Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for which projects her Department has adapted its business case approvals process for innovative activity.

The Department for Transport follows the principles set out in HM Treasury’s Green Book and associated guidance when considering business case approvals. These frameworks allow for a proportionate and flexible approach, enabling approval processes to be tailored to the nature, scale and risk profile of individual proposals, including where projects involve innovative activity.

Decisions on how to apply these processes are taken on a case‑by‑case basis, and may include adapting the level of assurance, phasing of approvals, or use of pilot and pathfinder approaches to support innovation.

The recently published National Audit Office report Innovation in Transport systematically looked at the department's approach to innovation, noting the increased focus and improvements made on this and making recommendations for further action. The department will respond in due course.