theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_45
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_45

Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June to Question 56822 on Israel: Military Aid, whether it is his policy to take UK International Humanitarian Law assessments into account when offering Israeli defense forces personnel training courses in the UK. \p Luke Pollard: Fewer than five IDF personnel are currently enrolled in non-combat military academic courses in the UK.

The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields and continues to do so around the world. The Ministry of Defence’s provision of such assistance is assessed carefully on a case-by-case basis.

UK training courses promote British values, including human rights, democracy and compliance with international humanitarian law.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_46
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his oral contribution of 4 June 2025, Official Report, column 338,  whether (a) his Department and (b) any F-35 partner nation requested a (i) policy and (ii) technical working group review of export licenses for any foreign military sales customer's F-35 use in the last 12 months. \p Maria Eagle: Further to the oral contribution of 4 June 2025 by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Middle East (Hamish Falconer) conversations with F-35 Partners occur regularly and cover a range of issues; however, I am unable to disclose details of confidential conversations held within an international programme. Export control measures are the responsibility of their relevant national authorities.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_47
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 5 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, who the new National Armaments Director appointed on 1 April 2025 is. \p Maria Eagle: Andy Start is acting National Armaments Director (NAD). He is also the Chief Executive of the Defence Equipment and Support organisation.

This is to ensure that the momentum of Defence Reform is sustained while we recruit for a permanent NAD.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_48
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_48

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 6 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of submarine docking availability, in the context of his Department’s announcement to produce up to 12 attack submarines. \p Maria Eagle: The Government is committed to ensuring the availability of submarine berths to support all submarine operations. We are focussed on the long-term infrastructure development of His Majesty's Naval Bases Clyde and Devonport to support the United Kingdom's future fleet of submarines.

For reasons of operational security, further details on specific berths cannot be disclosed.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_49
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his oral contribution of 4 June 2025, Official Report, column 338, whether (a) his Department and (b) any F-35 partner nation requested a (i) discussion and (ii) technical assessment of the international humanitarian law implications of any foreign military sales customer's F-35 use at an F-35 Joint Executive Steering Board meeting in the last 12 months. \p Maria Eagle: Conversations with F-35 Partners occur regularly and cover a range of issues; however, I am unable to disclose details of confidential conversations held within an international programme.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_50
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_50

Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his oral contribution of 4 June 2025, Official Report, column 338, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of suspending a foreign military sales customer who is not a partner nation from the F-35 global supply pool on the continued operation of the F-35 programme. \p Maria Eagle: All F-35 Foreign Military Sales customers are managed directly by the US Government.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_51
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_51

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Annex 1, Clause 2, of the UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia [CS Mauritius No.1/2025], what protections are in place to ensure that Mauritius does not pass on information relating to an armed attack to any (a) third parties and (b) other nations. \p Luke Pollard: Article 3(2) of the Treaty states that Mauritius cannot undermine, prejudice or otherwise interfere with the long-term, secure and effective operation of the military base on Diego Garcia, and that Mauritius shall cooperate to that end. This will ensure that military operations are not compromised in any way. In addition, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 12 June 2025 to Question 57298, any notification to Mauritius will take place after the event and will not require the UK to divulge sensitive information.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_52
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has a strategy to implement the Strategic Defence Review. \p Luke Pollard: Yes. This Government endorses the Strategic Defence Review’s vision and accepts all 62 recommendations. The implementation of the Review’s recommendations will form part of the main business of the Department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort. We will develop a new Defence Investment Plan to take onboard the Review’s vision and recommendations and turn them into a line-by-line delivery plan.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_53
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to invest pension funds in UK defence companies. \p Maria Eagle: The Government is committed to increasing private sector investment in the UK defence sector, recognising its vital role in driving innovation, creating jobs, and enhancing national security. This commitment was underscored by the Defence Secretary’s speech at the London Stock Exchange on 13 May 2025, the roundtable he chaired with private investors on 2 April, and the establishment of the UK Defence Economic and Growth Taskforce, chaired by the Defence Secretary and the Chancellor.

