Written questions by Jogee.

What steps she is taking to mitigate the impact of increases in rail fares on residents in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

We have announced that regulated rail fares will be frozen, for a year from March 2026, for the first time in 30 years putting money back in the pockets of hardworking people. Passengers will benefit from savings on over a billion journeys with season tickets, peak return tickets on commuter routes, and off-peak return tickets on longer-distance routes all protected.

What the cost of an off peak return ticket between Stafford Railway Station and London Euston Railway Station was in each of the last 15 years.

The cost of an off-peak return ticket in each of the last 15 years between Stafford and London Euston was: 2010£49.902011£52.802012£56.002013£58.402014£60.202015£61.702016£62.302017£63.402018£65.602019£67.602020£69.502021£71.302022£74.002023£78.402024£82.202025£86.00

What the cost of an off peak return ticket between Stoke-on-Trent Railway Station and London Euston Railway Station was in each of the last 15 years.

The cost of an off-peak return ticket in each of the last 15 years between Stoke-on-Trent and London Euston was:2010£54.502011£57.702012£61.202013£63.802014£65.802015£67.402016£68.002017£69.202018£71.602019£73.802020£75.902021£77.902022£80.902023£85.702024£89.902025£94.00

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of airports charging cars to drop off travelling passengers on blue badge holders.

The Secretary of State for Transport has made no assessment of the potential impact of airports charging cars to drop of travelling passengers on blue badge holders. Most airports in the UK are managed and operated as private businesses, and parking arrangements are subject to contractual agreements between airport operators and car parking companies covered by consumer laws. The provision and charging of car parking at airports (including drop off and pick charges) is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business to manage and justify.

How many potholes in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England have been repaired since July 2024.

The Government’s road condition statistics consider a broader definition of road condition than numbers of potholes, and so official data on this aspect of road condition is not available for the time periods requested. However, as announced in March, local highway authorities must publish transparency reports about their maintenance activities to unlock their full share of the Government’s £500m uplift for local highways maintenance this year. While data is not required to be provided at a constituency level, Staffordshire have estimated that they have filled 37,308 potholes during the financial year of 2024-25. Reports are available on local highway authorities’ websites and officials are in the process of reviewing these.

What discussions she has had with the operators and management of each UK Airport on the increase in costs of passenger drop-offs and pick-ups; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of this on the livelihoods of people in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England.

Most airports in the UK are managed and operated as private businesses, and parking arrangements are subject to contractual agreements between airport operators and car parking companies covered by consumer laws. The provision and charging of car parking at airports (including drop off and pick charges) is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business to manage and justify. Officials regularly engage with commercial airports on a large number of matters such as surface access, which includes the use of drop off charges, to improve access to airports whilst taking into account associated environmental impacts.

What progress she has made on reducing the average waiting time for driving tests in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. Significant progress has already been made as part of the DVSA’s 7-point plan to reduce waiting times with 1.95 million tests delivered last year nationally, but there is more work to be done.The current waiting time for a car practical driving test at Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stafford is 24 weeks.On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain. Further information on these actions and progress on DVSA’s 7-point plan, which was set out last year, can be found on GOV.UK. DVSA is continuing to recruit as many DEs as possible. As a result of recent recruitment campaigns, offers of employment have been made to two potential new driving examiners (DE), one for Stoke-on-Trent (Cobridge) and one for Newcastle-under-Lyme.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of flight connections between England and Northern Ireland.

We recognise the importance of maintaining a thriving and competitive aviation sector in the UK that supports Union connectivity. The Department continues to joint-fund a Public Service Obligation route between London and Derry/Londonderry. During March 2025, around 4,000 passenger flights were operated by airlines including Aer Lingus, British Airways, easyJet, Loganair and Ryanair, between several airports across England and Northern Ireland.

What recent discussions she has had with the executive management team of HS2 Limited.

DfT Ministers regularly meet with Mark Wild and the other members of HS2’s executive team to discuss the range of issues related to the delivery of HS2. In addition, Government has re-established regular meetings of the HS2 Ministerial Task Force to ensure ministerial oversight of the project. The last meeting took place on 18 March 2025 and was chaired by the Transport Secretary, with the Rail Minister, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and senior executives from HS2 Ltd in attendance.

