theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has a formal target date for the deployment of Project COOKSON. \p Maria Eagle: Project COOKSON is in the early stages of development and there is no firm target date for its deployment.

We are engaging with industry partners to understand what new capabilities may exist that would support our concept for a small, fast attack vessel equipped with modular payloads and capable of operating in challenging environments.

In order to inform the next stages of Project COOKSON, we held an industry Challenge Session in January and plan to launch a competitive procurement process in early 2025, for demonstrations in late 2025 or early 2026.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the Snapper maritime system to reach minimum deployable capability. \p Luke Pollard: The Snapper system is a new uncrewed maritime system, which has been rapidly developed specifically to support Ukraine. The system is currently undergoing final testing.

We are unable to provide further details on the timings for minimum deployable capability at this time for operational security reasons. Responsibility for the employment of the system rests with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
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Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the most recent date on which Israeli officials entered the Department's buildings on Whitehall. \p Luke Pollard: The last visit by Israeli officials to the Ministry of Defence Main Building took place on Wednesday 5 February 2025.
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Mr Calvin Bailey:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report on Major Projects 2023-24, published on 16 January 2025, what progress has been made with the MODnet Evolve programme since 31 March 2024. \p Maria Eagle: Significant progress has been made on the MODNET Evolve programme since 31 March 2024, when the programme was rated Red.

The development of the next generation MODNET Official service is nearing completion, and rollout of the new service to MOD’s 200,000 users worldwide will commence in June 2025.

The new Managed Print Service has been rolled out to over 90% of sites worldwide, with the remainder due for completion this year.

The contract for the MODNET Secret service was awarded in December 2024 with all 17,000 users transitioning to the new service by June 2025.

All contracts deliver considerable cost savings to defence, enhance the quality of service to users, and ensure MOD has a modern ICT infrastructure that aligns to the Department’s need.

In April 2024, the IPA’s formal review of the programme recognised the considerable progress and improved the rating to Amber.
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Mr Calvin Bailey:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report on Major Projects 2023-24, published on 16 January 2025, what progress has been made with the Collective Training Transformation Programme since 31 March 2024. \p Maria Eagle: Since March 2024, the Collective Training Transformation Programme (CTTP) has launched its competition for a Strategic Training Partner for British Army collective training. It is now selecting the final two tenderers and remains on track to meet its delivery target of 2026.
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Mr Calvin Bailey:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report on Major Projects 2023-24, published on 16 January 2025, what progress has been made with the Core Production Capability programme since 31 March 2024. \p Maria Eagle: The Department is working closely with Rolls-Royce Submarines (RRS) to improve delivery confidence for the Core Production Capability programme. This has included increasing production rates and improving manufacturing resilience. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority has confirmed these ongoing actions are appropriate.
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Mr Calvin Bailey:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations his Department has received in relation to the potential impact of travel costs on (a) rates of completed recruitment into the armed services in the last 12 months and (b) rates of completed recruitment into the armed services among different social groups. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence is not aware of having received representations of the kind described.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contracts his Department plans to provide to businesses in each of the devolved regions. \p Maria Eagle: The Defence footprint is nationwide and in every one of the UK’s nations and regions the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is making a positive difference. The MOD is required to use fair and open competition for all its contract opportunities, which includes non-discrimination on the grounds of location of a potential supplier in the UK, and is always keen to attract new entrants to the supply chain. Details of contracts awarded by the Department can be found on the Defence Sourcing Portal.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Solicitor General, if she will publish the total cost to the public purse for the provision of diversity, equality and inclusion courses for staff in her Department in 2024. \p Lucy Rigby: The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) remains committed to making the step changes required to create a more inclusive environment, enabling all staff, irrespective of background, to deliver high quality work at the Department.

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in learning and development training is understood to refer to anything with the objective of improving EDI in the AGO, regardless of whether it is called EDI or not.

