theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether guidance on community benefit funds for electricity transmission infrastructure will include transmission projects where (a) voltage and (b) capacity upgrades are required resulting in additional impacts on local communities. \p Michael Shanks: Government is committed to ensuring that communities who live near clean energy infrastructure can see the benefits. This includes publishing guidance on community funds this quarter, which will set out government’s expectations for communities living near to electricity transmission network infrastructure.

The guidance aims to balance the need for consistency without being overly prescriptive and unintentionally omitting projects or infrastructure where communities should be entitled to benefits.

We aim to publish this guidance in due course.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will review subsidies given to Biomass production by Drax. \p Michael Shanks: In August, Ofgem concluded its investigation into Drax’s annual profiling reporting requirements relating to the Renewables Obligation. The investigation identified shortcomings in Drax’s governance and controls related to annual profiling data but found no evidence to suggest that Drax had been issued with subsidies incorrectly.

Following a detailed consultation Government recently announced a Heads of Terms agreement with Drax for support during the period 2027 to 2031 after their existing support ends. This provides best value for consumers compared to alternatives, halves the cost of subsidy and strengthens sustainability requirements.

Full details of the new deal are available here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-02-10/hcws424
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Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of including the preservation of nature as priority in the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan. \p Michael Shanks: Government is fully committed to protecting nature. That’s why as part of the SSEP we are requiring NESO to give due consideration to environmental impacts and statutory environmental duties throughout all stages of its production. This will include environmental data sets, a robust governance framework and stakeholder engagement. The SSEP will also be subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and plan-level Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA).
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Alex Sobel:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he plans to appoint the Independent Sustainability Advisor on large scale biomass. \p Michael Shanks: The Government is working closely with the Low Carbon Contracts Company and Ofgem to finalise the remit for the independent advisor on biomass sustainability and will set out a timescale for the appointment in due course.
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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support the retrofitting of homes in rural areas. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Our ambitious Warm Homes Plan will support investment in households, including rural homes, to install energy efficiency measures and low carbon heating to save families money on their bills.

The Government has committed £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency. This includes the new Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG), which will provide support for low-income households living in privately owned EPC band D-G homes both on and off the gas grid in England. The WH:LG will be delivered from 2025 to 2028 by eligible local authorities.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation to ban the use of open fridges in supermarkets. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Regulations for products and appliances are covered by the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 and are routinely reviewed by government. There is no work planned to amend the relevant regulation for commercial refrigeration at the present time.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many households in the UK have been in receipt of Government grants for spray foam insulation. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government does not hold details on the specific products used, however a breakdown of measures installed under the various government grant schemes in recent years can be found in their respective evaluation reports and official statistics on gov.uk.

All measures fitted under government schemes must be fitted to the highest standards with issues promptly and properly rectified.

The government recognises that the system of quality assurance and consumer redress that we inherited needs reform and we will set out plans for root and branch reform as part of the Warm Homes Plan.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 25799 on Property: Bedfordshire, what his Department's timetable is for confirming the allocations of funding to local authorities. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government expects to write shortly, to all local authorities that submitted an Expression of Interest to receive Warm Homes: Local Grant funding to confirm their specific funding allocations.
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Tom Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of expanding financial support for heat pump installation to include air-to-air heat pumps for domestic applications. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not currently support air-to-air heat pumps, as heat pump installations must provide both space heating and hot water heating, using liquid as a medium for delivering that heat. In most cases, air-to-air systems only provide space heating, with many installations still reliant on burning fossil fuels for hot water. We want to target support at technologies that offer the greatest potential to decarbonise our buildings.

However, the Government will keep its position on alternative electric heating technologies under review, and would consult industry and key stakeholders on any potential changes to the scheme before making any decisions.
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Tom Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has plans for the development of heat networks in areas located away from existing (a) industrial or (b) natural heat sources. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Committee for Climate Change has recommended the government grows the heat network sector from providing 3% of national heat demand to 20% by 2050. We are implementing heat network zoning and funding low carbon heat networks to get to this scale.

Heat networks can use a variety of heat sources such as heat from industry and natural heat sources such as rivers. Where industrial or natural heat sources are not available heat networks can use large air-source heat pumps. When deployed in the right locations will be lower cost for consumers than other low-carbon individual heating systems.
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Tom Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans his Department has for the development of heat networks in areas located away from existing industrial or natural heat sources?. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Committee for Climate Change has recommended the government grows the heat network sector from providing 3% of national heat demand to 20% by 2050. We are implementing heat network zoning and funding low carbon heat networks to get to this scale.

