Written questions by Stephenson.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of open access rail operators on (a) connectivity, (b) passenger choice and (c) service quality.

In the right circumstances, Open Access can provide benefits such as improved connectivity and choice for passengers but can also increase costs to taxpayers and create additional performance pressures on an already constrained network. We are clear that there will remain a role for Open Access in the reformed rail sector, but equally that it must genuinely add value and not simply inhibit the efficient operation of the network or divert revenue from existing operators – all of which are currently supported by the taxpayer in some form.

If she will make it her policy to defer the ban on the sale of new (a) petrol and (b) diesel vehicles indefinitely; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of such a deferment on UK-based vehicle producers.

The Government has provided crucial certainty to British industry by re-instating the 2030 phase-out date for new cars relying solely on internal combustion engines. We are committing £4.5 billion to support the public and our automakers on the journey to fully decarbonising new cars and vans by 2035, including £650 million specifically to reduce the prices of new EVs. The certainty these commitments provide industry unlocks investment and benefits British consumers.

If she will make it her policy to defer the ban on the sale of new (a) petrol and (b) diesel vehicles indefinitely; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of such a deferment on the price of new cars.

The Government has provided crucial certainty to British industry by re-instating the 2030 phase-out date for new cars relying solely on internal combustion engines. We are committing £4.5 billion to support the public and our automakers on the journey to fully decarbonising new cars and vans by 2035, including £650 million specifically to reduce the prices of new EVs. The certainty these commitments provide industry unlocks investment and benefits British consumers.

With reference to the press release Full steam ahead: young people take the drivers seat to improve train services and unlock jobs of 7 May 2025, if she will publish an evaluation of the impact of this policy within a year of implementation.

The rail industry will be responsible for implementing the policy of lowering the minimum age requirement to be a train driver from 20 to 18, which will be enacted through changes to the Train Driving Licences and Certificates Regulations 2010. To ensure that this is done safely and responsibly, we have asked the rail industry to prepare an implementation plan, which will be kept under regular review. The regulations will be reviewed every five years, in line with usual government practice.

Whether she plans to extend the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate to coaches.

The Department ran calls for evidence on the decarbonisation of coaches in spring 2022 and on zero emission HGV and coach infrastructure in autumn 2023. We will provide an update on coach decarbonisation in due course.

With reference to the National Audit Office's report entitled Lessons learned: Governance and decision‑making on mega‑projects, published on 12 March 2025, whether her Department plans to implement the recommendations on clarity on the roles and responsibilities of those involved.

The Department for Transport has an established rolling programme to continuously improve project delivery, drawing on lessons learned from its own portfolio and external reviews, including those published by the NAO. Our project delivery governance and assurance frameworks are aligned to best practice recommended by NISTA and the Government project delivery standards. DfT remains committed to continuous improvement and we are currently reviewing priorities for future improvements using recent learning from the NAO and other publications such as the James Stewart Review.

With reference to the press release entitled Government pledges greater growth for the coach sector ahead of National Coach Week, published on 6 May 2025, whether she plans to take steps to support the coach sector in the East of England, in the context of the Universal UK theme park project.

The Department recognises the important role the coach sector plays in connecting people and supporting economic growth. The UK coach sector was deregulated by the Transport Act 1980 and as such, services are operated on a commercial basis without receiving government funding. It is for local authorities to review the needs of people and businesses in their area, including where development is planned, and consider how all modes of transport, including coaches, can meet those needs.

How much funding her Department has allocated to reducing the number of rail replacement services required on Thameslink services in the 2025-26 financial year.

The Department requires its train operators to use reasonable endeavours to provide alternative means of transport where they cannot provide their planned train service. Rail replacement bus services are typically provided when parts of the railway are closed for planned maintenance and upgrade work or unplanned maintenance and repair work. The Department does not specifically allocate funding for the purpose of reducing the number of rail replacement services.

With reference to her Department's guidance entitled Persons with Reduced Mobility National Technical Specification Notice, published in December 2017, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of Appendix B.

We recently published the Accessibility National Technical Specification Notice (NTSN), replacing the Persons with Reduced Mobility NTSN. The Accessibility NTSN preserves many specifications inherited from EU law while updating ones that did not have a clear case for change. This update was published following an extensive review and public consultation facilitated by the Rail Safety and Standards Board.During our review and public consultation, we did not receive any feedback on the adequacy of Annex B. However, we keep all NTSN content under regular review and will consider any further feedback as part of our continuing monitoring.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled New dawn for rail as South Western services return to public hands, published on 25 May 2025, what her plans are for operators who fail to meet the standard required to become part of Great British Railways.

Great British Railways will set a clear quality standard for our railways, so a world class public service can be rebuilt. Ministers intend to recover performance to acceptable levels at all operators, ensuring their leadership has a relentless focus on performance and rigorous standards, held to account by Ministers. The focus is on supporting and challenging train operating companies to reach the tough standards that we will set.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance Survey Report 2025, published on 18 March 2025.

The Government is determined to help local authorities fix our local road network and has drawn on a range of evidence to develop policy and determine funding for local highway maintenance, including the ALARM survey that is commissioned annually by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA). At the Spending Review the Chancellor announced we will provide £24 billion between 2026-27 and 2029-30 to maintain and improve motorways and local roads across the country. This funding increase will allow National Highways and local authorities to invest in significantly improving the long-term condition of England’s road network, delivering faster, safer and more reliable journeys.

If she will publish any assessment that National Highways have made of the flooding of the A421 at Marston Moreteyne in September 2024.

