theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_118
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_118

Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will increase the level of support available for the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme. \p Mary Creagh: The Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme is due to end March 2026, and decisions on the future of the programme will be made as part of departmental business planning.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_119
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_119

Greg Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with Ministerial colleagues in MHCLG responsible for fire services regarding what further steps can be taken to prevent farm fires. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Defra Ministers and officials have regular discussions with their counterparts in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on a range of issues.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_120
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_120

Laurence Turner:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to prevent the importation of factory farmed octopus food products. \p Dame Angela Eagle: We have no current plans to prevent the import of farmed octopus products to the UK.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_121
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_121

Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps with the Secretary of State for Education to encourage schools in urban areas to visit farms and learn about farming, food and the environment. \p Dame Angela Eagle: There are clear benefits of schools in urban areas arranging farm visits for their students to learn about farming, food and the environment. With our educational access actions, farmers and land managers can be funded to host educational visits to their farms and woodland at a rate of £363 per visit, subject to a maximum number of 25 paid visits per year. Officials will continue to engage with Department for Education, including on how we can support schools and farms to promote this. Between 2022 and 2024, the Rural Payments Agency paid for 11,404 instances of educational visits across 1,754 agreements under Countryside Stewardship.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_122
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_122

Rachel Gilmour:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to promote the awareness and use of sustainable palm oil. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government is committed to supporting sustainable production, trade, and use of palm oil. Leading by example, the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services require in-scope public sector procurers to ensure that all palm oil(including palm kernel oil and products derived from palm oil) used for cooking and as an ingredient in food must be sustainably produced.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_123
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_123

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what is the estimated amount of average household water and drainage bills, per household which is not receipt of the social tariff, that pays for the cross-subsidy to the social tariff. \p Emma Hardy: Companies decide, in consultation with their customers and organisations representing customers, which household customers fund social tariffs and how much they pay.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_124
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_124

Robbie Moore:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has modelled the cumulative impact on domestic egg production profits margins of permitting egg imports that do not face equivalent (a) animal welfare and (b) food safety costs. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The UK imports a small proportion of its annual supply of eggs, to meet domestic demand. The Government consistently considers the impact of imports on the UK market from all countries.

As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, the Government will not lower food standards and will uphold high animal welfare standards. The Government recognise concerns about methods of production, such as battery cages, which are not permitted in the UK. While methods vary in line with different climates, diseases, and other contextual reasons, the department will always consider whether overseas producers have an unfair advantage and any impact that may have. Where necessary, the department will be prepared to use the full range of powers at our disposal to protect our most sensitive sectors including permanent quotas, exclusions, and safeguards.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_125
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_125

Robbie Moore:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of permitting eggs imports from barren battery cage systems on the viability of the domestic egg production chain. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The UK imports a small proportion of its annual supply of eggs, to meet domestic demand. The Government consistently considers the impact of imports on the UK market from all countries, including on domestic egg production chain. The department will continue to take account of UK imports as part of our continued monitoring of the egg production chain.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_126
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_126

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Government’s commitment to invest £10.5 billion in flood defences by 2036, (a) how much has been allocated to each English region to date, (b) how many of the 151 completed schemes were operational during Storm Claudia, and (c) what assessment she has made of the effect of reprioritising £108 million towards maintenance on improving the condition and reliability of existing assets. \p Emma Hardy: This Government will invest at least £10.5 billion into our flood defences between April 2024 and March 2036 better protecting nearly 900,000 properties.