The AGO conducted a training course on bullying, discrimination and harassment in August 2024. Nine members of staff attended, and the cost of the course was £2,475.98. It referred to types of discrimination related to protected characteristics under the Equalities Act 2010 and employers’ responsibilities.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to increase railway capacity. \p Simon Lightwood: The department requires its operators to plan services and rail timetables that are designed to meet expected passenger demand. These should be resilient and provide value for money for the taxpayer. Timetables are kept under review and, where appropriate, adjusted to reflect fluctuations in demand.

Individual infrastructure enhancement schemes that may increase capacity will be assessed on their alignment with Government Missions and Transport Priorities, the strength of their business case, and their affordability.

Great British Railways will provide the opportunity to take joined up, whole system decisions that make the best use of the network for passengers and taxpayers.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of installing a passenger lift at Marks Tey station. \p Simon Lightwood: This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. Marks Tey has step free access to all platforms but not between platforms. It was nominated for the Access for All programme but is not among the next tranche of stations selected for feasibility studies by the previous Government.

If any passenger is unable to use the station, they should contact Greater Anglia who will arrange alternative transport at no additional cost.
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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking with the rail industry to ensure it can access a greater share of competitive research and development funding through UKRI and Horizon Europe. \p Simon Lightwood: Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) play a critical role in helping the rail industry reduce its emissions and costs, optimise operations, improve resilience and safety and enhance passenger experience. The Department of Transport continues to engage closely with Horizon Europe, through the European Rail Joint Undertaking (ERJU), to collaborate. DfT officials represent the UK on the ERJU States Representative Group (SRG) to promote the UK rail sector and, working alongside Network Rail, access available funding for projects that are aligned to UK Government priorities. The Department of Transport also supports UK rail industry RD&I though funding the Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), First of a Kind (FOAK) programme, amongst other RD&I programmes. The FOAK programme aims to accelerate and increase the adoption of innovation within rail and received approximately £7.7m between FY2022-23 and FY2024-25.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driver shortages have been reported by each rail company in the most recent period for which data is available. \p Simon Lightwood: Driver shortages and unavailability cause delays and cancellations, and so it is a very high priority for this government to ensure operators have sufficient number of drivers trained and available across the network.

Train operators use a variety of measures to track availability of drivers. For example, total headcount against target, unavailability due to training, illness or leave and levels of overtime, which may be used to balance fluctuations in availability. While these measures are not systematically reported to the Department, ministers have commissioned work to look in detail at the impact of driver unavailability on train performance and suggest options to improve.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of Network Rail’s increased in national insurance contributions. \p Simon Lightwood: Before the National Insurance increase announcement in the budget, Network Rail’s estimated National Insurance payment was £1.26bn for the remaining four years of Control Period 7 (2025/26 – 2028/29). Following the budget, it’s now anticipated to increase by £213m over this timeframe.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on commercial usage of DVLA vehicle keeper requests that result in failed parking charge notices. \p Lilian Greenwood: The law permits the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to disclose information to allow the management of parking on private land. Information is provided as a first point of contact to help investigate alleged parking breaches, determine any liability and to help resolve disputes. The information is provided only to companies that are members of an appropriate accredited trade association and are subject to auditing to ensure the information provided is used appropriately.

Private parking operators must follow a code of practice and have processes for private parking charges to be challenged, including referral to an independent appeals service. Motorists may decide to appeal private parking charges for a range of reasons. This is a matter for the private parking sector and the information requested is not held. The DVLA monitors complaints and takes appropriate action, particularly where issues with operators or specific car parks appear to be recurrent.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many officials in her Department are employed to oversee the work of (a) Shadow GBR (b) HS2 Ltd and (c) train operating companies. \p Simon Lightwood: Shadow GBR consists of the three leaders of Network Rail, DfT Operator Limited (DfTO), and the Department for Transport’s Rail Services Group working together with the Chair, Laura Shoaf CBE. At present seven officials in the Department are employed to mobilise these arrangements (with some working on SGBR alongside other priorities).