The Strategic Defence Review recommended the Ministry of Defence develop a dedicated financial services strategy by March 2026. We will consult a wide range of stakeholders during the production of this strategy.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_54
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long it takes on average to process applications for former Armed Forces personnel who apply for re-enlistment. \p Al Carns: It is taking time to collate and review the required information. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 6 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, in which year the £1.5bn always on pipeline will commence. \p Luke Pollard: Defence is investing £6 billion in munitions this Parliament, including an extra £1.5 billion in an 'always on' pipeline for munitions and building at least six new energetics and munitions factories in the UK, generating over 1,000 jobs, and boosting export potential.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_56
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 6 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025 in which year the new £11bn Invest annual budget will commence. \p Luke Pollard: Under Defence Reform, the Department's investment funding has been brought together in one place under the National Armaments Director Group from this financial year. Further details of this invest budget will be set out in the Defence Investment Plan this autumn.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_57
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what resources his Department his providing to support NATO’s Baltic Sentry operation. \p Luke Pollard: The UK provides RAF P-8 Poseidon and Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft to support the NATO’s Baltic Sentry deployment to protect critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_58
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_58

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to publish a defence command paper to outline how his Department plans to implement the Strategic Defence Review. \p Luke Pollard: This Government endorses the Strategic Defence Review’s (SDR) vision and accepts all 62 recommendations. The implementation of the Review’s recommendations will form part of the main business of the Department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort. A Defence Investment Plan, which will be published in the autumn, will take the SDR’s strategic direction and its costed recommendations, including on capabilities, and turn that into a line-by-line delivery plan.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_59
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_59

Zarah Sultana:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government has made any gifts of controlled military equipment to Israel since 7 October 2023. \p Maria Eagle: In the aftermath of 7 October 2023 the UK Government has provided non-lethal military equipment including medical equipment; nothing has been gifted in this Parliamentary session.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_60

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to hold discussions with local authorities that have voted to divest pension funds from UK defence companies. \p Maria Eagle: The Government is committed to increasing private sector investment in the UK defence sector, recognising its vital role in driving innovation, creating jobs, and enhancing national security. The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recommended the Ministry of Defence develop a dedicated financial services strategy by March 2026. We will consult a wide range of stakeholders during the production of this strategy.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_61
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the US Government's decision to launch a review into the AUKUS partnership on the implementation of the Strategic Defence Review. \p Maria Eagle: AUKUS is a landmark security and defence partnership with two of our closest allies. It is one of the most strategically important partnerships in decades, supporting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic, while also delivering jobs and economic growth in communities across all three nations.

AUKUS holds bipartisan support in the United States, and we are engaging effectively with the US Administration at every level. The Defence Secretary and Foreign Secretary regularly discuss AUKUS with their US and Australian counterparts and will continue to do so during the review process.

It is understandable that a new administration would want to review its approach to such a major partnership, just as the UK has done through the Lovegrove Review. The UK will continue to work closely with the US and Australia at all levels to maximise the benefits and opportunities which AUKUS presents for our three nations.

AUKUS has already strengthened our collective defence industries, generating thousands of new jobs. In the UK, we expect over 21,000 people to be working on SSN-AUKUS programmes at its peak, both in UK shipyards and across the supply chain.

The commitments made in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) will only serve to enhance AUKUS. Continuous submarine production, through investments in Barrow and Raynesway, will enable us to produce a submarine every 18 months. This will allow us to grow our nuclear powered submarine fleet by up to 12 (SSNs), with a final decision made through the Defence Investment Plan. This will reinforce our Continuous at-Sea Deterrent (CASD) and position the UK to deliver the AUKUS programme with the US and Australia.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_62
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he is taking steps to increase domestic steel production capabilities for products required by the UK defence industry. \p Maria Eagle: The UK steel sector provides vital support to the UK’s defence capabilities. Steel used in our major Defence programmes is sourced by our prime contractors from a range of UK and international suppliers, as programmes may often have requirements for specialist steel which cannot be sourced in the UK. The amount and origins of steel procured for Defence programmes is included in the Department for Business and Trade’s annual Steel Public Procurement report which can be found on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/steel-public-procurement

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is developing a Defence Industrial Strategy that will align this Government’s national security and economic priorities. This will include a review of the UK’s approach to critical supply chain elements, such as steel, alongside reviewing and reconfirming the areas where the UK needs to retain sovereign production capacities onshore. The Government will also bring forward a new cross Government Steel Strategy which will establish a long-term vision for the industry, promoting long-term growth, that aligns with wider priorities, including the trade strategy, Strategic Defence Review and the upcoming Modern Industrial Strategy.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_63
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of offering Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre surplus capacity to Ukrainian veterans. \p Luke Pollard: The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to work with our Ukrainian partners to contribute to Project RENOVATOR, to support the development of increased rehabilitation capacity and capability within Ukraine to help deal with the thousands of injured military personnel.