The investment will also reduce deterioration and target repairs to assets, benefitting an additional 14,500 properties in England.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_127
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_127

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Animal and Plant Health Agency has spent on translation and interpretation services in each of the last five years. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) uses an external company to translate some of its correspondence, GOV.UK pages and communication products into Welsh when required. There is a charge for this translation service. Specific details of this expenditure could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_128
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_128

Dr Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme on Natural England's caseload for investigations of potential breaches to the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (England) (No.2) Regulations 2006. \p Dame Angela Eagle: No formal assessment was deemed necessary in relation to the potential impact of the closure of the 2024 Sustainable Farming Incentive offer to new applications on the incidence of EIA (Agriculture) Regulations breaches.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_129
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_129

Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2025 to Question 91533 on Brownfield Sites: Biodiversity, whether she plans to consult further on the definition of (a) small and (b) medium sites before final decisions on the future of Biodiversity Net Gain. \p Mary Creagh: The Government response to the ‘Improving biodiversity net gain for minor, medium and brownfield development’ consultation and the impact assessment will be published in due course.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published in May a working paper on site thresholds for planning purposes, including a potential new category of medium development. They are assessing the response to this working paper.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_130
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_130

Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much new burdens funding she plans to allocate for food waste collections; and if she will (a) allocate that funding based on costs incurred by WCAs and (b) apply the New Burdens Doctrine in full. \p Mary Creagh: We have invested over £340 million to support waste collection authorities on weekly food collections. While local authorities will have the flexibility to deliver these reforms in the best way for their council areas and residents, we still expect them to take all reasonable steps to meet their statutory obligations.

Previous capital and transitional funding were allocated and published by Defra. As confirmed in the outcome of the Spending Review 2025, ongoing resource funding for food waste services from 1 April 2026 will be included in the Local Government Finance Settlement, rather than as a separate new burdens grant.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_131
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_131

Dr Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cases Natural England is investigating for potential breaches of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (England) (No.2) Regulations 2006 on semi-natural grassland for (a) 2025, (b) 2024 and (c) 2023. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Figures by financial year can be found in Natural England’s published enforcement reports here. The 2023/24 report is due to be published soon, and work is underway on the 2024/25 report.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_132
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_132

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to enforce existing legislation against hare coursing. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The enforcement of existing legislation on hare coursing is an operational matter for the police. This is in line with their duties to keep the peace, protect communities and prevent the commission of offences, working within the provisions of the legal framework set by Parliament.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_133
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_133

Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of legislation protecting livestock in the UK as compared to other OECD nations. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The UK is widely recognised as one of the global leaders in animal health and welfare. We are a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health, and we have a broad legislative base, associated strategies and contingency plans enabling us to protect livestock from animal disease threats. Defra is committed to maintaining and improving the UK's high standards of animal health and welfare.

The Prime Minister has announced that we will be publishing an animal welfare strategy by the end of the year.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_134
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_134

Robbie Moore:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of extending tariff-free access for Ukrainian eggs on the level of domestic food security. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Under our Free Trade Agreement with Ukraine, tariffs on all goods are temporarily removed until March 2029, except for poultry and eggs, where the liberalisation is due to end on 31 March 2026.

Ukrainian imports of poultry and eggs currently constitute a small proportion of the UK’s total imports of these products. The Government consistently considers the views of industry and impact of imports on the UK market from all countries, including from Ukraine. The department will continue to take these views into account as part of our policy development process.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_135
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_135

Emma Lewell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to amend policies on non-stun slaughter in the upcoming animal welfare strategy. \p Dame Angela Eagle: This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Prime Minister announced that we will be publishing an animal welfare strategy later this year. We will set out our priorities for animal welfare in the strategy upon publication.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_136
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_136

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of prolonged industrial disputes in local waste services on recycling rates and environmental health in affected communities. \p Mary Creagh: Defra has not made an assessment of the potential impact of prolonged industrial disputes in local waste services on recycling rates and environmental health in affected.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_137
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_137

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of remote monitoring equipment used to detect landslips on the rail network; and what steps she is taking to improve detection rates. \p Keir Mather: Network Rail, as the infrastructure manager of Britain’s railways, is responsible for maintaining the integrity and safety of the rail network to ensure passenger and freight services can operate reliably.

