Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 March 2026

Letter from Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, Secretary of State, Department for Transport on publication of four Common Frameworks, dated 23.2.26

From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Summary

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Transport, informs the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee that the Department for Transport will publish four finalised Common Frameworks covering Rail Technical Standards, Commercial Transport Operator Licensing, Driver Licensing, and Motor Insurance. These frameworks, originally provisionally published in September 2021, have been updated following consultation with the Northern Ireland Executive and reflect the Windsor Framework.

Key findings

DfT intends to publish four Common Frameworks in finalised form: Rail Technical Standards, Commercial Transport Operator Licensing, Driver Licensing, and Motor Insurance
Frameworks were provisionally published in September 2021 following scrutiny by the Common Frameworks Scrutiny Committee
Updates reflect feedback from the Scrutiny Committee and account for the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and establishment of the Windsor Framework
Finalised frameworks will be published on GOV.UK with copies placed in both Houses libraries on 26 February 2026
Common Frameworks programme designed to ensure common approach where EU powers have returned and intersect with devolved policy areas

Tone

Procedural

Topics

devolved-governancetransport-policyconstitutional-affairsregulatory-frameworks

Key actors

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, Department for Transport, Simon Hoare MP, Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Northern Ireland Executive, Common Frameworks Scrutiny Committee

Notable line

“This publication marks a key mil estone in the Department's commitment to transparency and collaboration across the UK's transport policy landscape.”

Key Quotes

“The Common Framework programme was set up following the UK's exit from the European Union to ensure a common approach is taken where powers have returned from the EU which intersect with policy areas of devolved competence.”
— Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP · explaining the purpose of the Common Frameworks programme

“These updates reflect the Committee's earlier feedback and take into account the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and the establishment of the Windsor Framework.”
— Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP · describing how the frameworks have been updated

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