theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_476
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_476

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many planning permissions were granted in each of the past five years. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department publishes the number of planning applications granted permission per quarter in our quarterly planning applications statistical release which can be found on gov.uk here.

England level data can be found in live table 120 for all planning decisions, and for residential planning decisions in live table 120A.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_477
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_477

Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions his Department has had with local planning authorities on the impact of permitted development for Houses in Multiple Occupation on parking provision. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has not had any such discussions with local planning authorities.

Local authorities can remove the permitted development right for smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation to protect local amenity or wellbeing of an area by introducing an ‘Article 4’ direction.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_478
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_478

Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) adequacy of the Building Safety Regulator. \p Samantha Dixon: The new Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy recently met with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) leadership, in recognition of the critical role the regulator plays in ensuring the safe design and construction of high-rise buildings.

We understand delays to the assessment of applications are unacceptable, which is why we announced reforms to the BSR on 30 June, including plans to carve out the BSR from the Health and Safety Executive and establish a standalone body with a clear focus on building safety.

In recognition of the performance challenges, and in line with announcement in June, the BSR has already started to make operational and policy changes to speed up decision making particularly on building control approval, including through the introduction of an Innovation Unit. We are seeing early signs of improvement, with all applications in the Innovation Unit so far on track to exceed or meet the 12-week SLA as they progress through the application process.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_479
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_479

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued on the use of Article 4 directions under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for (a) houses in multiple occupation and (b) asylum accommodation. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has not issued any such guidance.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_480
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_480

Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help tackle fraudulent electoral registration. \p Samantha Dixon: The Government is committed to upholding the integrity of electoral registers. A robust system of identity verification forms part of the electoral registration process. This includes the ability to match an applicant’s data with Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) records, or to request documentary evidence to verify their identity.

The Electoral Commission, which is responsible for issuing guidance on electoral registration, has also published guidance for Electoral Registration Officers on identifying suspicious registration applications and working with local police to investigate any potential registration fraud.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_481
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_481

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 61248 on Green Belt: Maps, if he will list the local authorities that have received funding. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government has provided 133 local planning authorities with £70,000 of pump priming funding each to contribute towards the costs of carrying out Green Belt reviews in their areas.

Eligible local authorities submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) form requesting a share of this funding. The EOIs were reviewed, and funding has been awarded.

Further details, along with a list of successful local authorities, can be found on gov.uk here.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_482
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_482

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 69298 on Electoral Register: Young People, if he will make it his policy to consult with political parties on the elections strategy at an early stage prior to bringing forward legislative proposals on this matter. \p Samantha Dixon: Pursuant to the answer given to Question [69298] on Electoral Register, the Government will continue to work closely with our partners in local and devolved government and wider stakeholders to deliver on our strategy for modern and secure elections. This will include engagement with political parties, the electoral sector, education and civil society, and with citizens themselves to ensure impacts are thoroughly considered and changes successfully delivered.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_483
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_483

Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued on whether an elector can register to vote in three different localities. \p Samantha Dixon: In the UK, citizens are entitled to be registered at more than one address in certain circumstances. It is the responsibility of the local Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) to consider each application to register to vote on its own merits and to be satisfied that a person meets the residence criteria for each address.

The Electoral Commission as the independent electoral regulator, holds responsibility for issuing guidance on electoral registration.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_484
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_484

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the proposed digital ID cards will be considered valid ID to vote at polling stations. \p Samantha Dixon: Once the new Digital Credential is available, we intend to add it to the list of accepted forms of ID for use in voting in elections. We will confirm the details of this closer to the launch of the new digital credential when further development has been completed.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_485
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_485

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to consult with political parties formally on the political finance technical measures outlined in the policy paper entitled Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, published on 17 July 2025. \p Samantha Dixon: The political finance measures are building on long-standing, well-established recommendations from expert stakeholders across the electoral landscape.

