Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 85831 on Public Houses, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of lowering the drink drive micrograms levels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. We are considering a range of policies under the new Road Safety Strategy, the first for ten years. This includes the case for changing the motoring offences, such as drink driving. We intend to publish this by the end of the year.
The power to set the drink drive limit in Northern Ireland is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the financial (a) risk and (b) cost to councils of controlling bus franchising.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As part of the bus franchising process, local transport authorities (LTAs) must develop a robust assessment of all elements of a move to franchising. This assessment requires LTAs to demonstrate a financial and economic case for franchising in their area which considers whether the authority would be able to afford to make and operate the scheme, and whether the scheme represents value for money.
There is no one size fits all approach to bus franchising, and the cost of bus franchising and level of financial risk to LTAs will vary depending on the individual area and the model of franchising that LTAs wish to pursue.
Government is working to provide more active support to LTAs, and is developing a tailored programme of support for LTAs wishing to franchise. In addition, work will continue to reduce the cost of franchising to help make it more accessible to LTAs. My Department is also engaging with LTAs and bus operators to identify potential alternative models of franchising to those pursued by Greater Manchester and other Mayoral Combined Authorities.
At the Spending Review, the Government announced funding for bus franchising pilots, including in York and North Yorkshire and Cheshire West and Chester as part of additional funding to maintain and improve bus services from 26/27 onwards.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the powers for councils to issue fines for vaping and smoking relating to buses will be subject to (a) non-statutory and (b) statutory guidance on the issue of the bye-law powers.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government will work with Local Transport Authorities and other stakeholders to determine how byelaws should be made and enforced, and what specific guidance is required.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to seek Parliamentary approval for the revised Airports National Policy Statement before submitting the infrastructure planning application for Heathrow Airport expansion.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Government has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer. Once proposals have been received, the Government will review the Airports National Policy Statement. When conducting the review, the Secretary of State will comply with the requirements in the Planning Act 2008, including consultation, publicity and parliamentary requirements.
When the ANPS has been reviewed, and depending on the outcome of the review, it will be for scheme promoters to submit a Development Consent Order application for a third runway scheme.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2025 to Question 59360 on Driving: Standards, which policies from that plan she has discontinued.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Those policies in “The Plan for Drivers” that would have made no positive difference for drivers have been discontinued. These include the speculative suggestions for interfering in local authorities’ decisions about how best to manage local road networks and threats to remove their access to vehicle keeper information. The Government is committed to empowering local leaders and Mayors to make the right decisions for their communities, including on transport.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had recent discussions with the Mayor of London on (a) graffiti and (b) vandalism on the London Underground.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Department for Transport Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London on a range of issues, including London Underground maintenance requirements. Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor and TfL who are responsible for the operation and maintenance of London Underground.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the bye-law powers in the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL] will allow local authorities and the Greater London Authority to issue fixed penalty notices through private sector firms.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Under measures contained in the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill, local transport authorities, including in London, will be able to appoint individuals as “authorised persons” to enforce bus byelaws, and issue fixed penalty notices, where relevant. It will be for local transport authorities to determine who they appoint, and that could include employees of private sector businesses.
My department will be publishing guidance to support local transport authorities to implement this Bill measure.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her Department's policy position is on 15 minute cities.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Local Government is at the heart of our transport ambitions. Traffic management schemes to promote walking cycling and public transport are a matter for Local Authorities because they know their areas best. Such schemes should always be developed through engagement with local communities. This is a long-standing policy and there are no plans to change it.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has had discussions with Oxfordshire County Council on its planned introduction of traffic filters by Oxford in 2026.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department has not had discussions with Oxfordshire County Council on its planned introduction of traffic filters by Oxford in 2026. Local authorities are responsible for managing their roads and are accountable to their communities.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54870 on Parking: Fines, if she will publish the research provided by the (a) Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London, (b) British Parking Association and (c) Local Government Association.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The publication or otherwise of this research is a matter for the organisations that undertook it. It would not be appropriate for the Department to publish it.