Written questions by Taylor.

Whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the national speed limit of 60 mph on unlit single-track rural lanes.

The Department has not made an assessment of the adequacy of the national speed limit of 60mph on unlit single-track rural lanes. On many rural lanes their width and sinuosity lead to speeds that are already far lower than the national limit. Lowering limits does not always result in significantly slower speeds and general compliance would need to be achievable without too heavy a reliance on police enforcement. Traffic authorities are best placed to decide where lower limits will be effective on the roads for which they are responsible. In doing so, they are asked to consider important factors including the history of collisions, the road function, the composition of road users including vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists, and the geometry and environment of the road.

What steps her Department is taking to tackle number plate cloning; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of vehicle cloning on (a) the finances, (b) the legal position and (c) other factors for motorists in Hertfordshire incorrectly pursued for offences committed by others.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. The law requires anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK to be registered with the DVLA. It is a legal requirement for suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that number plates are only sold to those who can prove they are entitled to the registration number and suppliers must also keep records of the plates they have supplied. The DVLA assists the police and Trading Standards in their enforcement against number plate suppliers, including those who trade illegally. When notified, the DVLA will investigate and pass on intelligence to the police who are responsible for investigating this criminal matter. Anyone who thinks their number plate may have been cloned should contact the police immediately. Any fines received should be returned to the issuing authorities. The DVLA can provide customers with letters that can be used as supporting evidence and can also on request provide a replacement registration number free of charge, to help victims of number plate cloning. This helps the police to identify the vehicle concerned and prevent the receipt of any fixed penalties for that vehicle registration number. The specific information requested about the potential impact of this issue on motorists in Hertfordshire is not available.

What estimate she has made of the number of vehicles under the jurisdiction of her Department coming to their end of life; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making those vehicles available to the Ukrainian military.

The Department has not made a specific estimate of the number of vehicles under its jurisdiction that are approaching the end of their operational life. It is also important to note that a proportion of vehicles are leased rather than owned outright, and therefore would not be available for disposal by the Department. Decisions regarding the disposal or repurposing of vehicles are made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account operational requirements, value for money, and relevant legal and security considerations. At present, there are no plans to assess the potential merits of making such vehicles available to the Ukrainian military. Any such decision would need to be considered in the context of broader cross-government policy on defence support and international assistance.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the level of regularity of bus services in Hemel Hempstead constituency on the ability of residents to commute to work.

The government knows that a modern public transport network is vital to keeping communities connected, and ensuring people can commute to work. The government believes that local transport authorities, working with bus operators, are best placed to determine and design local bus networks in their area. The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England. In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country, of which Hertfordshire County Council has been allocated £12.2 million. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce improvements to bus services to best meet the needs of passengers in their local area, including increasing the frequency of bus services.

What assessment his Department has made of the difference between travel concessions for (a) Metropolitan Police Officers and (b) NHS staff working in Central London; and whether she plans to introduce similar subsidised travel schemes for essential medical staff using National Rail services.

Any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy will require balancing against the potential impacts on passengers, taxpayers and the railway. There are no current plans to review concessions in advance of the transition to Great British Railways, but it will have the opportunity to take a fresh look at the justification of the eligibility and restrictions of concessionary schemes.

What steps she is taking to combat anti-social behaviour, particularly the playing of loud music on public transport.

The government is committed to tackling all forms of anti-social behaviour (ASB) on public transport. The British Transport Police enforce against it on the rail network and the 61016 reporting plays a key role in addressing ASB incidents and providing intelligence to target resources. In addition, the government is funding five pilot schemes across England which are aimed at tackling ASB through the targeted deployment of Transport Safety Officers. The findings from these pilots will be shared with other local authorities to help them to address ASB on their public transport networks. The Bus Services Bill aims to provide all local transport authorities with the powers to effectively enforce against ASB on their bus networks and improve safety for passengers. The Bill also seeks to mandate that staff are trained on how to recognise and respond to incidents of ASB on buses.

Whether she has had discussions with the (a) Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and (b) Secretary of State for the Home Department on (i) the playing of loud music and (ii) antisocial behaviour on public transport.

Both I and the Secretary of State meet regularly with other ministers from across government to discuss a range of issues within our portfolios. This includes anti-social behaviour on public transport, which incorporates the playing of loud music on public transport.

What discussions she has had with (a) the Mayor of London and (b) Transport for London on the potential impact of banning pedicabs in central London on (i) levels of congestion, (ii) pavement safety and (iii) safety of cyclists.

The Secretary of State for Transport has had no direct discussions with the Mayor of London or Transport for London (TfL) on this particular matter. However, the Department for Transport has recognised the need to regulate the Pedicabs industry in London through the passing of the Pedicabs (London) Act 2024. This legislation is not intended to ban the usage of Pedicabs in London, but to ensure that they are properly regulated. These prospective regulations will be now consulted upon by TfL in 2025, and we would expect TfL to take into account the various impacts of any pedicabs regulations on levels of congestion, pavement safety and the safety of cyclists throughout the consultation process.

What discussions she has had with (a) the Mayor of London and (b) Transport for London on regulating pedicabs to ensure they comply with the Highway Code.

The Secretary of State for Transport has had no direct discussions with the Mayor of London or Transport for London (TfL) on this particular matter. However, the Department for Transport has recognised the need to regulate the Pedicabs industry in London through the passing of the Pedicabs (London) Act 2024. This legislation will be applied through regulations to be consulted on by TfL in 2025. We would expect TfL to take into account the Highway Code throughout the consultation process.

What discussions she has had with (a) the Mayor of London and (b) Transport for London on the potential impact of pedicabs in central London using pavements on the safety and wellbeing of pedestrians.

The Secretary of State for Transport has had no direct discussions with the Mayor of London or Transport for London (TfL) on this particular matter. However, the Department for Transport has recognised the need to regulate the Pedicabs industry in London through the passing of the Pedicabs (London) Act 2024. This legislation will be applied through regulations to be consulted on by TfL in 2025. We would expect TfL to take into account the safety and wellbeing of pedestrians throughout the consultation process.

What discussions she has had with (a) the Mayor of London and (b) Transport for London on the potential impact of the lights and loud noises made by pedicabs in central London on people with neurological conditions affected by sound and light.

The Secretary of State for Transport has had no direct discussions with the Mayor of London or Transport for London (TfL) on this particular matter. However, the Department for Transport has recognised the need to regulate the Pedicabs industry in London through the passing of the Pedicabs (London) Act 2024. This legislation will be applied through regulations to be consulted on by TfL in 2025. We would expect TfL to take into account equalities considerations throughout the consultation process.