV.UK. This data, in report DRT122B, is updated annually and currently shows data to March 2025. The next update is due to be published in June 2026.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of a) extended working hours and b) weekend testing in reducing driving test waiting times.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.
DVSA acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers, including those living in rural and semi-rural communities. The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training, as part of our Plan for Change.
It is not possible to confirm how many people are waiting to book a practical driving test. DVSA only holds data on the number of tests booked.
DVSA continually reviews its recruitment needs to ensure the agency maintains the right level of resource to meet customer demand. The Agency’s latest national recruitment campaign closed in December 2025. As a result, it has a number of candidates progressing through the final recruitment stages. In the East of England. This includes:
11 potential driving examiners (DE) booked onto training courses.
14 potential DEs currently undergoing pre-employment checks.
72 applicants currently working their way through recruitment processes.
DVSA is working hard to provide as many practical driving test appointments as possible at all test centres and regularly conducts tests outside of normal hours, including evenings, weekends and on public holidays. Between June - December 2025, DVSA conducted 1,158,458 car practical driving tests. This is an increase of 102,290 more car practical driving tests when compared to the same period in 2024. This increase can largely be attributed to the additional test allowance scheme introduced in June 2025.
DVSA publishes data on car practical test cancellation reasons by month and driving test centre (DTC) on GOV.UK. This data, in report DRT122B, is updated annually and currently shows data to March 2025. The next update is due to be published in June 2026.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of driving test delays on employment opportunities in rural areas.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.
DVSA acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers, including those living in rural and semi-rural communities. The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training, as part of our Plan for Change.
It is not possible to confirm how many people are waiting to book a practical driving test. DVSA only holds data on the number of tests booked.
DVSA continually reviews its recruitment needs to ensure the agency maintains the right level of resource to meet customer demand. The Agency’s latest national recruitment campaign closed in December 2025. As a result, it has a number of candidates progressing through the final recruitment stages. In the East of England. This includes:
11 potential driving examiners (DE) booked onto training courses.
14 potential DEs currently undergoing pre-employment checks.
72 applicants currently working their way through recruitment processes.
DVSA is working hard to provide as many practical driving test appointments as possible at all test centres and regularly conducts tests outside of normal hours, including evenings, weekends and on public holidays. Between June - December 2025, DVSA conducted 1,158,458 car practical driving tests. This is an increase of 102,290 more car practical driving tests when compared to the same period in 2024. This increase can largely be attributed to the additional test allowance scheme introduced in June 2025.
DVSA publishes data on car practical test cancellation reasons by month and driving test centre (DTC) on GOV.UK. This data, in report DRT122B, is updated annually and currently shows data to March 2025. The next update is due to be published in June 2026.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many practical driving tests were cancelled by the DVSA in the last 12 months; and for what reasons.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.
DVSA acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers, including those living in rural and semi-rural communities. The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training, as part of our Plan for Change.
It is not possible to confirm how many people are waiting to book a practical driving test. DVSA only holds data on the number of tests booked.
DVSA continually reviews its recruitment needs to ensure the agency maintains the right level of resource to meet customer demand. The Agency’s latest national recruitment campaign closed in December 2025. As a result, it has a number of candidates progressing through the final recruitment stages. In the East of England. This includes:
11 potential driving examiners (DE) booked onto training courses.
14 potential DEs currently undergoing pre-employment checks.
72 applicants currently working their way through recruitment processes.
DVSA is working hard to provide as many practical driving test appointments as possible at all test centres and regularly conducts tests outside of normal hours, including evenings, weekends and on public holidays. Between June - December 2025, DVSA conducted 1,158,458 car practical driving tests. This is an increase of 102,290 more car practical driving tests when compared to the same period in 2024. This increase can largely be attributed to the additional test allowance scheme introduced in June 2025.
DVSA publishes data on car practical test cancellation reasons by month and driving test centre (DTC) on GOV.UK. This data, in report DRT122B, is updated annually and currently shows data to March 2025. The next update is due to be published in June 2026.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he make an assessment of the potential merits of installing a bridge over the level crossing in East Tilbury.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Network Rail are engaging with London Gateway and other stakeholders on the merits of level crossing interventions in the East Tilbury area and are keeping my officials updated.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to her Department's press release entitled Boost for British business as government slashes cost of electric lorries by up to £120,000, published on 6 January 2026, how many and what proportion of lorries registered in the UK are electric lorries; and what estimate she has made of the potential increase in that number as a result of the announced subsidy.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As of September 2025, there were 1,313 battery-electric HGVs on UK roads (VEH1103): https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/vehicle-licensing-statistics-data-tables.
The £18 million Plug-in Truck Grant Uplift announced on 6 January 2026, which runs until 31 March 2026, is estimated by the Department for Transport to support 195 battery-electric HGV sales. This equates to approximately 1.4% total HGV sales over January-March 2026. This is estimated to directly lead to 0.03MtCO2 emissions reductions over the zero emission (ZE) HGVs vehicles’ lifetime and is expected to support the acceleration of deployment of ZE HGVs in the UK, helping build a UK market for these vehicles which will increase their future adoption and help to deliver carbon budgets.
Estimates of the impact of the grant on ZE HGV sales are uncertain and will depend on demand. The truck grant is only confirmed to continue until the end of March 2026 so it is not possible to share 2030 fleet projections at this stage. Grant rates for any future truck grant from April 2026 will be published in due course.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with to her Department's press release entitled Boost for British business as government slashes cost of electric lorries by up to £120,000, published on 6 January 2026, what estimate her Department has made of the number of lorries expected to be purchased using the announced grant by 2030.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As of September 2025, there were 1,313 battery-electric HGVs on UK roads (VEH1103): https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/vehicle-licensing-statistics-data-tables.
The £18 million Plug-in Truck Grant Uplift announced on 6 January 2026, which runs until 31 March 2026, is estimated by the Department for Transport to support 195 battery-electric HGV sales. This equates to approximately 1.4% total HGV sales over January-March 2026. This is estimated to directly lead to 0.03MtCO2 emissions reductions over the zero emission (ZE) HGVs vehicles’ lifetime and is expected to support the acceleration of deployment of ZE HGVs in the UK, helping build a UK market for these vehicles which will increase their future adoption and help to deliver carbon budgets.
Estimates of the impact of the grant on ZE HGV sales are uncertain and will depend on demand. The truck grant is only confirmed to continue until the end of March 2026 so it is not possible to share 2030 fleet projections at this stage. Grant rates for any future truck grant from April 2026 will be published in due course.