Following the tragic derailment at Carmont in August 2020, Network Rail commissioned two task forces looking at earthworks management and extreme weather response. In response to these, Network Rail have taken forward a number of actions including commissioning an active nationwide monitoring regime using remote sensors, modelling and geotechnical assessments to monitor slope stability across the network.

In its 24/25 Annual Assessment, the independent safety regulator, the Office of Rail and Road, indicated that Network Rail is making good progress in its delivery of weather resilience and climate adaptation plans.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_138
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_138

Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she intends to conduct a review of technical service arrangements involving non-European vehicle manufacturing and regulatory entities to ensure alignment with UK/EU regulatory standards. \p Simon Lightwood: I am satisfied that that the current type approval regime ensures that only reputable and trustworthy entities are involved in the certification process.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_139
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_139

Sir Mark Hendrick:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her department is taking to make transports systems more easily accessible for people with sight loss, to allow them to travel independently and spontaneously. \p Simon Lightwood: The government is committed to improving transport services so they are more inclusive and enable people with sight loss to travel safely, confidently and with dignity. As part of our broader mission to break down barriers to opportunity, we recognise that more needs to be done to ensure transport is accessible to all.

Our Bus Services Act 2025 includes a comprehensive package of measures to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of local transport. Through the Act, we are helping authorities to provide safer and more accessible bus stations and stops and mandating more streamlined disability training for bus drivers and frontline staff. We are also requiring local authorities to regularly review the accessibility of their bus networks through the development and publishing of a Bus Network Accessibility Plan.

The government recognises the concerns which have been raised about floating bus stops, particularly. On 20 November I wrote to all local traffic authorities in England requesting that they put on hold designs which require people to board or alight directly from or into a cycle track. The Act requires the Secretary of State to publish statutory guidance on their provision and design within three months of Royal Assent, drafting of which is underway.

We are also continuing the implementation of the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations (AIR), which will require audible and visible destination and next stop information on board most local bus services by October 2026.

Ensuring the rail network is also accessible is at the heart of our passenger-focused approach to improving rail services. We are committed to improving the experience for disabled passengers and that is why we have published a roadmap to an accessible railway. It sets out what we are doing now to improve the day-to-day travelling experience for disabled passengers in the lead up to Great British Railways being established. We have installed platform edge tactile paving at every station in England with the final station in Scotland due to be complete next month. The final Welsh station, currently closed for refurbishment, will have them installed when it reopens in April.

We are also committed to developing an Accessible Travel Charter. The Charter is a commitment to a shared vision for accessible travel. It will set out what disabled travellers can expect from their journeys, share best practice across organisations and create consistency in end-to-end journeys for disabled travellers.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_140
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_140

Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring vehicle manufacturers to disclose the role of entities involved in vehicle certification processes. \p Simon Lightwood: I am satisfied that that the current type approval regime ensures that only reputable and trustworthy entities are involved in the certification process.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_141
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_141

David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her Department has to publish an evaluation framework for the regulatory approval of supervised autonomous vehicle technologies, including indicative timelines. \p Simon Lightwood: The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (the Act) provides the powers to regulate the safe use of automated vehicles. Full implementation of the Act, including provisions for authorising self-driving vehicles, is on-track for the second half of 2027. The regulatory framework will be implemented through secondary legislation and guidance and will include a requirement for the Secretary of State to monitor and assess the general performance of authorised automated vehicles. This report must be published on an annual basis following implementation of the Act and the granting of the first authorisation.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_142
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_142

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve oversight and coordination of road works undertaken by local authorities and utilities companies. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government supports lane rental as an effective measure to reduce congestion from the most disruptive works by incentivising better planning. It allows highway authorities to charge up to £2,500 per day for works on the busiest roads at peak times, incentivising quicker completion, off-peak scheduling, or alternative locations. We are facilitating the expansion of lane rental schemes, with updated guidance and application templates to be published shortly.

