Written questions by Mayer.

What steps she is taking to support the growth of independent gyms in the East of England.

The government is committed to supporting UK SMEs, including independent gyms in the East of England, through the Small Business Plan - the most comprehensive package of support for SMEs in a generation. This includes the most significant legislative reforms in 25 years to tackle late payments; unlocking billions of pounds in finance to support start-ups; removing unnecessary red tape; revitalising High Streets and boosting Digital and AI Adoption among small businesses. The Business Growth Service helps SMEs access tailored support at every stage of their growth journey. The South Midlands Growth Hub offers free accessible business advice and support at all stages of a business’s journey.

What steps he is taking to expand the role of optometrists in delivering community-based eye care, including shared care schemes.

Integrated care boards can already commission community-based eye care services. Improvements in IT connectivity and the development of single points of access between primary care optometry and secondary care will also support more care being delivered in the community, including under shared care arrangements.

How many students were entered for (a) French, (b) German, (c) Spanish and (d) other modern foreign languages at (i) GCSE and (ii) A Level by local education authority in the East of England in each year for which the data is available.

Information regarding GCSE and A level student counts by local authority is published by the department in the ‘Key stage 4 performance’ and ‘A level and other 16 to 18 results’ statistical releases. Data is published from 2018/19 to 2024/25.The requested data for GCSE students in 2018/19 to 2024/25 can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/0272ce41-9736-47f9-abc5-08de834ce335.The requested data for A level students in 2020/21 to 2024/25 is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/9e636057-8448-4e04-f84b-08de834d471d.The data for A level students in 2017/18 to 2019/20 can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/eee0c01a-c6b4-4f22-f84d-08de834d471d.

What data she collects from local authorities on roads awaiting adoption.

The Department for Transport does not directly collect detailed data from local authorities on roads awaiting adoption. We collect basic information on the number of private streets through Street Manager, our digital service for planning and managing roadworks. However, this does not include more specific information such as whether an adoption application is underway. That information is held by local planning authorities.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that Section 106 money is spent promptly.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 54059 on 6 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what support his Department is providing to Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service following the recent HMICERS report.

The government follows His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) inspection reports closely, and thanks the Inspectorate for its recent report on Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (FRS).As with all Fire and Rescue Services, we stand ready to support Bedfordshire FRS in addressing the recommendations made by HMICFRS, including working with the Inspectorate and fire sector leaders to determine any assistance that could aid the service in the delivery of the required improvements.The Department will continue to work closely with all FRSs, including Bedfordshire, to ensure they have the resources they need to protect their communities and look after their people.

How many car driving tests were taken by people (a) taking it for the first time (b) taking it for the (i) second time and (ii) third or more times in 2025.

The table below shows how many car driving tests were taken for the first, second, third or more times in 2024 and 2025. Please note this data is up to 31 March 2025.YearAttemptsNumber of people01/04/2024 - 31/03/20251900,26001/04/2024 - 31/03/20252452,15401/04/2024 - 31/03/20253 or more487,403 The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency publishes data on the number of people taking their test on their first attempt on GOV.UK The data in report DRT121D is updated annually. The next update is due to be published in August 2026.

Pursuant to parliamentary question 102105 answered on 14 January what assessment she has made of the measures being taken by Network Rail to mitigate the (a) performance and (b) safety risks of the 2.6% in rail asset deterioration over the course of Control Period 7 (2024 to 2029) as set out in the year 2 update to Network Rail’s Delivery Plan.

The independent safety and economic regulator, the Office of Rail and Road, holds Network Rail to account for its management of railway infrastructure, including the effectiveness of any performance and safety mitigations that are either planned via the Periodic Review process or which subsequently become necessary. The Department for Transport is clear that performance and safety are priorities for the Government. Network Rail’s next Delivery Plan update will be published in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2026 to Question 102105 on Network Rail: Assets, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Network Rail’s calculation of the Composite Sustainability index for each railway asset; and what assessment she has made of rail asset (a) age and (b) condition in (i) Control Period 4 (ii) Control Period 5 (iii) Control Period 6 and (iv) Control Period 7.

The methodology for the composite sustainability index (CSI) calculations is developed by Network Rail and is recognised by the regulator, the Office of Rail and Road, as being a reliable and effective means to monitor the changing remaining life of railway infrastructure. Rail asset age and condition, as determined via CSI and service affecting failures (SAFs) respectively, are shown in Table 1 and Table 2. Table 1: CSI shift across Control Periods CP5 exitCP6 exitCP7 Y2 updateCSI shift against a baseline of the start of CP50.40%-1.20%-2.60% Table 2: SAF shift across Control Periods End CP4End CP5End CP6Latest 13 Periods in CP7SAFs per year28,91424,71123,33923,025

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2026 to Question 102105 on Network Rail: Assets, what estimate she has made of the level of expenditure required to redress the predicted Composite Sustainability Index (CSI) rail asset sustainability reduction of 2.6%.