Heat networks can use a variety of heat sources such as heat from industry and natural heat sources such as rivers. Where industrial or natural heat sources are not available heat networks can use large air-source heat pumps. When deployed in the right locations will be lower cost for consumers than other low-carbon individual heating systems.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to extend the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to (a) hybrid heat pump technologies and (b) other multi technology solutions. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not currently support hybrid heat pumps, as we want to direct the available funding towards the technologies that offer the greatest carbon savings, rather than those which would continue to involve the burning of fossil fuels for heating and hot water.

The Government is committed to incentivising moves to cleaner, more affordable heating, and will keep its position on alternative heating technologies (including multi-technology solutions) under review and make further assessments as the supporting evidence base develops.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what schemes the Warm Homes Fund will cover to ensure that households can access subsidies for transitioning to heat pump technologies. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: As the first step towards the Warm Homes Plan, the Government has committed an initial £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency, with £1 billion of this allocated to 2025/2026.

Further details on the Warm Homes Plan will be set out in due course. Future funding towards decarbonisation and to tackle fuel poverty will be considered as part of Phase 2 of the Spending Review, which will conclude in late Spring 2025.
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Abtisam Mohamed:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the Government plans to include foie gras in it's trade strategy. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The trade strategy will set out how we can achieve long-term sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth through trade. The development of the strategy will consider the Government’s commitment to uphold our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food safety standards, areas in which the UK is a world leader.
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Abtisam Mohamed:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the same sustainability standards are applied (a) Temu, (b) Shein and (c) other Chinese low-cost suppliers as to suppliers in the UK. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: All businesses operating in the UK, regardless of where they are owned, are required to comply with UK sustainability regulations and standards. This includes the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

The government will continue to monitor and assess the effectiveness of existing and emerging policy levers which prevent human rights abuses, labour rights abuses and environmental harms across business operations and supply chains.
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Tony Vaughan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the frequency of rail services for commuters between Folkestone and London. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department requires all train operators, including Southeastern, to plan services and timetables designed to meet passenger demand while also ensuring value for money for the taxpayer. Timetables are kept under review and, where appropriate, adjusted to reflect fluctuations in demand.

In December 2024, Southeastern encountered an incident that resulted in damage to one of its highspeed units and as a result it is temporarily operating some of its high speed services between Folkestone and London with fewer carriages. However, Southeastern is continuously monitoring passenger feedback and loading data to ensure it optimises the allocation of carriages to meet demand.
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Mrs Elsie Blundell:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of (a) funding for and (b) resourcing of the British Transport Police. \p Simon Lightwood: The British Transport Police’s (BTP) budget is set by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). It is the executive non-departmental public body that oversees the Force and is their employer. BTPA sets the BTP’s budget annually following proposals from the Force and views from industry. Set against a backdrop of wider public sector efficiencies and affordability by the rail industry it has agreed a budget increase for the financial year 2025/26 of 5.9%.

The cost of policing the rail network in Great Britain is primarily covered through the funding agreements that the British Transport Police Authority holds with Network Rail, the rail operators and Transport for London.

BTP are dedicated to building a modern, inclusive, and resilient force that reflects the communities it serves, and that keeps the railway safe and secure for passengers and rail staff. Their latest headcount figures show the Force is successful at maintaining staff and officer numbers at a consistent level.
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Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with train operators on the level of demand for train services at Worcester Park station post Covid-19. \p Simon Lightwood: Department officials are in regular conversation with South Western Railway regarding their service provision in response to demand. When reviewing train services, the Department needs to assess business cases and balance demand with value for the taxpayer in its considerations.
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Connor Naismith:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to include people with mental health problems in the disability criteria for disabled railcards. \p Simon Lightwood: The Disabled Persons Rail Card (DPRC) supports over 300,000 with disabilities to travel more affordably, recognising that people with a disability often face additional costs and barriers to participating in day-to-day activities such as travel. Although those with a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability can be eligible for a DPRC already, under some circumstances, the Department for Transport is currently reviewing the criteria to ensure they reflect a more comprehensive understanding of disability, particularly in relation to non-visible disabilities, and how people demonstrate their eligibility.
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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of allowing the use of tricycles as mobility aids in the Persons with Reduced Mobility National Technical Specification Notice for passenger rail services. \p Simon Lightwood: The Persons with Reduced Mobility National Technical Specification Notice (PRM-NTSN) sets out the dimensions, weights, and capabilities of wheelchairs so that users can travel across the rail network. No assessment has been made to bring tricycles into scope of the PRM-NTSN, however the Government continues working towards a more accessible railway including under future public ownership.
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Rebecca Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what guidance she plans to issue to combined authority mayors on ensuring (a) clear accountability for the implementation of new devolved transport powers and (b) that regional transport planning (i) aligns with the work of Great British Rail and (ii) helps to deliver a cohesive national rail strategy. \p Simon Lightwood: The English Devolution Accountability Framework and Scrutiny Protocol set out the accountability requirements for all Combined Authorities. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s English Devolution White Paper set out the government’s commitment to work with the sector to explore a number of measures to enhance local scrutiny and accountability.