The Department’s digital service, Street Manager, is used by all highway authorities and utility companies in England to plan and manage works. Permits are applied for and granted through the service before works commence, providing a single source of information for the sector. This enables authorities to identify potential conflicts before approving permits. We also publish open data on live and planned works in real time, allowing developers to create tools that inform road users about disruptions.

Street Manager continues to evolve. Recent updates have enhanced coordination by highlighting potential clashes and improving collaboration features. In 2026, new functionality will support works on lane rental streets. Additionally, the new digital traffic orders system will centralise information on temporary road closures, making these details available as open data for wider public use.

The Department issues statutory guidance through the Code of Practice for the Co-ordination of Street and Road Works. We are currently working with industry stakeholders via the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee to update this guidance with the aim of further improving coordination.

From January 2026, fixed penalty notices for certain street works offences, such as working without a permit or breaching permit conditions will double. Charges of up to £10,000 per day for overrunning works will also apply to weekends and bank holidays. These measures aim to strengthen compliance and improve coordination across the network.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_143
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_143

Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she has taken to establish an independent audit mechanism for ISO/SAE 21434 and UN R155/156 compliance. \p Simon Lightwood: Approval certificates for UN Regulations 155 and 156 can be issued by an applicable national approval authority, which is the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) in the UK, and are mutually recognised internationally. Any country’s approval authority must have its methods and criteria used for assessment of compliance to the regulations scrutinised by other approval authorities before it can issue any approvals.

ISO/SAE 21434 is not part of the legislative requirement but provides useful guidance for compliance with R.155 and R156.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_144
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_144

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will update guidance to allow 30mph speed limit repeater signs on roads with street lighting. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department has no plans to update legislation to allow 30mph speed limit repeater signs on roads with street lighting. Repeater signing is not used on street lit roads subject to a 30mph speed limit because the lamp columns act as the repeaters. Guidance is provided in rule 124 of the Highway Code. This has been law for over 70 years and all drivers are required to learn this in order to pass their driving test.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_145
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_145

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2025 to Question 91465 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, if she will provide the hyperlink to the electric vehicle charging infrastructure statistics listing the number of public charging devices at local authority level. \p Keir Mather: The Department’s latest published statistics on the number of public charging devices at local authority level are available at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6900f9b584b816d72cb9aab6/electric-vehicle-public-charging-infrastructure-statistics-october-2025.ods.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_146
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_146

Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2025 to question 92073, what steps her Department is taking to ensure maximum resale value for commercial assets held by the DVLA. \p Simon Lightwood: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has been selling previously unissued vehicle registration numbers since 1989. In that time more than nine million registration numbers have been sold, generating £4.1 billion in revenue.

Vehicle registration numbers that have been previously issued and displayed on a vehicle or held on a certificate of entitlement and allowed to expire are not resold.

The DVLA is currently developing a strategic plan which is designed to enable and optimise sustainable growth and ensure that annual sales income targets are consistently met or exceeded.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_147
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_147

Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to introduce alternative payment methods for Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency trade plate applications. \p Simon Lightwood: There are no Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) services for which only a postal order is accepted as payment. Trade licensing applications can also be paid for by cheque. The DVLA is currently developing improvements to its trade licensing service and this includes exploring the introduction of alternative payment methods.

The DVLA offers nearly 50 main customer facing services, with the majority of these being available online with a range of payment options. Only seven transactions currently require a manual payment by either postal order or cheque.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_148
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_148

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2025 to Question 92692 on South Western Railway: Rolling Stock, if she will provide the link to the renewed rolling stock leasing contract as published on the Government’s Find a Tender website. \p Simon Lightwood: The Contract Award notices for the leases entered into can be found here:

Direct award of a Lease for Class 701 rolling stock - Find a Tender

Direct award of a Lease for Class 444/450 rolling stock - Find a Tender

Direct award of a Lease for Class 158/159 rolling stock - Find a Tender

Direct award of a Lease for Class 455 rolling stock - Find a Tender
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_149
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_149

Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many new buses her Department funded annually since 2015; and how many of those were made in the UK annually since 2015. \p Simon Lightwood: Through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) programmes, the Department has provided funding which has procured 1300 buses through ZEBRA 1, 1,955 buses through ZEBRA 2 and a further 319 buses due to scope increases. These buses were funded in 2021, 2024 and 2025 respectively and around 60% of these are from UK manufacturers.