Project RENOVATOR supports the building of infrastructure and the provision of equipment and delivery of training and education, including specialist physiotherapy and prosthetic capabilities.

The granting of any support to Ukraine is made in response to official requests made by the Ukrainian Government. I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand that we will not speculate on specific capabilities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what financial schemes there are to incentivise former armed forces personnel to enlist in the Reserves. \p Al Carns: The Ministry of Defence is always seeking ways to incentivise Service, not all of which are financial. In recent years a variety of financial incentives of varying degrees have been made available for the recruitment of both Regular and Reserve personnel, including re-joiner payments to encourage ex-Regulars to rejoin either Regular or Reserve Service. Recent financial incentives have included a Royal Navy Recruit Bounty Scheme worth £500 and Army Reserve enlistment schemes worth between £500 and £1,200.

Golden Hello payments of £100,000 for the recruitment of specialised doctors and £50,000 for specialised nurses are available. There are currently no live schemes for Reserve Service enlistment.

The levels of financial incentive for both Regulars and Reserves vary by Service and by trade, but all were location agnostic; numbers of payments have varied according to need and have been generally successful in filling some important roles and trades.

Information on the numbers of people who have claimed a financial incentive in each year since 2020 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a list of the (a) titles, (b) file names and (c) dates of creation of each document held by the Atomic Weapons Establishment on the Merlin database. \p Al Carns: Officials are working at pace to formally transfer the records on the Merlin database to The National Archives (TNA), whilst ensuring that sensitive information is protected in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 and national security requirements. Once transferred, the records will be listed and accessible on TNA’s website.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Sir Julian Lewis:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his oral statement of 2 June 2025 on Strategic Defence Review, Official Report, column 53, how much and what proportion of the funding for military accommodation will be allocated to the reserve forces estate. \p Al Carns: None of the funding has been allocated to the Reserve Forces Estate as it does not contain Service Family Accommodation. The Reserves Forces Estate is directly funded from a separate budget.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average waiting time was to resolve urgent repairs requested for service family accommodation in the last 12 months. \p Al Carns: The average response time to resolve urgent repairs requested for Service Family Accommodation from April 2024 to March 2025 is below:

Month

Average Response Time In Hours

April 2024

38.48

May 2024

37.99

June 2024

33.50

July 2024

38.10

August 2024

40.43

September 2024

38.35

October 2024

40.98

November 2024

38.26

December 2024

36.30

January 2025

40.86

February 2025

36.05

March 2025

38.39

Please note, the Department can only provide data up to the last quarterly period which ended in March 2025.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_68
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Jeremy Corbyn:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which defence contractors and associated corporate entities were granted sight of the Strategic Defence Review prior to its official presentation to the House. \p Luke Pollard: For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews. At no point did stakeholders receive any commercially sensitive information ahead of publication.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the policy paper entitled The plan for drivers, published on 2 October 2023, whether she plans to publish a consultation on revising guidance on the public’s right to challenge local authority parking policies. \p Lilian Greenwood: Local traffic authorities in England are responsible for providing on-street parking facilities ensuring that their parking strategy takes account of transport and planning policies to meet the needs of various road users. They have an explicit duty under section 16 of the Traffic Management Act (TMA) 2004, to manage their road network to reduce traffic congestion and disruption.

To help them achieve this, in 2015 the Government published statutory guidance to local authorities. This was to ensure that local businesses, the residential community and other road users have a recognised voice, in the exercise of the Network Management Duty in relation to parking. That guidance is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-challenge-parking-policies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Marie Goldman:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to ensure that local councils who operate bus services will be eligible for additional grant funding without having to make continual applications. \p Simon Lightwood: The government has committed to reforming bus funding and moving away from competitive allocations processes. Every Local Transport Authority in England outside of London, will receive an allocation from the Local Authority Bus Grant without having to apply to the Department. Local leaders will decide how to use this funding to improve bus services and ensure services meet the needs of local communities. The allocation system used in 2025/26 marks the first step towards a reformed allocation process.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a centralised portal for guidance on registering local bus services in areas where (a) the traffic commissioner registers the service and (b) a local transport authority has been delegated to do so. \p Simon Lightwood: The government is committed to ensuring transparency in Local Transport Authority (LTA) and operator service delivery. The Bus Services (No.2) Bill was introduced on 17 December as part of the government’s ambitious plan for bus reform. Bill measures aim to enable public access to a new centralised database of information about local services including: those registered with a Traffic Commissioner; those registered with an LTA where registration has been delegated to the LTA, and services operating in a franchised area.

