Written questions by Mayer.

Which areas has her Department provided additional funding for to develop Mobility as a Service apps; and what the potential cost to the public purse is of this work.

The Transport Innovation Grants (TRIG) programme, which funds proof of concept projects to either fail fast or uncover early promise across the whole transport technology spectrum, has given funding of a total value of £289k to projects related to Mobility as a Service apps since 2024. Local authorities receive various other streams of non-ringfenced funding which they have chosen to spend on MaaS projects, for example as part of the Future Transport Zones programme.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of funding for British Transport Police.

The British Transport Police’s (BTP) budget is set by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). It is the executive non-departmental public body that oversees the Force and is their employer. BTPA sets the BTP’s budget annually following proposals from the Force and views from industry. Set against a backdrop of wider public sector efficiencies and affordability by the rail industry it has agreed a budget increase for the financial year 2025/26 of 5.9%.The cost of policing the rail network in Great Britain is primarily covered through the funding agreements that the British Transport Police Authority holds with Network Rail, the rail operators and Transport for London.The Department can, under some limited specific circumstances, support the BTP with additional grant funding such as for additional policing during periods of civil unrest.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 6923 on Euston Station: Passengers, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of progress in the implementation of crowd management improvements to Euston station required by the Office of Road and Rail.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) closed its Improvement Notice served in respect of crowd management at Euston last year - on 15 December 2023.As the duty holder, Network Rail is accountable for meeting health and safety and other legal responsibilities at Euston and the ORR is responsible for monitoring compliance.The Department recognises the need for urgent improvements to passenger experience at Euston and welcomes the improvements Network Rail is making under its five-point plan announced on 4 October.

How much funding her Department provided for retrofitting buses to reduce emissions under (a) the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme and (b) other relevant schemes in 2024.

Since 2017, the Government allocated approximately £100m toward the retrofitting of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology. The Government has not provided any funding for the retrofitting of SCR technology in 2024.

What data her Department holds on how many and what proportion of buses have onboard connections for electronic devices in England.

As of March 2024, there were 29,790 buses used by local bus operators in England. Around 28% of these buses, approximately 8,300, were equipped with charging points.

What steps her Department is taking to help tackle changes in average bus speeds.

The government is committed to working with local transport authorities and the bus sector to deliver better, more reliable services for passengers. At the Budget, the government confirmed over £1 billion in funding to improve bus services, protect vital routes and keep fares down. This includes over £700 million allocated to local councils to deliver bus service improvement plans (BSIPs). Councils can use the funding in whichever way they wish to improve bus services for all passengers, including investing in infrastructure or bus priority schemes to help reduce journey times. We introduced the Bus Services Bill on 17 December, which will give local leaders the powers they need and the freedom to take decisions to deliver their local transport priorities and ensure networks meet the needs of the communities who rely on them.

If her Department will publish guidance on the process for establishing passenger transport executives.

The Department has no current plans to publish guidance on establishing a new Passenger Transport Executive. Setting up a new Passenger Transport Executive to coordinate local transport in its area would require amendments to legislation. Local and Combined Authorities already have a number of coordinating powers and functions in relation to transport. The English Devolution White Paper (December 2024) set out Government’s plans to provide additional transport powers and responsibilities to Local and Combined Authorities.

Whether there will be a minimum service requirement for broadband on train services under Great British Railways.

There have been no discussions around the minimum levels of service for wifi or broadband on trains under Great British Railways. However, officials are looking more widely into different solutions to improve passenger connectivity, such as a low earth orbit satellite and neutral host solutions to improve connectivity via Network Rail’s ‘Project Reach’.

How many DVSA delegated driving examiner training slots are scheduled for 2025.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is committed to the delegated examiner scheme and recognise the flexibility this provides with regards to heavy goods vehicles, passenger carrying vehicles and the emergency services in managing the availability of suitably qualified drivers. DVSA are currently not able to provide plans for delegated training in 2025. DVSA are continuing to develop a training schedule for organisations who require delegated examiners. This approach will need to balance all of the demands on DVSA’s training resource.

What the average waiting time was in weeks for a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence part 3b test in (a) England, (b) Central Bedfordshire and (c) each driving centre in November (i) 2024 and (ii) 2023.

The average waiting time in weeks, in November 2024 and November 2023, for a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) part 3b test, at test centres in England, and all other test centres, is contained within the attached document. The table below shows the average waiting time in weeks for November 2024 and November 2023, at Leighton Buzzard (Stanbridge Road) test centre, which serves Central Bedfordshire. Average waiting time November 2024Average waiting time November 2023Leighton Buzzard (Stanbridge Road)2.51.5

What discussions she has had with car manufacturers on progress towards achieving the zero emission vehicle mandate for cars by 2030.

My Ministerial colleagues across Government and I meet regularly with vehicle manufacturers to discuss a wide range of issues including the transition to zero emission vehicles. We are working closely with the sector to ensure that British industry benefits from the opportunities of net zero, and a consultation on the Government’s proposals for restoring the phase out dates for new cars that rely purely on internal combustion engines will be published in due course.

With reference to the oral statement entitled Rail Performance of 11 November 2024, Official Report, column 517, when she plans to issue a private train operating company with three months' notice that it will be taken into public ownership.

The Secretary of State announced on 4 December that South Western Railway’s services will transfer into public ownership on 25 May 2025, followed by c2c’s on 20 July 2025 and Greater Anglia’s in autumn 2025. No expiry notice needs to be issued to South Western Railway or c2c as their contracts are already set to expire on those dates. An expiry notice will be issued to Greater Anglia in due course.

What her planned timetable is to publish her Department's strategy on rolling stock procurement.

The Government is in the early stages of formulating a rolling stock strategy. The strategy will include considerations around the timelines for new build and refurbishments which will provide more visibility to the rolling stock market. Once established, GBR will take the strategy forward providing a long-term approach to future rolling stock needs and helping to secure better value from the private rolling stock market.

If she will make a comparative estimate of the cost per mile of new (a) busways, (b) ultra light rail and (c) conventional train systems.

The estimated costs per mile for new local transportation infrastructure in England can vary significantly based on numerous factors, including specific project conditions and requirements, geography, urban density, and land values.Responsibility for local transport is largely devolved in England, where each local authority is responsible for the operations and financial sustainability of its network. This includes for upgrades and any potential extensions to existing busways and light rail systems.Local authorities are best place to identify possible opportunities and the potential benefits of local transport schemes.  The Department encourages local authorities to take a mode neutral approach to local transport, and works alongside them to ensure the development of proportionate solutions to local transport issues.Rail project costs also vary significantly from project to project based on type of project, scale of intervention, geography and supply chain status.

What her Department’s policy is on funding for Community Rail Partnerships, in the context of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024.

My Department is committed to supporting the community rail movement. Currently, Community Rail Partnerships are funded by their Train Operating Company, with funding amounts agreed as part of the annual business planning process. The process for the next financial year is currently underway.

If her Department will take steps to reduce the cost of electric vehicle public charging.

The Government is committed to delivering an equitable transition to zero emission vehicles, which works for all drivers. Under the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, all chargepoint operators must display the price of charging using a common metric of p/kwh and make their data on pricing available freely. This will allow drivers to easily compare the price of charging, and find the best chargepoint for their needs.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of removing the 50km restriction for 18- to 20-year-old bus and coach drivers on a regular service.

In April, the Department launched a consultation on amending licensing restrictions following requests from industry, the consultation ran for 8 weeks and closed on 5 June. It consulted on measures to amend licensing restrictions which would enable 18- to 20-year-olds to drive a bus and coach over 50km when driving a regular service and enable some of the tests required to be passed in order to gain a driver certificate of professional competence (DCPC) to be taken before a provisional licence is issued.Officials are reviewing responses to the consultation and the Department will publish a response in due course.

What data her Department holds on penalty charge notice rates for different offences, broken down by (a) year and (b) location.

The Department for Transport does not hold data on penalty charge notice levels applied by local authorities with civil enforcement powers, either on an annual basis, or between parking or other road traffic contraventions by location. Local authorities outside London with civil parking enforcement powers may only select from two banded Parking Penalty Charge Notice levels as prescribed in the Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022. Penalty charges for parking contraventions in London are set by the Mayor for London with the consent of the Secretary of State. The Department for Transport’s statutory guidance for local authorities in England on civil enforcement of parking contraventions recommends local authorities should adopt the lowest charge level consistent with a high level of public acceptability and compliance. Banded penalty charge levels for other civilly enforceable contraventions, i.e. bus lane and moving traffic contraventions, are set in the 2022 regulations in line with penalties for higher level parking contraventions, for example parking in a disabled bay.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of removing the requirement to hold a provisional bus, coach or HGV licence to undertake the theory and off-road modules of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence test.

In April, the Department launched a consultation on amending licensing restrictions following requests from industry, the consultation ran for 8 weeks and closed on 5 June. It consulted on measures to amend licensing restrictions which would enable 18- to 20-year-olds to drive a bus and coach over 50km when driving a regular service and enable some of the tests required to be passed in order to gain a driver certificate of professional competence (DCPC) to be taken before a provisional licence is issued.Officials are reviewing responses to the consultation and the Department will publish a response in due course.

What data her Department has on increases in penalty charge notice fees for parking compared to fines for other traffic contraventions.

The Department for Transport does not hold data on penalty charge notice levels applied by local authorities with civil enforcement powers, either on an annual basis, or between parking or other road traffic contraventions by location. Local authorities outside London with civil parking enforcement powers may only select from two banded Parking Penalty Charge Notice levels as prescribed in the Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022. Penalty charges for parking contraventions in London are set by the Mayor for London with the consent of the Secretary of State. The Department for Transport’s statutory guidance for local authorities in England on civil enforcement of parking contraventions recommends local authorities should adopt the lowest charge level consistent with a high level of public acceptability and compliance. Banded penalty charge levels for other civilly enforceable contraventions, i.e. bus lane and moving traffic contraventions, are set in the 2022 regulations in line with penalties for higher level parking contraventions, for example parking in a disabled bay.