Written questions by Blundell.

What steps is he taking to improve the availability of secure, well-lit, and gender-appropriate rest facilities for HGV drivers.

Through the HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Grant Scheme, the Government and industry are delivering up to £35.7 million of joint investment to upgrade truck stops in 30 counties across England, improving both safety and working conditions for drivers. The scheme is supporting better welfare and rest facilities such as improved gender-appropriate toilets and showers, rest areas, and increased HGV parking capacity for all drivers. This funding is also helping operators to deliver security improvements including enhanced CCTV coverage, perimeter fencing, improved lighting, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems and new and upgraded security barriers.

What steps she is taking to ensure that national transport policy is aligned with the priorities of local transport plans.

Local Transport Plans are important strategic policy documents produced by local transport authorities. The Department for Transport maintains regular, and close, contact with all local transport authorities, ensuring that national programmes and policies support local priorities where possible. In recognition of the importance of Local Transport Plans, under the Railways Bill, Great British Railways will have a duty to have regard to Local Transport Plans produced by Mayoral Strategic Authorities to ensure local priorities are considered.

What steps she is taking to help reduce violence against women and girls on public transport.

My Department wants everyone to feel and be safe when travelling, therefore, we have an ambitious, evidence-based programme of work and are working across government and with partners, including the British Transport Police (BTP), the transport industry and local authorities to help tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG) on transport. My Department has also been closely involved in the development of the Government’s VAWG (Freedom from Violence and Abuse) Strategy, which includes nine commitments to help improve safety for women and girls on the transport network. The commitments which form part of DfT’s contribution to the Safer Streets Mission are:Reviewing and relaunching the Secure Stations Scheme to establish consistent, safety focused accreditation across the rail network.Improving connectivity of real time CCTV at train stations to British Transport Police (BTP) to support faster offender identification.Exploring expanding the provision and use of CCTV on the bus network to increase feelings of safety and support investigations.Launching mandatory training for bus drivers and front line staff on recognising and responding to VAWG and ASB, delivered through the Bus Services Act 2025.Publishing statutory guidance by the end of 2027 on improving the safety and accessibility of bus stops and stations, with local authorities required to have regard to it.Scoping the feasibility of a national, cross modal reporting mechanism for harassment, VAWG and ASB on public transport.Using existing court powers to disqualify VAWG offenders from driving where a vehicle is used in the commission of the offence.Delivering a strategic VAWG package for Roads Policing, strengthening intelligence and enforcement on VAWG related road offences through the DfT–Home Office–NPCC partnership.Bringing forward measures in the Bus Services Act enabling local authorities to make and enforce bus byelaws to tackle ASB, improving safety at stations and stops and across services. In addition, on the rail network, the British Transport Police work with their partners to raise awareness of VAWG, encourage reporting and receive feedback to improve our response.

What steps she is taking to support combined authorities in closing any gaps in local bus provision.

The Government is committed to improving local bus services right across the country, including in combined authority areas. We have introduced the Bus Services Act 2025 to give local leaders the tools they need and empower them to choose the model that works best for their communities.In addition, the Government has confirmed over £3 billion from 2026/27 to support local leaders and bus operators to improve bus services over the spending review period. This includes multi-year allocations for local authorities under the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) totalling nearly £700 million per year.The Greater Manchester Combined Authority will be allocated £133.5 million under the LABG from 2026/27 to 2028/29, in addition to the £46.8 million they are already receiving this year. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services can be used in whichever way they wish, to deliver better services for passengers, including expanding services and improving reliability.In addition to the LABG, the Government has also introduced a £3 million Bus Franchising Support Fund in 2026/27 for Mayoral Strategic Authorities that are in the process of developing and implementing bus franchising schemes, to provide targeted support to help their transition to a franchised bus model.

What steps she is taking to help improve the working conditions of PHV drivers working for large national operators such as Uber.

