Every parliamentary written question tabled by Edward Morello this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 121–140 of 142 · Department for Transport
What steps her Department has taken to support the electrification of the Salisbury to Exeter railway line.
Future rail infrastructure investment will be considered as part of the current Spending Review, which will be concluded in June 2025.
Whether her Department plans to take steps to upgrade the Salisbury to Exeter railway line from a single track with passing points to a double-track system.
Future rail infrastructure investment will be considered as part of the current Spending Review, which will be concluded in June 2025.
What steps her Department is taking to increase the availability of theory driving tests in rural areas.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) network of theory test centres is designed to ensure that candidates across Great Britain are within 40 mins (urban) or 40 miles (rural) of a theory test centre. In 2021 the new theory test service increased the number of Great Britain test centres from 180 to 203. As a result, 100% of the population, are now within 40 mins (urban) or 40 miles (rural) of a test centre, compared to 97% previously. This means DVSA has equitable service provision across Great Britain and has made significant improvements to that provision in remote areas. DVSA carefully monitors test availability with its suppliers to continually review demand and increase capacity where possible and necessary.
What steps her Department is taking to increase the availability of practical driving tests in rural areas.
As acknowledged in the statement made on 18 December 2024 about car practical driving test waiting times, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) understands the potential impact high waiting times have on learner drivers, including younger drivers. In the same statement, DVSA set out further plans to reduce driving test waiting times across the country. These steps include recruiting 450 driving examiners and improving rules for booking driving tests. For practical driving test candidates, DVSA is still offering the Mobile Emergency Worker (MEW) process for those in critical roles. The process, which was implemented during the coronavirus pandemic, is only for candidates who are a critical worker in England or Wales and work for one of the following: the NHS - in health or social carethe emergency servicesa local council They must also: need to drive as part of their job (commuting not included)respond to ‘threats to life’ as part of their job DVSA has shared the MEW application process with all applicable emergency organisations. Candidates who meet this eligibility criteria and want a test, should talk to their employer, who will need to apply on their employee’s behalf. DVSA is committed to providing customers with the best service possible and continually reviews its estate, including in rural areas, to ensure it represents good value for money and is efficient.
What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of driving test waiting times on young people’s ability to access employment and education opportunities.
As acknowledged in the statement made on 18 December 2024 about car practical driving test waiting times, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) understands the potential impact high waiting times have on learner drivers, including younger drivers. In the same statement, DVSA set out further plans to reduce driving test waiting times across the country. These steps include recruiting 450 driving examiners and improving rules for booking driving tests. For practical driving test candidates, DVSA is still offering the Mobile Emergency Worker (MEW) process for those in critical roles. The process, which was implemented during the coronavirus pandemic, is only for candidates who are a critical worker in England or Wales and work for one of the following: the NHS - in health or social carethe emergency servicesa local council They must also: need to drive as part of their job (commuting not included)respond to ‘threats to life’ as part of their job DVSA has shared the MEW application process with all applicable emergency organisations. Candidates who meet this eligibility criteria and want a test, should talk to their employer, who will need to apply on their employee’s behalf. DVSA is committed to providing customers with the best service possible and continually reviews its estate, including in rural areas, to ensure it represents good value for money and is efficient.
What steps she is taking to help provide safe cycling infrastructure for residents of rural areas.
The Department for Transport has established Active Travel England (ATE) as an executive agency to provide dedicated funding and support for all authorities in England outside London, including in rural areas. ATE’s support includes training for local authority staff on to enable delivery of high-quality walking and cycling schemes, as well as design workshops and design assurance reviews of schemes under development. Dedicated funding is provided to urban and rural areas of England using a formula based on population and capability level, with revenue funding to boost capability. Additionally, the Department provides funding for highways maintenance, which also includes maintenance of cycleways and footways, and is based on length of highways in constituent authorities. In 2024, ATE also provided £1 million to the ten National Parks in England to help them develop better links to rural towns and villages. ATE is developing specific guidance for good practice application in rural areas and expects to publish this shortly.
What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that road network infrastructure is equipped to utilise safety technology in modern vehicles effectively.
The Department is aware of the growing availability of ADAS Advanced Driver Assistance Services in new vehicles and the data and connectivity applications that support them. The Department has supported a number of research and development activities in recent years to develop the standards required for ‘vehicle to infrastructure’, (V2I) communications and services that will enable infrastructure-based safety systems, and continues to work with the automotive and highway authority sectors to ensure that the technology used in highway network management will support V2I services as they become available in new vehicles.
What steps she is taking to ensure that investment in cycling infrastructure is equitably distributed to rural areas.
The Department for Transport has established Active Travel England (ATE) as an executive agency to provide dedicated funding and support for all authorities in England outside London, including in rural areas. ATE’s support includes training for local authority staff on to enable delivery of high-quality walking and cycling schemes, as well as design workshops and design assurance reviews of schemes under development. Dedicated funding is provided to urban and rural areas of England using a formula based on population and capability level, with revenue funding to boost capability. Additionally, the Department provides funding for highways maintenance, which also includes maintenance of cycleways and footways, and is based on length of highways in constituent authorities. In 2024, ATE also provided £1 million to the ten National Parks in England to help them develop better links to rural towns and villages. ATE is developing specific guidance for good practice application in rural areas and expects to publish this shortly.
What steps she is taking to support local authorities in rural regions to (a) develop and (b) maintain dedicated cycling lanes.
