Written questions by Murrison.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Draft Road Investment Strategy 3, published on 26 August 2025, when she plans to publish the final version; and when she plans to respond to the policy paper entitled M4 to Dorset Coast: Strategic connectivity study, published in December 2023.

The Department plans to publish the third Road Investment Strategy in March 2026, and this will include the latest position and proposed next steps in response to findings of National Highways M4 Dorset Coast Strategic Study.

How many claims were made for (a) delayed or (b) cancelled journeys by railway companies in public ownership in each month for which records are available; and what was the value of those claims.

Most train operating companies publish on their website Delay Repay compensation data on the number of claims submitted, the number of claims approved and the value of these claims. Delay Repay compensation is paid for eligible delays regardless of the reason for the delay. See below, for the most recent rail period available, the relevant data for Southeastern, South Western Railway, Northern and TransPennine Trains and a link to their website. Train Operating CompanyClaims ReceivedClaims ApprovedValue of ClaimsAverage Value Per Approved ClaimWebsiteSoutheastern35,44727,808£234,212.50£8.42SoutheasternSouth Western Railway24,66218,488£187,488.00£10.14South WesternNorthern55,80143,455£382,782.00£8.81NorthernTransPennine Trains25,29219,728£349,867.88£17.73TransPennine We are unable to provide London North Eastern Railway’s (LNER’s) data as it is not something it currently publishes on its website. The figures provided below from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) covers a period longer than one month and is also the number of claims closed, not received, or approved. We have included its approval rate, along with the link to the ORR data. LNER - 05/01/25 to 31/03/25 - 117,948 Claims Closed – Approval Rate of 79.5 per cent. https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/passenger-experience/delay-compensation-claims/.

Whether her Department plans to implement improvements to the West of England rail line in the context of the cancellation of the A303 Stonehenge road improvement scheme.

The Government has no plans for enhancements to the West of England line at this time. Government investment priorities for rail enhancements in England and Wales will be set out following the conclusion of the Spending Review next month.

What steps Great British Rail plans to take to help improve (a) travel times, (b) punctuality and (c) passenger experience on the West of England line.

Services operated by South Western Railway, which operates the West of England line, will transfer into public ownership when their contract expires on 25 May 2025. Under public ownership, passenger services will be operated in the interests of passengers, not shareholders. Bringing train operations into public ownership is the first step in the Government’s plans for wider rail reform. The Railways Bill will be introduced later this session, which will enable the establishment of Great British Railways (GBR). GBR will have the tools and operational independence it needs to plan and run the rail system on a long-term basis to deliver for passengers and freight customers. Through these reforms we will deliver better quality services for passengers and freight customers, resulting in fewer delays and a timetable that better serves their needs.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc on improvements to road links between the M4 and the south coast.

The Oxford-Cambridge Arc represents a strategic growth corridor with the potential to facilitate sustainable economic, social, and environmental development for the region, and its impact on the transport system is multi-modal. It is recognised that additional analytical work will be necessary to comprehensively assess the interdependencies and areas of alignment with parallel studies, including the M4 to Dorset corridor study.

How many (a) unregistered and (b) uninsured vessels have been boarded by UK authorities in UK territorial waters in 2024.

No unregistered or uninsured commercial vessels have been boarded by UK authorities in UK territorial waters this year.

What steps she is taking to ensure that (a) unregistered and (b) uninsured vessels do not (i) enter UK territorial waters and (ii) dock at UK ports.

As a signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNLCOS), the UK (or any state that has subscribed to the agreement) cannot disrupt the transit passage of vessels through its territorial waters for lacking insurance, or being unregistered, as this is not considered to fall within any of the exceptions to passage being ‘innocent passage’. Refusal to allow a vessel to dock into a UK port is a decision for the port. Vessels docked at a UK port may be subject to a Port State Control inspection. Registration and insurance are part of the documentation that is checked.

How many wet cargo ships have been boarded by UK authorities in territorial waters for lacking insurance this year.

No wet cargo ships have been boarded by UK authorities in territorial waters due to a lack of insurance this year.