theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Bob Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of banning the cross-breeding of exotic cats with domestic cat breeds. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government welcomes the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the welfare implications of current and emergent feline breeding practices which included their research into the management and welfare of hybrid breeding. We are carefully considering the Committee’s recommendations.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to prevent illegal sewage dumping in chalk stream rivers. \p Emma Hardy: Fixing the systemic issues in the water system is essential to addressing the multiple pressures facing chalk streams. Restoring these waterbodies to better ecological health is a core ambition of this Government’s overall programme of work to clean up rivers, lakes, and seas for good. Subject to consultation, we will abolish Ofwat and create a new, powerful, and integrated regulator, including a regional element to ensure greater local involvement in water planning and allow all sources of pollution to be addressed across the river catchment.

Our Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan already categorises chalk streams as high priority sites, ensuring that they are prioritised for improvement as part of the record £11 billion investment to improve nearly 3,000 storm overflows in England and Wales. Additionally, our protections through the Water (Special Measures) Act will hold polluters accountable and ensure these iconic British habitats are preserved for future generations.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce the risks of flooding. \p Emma Hardy: This Government is investing at least a record £10.5 billion until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history, which is projected to better protect nearly 900,000 properties.

On 14 October, following consultation, the Government announced major changes to its flood and coastal erosion funding policy.

The new funding policy will optimise funding between building new flood projects and maintaining existing defences and will ensure that deprived communities continue to receive vital investment. We will use Government funding to unlock investment from public, private and charitable sources, making every £1 of Government investment go further. We will also invest at least £300 million in natural flood management over ten years – the highest figure to date for the floods programme.

The Government has also set up its Floods Resilience Taskforce to provide oversight of national and local flood resilience and improve preparedness, especially ahead of the autumn and winter flood season.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 80143 on Farmers: Mental Health, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of farmers' mental health on levels of agricultural output. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Levels of agricultural output are measured in our statistical publications and can be affected by a range of factors including prices, disease and the weather. Although we have not attributed changes in output to changes in mental health, Defra recognises that poor mental health can affect agricultural productivity and profitability. International evidence has also highlighted a bidirectional relationship between mental health and agricultural output at the farm level.
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Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the Department for Health and Social Care on the public health impact of domestic wood burning, in the context of the forthcoming Environmental Improvement Plan. \p Emma Hardy: Defra and DHSC officials work closely on a range of environmental public health issues. A commitment to reduce emissions from domestic combustion is set out in the Government’s NHS 10 Year Plan for England.
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Jenny Riddell-Carpenter:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of qualified engineers to certify the construction of agricultural reservoirs; and what steps her Department is taking to increase capacity in this area. \p Emma Hardy: Reservoirs capable of holding over 25,000m3 water above ground level are regulated under the Reservoirs Act 1975. Not all agricultural reservoirs will fall into this category. Anyone building one which does must appoint an engineer to oversee the construction. That engineer must be one who has been appointed by Ministers to a relevant panel. They are listed here.

The Department strongly supports the need to boost the supply and capacity of reservoir panel engineers. Defra is working with the devolved governments and Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) to: enhance engineer training and development; improve access to engineers for smaller reservoir owners; reach out to adjacent engineering sectors to boost recruitment; and review the existing panel structure to support engineer career progression. This is part of a wider programme of reservoir safety reform Reservoir Safety Reform Programme | Engage Environment Agency.
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Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to protect chalk streams. \p Emma Hardy: Fixing the systemic issues in the water system is essential to address the multiple pressures facing chalk streams. Chalk streams are embedded in our plan to reform the water industry. The Government has announced an ambitious programme of reforms to clean up our rivers, lakes, and seas for good.

We are tackling one of the biggest impacts on chalk streams by reducing the risk of harmful abstraction by an estimated 126 million litres daily by 2030, through the amendment of water company abstraction licences, protecting vital water flows to these fragile ecosystems.