Department for Transport Ministers and officials engage with operators, trade representation groups, and trade unions on the regulation of the taxi and private hire vehicle sector. Thanks to the Government’s Employment Rights Act, over 18 million workers are set to benefit from greater fairness and security at work. Our reforms will also strengthen the voices of people in the workplace.

What steps she is taking to engage with PHV drivers employed by large national operators on their terms and working conditions.

Department for Transport Ministers and officials engage with operators, trade representation groups, and trade unions on the regulation of the taxi and private hire vehicle sector. Thanks to the Government’s Employment Rights Act, over 18 million workers are set to benefit from greater fairness and security at work. Our reforms will also strengthen the voices of people in the workplace.

Whether she plans to take steps to regulate the service fee charges (commission) charged by large national PHV operators that they draw from their drivers' journeys.

Subject to any obligations under employment law, the commercial terms under which drivers and operators contract are a matter for those parties.

If her Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of parking facilities for HGV drivers in the North West.

The National Survey of Lorry Parking, which was published on 29 September 2022, is the Department for Transport’s primary evidence base on the availability of HGV parking facilities. The survey showed an average shortage across England of around 4,500 HGV parking spaces for the month of March 2022 and identified driver concerns with the quality of welfare facilities and security of lorry parks. The Survey recorded 37 on site lorry parking facilities in the North West with a utilisation rate of 80%. The HGV Parking Matched Funding Grant Scheme (MFGS) was launched in 2022 to fund investment in: HGV driver welfare facilities, lorry parking provision, site security, and decarbonisation. The scheme is supporting operators across 30 counties in England, including the North West.

What steps she is taking to help prevent prospective private hire vehicle drivers from enrolling in unofficial training institutions.

The Department for Transport is responsible for setting the regulatory framework within which licensing authorities in England license the taxi and private hire vehicle trades and issues guidance to assist licensing authorities in carrying out these licensing functions. Statutory guidance, published in 2020, recommends that licensing authorities should require taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to undertake safeguarding training. Best practice guidance to licensing authorities, updated in 2023, recommends that drivers should be trained in disability awareness and/or have their knowledge and skills assessed. Licensing authorities are responsible for deciding the format and content of such training, including what, if any, training institutions are used.

What steps she is taking to ensure that private hire vehicle drivers receive qualifications from officially recognised training institutions.

The Department for Transport is responsible for setting the regulatory framework within which licensing authorities in England license the taxi and private hire vehicle trades and issues guidance to assist licensing authorities in carrying out these licensing functions. Statutory guidance, published in 2020, recommends that licensing authorities should require taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to undertake safeguarding training. Best practice guidance to licensing authorities, updated in 2023, recommends that drivers should be trained in disability awareness and/or have their knowledge and skills assessed. Licensing authorities are responsible for deciding the format and content of such training, including what, if any, training institutions are used.

What steps she is taking to publish an official list of officially recognised training institutions for the consideration of prospective private hire vehicle drivers.

The Department for Transport is responsible for setting the regulatory framework within which licensing authorities in England license the taxi and private hire vehicle trades and issues guidance to assist licensing authorities in carrying out these licensing functions. Statutory guidance, published in 2020, recommends that licensing authorities should require taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to undertake safeguarding training. Best practice guidance to licensing authorities, updated in 2023, recommends that drivers should be trained in disability awareness and/or have their knowledge and skills assessed. Licensing authorities are responsible for deciding the format and content of such training, including what, if any, training institutions are used.

What steps she is taking to increase access to EV charging points.

The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of affordable and accessible charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV). As of 1 October 2025, the Government and industry have supported the installation of 86,021 publicly available charging devices (including 17,354 rapid charging devices), an increase of 23% year on year. The £381 million Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund will support the installation of over 100,000 further local chargers, ensuring the rollout continues at pace to support drivers across the country.The Department is also working with local authorities to encourage the use of cross-pavement solutions and on the 13 July, announced the £25 million Electric Vehicle Pavement Channel grant.