In developing our measures for the Elections paper, we have worked closely with key stakeholders. We are keen to continue this important engagement with all stakeholders, including political parties, as we progress this work.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_486
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_486

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 114 of the policy paper entitled Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, published on 17 July 2024, what types of information could be shared through the Electoral Commission's statutory gateway that it cannot currently (a) send and (b) accept. \p Samantha Dixon: The Electoral Commission currently lacks an explicit statutory gateway to share information with other regulators and enforcement authorities. At present, the Commission relies on other organisations’ statutory gateways or Memorandums of Understanding when sharing information, making routine information-sharing burdensome. The Government therefore intends to provide the Commission with an explicit statutory gateway to enable it to share information with certain regulators and enforcement authorities, for the purpose of assisting relevant bodies in carrying out their statutory functions.

This will provide a solid legal foundation for the Electoral Commission to share information on cross-cutting issues such as foreign interference or data protection, nurturing a more collaborative and effective regulatory environment. Any disclosures will remain subject to UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Alongside other proposals in the Elections Strategy, we will legislate to bring forward this measure as soon as parliamentary time allows.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_487
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_487

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued to Electoral Registration Officers on the declarations that a potential elector must make to enter the electoral roll. \p Samantha Dixon: The Electoral Commission, as the independent electoral regulator, holds responsibility for publishing guidance for Electoral Registration Officers, including guidance on electoral registration.

This guidance can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_488
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_488

Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of HM Land Registry providing registered leaseholders with an annual update of their (a) lease terms and (b) other relevant information by (i) post and (ii) email. \p Matthew Pennycook: It is essential that leaseholders understand their rights and responsibilities and are able to access information regarding their leasehold arrangements.

Leaseholders can view high level information on their lease on the title register or request an official copy of their lease from HM Land Registry (HMLR) using form OC2. A dataset of registered leases is also published by HMLR and can be accessed free of charge for personal use. It can be found on gov.uk here.

On 4 July, the government published a consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services. It can be found on gov.uk here. For an overview of the proposals set out in the consultation, I refer the hon. Member to the associated Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS780). The consultation closed on 26 September, and we are analysing responses.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_489
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_489

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to (a) amend planning policy and (b) issue guidance on (i) the sequential test and (ii) flood-risk management in the context of recent (A) appeal and (B) other judicial decisions. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk (whether existing or future). Where development is necessary in such areas, the development should be made safe for its lifetime without increasing flood risk elsewhere.

To ensure a proportionate, pragmatic and constituents approach to surface flood risk, we published updated planning practice guidance to clarify how the sequential test should be applied in September 2025.

We will consider whether any further changes are required to national planning policy for flooding as part of the new suite of national policies for decision making that we intend to consult on later this year.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_490
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_490

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to assist local planning authorities in holding management companies to account for the maintenance of (a) roads and (b) public spaces under their remit. \p Matthew Pennycook: Estate management companies will usually agree standards for maintaining newly built developments with the developer at the time that the site is handed over to them. Where these standards are replicated in the agreement between the estate manager and the homeowner, failure to deliver services to this standard may be a breach of contract . In such instances, homeowners are able to make an application to the County Court to seek resolution.

In some instances, standards may be set through planning conditions and a failure to meet them may also be a breach of planning control. Local planning authorities have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance, which they can use where development is not maintained in accordance with the planning permission granted. It is for authorities to decide how and when they use their powers depending on the circumstances of each case.

The government remain committed to protecting residential freeholders on private and mixed-tenure housing estates from unfair charges. This year we will consult on implementing the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s new consumer protection provisions for the up to 1.75m homes that are subject to these charges, and bring these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter. These include ensuring that homeowners who pay an estate management charge have better access to information they need to understand what they are paying for, the right to challenge the reasonableness at the First-tier Tribunal (in England), and to go to the tribunal to appoint a substitute manager.

