Written questions by Thomas.

What steps her Department is taking to increase the availability of driving tests in rural areas.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.On the 18 December last year, DVSA published measures to bring down car practical driving test waiting times across the country. This included the recruitment of driving examiners (DEs), and DVSA continues to run recruitment campaigns as part of this.On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions including the reintroduction of overtime pay incentives, and a call for volunteers from those currently in other roles (but qualified to examine) to carry out practical driving tests.Further information on these actions and progress on the plan can be found on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-acts-to-make-thousands-of-extra-driving-tests-available-each-month. DVSA is committed to providing its customers, including those in rural areas, with the best service possible. DVSA continually reviews its estate to ensure it represents good value for money and is efficient.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reducing speed limits to 20mph outside all schools.

The Department for Transport published a comprehensive three-year evaluation of the effect of 20mph limits, which are 20mph schemes relying only on signage, on 22 November 2018 20mph Research Study Process and Impact Evaluation Report.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of wheelchair accessible taxis in (a) rural areas and (b) Gloucestershire.

Disabled people should be able to travel easily, confidently, and with dignity and the Government understands the importance of accessible taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) in supporting them to live independent lives. The Department collects and publishes statistics about the number of wheelchair accessible taxis and PHVs in England. As of 1 April 2024, 18.5% of taxis and 6.2% of PHVs licensed in Gloucestershire were wheelchair accessible. During the same period, in areas that are largely rural, 13.5% of taxis and 6.9% of PHVs met the same standard. The proportion of licensed vehicles that are wheelchair accessible varies considerably across England and in some areas, it can be difficult for wheelchair users to obtain a suitable wheelchair accessible taxi or PHV when they need one. Ultimately, however, the licensing of taxis and PHVs is a matter for licensing authorities, and the Government expects them to anticipate the needs of people in their area proactively, and to ensure that services meet a wide range of passenger needs. Government best practice guidance to licensing authorities in England, updated in November 2023, recommends that authorities assess the demand for wheelchair accessible vehicles and take steps to ensure that there are sufficient available, as part of a “mixed fleet” of vehicles suitable for a range of passenger needs.

Whether her Department is taking steps to encourage consumers to purchase second-hand electric vehicles.

The Government works closely with the automotive industry to monitor the health of the second-hand electric vehicle (EV) market and improve consumer information about EVs and charging infrastructure.The battery forms a large part of an EV’s value, providing information about battery health will therefore help consumers make informed decisions about second-hand EVs. The Government has worked with international partners at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe to develop Global Technical Regulation No. 22. This requires EV manufacturers to provide easily accessible, accurate, and comparable information on the battery’s state of health. The Government is currently analysing options for the implementation of this regulation in the UK.

What (a) assessments and (b) consultations her Department undertakes when determining locations for the installation of electric vehicle charging points.

The Department does not determine the locations at which electric vehicle chargepoints are installed. For those in public areas, local authorities are best placed to understand what charging infrastructure is needed and have a key role in planning and enabling the delivery of chargepoints, with particular focus on supporting those who do not have access to off-street parking. The £381m Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) fund includes capability (resource) funding for local authorities to secure dedicated in-house expertise to plan, procure and deliver local chargepoints.

What steps her Department is taking to increase the number of electric vehicle charging points installed in (a) small towns and (b) rural communities; and whether she plans to take steps to ensure they are evenly distributed beyond major cities.

The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of affordable charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle. As of February 2025, the Government and industry have supported the installation of 74,334 publicly available charging devices, up 35% on this time last year. There was particularly strong growth in rural areas last year, with chargepoint numbers increasing by 45% in 2024. The £381m Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund will support the installation of at least 100,000 local chargepoints across the country. LEVI funding allocations factored in the proportion of residents that are in rural areas. This meant local authorities in rural areas were allocated additional funding compared to urban ones.

What steps she is taking to improve transport infrastructure in Gloucestershire.

This Government recognises that dynamic transport infrastructure like the new Arle Court Transport Hub in Cheltenham is essential for helping people go about their daily lives. We have already awarded Gloucestershire nearly £4.2m capital funding for bus service improvements in 2025/26 and will make further funding announcements later this year.