We are rebuilding the entire water network through one of the largest infrastructure projects in this country’s history with a record £104 billion investment to upgrade crumbling pipes and cut sewage spills, which will help to protect chalk streams.

Our protections through the Water (Special Measures) Act will ensure chalk streams are preserved for future generations.
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Shaun Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps (a) she and (b) her officials are taking to reduce fraud in the (i) Packaging Recovery Note and (ii) Packaging Export Recovery Note systems. \p Mary Creagh: Defra has already introduced a number of measures in the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging. All reprocessors and exporters who handle any packaging waste will now have to register, and to collect and report data on packaging waste received, processed, rejected, and exported.

The Regulations will also place additional requirements on accredited reprocessors and exporters, including monthly reporting of packaging waste reprocessed or exported, and monthly data on PRN/PERN prices by material. Exporters will also need to provide proof of receipt at the final overseas destination site to issue a PERN and retain records of recycling of the packaging waste. There will also be a new “Fit and Proper Person” test for operators as part of the accreditation process.
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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the Armed Forces Covenant Duty across his Departmental responsibilities. \p Kate Dearden: The Government’s election manifesto committed to placing the Armed Forces Covenant fully into law. During Armed Forces week in June, the Prime Minister announced that Military personnel, veterans, their families and the bereaved are to have their unique circumstances legally protected by central and devolved governments for the first time under new plans to extend the Covenant Legal Duty to more policy areas and across the UK.

The Covenant Legal Duty will now be extended from three policy areas to encompass 14 policy areas in a much broader scope. The policy areas are healthcare, education, housing, social care, childcare, employment and service in the Armed Forces, personal taxation, welfare benefits, criminal justice, immigration, citizenship, pensions, service-related compensation and transport. The Government aims to make the changes in the next Armed Forces Bill, anticipated in 2026.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of his proposed licensing reforms on (a) on trade and (b) off trade sales. \p Kate Dearden: The Government is inviting views and evidence to inform the development of a modern, proportionate and enabling licensing system, building on the work of the Licensing Taskforce earlier in the year.

A Call for Evidence is currently open until 6 November in order to gather views and evidence to inform proposals for reforms to licensing. This is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/reforming-the-licensing-system.

Any legislative changes will be subject to an impact assessment, consultation and parliamentary scrutiny. No impact assessment has yet been undertaken.

The focus of the reforms will be the on-trade, with the aim of supporting the hospitality sector and members of the public who enjoy cafes, restaurants, pubs and nightclubs as well as entertainment and late night refreshment premises. Any changes will be designed to have no, or negligible, impact on the off-trade.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of his proposed licensing reforms on local authorities’ ability to refuse harmful alcohol licenses. \p Kate Dearden: The Government is inviting views and evidence to inform the development of a modern, proportionate and enabling licensing system.

The Government is inviting views and evidence to inform the development of a modern, proportionate and enabling licensing system, building on the work of the Licensing Taskforce earlier in the year.

No assessment has yet been made of the impact of any potential reforms on the ability of licensing authorities to refuse licences where they have concerns within the scope of the current licensing regime. The Government, however, intends there to be no reduction in the existing safeguards relating to public safety, prevention of crime and disorder, public nuisance and protection of children.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of his proposed licensing reforms on rapid round-the-clock alcohol delivery. \p Kate Dearden: The Government is inviting views and evidence to inform the development of a modern, proportionate and enabling licensing system.

A Call for Evidence is currently open until 6 November in order to gather views and evidence to inform proposals for reforms to licensing. This is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/reforming-the-licensing-system.

Any legislative changes will be subject to an impact assessment, consultation and parliamentary scrutiny.