As at January 2025, there are approximately 175 officials in DfT's Major Rail Projects Group, which has responsibility for developing and sponsoring the delivery of HS2, the Euston programme, Northern Powerhouse Rail and future network planning. Within the Department’s markets teams there are 113 officials overseeing the rail franchise contracts.
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Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when work will begin on the capital roads project Blue Bell Hill. \p Lilian Greenwood: The A229 Blue Bell Hill Improvements scheme is being promoted and managed by Kent County Council. The Council plans to submit an Outline Business Case to the Department in summer 2026. If this is approved, under current arrangements the Department’s maximum funding contribution would be up to a maximum of 85% of the total estimated cost at Outline Business Case stage. This would be conditional on approval by government to a Full Business Case. The Council currently forecasts works starting in spring 2029.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 64 of the document entitled GM 701 Asset delivery asset maintenance, published by Standards for Highways in March 2020, if her Department will make an assessment of the effectiveness of Highways England in meeting the standards for drainage and service ducts. \p Lilian Greenwood: Under its Licence, National Highways must comply with its legal duties and other obligations to ensure the maintenance, resilience, renewal and development of the strategic road network (SRN), and must have due regard to any guidance, standards or specifications relevant to its statutory or other functions. This includes GM701 that the company authors and publishes. It details maintenance requirements to keep the SRN safe and serviceable by undertaking routine cyclical operations, including in areas such as maintaining drainage assets.

As the independent Highways Monitor, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) holds National Highways to account in its effectiveness in operating the SRN, delivery of the road investment strategy and compliance with its Licence. ORR does not audit individual maintenance activities, rather it takes a proportional, systemic, approach focussed on holding the company to account for its drainage performance indicator. This indicator shows the susceptibility of the SRN to flooding and provides insight of drainage condition on the SRN.

ORR publish an annual assessment of National Highways’ performance. Both ORR and National Highways work closely with the department to keep it informed of performance against areas such as maintenance.
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Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to encourage train operating companies to improve on-train connectivity for (a) voice and (b) data services. \p Simon Lightwood: Department for Transport officials are working closely with the train operating companies and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to develop proposals to improve passenger mobile connectivity.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the revenue to the public purse from the sale of car owners' details by the DVLA to private parking enforcement agencies in each year since 2012, broken down by sales to each private parking enforcement agency. \p Lilian Greenwood: The income from the fees charged for providing information about registered vehicle keepers by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is shown in the table below:

Financial year

Total (£m)

2012

6.62

2013

7.95

2014

9.52

2015

11.33

2016

14.02

2017

16.68

2018

19.89

2019

23.29

2020

13.18

2021

23.90

2022

30.18

2023

34.08

These fees are set to cover the costs of providing services to customers.

Please note that the figures above do not just relate to requests for information from private parking companies. The specific information requested about private parking companies can only be provided at disproportionate cost as it would require the interrogation of each request for information to identify by whom the request was made.
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James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring all drivers to complete a DVLA eye test. \p Lilian Greenwood: All drivers have an ongoing legal responsibility to ensure that they meet the vision standards for driving, which includes being able to read a number plate from 20 metres, wearing glasses or corrective lenses if needed. Drivers must notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) at any time of a change in their health or vision which may affect their ability to meet the appropriate standards.

The Department for Transport supports the National Health Service’s recommendation that adults should have their eyes tested every two years and the DVLA encourages drivers to regularly check their own vision by reading a number plate from 20 metres and arranging a formal vision test when required. There are no current plans to introduce mandatory eyesight testing of all drivers.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps she has taken to help end discrimination against disabled people when travelling abroad. \p Mike Kane: Discrimination on transport is not acceptable, and this Government is committed to making its UK transport network safe and easy to use, allowing disabled passengers to travel confidently and with dignity.

On travel abroad, the Government works through international bodies, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), to promote accessibility standards for air and sea travel.