The Government is committed to ensuring the UK remains a leader in bus manufacturing, and earlier this year launched the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel. The Panel brings together industry experts and local leaders to achieve three key objectives of supporting growth in UK bus manufacturing, developing a pipeline of future bus orders and prioritising passenger-centric bus design.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_150
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_150

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the answer of 21 July 2025 to Question HL9428, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of unfunded freight schemes on her Department's (a) rail freight growth and (b) modal shift targets. \p Keir Mather: The Government recognises that the economic and environmental potential of rail freight is significant and is committed to delivering growth and supporting modal shift to lower-carbon modes of freight transport. We have committed to the rail freight growth target of a 75% increase in freight moved by rail by 2050.

The recently laid Railways Bill sets out that the Secretary of State will provide GBR with growth targets for rail freight. As was the case during the development of the 2050 target, we will make informed forecasts about the future capability and capacity of the network when developing any further rail freight growth targets.

Network Rail has a regulated target of a 7.5% increase in rail freight by the end of Control Period 7 (March 2029). In the first year of reporting rail freight grew by 5%, which is significantly ahead of the 1.5% annual growth forecast.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_151
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_151

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2025 to WPQ 89594, what the difference will be between the Operator of First Choice and the previous Operator of Last Resort in the Framework Document. \p Keir Mather: The Framework Document is being reviewed and updated following the change of role from the DfT Operator of Last Resort to the Operator of First Choice and the transfer of circa 200 DfT staff to DFTO on 31 March 2026 which moves more operational functions into DFTO. The new Framework Document will be published on gov.uk.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_152
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_152

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason. \p Simon Lightwood: As of 31 October 2025, there are 0 staff in DfTc who have been absent for six months or more due to mental health.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_153
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_153

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2025 to Question 88878 on Train Operating Companies: Contracts, what is a GBR model access contract what its key terms and conditions are, and how it differs from existing rail track access agreements. \p Keir Mather: As part of GBR’s new role in determining access to its network, GBR will develop and issue Model Contracts. This will set the rights and obligations between an operator and GBR for the use of GBR's network. The provisions of the model contracts must be consistent with requirements in legislation and GBR’s AUP.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_154
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_154

Laurence Turner:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress has been made on the determination of the future of Birmingham's PFI roads contract. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department has taken careful note of the High Court ruling relating to the previous Government’s decision not to support the PFI arrangements for Birmingham City Council’s highway maintenance services.

The Department has subsequently conducted a consultation with the Council about the PFI contract and we have been carefully reviewing the Council’s detailed representations, with the Council’s support on clarification questions.

We are continuing to engage with the Council on the PFI with a view to confirming the decision on whether or not to support the continuation of the PFI contract as soon as possible.

I am committed to working together with Birmingham City Council to find a way forward which is in the best interests of the people of Birmingham and the taxpayer.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_155
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_155

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2025 to Question 77640 on Road Traffic Control: Oxford, whether the DVLA has received requests for access to vehicle registration data from (a) Oxfordshire County Council and (b) Oxford City Council in financial year 2024 to 2025 for the purposes of (i) congestion charging, (ii) traffic filters, (iii) zero-emission zone enforcement and (iv) moving traffic offences; and what the statutory authority is for each of those requests. \p Simon Lightwood: In 2024/2025 financial year, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) received requests for registered keeper information from a third-party service provider on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council in relation to zero-emissions zones and moving traffic offences. It is not possible to say if requests specifically relating to traffic filters have been received as they would be included in the category of moving traffic offences. The Oxford congestion charge came into effect in October 2025. Oxford City Council requested information, also through a third-party service provider, for off-street parking management only.

