Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
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 the Takata airbags no drive recall notice on (a) learner drivers and (b) practical driving test wait times.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As soon as the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency became aware of the issue, proactive communications were shared to all learner drivers who had a test booked and their driving instructors, clarifying that if a test had to be postponed as a result, the usual 10-day short notice conditions would be waived for them. The majority of vehicles were rectified before attending for test or an alternative vehicle was used. Due to the very small numbers who have been unable to go ahead with their test until a later date, there has been no impact on driving test wait times.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many learner drivers did not attend their practical driving test (a) nationally, (b) in Norfolk and (c) in North West Norfolk constituency in each of the last five years.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The number of learner drivers who fail to attend their driving test represents just 3% of all tests taken accounting for around 60,000 tests. With unprecedented demand for tests, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is doing all it can to further reduce unused test slots and encourage learners to inform them so that the test slot can be utilised.
DVSA issues text reminders to learners between 2 and 12 days beforehand to help learners plan for their test. Learners can also get email alerts, check their test details online, and find resources on the GOV.UK website and through the official "Ready to Pass?" campaign. If a test is cancelled within 10 days of their test date, the learner loses their driving test fee.
The tables below show how many learner drivers did not attend their practical driving test (a) nationally, (b) in Norfolk and (C) in North West Norfolk constituency in each of the last five years.
Financial Year 2021/22 | Total tests completed | Failed to attend | Percentage |
National | 1,465,747 | 61,503 | 4.20 |
Norfolk (King's Lynn, Norwich Peachman Way, Norwich Jupiter Road) | 16,051 | 502 | 3.13 |
North West Norfolk constituency (King's Lynn) | 5,457 | 170 | 3.12 |
Financial Year 2022/23 | Total tests completed | Failed to attend | Percentage |
National | 1,609,583 | 62,530 | 3.88 |
Norfolk (King's Lynn, Norwich Peachman Way, Norwich Jupiter Road) | 20,941 | 965 | 4.61 |
North West Norfolk constituency (King's Lynn) | 6,648 | 304 | 4.57 |
Financial Year 2023/24 | Total tests completed | Failed to attend | Percentage |
National | 1,783,045 | 59,483 | 3.34 |
Norfolk (King's Lynn, Norwich Peachman Way, Norwich Jupiter Road) | 22,596 | 983 | 4.35 |
North West Norfolk constituency (King's Lynn) | 6,927 | 295 | 4.26 |
Financial Year 2024/25 | Total tests completed | Failed to attend | Percentage |
National | 1,768,258 | 52,054 | 2.94 |
Norfolk (King's Lynn, Norwich Peachman Way, Norwich Jupiter Road) | 21,360 | 666 | 3.12 |
North West Norfolk constituency (King's Lynn) | 7,275 | 245 | 3.37 |
Financial Year 2025/26 (year to date) | Total tests completed | Failed to attend | Percentage |
National | 904,174 | 29,207 | 3.23 |
Norfolk (King's Lynn, Norwich Peachman Way, Norwich Jupiter Road) | 9,221 | 295 | 3.20 |
North West Norfolk constituency (King's Lynn) | 3,361 | 131 | 3.90 |
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of learner drivers not attending their practical driving test.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The number of learner drivers who fail to attend their driving test represents just 3% of all tests taken accounting for around 60,000 tests. With unprecedented demand for tests, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is doing all it can to further reduce unused test slots and encourage learners to inform them so that the test slot can be utilised.
DVSA issues text reminders to learners between 2 and 12 days beforehand to help learners plan for their test. Learners can also get email alerts, check their test details online, and find resources on the GOV.UK website and through the official "Ready to Pass?" campaign. If a test is cancelled within 10 days of their test date, the learner loses their driving test fee.
The tables below show how many learner drivers did not attend their practical driving test (a) nationally, (b) in Norfolk and (C) in North West Norfolk constituency in each of the last five years.