The UK also fully supports and encourages alignment with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which includes provisions on accessible transport. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides travel advice for UK travellers overseas, and British Embassies and Consulates can offer support and advocacy.
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Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 2435 on Roads: Kent, what the outcome was of her Department’s capital roads portfolio review. \p Lilian Greenwood: In July 2024, the Chancellor announced that the Transport Secretary would be undertaking an internal review of Department for Transport’s capital portfolio, informed by external experts. The review is ongoing and it will help inform the Secretary of State’s decisions as part of Phase 2 of the Spending Review. The findings of the review will be internal. The Panel does not have any decision-making powers.
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Dr Andrew Murrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc on improvements to road links between the M4 and the south coast. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Oxford-Cambridge Arc represents a strategic growth corridor with the potential to facilitate sustainable economic, social, and environmental development for the region, and its impact on the transport system is multi-modal. It is recognised that additional analytical work will be necessary to comprehensively assess the interdependencies and areas of alignment with parallel studies, including the M4 to Dorset corridor study.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the proposed statutory powers of Metro Mayors for rail services will operate under Great British Railways. \p Simon Lightwood: The statutory role for mayors in governing, managing, planning and developing the rail network intends to bring decision making within Great British Railways as close as possible to local communities. This will empower local leaders and support the development of seamless, integrated transport networks and a public transport system that properly serves local areas.

Further detail will be outlined in an upcoming consultation on the Railways Bill, which will be published soon.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will hold discussions with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency on the potential implications for their policy on the provision of data to private parking companies of trends in the number of faulty private parking machines. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) would not be aware of appeals made by those in receipt of a private parking penalty or the reasons for them. Appeals are made to the parking operator with the reason/mitigation according to the circumstances and can be further referred for consideration by an independent appeals service. Therefore, the DVLA has no information on trends relating to faulty private parking machines. The law allows the DVLA to provide vehicle keeper data as a first point of contact to allow alleged parking breaches to be followed up.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of revenue lost to train companies from fare avoidance in 2024. \p Simon Lightwood: The Rail Delivery Group estimated in 2014 that, £240 million a year is lost due to fare evasion on Great Britain’s railways. The Department is working with its industry partners to provide an updated figure and recognises the importance of reducing fraud.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the powers of train conductors to tackle avoidable disruptive behaviour on trains. \p Simon Lightwood: Train Operating Companies are already able to seek additional powers for their staff, to tackle incidents such as anti-social behaviour, via the Rail Safety Accreditation Scheme operated by the British Transport Police.

The Department does not have any plans to increase the powers available through the existing scheme. Information on the scheme can be found here: Railway Safety Accreditation Scheme | British Transport Police.
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David Williams:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of restoring the hourly electric train service between Crewe and Birmingham. \p Simon Lightwood: The previous change in the December 2022 timetable was designed so West Midlands Trains could optimise the connections for passengers travelling to and from Stone and deliver high levels of operational performance. Officials continue to discuss possible ways of restoring such a service with West Midlands Trains.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 24061 on Rolling Stock, whether the Rolling Stock Strategy will include branch lines. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government is committed to ending years of poor service and fragmentation on the railways, by creating a unified and simplified system through public ownership of train operations and by establishing Great British Railways (GBR).

The forthcoming Railways Bill will enable the biggest overhaul of the rail sector in a generation. It will create stronger leadership by establishing GBR as a new ‘directing mind’ for the industry, bringing together the management of the rail network and the delivery of passenger services into a single public body.

GBR will have the tools and operational independence it needs to plan and run the rail system effectively on a long-term basis, driving up performance and reliability.

The Government is working at pace to develop the framework for a rolling stock strategy which will include considerations around the timelines for new build, refurbishments, and potential cascades. Once established, GBR will take the strategy forward providing a long-term approach to future rolling stock needs across the entire network including branch lines.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the new government-backed train ticket website will include a search facility to help people affected by train delays find actual past (a) departure and (b) arrival times to support their claims under the Delay Repay scheme. \p Simon Lightwood: Once Great British Railways is established, it will retail online by consolidating individual train operators’ ticket websites. It will work alongside a thriving private sector retail market, which will continue to play a key role in driving innovation and investment and encouraging more people to choose rail.