Delivery of alcohol to consumers, for example as a result of online purchasing, is part of the off-trade, i.e. sales from supermarkets, off-licences and online retailers. The focus of the government’s reforms will be the on-trade, with the aim of supporting the hospitality sector and members of the public who enjoy cafes, restaurants, pubs and nightclubs as well as entertainment and late night refreshment premises. Any changes will be designed to have no, or negligible, impact on the off-trade.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of his proposed licensing reforms on levels of alcohol-related (a) deaths and (b) harm. \p Kate Dearden: The Government is inviting views and evidence to inform the development of a modern, proportionate and enabling licensing system.

A Call for Evidence is currently open until 6 November in order to gather views and evidence to inform proposals for reforms to licensing. This is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/reforming-the-licensing-system. No assessment has yet been made of the impact of any reforms on alcohol-related deaths or harm. Any legislative changes will be subject to an impact assessment, consultation and parliamentary scrutiny.
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Carla Denyer:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of mechanisms to safeguard against a residential address being fraudulently used to register a company without the knowledge of the resident of the address. \p Blair McDougall: The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 strengthened Companies House’s powers to query or reject inaccurate or suspicious addresses, enabling the Registrar to act swiftly and decisively against misuse of residential addresses.

Many fraudulent or misused registered office addresses have been removed and replaced with default addresses and companies without appropriate addresses are struck off, protecting those whose details were used without permission.

Companies House’s systems improve continuously to detect and prevent unauthorised address use. The Government is considering the Public Accounts Committee’s recommendation for increased powers to verify new and existing company addresses and will respond in November.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of the British Business Bank’s annual investment capacity has been earmarked for deployment in under-served (a) regions and (b) nations of the UK. \p Blair McDougall: The British Business Bank invests flexibly, allowing it to react to changing market conditions. Most investment decisions are taken by the managers of funds in which the Bank has invested. For these reasons, investment is not generally earmarked in advance for specific nations and regions of the United Kingdom.

The £1.6 billion Nations and Regions Investment Funds are the exception. They currently provide debt and equity finance to businesses in three regions of England and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Two new funds, covering South and East England, will launch in April 2026.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has set a quantitative target for annual increases in private capital crowd-in by the British Business Bank over the next five years. \p Blair McDougall: No. Setting a quantitative target for annual increases in private capital crowd-in by the British Business Bank could incentivise a shift towards less risky investments, which are more likely to attract private capital. This would be contrary to the Bank’s purpose of addressing market gaps and under-served regions and entrepreneurs.

The amount of private capital crowded-in is reported in the Bank’s Impact Report, published annually. The most recent report shows that in the year to 3 March 2025 the Bank deployed £1.2 billion of public finance and crowded-in a further £3.0 billion, a ratio of 2.5 to one.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2025 to Question 68454 on Manufacturing Industries: West Midlands, which SME sectors in the West Midlands were consulted during the development of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy 2025. \p Blair McDougall: As part of Invest 2035 the Department issued a public consultation asking for feedback on 36 questions to inform the Industrial Strategy. The consultation received over 27,000 online answers to individual questions from a wide range of businesses and organisations, including more than 250 business associations representing hundreds of thousands of businesses across the UK.

In the West Midlands input was sought from businesses across a wide range of sectors, including all eight growth driving sectors. We engaged with organisations representing business interests across sectors, including the Combined Authority, Midlands Engine Partnership, local business representation organisations, and regional networks such as the export champions. Additionally, we met directly with representatives from businesses in the growth driving sectors in the region to give them an opportunity to feed into the development of the strategy.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to page 28 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, when he plans to publish the first Modern Industrial Strategy update. \p Blair McDougall: We are working at pace in partnership with business to deliver our modern Industrial Strategy, to increase investment and grow the economy. We have now published all eight Sector Plans, co-developed with industry, as well as the first Industrial Strategy Quarterly Update: Industrial Strategy quarterly update: July to September 2025 - GOV.UK.

