theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Sir Ashley Fox:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of staff in her Department did not meet the minimum office attendance target in the latest period for which data is available; and what sanctions her Department issues to staff who do not meet this target. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department for Transport requires staff who are working in a hybrid pattern to attend the workplace for at least 60% of their working time. This is monitored by line management and must take account of leave patterns, visits to other work sites and other legitimate absences. The core department operates an attendance record system which provides sufficient data for line management to monitor attendance and take appropriate action. Line managers are responsible for tracking individual attendance within their area and taking action. Due to the operation of the system and the number of reasons staff could legitimately be out of the office, this does not provide definitive central data on how many staff are meeting the required level of attendance, with that managed at local level.

If a member of staff fails to meet the required level of attendance without good reason, their manager may suspend the facility of home working or require that they attend the workplace on agreed days. Failure to attend the workplace when instructed to do so is a disciplinary matter which may result in formal action up to and including dismissal.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of open access rail operators on (a) connectivity, (b) passenger choice and (c) service quality. \p Simon Lightwood: In the right circumstances, Open Access can provide benefits such as improved connectivity and choice for passengers but can also increase costs to taxpayers and create additional performance pressures on an already constrained network.

We are clear that there will remain a role for Open Access in the reformed rail sector, but equally that it must genuinely add value and not simply inhibit the efficient operation of the network or divert revenue from existing operators – all of which are currently supported by the taxpayer in some form.
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Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the proposed Crossrail 2 route will include Worcester Park station. \p Simon Lightwood: The development of Crossrail 2 was paused in 2020, and whilst the route through Central London remains safeguarded to protect it from conflicting development, the Government currently has no plans to move forward with the scheme.
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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help (a) tackle infrastructure congestion and (b) improve (i) timetable capacity and (ii) passenger numbers to support open access plans for the Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway. \p Simon Lightwood: The delivery of HS2 will almost double long-distance rail capacity between London and the West Midlands, significantly improving the heavily congested southern section of the West Coast Main Line and releasing capacity for other services on the route. We are also investing to increase power supply on the southern end of the West Coast Main Line to enable the introduction of new electric services and support future growth and performance improvements on the route.

Further, my Department remains committed to a role for Open Access where it provides genuine benefits to passengers without disproportionately impacting taxpayers, which is why we provided support for Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway’s application. However, we must equally ensure that Open Access does not have detrimental impacts upon the performance of the network. It is the role of the regulator to take access decisions informed by assessments of capacity.
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Bobby Dean:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Department has considered alternative forms of verification for transport concessions for rough sleepers. \p Simon Lightwood: Concessionary travel legislation for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme requires that applicants must have their sole or primary residence in the local area in which they apply for a bus pass, but it does not stipulate the types of evidence which are acceptable as proof. Whilst it is ultimately up to local authorities to ensure that they comply with the law, the Department for Transport would urge them to consider making alternative arrangements, where required, to ensure that otherwise eligible older or disabled people who only have non-standard proofs of residency are still able to access the statutory concession.
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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of reconnecting Brecon to the rail network. \p Simon Lightwood: The Wales Rail Board is responsible for assessing and recommending rail investments to support new and improved services in Wales. No credible scheme to restore a direct rail connection to Brecon has been identified to date.

The UK and Welsh Governments are collaborating on their respective bus reform agendas. In Wales, this supports Transport for Wales’ vision for a fully integrated transport network providing improved connectivity to places not served by the existing rail network. For Brecon specifically, a new bus timetable and fare structure has recently been launched, offering greater flexibility and value for passengers.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of regulations to prevent pavement cycling. \p Simon Lightwood: Cycling on the pavement and on footpaths is an offence under Section 72 of the Highways Act 1835, other than in designated areas such as on bridleways and shared use paths. There are no plans to review the adequacy of this legislation and enforcement of cycling offences is a matter for the police.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of rail connectivity between Teesside and other major economic centres. \p Simon Lightwood: I recognise the important part that reliable rail connections play for a growing economy like Teesside. As well as allocating significant investment to reopen Hartlepool platform 3 in June 2024, which will allow more trains to pass through the station, we are working with train operators to make the best use of the available infrastructure and to improve reliability to deliver the services passengers need.

My department has regular discussions with Mayor Houchen and other Northern leaders on their aspirations for a more connected and reliable rail service across Teesside and the whole North East.
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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has had discussions with (a) the Rail Safety and Standards Board and (b) industry stakeholders to (i) develop and (ii) legislate for a minimum requirement for bicycle storage spaces per train unit on (A) new and (B) refurbished rolling stock. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department for Transport has not had discussions with the Rail Safety and Standards Board or industry stakeholders regarding legislating for a minimum requirement for bicycle storage spaces per train unit but is considering policy options to improve integration between cycling and rail for passengers.
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Dr Ben Spencer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her planned timeline is for replacement of the lifts at Weybridge Station. \p Simon Lightwood: The lifts at Weybridge Station are expected to be replaced by Autumn 2026.
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Maya Ellis:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of available driving tests in Ribble Valley constituency. \p Simon Lightwood: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.

On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce driving test waiting times across the country.

Further information on these actions and progress on the plan can be found on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-acts-to-make-thousands-of-extra-driving-tests-available-each-month.

The driving test centres that serve candidates in the Ribble Valley are Blackburn, Nelson, Skipton and Preston. Blackburn and Nelson are part of the same cluster of centres. From recruitment campaigns, DVSA has recruited two new entrant driving examiners (DE) and offered a further four DEs a position for this cluster. Following successful completion of training the new entrant DEs will be in post late autumn. A further DE has also been offered a post in Skipton. After successful completion of training, they will also be in post by late autumn.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that foreign drivers using UK roads are familiar with the Highway Code and UK road safety rules. \p Simon Lightwood: All drivers are encouraged to familiarise themselves regularly with the Highway Code and to refer to it periodically to refresh their road safety knowledge.

All road users are required to comply with road traffic law in the interests of their own safety and that of other road users, and this is reflected in The Highway Code. For those who do not adopt a responsible attitude, or if their use of the highway creates an unsafe environment or causes nuisance, there are laws in place that can make them liable for prosecution.
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Oliver Ryan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to provide additional funding to support repairs to the bridge on the Padiham Greenway walking and cycling route in Burnley; and how much funding her Department has provided to Lancashire County Council for (a) walking, (b) cycling and (c) active travel in the last five years. \p Simon Lightwood: In December 2024, Sustrans was awarded £280,000 for the ‘NCN 685 River Calder bridge reinstatement’ construction scheme in the eighth tranche of National Cycle Network funding. Active Travel England will set out future allocations to Sustrans to upgrade and maintain the NCN following department business planning decisions later this year. Sustrans will then be responsible for setting out proposals on the optimum use of this funding across the NCN, which could include funding for repairs to the Padiham Greenway.

In the last five years, Lancashire County Council has received £10,589,933 in capital funding through the Active Travel Fund and £2,940,541 in revenue funding through the Capability Fund. In addition, the authority has been allocated £4,508,882 for 25/26 through the Consolidated Active Travel Fund.
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Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is considering measures to bring rolling stock (a) procurement and (b) ownership into public ownership as contracts with leasing companies expire. \p Simon Lightwood: Rolling stock companies own and lease trains and carriages worth billions of pounds. It would not be responsible for the Government to take on the cost of renationalising all the rolling stock at the present time, as there are other urgent pressures on the public purse and we need to focus on wider rail reform.

The Government will develop a long-term strategy for rolling stock and associated infrastructure, which will have passengers at its heart and which will also support the supply chain by providing a predictable pipeline of work. Once established, Great British Railways will take a whole-system and long-term approach to using rolling stock across the network, providing certainty to manufacturers and rolling stock companies across the country and globally. Taking this approach to rolling stock will enable greater certainty and lower risk for the supply chain and will be a better way to secure value for money than the failed franchising model.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions her Department has had with freight operators on the potential impact of the Railway Bill on their operating model. \p Simon Lightwood: The Rail Minister meets regularly with the freight operators and the Railways Bill has been a subject of discussion on a number of occasions. Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published every quarter and this information can be accessed on the Gov.uk website via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-transparency-data#meetings.

In addition, officials meet regularly with the freight operators and have provided updates on the Bill. There have also been workshops for operators on specific aspects of the Bill.
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Laurence Turner:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps Network Rail are taking to ensure that its trackside vegetation management programmed is adequate. \p Simon Lightwood: Network Rail works hard to keep the rail network running. Its work to manage trees and other vegetation alongside the railway helps to keep trains running safely and on time. Network Rail carries out its activities in a way that minimises harm, and wherever possible improves the natural habitat while maintaining the performance and safety of the railway. Network Rail is committed to achieving an increase in biodiversity across the network by 2035 and publishes annual State of Nature reports to update on progress towards this commitment.
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James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an age restriction for riding an electric scooter. \p Simon Lightwood: Until changes are made, private e-scooters remain illegal to use on public roads, cycle lanes and pavements, irrespective of age.

Rental e-scooters can only be used as part of the Government’s rental e-scooter trials and users in the current trials are already required to have a provisional or full driving licence and therefore the minimum rider age is 16.

In the Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, which is part of the Industrial Strategy, the Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles, including e-scooters, when parliamentary time allows. Setting a minimum age will be considered, and consulted on, as part of any future regulations on e-scooters.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to review the regulations on the use of e-scooters on roads. \p Simon Lightwood: Until changes are made, private e-scooters remain illegal to use on public roads, cycle lanes and pavements.

In the Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, which is part of the Industrial Strategy, the Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles, including e-scooters, when parliamentary time allows.

The Government will consult thoroughly and publicly before any regulations on e-scooters come into force.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress she has made in implementing recommendations set out in the Stewart Review of HS2, published on 18 June 2025. \p Simon Lightwood: The James Stewart review made 89 recommendations across a number of themes. Four of these are complete and have been successfully implemented, all relating to the governance of the programme. The majority of the remaining recommendations are being implemented as part of the HS2 reset. HS2 Ltd will continue to work with and advise the Department on what is needed to complete the reset programme to deliver HS2 safely and at the lowest reasonable cost. Future updates on the reset and progress on implementation of the recommendations related to HS2 will be shared in the 6 monthly parliamentary report.
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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of constructing a direct rail link to Cardiff Airport. \p Simon Lightwood: The Wales Rail Board is responsible for assessing and recommending rail investments to support new and improved services in Wales. The approach of the Board is to promote improvements to services on the Vale of Glamorgan line, including to Rhoose, where there is an effective integrated bus link to Cardiff Airport.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of providing free bus travel to under 22 year olds. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government knows how important affordable and reliable bus services are in enabling people to get to education, work and access vital services. On 1 January, we introduced a £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London to help passengers continue to access cheaper bus services and better opportunities. At the Spending Review announced the cap would be extended until March 2027.

At present, the majority of bus services operate on a commercial basis by private operators, and any decisions regarding the level at which fares are set outside the scope of the £3 bus fare cap are commercial decisions for operators. Bus operators can choose to offer discounted fares for young people, and in the year ending March 2025, youth discounts were offered by at least one commercial bus operator in 73 out of 85 local authority areas in England outside London.

As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated £955 million to support and improve bus services in 25/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, this can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has been allocated £6 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include introducing new fares initiatives to reduce the cost of bus travel for young people.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has taken steps to update The Air Navigation Order 2016 to reflect advances in drone capability. \p Simon Lightwood: In 2023, the Department for Transport (DfT) commissioned the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to review the UK drone Regulation which was undertaken through a public consultation. The CAA published its consultation reply on 8 May 2025.

DfT is now updating the rules for drones to make them simpler, safer, and better suited to how they are used today and in the future. This includes updating the Air Navigation Order 2016.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what upgrades will take place as part of the East Coat Mainline Programme in Huntingdon constituency. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department has invested £1.2bn in a package of route-wide infrastructure upgrades as part of the East Coast Main Line Enhancements Programme, the benefits of which are due to be realised through introduction of a recast timetable in this December, which will provide more frequent and faster services across the route. Following the conclusion of the Spending Review, the Department is also working closely with Network Rail and industry stakeholders to develop options for a long-term pipeline of investment on the East Coast Mainline. This work will consider Network Rail’s assessment of the congested infrastructure on the route – including those identified between Huntingdon North Junction and New England North Junction – and explore opportunities to mitigate these constraints.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to extend the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate to coaches. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department ran calls for evidence on the decarbonisation of coaches in spring 2022 and on zero emission HGV and coach infrastructure in autumn 2023. We will provide an update on coach decarbonisation in due course.
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Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to introduce a ban on kerosene-powered private jets as part of the Government’s net zero strategy. \p Simon Lightwood: The government has no plans to ban kerosene-powered private jets. The Chancellor announced changes to the Air Passenger Duty (APD) in the last Budget, which included a 13% increase in APD rates for 2026/27 and a further 50% increase for larger private and business jets.

The government is committed to meeting our climate obligations to reach net zero by 2050 and will set out detail on plans for meeting legislated carbon budgets later this year.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release Full steam ahead: young people take the drivers seat to improve train services and unlock jobs of 7 May 2025, if she will publish an evaluation of the impact of this policy within a year of implementation. \p Simon Lightwood: The rail industry will be responsible for implementing the policy of lowering the minimum age requirement to be a train driver from 20 to 18, which will be enacted through changes to the Train Driving Licences and Certificates Regulations 2010. To ensure that this is done safely and responsibly, we have asked the rail industry to prepare an implementation plan, which will be kept under regular review. The regulations will be reviewed every five years, in line with usual government practice.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2025 to Question 67867 on East Anglia Rail Franchise: Nationalisation, which stakeholders she has (a) consulted and (b) engaged with in relation to the planned Services Agreement; and on what date the Services Agreement will be published. \p Simon Lightwood: A range of stakeholders were consulted and engaged in the design of the Services Agreement template, including train operating companies, DFT Operator Limited, Network Rail and passenger representatives. A Services Agreement is signed by the Department, DFT Operator Limited and public sector operator as services transfer into public ownership, tailored to each public sector operator. Services Agreements will be made available on the Department for Transport’s website in due course.
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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria she uses to assess bids under the Access for All scheme; and how stations can qualify for accessibility improvements. \p Simon Lightwood: As with all taxpayer funded programmes Access for All needs to demonstrate value for money.

The criteria used to assess nominations include station footfall, weighted by incidence of disability in the area, industry priorities, and the availability of third-party funding.  We also consider local factors, for example proximity to hospitals or stations with especially high numbers of interchange passengers. We also ensure that selected stations represent a fair geographical spread of projects across the national network.
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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will review the funding allocation model to ensure that smaller stations are not disadvantaged due to proximity to better-equipped neighbouring stations. \p Simon Lightwood: As with all taxpayer funded programmes, stations projects need to demonstrate value for money, but this is not necessarily linked to size of station. In the case of the Access for All programme, station footfall is only one criteria used. Additional importance is placed on local incidence of disability, geographical location, industry priority and the availability of third party funding.
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Dr Ben Spencer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) data sources and (b) methodology was used by South Western Rail to (i) measure the performance and (ii) monitor outage events of the lifts at Weybridge Station. \p Simon Lightwood: South Western Railway (SWR) uses the Network Rail data source system Citadel, which logs lifts reported out of use, alongside SWR customers advising of lifts out of use. This approach is used at all SWR stations with lifts including Weybridge. This data is then fed into a dashboard for measuring performance. The dashboard, lift performance and outage events are all discussed at a meeting held each rail period between SWR and Network Rail. This review feeds into improvement works and activities.
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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support is available to local authorities seeking to provide match funding for accessibility upgrades at stations. \p Simon Lightwood: Network Rail and train operators will always be available to advise local authorities on how funding contributions could be used to support station accessibility upgrades. This can happen on both a stand-alone basis, and as part of national nomination processes for the Access for All programme.
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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will revise the Access for All criteria to include community need as a key factor in future funding rounds. \p Simon Lightwood: As with all taxpayer funded programmes Access for All needs to demonstrate value for money and to benefit the maximum number of passengers. In addition to station footfall, we carefully consider local factors such as the incidence of disability or proximity to a school or hospital, geographical location, industry priority and the availability of third party funding are all taken into account when selecting stations.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2025 to Question 67866 on A12: Repairs and Maintenance, when she plans to announce her Department's spending plans for the 2026-27 financial year. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department’s spending plans will be published in the Main Estimates. For the Strategic Road Network, the Department intends to announce its spending plans for the 2026-27 financial year in the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3), which is expected to be published by the end of Spring 2026. National Highways is also expected to publish its Delivery Plan for the RIS3 period in 2026.
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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of relying on pre-booked taxi services from Portchester to nearby stations in order to access rail travel on disabled passengers. \p Simon Lightwood: This Government remains committed to improving railway accessibility and recognises the social and economic benefits it brings to communities.

There are no immediate plans to improve step-free access at Porchester station.

Train operators are required to provide assistance, free of charge, to enable disabled passengers to travel to and from every station in Great Britain that they have identified as accessible to them.
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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Portchester train station will be considered for funding in the next round of the Access for All programme. \p Simon Lightwood: All funding available for the Access for All programme in the current Spending Review period has been allocated to projects. Nominations for future rounds of funding will benefit from strong industry support and a proportion of third party match funding.
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Jerome Mayhew:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of pausing the Midland Mainline upgrade on (a) future East Midlands Railway regional fleet requirements and (b) planned Control Period 7 work. \p Simon Lightwood: I recognise the importance to the UK’s rolling stock manufacturing sector, and its supply chains, of having a strategy for rolling stock and supporting infrastructure. The Government is committed to developing this strategy in advance of Great British Railways. It will include consideration of the likely long-term future rolling stock needs across the network, including East Midlands Railway’s regional fleet requirements.

Since the decision to pause further electrification of the Midland Main Line was confirmed, Network Rail have been making plans for their current activities in a way that enables work to be subsequently utilised, as and when electrification on the route is re-started. As part of this they are also establishing the potential impact of the pause on other planned works.
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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve disabled access at Portchester train station. \p Simon Lightwood: This Government remains committed to improving railway accessibility and recognises the social and economic benefits it brings to communities. There are no immediate plans to improve step-free access at Porchester station and all current funding under the government’s Access for All programme has been allocated to existing projects. Nominations for future funding rounds will be strengthened by strong industry support and third-party match funding. In the meantime, passengers unable to use the station can book assistance through South Western Railway.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing mixed-mode integrated public transport ticketing across the UK. \p Simon Lightwood: The government recognises the value of greater integration between public transport modes, including in relation to ticketing, and will continue to work with local transport authorities, operators and passengers to improve the fares and ticketing offer for passengers across England.

Programmes currently under development in England recognise the aspiration for smart, multi-modal ticketing. This includes the Department for Transport working with representatives from the bus industry, Transport for West Midlands and Midlands Connect to develop a national technology solution to facilitate multi-operator ticketing on buses and trams, focusing on contactless bank card payments and enabling fares capping outside of London. In addition, the Fares, Ticketing, and Retail Programme is delivering two new Pay As You Go schemes for the West Midlands and Greater Manchester, and expanding an existing one in the South East.

Transport is a devolved matter, and the UK government has policy responsibility for public transport ticketing in England only.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_704

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what purposes their Department has used artificial intelligence in the last year. \p Simon Lightwood: As part of its delivery of the Transport AI Action Plan, the Department has established an internal AI programme to identify opportunities and roll out appropriate AI tools and processes to ensure the Department is delivering best value for the public. As well as ensuring access to Microsoft’s Co-Pilot tools to support everyday activities, targeted pilots are being run using AI for correspondence, consultation analysis, information retrieval and fraud detection, with plans for continuing expansion.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_705

Sir Mark Hendrick:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to increase (a) cycling safety and (b) increase uptake of cycling in (i) Preston and (ii) Lancashire. \p Simon Lightwood: In February, we announced almost £300 million funding for active travel in 2024/25 and 2025/26. Lancashire County Council has been awarded over £1.4 million in capital funding for 24/25 and over £4.5 million in revenue funding for 24/25 and capital funding for 25/26.

Officers in Active Travel England are working with colleagues in Lancashire County Council to support the delivery of active travel schemes and to signpost guidance and best practice on safety and accessibility. We look forward to working with the new county combined authority as it takes over strategic highways responsibilities into 2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_706

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance (a) Network Rail, (b) her Department and its agencies and (c) Great British Railways have produced on trade union facility time for railways staff. \p Simon Lightwood: Facility time arrangements are matters for individual rail employers and the trade unions to agree, in accordance with trade union and labour relations legislation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_707

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to support the roll out of automated train operation technology on (a) rail, (b) light rail, (c) Tube and (d) metro lines. \p Simon Lightwood: There are already a number of automated systems currently in use on various networks, the most notable being the Docklands Light Railway. Semi-automated systems are also operational on parts of Thameslink, the Elizabeth line and several London Underground lines. Further roll out would be subject to a full assessment of regulatory, technical and operational factors.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_708

Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has she made of potential impact of the public spaces protection orders process on taxi and professional drivers. \p Simon Lightwood: The Home Office lead on Public Spaces Protection Orders policy. Public Spaces Protection Orders can be issued by local authorities to stop people committing anti-social behaviour in a public place. It is for local areas to decide how best to deploy these powers depending on the specific circumstances. They are best placed to understand what is driving the behaviour in question, the impact that it is having, and to determine the most appropriate response.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_709

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what role (a) her Department and (b) its agencies will play in making agreements with trade unions on the nationalised railways. \p Simon Lightwood: As the employers, Network Rail and individual train operators, including those owned by DfT Operator Ltd, are responsible for negotiating agreements with the trade unions, under established collective bargaining arrangements.

