theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Julia Lopez:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment with the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the potential merits of creating a dedicated scale-up investment scheme. \p Blair McDougall: The Chancellor and Secretary of State wrote on 20 October to the British Business Bank, setting the Bank’s strategic priorities over the next five years. These include an objective to “support our most promising businesses in the Industrial Strategy priority sectors to scale and stay here.”

The letter notes “Through a two-thirds increase in its annual investments, the Bank will crowd in tens of billions of pounds of private capital with a particular focus on ensuring that our most promising scale-up businesses can access the capital they need to realise their ambitions here in the UK.”

The full text is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-strategic-priorities-to-the-british-business-bank
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Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, What steps his Department is taking to support businesses to create well-paid jobs. \p Blair McDougall: Through our modern industrial strategy, we’re backing businesses to create well-paid jobs across the UK. We’re investing in skills through apprenticeships, technical colleges and regional training programmes to help every area grow. Our global partnerships are delivering real results - the recent US State Visit will create over 15,000 jobs, our renewed India partnership nearly 7,000 and the Regional Investment Summit has unlocked £10 billion and 1,000 new jobs driving prosperity nationwide.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77535 on Business Premises: Rents, what the names were of those (a) industry experts and (b) representatives of the retail, hospitality, and property sectors. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The government conducted considerable research and carried out engagement with numerous experts before deciding to ban upwards only rent reviews. A full Impact Assessment was published upon First Reading of the Bill on 10 July. It provides a summary of the economic analysis and research the government relied upon to reach the decision.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help reduce the number of private parking scams. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: This government is taking action to protect motorists.

The Department for Business and Trade provides annual funding to Citizens Advice to deliver general consumer information, education and to raise awareness. This includes the Annual Scams Awareness campaign which Citizens Advice run on behalf of the Consumer Protection Partnership.

The October 2024 campaign was focused on financial fraud, including Parking QR code scams.

Further to this, in accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the government has recently outlined its proposals for a new code of practice for private parking operators. This code will drive up standards across the private parking industry and protect motorists.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77635 on English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which organisations (a) supported and (b) did not support changing the electoral system to Supplementary Vote. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has engaged with a wide range of local government stakeholders during the development of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. We engaged with both Mayors and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners on changing the voting system for Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners back to the Supplementary Vote.

As part of the usual parliamentary process, a range of stakeholders set out their views on the Bill to the Public Bill Committee, both via the Oral Evidence session on 16 September and in writing.

The Government firmly believes the Supplementary Vote system works better for electing people to single executive roles and ensures a wider range of support than First Past the Post.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77627 on Eden Project: Morecambe, whether he plans to allocate £100 million to the Eden Project North. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The department has committed £50 million towards the total project cost of £100 million for Eden Project Morecambe. The Memorandum of Understanding for the full £50 million grant, was fully signed on 19 November 2024.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October to Question 78690 on Automatic Number Plate Recognition, whether his Department plans to change rules on the use of automatic number plate recognition in municipal car parks. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), or indeed any surveillance technology, as the sole means of enforcement of parking contraventions by local authorities was restricted by the Deregulation Act 2015.

The government has received advice from the Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London Committee (PATROL), along with the British Parking Association and the Local Government Association, which calls for the granting of ANPR powers to local councils for civil parking enforcement.

The Government has no plans to amend these restrictions as the current ruling ensures non-compliant motorists are made aware that they are contravening parking restrictions at the time of the contravention.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 7560, on Sheffield City Council, whether he has received written representations from Sheffield City Council on the proposed abolition of the committee system of local authority governance. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: I have not received any written representations from Sheffield City Council on the proposed abolition of the committee system of local authority governance. The Government remains open to hearing views from local authorities and others as the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill progresses through Parliament.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77627 on Eden Project: Morecambe, what the (a) £6.3 million and (b) £10.8 million will be spent on. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The £6.3 million and the £10.8 million referenced in the answer given to Question UIN 77627 is for the technical building / design work and site investigation works that will then lead to enabling and construction work on site.

