Asked by: Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrat - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of assaults on public transport staff.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The British Transport Police are responsible for policing the railway in England, Scotland and Wales and they record the number of incidents of violence and abuse against rail workers. Analysis by the Department of Violence Against the Person offences shows in 2022/23 there were 5.1 violence against person offences per 1 million passenger journeys of which 1.3 were against staff, in 2024/25 this proportion of staff was 1.4.
We are committed to ensuring that public transport is safe for passengers and staff. There is no place for abuse or violence against any worker, and we are supporting industry to develop practical interventions to keep workers safe.
Asked by: Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrat - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of creating a criminal offence of assaulting a public transport worker.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There is no place for abuse or assault of any worker. Public transport workers and the wider public should be assured that where offenders commit acts of violence they will be arrested and brought before the courts quickly and that the British Transport Police have a specific remit to protect all rail staff and passengers.
Public transport workers do of course already have extensive protection in existing legislation such as the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 which also covers more serious violence such as actual bodily harm (ABH) and grievous bodily harm (GBH), and courts must already consider offences against public facing workers as an aggravating factor under the Police Crime and Sentencing Act 2022. We therefore do not believe that creating a specific offence will have the intended purpose of reducing assaults.
Asked by: Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrat - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to tackle the sale of illegally modified e-bikes.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
E-bikes can only be legally used on the roads where they comply in full with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983.
The Product Regulation and Metrology Act received Royal Assent in July. One of the main aims of the Act is to prevent unsafe products, including illegally modified e-bikes, being made available to consumers by online marketplaces.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has a market surveillance unit and has the powers to act against retailers selling non-compliant e-bikes, including those that have been modified.
The police also have the powers to seize non-complaint e-bikes being used on the public roads.
Asked by: Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrat - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department's Roads Investment Committee has considered funding alterations to the London South Circular in the last year.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
No, it has not. Responsibility for progressing any work on the London South Circular is a matter for Transport for London.
The Catford town centre scheme, which includes proposed alterations to the London South Circular, was originally part of the Department’s Major Road Network (MRN) programme. Following the outcome of the Spending Review, however, responsibility for this and other London MRN schemes has been passed to Transport for London (TfL). It is for them to take forward this and other MRN schemes in London as part of their Spending Review settlement.
Asked by: Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrat - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the proposed Crossrail 2 route will include Worcester Park station.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The development of Crossrail 2 was paused in 2020, and whilst the route through Central London remains safeguarded to protect it from conflicting development, the Government currently has no plans to move forward with the scheme.
Asked by: Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrat - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve the reliability of Govia Thameslink Railway train services between Sutton Common and Wimbledon.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Govia Thameslink Railway and Network Rail are working closely to improve reliability of services between Sutton Common and Wimbledon, including through better management of trespass incidents, improving signalling infrastructure reliability and increasing the train driver establishment to improve availability and avoid cancellations.
Department officials continuously monitor the performance of the train operating company across a range of measures, set out in its National Rail Contract, and meet regularly with senior management to scrutinise and challenge its performance.
Asked by: Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrat - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to encourage cyclists to undertake Bikeability training.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In February, the Department and Active Travel England (ATE) announced £30 million to provide Bikeability cycle training to children. The Bikeability Trust operates a number of outreach programmes to encourage more people to access cycle training, including Cycle to School Week and Get Cycling in Schools. Outside of the Bikeability schools programme, local authorities can use revenue funding awarded by ATE to support cycle training delivery for children and adults.
Asked by: Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrat - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is taking steps to reduce aviation carbon emissions by (a) introducing frequent flier levies and (b) reducing the use of domestic short haul flights where train alternatives exist.
Answered by Mike Kane
The government is committed to delivering greener transport, supporting its missions to make Britain a clean energy superpower and kickstart economic growth.
We have already made significant strides to decarbonise the aviation sector including through the introduction of a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate, legislating for a Revenue Certainty Mechanism to encourage investment in UK SAF production, and delivering a modernised airspace to help make flights more efficient and greener.
A frequent flyer levy is a taxation issue which is a matter for the Treasury. In the last Budget, the Chancellor announced changes to Air Passenger Duty (APD), which is the principal tax on the aviation sector. This included a 13% increase in APD rates for 2026/27 and a further 50% increase for larger private and business jets. APD generates revenue that funds government priorities, including tackling climate change.
Domestic air travel in the UK is vital for supporting jobs, trade and investment, and ensures regional connectivity. Alongside being a gateway to international opportunities, domestic flights help maintain social and family ties and strengthen the bonds between the four nations.
Asked by: Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrat - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing measures to limit the brightness of LED car headlights.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
All types of road vehicle headlamps are designed, tested, and approved to internationally recognised standards to help prevent undue glare and ensure safety on a broad range of roads and environments.
However, noting increased public concern, Government has commissioned independent research to better understand the root causes of headlamp glare. The work is underway and is due to deliver in summer 2025.