What her planned timetable is for making available land acquired by the Government for cancelled northern legs of HS2.

My department is thoroughly reviewing the position we have inherited before setting out more detailed plans in due course, including future plans for HS2 Phase 2b safeguarding and a disposal programme for land and property acquired for HS2 that is no longer required. We expect to be able to provide further detail of our intended approach for Phase 2b safeguarding during the summer. Any land acquired for Phase 2 that is no longer required will be sold in line with Treasury rules through a disposal programme.

How many individual representations her Department has received from Staffordshire County Council in relation to potholes in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) North Staffordshire in each of the last five years.

The Department receives regular correspondence from many local highway authorities on the topic of local highway maintenance, including potholes. Over the last five years, the Department’s records suggest that Staffordshire County Council has made formal representations to the Department four times on highway maintenance and other funding issues. The Department’s officials are in regular informal contact with officers from Staffordshire County Council on local highway maintenance issues.

How many individual representations her Department has received from Staffordshire County Council on the (a) adequacy and (b) reliability of public transport in (i) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (ii) North Staffordshire in each of the last five years.

Although we have had representations from Staffordshire County Council on a range of transport matters, we have not, over the last five years, received correspondence from Staffordshire County Council specifically on the adequacy or reliability of public transport in Newcastle-Under-Lyme or North Staffordshire.

What information her Department holds on the number of motor vehicle accidents that have taken place between junctions 12 and 16 of the M6 in each of the last five years.

The number of road injury collisions reported to police occurring between junctions 12 and 16 of the M6, for each of the last five years for which data is available, are shown in the table below.YearNumber of collisions201940202027202120202225202329

How much funding has been allocated to (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire for (i) road maintenance and (ii) pothole filling since July 2024.

Staffordshire County Council is the local highway authority for Newcastle-under-Lyme. For the 2024/25 financial year, the previous Government allocated Staffordshire County Council £28.935 million for local highway maintenance. For the 2025/26 financial year, this Government is providing Staffordshire County Council with £39.465 million, an increase of around £10.5 million, for local highway maintenance. Funding is not ring-fenced, and it is entirely a matter for Staffordshire County Council to determine how the money is best spent to improve its local highway network according to its needs and circumstances. The Department advocates a risk-based whole life cycle asset management approach to local authority highways maintenance programmes. This considers all parts of the highway network, such as bridges, cycleways and lighting columns – not just the fixing of potholes.

Whether she has had discussions with Network Rail on the use of the word passenger.

The Secretary of State regularly discusses all aspects of Network Rail’s performance with the CEO and Chair of Network Rail. She supports Network Rail in its efforts to engage with passengers in a clear manner that recognises passengers' position at the heart of the railway.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a direct train link between Stoke-on-Trent Railway Station and Manchester Airport.

No assessment has been made. However, the Manchester Taskforce has identified a number of infrastructure constraints impacting on the operational deliverability of additional direct services to Manchester Airport, including services that previously operated. Whilst longer term plans are being developed, work continues on improving the passenger experience for those having to change trains.

What discussions she has had with the management of Avanti West Coast since her appointment.

Department for Transport officials routinely meet with AWC and Network Rail as part of a relentless focus on improving rail performance, bringing together track and train and holding both sides accountable. The current Secretary of State has not yet met with the Managing Director of Avanti West Coast (AWC) since her appointment. Further meetings with the Rail Minister or the Secretary of State will be held in due course.

What assessment she has made of the (a) performance and (b) adequacy of the services provided by Avanti West Coast to residents in Newcastle-under-Lyme since her appointment.

The Secretary of State is clear that the performance of Avanti West Coast has not been good enough. The Department routinely engages with all rail operators on service frequency and quality of service across the network, to hold Train Operator Companies (TOCs) to account on the services they provide to passengers, including for residents of Newcastle-under-Lyme.

If she will have discussions with representatives from Manchester Airport on the potential impact of the level of parking charges at Manchester Airport on passengers from (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency a

Most airports in the UK are managed and operated as private businesses, and parking arrangements are subject to contractual agreements between airport operators and car parking companies covered by consumer laws. Whilst the Department does engage regularl...

If she will meet the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to discuss the release of HS2 compensation for residents in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, would gladly meet the Honourable Member to discuss land and property related compensation for residents in Newcastle-under-Lyme.