Exact plans will now be developed in close partnership with industry, the private sector and wider stakeholders, with further detail to be consulted on shortly as part of the Railways Bill consultation.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 24061 on Rolling Stock, whether new builds will ensure sufficient capacity is procured in the future for the Henley Branch Line to cover moments of peak demand. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government is committed to ending years of poor service and fragmentation on the railways, by creating a unified and simplified system through public ownership of train operations and by establishing Great British Railways (GBR).

The forthcoming Railways Bill will enable the biggest overhaul of the rail sector in a generation. It will create stronger leadership by establishing GBR as a new ‘directing mind’ for the industry, bringing together the management of the rail network and the delivery of passenger services into a single public body.

GBR will have the tools and operational independence it needs to plan and run the rail system effectively on a long-term basis, driving up performance and reliability.

The Government is working at pace to develop the framework for a rolling stock strategy which will include considerations around the timelines for new build, refurbishments, and potential cascades. Once established, GBR will take the strategy forward providing a long-term approach to future rolling stock needs across the entire network including branch lines.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with local authorities on a standardised parking app. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Government continues to support the concept of a National Parking Platform (NPP), a digital system designed to connect parking apps across the UK to provide a simpler service for users, by enabling them to use the app of their choice wherever they park. The Government recognises the many benefits of an NPP and the depth of support for it across the parking sector with over 200 local authorities having expressed an interest in joining. However, we are of the view that it could and should be delivered without the need to rely on public funding, particularly given the dire financial position the Government inherited.

The Department is working with the parking industry to explore options for taking forward delivery of a national platform. The industry has responded positively to this and the pilot version of the NPP will continue to be funded to 31 March 2025 while these discussions continue.
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Ruth Cadbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the proposed West London orbital rail link on connectivity between West London Boroughs. \p Lilian Greenwood: Any assessment of the impact on West London boroughs would be carried out by Transport for London as part of its development of the West London Orbital scheme.
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Emma Foody:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what road accident data her Department holds for Moor Farm Roundabout for each of the last five years. \p Lilian Greenwood: DfT reported road casualty statistics reports numbers of personal injury road traffic collisions in Great Britain that were reported to the police using the STATS19 reporting system. Damage only collisions are not held by the Department.

The number of reported road collisions around Moor Farm Roundabout, including the slip roads, from 2019 to 2023 can be found in the table below.

Reported road collisions on Moor Farm Roundabout, Northumberland 2019 to 2023.

Source: DfT, STATS19

Year

Collisions

2019

12

2020

3

2021

2

2022

3

2023

7
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the amount spent by her Department on rail enhancements in each year of control period (a) five, (b) six and (c) seven. \p Lilian Greenwood: Rail enhancements in England and Wales have been delivered through the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline since Control Period six (CP6), prior to that they were delivered directly through Network Rail. The following has been spent on enhancements in each financial year in Control Periods five (CP5) and CP6. Figures for Control Period seven are not yet available as no years have yet concluded. All figures are presented in £millions nominal and exclude third party contributions.

CP5 year 1 – 2014/15: £2,597

CP5 year 2 – 2015/16: £2,950

CP5 year 3 – 2016/17: £3,123

CP5 year 4 – 2017/18: £2,951

CP5 year 5 – 2018/19: £2,680

CP6 year 1 – 2019/20: £1,620

CP6 year 2 – 2020/21: £1,459

CP6 year 3 – 2021/22: £1,626

CP6 year 4 – 2022/23: £1,832

CP6 year 5 – 2023/24: £2,112
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-14)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the East West Railway Company Limited consultation document Connecting people, building communities, published in November 2024, and pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question 22408 on East West Rail Line: Construction, whether the estimate provided in that Answer is based on (a) the Existing stations option or (b) the Consolidated stations option for Connection Stage 3 on the Marston Vale Line. \p Lilian Greenwood: The capital cost estimate for East West Rail includes costs for relocating stations on the Marston Vale Line, should this option be chosen. This is subject to the outcome of the consultation and decisions have not yet been on taken on this.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-14 conversation_258