The Quarterly Update sets out how we are delivering on our commitments in the Industrial Strategy and reports on the key economic indicators for our high-growth sectors, as well as delivery milestones and major investment commitments.
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Alex Easton:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of requiring company directors to obtain digital identification through Companies House from November 2025 on administration for businesses. \p Blair McDougall: Identity verification is designed to be quick and straightforward. Individuals can verify their identity digitally through GOV.UK One Login, for free, via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as an accountant or solicitor, or in-person at the Post Office. In most cases, the digital route takes a few minutes.

Our 2024 Impact Assessment concluded that the familiarisation and time-based costs to businesses of identity verification are minimal. The cost to an average officer for identity verification is £10.50, and up to £25.20 for a harder-to-verify individual (2019 prices) and £2.10 to confirm each appointment.
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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to publish the UK Steel Strategy. \p Chris McDonald: The Government is developing a Steel Strategy to be published in 2025 that will set out a long-term vision for a bright and sustainable steel sector in the UK and the actions needed to get there.

The strategy will articulate what is needed to create a competitive business environment in the UK with the aim of attracting new private investment to secure and expand UK steelmaking capability and capacity which is aligned with our Net Zero goals.
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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, on which dates the Steel Council has met since its formation in January 2025. \p Chris McDonald: Since the relaunch of the Steel Council in January 2025, it has convened on three occasions. The meetings took place on 7 January, 8 April, and 14 July. The next meeting of the Steel Council is scheduled for 4 November 2025.

The Steel Council is assisting in the development the upcoming Steel Strategy and brings the expertise of industry, workers and innovative thinkers to the heart of the Department’s policy making.
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to encourage private sector investment in businesses in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire. \p Chris McDonald: The Department for Business and Trade supports regional growth by working with local areas to attract private investment, helping business to grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities in Staffordshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme. As part of the recent Office for Investment expansion, we work with local areas, leveraging public finance from institutions like the National Wealth Fund and the British Business Bank, to deliver strategic investments, aligned with the 10-year Infrastructure and Industrial strategies.

Carlsberg Britvic plans to invest £4 million in Staffordshire, supporting hundreds of jobs, and the approval, of the M54-M6 link road, will further boost the local economy.
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Dame Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to develop a national strategy to secure aluminium as a critical raw material for the economy. \p Chris McDonald: Building on the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre’s updated 2024 criticality assessment in which aluminium was designated a critical mineral due to supply chain risks and economic vulnerability, the Government has been working with industry to publish a new Critical Minerals Strategy this year. This will focus on securing vital materials for economic growth, national security, and the clean energy transition. The Strategy will refine our approach to domestic production and target UK strengths to support business resilience.
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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of ensuring the continuation of domestic steel manufacturing on the UK’s (a) critical national infrastructure resilience and (b) emergency response capability. \p Chris McDonald: We recognise the strategic importance of a secure and resilient steel supply, and the domestic steel sector has an important role to play in supporting our national infrastructure, defence capability and broader national resilience.

This government will continue to support security of supply that protects our national resilience. These factors, among many others, will inform part of our wider approach to the sector ahead of the publication of the steel strategy later this year, and, as announced in the industrial strategy, steel will be a component of ongoing analysis conducted by the new Supply Chain Centre.
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Calum Miller:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the potential impacts of the US requiring duties to be collected on all imports on UK businesses. \p Chris Bryant: The department has conducted quantitative analysis and engaged directly with businesses across impacted sectors to understand the impact of the US removal of their De Minimis threshold. We have published information for UK businesses and remain in contact with our US counterparts to ensure their guidance to our exporters is as clear as possible. Royal Mail’s new service has allowed SMEs to continue trading with the US.

The Secretary of State and departmental officials are in regular contact with US counterparts to discuss the impacts of tariffs on UK businesses and arrangements we can reach to alleviate them.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the press release entitled Powering Britain's future: Electricity bills to be slashed for over 7,000 businesses in major industry shake-up, published on 22 June 2025, whether vehicle manufacturers will be eligible for this support. \p Chris McDonald: The Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy states that the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme “will benefit manufacturing electricity intensive frontier industries in the IS-8, such as automotive and aerospace, and foundational manufacturing industries in the supply chains, such as chemicals.”

