The Westminster lensArchive · Written questions · 178 tabled · 163 answered

Written questions by Voaden.

Every parliamentary written question tabled by Caroline Voaden this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.

Department:All (178)Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (44)Department for Education (20)Ministry of Justice (16)Department for Work and Pensions (15)Department for Transport (12)Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (12)Department of Health and Social Care (11)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (9)Treasury (8)Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (7)Department for Culture, Media and Sport (7)Home Office (5)

Showing 112 of 12 · Department for Transport

15 Jun 2026·Department for Transport·Answered
Asked

What steps she is taking to encourage active travel for business use.

Reply

As set out in the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published on 12 June, the Government is projected to invest £4.5 billion up to 2030 for active travel. This includes £1.1 billion of funding for Active Travel England, of which £760 million ...

9 Jun 2026·Department for Transport·Answered
Asked

How much has been spent by the Marine and Coastguard Agency on Coastguard Rescue Officer expenses in each of the last five financial years.

Reply

Total expenditure by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on reimbursement of expenses incurred by Coastguard Rescue Officers is as follows: 21/2222/2323/2424/2525/26CRO - Expenses£468,223£484,244£493,558£502,633£518,793

29 May 2026·Department for Transport·Answered
Asked

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of timescales for medical driving licence renewals.

Reply

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has seen sustained growth in the volume and complexity of medical licence applications which has led to increased waiting times for some customers. In the interests of road safety, the DVLA must be satisfied ...

13 May 2026·Department for Transport·Answered
Asked

What steps his Department are taking to ensure motorists are not incorrectly pursued for parking penalties as a result of Automatic Number Plate Recognition misreads.

Reply

The law allows the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to provide vehicle keeper information to those who can demonstrate reasonable cause to receive it. The electronic release of vehicle keeper information to private parking companies following a...

22 Apr 2026·Department for Transport·Answered
Asked

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the criminal liability framework applicable in cases where (a) autonomous and (b) connected vehicles cause (i) death and (ii) serious injury.

Reply

With regard to autonomous vehicles, the Department has undertaken significant work to establish a revised liability framework, as enacted by the Automated Vehicles Act 2024. This Act follows the recommendations of the Law Commissions in 2024 that new legal entities be required to take liability when a vehicle is driving itself. These legal entities and their senior managers will be under a duty of candour requiring honest and transparent disclosures to Government, with failure to comply with this duty constituting a criminal offence (which may be aggravated in the case of death or serious injury).This approach underpins the regime set out in the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 and consequent regulations. The Department is currently considering responses to the “Developing the Automated Vehicles Regulatory Framework” Call for Evidence, which relates to these regulations.The facility to communicate beyond the vehicle, as connected vehicles do, does not of itself affect the liability of the driver under existing criminal law.

15 Apr 2026·Department for Transport·Answered
Asked

What steps she is taking to support the haulage industry with increases in fuel prices.

Reply

The Department for Transport recognises growing concerns around rising fuel and transport costs caused by the conflict in the Middle East. The Department fully recognises the need to maintain the continuity of critical supply chains and is actively monitoring any potential impacts. The Department will continue to work with industry to understand the pressures and options to mitigate any risks.

10 Apr 2026·Department for Transport·Answered
Asked

What steps her Department is taking to help support small independent lifeboat organisations.

Reply

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) chairs UK Search and Rescue (UKSAR) on behalf of the Department for Transport. UKSAR supports national volunteer search and rescue groups, including independent lifeboat organisations, on a wide range of issues. The MCA's Rescue Boat Code introduced in 2013 is a key foundation for the safe and effective operation of independent lifeboats. The Code is currently being revised in consultation with all lifeboat operators to better support these organisations and to help clarify the responsibilities and requirements for all rescue boats to safely operate across the UK. Since April 2015, search and rescue charities, including independent lifeboats, may recover VAT on the purchase of goods and services used for their non-business activities.

17 Dec 2025·Department for Transport·Answered
Asked

What discussions the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has had with the fishing industry in the South West on the sinking of a vessel off the coast of South Devon on 11 October 2025.

Reply

The MCA did not liaise with the fishing industry in the South West during the operation pertaining to the sinking of a vessel off the coast of South Devon. The incident is currently subject to a debriefing process wherein upon completion there will be engagement directly with industry.

20 Oct 2025·Department for Transport·Answered
Asked

What his planned timetable is for informing local transport authorities of their Local Transport Grant allocation.

Reply

The Local Transport Grant (LTG) is a £2.3bn grant for local transport enhancements and maintenance, comprising both capital and resource funding from 2026/27 onwards. The grant is allocated to local transport authorities in England outside of London and areas that receive City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) or Transport for City Regions (TCR) funding. In June, individual local transport authority allocations for the £2.2bn of LTG capital funding were published on gov.uk, covering the years 2026/27 to 2029/30. In September, allocations for the remaining £104m of LTG resource funding were published, covering the years 2026/27 to 2028/29. Further transport funding allocations for local transport authorities from 2026/27 onwards, including for highways maintenance, buses and active travel, will be announced in due course.

19 Jun 2025·Department for Transport·Answered
Asked

What steps her Department is taking to improve transport services in rural areas.

Reply

This Government knows that integrated public transport is vital to keeping communities connected. We also know that in rural and semi-rural areas, bus services can be a lifeline for many and can be the only means of accessing services, including other modes of transportation such as rail links. The Government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December to put the power over local bus services back into the hands of local leaders. In addition, we are investing £1 billion this year to support and improve bus services and keep fares affordable. The Government confirmed a £2.3 billion investment in local transport through the Local Transport Grant (LTG) at the Spending Review. This funding is for smaller cities, towns and rural areas, and will enable local authorities to deliver more ambitious transport projects.

9 Dec 2024·Department for Transport·Answered
Asked

What support is available to drivers involved in accidents with untraceable drivers (a) in cases where the innocent driver cannot afford to wait the time it takes for the Motor Insurance Bureau to process a cla

Reply

The Department for Transport is a party to the Uninsured and Untraced Drivers’ Agreements with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). However, the MIB is an independent organisation within the motor insurance industry and is separate from Government. The MIB i...

30 Aug 2024·Department for Transport·Answered
Asked

What contractual penalties will be incurred by (a) the A303 Stonehenge tunnel, (b) the A27 bypass project and (c) other major infrastructure projects that have now been cancelled.

Reply

In the case of the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down (Stonehenge Tunnel), although the contracts were awarded, the construction had not commenced. Following the announcement to cancel the project National Highways is working with its contractors to bring ontracts to a close in a controlled manner.In the case of the A27 Arundel bypass, although a design and build contract had been awarded, construction had not commenced and following the deferral announcement in March 2023 the contract was brought to a controlled close with limited liabilities or additional costs.

Sources
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