Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress she has made with local transport organisations on making interchanges from local public transport to national transport step-free.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government is committed to making public transport and infrastructure more inclusive and accessible, to allow people to make the journeys they want and need. It is key that government, local authorities and transport operators work together to achieve this.
The government has continued to support the Access for All programme to improve the accessibility of railway stations. When designing these projects Network Rail will always work with local authorities to improve interchange with other transport modes.
On 17 December, the government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill. The Bill will provide powers for the Secretary of State for Transport to produce statutory guidance on the safety and accessibility of bus stations and stops, and to require local authorities commissioning the provision of new or upgrading of existing facilities to pay regard to it. Guidance could include recommendations on design elements that support the ability of disabled people to continue their journey.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps she has taken to (a) prevent vehicle number plate cloning and (b) support victims.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The cloning and use of false number plates is a serious issue and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is working with the police and others to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime.
The law requires anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK to be registered with DVLA and for suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that number plates are only sold to those who are entitled to the registration number. Number plate suppliers must also keep records of the number plates they have supplied. Those found to have committed number plate offences can be prosecuted by the police.
To help victims of numberplate cloning, the DVLA can, on request, provide a replacement age related registration number.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of non-road legal (a) conversion kits and (b) e-bikes on road safety.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
E-bikes may only be legally used on public roads where they comply, in full, with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983. This includes where they have been converted from a conventional pedal bike.
E-bikes that do not comply with these Regulations are classed as an e-moped or motorbike in law. Such vehicles can only legally be used on public roads where they have been registered, taxed and insured. The rider must also wear a safety helmet and hold the appropriate driving licence.
While enforcement is a matter for the police, the Department's broader approach to road safety is in development and more details will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps her Department has taken to help ensure the effective enforcement of legislation relating to e-bikes on roads.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Only e-bikes that comply in full with the requirements of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 can be legally used on public roads.
Where an e-bike does not comply with these Regulations, it counts as an e-moped or motorbike and must therefore be registered, taxed and insured. The rider must wear a safety helmet and hold the appropriate driving licence. Enforcement is a matter for the police.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2024 to Question 10460 on Railways: Electrification, whether she has made an estimate of the potential savings to the public purse per mile of track electrified from introducing a rolling programme of electrification.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The department has not made an estimate of the potential savings of a rolling programme of electrification; however, we recognise the potential benefits such a programme could have for reducing the cost of delivering electrification infrastructure in this country. Officials are working closely with Network Rail to develop updated plans for where and when electrification is required to deliver a fully decarbonised railway over the next 25 years that considers both track and train and the significant recent progress in battery technology, and will consider potential cost savings as part of this process.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that the transport system supports economic growth.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Kickstarting economic growth across every corner of the UK is the top priority of this Government.
We’re getting on with delivering the Government’s Plan for Change by delivering the basics of a better transport system, from improving peoples’ everyday journeys through our local transport investment to going further and faster on planning reform to accelerate delivery of our major projects.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department has taken to prevent signal cabling theft on the rail network.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Tackling trespass and vandalism, including cable theft, is a top priority for the rail industry, alongside the British Transport Police (BTP) who are responsible for policing the railway in England, Scotland and Wales.
BTP adopts an intelligence-led approach to combat cable theft across the rail network, working closely with partners such as Network Rail and the National Infrastructure Crime Reduction Partnership to identify high-risk areas and target their resources effectively.
The Department for Transport is using strengthened relationships with Shadow Great British Railways partners such as Network Rail, the DfT Operator and Train Operating Companies to identify immediate and longer-term measures to reduce the impact on railway performance. This work includes improved physical deterrence, the use of new technology and better data collection and analysis.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to protect the rail network from cyber attacks.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport (DfT) runs a cyber programme aimed at understanding and addressing risks and vulnerabilities across all modes of transport, including rail, and works across government to introduce relevant standards, guidance, and policies to ensure the cyber resilience of essential services.
The department uses both policy and regulatory levers to help the sector manage cyber risk and secure its systems, networks and assets. This work includes efforts to promote a more consistent and resilient approach to managing cyber risks across operational practices and the broader rail ecosystem. We work closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), industry stakeholders, and other partners to continuously assess and mitigate emerging cyber threats.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to encourage active travel in (a) Slough and (b) Berkshire.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Slough Unitary Authority has been allocated over £415,000 for active travel in 2024/25 and 2025/26. Over £3.2 million has been allocated to local transport authorities in Berkshire for the same period. Decisions on how to use this funding to improve local cycling and walking routes would be a matter for the respective authorities.
The Government is committed to improving the safety of all road users, especially the most vulnerable such as pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists. This is a key priority for the Department which was reflected in the updated Highway Code in January 2022 with the implementation of a Hierarchy of Road Users. We are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. The Department is developing our Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps her Department has taken to help improve cycling safety on roads.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Slough Unitary Authority has been allocated over £415,000 for active travel in 2024/25 and 2025/26. Over £3.2 million has been allocated to local transport authorities in Berkshire for the same period. Decisions on how to use this funding to improve local cycling and walking routes would be a matter for the respective authorities.
The Government is committed to improving the safety of all road users, especially the most vulnerable such as pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists. This is a key priority for the Department which was reflected in the updated Highway Code in January 2022 with the implementation of a Hierarchy of Road Users. We are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. The Department is developing our Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course.