David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to provide support for the proposed Liverpool to Manchester railway improvement project. \p Lilian Greenwood: Transport is an essential part of our mission to rebuild Britain, and the Government is committed to improving rail connectivity across the North, including boosting rail connectivity from East to West.

As announced in the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government is maintaining momentum on Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) by progressing planning, design and development works to support future delivery. Providing better rail connectivity between Liverpool and Manchester is a key part of NPR.

The Government is committed to improving the performance of the railways.In addition to NPR, the Government is supporting the development of a multi-billion pound investment programme upgrading the North’s transport network. This work includes the Transpennine Route Upgrade and the Greater Manchester and North West programme, including exploring options between Liverpool and Manchester.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-14 conversation_259

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of building a westerly relief road around Bromsgrove. \p Lilian Greenwood: It is for the local authority to identify which local road schemes should be proposed and progressed as part of their strategic transport plans. It would therefore be for Worcestershire County Council to bring forward any plans for a westerly bypass for Bromsgrove, should it wish to do so.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-14 conversation_260

Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 18740 on Driving Tests, whether the DVSA has developed a training schedule for organisations requiring delegated examiners in 2025. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is continuing to explore this matter in a way which balances all of the demands on DVSA’s training resource. Further information will be provided as soon as possible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-14 conversation_261

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of electric vehicle purchases in the last 12 months. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Government closely monitors developments in the EV market. 2024 was a record year for the sale of new zero emission cars. In 2024 over 380,000 electric cars were sold, the highest number ever in the UK. These made up a fifth of the new car market – also the highest ever. In 2024, the UK overtook Germany to become the largest electric car market in Europe and the market as a whole grew by 2.6%, faster than France, Germany, and the EU.

The electric van market also continues to experience growth. New electric van volumes increased by 3.3% in 2024, compared to the previous year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-14 conversation_262

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department has made an estimate of the cost to the East-West Railway Company Limited of the proposed increase in employer National Insurance contributions. \p Lilian Greenwood: East West Railway Company has not yet completed a detailed analysis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-14 conversation_263

Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when Network Rail plans to announce the preferred bidder for Project Reach. \p Lilian Greenwood: Subject to the Project Reach business case going through DfT approval, Network Rail plans to announce the parties involved in any contract signature.

Neos Networks has, however, separately made an announcement on their website stating they are in exclusive talks with Network Rail.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-14 conversation_264

James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will conduct a feasibility study into the restoration of the Wealden railway line from Lewes to Uckfield; whether an impact assessment has been conducted since 2008 on restoring that line; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of restoring that line on (a) rail connectivity and (b) net zero targets. \p Lilian Greenwood: Successive studies over the last two decades have indicated that the significant costs associated with re-instating the line between Lewes and Uckfield would exceed the benefits to passengers across Sussex. As such, our current focus remains on improving the performance and reliability of existing infrastructure and services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-14)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish the cost of restarting phase 5 of the Dawlish rail resilience project design team. \p Lilian Greenwood: A team at Network Rail is currently funded to develop the fifth phase of the South West Rail Resilience Programme. A decision on further funding will be subject to the outcome of the Spending Review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-14 conversation_266

Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the value for money of Network Rail’s signalling framework contracts. \p Lilian Greenwood: Network Rail is responsible for the frameworks governing train signalling systems. In April 2024, Network Rail announced a £4bn, 10-year signalling framework - the Train Control Systems Framework (TCSF). The framework runs from 2024 until 2034 of which £3bn will be spent on digital signalling (ETCS) and £1bn on conventional signalling. The framework is one of the remedies published by Network Rail in response to the market study conducted by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to provide value for money through cost, quality and innovation.