Financial Year 2021/22 | Total tests completed | Failed to attend | Percentage |
National | 1,465,747 | 61,503 | 4.20 |
Norfolk (King's Lynn, Norwich Peachman Way, Norwich Jupiter Road) | 16,051 | 502 | 3.13 |
North West Norfolk constituency (King's Lynn) | 5,457 | 170 | 3.12 |
Financial Year 2022/23 | Total tests completed | Failed to attend | Percentage |
National | 1,609,583 | 62,530 | 3.88 |
Norfolk (King's Lynn, Norwich Peachman Way, Norwich Jupiter Road) | 20,941 | 965 | 4.61 |
North West Norfolk constituency (King's Lynn) | 6,648 | 304 | 4.57 |
Financial Year 2023/24 | Total tests completed | Failed to attend | Percentage |
National | 1,783,045 | 59,483 | 3.34 |
Norfolk (King's Lynn, Norwich Peachman Way, Norwich Jupiter Road) | 22,596 | 983 | 4.35 |
North West Norfolk constituency (King's Lynn) | 6,927 | 295 | 4.26 |
Financial Year 2024/25 | Total tests completed | Failed to attend | Percentage |
National | 1,768,258 | 52,054 | 2.94 |
Norfolk (King's Lynn, Norwich Peachman Way, Norwich Jupiter Road) | 21,360 | 666 | 3.12 |
North West Norfolk constituency (King's Lynn) | 7,275 | 245 | 3.37 |
Financial Year 2025/26 (year to date) | Total tests completed | Failed to attend | Percentage |
National | 904,174 | 29,207 | 3.23 |
Norfolk (King's Lynn, Norwich Peachman Way, Norwich Jupiter Road) | 9,221 | 295 | 3.20 |
North West Norfolk constituency (King's Lynn) | 3,361 | 131 | 3.90 |
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 69881 on Transport: Cost Benefit Analysis, whether her Department will make business case documents available for each scheme ahead of the Full Business Case stage.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
For the 50 schemes referenced in the Secretary of State’s statement on 8 July 2025, detailed Green Book analyses, costs, and benefit cost ratios for each scheme have not been published as a single package
The scheme-level business cases and economic assessments for projects in the Government Major Projects Portfolio are published as they are finalised and reach the appropriate stage in the investment process. Summary information on costs and benefit cost ratios for major transport schemes may also be found in the Department for Transport’s Major Projects Portfolio, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/major-projects-data
In the case of Major Road Network schemes, the business cases belong to the relevant local authorities. This information is therefore available directly from them, once a scheme is approved at the Full Business Case (FBC) stage. Whilst we encourage them to publish these, it is their decision whether to publish their business cases on their respective websites.
Detailed information on Strategic Road Network (SRN) schemes is available in the applications for planning consent, available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website. Decisions to select schemes were based on evidence assessed against a wide range of criteria, in line with the HM Treasury Green book and the Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance.
More information about rail enhancement schemes over the SR period is featured in the UK infrastructure pipeline published on 11 July, which government has committed to update regularly.
There are no plans to publish officials’ advice to Ministers regarding the schemes in question. As each scheme progresses, further documentation is released and made available on gov.uk as appropriate. The Government is committed to transparency and will continue to make business case documents available in line with Green Book and Treasury guidance as schemes move forward.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 69881 on Transport: Cost Benefit Analysis, whether detailed Green Book analyses, costs, and benefit cost ratios for each scheme (a) had been calculated at the point of selection and (b) have been calculated.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
For the 50 schemes referenced in the Secretary of State’s statement on 8 July 2025, detailed Green Book analyses, costs, and benefit cost ratios for each scheme have not been published as a single package
The scheme-level business cases and economic assessments for projects in the Government Major Projects Portfolio are published as they are finalised and reach the appropriate stage in the investment process. Summary information on costs and benefit cost ratios for major transport schemes may also be found in the Department for Transport’s Major Projects Portfolio, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/major-projects-data
In the case of Major Road Network schemes, the business cases belong to the relevant local authorities. This information is therefore available directly from them, once a scheme is approved at the Full Business Case (FBC) stage. Whilst we encourage them to publish these, it is their decision whether to publish their business cases on their respective websites.