The Traffic Commissioners also publish centralised guidance on registering local bus services on GOV.UK, titled “A guide to registering and operating local bus services in England and Wales”. This guidance includes detailed information on the roles of Traffic Commissioners and LTAs, the types of services that require registration, and the procedures that apply in different areas. Where an LTA is responsible for registering local bus services in its area, the guidance provides a link to the relevant information published by that authority.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21418 on South West Main Line: Dawlish, what criteria she used for the decision not to include funding for phase 5 of the South West Rail Resilience Programme at Dawlish in the Spending Review 2025. \p Simon Lightwood: Following the Chancellors’s statement on 11 June we are now working to confirm our wider portfolio of rail enhancements, which will be published as part of the government’s commitment to set out its overall infrastructure pipeline.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of rail infrastructure schemes in the East of England on regional economic growth. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department has not made a combined assessment of regional economic growth of all projects relating to the East of England region.

The Department undertakes appraisal of business cases on a project-by-project basis. This appraisal attempts to quantity impacts such as user benefits, environmental impacts, economic impacts and any other wider impacts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to provide funding for the Teign estuary project through the Local Transport Grant. \p Simon Lightwood: At the Spending Review (SR), the government announced £2.3 billion across the SR period for the Local Transport Grant (LTG). Allocations have been published, and Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority have been allocated £40.9m. This is in addition to £4.7m the authority was allocated in 2025/26 through the Integrated Transport Block.

This funding is for maintaining and improving local transport infrastructure, delivering transport schemes that will boost growth. Local leaders can choose how to spend it, including on supporting new housing developments, improving public transport, and making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Funding guidance will be issued later this year to support local areas in deciding how to best utilise their LTG allocations.

In addition, Active Travel England recently announced capital funding allocations for 2025/26 to local authorities through the Consolidated Active Travel Fund. Devon County Council’s allocation is £2.3m, and this can be used to support the delivery of high quality walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure as well as capability building measures and behaviour changes activities.

It is for Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority to decide how they wish to spend their LTG and Consolidated Active Travel Fund allocations, including on the Teign Estuary Project, alongside other priority projects in their Local Transport Plan.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_75
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her Department's planned timetable is for announcing (a) overall funding, (b) rail fares, (c) funding for rail infrastructure and (d) funding for rolling stock on the Greater Anglia rail network, in the context of the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025. \p Simon Lightwood: In the context of the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025 there are no plans for any specific announcements in relation to the Greater Anglia rail network.

For the past five years changes to regulated rail fares have happened in March. Any future changes will be announced in due course.

Since 2019 the operator has introduced 191 brand new trains into traffic; this full fleet replacement has improved performance and transformed the passenger experience.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Sir Oliver Dowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2024 to Question 9480 on Radlett Station: Access, if she will make it her policy to provide funding to improve accessibility at Radlett Station. \p Simon Lightwood: This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.

In May 2024, the previous government selected 50 stations for initial feasibility work for potential upgrades as part of our Access for All programme. This did not include Radlett railway station.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_77
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Satvir Kaur:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the volumetric concrete mobile plant industry. \p Lilian Greenwood: My Department and I have met with the Batched on-Site Association and engaged with the Volumetric Concrete Mixer (VCM) industry through correspondence.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will work with National Highways to ensure that runoff from the M4 does not pollute the chalk streams in Newbury. \p Lilian Greenwood: National Highways (NH) is well aware of this issue, and in 2024 treated a site along the M4 that was found to be discharging into the River Lambourn chalk stream near Newbury. More generally, the Department is working closely with NH to address the risk of water pollution from the strategic road network and supports the prioritisation approach taken by NH in its efforts to mitigate pollution. This focuses on addressing verified high-risk outfalls as defined in NH’s 2030 water quality plan. The DfT and NH both recognise the importance of protecting chalk streams and NH is undertaking a review of its technical standard for road drainage and the water environment to give greater prominence to chalk streams.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to encourage bus manufacturers to produce zero-emission buses. \p Simon Lightwood: The full transition to zero emission buses (ZEBs) is a vital part of the Government’s plan to make buses better for passengers and to realise the benefits of lower running costs, cleaner air and smoother, quieter journeys.