The precise details of eligibility will be determined following a consultation, which will open in the coming weeks.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the press release entitled Powering Britain's future: Electricity bills to be slashed for over 7,000 businesses in major industry shake-up, published on 22 June 2025, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of this intervention. \p Chris McDonald: As stated in the Modern Industrial Strategy, we intend to fund the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme by bearing down on levies and other costs in the energy system.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of adopting single/double summer time on levels of crime. \p Kate Dearden: The Government believes the current daylight-saving arrangements represent the optimal use of the available daylight across the UK. Therefore, we have no plans to introduce single summertime, double summertime, or other such changes. Since the Government does not intend to make changes to the existing system, we have not conducted assessments of the impact on the retail and hospitality sectors, on levels of energy consumption or crime.
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Will Stone:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to (a) reduce decibel levels in fireworks, (b) restrict sales of fireworks to licensed shops and (c) create firework-free zones. \p Kate Dearden: There are currently no plans to bring forward legislation in relation to fireworks. However, the Government is continuing to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues with and impacts of fireworks to inform any future action.

The Government has also launched a public campaign on fireworks safety for this year’s fireworks season. The campaign includes new guidance for those running community fireworks events, and new social media posts that emphasise the risks from the misuse of fireworks.
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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of supermarket pricing strategies on the long-term viability of UK farming businesses. \p Kate Dearden: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is responsible for investigating UK competition issues. The CMA updated its analysis of competition and profitability in the groceries sector in July 2024, which found no evidence of groceries inflation being driven by weak competition between retailers.

The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) regulates the relationship between the UK’s largest grocery retailers and their direct suppliers by encouraging, monitoring and enforcing compliance with Groceries Code, a CMA owned competition measure.  The Code covers interactions between retailers and direct suppliers which excludes most farmers. The Code does not regulate prices, which is a commercial negotiation.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2025 to Question 76302 on Lord Mandelson, whether Lord Mandelson's mailbox during his time as Business Secretary, held by Integrated Corporate Services, holds (a) information and (b) correspondence relating to (i) Jeffery Epstein and (ii) the sale of Sempra Commodities to JP Morgan. \p Kate Dearden: The Integrated Corporate Services (ICS) do not hold any records of information or correspondence from Lord Mandelson’s mailbox relating to Jeffrey Epstein or the sale of Sempra Commodities.
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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department plans to publish its response to the consultation on the Green Paper: Future of the Post Office, which closed on 6 October 2025. \p Blair McDougall: We received over 2,500 responses to the Government’s Green Paper on the future of the Post Office, from a wide range of individuals, postmasters, businesses and organisations. We are currently analysing all the responses received and will include further details and an exact number in the Government’s response.

Government plans to publish a response to the Green Paper consultation in early 2026.
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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what procurement process his Department intends to use for selecting a replacement service for the Horizon system. \p Blair McDougall: Post Office Limited (as the contracting entity) is using the competitive flexible process (pursuant to the Procurement Act 2023) in order to select suppliers to take over the current Horizon system and transform it into a replacement solution. The Tender for Lots 1 and 2 is live here: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/xx-xxxx-xxxx?origin=Dashboard.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of Section 6.2.2. of the British Standard BS 8300-1:2018 entitled Design of an accessible and inclusive built environment, published on 31 January 2018 on the guidance entitled LTN 1/20 Cycle Infrastructure Design, published on 27 July 2020. \p Simon Lightwood: Section 6.2.2. of British Standard 8300-1:2018 gives advice on designing bus stops in relation to cycle facilities, including what are sometimes called ‘floating bus stops’. It has the status of good practice guidance as there is no requirement in legislation to comply with it. Section 6.2.2 would in practice prevent local authorities from implementing any kind of floating bus stop.