Detailed information on Strategic Road Network (SRN) schemes is available in the applications for planning consent, available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website. Decisions to select schemes were based on evidence assessed against a wide range of criteria, in line with the HM Treasury Green book and the Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance.
More information about rail enhancement schemes over the SR period is featured in the UK infrastructure pipeline published on 11 July, which government has committed to update regularly.
There are no plans to publish officials’ advice to Ministers regarding the schemes in question. As each scheme progresses, further documentation is released and made available on gov.uk as appropriate. The Government is committed to transparency and will continue to make business case documents available in line with Green Book and Treasury guidance as schemes move forward.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 69881 on Transport: Cost Benefit Analysis, what criteria was used to select each project; and when she will publish details.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
For the 50 schemes referenced in the Secretary of State’s statement on 8 July 2025, detailed Green Book analyses, costs, and benefit cost ratios for each scheme have not been published as a single package
The scheme-level business cases and economic assessments for projects in the Government Major Projects Portfolio are published as they are finalised and reach the appropriate stage in the investment process. Summary information on costs and benefit cost ratios for major transport schemes may also be found in the Department for Transport’s Major Projects Portfolio, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/major-projects-data
In the case of Major Road Network schemes, the business cases belong to the relevant local authorities. This information is therefore available directly from them, once a scheme is approved at the Full Business Case (FBC) stage. Whilst we encourage them to publish these, it is their decision whether to publish their business cases on their respective websites.
Detailed information on Strategic Road Network (SRN) schemes is available in the applications for planning consent, available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website. Decisions to select schemes were based on evidence assessed against a wide range of criteria, in line with the HM Treasury Green book and the Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance.
More information about rail enhancement schemes over the SR period is featured in the UK infrastructure pipeline published on 11 July, which government has committed to update regularly.
There are no plans to publish officials’ advice to Ministers regarding the schemes in question. As each scheme progresses, further documentation is released and made available on gov.uk as appropriate. The Government is committed to transparency and will continue to make business case documents available in line with Green Book and Treasury guidance as schemes move forward.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her oral statement of 8 July on Road and Rail Projects, Official Report, column 815-817, what the benefit-cost ratio is for each project.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Business case documents, costs and benefit cost ratios for major schemes, including for the Strategic Road Network and for relevant schemes in the Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline are published on gov.uk.
For the set of 50 schemes referenced in the Secretary of State’s statement on 8 July 2025, detailed Green Book analyses, costs, and benefit cost ratios for each scheme have not been published as a single package.
As each scheme progresses, further documentation is released and made available on gov.uk as appropriate. The Government is committed to transparency and will continue to make business case documents available in line with Green Book and Treasury guidance as schemes move forward.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to approve the Ely Area Capacity Enhancements scheme.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Secretary of State updated Parliament on the 7th of July regarding which rail and road infrastructure projects will progress following the completion of the 2025 Spending Review. The Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) was not among those projects funded at this time.
We are focused on prioritising the schemes that will make the greatest difference for passengers and freight and support economic growth as quickly as possible. The previous government had committed to a number of infrastructure projects that were unfunded, this includes the EACE scheme.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the benefit-cost ratio of the Ely Area Capacity Enhancements scheme.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Secretary of State updated Parliament on the 7th of July regarding which rail and road infrastructure projects will progress following the completion of the 2025 Spending Review. The Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) was not among those projects funded at this time.
We are focused on prioritising the schemes that will make the greatest difference for passengers and support economic growth as quickly as possible. The previous government had committed to a number of infrastructure projects that were unfunded, this includes the EACE scheme.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 59412 on Government Departments: Reviews, if her Department will publish the line by line review of its spending conducted for the Spending Review 2025.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Department for Transport is committed to meeting savings and efficiency targets set by HMT, with the Department delivering efficiency gains of 8% per year by 2028-29; with SR allocations agreed on this basis.
These funding allocations – informed by the findings of the Zero-Based Review (ZBR) – are the first step in a wider plan to finalise budgets for different projects and programmes, with any necessary savings decided through that process. The savings taken forward will be subject to the normal rigorous business planning processes and in-year financial management.
Further details of the Department’s efficiency gains can be accessed on the gov.uk website via the following link: