Written questions by Mayer.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of planning regulations on the installation of electric vehicle charge points.

The Government is committed to ensuring that planning regulations support the installation of charging infrastructure. The previous government consulted earlier this year on amending the permitted development rights for off-street electric vehicle charging points. Further announcements will be made in due course.

If she will make it her policy to allow local leaders to use Skills Bootcamp funding to support training for coach drivers.

Skills Bootcamps are an important offer in the skills landscape, and the department continues to support the delivery of Skills Bootcamps through funding Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and local areas directly. We continue to keep the sectors eligible for Skills Bootcamps funding under review.MCAs and the Greater London Authority have the flexibility to use up to 50% of their grants to test Skills Bootcamps in additional sectors. As of the 2024/25 financial year, two trailblazer areas, the West Midlands Combined Authority and Greater Manchester Combined Authority can use 100% of their grants to this effect.

How many flooding incidents the fire and rescue services have responded to in England in each year since 2010.

The latest available data (year ending March 2024) on the number flooding incidents attended by Fire and rescue Services in England is published in FIRE0901, available here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67165e5c9242eecc6c849b5e/fire-statistics-data-tables-fire0901-241024.xlsxThis provides the number of flooding incidents by year for England, for each fire and rescue service (FRS), designated as either metropolitan or non-metropolitan, for each FRS, designated as either predominantly rural, significantly rural, or predominantly urban, and for each individual FRS.The table below provides the number of flooding incidents in England between the years ending March 2010 and years ending March 2024. Year ending MarchNumber of flooding incidents201015,069201116,784201211,886201317,908201414,486201512,391201613,714201714,120201815,674201913,370202015,543202114,922202215,959202317,837202417,797

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of permitted weight limits on volumetric concrete mixers on the financial sustainability of the haulage industry.

The Department ran a call for evidence from October to December 2023 seeking views on three potential options on weight limits for volumetric concrete mixers (VCMs). Any potential changes to the current policy position on VCM weight limits will need to consider the implications for maintaining fair competition in the market. No formal impact assessment was produced, as the costs implied were estimated to be below the threshold at which this is considered proportionate. The Department is currently reviewing the outcomes and will publish its findings in due course.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of revising the permitted weight limits on volumetric concrete mixers.

The Department ran a call for evidence from October to December 2023 seeking views on three potential options on weight limits for volumetric concrete mixers (VCMs). Any potential changes to the current policy position on VCM weight limits will need to consider the implications for road safety, infrastructure, the environment, and maintaining fair competition in the market. The Department is currently reviewing the outcomes and will publish its findings in due course.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of permitted weight limits on volumetric concrete mixers on trends in the levels of carbon emissions.

The Department ran a call for evidence from October to December 2023 seeking views on three potential options on weight limits for Volumetric Concrete Mixers (VCMs). Evidence was provided to the Department on both the pros and cons of allowing VCMs to continue to operate at higher weights. The Department has reviewed the evidence provided and will publish its findings in due course. Any potential changes to the current policy position on VCM weight limits will need to consider the implications for road safety, infrastructure, the environment, and maintaining fair competition in the market. As part of its consideration of the evidence, the Department has assessed the potential environmental impacts in accordance with the Environment Act 2021 which requires Ministers of the Crown to have ‘due regard’ to the environmental principles policy statement when making policy.

What steps she is taking to support multi-modal interchanges at (a) HS2 Euston Station and (b) all other new stations.

The Department for Transport is working with key partners to develop affordable plans for the Euston Station Campus, which will comprise the new HS2 station, an upgraded Network Rail station, and enhancements to the London Underground station and local transport facilities along with a significant level of development. The ease of interchange for passengers will always be a critical consideration. At Old Oak Common, the new HS2 station will provide connectivity with Elizabeth Line, Heathrow Express and Great Western Railway services within the station itself. This will be supported by connections for buses, private hire vehicles and active travel routes outside the station building. At Birmingham Curzon Street, the Department is working with HS2 Ltd and Transport for West Midlands on the integration of the Birmingham Eastside metro extension at the HS2 station. There will also be provision for bus stops, active travel routes, and bicycle storage. At Interchange station, HS2 will construct an Automated People Mover which will connect the station to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham International railway station and Birmingham Airport. The design for the station also incorporates a bus interchange, short and long stay car parking, bicycle storage, and a network of active travel routes.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reintroducing electric vehicle purchase grants for private owners.

The Government already provides support for private owners looking to purchase zero emission vehicles, including generous taxation incentives and Plug-in Vehicle Grants for specific types of vehicles. In the recent Budget, the Government announced £120m of new funding for next financial year to support the purchase of new electric vans via the Plug-in Van Grant and to support the manufacture of wheelchair accessible EVs.