Where a Mayoral Combined Authority is in receipt of an integrated funding settlement, this will be underpinned by the Memorandum of Understanding, available at Integrated Settlements for Mayoral Combined Authorities - GOV.UK, and an individual outcomes framework for delivery, to be agreed with government.

For the transport measures that require implementation guidance, this is being developed and will be published in due course. Devolved leaders in Mayoral Combined Authorities will have a statutory role in governing, managing, planning and developing the Great British Railways (GBR) network. GBR will be organised to work collaboratively with mayors and local stakeholders, ensuring rail better meets local needs. Supporting this, GBR will agree partnerships with mayors, demonstrating a change in how the railway engages locally.

Local influence and control will need to be balanced with Great British Railways (GBR) taking decisions in the interest of the wider regional and national network in line with the Long-Term Rail Strategy that will be put in place.

On 18th February we launched the 8-week public consultation into the Government’s proposals for the Railways Bill. This consultation seeks views on the key legislative proposals that will form part of the upcoming Railways Bill and make that vision a reality.
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Rebecca Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's White Paper, English Devolution, published on 16 December 2024, when she will publish guidance on the (a) powers and (b) implementation accountability of Metro Mayors on transport; and how Metro Mayors' powers will align with Great British Railways' (a) role and (b) responsibility to deliver a national rail strategy. \p Simon Lightwood: The English Devolution Accountability Framework and Scrutiny Protocol set out the accountability requirements for all Combined Authorities. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s English Devolution White Paper set out the government’s commitment to work with the sector to explore a number of measures to enhance local scrutiny and accountability.

Where a Mayoral Combined Authority is in receipt of an integrated funding settlement, this will be underpinned by the Memorandum of Understanding, available at Integrated Settlements for Mayoral Combined Authorities - GOV.UK, and an individual outcomes framework for delivery, to be agreed with government.

For the transport measures that require implementation guidance, this is being developed and will be published in due course. Devolved leaders in Mayoral Combined Authorities will have a statutory role in governing, managing, planning and developing the Great British Railways (GBR) network. GBR will be organised to work collaboratively with mayors and local stakeholders, ensuring rail better meets local needs. Supporting this, GBR will agree partnerships with mayors, demonstrating a change in how the railway engages locally.

Local influence and control will need to be balanced with Great British Railways (GBR) taking decisions in the interest of the wider regional and national network in line with the Long-Term Rail Strategy that will be put in place. Further detail is outlined in an 8-week public consultation into the Government’s proposals for the Railways Bill, published on 18th February. This consultation seeks views on the key legislative proposals that will form part of the upcoming Railways Bill and make that vision a reality.
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Chris Coghlan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to implement contactless ticketing at Dorking Deepdene station. \p Simon Lightwood: We have committed to expanding Pay As You Go (PAYG) contactless ticketing to further stations in the South East and recently announced that PAYG with contactless would be extended to a further 49 stations in 2025, including stations that are within the Dorking area; Dorking (Main), Box Hill and Westhumble, Reigate, and Leatherhead. Further details on any wider expansion of PAYG will be announced in due course.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding her Department has allocated to delivering Active Travel Schemes in (a) the UK, (b) Leicestershire and (c) Mid Leicestershire constituency in the last five years. \p Simon Lightwood: Through the Active Travel Fund in the last five years, £646,775,713 has been awarded to local authorities across England, outside of London. Of this funding, £2,209,470 has been awarded to Leicestershire County Council. None of this funding was awarded to schemes in the Mid Leicestershire Constituency.

