Written questions by Mayer.

Whether her Department plans to develop a zero-emission coach travel roadmap to 2050.

We have no current plans to draft a roadmap. The Government is working with the sector to fully decarbonise the coach fleet. We are pleased to see the progress that has been made so far, particularly as long distance zero emission coaches have only been on the market since 2024. We expect to see the numbers of zero emission coaches on UK roads continue to grow as more coach operators opt for them on commercial grounds. We also welcome that some coach operators are starting to use charging infrastructure at bus depots and strongly encourage this shared use of facilities.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the HGV parking and driver welfare match funding grant scheme.

The HGV Parking Matched Funding Grant Scheme (MFGS) was launched in 2022 to fund investment in HGV driver welfare facilities, lorry parking provision, site security, and decarbonisation. These priorities were identified through the National Survey of Lorry Parking (2022) and aim to improve the working conditions of HGV drivers. My department has commissioned an independent evaluation of the scheme, to consider the application and delivery process, the role of the scheme in improving lorry driver facilities in England and the impact of the site improvements for drivers.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to make it mandatory for drivers to report collisions with cats.

Although there is no obligation to report all animal deaths on roads, drivers should, if possible, make enquiries to ascertain the owner of domestic animals, such as cats, and advise them of the situation. Since June 2024, all cats in England over 20 weeks of age must be microchipped and registered on a compliant database, unless exempt or free-living. This will make it easier for National Highways and local authorities to reunite cats and dogs with their keeper.

What discussions she has had with Great British Railways on the timetable for procuring a ticketing platform.

My department is working on plans for GBR’s future ticketing platform. It will go live once GBR is established. We will provide further details in due course.

If she will issue guidance to local transport authorities on the applicability of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme to concessionary fares to limited stop stage carriage bus services.

The Department has published guidance to assist Local Authorities in how to administer the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS). This includes guidance on which services are eligible under the ENCTS in accordance with the ‘Travel concessions (eligible services) (amendment) order 2009’.

Whether her Department holds data on the types of tickets used by bus passengers for different journey purposes.

The Department regularly considers a range of evidence when considering the typical journey purposes of bus users using different types of tickets. Our most recent published work in this area was the evaluation of the £2 bus fare cap, published on GOV.UK in February 2025, and the research report 'Increasing bus patronage through an audience strategy', published on GOV.UK in June 2023. These reports identified the main ticket types and journey purposes of key passenger groups.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the reported levels of bus passenger satisfaction in the report by Transport Focus entitled Your Bus Journey, published on 25 March 2025.

The Department for Transport welcomes the valuable insight provided by Transport Focus's 'Your Bus Journey' report published on 25 March 2025. My officials meet regularly with Transport Focus as part of our ongoing work, and these findings are informing policy development to improve bus services across the country. The government wants to see bus passenger satisfaction continue to rise across the country as we deliver our reforms, including through the introduction of the Bus Services (No.2) Bill and the £1 billion we are investing to support and improve bus services. We are also undertaking a programme of work to explore opportunities for passenger improvement, for example complaint handling and escalation pathways.

With reference to her Department's guidance entitled Demand responsive transport: local authority toolkit, published on 13 April 2022, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of Demand Responsive Transport (a) as feeder services to existing rail and bus services and (b) in general.

The government believes demand responsive transport (DRT) has an important role to play in ensuring communities can access transport services in areas where more traditional, regular stopping services may not be viable. The Department has funded 16 innovative DRT pilots through the Rural Mobility Fund. Each scheme is taking part in a detailed monitoring and evaluation process. This will provide a strong base of evidence and good practice for DRT and a better understanding of both the role it can play in rural areas and the challenges associated with introducing it. The final process evaluation will be published later in 2025, and an impact and value for money evaluation is just commencing, with findings available in late 2026.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the decision to increase parking penalties in London on her Department's review of penalty charge notice research.

This Government believes that transport decisions in London, including the level of penalty charge notices (PCN), should be for the Mayor of London. A group of local government and other stakeholders has submitted research to Ministers on PCN levels outside London. The Department will consider carefully their findings and recommendations along with other relevant evidence before any decision is taken.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of remote enforcement letters on coach operators.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) developed its desk-based assessment (DBA) policy and processes, in collaboration with Traffic Commissioners and industry stakeholders before its introduction, over ten years ago.DVSA introduced DBAs to reduce time constraints on heavy goods vehicle and coach operators. DBAs give DVSA a more efficient, and less intrusive, method of evaluating an operator's compliance level, rather than conducting physical frontline visits.DVSA’s remote assessment approach allows operators to submit data or respond to DBAs and intervention letters at a time that best suit their business and minimise any disruption.

With reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of shared transport responsibilities by (a) strategic authorities and (b) local authorities on planning for street works.

Highway authorities have a duty to co-ordinate all works on their network. This will remain the case under any English devolution arrangement with highway authorities remaining responsible for managing street works in their area. The White Paper sets out that government will encourage Strategic Authorities to streamline highways arrangements across their area, which could result in improved coordination of street works between neighbouring highway authorities or with National Highways.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of exempting electric bus operators from Ofgem’s residual network charge reforms in 2023 on those operators.

My department continues to support bus decarbonisation, and to engage closely with both Ofgem and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.Ofgem is aware that the reforms are causing concerns for a small number of specialist sites, and are active in industry working groups relating to sites with high-capacity usage and low utilisation and EV charging. In addition, Ofgem is currently undertaking a broad review of system costs to consider whether other cost recovery options provide potential for improvements. Across this work, Ofgem will ensure bus charging is given consideration.

Whether Network Rail’s debt will move to the balance sheet of Great British Railways.

The public consultation for the government’s upcoming Railways Bill was launched in February. This consultation sets out our proposals for the most comprehensive reform of Britain’s railways in 30 years. This included the plan to establish Great British Railways (GBR) as the directing mind in charge of Britain’s railway, bringing responsibility for train services and rail infrastructure together into one integrated organisation. GBR will accordingly be designed in an appropriate manner so that it can efficiently and effectively carry out its intended functions. The future of Network Rail’s legacy debt will be considered as part of the detailed design process.

If her Department will bring forward a bus workforce strategy.

The government has no current plans to develop a bus workforce strategy. We will, however, continue to work with the bus and coach sectors to support them in being able to meet both their current and future labour requirements.

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2025 to Question 23556 on Bus Services: Timetables, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the definition of privately organised trips to cover more closed-door home-to-school transport services.

The government is committed to delivering better bus services, and part of this work is improving the information available to passengers about their bus services. The Bus Open Data Service (BODS) was launched in 2020 and requires all bus operators of local services in England to provide passengers with high-quality, accurate and up-to-date passenger information including timetables, fares, tickets and vehicle location information. We are committed to working with the bus sector to ensure BODS is a success, and engage with stakeholders on a regular basis to identify and consider opportunities to improve the service.

What steps she is taking to create active travel routes (a) to and (b) through green spaces.

Active Travel England (ATE) recently announced £222.5 million of funding for local authorities to support the development and build out of local networks. It is for local authorities to decide on priorities for this investment, including to and through green spaces. In addition, ATE is providing £30 million to Sustrans to develop the National Cycle Network in both rural and urban areas. This is on top of £100,000 previously awarded to each National Park Authority in England to develop active travel network plans. These are also designed to improve access to green space for residents and visitors alike.

What the average time taken was for a local authority to adopt a road in each local authority in each of the last five years.

The Department does not hold this information. Adoption of roads that are not maintainable at public expense is a matter for the relevant local highway authority, and the Department does not typically intervene in such matters. The Department provides advice to developers and highway authorities on the process, which can be found on gov.uk at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adoption-of-roads-by-highway-authorities.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing funding for active travel on national river walks.

The Government is progressing plans to designate nine new National River Walks across England, one in each region, to enhance access to nature. This is a priority for us, and we are currently evaluating several delivery options and potential locations. The Department will work with Defra to ensure the nine new walks are accessible, incorporating active travel options where it is possible to do so. Active Travel England provides funding to Local Authorities to build out Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) and to Sustrans to manage the National Cycle Network (NCN). A package of almost £300 million over 24/25 and 25/26 for active travel was announced on 12 February 2025. Funding for Sustrans and local authorities can be utilised on national river walks.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of existing regulations for community transport provision.

Community transport operators play a vital role in connecting people with their communities, enabling access to employment, education and other essential services. Recognising the value of these services of social benefit, often provided by charities, the system of section 19 and section 22 permits provided in the Transport Act 1985 allows not-for-profit community transport operators to operate public service vehicles (PSVs) without the associated costs of a PSV operator’s licence.The section 19 and section 22 permit system continues to support community transport services across the country and the Government provides guidance on the rules for permits and how to apply for them at Section 19 and 22 permits and obligations: not for profit passenger transport - GOV.UK.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2025 to Question 25028 on Buses: Sales, for what reason an end-of-sale date is not set for coaches.

No decision has been taken on whether to set an end of sale date for new non-zero emission coaches. We will consider all options to support the decarbonisation of the coach fleet.