This is in line with the information provided by Lancashire City Council in their Q4 monitoring return, submitted 16 May 2025.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Communities to seize control over high streets and restore pride, published on 24 September 2025, what his definition is of a fake barber; and how he plans to block them. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The government is taking a tough stance against illicit trading which suffocates high streets. ‘Fake’ barbers are an example of cash-intensive businesses that are trading illicitly. In March, the National Economic Crime Centre coordinated a three-week crackdown against such businesses.

We are taking further steps to tackle this problem. Companies House has introduced enhanced checks and identity verification requirements, and used new powers to remove false and misleading information from the companies register. Through the Pride in Place strategy, we are empowering communities to reclaim their high streets with powers to auction off vacant premises, a new Community Right to Buy for valued assets, and streamlined compulsory purchase orders.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Communities to seize control over high streets and restore pride, published on 24 September 2025, whether the Pride in Place funding replaces an existing funding stream. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: On 25 September, the government launched its overarching Pride in Place Strategy, committing up to £5 billion in funding and support to 339 communities.

The flagship Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £20 million in flexible funding and support to 244 places over the next decade. This includes the 75 places announced in March, alongside new funding for an additional 169 neighbourhoods. New areas have been selected using a robust metrics-based methodology, which focused on smaller geographies, targeting hyper-local pockets of deprivation. The full methodology is published here.

In addition, the newly established Pride in Place Impact Fund will offer £1.5 million each to 95 places, aimed at developing shared spaces, revitalising local high streets, and enhancing the public realm. The place selection methodology is set out here.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2025 to Question 45236 on Parking: Private Sector, what meetings he has had with private parking companies between June and October 2025. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Secretary of State has had no meetings with private parking companies during the period of June to October 2025.

On 9th June, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Alex Norris MP chaired a round table meeting with the two parking Trade Associations and motorist groups to hear their views and proposals for the government’s Code of Practice.

As part of the government’s work to introduce this new Code of Practice and raise standards across the private parking industry, my officials have regular monthly meetings with both the two parking trade associations and with motorist representatives.

In addition to these regular sessions, officials have ad hoc meetings with both groups, dependent on business needs.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Communities to seize control over high streets and restore pride, published on 24 September 2025, whether the funding will involve a bidding programme. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: On 25 September, the government launched its overarching Pride in Place Strategy, underpinned by two allocative funding programmes.

The flagship Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £20 million in flexible funding and support to 244 places over the next decade. New areas have been selected using a robust metrics-based methodology, using Indices of Multiple Deprivation and the Community Needs Index. The full list of places and selection methodology is published here.

The Pride in Place Impact Fund will provide £1.5 million of funding to a further 95 places over the next two years. Local Authorities will be responsible for the selection and delivery of projects. The full list of areas and place selection methodology is set out here.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the total cost of (a) translation and (b) interpretation for services related to social housing in each of the last ten financial years. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department does not hold data on the cost of translation and interpretation for services related to social housing.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with Ebbsfleet Development Corporation on the SSSI designation in relation to the redevelopment of Ebbsfleet Central West since July 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department is involved in ongoing discussions with Ebbsfleet Development Corporation in relation to the SSSI designation in question and the redevelopment of Ebbsfleet Central West.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will assess the potential merits of barring non-UK nationals from (a) being the lead tenant for social housing (b) living in social housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 19776 on 20 December 2024.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Chancellor cuts pointless admin in nearly £6 billion business blitz, published on 21 October 2025, whether his Department has tested the (a) reliability, (b) accuracy and (c) risk of bias of AI systems for planning application reviews; and whether he plans to consult with local authorities on the adoption of these technologies. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department is actively exploring options to develop AI-enabled products to speed up public service provision, including in respect of planning services.

We are developing, and will deploy, these products responsibly, in line with guidance set out in the AI Playbook for the UK Government and clauses in the Royal Town Planning Institute’s Code of Conduct.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to simplify planning consent processes for (a) food and drink production facilities and (b) other manufacturing sites. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework already makes clear that planning policies and decisions should recognise and address the specific locational requirements of different sectors.