The objectives and funding for GBR in the next funding period (running from April 2029 to March 2034) will be determined via the coming funding and objective-setting process.

What her planned timetable is for rolling out the Great British Train branding to each station in the East of England.

The Secretary of State has asked the Chief Executive Officer of DfT Operator Ltd (DFTO) to lead the rollout of the Great British Railways (GBR) branding. Passengers will start to see GBR branding appear on the network in the next couple of months, and over time it will replace existing operator brands and the Network Rail brand. This will include GBR being visible at stations. Ministers expect the brand rollout to maximise opportunities to grow revenue as well as to ensure value for money in its application. This includes primarily repainting trains when they were due to be repainted by their leasing companies, and changing station signage when it is life expired, rather than necessarily taking a regional approach to a rollout.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the rail fare freeze on the (a) budget and (b) spending plans of the Department for Transport Operator (DfTO) train operating companies between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027.

Freezing regulated fares is a fully funded policy that will save commuters hundreds of pounds on season tickets and put more money in working people’s pockets. This forms part of the Government’s wider commitment to transform and improve our railways.

What data her Department collects on the number of unadopted roads going through the Section 38 process by local authority.

The Department does not collect data on the number of roads that have been, or are currently being, adopted by local authorities. Decisions on whether to adopt a road rest with the relevant local authority, provided the road meets the necessary design standards for adoption. The Department is aware of a decline in the adoption of roads within new developments and is undertaking research to better understand the adoption process under the Highways Act 1980 and how it might be improved in the future. We will aim to publish the findings of the project as soon as possible this year.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on the Competition and Markets Authority recommendations on unadopted roads in its Housebuilding Market Study, published in 2024.

My Department engages regularly with a range of stakeholders about our ongoing reforms to the leasehold system, including to freehold estates and unadopted infrastructure.This week, I met with Home Owners Rights Network to hear their views on the two comprehensive consultations launched in December seeking views on how best to implement new consumer protections for homeowners on freehold estates and the ways in which we might reduce the prevalence of privately managed estates over the coming years. For further information about those consultations, I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to coordinate policy on the development, validation and uptake of non-animal methods.

The Department is working closely with colleagues across Government to strengthen coordination on the development, validation and uptake of non‑animal methods. The first cross‑departmental ministerial meeting on the delivery of the strategy is scheduled to take place next month and will provide a formal mechanism to drive progress and ensure alignment across policy areas.

What plans her Department has make it easier for passengers to receive Delay Repay compensation.

Ten of the 14 Department for Transport contracted operators now offer delay repay schemes that provide automated, one-click delay repay, and we are also developing plans to make it even easier and more convenient to claim Delay Repay, including through the upcoming Great British Railways website and app.

What estimate his Department has made of the number of families who will benefit from the financial support package to cover travel costs to and from cancer appointments in (a) Bedfordshire and (b) England.

The Department knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families across the United Kingdom.Through the National Cancer Plan, the Government is committing up to £10 million a year to a new fund open to all children and young people in England with cancer and their families regardless of income, to support them with the cost of travelling to and from treatment. This commitment sits alongside wider action to transform cancer care for children and young people.The Department has not made a formal estimate of the number of families who will benefit from the financial support package to cover travel costs to and from treatment in Bedfordshire specifically. However, the Department’s work to-date estimates that approximately 3,100 young cancer patients will benefit across England.

What recent estimate she has made of the average length of time taken by local authorities to adopt roads serving new housing developments.

The time taken for local authorities to adopt roads on new housing developments varies significantly across the country, as each authority follows its own processes and timelines. The Government recognises that road adoption rates for new developments have been declining in recent years. To address this, we are undertaking research to better understand the causes of this trend and to identify how the adoption process can be improved going forward.

What subsidy reduction targets her department set for train operating companies in England in (a) 2024/2025 and (b) 2025/2026.

In 2024/25, the Department’s resource settlement for train operating companies was £2.4 billion, and in 2025/26 it is £2.0 billion. Business plans and net subsidy budgets for train operating companies were agreed to align with and deliver within these settlements.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Office of Rail and Road’s decision not to extend the Rail Transparency Order to cover rail maintenance costs.

As stated by the ORR following its review of the Transparency Order, the ORR does not have the powers to vary or revoke the Transparency Order, which are powers reserved to the CMA. This includes maintenance costs, which are beyond the scope of the current remedy and would require a new market investigation by the competition authorities. The Government recognises the value and importance of transparency in the rolling stock market, however, and its draft Rolling Stock & Infrastructure Strategy is currently looking at maintenance arrangements to see how they could be improved under GBR to deliver more reliable, better value for money trains.