The future role of Great British Railways in this process has still to be determined.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_710

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department has taken to strengthen guidance to help ensure bus lanes operate only (a) when buses are running and (b) when traffic is heavy enough to cause delay to buses. \p Simon Lightwood: It is for local authorities to decide whether bus lanes are appropriate on their network, and to set the times of operation. The Department published Local Transport Note 1/24: Bus User Priority in March 2024 which includes advice on all aspects of bus priority including the design of bus lanes and their times of operation. LTN 1/24 is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bus-user-priority-ltn-124.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_711

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information (a) her Department and (b) Great British Railways holds on (i) the trade union agreements with each railway operator and (ii) the operating practices on employees rights in each railway operator. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department for Transport does not hold any records of individual trade union agreements or operating practices relating to employee rights for each individual railway operator. These matters are managed directly by the operators themselves.

Great British Railways does not currently exist as a statutory body and therefore holds no such information.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_712

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority's Annual Report 2024–25, published on 11 August 2025, for what reason no evaluation was completed for the East Coast Mainline programme. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department has continued to work closely with Network Rail and industry stakeholders on development of the recast East Coast Main Line timetable, planned for introduction this December. This timetable will realise the benefits of the investment made through the Enhancements Programme, and so discussions are ongoing with the Department’s Research and Evaluation team, and NISTA, to develop a suitable Evaluation Plan for the Programme once the final details of the timetable have been formally confirmed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_713

Paula Barker:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Third Report of the Transport Select Committee of Session 2024-2 on Buses connecting communities, HC 494, published on 13 August 2025, if her Department will consider the potential merits of introducing free bus travel for under-22s. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government knows how important affordable and reliable bus services are in enabling people to get to education, work and access vital services. On 1 January, we introduced a £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London to help passengers continue to access cheaper bus services and better opportunities. At the Spending Review we announced the cap would be extended until March 2027.

At present, the majority of bus services operate on a commercial basis by private operators, and any decisions regarding the level at which fares are set outside the scope of the £3 bus fare cap are commercial decisions for operators. Bus operators can choose to offer discounted fares for young people, and in the year ending March 2025, youth discounts were offered by at least one commercial bus operator in 73 out of 85 local authority areas in England outside London.

As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated £955 million to support and improve bus services in 25/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, this can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has been allocated £20.9 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include introducing new fares initiatives to reduce the cost of bus travel for young people.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_714

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to improve bus (a) reliability and (b) frequency in (i) rural and (ii) semi-rural parts of the North East. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government is committed to delivering the better, more reliable bus services that passengers deserve throughout the country, including in rural areas. We introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill on 17 December as part of our ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill will put passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of the industry by putting the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in rural areas. The Bill includes a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services.

In addition, the Government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country, of which the Tees Valley Combined Authority was allocated £7.2 million. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.

The Government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in this Spending Review. On 11 June, the Government confirmed additional funding per year from 26/27 to maintain and improve bus services, including taking forward franchising pilots and extending the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_715

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding she has allocated to local authorities in the Tees Valley to support active travel schemes. \p Simon Lightwood: On 12 February, the Department announced almost £300 million of funding to support active travel across England, including allocations to local authorities through the Active Travel Fund 5 and Consolidated Active Travel Fund. Of this funding, the Tees Valley Combined Authority has received over £810,000 in capital funding for 24/25 and over £2.4 million in revenue funding for 24/25 and capital funding for 25/26.

In addition, the Tees Valley Combined Authority has been awarded £978 million through its Transport for City Regions settlement, from 2027-28 to 2031-32. This funding can be used to support active travel schemes across the region. Active Travel England has also awarded over £240,000 to the Combined Authority’s constituent authorities to support Bikeability cycle training in 2024/25.