The government intend to consult this year on a new suite of national policies for decision making.
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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the development capacity for housing on brownfield sites. \p Matthew Pennycook: Brownfield (or previously developed) land sites across England vary greatly. As such, local planning authorities are best placed to assess the suitability of individual brownfield sites for redevelopment.

National planning policy makes clear that strategic policy-making authorities should have a clear understanding of the land available in their area through the preparation of a strategic housing land availability assessment. From this, planning policies should identify a sufficient supply and mix of sites, taking into account their availability, suitability, and likely economic viability.

The government has committed capital funding through the Brownfield Land Release Fund to help overcome challenges to brownfield redevelopment such as viability issues and contamination.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information the Department holds on the number of Somali citizens living in social housing as a proportion of the Somali population living in the UK for which the latest data is available. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department does not hold data on the type of housing tenure in which Somali nationals living in the UK reside.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October to Question 80700 on Property Management Companies: Repairs and Maintenance, whether newbuild housing estate developers can apply for County Court action against estate management companies that fail to meet agreed maintenance standards. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 80700 on 20 October 2025.
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Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department plans to take to help ensure that new towns adopt approaches that incorporate (a) high-quality and (b) environmentally resilient green places. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government has been clear that the next generation of new towns must be well-connected, well-designed, sustainable, and attractive places where people want to live and have all the infrastructure, amenities, and services necessary to sustain thriving communities.

On 28 September 2025, the government published the independent New Towns Taskforce report as well as its initial response to that report. Both can be found on gov.uk here. Chapter 3 of the Taskforce’s final report sets out placemaking principles. The government initial response welcomed the Taskforce’s emphasis on ensuring new towns are designed in line with a placemaking approach which should form the building blocks of any new towns, ensuring that they are places where people are proud to live and work.
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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many planning applications will be exempt from the requirement to replace lost nature under previous biodiversity net gain requirements. \p Matthew Pennycook: On 28 May 2025, the government published a consultation on improving the implementation of biodiversity net gain for minor, medium and brownfield development which can be found on gov.uk here. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is considering the responses received.
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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help ensure protections are in place for the provision of (a) sports, (b) physical activity and (b) green spaces in the consideration of planning applications. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that access to high-quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity is important for the health and well-being of communities.

The Framework includes strong protections for existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields, setting out that they should not be built on unless they are no longer needed, equivalent or better provision is made, or the development is for alternative sports or recreational provision which offers benefits that clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many national significant infrastructure planning decisions have been made (a) within and (b) outside the statutory time frame in this Parliament; how many applications have been made but not yet had a decision; and what estimate his Department has made of the number that would be needed to be approved each year to meet the Government's target. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government made 21 decisions on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) in the first year of this Parliament. This compares with the first year of the last Parliament in which only 15 decisions were made and represents the highest number of annual decisions made since the NSIP programme was introduced in 2011.

27 NSIP decisions have been made so far since the start of this Parliament. Of these, 13 were within the statutory timeframes and 14 were not. A number of those 14 decisions made outside of statutory timeframes exceeded the limit during the previous Parliament. This government swiftly made decisions on those projects in July 2024.

To date in this Parliament, 33 projects have submitted an application but have not yet had a decision. Through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, we are seeking to reduce the average time it takes reach a decision on an NSIP project from its peak of 4.2 years under the previous government.

To achieve our Plan for Change milestone of fast-tracking 150 planning decisions, we will need an average of 32 decisions per year from July 2025. While we have not achieved this in our first year, we expect the rate of decisions to continue to accelerate alongside the already seen increase in projects entering the pipeline.
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Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to ensure that (a) high-quality (i) landscape design and (ii) green infrastructure proposed in planning applications are protected during construction and (b) long-term funding models for (A) management and (B) maintenance are provided through the planning process. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework emphasises the importance of a network of high-quality open spaces for the health and wellbeing of communities and the environment.

The National Design Guide, which supports the Framework, makes clear that well-designed places consider management and maintenance regimes from the early stages of the design process and document them in a management plan.