How many buses funded through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme (a) have been ordered and (b) are on the road.

Of the 2,263 buses funded through the ZEBRA 1 and 2 programmes 1,674 buses have been ordered (1,025 - ZEBRA 1 & 649 ZEBRA 2) whilst there are currently 582 ZEBs in service.

How many buses funded through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme are UK-manufactured.

UK-based bus manufacturers have benefited the most from the Department’s funding programmes, such as ZEBRA. It is estimated that 60% of ZEBRA-supported buses will be procured from UK-based manufacturers, supporting economic growth and jobs across the zero-carbon transport industry. The transition to zero emission buses represents a great opportunity for UK bus manufacturers, both to supply the zero emission buses needed here in the UK and to win export orders abroad as other countries upgrade their bus fleets.

What assessment the Department has made of the level of passenger brand awareness of franchised rail operators.

The Department has not assessed the level of passenger brand awareness of franchised rail operators. The operating companies periodically test their own brand awareness as part of their own market research, but this information is not shared with the Department, nor is this research routinely conducted on a frequent basis.

What discussions she has had with TFL on the location of the bus station at Euston station.

The Department for Transport is working with key partners, including Transport for London, to develop affordable plans for the Euston Station Campus.

How many Paper Check and Send for (a) new and (b) renewal Passports appointments were made at Crown Post offices in the last year for which figures are available.

As it is not possible to categorise Paper Check & Send applications by whether they are ‘New’ or ‘Renewal’, the Post Office have also shared their statistics for Digital Check & Send applications. The number of Passport Paper Check & Send applications made at Directly Managed Branches for the 2023/2024 Financial Year was 16,733. Across the total network, the number of Passport Paper Check & Send applications made for the same Financial Year was 175,924 Comparatively, the number of Passport Digital Check & Send applications made at Directly Managed Branches for the 2023/2024 Financial Year was 60,253. Across the total network, the number of Passport Digital Check & Send applications made for the same Financial Year was 430,755.

With reference to the Prime Minister's National Statement at COP29 on 12 November 2024, whether she plans to revise her Department’s emission target following the Government's announcement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% on 1990 levels by 2035.

The UK’s ambitious and credible Nationally Determined Contribution target for 2035 is consistent with the effort required to deliver the existing Sixth Carbon Budget (2033-37). The Department is committed to delivering greener transport and supporting accelerating to net zero as part of the Government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.

How many Security Industry Authority licence applications were made at a Crown Post Office last year.

According to the Post Office, the number of Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence applications made at Directly Managed Branches for the 2023/2024 Financial Year was 15,150. Across the total network, the number of SIA licensed applications made for the same Financial Year was 97,954.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to paragraph 4.94 of of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC295, published on 30 October 2024, whether any of the core research funding will be used for projects that involve experimenting on animals.

Alternative methods cannot currently replicate the complexity of an intact biological system, so the use of animals remains essential both in basic and translational medical research and in preclinical testing. Currently 32% of Medical Research Council-funded research programmes involve some use of animals licensed under the ASPA (Animals Scientific Procedures Act). The manifesto committed the Government to partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing. This is a long-term goal, and it will likely take many years of scientific and technical advancement and validation to reach this point.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to paragraph 4.94 of of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC295, published on 30 October 2024, what steps his Department is taking to support the development of human-specific technologies such as organ-on-a-chip.

The Government funds research through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and many programmes, including those on organoids, cell behaviour or AI, may eventually lead to the development of human-specific technologies that can replace the need for the use of animals. The Government also funds the development and dissemination of techniques that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research through the National Centre for the 3Rs (NC3Rs). Since its launch in 2004, the NC3Rs has committed over £100 million through its research and innovation to provide new 3Rs approaches for scientists in academia and industry to use

How many Crown post offices make a profit.

Directly Managed Branches are loss-making for the Post Office. As such, Post Office has been clear that it’s their ambition to operate the network on a fully franchised basis in time, as they believe that this is a more sustainable model. The Post Office's Transformation Plan aims to deliver a reduction in central costs and look seriously at other ways to deliver efficiencies. The Post Office will however continue to deliver on the 11,500 minimum branch requirement and geographical access criteria set by Government.

How many DVLA photocard renewals were made at a Crown Post Office last year.

According to the Post Office, the number of DVLA photocard renewals made at Directly Managed Branches for the 2023/2024 Financial Year was 55,014. Across the total network, the number of DVLA photocard renewals made for the same Financial Year was 525,827.

If her Department will publish the formula used to determine the final allocations for bus service improvement plan funding for local transport authorities for 2025-26.

The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Central Bedfordshire Council has been allocated £3 million of this funding. Funding for local authorities to deliver their bus service improvement plans has been allocated based on local needs, including population, the distance that buses travel, and levels of deprivation.