Asked by: Shaun Davies (Labour - Telford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) operational cost and (b) salary of the Chief Executive of the Office of Road and Rail is; what assessment she has made of the (i) value for money and (ii) effectiveness of that office; and whether she plans to abolish that office.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Office of Rail and Road’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2023/24 show a total expenditure of £40.77 million. This is detailed on page 53 of the report, available at:
https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-07/orr-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-2024-web.pdf
The Chief Executive’s annual salary for 2023/24 is reported as being in the range of £170,000–£175,000, with performance related pay of £5,000–£10,000. This information is published in the Remuneration and Staff Report, available at:
We would note that we expect the 2024/25 Annual Report and Accounts to be published in the next few weeks on ORR’s website which will provide updated information.
The Department for Transport keeps the value for money and effectiveness of the ORR under ongoing review to ensure it delivers against its objectives efficiently and in line with public spending principles.
As set out in our consultation, the Government is committed to delivering a simpler, more accountable railway, ensuring clear responsibilities and an efficient system that delivers for passengers and freight.
The Government proposes that ORR will retain its key regulatory functions, including on safety and will have a robust and independent appeals function on access decisions, ensuring capacity allocation decisions remain fair and non-discriminatory. There are no plans to abolish the ORR.
Asked by: Shaun Davies (Labour - Telford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to to allow the M6 toll company to remove pay barriers and introduce barrier-free technology.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Midland Expressway Limited (MEL), is the private consortium responsible for building and operating the M6 toll road. Specific legislation or amendment via regulation to existing PCN legislation is required to enable MELs potential plans to remove pay barriers and introduce barrier free technology in future. As M6 Toll is a privately owned asset, MEL would need to offer proposals that highlight the merits of removing toll barriers and how they will meet all the challenges of doing so for the Department to consider.
Asked by: Shaun Davies (Labour - Telford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, what assessment she has made of the (a) adequacy of the funding for the M54 link road to the M6 and (b) potential economic impact on the (i) region and (ii) UK.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 11 June 2025, this Government will deliver notable improvements to people’s everyday travel by providing £24 billion of capital funding between 2026-27 and 2029-30 to maintain and improve roads across the country. Delivering faster, safer and more reliable journeys and unlocking economic growth across the country. We will provide updates on specific schemes in due course.
Asked by: Shaun Davies (Labour - Telford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the performance of the train line between Aberystwyth and Birmingham International in the last 12 months; and whether she plans to allocate funding to improve (a) services and (b) rolling stock on that line in the next 12 months.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Services and rolling stock on this line are the responsibility of Transport for Wales. My officials meet regularly with TfW to agree performance improvement actions on this cross-border route.
Building on the recent UK Government funded upgrade of the line’s signalling system to support the intended introduction of new trains, and the investment plans detailed in the recent Spending Review, we will continue to work collaboratively with the Welsh Government to further develop services on routes across Wales and the Borders
Asked by: Shaun Davies (Labour - Telford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has had recent discussions with relevant stakeholders on the construction of a new light rail line in Telford constituency.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has not held any discussions on the opening of a new light rail line or tramway system in the Telford constituency.
Departmental officials have however held discussions with Telford Council, Transport Design International, Eversholt leasing and Network Rail on the proposed Greenway Initiative at Ironbridge Gorge. I understand the proposed scheme aims to use lightweight, battery powered ‘Revolution’ Very Light Rail trains to reopen 4 miles of disused heavy railway line.
The rail minister will write to you shortly following your request for a meeting on this scheme.
Asked by: Shaun Davies (Labour - Telford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has had recent discussions with the owners of the M6 toll road on the potential merits of removing toll barriers.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
M6 Toll is a privately-owned asset. My Department is aware that Midland Expressway Limited (MEL), which is a private consortium responsible for building and operating the M6 toll road, has ambitions for removing toll barriers which would potentially require creating a specific legislation or amendment via regulation to existing PCN legislation. MEL may offer proposals that highlight the merits of removing toll barriers and meet the challenges of doing so.
Asked by: Shaun Davies (Labour - Telford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much is the capital grant to Telford and Wrekin Council for (a) road and (b) pothole (i) repairs and (ii) improvements in each of the last six years.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network. DfT allocates capital funding to local highway authorities so they can most effectively spend it on maintaining and improving their respective networks, based upon their local knowledge, circumstances, and priorities.
Local highway authorities should consider all parts of the highway network as part of their highway asset management plans, such as bridges, cycleways, and lighting columns – not just the fixing of potholes. Funding allocations for local highway maintenance are published on gov.uk.
Telford and Wrekin Council, as a highway authority, has been allocated the following highway maintenance funding:
Year | Highways Maintenance funding for Telford and Wrekin Council |
2020/21 | £5,747,000 |
2021/22 | £4,311,000 |
2022/23 | £4,311,000 |
2023/24 | £5,625,400 |
2024/25 | £4,859,000 |
2025/26 | £7,164,000 |
To receive the full funding allocation in 2025/26, Telford and Wrekin will have to comply with the requirements announced by the Secretary of State in March 2025.
Asked by: Shaun Davies (Labour - Telford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve rail infrastructure using dormant rail lines.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government believes that local transport authorities are best placed to advocate for projects which will most benefit their local areas. The ultimate aim is to encourage strong business cases, which effectively identify the optimal transport solution, which support growth, more homes and increased job opportunities.
Asked by: Shaun Davies (Labour - Telford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of initiatives to bring dormant rail lines into use.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government believes that local transport authorities are best placed to advocate for projects which will most benefit their local areas. The ultimate aim is to encourage strong business cases, which effectively identify the optimal transport solution, which support growth, more homes and increased job opportunities.
Asked by: Shaun Davies (Labour - Telford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the economic contribution of light railways.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Responsibility for light rail is devolved in England, where each local authority owns and is responsible for the operations and financial sustainability of its system.
The economic contribution of each scheme can vary significantly based on numerous factors, including specific project conditions and requirements, geography, urban density, and land values.
The Department will continue to work alongside local authorities to assess the economic contribution of light rail schemes.