A Local Planning Authority (LPA) can attach conditions to the grant of planning permission. These could be used to secure the implementation and protection of landscape design and green infrastructure within a development.

LPAs can also use planning obligations to restrict or prescribe the use of land, require specific activities to be carried out in relation to a development, and require payment to a local authority. Planning obligations could include requiring a developer to make payments towards the management and maintenance of green infrastructure.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the brownfield land release fund will be made available to councils. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Brownfield Land Release Fund Round 2, Year 4, will be made available to local authorities before the end of 2025.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77539 on Flags, whether the removal of national flags placed on lampposts was discussed. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: My department holds many routine meetings with local authorities and the subject of flags has been raised in some of these as a point of discussion.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Regulation 27 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) regulations 2002, if she will increase the fee for (a) private individuals and (b) companies seeking drivers' data. \p Simon Lightwood: Regulation 27 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002 permits the disclosure of vehicle keeper information for a range of authorised purposes, subject to appropriate safeguards. Information will only be released to private individuals and companies where reasonable cause can be shown.

While reasonable cause is not defined in legislation the Government’s policy is that the request for vehicle keeper information should relate to the vehicle or its use following incidents where there may be liability on the part of the driver. Guidance on what constitutes reasonable cause is published online at: www.gov.uk/request-information-from-dvla. It is considered necessary to provide information to allow private parking management as landowners would have great difficulty exercising their rights if motorists were able to park with impunity on private land.

There are no plans to amend Regulation 27 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002 to remove the ability of private parking companies to request vehicle keeper information.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) sets fees to recover the full cost of providing its services and regularly reviews fee levels to ensure that charges are maintained at an appropriate level.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of updating the Signs for road works and temporary situations guidance to recommend that in cases of road closures the name of the road is included in signage that says 'Road Closed Ahead'. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department recognises that clearer signage can help drivers make informed decisions. Including road names on ‘Road Closed Ahead’ signs may improve clarity, but it also raises safety concerns due to potential driver distraction. Its usefulness also depends on drivers’ familiarity with local road networks. Digital tools such as Street Manager and navigation apps already provide detailed location information, complementing physical signage. The Government will consider this suggestion with relevant stakeholders as part of ongoing work to improve street works communication and safety.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 77643 on London Underground: Strikes, on what date that meeting took place. \p Simon Lightwood: The meeting took place on 11 September 2025.
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Amanda Hack:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people hold a valid (a) provisional and (b) full UK driving licence. \p Simon Lightwood: The table below shows the number of full and provisional licence holders on 11 October 2025.

Full licence holders

42,795,544

Provisional licence holders

10,502,938

Total

53,298,482
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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to set National Highways key performance indicators for cleaning up litter. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government intends to set National Highways a performance indicator (PI) for cleaning up litter on their roads as part of a wide range of performance indicators for the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) period, covering the years 2026/27 to 2030/31. RIS3 will be published in March 2026.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78714 on Railways: Tickets, whether her Department has undertaken research on reasons for participation levels in the Digital Pay As You Go trials in (a) Yorkshire and (b) the East Midlands; and what steps she is taking to increase take-up. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department is monitoring participation rates as trials go live, and the evaluation of the trial will consider participation amongst users over time.

To increase take-up, there will be further press activity for the launch of the third trial, in addition to significant ongoing marketing activity.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that road infrastructure accommodates (a) bicycles and (b) e-scooters. \p Simon Lightwood: As announced at the Spending Review, we are allocating £616 million in capital funding over the next four years to help local authorities deliver high-quality infrastructure for both cyclists and pedestrians.

In the case of e-scooters, those that are private owned remain illegal to use on the road.

In our e-scooter rental trials, we have allowed e-scooters to use the same road space as bikes. This means e-scooters are allowed on the road, except motorways, and in cycle lanes and tracks, where possible.
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Dan Norris:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress she is making on supporting people that want to use electric vehicles. \p Keir Mather: The Government is investing over £4.5 billion to help industry and consumers transition to zero emission vehicles. The £650 million Electric Car Grant has supported around 30,000 drivers to choose an electric vehicle since its launch in July.

