Written questions by Morello.

If her Department will have discissions with Dorset Council on the adequacy of the scheduling of the (a) Axminster to Exeter train and (b) its connecting bus services from Bridport and Lyme Regis.

Following the successful introduction of the Arterio fleet elsewhere on the South Western Railway (SWR) network, there will be an opportunity to look at the South Western timetable in detail. Relevant stakeholders, such as Dorset council, will have the chance to comment. The government knows that integrated public transport is vital to keeping communities connected. We also know that in 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 believes that local authorities, working with bus operators, are best placed to determine and design local bus networks in their area, including ensuring integration with other modes, and the government does not intervene in local decisions regarding individual bus routes or services.

If she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the enforcement of existing regulations on e-bike use.

A modified e-cycle is only road-legal where it complies in full with the requirements set out in the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983. Where this is not the case, the e-cycle is classed as a motor vehicle and needs to be approved and registered with the DVLA, as well as being taxed and insured. Enforcement of these requirements is a matter for the police, who already have powers to seize illegally modified e-cycles and to fine individuals who fail to stop when instructed to do so. While we have not carried out any formal review, the Government is providing the police with more powers to make it easier for them to seize any vehicle, including illegally modified e-cycles, where it is being used in an anti-social manner. Measures contained in the Crime and Policing Bill will allow the police to seize the vehicle without first being required to provide the rider with a warning.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of illegal e-bikes on levels of road safety.

Only e-bikes that are fully compliant with the requirements of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 are legal to use on the roads. The Government agrees that the use of e-bikes that are not compliant with regulations has a negative impact on road safety.The Government treats road safety very seriously, and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. My Department is developing our Road Safety Strategy and will set out more detail in due course.

Whether her Department is taking steps with Dorset Council to tackle the use of illegal e-bikes in West Dorset constituency.

E-bikes can only be legally used on the roads where they comply in full with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983.The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has a market surveillance unit and has the powers to act against retailers selling non-compliant e-bikes across the country, including in West Dorset.Where such e-bikes are used on the roads, the police have powers to seize them. The powers for the police to act are being strengthened in the Crime and Policing Bill, so that the police will no longer be required to provide a warning before seizing any vehicle, including an e-bike, where it is being used anti-socially.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that tractor and trailer drivers comply with legal speed limits on public roads.

Local authorities are asked to have regard to the Department’s guidance Setting Local Speed Limits, designed to make sure that speed limits are appropriately and consistently set while allowing for flexibility to deal with local circumstances, but the final decision is for the traffic authority, working with the police who would carry out any enforcement.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of laws governing the hours worked by agricultural vehicle drivers.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has not assessed the adequacy of the laws governing the hours worked by agricultural vehicle drivers. The regulations that apply to the hours worked by drivers of agricultural vehicles depend on a range of factors. For example, drivers of some agricultural vehicles, if used for commercial non-agricultural haulage on public roads, may need to comply with the assimilated drivers’ hours rules (Regulation (EC) 561/2006, as it has effect in the UK) which set maximum limits on driving and minimum requirements for breaks and rest periods. These drivers follow the sector-specific Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations 2005. There are a number of exemptions from the assimilated drivers’ hours rules, including for tractors not capable of exceeding 40 km/h and tractors used for agricultural or forestry activities within 100 km of their base. Drivers of tractors that are exempt from the assimilated rules are likely to be subject to GB domestic drivers’ hours rules, which set maximum driving limits and maximum duty limits, and would need to comply with the general Working Time Regulations 1998, unless the driver drives for less than 4 hours in a day or drives only off-road. The DfT has published guidance on the regulations that apply to agricultural vehicles on gov.uk:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tractors-regulations-on-use.

If he will make it his policy to introduce a separate mandatory driving test for tractor and trailer combinations over a certain weight threshold.

There are no current plans to introduce a separate test for agricultural tractor and trailer combinations over a certain weight threshold.

What discussions he has had with road safety experts on updating legislation relating to the use of high-weight agricultural vehicles on public roads.

