Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential for UK hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to contribute to the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors such as (a) heavy machinery and (b) heavy transport.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government expects hydrogen to play a role in decarbonising applications where there are limited alternatives such as maritime, aviation, and off-road machinery. This includes through use as a fuel directly, in a fuel cell, and to produce other low-carbon fuels such as ammonia, methanol, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The Government plans to publish a renewed Hydrogen Strategy in early 2026 to sharpen our priorities, deepen industry collaboration, and unlock the full potential of hydrogen over the next decade.
The Department has long supported the research, development, and deployment of hydrogen‑powered transport, including through ensuring hydrogen is eligible for support under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation and the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate, through the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator, the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions, and the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas programme.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total funding allocated to councils and businesses for electric vehicle charging infrastructure was in the 2025 Spending Review; and what this allocation was in the previous five years.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
In the 2025 Spending Review £400 million of capital funding was allocated to support the rollout of charging infrastructure in the four financial years from 2026/27 to 2029/30. This includes along the strategic road network in England, charging infrastructure to facilitate the deployment of zero emission vans and HGVs, and existing grants. This builds on £200 million allocated to support charging infrastructure in 2025/26.
In the previous five financial years, from 2019/20 to 2024/25, £456.2 million capital funding was provided for charging infrastructure, including through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund and the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) Wiltshire and (b) other rural counties are not deprioritised under the new decision-making framework proposed for Great British Railways.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Great British Railways (GBR) will be organised to work collaboratively with devolved leaders and local stakeholders and ensure rail services meet local needs.
All tiers of local government in England will benefit from empowered local GBR business units that are outward-facing and engage local authorities on their priorities and Local Transport Plans.
The Government supports greater involvement for devolved and local leaders as they know their areas best. Our proposals intend to balance GBR’s directing mind role with ensuring that devolved and local priorities are a significant consideration in its decision making.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the transition of passenger rail services into public ownership on rail provision in Wiltshire.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is committed to delivering an improved railway for all users across Britain, including those in Wiltshire.
We are taking steps to ensure a smooth transition for staff and passengers as services transfer into public ownership. There will be no immediate changes to the running of services at the point of transfer, however, under public ownership, services will be run in the interests of passengers, not shareholders. One by one we are returning the railways to the service of passengers. It will take time, but we’re setting up a railway people can be proud of.
Later this session we will be introducing legislation to enable the establishment of Great British Railways (GBR) as the new directing mind for the railways. Unifying track and train under a single public body will deliver better services for passengers and freight customers and better value for money for taxpayers.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Department has to involve (a) passengers and (b) rail user groups in Wiltshire in the development of the proposed independent passenger watchdog.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The new Passenger Watchdog will be established alongside Great British Railways, enabled by the forthcoming Railways Bill. We recently consulted on our legislative proposals, including the watchdog, and we are currently reviewing the responses received. A Government response will be published in due course.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps to ensure that local stakeholders in Wiltshire will have a role in shaping the (a) 30-year strategic plan and (b) five-year business plans proposed for Great British Railways.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In its role as the ‘directing mind’, Great British Railways (GBR) will bring track and train together and plan services on a whole-system basis, to better deliver for passengers, taxpayers, and freight customers, and to unlock growth. This will include working closely with devolved leaders and local partners, drawing on their experiences and expertise.
As set out in Getting Britain Moving, the Government intends that all Local Transport Authorities, including Wiltshire, will benefit from empowered local GBR business units that will engage local authorities on their priorities and Local Transport Plans, and seek to ensure the railway plays its part in delivering them where possible. This will include working with sub-national transport bodies on matters of wider regional interest.
The Secretary of State will engage with key stakeholders as the Long-Term Rail Strategy is developed and GBR will engage with stakeholders as it develops its plans to translate the strategy into operational decisions.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Great British Railways will be required to take into account the specific needs of (a) Wiltshire and (b) other rural and semi-rural areas when determining (i) future service levels and (ii) timetables.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Great British Railways (GBR) will plan services and design timetables to meet both current and future passenger demand, while also ensuring value for money to the taxpayer. GBR will work with all Local Transport Authorities, including Wiltshire, on their priorities and Local Transport Plans.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions her Department has had with (a) local authorities and (b) transport groups on the potential implementation of proposed rail reform proposals in Wiltshire.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In February, the Department for Transport launched an eight-week consultation “A railway fit for Britain’s future”. As part of that, a webinar event was held for stakeholders to come and ask questions. Further detailed discussions were held with sub national transport groups and community rail.
The Department plans to use the publication of the Government’s response to that consultation to set out next steps for rail reform.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations she has received from disability and passenger rights organisations in Wiltshire on Great Western Railway’s proposed staffing reductions; and if she will publish a summary of those representations.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Great Western Railway (GWR) are not proposing any staffing reductions in Wiltshire and we have not had any representations from disability and passenger rights organisations on this subject. GWR have confirmed that they will not be bringing forward any changes to ticket office opening hours at the current time.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the £7 million allocated to Wiltshire Council under the bus service improvement plan 2025–26 in meeting the county's rural transport needs.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government allocated £6.9 million to Wiltshire Council in 25/26 through the £712 million Local Authority Bus Grant to support and improve bus services. This includes £4 million to support the delivery of Wiltshire’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).
The government used a formula to determine BSIP allocations in 25/26 based on need, including population, the distance that buses travel, and the levels of deprivation. Under the formula, Wiltshire Council have seen an increase in BSIP funding compared to 24/25, when they were allocated £2.1 million.
This funding can be used whichever way the local transport authority wishes to deliver better bus services for passengers, including supporting bus services in rural areas.