As of 1 October 2025, the Government and industry have supported the installation of 86,021 publicly available charging devices (including 17,354 rapid charging devices), an increase of 23% year on year. In September 2025, battery electric vehicles represented over a fifth (23.0%) of new UK car registrations, and the UK now has the largest market share for electric cars of any major European economy.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to introduce a Network South West railcard similar to the Network railcard available for people in London and the South East. \p Simon Lightwood: There are no current plans to review railcards in advance of the transition to Great British Railways, however Great British Railways will have the opportunity to take a fresh look at the justification of the eligibility and restrictions of some railcards.

Any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy will require balancing against the potential impacts on passengers, taxpayers and the railway.

Additionally, there are many local concessionary passes that are valid on National Rail, this includes the Devon and Cornwall Railcard, which have been introduced by local authorities and train operators.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will introduce a national railcard for all ages. \p Simon Lightwood: There are no current plans to review railcards in advance of the transition to Great British Railways, however Great British Railways will have the opportunity to take a fresh look at the justification of the eligibility and restrictions of some railcards.

Any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy will require balancing against the potential impacts on passengers, taxpayers and the railway.

Additionally, there are many local concessionary passes that are valid on National Rail, this includes the Devon and Cornwall Railcard, which have been introduced by local authorities and train operators.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-30 conversation_250

Sarah Dyke:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure communities can access local railways. \p Simon Lightwood: To ensure communities have access to the local railways, this Government is committed to improving accessibility, customer support, and helping to remove barriers to travel for all users of public transport.

Accessibility is an important part of ensuring communities can access local railways, which is why we will soon be publishing an Accessibility Roadmap that sets out how we will deliver a more accessible railway in the lead up to Great British Railways.

The Government also looks to connect communities directly with their local train operators through initiatives such as the Customer and Communities Improvement Schemes which aims to fund community-led projects that deliver a positive social impact in local communities across the country.

The Department also provides support for the Community Rail Network and Partnerships. Community Rail initiatives take many forms across Great Britain, united by a common goal of improving accessibility, connecting people, and bringing the railway into communities. Community Rail Partnerships deliver projects which bring benefits to local communities through social, environmental and economic growth.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-30 conversation_251

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82408 on Railways: Public Ownership, what the targets are for (a) punctuality, (b) reliability, (c) service quality and (d) customer satisfaction for GA Trains Limited; and when her Department plans to (i) first and (ii) subsequently publish performance updates. \p Simon Lightwood: GA Trains Limited took over ownership of operations on the Greater Anglia route on 12 October 2025 and is now in its transitional phase to embed the new Services Agreement requirements. During this transitional phase GA Trains Limited will continue to publish information on performance against targets for punctuality, reliability, service quality and customer satisfaction that were used prior to the transfer before moving to the revised targets required under the Services Agreement. Performance will be reported and published in a periodic and moving annual average basis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-30 conversation_252

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to review the National Road Traffic Projection before the end of 2026. \p Simon Lightwood: We continue to update our Transport Analysis Guidance at 6 month intervals for those preparing business cases; this includes regular updates to some of the parameters that affect transport including GDP and fuel prices. We will consider reviewing the NRTPs in the near future.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-30)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the full scheme costs for all Strategic Road Network projects will be published in the final Road Investment Strategy 3 document. \p Simon Lightwood: The third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) will be published in March 2026 and will include a total funding line for all enhancements to the strategic road network to be delivered during the period 2026-2031.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-30 conversation_254

Sarah Dyke:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support local authorities to provide more rail-bus links. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government knows that public transport needs to be better integrated in order to improve the experience for passengers, providing access to services and keeping communities connected. We also know that in rural areas, bus services can be a lifeline for many and can be the only means of accessing services, including other modes of transportation such as rail links. The Government is taking action to help improve local bus services and encourage greater integration between transport modes.