The Government does not believe that a complete ban on floating bus stops is appropriate, given the need to improve safety for cyclists and to enable more people to cycle.

The Government is fully aware of the concerns raised – particularly from visually impaired people and organisations on their behalf – about floating bus stops. The Bus Services (No. 2) Bill includes a requirement for the Secretary of State to produce statutory guidance for local authorities in England on the provision and design of floating bus stops. Alongside this, the Government has committed to asking local authorities to pause certain types of shared-use design in which the cycle route runs between the kerb and the shelter, requiring people to board or alight straight into a cycle track. More information will be provided to local authorities at Royal Assent of the Bill.
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Greg Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had recent discussions with Chiltern Railways on the refurbishment of Haddenham & Thame Parkway car park. \p Simon Lightwood: My Officials have been in regular contact with Chiltern Railways regarding the refurbishment of Haddenham & Thame Parkway car park, particularly in light of the closure of the upper deck and the resulting capacity challenges.

The Department will continue to engage with Chiltern Railways to ensure that car park improvements deliver meaningful benefits for rail users and the wider local community.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_305

Alberto Costa:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with CrossCountry on increasing capacity on (a) peak services between Leicester and Narborough and (b) the 17:18 weekday service from Leicester to Birmingham. \p Simon Lightwood: In December 2024, CrossCountry removed First Class accommodation from the trains used on the Birmingham to Stansted Airport route, increasing the number of seats available to all ticket holders. All operators are expected to plan capacity on individual services to best match the expected level of demand, whilst making efficient use of the train fleet and train crew resources available to them. Officials are working with CrossCountry to develop a business case to further expand their Inter-City train fleet.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_306

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of electrifying the branch between London Gateway and Thames Haven Junction on (a) the efficiency, (b) the reliability and (c) the reduction in emissions of freights. \p Simon Lightwood: Initial assessments do indicate that electrifying the branch between London Gateway and Thames Haven Junction would improve the efficiency and reliability of rail freight while reducing emissions. We will continue to work closely with Network Rail and other industry partners in assessing the viability and affordability of this proposal.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_307

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of freight capacity of (a) the Ely Area Capacity Enhancements, (b) the Northallerton–Eaglescliffe Gauge Clearance and (c) other schemes identified in Network Rail’s pipeline following the Comprehensive Spending Review. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department has previously approved initial progression of development work with Network Rail on a) Ely Area Capacity and b) Northallerton-Eaglescliffe Gauge Clearance schemes, both of which identified potential for increasing the capacity for freight on the routes. These schemes and a number of c) others, were not prioritised in the Spending Review for progression at this time but will be kept under review as part of our pipeline for potential progression in future as funding becomes available. The Secretary of State set out the road and rail schemes that have been prioritised for progression in the Spending Review period 8 July 2025, which includes schemes that will have benefits for freight capacity.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_308

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to decide whether her Department will progress the Ely Area Capacity Enhancements scheme to the next development stage. \p Simon Lightwood: Secretary of State set out the schemes that have been prioritised for the Spending Review period in her 8 July announcement and made clear that other schemes would be kept under review as part of our pipeline for potential progression in future as funding becomes available. The Ely Area Capacity scheme was closed by the previous government and it has not been possible to reprioritise it at the most recent Spending Review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_309

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made on resolving clearance issues at Marle Pit on the Midland Main Line. \p Simon Lightwood: Following the decision to pause further electrification of the Midland Main Line, the department has been in discussion with Network Rail regarding their plans to conclude their current activities in a safe and controlled way. This has included a review of planned route clearance works in Sutton Bonington, Nottinghamshire. As part of this review, the works at Marle Pit bridge will be replanned when funding becomes available and electrification of the route can be re-started. While this is not expected to be within the next four years, the programme is being kept under active review as part of our longer-term pipeline of schemes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_310

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve rail freight access between PD Teesport and London Gateway. \p Simon Lightwood: Network Rail have taken steps to increase port connectivity by increasing the number of paths from both Teesport and London Gateway. Collaborative working between Network Rail, DP World and freight operators has led to capacity out of London Gateway more than doubling in the past year, increasing from 10 to 22 available paths.