The Department also provides funding to Sustrans to upgrade and maintain the National Cycle Network (NCN) and has awarded £67,685,062 of NCN funding to Sustrans in the last five years. £1,902,970 of NCN funding has been awarded to routes in Leicestershire.

Funding for active travel in London, Scotland, Wales and North Ireland is devolved, as such the figures provided above are not inclusive of funding for active travel across the United Kingdom.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to create local walking and cycling networks to enable more children to stay active on the way to school. \p Simon Lightwood: it is for local authorities to make their own decisions about where to prioritise investment in local transport networks. Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) aim to help authorities take a strategic approach to improving conditions for walking, wheeling and cycling. Revenue funding awarded by Active Travel England can be used by local authorities to support LCWIP development.

In addition, Active Travel England supports a range of programmes to help enable more active travel for schoolchildren, including Living Street’s Walk to School Outreach, Modeshift STARS and Bikeability cycle training. The Department has also recently published guidance for local authorities on implementing School Streets, which can encourage more active travel to schools.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of time taken for construction between phases 4 and 5 of the rail resilience programme on the design team. \p Simon Lightwood: The case for further assessment and delivery of Phase 5 of the South West Rail Resilience Programme will be considered as part of the current Spending Review.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2025 to Question 27628 on Railways: South West; whether the business case for completing phase 5 of the South West Rail Resilience programme includes (a) impacts and (b) costs related to access to health services in the region. \p Simon Lightwood: Impacts and costs related to access to health services were not considered in the Outline Business Case for Phase 5 of the South West Rail Resilience Programme, prepared by Network Rail in early 2024.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of not completing phase 5 of the South West rail resilience programme on the economy. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department is not intending to undertake any assessments of Phase 5 of the South-West Rail Resilience Programme whilst the Spending Review is ongoing.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she has taken to recruit more bus drivers. \p Simon Lightwood: Transport is a devolved matter, and the Department for Transport is responsible for transport in England only. Bus services in England are predominantly run on a commercial basis by private operators. Ultimate responsibility for recruiting bus drivers falls to individual operators.

The government recognises the sector has had issues recruiting and retaining bus drivers in England, Scotland and Wales, but this is now more of a localised issue. The Department held a Driver Shortages Summit in 2022 with industry, and local and national government attendees to identify actions to help resolve this. In April 2024, the Department subsequently launched a consultation to help support driver recruitment on measures to amend licensing restrictions which would enable 18- to 20-year-olds to drive a bus and coach over 50km when driving a regular service and enable some of the tests required to be passed in order to gain a driver certificate of professional competence to be taken before a provisional licence is issued. The Department is reviewing responses to the consultation and will publish a response in due course.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential impact of increased investment in active travel infrastructure on public health outcomes. \p Simon Lightwood: Investment in active travel schemes makes it easier for people to walk, wheel or cycle, and thereby plays a significant role in improving people’s physical and mental health. Ministers from this Department have met regularly with their counterparts in the Department of Health and Social Care to discuss this as well as the other ways that the Department can contribute to the Government’s health mission. On 12 February, Active Travel England announced almost £300 million of funding for new walking, wheeling and cycling schemes. The health benefits of these will lead to 43,000 fewer sick days per year, easing pressure on the NHS.
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Chris Coghlan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including a rail station’s distance from London as a deciding factor in compiling the list of stations for the Pay As You Go rail rollout. \p Simon Lightwood: We want to expand ticketing innovations such as PayAsYouGo (PAYG) where possible. We will be considering a number of factors to determine stations which could be included in the future phases of PAYG with contactless rollout.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with the Transport Commissioner for London on reducing the levels of particulate pollution on the London Underground. \p Simon Lightwood: Ministers and officials have regular conversations with Transport for London (TfL) on a variety of issues. However transport in London is devolved to the Mayor, and TfL is responsible for maintaining operations and ensuring health and safety is considered on its network.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her planned timetable is for nationalising (a) London Northwestern Railway and (b) Thameslink. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department announced in December that South Western Railway’s services will be the first to transfer into public ownership in May 2025, followed by c2c’s services in July 2025 and Greater Anglia’s in the autumn. The Department will issue an expiry notice to Greater Anglia in due course to confirm the exact transfer date.