The government is determined to end the injustice of ‘fleecehold’ entirely and we will consult this year on legislative and policy options to reduce the prevalence of private estate management arrangements, which are the root cause of the problems experienced by many residential freeholders.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_491
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_491

Paul Holmes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to reintroduce Article 5 certificates, in the context of trends in the number of cases where Tree Protection Orders are removed at the request of insurance companies; and what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (b) Forestry England and (c) the Association of British Insurers on the proposed new protocol to protect trees at risk of felling. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Tree Preservation Order system is the primary method of protecting trees and woodlands in England. Anyone applying to a local authority to cut down, top, lop or uproot trees subject to an Order because of tree-related subsidence damage is required to set out evidence which demonstrates that the tree is a material cause of the problem and that other factors have been eliminated as potential influences so far as possible.

A local authority is only liable to pay compensation for loss or damage incurred as a result of refusing any consent under an order, and not for loss or damage attributable to the claimant's failure to take reasonable steps to avert the loss or damage or mitigate its extent.

I have had no recent discussions with Defra, the Forestry Commission or the Association of British Insurers on this matter and the Government has no immediate plan to amend the current legislation for Tree Preservation Orders.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_492
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_492

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to improve coordination between Local Planning Authorities and Lead Local Flood Authorities on ensuring (a) adequate resources and (b) clear mechanisms for reviewing planning applications in flood-prone areas. \p Matthew Pennycook: Planning practice guidance sets out that when considering proposals for major development the local planning authority will need to consult the lead local flood authority on surface water drainage.

The guidance is clear that local planning authorities may find it helpful to agree with lead local flood authorities the circumstances and locations where site specific flood risk assessments will be required due to surface water or other local flood risks and lead local flood authority advice can be sought on other planning applications which raise surface water or other local flood risk issues. This can be achieved by having regard to the available information on local flood risks, including the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and the updated map of flood risk from surface water which can be found on gov.uk here.

In addition, the National Planning Policy Framework is clear that sustainable drainage systems provided as part of proposals for major development should take account of advice from the Lead Local Flood Authority.

As independent bodies, local planning authorities have to make decisions about where to prioritise their resources when carrying out their planning functions. We recognise that planning departments across the country are experiencing challenges with recruitment, retention, and skills gaps. For an overview of the steps the government is taking to increase local planning authority capacity and capability, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 67508 on 21 July 2025.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_493
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_493

Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department takes to encourage developers to build (a) in partnership with nature and (b) using swift bricks. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 62367 on 2 July 2025.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_494
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_494

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many planning permissions for new homes on surplus railway land have been granted since 5 July 2024. \p Simon Lightwood: Since July 2024, planning permission has been granted for more than 2,800 new homes on surplus railway land.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_495
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_495

Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the time taken to deploy partial electrification on the rail network. \p Keir Mather: Historically, full overhead electrification has been the main way to electrify the railway and 74 per cent of passenger kilometres travelled are already electric. Although a specific assessment of the deployment of partial electrification has not been made, the Government intends to focus on being more efficient with where we deliver electrification by leveraging the recent progress in battery technology on the railway, including the use of partial electrification. Battery trains are already being deployed by both Transport for Wales and Merseyrail. We are working closely with colleagues in Network Rail to identify lines which could have battery trains on them in the future, developing a clear picture of where infrastructure will be needed to decarbonise the railway.

We are working on a long-term rolling stock and infrastructure strategy, which will be the first for over thirty years, to give certainty to the manufacturing and assembly market, and to pursue modern standards of carbon-friendly traction, passenger comfort and accessibility.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_496
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_496

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish (a) the benefit–cost ratio assessments undertaken for the proposed Manchester Piccadilly HS2 station options and (b) any associated operational assessments commissioned by (i) HS2 Ltd and (ii) her Department on the comparative performance of surface and underground designs. \p Keir Mather: The Department is carefully reviewing proposals for an underground station at Manchester Piccadilly. However, no decision has yet been made, and the Department has not published any benefit–cost ratio assessments for the proposed station options. Similarly, no operational assessments comparing surface and underground designs commissioned by either HS2 Ltd or the Department have been published.

Transport is an essential part of our mission to rebuild Britain, and we are absolutely committed to improving rail connectivity across the North and working with local leaders to establish shared priorities.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_497
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_497

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press notice entitled New tech to make rail replacement travel more accessible, published on 13 May 2025, what information her Department holds on the number of times the 3D animated avatar for rail replacement coaches has been used by passengers since its introduction. \p Simon Lightwood: The products referenced are not yet in use as the competition (Contracts for Innovation: Accessible Information on Coaches) is still underway, and these projects are currently going through development, trials with disabled people and coach operators, and manufacturing scale-up. The competition is due to finish in March 2026.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_498
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_498

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press notice entitled On track and online: landmark deal to end mobile dead zones, published on 25 June 2025, what progress her Department has made on Project Reach; and whether her Department plans to eliminate mobile signal blackspots on the rail network from spring 2026 through the rollout of Project Reach. \p Simon Lightwood: The initial scope of project Reach is for mobile coverage improvements in the major stations and a number of tunnels and cuttings on the main lines only. Internal team mobilisation has progressed, and Network Rail have also down selected the design and build contractors to undertake the physical works that are due to start early in 2026.

Agreements are also progressing on finalising prioritisation order with the public mobile operators.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_499
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_499

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) stations, (b) tracks, (c) passengers and (d) fareboxes will not be run by Great British Rail. \p Simon Lightwood: GBR will be responsible for all stations, infrastructure and services that are currently run by Network Rail or operators contracted by government. It will be empowered to deliver industry-wide modernisation and reform of the complex and fragmented fares landscape inherited from privatisation. This will enable GBR to simplify the ticketing system and make it easy for passengers to find the right fare.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_500
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_500

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Transport to help improve internet access across the rail network. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department has been successful in securing funding as part of the Spending Review to fit all mainline trains with Low Earth Orbit satellite technology to upgrade on -train wifi.

However, we know satellite connectivity will not work in tunnels, and the Department has been working with Network Rail to deliver improved connectivity on the rail network. Project Reach, which will renew fibre optic cables and address 4G / 5G mobile signals in 57 key mainline tunnels and stations, was signed 26 June 2025 between Network Rail, and telecoms companies, Neos Networks and Freshwave
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_501
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_501

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to introduce (a) a similar scheme to the Great British Rail Sale of April 2022 and (b) other national discounted ticketing initiatives when Great British Railways assumes full responsibility for timetabling and ticketing. \p Simon Lightwood: GBR will be empowered to deliver industry-wide modernisation and reform of the complex and fragmented fares landscape inherited from privatisation. This will enable GBR to simplify the ticketing system and make it easy for passengers to find the right fare. GBR will also continue to offer certain discounts, like railcards, with specific discount cards targeted at groups for which cost is more likely to be a barrier to rail travel – young people, older people and disabled people – being further safeguarded in legislation, as they have been since the Railways Act 1993.

There have been two additional network-wide Rail Sales since April 2022, including our Rail Sale at the beginning of this year to celebrate the 200th anniversary of passenger rail. No decisions have been taken on future network-wide rail sales.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_502
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_502

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press notice entitled East West Rail services planned to begin this year as Chiltern Railways named operator, published on 25 March 2025, when she expects (a) passenger services between Oxford and Milton Keynes to begin, (b) the new station at Winslow to open, (c) the works to upgrade Bletchley station to be completed and (d) services to (i) Bedford and (ii) Cambridge to be extended. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department is working closely with Chiltern Railways and other partners to confirm a start date for the service. We are looking forward to commencing services as soon as all necessary authorisations and agreements are in place. Passenger services, including services to Winslow, will commence once train testing and driver training have been completed. Work on an additional high-level platform at Bletchley is now complete.

Services between Oxford to Bedford via the Marston Vale Line will commence from 2030 with the full Oxford to Cambridge services beginning in the mid 2030s.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_503
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_503

Chris Hinchliff:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the provisions of the forthcoming Railways Bill will permit cross-subsidisation between publicly owned and delivered rail services. \p Keir Mather: The Public Service Obligations in Transport Regulations 2023 allow public authorities to take into account the possibility of grouping cost-covering services with non-cost-covering services when determining what rail services should be provided by a public service operator (and what subsidy (if any) that should be provided to that operator). The forthcoming Railways Bill, due to be introduced into Parliament this session, aims to ensure continuity of this principle and will provide further clarity on the approach to subsidy control once Great British Railways is established and is responsible for all previously-franchised passenger services.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_504
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_504

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to launch a statutory consultation for East-West Rail Connection State 2 and 3. \p Keir Mather: East West Rail Company is planning further consultation in 2026. It is currently reviewing plans for this in line with the proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill reforms. A further update will be provided shortly.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_505
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_505

Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the National Infrastructure Service and Transformation Authority's document entitled NISTA Annual Report 2024-2025, published on 11 August 2025, what estimate she has made of the forecast underspend on (a) the TransPennine Route Upgrade and (b) the East-West Rail project in (i) 2025–26, (ii) 2026–27 and (iii) 2027–28. \p Keir Mather: The Spending Review, announced on 11 June 2025, saw an average annual funding increase for improvements to the railway over the next four years, with £10.2bn provided for rail enhancements in the period. This included funding to continue to deliver at pace on East West Rail and the TransPennine Route Upgrade, for which the capital budgets are held and managed at portfolio level. There is no forecast underspend against budget for these projects at this time and information on the projects within the portfolio will continue to be reported to NISTA to support the
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_506
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_506

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to (a) mitigate the impact of repeated (i) over-running engineering works and (ii) cancellations on the c2c network and (b) ensure that passengers using (A) season tickets and (B) workplace travel schemes are able to access compensation when services are disrupted. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department expects c2c to collaborate closely with Network Rail to minimise the impact of any over-running engineering works. In relation to cancellations, the Department holds train operating companies, including c2c, to account on their performance against targets including through regular meetings and periodic reporting. Integration across track and train is being progressed in the Anglia region; this will ensure that all parts of the system are pulling together to deliver a better and more efficient service for customers.

Where passengers purchase a season ticket and experience delays, they can claim delay repay from the relevant train operating company directly. If they are travelling as part of a workplace travel scheme, passengers will have to check with their employer what compensation they can claim for.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_508
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_508

Paul Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to RNIB's report entitled In my way: navigating pedestrian journeys with sight loss, published on 4 September 2025, whether she plans to standardise street environment regulations for (a) design, (b) maintenance and (c) enforcement. \p Simon Lightwood: The design and maintenance of local roads is the responsibility of local authorities who are bound by the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty. It is for them to ensure streets are designed and maintained in a way that takes account of the needs of everyone. Enforcement of matters relating to local streets is for the local authority or the police, depending on the nature of the offence.

The Department does not set design standards for local roads but provides a legislative and good practice framework. The Department has produced a range of good practice guidance to help them in this, particularly “Inclusive Mobility: A Guide to Best Practice on Access to Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure”. This is available at

www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-mobility-making-transport-accessible-for-passengers-and-pedestrians

I regularly meet with accessibility stakeholders, including RNIB, to discuss a range of issues and will continue to do so.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_509
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_509

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to use discounted ticketing initiatives to (a) increase passenger utilisation on lightly used services and (b) reduce the volume of trains operating with significant spare capacity for Great British Railways services. \p Simon Lightwood: Great British Railways (GBR) will be empowered to deliver industry-wide modernisation and reform of the complex and fragmented fares landscape inherited from privatisation. This will enable GBR to simplify the ticketing system and make it easy for passengers to find the right fare. GBR will offer us the opportunity to go further with optimising train services and driving up utilisation. Through GBR’s directing mind function, services and timetables will be developed in a coherent fashion that drives up network performance and improves the journey experience.

We are also already driving forward improvements in advance of GBR. For example, we are supporting LNER to deliver their ‘Simpler Fares’ trial, which is testing an easier to understand fares structure and demand-based pricing on parts of their long-distance network. The aim is to improve the passenger experience by reducing crowding, making better use of capacity and making travel more comfortable for passengers.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_510
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_510

Jerome Mayhew:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding her Department has provided to the Greater Manchester Bee Network since July 2024. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department is committed to supporting the development of integrated transport systems that work better for people and communities across the country, including the Bee Network.

Between 2022-23 and 2026-27, we are providing £1.07bn of City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement funding to Greater Manchester to deliver transformational change to Greater Manchester’s transport infrastructure. Greater Manchester will also be eligible for an additional £14m in Highways Maintenance funding in 2025-26, to support maintenance of the local highway network and ensure the smooth running of buses and active travel in the Bee Network.

Additionally, we are supporting Greater Manchester to maintain and improve bus services in the Bee Network with £80.8m of funding in 2024-25 and £66.4m of funding in 2025-26. We have supported Greater Manchester to build and maintain walking and cycling infrastructure through the Consolidated Active Travel Fund with £5.1m of funding in 2024-25 and £15.7m in 2025-26.

Finally, we are supporting the Mayor’s ambition of integrating rail into the Bee Network with £14m of funding from 2024-25 to 2025-26 to support the Pay-As-You-Go ticketing trial to roll out contactless ticketing on rail in Greater Manchester.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_511
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_511

Jerome Mayhew:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the amount of Government funding required to sustain the Bee Network over the next five years. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department is committed to supporting the development of integrated transport systems that work better for people and communities across the country, including the Bee Network.

Between 2022-23 and 2026-27, we are providing £1.07bn of City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement funding to Greater Manchester to deliver transformational change to Greater Manchester’s transport infrastructure. Beyond that, we have confirmed a £2.5bn Transport for City Regions settlement for Greater Manchester from 2027-28 to 2031-32. This will provide unprecedented funding that will empower Greater Manchester’s local leaders to make decisions on cycling, walking, bus and rail that support the Bee Network, making journeys quicker, more accessible and reliable.

Additionally, we will be supporting Greater Manchester to maintain and improve bus services in the Bee Network with a share (to be confirmed) of the funding announced as part of the Spending Review to maintain and improve bus services and extend the £3 fare cap until March 2027. This is in addition to the £66.4 million we are providing through the Local Authority Bus Grant in 2025/26.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_512
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_512

Jerome Mayhew:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much national grant funding she plans to provide to the Bee Network in 2025-26. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department is committed to supporting the development of integrated transport systems that work better for people and communities across the country, including the Bee Network. We are providing £335m in 2025-26 to Greater Manchester under the Local Transport pillar of its Integrated Settlement. This will enable Greater Manchester to deliver transformational change to transport infrastructure; support maintenance of the local highway network; maintain and improve bus services; and build and maintain walking and cycling infrastructure.

We are also supporting the Mayor’s ambition of integrating rail into the Bee Network with £9m of funding for 2025-26 to support the Pay-As-You-Go ticketing trial to roll out contactless ticketing on rail in Greater Manchester.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_513
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_513

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average waiting time for a practical car driving test was in (a) each of the 12 months before 5 July 2024 and (b) each month since that date. \p Simon Lightwood: The table below shows the national average car driving test waiting time in weeks, for the months July 2023 to September 2025.

Month

National average car driving test waiting time in weeks

Jul-23

19.1

Aug-23

20.2

Sep-23

20.4

Oct-23

18.9

Nov-23

18.4

Dec-23

17.4

Jan-24

15.3

Feb-24

16.2

Mar-24

17.1

Apr-24

17.8

May-24

18.6

Jun-24

18.4

Jul-24

18.1

Aug-24

18.5

Sep-24

19

Oct-24

19.5

Nov-24

19.7

Dec-24

20.8

Jan-25

20.8

Feb-25

21.3

Mar-25

21.7

Apr-25

22.3

May-25

22.5

Jun-25

22.3

Jul-25

22.2

Aug-25

22.5

Sep-25

21.8
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_514
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_514

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the number of bus journeys for which passengers have paid a fare between £2 and £3 since 5 July 2024. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department for Transport does not routinely collect fare-level data for individual bus journeys.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_515
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_515

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press notice entitled Great British Railways in action – passengers benefit from track and train being united on South Eastern Railway, published on 18 June 2025, how many times the South Eastern Railway leadership team has met 17 June 2025. \p Simon Lightwood: In June this year, the South Eastern Railway - a single integrated leadership team with accountability for track and train – was formally launched. Since then, members of this team have met both formally and informally on a daily basis.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_516
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_516

Jerome Mayhew:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has has discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential fiscal impacts of the long-term subsidy requirements of franchised bus networks. \p Simon Lightwood: The government has not provided funding to local authorities specifically to franchise bus networks. However, we have confirmed investment of over £1 billion in 25/26 to support and improve bus services and to keep fares affordable, this includes £712 million for local authorities.