We have introduced the Bus Services Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 27 October, to put the power over local bus services back into the hands of local leaders, including in rural areas. In addition, the Government has confirmed over £1 billion for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. Somerset Council has been allocated £6.8 million of this funding, helping to improve bus services and connectivity across the area.

The Government also intends to publish its long-term strategy for transport to set the vision for domestic transport across England. It will focus on creating a transport network that works well for people, including those in rural areas.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-30 conversation_255

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what differences there are between the (a) contact due to end in March 2027 and (b) the new contract for services provided by the Post Office. \p Simon Lightwood: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's (DVLA) current contract with Post Office Ltd to provide a limited range of DVLA services ends in March 2027. A procurement for a new contract is being prepared, the requirements for which are still being considered. This will be an open competition and will be open to any eligible bidders in the market.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-30 conversation_256

Darren Paffey:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of autonomous rail rapid transit for (a) Southampton, (b) the Solent region and (c) in general. \p Simon Lightwood: Government recognises the valuable role that mass transit networks can play as part of a truly integrated transport system, in the right circumstances, in our cities.

It is for Local Transport Authorities to bring forward mass transit plans, as they are best placed to identify possible opportunities and the potential benefits of such schemes.

The Department encourages authorities to take a mode neutral approach to mass transit schemes, and to develop proportionate solutions to local transport issues. it is important that local authorities consider affordability and projected demand alongside other cheaper fixed route options, such as bus rapid transit.

The Government is providing Southampton City Council with £15.56 million of capital funding from 2025/26 to 2029/30, and £890,000 of resource funding from 2026/27 to 2028/29 from the Local Transport Grant (LTG), which could be used to further develop their mass transit plans.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-30 conversation_257

Alex Ballinger:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help reduce the number of young drivers killed in road traffic collisions. \p Lilian Greenwood: We absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads and continue to tackle this through our THINK! campaign.

We are considering measures to address this problem and protect young drivers, as part of our upcoming strategy for road safety - the first in over a decade.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-30 conversation_258

Alex Ballinger:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of reducing the 24-hour time period allowed to report road traffic collisions. \p Lilian Greenwood: This Government takes road safety seriously. We are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads.

We are considering a range of policies under the new strategy; the first for 10 years. This includes the case for changing motoring offences, such as reporting and failure to stop and report road traffic collisions.

More details will be published in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-30)

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Seamus Logan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she had discussions with the Scottish government prior to her announcement relating to the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund on 20 October 2025. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Defra Ministers discussed the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund at the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, which was attended by Defra Ministers, other UK Government Ministers, and Devolved Government Ministers. At that meeting, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that respective shares of the Fund should be devolved and administered by the Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement on 20 October 2025, Minister Eagle wrote to Devolved Governments setting out the devolved allocations of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-30 conversation_260

Brian Mathew:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of enriched cages on laying hens. \p Dame Angela Eagle: We remain firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards.

The impact of enriched cages on laying hens is an issue which we are currently considering very carefully.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-30)

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Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to ensure that egg production in the UK comes from cage-free systems. \p Dame Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 29 April 2025 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole, PQ UIN 47556.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-30 conversation_262

Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help support small abattoirs. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government recognises the vital role small abattoirs play in supporting local livestock producers and maintaining a resilient and competitive food supply chain.

Defra works closely with industry stakeholders including through the Small Abattoirs Working Group and the Small Abattoirs Task and Finish Group. These groups bring together government and industry representatives on a regular basis and provide a forum for identifying the challenges and opportunities that the sector faces, and for collaborating on practical solutions to support the long-term sustainability of small and medium sized abattoirs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-30 conversation_263

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the rural premium on rural communities. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Defra regularly publishes statistics on a range of social and economic topics and provides broad comparisons between Rural and Urban areas by settlement type. These are available through The Statistical Digest for Rural England.

This Government is committed to improving the quality of life for people living and working in rural areas, so that we can realise the full potential of rural business and communities. We have made a commitment that all policy decision-making should be rural proofed to ensure that rural areas are not overlooked and that the intended outcomes are deliverable in rural areas.