Written questions by Tomlinson.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of rodents on soy-based wiring and insulation used in vehicles.

The Department has made no assessment of the impact of rodents on automotive wiring using a soy-based insulation material. Although rodents have a propensity to chew both domestic and automotive wiring, there is little evidence beyond the anecdotal to suggest that this is increased for soy-based products. Individuals experiencing such an occurrence with their vehicle wiring should raise the matter with the manufacturer or report the matter to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency if it is considered a serious safety defect.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of introducing regulations similar to disabled parking on parent and child parking spaces.

The Department for Transport has no current plans to regulate the use of parent and child parking spaces, which typically operate in privately owned car parks such as supermarkets. The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, for which the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has responsibility, places a duty on the Government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector and will announce its plans for the new Code in due course.

Whether her Department is providing funding to ensure the future viability of the 84B bus route.

Transport in London is devolved and decisions around bus services are for the Mayor of London and TfL. The Government regularly engages with TfL to understand their funding needs and will continue to do so as part of the Spending Review process.