Ministers will take decisions on further transfers in due course, taking account of relevant circumstances prevailing at the time. The Department expects the transfer of all rail passenger services currently operated by private sector train operators under contract with the Department to complete over the next 3 years.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing funding for active travel on national river walks. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government is progressing plans to designate nine new National River Walks across England, one in each region, to enhance access to nature. This is a priority for us, and we are currently evaluating several delivery options and potential locations. The Department will work with Defra to ensure the nine new walks are accessible, incorporating active travel options where it is possible to do so.

Active Travel England provides funding to Local Authorities to build out Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) and to Sustrans to manage the National Cycle Network (NCN). A package of almost £300 million over 24/25 and 25/26 for active travel was announced on 12 February 2025. Funding for Sustrans and local authorities can be utilised on national river walks.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential economic merits of investment in active travel infrastructure. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government recognises that investment in high quality active travel infrastructure supports its economic growth, health and net zero missions by helping to revitalise high streets; enabling people to live longer, healthier lives; and helping to reduce transport emissions. The Department announced the details of almost £300 million of funding for active travel in 2024/5 and 2025/6 on 12 February.

The Department’s Ministers will be having regular discussions with their Treasury counterparts as part of the ongoing Spending Review which will conclude later this Spring.
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Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the closure of small training airfields on (a) local rural economies and (b) the availability of aviation training. \p Mike Kane: We recognise the role small airfields play in General Aviation as a gateway for individuals to develop their career aspirations in the aviation sector. Ministers do not routinely intervene in local planning and any consideration of directions to modify local plans including the closure of airfields will be made by the local planning authority in accordance with relevant legislation.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the independent aviation safety regulator and as part of their role oversee the approval of training organisations who may operate from small training airfields. In circumstances where a flying training organisation ceases operation, the CAA would work with affected trainees to find new training solutions for each of them where required.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

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Tony Vaughan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure there are adequate train and bus links in remote coastal communities in Kent. \p Simon Lightwood: The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England, including in remote coastal communities in Kent. The government has committed to increasing accountability by including a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services.

In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Kent County Council has been allocated over £23 million of this funding. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.

Rail has an important role in connecting rural communities as part of the wider transport system. The department requires its train operators to plan services and rail timetables that are designed to meet expected passenger demand. These should be resilient and provide value for money for the taxpayer. These timetables are kept under review and, where appropriate, adjusted to reflect fluctuations in demand.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_317

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme to provide free anytime bus travel to all disabled bus pass holders. \p Simon Lightwood: The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as extending the times of use, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.

Local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations under the ENCTS and offer additional discretionary concessions, such as extending the travel time criteria for the ENCTS. The Department for Transport’s concessionary travel statistics for the year ending March 2025, report that 60% of travel concession authorities provide discretionary concessions for disabled concessionary passholders to travel before 9:30am and after 11pm.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_318

Chris Bloore:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many bus routes were closed in Worcestershire between 2010 and 2024. \p Simon Lightwood: The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain only publish data on a Traffic Area wide basis. The West Midlands Traffic Area includes the West Midlands conurbation, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire. Between 2009-10 and 2023-24, the Traffic Commissioners recorded that 3,992 existing registrations in the West Midlands traffic area were cancelled. An existing registration being cancelled does not always mean a bus route was closed. For example, a registration could have been cancelled and replaced with another registration that covers much of the same route, or the route continues to be served by different operator.

It should also be noted that prior to 2019-20 the total number of live local bus service registrations included an element of double-counting as services running across multiple local authority areas were recorded multiple times, e.g. a service running between the West Midlands and Staffordshire was presented as two services when it should have been counted as a single service. This has now been rectified.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_319

Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to tackle (a) harassment and (b) intimidation of women while cycling. \p Simon Lightwood: Everyone should feel safe cycling and harassment and intimidation of women cycling is totally unacceptable. Public sexual harassment is a crime that often leaves victims, who are disproportionately likely to be women, feeling very unsafe. That is why tackling it is very much an important part of our mission on VAWG.

Once in force, the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act 2023 will help tackle this issue and ensure women both feel and are safer on our streets. The Act builds on existing harassment legislation within the Public Order Act 1986. It introduces an aggravated offence punishable by up to two years imprisonment upon conviction where someone commits the existing Public Order Act 1986 4A offence of causing harassment, alarm or distress based on someone’s sex or presumed sex.