As the Lead Local Flood Authority, Central Bedfordshire Council are producing a Section 19 report to review the flooding that occurred on the A421 in accordance with the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.With publication of the report expected in autumn, National Highways (NH) is awaiting the outcome to make any necessary improvements.In the meantime, given the significance of the issue affecting the A421, National highways are building a new £1.5million pumping station on higher ground to prevent this happening again.

With reference to the document entitled Economic appraisal for investing in local highways maintenance, published on 26 September 2024, what progress her Department has made on publishing its response to the recommendations in that report.

The report entitled Economic appraisal for investing in local highways maintenance referenced was commissioned by the Department for Transport and was published on Gov.uk in November 2024. Alongside other research and evidence, it has informed policy development and funding decisions, and a formal response is not required.

What process her Department took to appoint Chiltern Railways as the operator of East-West Rail from Oxford-Milton Keynes.

The Department conducted a review to assess train operating companies’ level of capability and the degree of integration with the first stage of East–West Rail. Chiltern Railways was assessed as providing the best fit and following a negotiation of commercial terms, a Deed of Amendment was signed enacting this in and it is now working on delivering the new, twice-hourly rail service between Oxford and Milton Keynes as early as possible.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the use of sustainable aviation fuels on carbon emissions.

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is one of the key ways to decarbonise air travel. We have a comprehensive plan in place for SAF. We have set ambitious targets in the SAF Mandate, are providing grant funding to support investment in a UK SAF industry and are working to deliver a Revenue Certainty Mechanism.The Revenue Certainty Mechanism will encourage investment in the construction of SAF plants across the UK. Supporting domestic SAF production will ensure the UK is less reliant on imported SAF.Government analysis suggests that the use of SAF could deliver up to 54 million tonnes of net additional CO2 savings in the UK by 2040. We will continue to monitor the potential impacts of SAF as the technologies and our policies develop.There is nothing preventing the production of fuel from non-recyclable (‘black bin’) waste if this is determined, by local authorities or other waste producers, to be the best overall value for money and environmental outcome for such waste. The UK has a thriving competitive market for waste management services and new players are welcome to join the field. There are a range of recovery options - both established and emerging - available to waste handling operators, which will be selected according to market conditions and local needs, taking account of the waste hierarchy and the need to ensure the best available environmental outcome for the waste. We are working closely with Defra on this issue, including through the Circular Economy Taskforce.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of producing Sustainable Aviation Fuels on (a) UK energy security and (b) carbon emissions.

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is one of the key ways to decarbonise air travel. We have a comprehensive plan in place for SAF. We have set ambitious targets in the SAF Mandate, are providing grant funding to support investment in a UK SAF industry and are working to deliver a Revenue Certainty Mechanism.The Revenue Certainty Mechanism will encourage investment in the construction of SAF plants across the UK. Supporting domestic SAF production will ensure the UK is less reliant on imported SAF.Government analysis suggests that the use of SAF could deliver up to 54 million tonnes of net additional CO2 savings in the UK by 2040. We will continue to monitor the potential impacts of SAF as the technologies and our policies develop.There is nothing preventing the production of fuel from non-recyclable (‘black bin’) waste if this is determined, by local authorities or other waste producers, to be the best overall value for money and environmental outcome for such waste. The UK has a thriving competitive market for waste management services and new players are welcome to join the field. There are a range of recovery options - both established and emerging - available to waste handling operators, which will be selected according to market conditions and local needs, taking account of the waste hierarchy and the need to ensure the best available environmental outcome for the waste. We are working closely with Defra on this issue, including through the Circular Economy Taskforce.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of using black bin waste in (a) the production of sustainable aviation fuels and (b) the waste-to-energy process.

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is one of the key ways to decarbonise air travel. We have a comprehensive plan in place for SAF. We have set ambitious targets in the SAF Mandate, are providing grant funding to support investment in a UK SAF industry and are working to deliver a Revenue Certainty Mechanism.The Revenue Certainty Mechanism will encourage investment in the construction of SAF plants across the UK. Supporting domestic SAF production will ensure the UK is less reliant on imported SAF.Government analysis suggests that the use of SAF could deliver up to 54 million tonnes of net additional CO2 savings in the UK by 2040. We will continue to monitor the potential impacts of SAF as the technologies and our policies develop.There is nothing preventing the production of fuel from non-recyclable (‘black bin’) waste if this is determined, by local authorities or other waste producers, to be the best overall value for money and environmental outcome for such waste. The UK has a thriving competitive market for waste management services and new players are welcome to join the field. There are a range of recovery options - both established and emerging - available to waste handling operators, which will be selected according to market conditions and local needs, taking account of the waste hierarchy and the need to ensure the best available environmental outcome for the waste. We are working closely with Defra on this issue, including through the Circular Economy Taskforce.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 46979 on Railways, what steps she plans to take to ensure that Great British Railways provides a more efficient system for passengers.

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. Most passengers will travel on GBR trains, running on GBR tracks, and working to a GBR timetable – all run by a single directing mind focused on delivering in the interests of users and providers of railway services, and the interests of the wider public. That will mean fewer delays and a simpler experience, which will provide a more efficient system for passengers.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 46979 on Railways, what steps she plans to take to ensure that Great British Railways will have a relentless focus on passengers.

GBR will have a statutory duty to run the railway in the interest of passengers. It will have the tools and operational independence it needs to plan and run the rail system on a long-term basis to meet the needs of current and future passengers.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 46979 on Railways, what steps she plans to take to ensure that Great British Railways provides a more reliable system for passengers.

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. Most passengers will travel on GBR trains, running on GBR tracks, and working to a GBR timetable – all run by a single directing mind focused on delivering in the interests of users and providers of railway services, and the interests of the wider public. That will mean fewer delays and a simpler experience, which will provide a more reliable service for passengers.