What progress her Department has made on increasing EV charging infrastructure initiatives in under-served (a) urban and (b) rural areas.

Government’s £381 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund allocated capital and resource funding across all higher tier local authorities (LAs) in England, to ensure chargepoint rollout across the country including in under-served urban and rural areas. LAs with a higher proportion of residents in rural areas received a higher proportional allocation. This builds on rollout to date, with the number of publicly available charging devices in rural areas of England increasing by 45% in 2024. To further address gaps in infrastructure and make it easier for those without a driveway to charge at home, Government also announced a new £25 million grant for local authorities in England to install electric vehicle pavement channels in July. Funding can be used in both urban and rural areas.

What steps her Department is taking to improve the (a) accessibility and (b) effectiveness of grants for people who (i) have purchased used electric vehicles and (ii) cannot afford new electric vehicles.

The Government is fully committed to supporting the uptake of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs), including used vehicles. We’re investing over £4.5 billion to help industry and consumers make a supported switch to electric vehicles (EVs). This includes several grants for ZEVs and charging infrastructure.In July the Government announced a £63 million package to support the rollout of EV charging infrastructure. This included a £25 million scheme to help local authorities install cross-pavement charging technology. This will provide access to cheaper household energy rates, allowing EV drivers to save up to £1,500 a year compared to running a petrol or diesel car.

What assessment she has made of the potential potential impact of bridleways on supporting active travel in urban areas.

Decisions on measures to support active travel, including through the use of bridleways, are a matter for local authorities. Active Travel England encourages local authorities to consult with local groups, such as equestrians, where any proposed active travel project involves the proposed use of a bridleway. This is appliable to both urban and rural areas.

With reference to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill and her Department's document entitled English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether she will bring forward legislative proposals for (a) Mayors to have a statutory role in (i) governing, (ii) managing and (iii) planning railways, and (b) an option for Mayors to control local railway stations and (c) the right for Mayors to request rail devolution.

These subjects will be addressed in the Railways Bill, to be introduced later in this parliamentary session, and with accompanying guidance on the right to request. Guidance will outline the process for Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities to make this request and the criteria that will be considered, such as national and regional network implications.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of bridleways on supporting active travel nationally.

Bridleways have an important role to play in enabling active travel across the country. To support local authorities seeking to deliver active travel schemes outside of towns and cities, Active Travel England is developing specific guidance for good practice application in rural contexts and expects to publish this later this year. The guidance will explore how best bridleways (and other elements of the Public Rights of Way network) can be incorporated and integrated into existing and proposed active travel networks to expand their reach and connectivity. This will potentially have benefits for a range of different path users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders.

What steps her Department is taking to support community rail in the north of England.

The Department continues to support the community rail sector across the north of England, including through funding for station adoption groups and Community Rail Partnerships. This support is delivered via train operating companies and through the Community Rail Network (CRN), who provide access to grants and resources to its members. As we move towards establishing Great British Railways, the role of Community Rail will be more important than ever. Community Rail will be integral to helping us deliver our priorities and will continue to deliver for passengers and communities in the north of England.

What steps her Department is taking to help support the wider community utility of rail stations in the north of England.

The Department continues to support the community rail sector across the north of England, including through funding for station adoption groups and Community Rail Partnerships. This support is delivered via train operating companies and through the Community Rail Network (CRN), who provide access to grants and resources to its members. As we move towards establishing Great British Railways, the role of Community Rail will be more important than ever. Community Rail will be integral to helping us deliver our priorities and will continue to deliver for passengers and communities in the north of England.

Whether her Department is taking steps to help support the long-term viability of community rail organisations in the context of (a) her Department's rail reforms and (b) the inception of Great British Rail.

As we move towards establishing Great British Railways (GBR), the Community Rail movement will be integral to helping us deliver our priorities and will continue to deliver for passengers and communities. We will continue to work closely with the Community Rail Network to identify opportunities to support the community rail sector ahead of the standup of GBR.