Active Travel England is working with local authorities to provide safe cycling infrastructure which should help women feel safer when cycling. Design guidance for new infrastructure, such as that funded through the Active Travel Fund, requires that new schemes are accessible to all users, including women.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_320

Mrs Elsie Blundell:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had recent discussions with transport industry representatives on (a) increasing the levels of participation and (b) the career advancement of women in the transport sector. \p Mike Kane: We are working closely with industry experts to ensure that women are represented within all levels of the transport system.

This includes supporting the Generation Logistics campaign. Led by the industry, this initiative aims to raise awareness and enhance perceptions of careers in logistics, including promoting roles to women where they are currently under-represented.

Officials engage regularly with industry stakeholders, including employers and trade associations, to understand and address issues relating to the recruitment, retention and promotion of women in transport.

We also work closely with modal partners such as Women In Rail, Women in Bus and Coach and the Women In Maritime on programmes to support women in their careers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_321

Chris Coghlan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her planned timetable is for the rollout of the 2025 Pay As You Go rail scheme for stations which did not receive contactless ticketing on 2 February 2025. \p Simon Lightwood: Pay As You Go (PAYG) contactless ticketing launched at 47 further stations in the South East on 2 February, joining 6 stations on the Chiltern railways line that went live in June last year. We recently announced that PAYG with contactless would be extended to a further 49 stations in 2025. Further details on any wider expansion of PAYG will be announced in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

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Chris Coghlan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her planned timeline is for the (a) announcement and (b) implementation of the post-2025 phase of the Pay As You Go rail rollout. \p Simon Lightwood: PAYG contactless pilots have been announced in both Manchester and the West Midlands, expanding PAYG to more than 90 additional rail stations, which are due to be launched in 2026. Further details on any wider expansion of PAYG with contactless in the South East will be announced in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_323

Melanie Onn:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) industry on (a) job creation and (b) economic growth in the Humberside region. \p Mike Kane: Building a UK Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) industry represents a significant economic opportunity which can bring good, high-skilled jobs to regions like the Humberside. We are putting £63 million into the Advanced Fuels Fund in 2025/2026 to help support UK SAF plants to reach commercial scale.

We will also deliver a revenue certainty mechanism to encourage investment into the UK SAF industry. We expect the legislation for a revenue certainty mechanism to be in place by the end of 2026. We will continue to monitor the estimated delivery date and work with industry to deliver an effective revenue certainty mechanism as soon as possible.

Our policies on SAF will, taken together, help support thousands of jobs and create economic growth as well helping to bring down our transport emissions, support our energy security and make the UK a clean energy superpower.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_324

Ben Lake:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve truck stop facilities for HGV drivers. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Department and industry are jointly investing up to £43.5 million to upgrade truckstops across England. This is on top of up to £26 million joint investment by National Highways and industry in lorry parking facilities along the strategic roads network.

This investment is supporting operators across 30 counties in England to improve security, toilets, showers and refreshment facilities and increase lorry parking spaces.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_325

Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will hold discussions with her counterpart in the Scottish Government on compelling the removal of derelict small boats in Scottish harbours. \p Mike Kane: While DFT keeps in regular contact with our counterparts in Transport Scotland, Ports policy is devolved and any issues regarding Scottish ports and harbours would be for colleagues at Transport Scotland and the relevant Scottish minister to oversee.

DfT has not been made aware that there is a substantial issue around derelict small boats in Scottish harbours, either by Scottish authorities during our regular engagement or members of the public. The department would of course welcome a meeting with the relevant Scottish authorities if they felt there was a need to do so.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_326

Ben Lake:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve recruitment of HGV drivers. \p Lilian Greenwood: To improve working conditions for HGV drivers, the Department and industry are jointly investing up to £43.5 million to upgrade truckstops across England. This is on top of up to £26 million joint investment by National Highways and industry in lorry parking facilities along the strategic roads network. This funding is supporting operators across 30 counties in England to improve security, showers and refreshment facilities and increase lorry parking spaces.

In addition, the Department has been working with the insurance and road haulage trade associations to raise awareness of fleet insurance policies that can provide cover for newly qualified drivers without higher premiums.

To support drivers in returning to the sector, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has introduced more flexible Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) requirements for those driving in the UK. The requirement removes the need to complete 35 hours of training prior to a return to driving and replaces it with a 7-hour ‘return to driving’ training module, and a requirement to complete the 28 hours of other CPC training within 12 months.

The Department for Transport is also a strong supporter of the Generation Logistics campaign. Led by the industry, this initiative aims to raise awareness and enhance perceptions of careers in logistics, particularly among young people and underrepresented groups.