The Department has supported the bus sector with almost £500m in direct funding support for ZEBs in recent years, including £38m announced in April to deliver an additional 319 ZEBs through the ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas) programme.

We also continue to support the sector with funding. The recent announcement of £15.6bn over five years, to improve local transport in some of our largest city regions, allows local leaders to play a more active role in the delivery of local bus services and allocate some funding toward decarbonising their local fleets.

To support the domestic ZEB industry, the Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel, was launched earlier this year. This Panel regularly brings industry experts and local leaders together to discuss ways to ensure the UK remains a leader in bus manufacturing. A key Panel outcome will be the development of a pipeline of future bus orders to give better planning certainty to the sector.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has considered the potential merits of reducing the price of a veterans’ railcard to that of an armed forces railcard. \p Simon Lightwood: There are no current plans to reduce the price of the Veterans’ Railcard. Any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy will require balancing against the potential impacts on passengers, taxpayers and the railway.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_81
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

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Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff network events took place in her Department in May 2025; and what the names of those events were. \p Mike Kane: There were nine staff network events run in the Department for Transport in May 2025. Four events took place within Department for Transport Core (DfTc) These were:

Two took place in Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency (DVLA). These were:

Three events took place at Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). These were:

We have been unable to obtain information from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in the time allowed. There were no staff network events held by our other agencies.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_82
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_82

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her department has made an assessment of the potential merits of mandatory minimum expiry dates on refund vouchers issued by airlines. \p Mike Kane: Regulation 261/2004 sets out passengers' rights in the event of certain flight disruptions, including rights to refunds and compensation. The Regulation states that refunds or compensation must be offered as payment in cash, by bank transfer, or by cheque. Airlines may only provide vouchers with the explicit and signed agreement of the passenger.

No assessment has been made regarding the potential merits of mandatory expiry dates on refund vouchers issued by airlines.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_83
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_83

Jas Athwal:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Sikhs are employed in her Department; and whether they are recorded as (a) an ethnic or (b) a religious group. \p Mike Kane: The Department invites employees to self-declare their diversity using pre-defined criteria including ‘prefer not to say’.

Of employees who completed their data as of 31 May 2025, there are currently 39 individuals who have recorded their religion as Sikh.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_84
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_84

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54299 on Motorcycles: Bus Lanes, if she will make it her policy to issue guidance to (a) local highways authorities and (b) combined authorities on an England-wide approach to allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes. \p Lilian Greenwood: Any decision on whether to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes is a matter for the relevant local highway authority.

In 2024 the Department for Transport ran a consultation on allowing motorcycles to access bus lanes by default, as is the case for pedal cycles. The responses did not provide a robust evidence base on which to amend the current policy, but highlighted issues regarding the current approach to permitting access. In urban areas permissions can change frequently at borough boundaries and this can lead to uncertainty.

Following this consultation, the Department is considering whether to update Traffic Advisory Leaflet 1/24 to include advice that local authorities should work with neighbouring authorities to achieve consistency of provision across boundaries, particularly in urban areas. The Department will also consider how best to work with the metro mayors, combined authorities and Transport for London, to encourage a more joined up approach to motorcycle access in these areas.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_85
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_85

Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's press release entitled, Transport Secretary acts to make thousands of extra driving tests available each month, published on 23 April 2025, whether the measures have been implemented. \p Lilian Greenwood: Since the announcement by the Secretary of State for Transport, 23 April 2025, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has:

As part of the measures announced, 23 April, DVSA also has:

Further information on these actions and progress of DVSA’s plan to reduce driving test waiting times, which was announced in December 2024, can be found on GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_86
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_86

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average time was to obtain a UK driving test in each region in the most recent 12 months for which data is available; and what percentage of applicants were foreign nationals. \p Lilian Greenwood: The table below shows the average waiting time for a car practical driving test by driving test centre regions, for the financial year 2024/25. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not collect any data regarding the customer's nationality when they book, or attend, their car practical driving test.