Regulation 27 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002 allows the DVLA to make information about UK vehicles and their registered keepers available for use by a local authority for any purpose connected with the investigation of an offence. The same regulation also allows the DVLA to make information available to a local authority in England and Wales when it is acting as an enforcement authority within the meaning of Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004. These provisions apply to Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_156
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_156

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of driving-test bookings had their test location changed before the test was taken in the last 12 months. \p Simon Lightwood: Between the 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, just over 565,000 tests were recorded as being moved between driving test centres (DTC). This equates to approximately 31% of tests. Please note, in line with other published data that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) produces, this data currently only covers the 12-month period from July 2024 to June 2025.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_157
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_157

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the estimated net cost to the public purse of freezing certain regulated rail fares in March 2026 for this and the subsequent five financial years. \p Keir Mather: The estimated net cost to the public purse of freezing certain regulated rail fares in March 2026 is set out in the table below. This is putting money back in the pockets of hardworking people when they need it most. With savings set to be available on over a billion journeys, the freeze will also make rail more affordable, encouraging more people to use the railway.

(£m)

2025-26

2026-27

2027-28

2028-29

2029-30

2030-31

Rail Fares: Freeze rail fares in England for one year from 1 March 2026

+0m

-145m

-150m

-155m

-160m

-165m
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_158
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_158

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she expects unregulated rail fares to move in line with regulated rail fares this year and over the next five years. \p Keir Mather: Changes to unregulated fares have typically followed a similar trend to regulated fares in recent years – so we expect the majority of passengers to benefit from savings.

We are also continuing to reform the complex fares system that we know creates significant confusion and does not work for passengers, including through introducing more tap in, tap out pay as you go across the country, and delivering long-distance fares reforms, such as through the trial with London North Eastern Railway (LNER).
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_159
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_159

Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which of the train companies contracted to the DfT have outsourced security contracts; and the value and length of those contracts are. \p Keir Mather: The majority of DfT contracted train operators have contracts for specialist passenger facing security provision. Contract details for public sector operators can be found at this link https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder. Details of private sector operators’ contracts are commercially confidential.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_160
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_160

Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the risk of organised-crime groups targeting high-value freight loads during peak retail periods; and what steps she is taking to improve freight-security measures. \p Keir Mather: This Government recognises the serious threat that freight crime poses to businesses, drivers, and the wider economy.

Through the HGV parking and driver welfare grant scheme (MFGS), the Department for Transport and industry partners are projected to deliver up to £35.7m of joint investment to enhance driver facilities and improve security at truck stops across England.

Drivers are now seeing the improvements that the scheme has been able to support, with more in development. The scheme is supporting operators across 30 counties in England to improve driver facilities, including investment in security measures.

The Home Office is working closely with Opal, the police’s national intelligence unit focused on serious organised acquisitive crime, which has multiple thematic desks, including a vehicle crime intelligence desk which covers freight crime. The Home Office has regular discussions with key partners, including Opal, about tackling organised freight crime.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_161
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_161

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with Stellantis on the (a) recall and (b) check of (i) Citroën and (ii) DS Automobiles branded cars potentially affected by a airbag safety fault. \p Simon Lightwood: As set out in the answer to Question 74957 on 9 September, the Secretary of State wrote to Stellantis to express serious concerns about the customer impact of the stop-drive recall currently affecting Citroën and DS Automobiles cars in the United Kingdom.

