Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consideration his Department has given to reviewing diversion routes for A34 closures to ensure that country lanes are not used.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways (NH) agrees strategic diversion routes with local authorities and the Police for any planned closures on the A34. These routes are selected as the most suitable for the type and volume of traffic expected and are kept under review.
Country lanes are rarely suitable, so are unlikely to be used as officially designed and signed diversion routes. As a general principle diversion routes will aim to avoid sending traffic onto any road that cannot safely accommodate it. Clear signage and advance warnings are used to help drivers follow the agreed diversion and avoid unsuitable country lanes, however, NH cannot compel road users to use a specific route, and drivers are entitled to use any part of the public highway.
Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve processing times for driving licence renewals involving medical assessments.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The table below shows the average number of working days taken to process driving licence applications where a medical condition needed to be investigated before a licence could be issued for both group 1 (cars and motorcycles) and group 2 (lorry and bus) licences.
| Group 1 | Group 2 |
Dec 2024 | 45.32 | 46.65 |
Jan 2025 | 46.1 | 46.29 |
Feb 2025 | 42.65 | 40.55 |
Mar 2025 | 45.48 | 40.64 |
Apr 2025 | 41.64 | 43.49 |
May 2025 | 42.34 | 41.46 |
Jun 2025 | 48.08 | 37.85 |
Jul 2025 | 54.42 | 39.06 |
Aug 2025 | 49.33 | 41.72 |
Sept 2025 | 52.5 | 49.04 |
Oct 2025 | 78.36 | 55.78 |
Nov 2025 | 80.27 | 47.71 |
Driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated before a licence can be issued can take longer as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is often reliant on receiving information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.
The DVLA is currently rolling out a new casework system which is expected to deliver significant improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions. When fully implemented, this will provide improved turnaround times, increased capacity and automation, higher levels of digital functionality and digital communication. The DVLA is also planning to launch a new medical services platform which will enable more customers to transact online and will increase the use of email communication.
Applicants renewing an existing licence may be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing they can meet specific criteria. More information can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.
Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average processing time was for driving licence renewals involving medical assessments in each of the last 12 months.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The table below shows the average number of working days taken to process driving licence applications where a medical condition needed to be investigated before a licence could be issued for both group 1 (cars and motorcycles) and group 2 (lorry and bus) licences.
| Group 1 | Group 2 |
Dec 2024 | 45.32 | 46.65 |
Jan 2025 | 46.1 | 46.29 |
Feb 2025 | 42.65 | 40.55 |
Mar 2025 | 45.48 | 40.64 |
Apr 2025 | 41.64 | 43.49 |
May 2025 | 42.34 | 41.46 |
Jun 2025 | 48.08 | 37.85 |
Jul 2025 | 54.42 | 39.06 |
Aug 2025 | 49.33 | 41.72 |
Sept 2025 | 52.5 | 49.04 |
Oct 2025 | 78.36 | 55.78 |
Nov 2025 | 80.27 | 47.71 |
Driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated before a licence can be issued can take longer as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is often reliant on receiving information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.
The DVLA is currently rolling out a new casework system which is expected to deliver significant improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions. When fully implemented, this will provide improved turnaround times, increased capacity and automation, higher levels of digital functionality and digital communication. The DVLA is also planning to launch a new medical services platform which will enable more customers to transact online and will increase the use of email communication.
Applicants renewing an existing licence may be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing they can meet specific criteria. More information can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.
Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve cycling connectivity between rural towns and villages.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Spending Review in June 2025 allocated £616 million for Active Travel England to support local authorities to build and maintain walking and cycling infrastructure from over the years 2026/27 to 2029/30. This comes on top of £222.5 million announced in February 2025 for local authorities over 2024/25-25/26, which can be used by authorities to improve cycling connectivity between rural towns and villages.
Active Travel England’s Rural Design Guidance (RDG) is currently in its final development stages and is expected to be published by the end of the year. The RDG will support authorities in delivering active travel routes both within rural settlements and between them by providing tailored guidance and support. Active Travel England currently works with local authorities during the design stage of active travel projects to increase design standards and embed guidance.
Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to extend the (a) 38.4 and (b) 44 tonne limits for lower carbon construction vehicles after 2028.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department ran a call for evidence from October to December 2023 seeking views on three potential options on weight limits for Volumetric Concrete Mixers (VCMs). The outcome of this review was published on 18 March 2025.
VCMs will continue to be permitted on our roads, but as planned, a temporary weight limit exemption for this type of vehicle (via vehicle special orders) will end on 31 March 2028, after which VCMs must operate at the legal weight limits applicable to other heavy good vehicles. This is not a ban or change in policy.
There are no plans to extend the 38.4 or 44 tonne weight limits for Volumetric Concrete Mixers beyond 2028.
Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support local bus routes in rural areas in (a) Newbury constituency and (b) other areas.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government is committed to delivering the better, more reliable bus services that passengers deserve throughout the country, including in rural areas. The government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill on 17 December as part of our ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill will put passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of the industry by putting the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders. The Bill includes a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services.
As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the government allocated £955 million to support and improve bus services in 2025/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, this can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. West Berkshire Council was allocated £1.6 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, including expanding services and improving reliability.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in this Spending Review. On 11 June, the government confirmed additional funding per year from 2026/27 to maintain and improve bus services, including taking forward franchising pilots and extending the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027.
Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had recent discussions with National Highways on the potential merits of introducing spacing chevrons on the A34.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways has not identified a specific issue with mainline collisions on the A34 that would prompt such an intervention and as such, currently has no plans to install spacing chevrons on the A34.
Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to introduce tougher questions in driving (a) practical and (b) theory tests on equestrian road safety.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) regularly reviews the questions at the point of test to ensure they remain clear, relevant and effective in assessing candidates’ knowledge.
Questions asked during the practical test are designed to focus on the vehicle itself. This ensures that learners can demonstrate they can safely operate and maintain their vehicle in real-world situations.
Broader knowledge of road rules, hazard perception and theory is fully assessed in the theory test, which is taken before the practical. Together, the two parts of the driving test are designed to complement each other, ensuring new drivers have both the theoretical understanding and the practical skills needed to drive safely and responsibly.
DVSA has recognised the need to promote the recognition of hazards by drivers when sharing the road with horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles. These are well represented within the hazard perception part of the test, a CGI video test which requires candidates to identify developing hazards on the road in good time.
Both the multiple choice and hazard perception parts of the theory test are continually being updated and added to, with one of the focuses being on vulnerable road users such as horse riders.
Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had any discussions with National Highways on banning HGV through traffic from Newbury town centre when the A34 is closed.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Diversion routes which include those through Newbury town centre are not part of the Strategic Road Network therefore are managed by the Local Authority.
National Highways diversion routes are longstanding and agreed with the local authorities. Annual reviews are conducted to ensure that they remain fit for purpose and able to accommodate the type and volume of traffic using a given route, for example Heavy Goods Vehicles.
Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is taking steps with National Highways to introduce speed enforcement measures at known accident hotspots on the A34.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
National Highways currently has no plans to introduce speed enforcement measures on the A34. National Highways deem the current speed limits on the A34 are appropriate. However, speed limits across the network are kept under review by National Highways.