ORR holds Network Rail to account for the delivery of its operations, support, maintenance, and renewals programmes. As the Digital Signalling Portfolio is included in the ORR’s final determination of Network Rail’s renewals funding, ORR will carry out monitoring of this portfolio of works during Control Period 7 (CP7).

More details about the frameworks can be found on the Network Rail website.

Network Rail’s £4bn train control systems framework to revolutionise signalling across Britain.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-14)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question 22408 on East West Rail Line: Construction, if she will make an estimate of costs for financial year 2025-26. \p Lilian Greenwood: An update on costs for the East-West Rail project will be released at a future statutory consultation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-14 conversation_268

Alex Ballinger:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to help improve the (a) affordability and (b) accessibility of parental leave. \p Andrew Western: Government keeps the rates of benefits, state pension and statutory pay under review.

Parental pay is reviewed annually at the discretion of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. From April 2025, the rate will increase by September 2024's CPI figure of 1.7%, subject to parliamentary approval, from £184.03 to £187.18 per week.

Parental pay is only one element of the support available for parents. Depending on individual circumstances, additional financial support, for example, Universal Credit, Child Benefit and the Sure Start Maternity Grant (a lump sum payment of £500) may also be available.

The Government has committed to conduct a review of the whole parental leave system. This review will focus on ensuring that parental leave offers the best possible support to working families. Work is already underway on planning for its delivery.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-14 conversation_269

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish the total cost to the public purse for the provision of diversity, equality and inclusion courses for staff in her Department in 2024. \p Andrew Western: In the Department for Work and Pensions diversity with regard to employees is defined as valuing difference, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all. This includes promoting diversity, inclusion, and equality of opportunity, respecting differences and external experiences, and welcoming the views and challenges of others.

DWP is committed to being an inclusive employer and is committed to creating an environment where everyone belongs and can be at their best, and our workforce is representative of the customers and communities that we serve. To support with these ambitions, we have invested a total of £69,198 in supporting our employees with specific equality and diversity related training needs and external memberships within the 2023-2024 financial year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-14 conversation_270

Carla Denyer:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to uprate Bereavement Support Payments annually in line with inflation. \p Andrew Western: Bereavement Support Payment is intended to help people through the immediate period following a bereavement. It is not a cost-of-living benefit like Universal Credit, which is generally increased in line with inflation. The rate of Bereavement Support Payment is reviewed on a discretionary basis as part of the annual uprating process, but there is no legal requirement to uprate it.

Whilst we have no plans to uprate BSP from April, the Government keeps all benefits including Bereavement Support Payments, under review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-14 conversation_271

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support pensioners with (a) the cost of household bills and (b) food insecurity. \p Torsten Bell: The State Pension is the foundation of income in retirement and will remain so, protecting 12 million pensioners through the triple lock, with a 4.1% increase to the basic State Pension and the new State Pension from April 2025. We are also increasing the standard minimum guarantee in Pension Credit by 4.1%.

We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit, which provides extra money to help with living costs for people over State Pension age and on a low income. We want to ensure as many people as possible have access to this support and urge pensioners to check their eligibility. Pension Credit will passport them to receive other benefits – including Winter Fuel Payments, help with rent, council tax, fuel bills and a free TV licence for those over 75. That’s why Government is taking significant steps to raise awareness and maximise take-up.

Low-income pensioners and others struggling with the cost of living should contact their local council to see what further support may be available to them. They may be able to receive support from energy support programmes or through the Household Support Fund, a scheme providing discretionary support to those most in need towards the cost of essentials, such as food, energy and water.

The Government has extended the Household Support Fund in England by a further year, (until 31 March 2026) – with funding of £742 million provided to enable this extension in England, plus additional funding for the devolved Governments to be spent at their discretion, as usual.