The Secretary of State for Transport has not had discussions with road safety experts on updating legislation for the use of high-weight agricultural vehicles on public roads. Legislative updates to the speed and weight limits of agricultural tractors were made in 2015. This increased the maximum weight limit for tractor-trailer combinations to 31 tonnes. The government is not currently considering updates to the existing legislation on the use of high-weight agricultural vehicles but has engaged with the sector on this topic.

If he will bring forward legislative proposals to update existing legislation on the use of high-weight agricultural vehicles on public roads to reflect modern vehicle (a) sizes, (b) traffic conditions and (c) safety standards.

The Secretary of State for Transport has not had discussions with road safety experts on updating legislation for the use of high-weight agricultural vehicles on public roads. Legislative updates to the speed and weight limits of agricultural tractors were made in 2015. This increased the maximum weight limit for tractor-trailer combinations to 31 tonnes. The government is not currently considering updates to the existing legislation on the use of high-weight agricultural vehicles but has engaged with the sector on this topic.

What assessment her Department has made of steps to help reduce fatality rates of cyclists on rural roads in West Dorset constituency.

The Department has not made an assessment of steps to help reduce fatality rates of cyclists on rural roads in West Dorset constituency.Dorset Unitary Authority has been awarded £774,233 in revenue and capital funding from the Consolidated Active Travel Fund. It will be for the local authority to allocate this funding in line with local investment priorities, such as improving safety for cyclists in West Dorset.We are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. The Department is developing our Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course.

What steps she is taking to help reduce the number of fatal cycling accidents on rural roads in West Dorset constituency.

On 12 February, the Department and Active Travel England announced local authority allocations of the Consolidated Active Travel Fund. Of this funding, Dorset Unitary Authority has been awarded £774,233 in revenue and capital funding. It will be for the local authority to allocate this funding in line with local investment priorities, such as improving safety for cyclists in West Dorset. The Government is committed to improving the safety of all road users, especially the most vulnerable such as pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists. This is a key priority for the Department which was reflected in the updated Highway Code in January 2022, with the implementation of a Hierarchy of Road Users. We are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. The Department is developing our Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the steps her Department has taken to prevent automated bots from monopolising driving test booking slots on the DVSA platform.

To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests across the country. On 28 May 2025, DVSA launched a public consultation on improving the rules for booking car driving tests. Views are being sought from the driver training industry, learner drivers and other interested parties on changes which aim to prevent learner drivers being exploited by those who resell tests at a higher price. The consultation will close at 11:59pm on 23 July 2025. As part of DVSA’s plan to reduce driving test waiting times, announced in December 2024, this consultation follows the agency’s recent call for evidence about the rules and processes for booking and managing practical car driving tests, which received almost 27,000 responses.

What steps her Department is taking to help support local authorities to implement speed reductions in rural villages.

The Department for Transport issues best practice guidance on setting local speed limits. This is designed to make sure that speed limits are appropriately and consistently set, whilst allowing for flexibility to deal with local needs and circumstances.The guidance can be viewed at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/publications/setting-local-speed-limits

What recent assessment she has made of waiting times for driving licence renewals in (a) West Dorset constituency and (b) surrounding areas.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online services are the quickest and easiest way to renew a driving licence. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their driving licence within a few days. There are also no delays in straightforward paper driving licence applications which are being processed within normal turnaround times and drivers should receive their driving licence within three weeks.Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated before a licence can be issued can take longer. The length of time taken depends on the condition(s) involved and whether further information is required from third parties, for example doctors or other healthcare professionals, before a decision on whether to issue a licence can be made.

What steps her Department is taking to help reduce delays in processing driving licence renewal applications in (a) West Dorset constituency and (b) surrounding areas.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online services are the quickest and easiest way to renew a driving licence. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their driving licence within a few days. There are also no delays in straightforward paper driving licence applications which are being processed within normal turnaround times and drivers should receive their driving licence within three weeks.Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated before a licence can be issued can take longer. The length of time taken depends on the condition(s) involved and whether further information is required from third parties, for example doctors or other healthcare professionals, before a decision on whether to issue a licence can be made.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of regulation to help tackle third-party resellers charging inflated prices for driving test appointments.