Region

Average Waiting Time In Weeks

Zone A (Scotland and North-East England)

17.1

Zone B (Wales and North-West England)

17.5

Zone C (Midlands and South-West England)

21.6

Zone D (London and South-East England)

22.4

National

19.5
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_87
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_87

Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has updated guidance on the use of single-sex facilities in response to the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025. \p Mike Kane: We will review and update policy wherever necessary to ensure it complies with the latest legal requirements. We aim to ensure appropriate facilities are available for all staff.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_88
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_88

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps she has taken to (a) prevent vehicle number plate cloning and (b) support victims. \p Lilian Greenwood: The cloning and use of false number plates is a serious issue and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is working with the police and others to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime.

The law requires anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK to be registered with DVLA and for suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that number plates are only sold to those who are entitled to the registration number. Number plate suppliers must also keep records of the number plates they have supplied. Those found to have committed number plate offences can be prosecuted by the police.

To help victims of numberplate cloning, the DVLA can, on request, provide a replacement age related registration number.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_89
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_89

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many permanent civil servants in her Department had their contract of employment terminated as a result of poor performance in the (a) 2022-23, (b) 2023-24 and (c) 2024-25 financial years. \p Alex Norris: The department has 5 or less performance-based dismissals or terminations for each financial year stated.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_90
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_90

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the transparency data entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, April 2025, published on 30 May 2025, if she will publish the specification of the research commissioned from the Department for Education on research services. \p Alex Norris: No such payment exists in the transparency data entitled MHCLG: spending over 25,000, April 2025, published on 30 May 2025.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_91
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_91

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to create delineated funding mechanisms for different tiers of local government in the proposed English Devolution Bill. \p Jim McMahon: The government has no plans to create further delineated funding mechanisms for different tiers of local government in the proposed English Devolution Bill.

The English Devolution White Paper set out that where a Strategic Authority takes on powers which are currently funded outside the Local Government Finance Settlement or the Integrated Settlements, such as Mayoral Capacity Funding, MHCLG will work with the relevant department or organisation to explore funding this through one of these routes.

Further detail on the interactions between Local Authority and Mayoral Strategic Authority funding will be set out in the upcoming consultation on Local Authority funding reform.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_92
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_92

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of transferring Police and Crime Commissioner powers to combined authorities on communities. \p Jim McMahon: As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government’s ambition is that where mayoral geographies align with police force geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) functions. By enabling more Mayors to take on PCC functions, we aim to provide efficient, accountable, and visible local leadership. More Mayors with public safety functions means strengthening Mayors’ accountability and enables them to forge stronger links and partnerships for the good of people in their areas. It will also enable them to better join up local services and take an integrated approach to improving local outcomes.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_93
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_93

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to announce proposals to strengthen the rules on donations to political parties before the summer recess. \p Rushanara Ali: In line with its manifesto commitment, the Government is currently considering a series of policy interventions, such as enhanced checks by recipients of donations and tighter controls on donors, including more restrictions around company donations. This will help enhance the protections of our system against potential risks.

The Government plans to set out further details in its Strategy for Elections, which is expected to be published this summer.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_94
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_94

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help prevent dangerous parking in residential areas. \p Jim McMahon: Parking is the responsibility of local authorities, and they are best placed to decide what is best for their local area.

Local Authorities are empowered to determine their parking arrangements through the Traffic Management Act 2004, which requires them to ensure that parking policies be proportionate, support town centre prosperity, and reconcile competing demands for kerb space whilst ensuring traffic moves freely and quickly on their roads and the roads of nearby authorities.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_95
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_95

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to protect supported housing in Lincolnshire. \p Rushanara Ali: Local authorities are best placed to decide how their funding is spent locally. This Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding through the Local Government Finance Settlement. The £3.4 billion, when taken together with a 3% core council tax referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept, results in an average overall real terms increase in local authority core spending power of 2.6% per year between 2025-26 and 2028-29.
wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_96
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-18 conversation_96

Jo Platt:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle aggressive begging. \p Rushanara Ali: Begging is a complex issue, though where it causes a nuisance or distress to communities, local areas need appropriate tools to maintain community safety.

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 already provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of flexible tools and powers to respond to ASB, including ASB that occurs in the context of begging.

The Home Office will be updating their statutory guidance to ensure it is clear to agencies how ASB powers could be used in this context if an individual’s aggressive begging reaches the ASB threshold. The Home Office have also introduced measures in the Crime and Policing Bill to tackle exploitative organised begging facilitated by others.