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency officials continue to have regular engagement meetings with representatives from Stellantis about the Citroën/DS recall and continue to support Stellantis, prioritising safety while minimising economic and social impact.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_162
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_162

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of vehicles used by Government departments are electric; and what recent progress she has made in increasing the use of electric vehicles within the Government fleet. \p Keir Mather: The Government publishes data on its progress in decarbonising the central Government fleet, as part of wider reporting on the Greening Government Commitments. The most recent published data can be found online at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greening-government-commitments-april-2021-to-march-2024-report/greening-government-commitments-april-2021-to-march-2024-report.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_163
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_163

Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on tackling harassment on trains against women and girls in Hexham constituency. \p Lilian Greenwood: Everyone should be able to use the rail network without fearing for their safety. As part of the Government’s Safer Streets mission, we have a commitment to reduce violence against women and girls (VAWG) by half over the next decade.

Last month, the Department and Greater Manchester Combined Authority jointly hosted a Safer Streets, Safer Transport Summit which brought together representatives from across the transport industry, Government, local authorities (including the North East Combined Authority), the third sector and policing to commit to taking action against anti-social behaviour (ASB) and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

Hexham Station has a very low crime rate, with no sexual offences reported this year or in 2024/25.

BTP officers in the North East attend the local Safer Transport Regional Group and the Violence Against Women and Girls on Transport Partnership Working Group, strengthening collaboration with partners and focusing joint efforts on preventing these offences.

BTP deliver numerous public campaigns to increase VAWG reporting across the network including in the North East. The Rail Delivery Group also delivers its ‘zero tolerance’ campaign, which is aimed at educating people about the different types of sexual harassment and encouraging reporting to the BTP or anonymously to Crime Stoppers.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_164
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_164

Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of planned cuts to British Transport Police (a) staffing and (b) stations due to the 2025/26 funding shortfall on the level of (i) passenger and (ii) staff safety and security. \p Keir Mather: 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. BTP work closely with BTPA and industry operators to make final resourcing decisions with their agreed budget.

For the FY25/26, a budget increase of 5.9% was agreed. The BTPA will set the Force’s budget for 2026/27 this month. BTP’s budget has increased by £87million since 2021/22.

Like other police forces the BTP have operational independence, so the BTP Chief Constable and Chief Officers use a variety of data to inform the deployment of officers and other resources, following the agreement of the budget. Decision over staffing and stations resourcing are reviewed regularly by the BTP under their optimal policing model.

The Department is committed to working with the BTP and rail industry to ensure the railway remains safe for passengers and staff, thanks to the efforts of officers and rail staff working tirelessly across the network.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_165
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_165

Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the funding uplift necessary to restore the number of British Transport Police police officers to 2009/10 levels. \p Keir Mather: 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. BTP work closely with BTPA and industry operators to make final resourcing decisions with their agreed budget.

For the FY25/26, a budget increase of 5.9% was agreed. The British Transport Police Authority will set the Force’s budget for 2026/27 this month.

Like other police forces the BTP has operational independence, so it is for the BTP Chief Constable and Chief Officers to use a variety of data to inform the deployment of officers and other resources, following the agreement of the budget.

The Department has no role in determining the optimal numbers of BTP officers to meet their strategic plans as agreed with the BTPA.
wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_166
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_166

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support ports wishing to offer onshore power supply connections to cruise line customers. \p Keir Mather: On 25 March, the Government published the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy and a call for evidence on Net Zero Ports. This call for evidence focused on potential options to reduce emissions from vessels at berth and how ports are managing their future energy demand, including the provision of shore power to customers such as cruise operators. We are considering the responses to the call for evidence and will set out next steps in due course.

In September, we announced an additional £448m of Research and Development investment for the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme. Through previous rounds of UK SHORE funding, we have already funded shore power projects, including nearly £20m for a shore power installation at Portsmouth International Port, which will soon allow visiting cruise ships to connect. Future rounds of funding will continue to support clean maritime solutions.

Given the importance of securing grid connections to providing shore power, the Government is working closely with Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator on fundamental reforms to the connections process, which will reduce the connections queue and prioritise progressing viable projects.