Under the Transport Act 2000, franchising authorities must carry out a detailed assessment to ensure that any proposed franchising scheme is feasible, affordable, and deliverable. This robust planning process helps minimise the need for central government intervention.

The Department has worked closely with Greater Manchester throughout their franchising process, and we will continue to do so to learn lessons to support other areas who decide to undertake franchising. There are a range of different franchising models that can be used, and the Greater Manchester model is just one.  We want to understand more about how different models of franchising can work for different local areas. Alternative models have been set out in our revised statutory guidance to franchising authorities, and our pilot programmes will further develop practical tools and case studies to help LTAs choose and implement the approach that best fits their local needs.

The Government is committed to reducing the cost and complexity of bus franchising. Following the introduction of the Bus Services (No.2) Bill, the Department will refresh franchising guidance to give authorities access to new powers that streamline the process.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_517
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_517

Jerome Mayhew:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much and what proportion of the Bee Network’s 2025-26 operating budget is funded by (a) the national grant, (b) local contributions, and (c) passenger revenues. \p Simon Lightwood: We are supporting Greater Manchester to maintain and improve bus services in the Bee Network with £66.4m of Local Authority Bus Grant funding in 2025-26.

The overall operating budget for the Bee Network, including the breakdown between national grant, local contributions, and passenger revenues, is a matter for Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_518
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_518

James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 69881 on Transport: Cost Benefit Analysis, whether her Department will make business case documents available for each scheme ahead of the Full Business Case stage. \p Simon Lightwood: For the 50 schemes referenced in the Secretary of State’s statement on 8 July 2025, detailed Green Book analyses, costs, and benefit cost ratios for each scheme have not been published as a single package

The scheme-level business cases and economic assessments for projects in the Government Major Projects Portfolio are published as they are finalised and reach the appropriate stage in the investment process. Summary information on costs and benefit cost ratios for major transport schemes may also be found in the Department for Transport’s Major Projects Portfolio, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/major-projects-data

In the case of Major Road Network schemes, the business cases belong to the relevant local authorities. This information is therefore available directly from them, once a scheme is approved at the Full Business Case (FBC) stage. Whilst we encourage them to publish these, it is their decision whether to publish their business cases on their respective websites.

Detailed information on Strategic Road Network (SRN) schemes is available in the applications for planning consent, available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website. Decisions to select schemes were based on evidence assessed against a wide range of criteria, in line with the HM Treasury Green book and the Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance.

More information about rail enhancement schemes over the SR period is featured in the UK infrastructure pipeline published on 11 July, which government has committed to update regularly.

There are no plans to publish officials’ advice to Ministers regarding the schemes in question. As each scheme progresses, further documentation is released and made available on gov.uk as appropriate. The Government is committed to transparency and will continue to make business case documents available in line with Green Book and Treasury guidance as schemes move forward.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_519
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_519

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to work with relevant authorities to reduce fare evasion on public transport. \p Simon Lightwood: There are expectations for the rail industry to take forward initiatives and reduce fare evasion. The effectiveness of the measures employed by Train Operating Companies are evaluated by the Department for Transport through a range of surveys. British Transport Police is committed to working closely alongside the railway industry to tackle fare evasion and regularly support with high visibility patrols at known hotspot locations.

Additionally, the Government’s Bus Services (No.2) Bill also provides Local Transport Authorities with the power to create byelaws and deploy officers who can deal with anti-social behaviour and fare evasion on the bus network. Officers will have the power to issue fines, ask people to leave the vehicle, bus station or shelter and, if necessary, to remove them if they refuse to do so.