To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests across the country and has announced further measures to review the driving test booking system. On the 18 December 2024, DVSA launched a call for evidence, seeking views on the current rules to book tests. This will lead to consultation on improving processes, including any potential future legislative changes. On the 23 April the Secretary of State announced that this consultation has been fast-tracked to May 2025.

Whether her Department monitors the adequacy of bus replacement services for meeting demand during train service disruptions.

Train operating companies are subject to a number of requirements relating to the provision of rail replacement services. The Office of Rail and Road hold train operating companies to account against their obligations under the passenger information licence conditions. The Department for Transport contracts with train operating companies include requirements to provide rail replacement services in the event of planned or unplanned disruption. The type of vehicle used for rail replacement depends on service frequency and customer numbers and may include coaches, buses, taxis, or minibuses with capacity varying according to time of travel. We expect train operating companies to use all reasonable endeavours to provide or secure the provision of alternative transport arrangements in the event of any planned or unplanned disruption to railway passenger services and ensure that passengers have accurate and timely information about their travel options, so that they can plan and make journeys with confidence, including during disruption. Complementary requirements are set out in the National Rail Conditions of Travel and the Passenger’s Charter, issued by train operators. Train operating companies are responsible for the procurement, planning and setting of the timetable for rail replacement services and work with Network Rail to ensure that any rail replacement services are co-ordinated with any planned engineering work or other disruptions on the railway.

Whether her Department issues guidance on ensuring that bus replacement services have sufficient capacity to accommodate passengers from cancelled train services.

Train operating companies are subject to a number of requirements relating to the provision of rail replacement services. The Office of Rail and Road hold train operating companies to account against their obligations under the passenger information licence conditions. The Department for Transport contracts with train operating companies include requirements to provide rail replacement services in the event of planned or unplanned disruption. The type of vehicle used for rail replacement depends on service frequency and customer numbers and may include coaches, buses, taxis, or minibuses with capacity varying according to time of travel. We expect train operating companies to use all reasonable endeavours to provide or secure the provision of alternative transport arrangements in the event of any planned or unplanned disruption to railway passenger services and ensure that passengers have accurate and timely information about their travel options, so that they can plan and make journeys with confidence, including during disruption. Complementary requirements are set out in the National Rail Conditions of Travel and the Passenger’s Charter, issued by train operators. Train operating companies are responsible for the procurement, planning and setting of the timetable for rail replacement services and work with Network Rail to ensure that any rail replacement services are co-ordinated with any planned engineering work or other disruptions on the railway.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of street lighting reductions on road safety in West Dorset.

The management of street lighting in England is the responsibility of local highway authorities, such as Dorset Council. They have a duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the public highways in their charge, including street lighting. Local authorities do not have a duty to light their networks but, where lighting has been provided, the authority has a duty to maintain it. The Department is funding “Live Labs 2: Decarbonising Local Roads in the UK”, a three-year, UK-wide £30 million programme that aims to help decarbonise the local highway network. Learning and best practice from this programme will be shared with all highway authorities. One of the projects is trialling innovative ways to reduce the carbon emissions from streetlighting while also making roads safer. The Department has also started the process of reviewing the UK Roads Leadership Group’s (UKRLG) ‘Well Managed-Highway Infrastructure: A Code of Practice’, which provides guidance for highway authorities and their contractors on all aspects of highway infrastructure, including street lighting. This will take account of lessons learned from the Live Labs 2 trials.

Whether her Department has considered the specific needs of vulnerable populations in coordinating public transport schedules.

The Government knows that a modern, integrated public transport network is vital to providing access to services for all users of the system and keeping communities connected. 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, the Government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London, including £3.8 million allocated to Dorset Council. These measures are designed to empower local transport authorities (LTAs) to deliver bus services that meet the needs of their communities, including ensuring services are more accessible and better integrated with other modes of transport. The Department’s guidance to LTAs on producing their Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs) makes clear that these should be designed to help make bus services more accessible and inclusive, and better integrated with other modes, including more bus-rail interchange and integration. The Government has also announced plans to develop an Integrated National Transport Strategy to set the long-term vision for transport in England. It will focus on how transport should be designed, built and operated to better serve the people who use it and ensure that the transport network is complementary, including the interaction between different modes of travel.