Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2025 to Question 90407 on Roads: Repairs and Maintenance, whether the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) will include a breakdown of (a) forecast costs for each individual strategic road network enhancement scheme that is to be delivered during the 2026 to 2031 period and (b) the Department's planned expenditure on (i) operations, (ii) maintenance and renewals, (iii) disaggregating maintenance and (iv) staffing costs.

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

The third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) will set out the Department’s planned capital and revenue expenditure over the 2026/27 to 2030/31 period, with breakdowns across key categories including operations, maintenance, renewals and enhancements.

In line with previous Road Investment Strategies, RIS3 will not include forecast costs for individual enhancement schemes. Scheme-level costs will continue to be developed and refined through the business case and investment decision-making process, ensuring value for money and appropriate assurance prior to commitment.

Further information on the delivery, governance and performance of the Strategic Road Network will be published through National Highways’ subsequent delivery plans and reporting arrangements.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2026 to Question 105895, what the assumed payback period is for the major technology investments cited for Network Rail in delivering efficiency savings; and in which financial year cumulative efficiency savings are expected to exceed cumulative investment costs.

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

Network Rail undertake numerous technology-related investments, including those cited as examples in the previous response on 19 January. The payback period for technology-related investments will vary in range and this will depend on the scope and business case associated with the type of technology investment. Interdependencies between the projects and payback is not limited to Network Rail or purely financial benefits.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2026 to Question 105895, what proportion of the £424 million efficiency saving attributed to regulated settlements in 2028–29 is expected to be delivered by Network Rail alone.

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

All of the £424 million efficiency saving attributed to regulated settlements in 2028–29 is forecasted to be delivered by Network Rail. Efficiencies for National Highways for the equivalent period will be determined through the Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3) process, which is currently underway and not yet complete.