The Department for Transport has established Active Travel England (ATE) as an executive agency to provide dedicated funding and support for all authorities in England outside London, including in rural areas. ATE’s support includes training for local authority staff on to enable delivery of high-quality walking and cycling schemes, as well as design workshops and design assurance reviews of schemes under development. Dedicated funding is provided to urban and rural areas of England using a formula based on population and capability level, with revenue funding to boost capability. Additionally, the Department provides funding for highways maintenance, which also includes maintenance of cycleways and footways, and is based on length of highways in constituent authorities. In 2024, ATE also provided £1 million to the ten National Parks in England to help them develop better links to rural towns and villages. ATE is developing specific guidance for good practice application in rural areas and expects to publish this shortly.
Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of rural road conditions on (a) cycling and (b) horse rider safety.
The Government agrees that the condition of our local road network, both in rural and urban areas, has suffered as the result of a decade of underinvestment by the previous government. Poor road conditions can be particularly dangerous for cyclists and horse-riders, because they can cause vehicles to swerve at the last minute and because the consequences of hitting a pothole can be far worse for cyclists and horse-riders than for motorists. To enable local authorities in rural areas and elsewhere to start to get on top of the highway maintenance backlog and deliver smoother, safer roads for all road users, the Government has already announced a £500 million funding uplift for local highway authorities for next financial year. Funding allocations to individual highway authorities were announced on 20 December, and Dorset is set to receive up to £25 million, a funding uplift of nearly £7 million compared to the current financial year. It is up to each local authority to decide how best to spend this funding, and in planning their maintenance programmes they should consider the needs of all road users, including cyclists, pedestrians and horse-riders.
What steps her Department is taking to help reduce fatality rates of cyclists on rural roads.
The Highway Code was updated in 2022 to improve road safety for cyclists and pedestrians, by strengthening pedestrian priority on pavements and at crossings and introducing the Hierarchy of Road Users, which places those road users most at risk in the event of a collision, at the top of the hierarchy. The Highway Code makes it clear that those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm in the event of a collision bear the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they pose to others, and highlights the need to take care and be particularly aware of young cyclists and pedestrians. The Department has awarded local authorities £185.8 million of funding between 2017 and 2024 through the Safer Roads Fund to improve the safety of England's most high risk 'A' roads. To date, it has funded 445.3 miles of rural roads which make up 62.4% of all funded routes. Additionally, Active Travel England works with rural authorities to provide funding and to support the delivery of high-quality walking and cycling schemes, including segregated cycle lanes and junction improvements. This includes training for local authority staff, as well as design workshops and design assurance reviews of schemes under development.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the regularity of bus services on vulnerable users in West Dorset constituency.
We know that bus services can be a lifeline for many, and are committed to delivering better, more frequent services across the country. That is why we are allocating bus funding based on need not the quality of bids. Dorset Council will receive £3.8m next year, a £2.5m annual increase on the previous year.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the time taken to establish Great British Railways on long-term (a) investment and (b) planning in the rail industry.
The stand up of Great British Railways will happen in parallel to the continued operation of the railway, therefore not impacting long-term investment. As for the passenger service business planning, this won’t change and Network Rail still have the Control Period funding settlement.
What steps her Department is taking to replace end-of-life rolling stock on South Western Railways.
South Western Railway has procured 750 new Class 701 vehicles to replace the older Class 455 units. The first trains have entered passenger service, with a gradual roll out expected over the next two years.
What steps her Department plans to take to help support the transition to Great British Railways.
While primary legislation is required to establish Great British Railways, the government has begun delivering improvements for passengers and freight users straight away. That is why the main organisations responsible for the operational railway (Network Rail, the Rail Services group in the Department for Transport, and the DfT Operator) have begun working together in closer collaboration to establish a Shadow Great British Railways bringing together track and train ahead of legislation.
What her timeline is for the establishment of Great British Railways; and what key milestones she expects to reach in the next 12 months.
The King’s Speech confirmed legislation – the Railways Bill – will be introduced to create Great British Railways in the first Parliamentary session. The consultation on this legislation will be published around the turn of the year. We anticipate GBR to be set up over the following 12 months after the legislation receives Royal Assent.
What steps her Department plans to take to help fund the replacement of end-of-life rolling stock on South Western Railways. in the context of the planned establishment of Great British Railways.
South Western Railway has procured 750 new Class 701 carriages to replace older Class 455 units. The first trains have entered passenger service, with a gradual roll out expected over the next two years. The Government is in the early stages of formulating a rolling stock strategy. Once established, Great British Railways will take the strategy forward providing a long-term approach to future rolling stock needs and helping to secure better value from the private rolling stock market.
What steps her Department is taking to accelerate the rollout of public charging points.
The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV). As of 1 November, there are over 71,000 publicly available charging devices in the UK. The Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities in England to work with industry to transform the availability of EV charging for drivers without off-street parking and will support the installation of tens of thousands of local chargers. The Government confirmed in the October 2024 Budget that it will continue to support the uptake of EVs by investing over £200 million in 2025/26 to accelerate chargepoint rollout.
Whether she plans to provide additional funding to fill potholes in West Dorset constituency.
This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local road network. To this end, the Government will provide authorities with funding to help them fix up to one million more potholes across England in each year of this parliament. Dorset Council (DC) is the local highway authority for the West Dorset constituency, and it is therefore responsible for the maintenance of the local road network. The council will receive £18.4 million from this Department during 2024/25 to enable it to carry out its local highway maintenance responsibilities. Funding for future years is a matter for the forthcoming Spending Review.
What steps her Department is taking to ensure the adequacy of funding for local authorities to improve road safety.
Local authorities are responsible for the management of local roads, within the rules set by Government. It is for the local authority to decide what measures may be appropriate in their local areas.Since the general election, the Department has begun work on a new Road Safety Strategy, the first in over a decade. We will set out next steps on this in due course.