Launched in Summer 2024, Network Rail’s Access Charges Discount Policy offers timebound 6-month discounts on track access charges for new freight flows, whilst volumes on new services build up and become financially sustainable.

In April of this year, under the Discounts Policy, a new daily service between Teesport and Doncaster was approved, releasing more capacity from the North East to South Yorkshire. In the same month, a new service from London Gateway to Tinsley commenced, running six additional trains per week.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_311

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has received updated cost estimates for Channel Tunnel container gauge clearance. \p Simon Lightwood: I am aware of industry proposals to enhance Kent routes to ‘W12’, in order to enable more containerised traffic from Europe, which was estimated by Network Rail to cost around £200m. Network Rail has been considering more affordable, incremental gauge clearance proposal as a step towards W12, with estimated costs below £50m. However, any investment decision will be subject to the usual business case process, working with industry, and will need to clearly demonstrate demand for enhanced infrastructure.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_312

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to reintroduce development funding for rail freight enhancement schemes (a) paused and (b) cancelled after the Comprehensive Spending Review 2025. \p Simon Lightwood: No rail schemes were cancelled as a part of Spending Review 2025 but we had to prioritise the schemes that would have the greatest impact in supporting our missions in the shortest period, whilst maintaining an affordable and sustainable enhancements portfolio. This meant not all schemes could be progressed at this time. The Secretary of State made clear in her 8 July 2025 announcement on rail and road projects the schemes that have been prioritised for progression in the Spending Review period. A number of schemes, including potential freight schemes, some of which had been paused or cancelled prior to the Spending Review by the previous government, could not be taken forward at this time but will be kept under review as part of our pipeline for potential progression in future as funding becomes available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_313

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with HS2 Ltd on the the delay to the planned connection between High Speed 2 and the West Coast Main Line at Handsacre; what the additional cost to the public purse will be as a result of that delay; and what recent steps the she has taken to ensure that the HS2 project is delivered on time and within budget. \p Simon Lightwood: The Secretary of State for Transport and the Rail Minister have regular engagement with the CEO and Chair of HS2 Ltd to maintain oversight of the project and support their comprehensive reset of HS2.

The government has committed an unprecedented settlement of £25.3 billion to progress the delivery of HS2 and Euston up to 2029/30, which will fund construction of the new railway at the lowest reasonable cost. New estimates for the programme’s overall costs and schedule are being developed as part of the HS2 reset.

The four-year deferral of works between Delta Junction and Handsacre Junction will enable construction efforts to focus on the cost-efficient delivery of HS2’s opening stage between Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street.

The works in this area were already paused, meaning the further deferral will not incur demobilisation costs. There will be some additional costs from prolongation and inflation, but these are necessary given the HS2 reset and the need to budget carefully in the wider context of total government spending.

The Secretary of State informed the House of the action she took to bring HS2’s delivery under control in an oral statement she made in June 2025 and in her HS2 progress report of July 2025. Further updates will be provided in the Department’s future six-monthly reports to Parliament.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_314

Dame Caroline Dinenage:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance she provides to local transport authorities on creating Local Transport Plans. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Government is aware that Local Transport Plan Guidance hasn’t been updated in over a decade. We are currently developing new guidance for Local Transport Authorities in line with our wider priorities. The Government intends to publish updated Local Transport Plan guidance in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to publish the new Road Safety Strategy. \p Lilian Greenwood: Improving road safety is one of my Department’s highest priorities. This Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. Our Road Safety Strategy is under development and will include a broad range of policies. We intend to publish by the end of the year.