Written questions by Blundell.

Whether her Department plans to take steps to help reduce the cost of using the public electric vehicle charging network.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the public charging network is affordable and accessible. The Government’s Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 increase transparency of public charging costs and make it easier for drivers to pay. Under the regulations, companies are required to clearly provide the price of charging in pence per kilowatt hour. The maximum price cannot increase once a session has started. Whilst this does not cap the cost, it does ensure consistency in the way prices are displayed, making it easy for drivers to compare and understand prices across different public chargepoints. This will allow customers to choose the chargepoint and the price most appropriate for their needs. The Government will continue to work with other Government departments and industry on measures to keep the cost of EV charging affordable for consumers.

Whether she plans to incentivise local authorities to provide funding for public electronic vehicle charging points.

The Government's £381m Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities in England to work with industry to transform the availability of public EV charging infrastructure. The funding, which is expected to leverage significant further private investment, will support the installation of at least 100,000 local chargepoints across the country.

Whether her Department plans to introduce universal signage for electronic vehicle charging points.

A reliable, accessible public charging network to support electric vehicle (EV) drivers on long journeys is essential. Ensuring this is visible and functional will build consumer confidence, which is vital for mass EV adoption. An EV charging symbol is in use on traffic signs to direct drivers to the growing number of chargepoints. There are now over 5,250 open-access rapid and ultra rapid chargers within one mile of the Strategic Road Network (SRN), having doubled over 18 months. Government is working with industry, including chargepoint operators, and with National Highways, which manages the SRN in England, to improve signage deployment. This includes looking for opportunities to make it easier to provide signage for EV-only charging hubs.

What steps she is taking to ensure the resilience of critical transport infrastructure in the north of England.

The government is committed to ensuring the resilience of the transport network across the UK, including vital services in the North of England. We work closely with transport operators to prevent and respond to the range of risks the sector faces: and aid them in assessing their vulnerabilities and implementing contingency planning arrangements. Transport related risks to resilience are kept under review, including through the internal, classified National Security Risk Assessment, and the external-facing version, the National Risk Register, to ensure that we effectively plan at the national and local levels. This includes risks around adverse weather conditions, security threats and accidents. We are also conducting a Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) review to support our work, building our understanding of the CNI landscape and the wide variety of systems, dependencies and redundancies that keep it running. This work is strengthening our ability to plan against risks and threats and bolster our incident response capabilities, ensuring our Critical National Infrastructure is resilient and secure.

What assessment she has made of the deliverability of the Northern Powerhouse Rail project.

As announced in the Autumn 2024 Budget, we are maintaining momentum on Northern Powerhouse Rail by progressing planning and design works to support future delivery. This improved rail connectivity in the north is a vital step towards better linking people and jobs, creating opportunities for everyone and we will set out further details in due course.

What steps she is taking to mitigate rail congestion across East-West rail lines in the north of England.

The Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline portfolio contains some of the most transformative and important programmes in the country such as the TransPennine Route Upgrade, which will increase capacity and improve reliability of East to West rail lines in the north of England.

What steps she plans to take to help increase awareness of careers in the maritime sector.

The Department continues to support industry to improve the awareness of careers in the maritime sector though the implementation of the Ratings Review and the Cadet Review, both of which were undertaken by the Maritime Skills Commission. The Cadet Review is being delivered through the Cadet Training & Modernisation programme and promoting seafaring career pathways is an important part of that work. A new maritime strategy is in development, which will include a focus on maritime careers.Additionally, the Department continues to work with stakeholders, such as Maritime UK, on careers promotion and has supported Maritime UK’s Maritime Roadshow for Girls, which promotes STEM and maritime careers in schools. Officials are also working with Maritime UK’s Careers Taskforce, which coordinates careers outreach activity across the sector.

What steps she plans to take to support the use of shore power technology to aid maritime decarbonisation.

The Government has published its Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy and a core policy within this is taking action to reduce emissions from vessels whilst at berth. Whilst the Government remains technology neutral, we recognise that shore power will play a role in reducing emissions from vessels whilst at berth, supporting our mission to make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower. The UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions programme has previously allocated over £33m to five shore power demonstrator projects at Aberdeen, Atlantic and Peninsula Falmouth, Cammel Laird shipyard, Leith and Portsmouth. The Government has also published a call for evidence on Net Zero Ports which will explore the opportunities and barriers to reducing emissions at berth, with a focus on the role ports can play in enabling the shipping sector to decarbonise.

Whether her Department plans to introduce an independent organisation to (a) monitor and (b) control parking fees at airports.

As commercial businesses it is for airport operators to manage and justify the amount and advertising of parking charges. Parking arrangements are subject to contractual agreements between airport operators, car parking companies and covered by consumer laws. While there are no plans to introduce an independent organisation to monitor or control parking fees at airports, the Department for Transport expects car parking at airports to be managed appropriately.

What discussions her Department has had with stakeholders in Greater Manchester on improving local public transport.

Officials in the Department have regular engagement with colleagues in Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and those across the districts. We work closely with the Mayor and GMCA to support their plans and strategies to improve public transport across Greater Manchester. In February, we held the second of a series of Roadshows across the country in Manchester. This provided the opportunity for stakeholders across GMCA and wider to attend to share ideas and help shape the delivery of the Integrated National Transport Strategy. We are providing substantial transport funding for the Greater Manchester region, including over £1bn from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) for 2022/23 – 2026/27 which is designed to significantly improve local public transport. TfGM is targeting delivery of this scheme in the early 2030s, with an outline business case due with the Department in early 2026. Additionally, an extra £200m for CRSTS was announced in October to provide further improvements to public transport in major city regions, including Greater Manchester. CRSTS funding for 25/26 and beyond is being considered as part of the multi-year spending review in late spring, aligned with the government’s new Integrated National Transport Strategy, ensuring we are taking decisions in the long-term interests of the country. Through the Greater Manchester Pathfinder Devolution Deal we are providing Greater Manchester with a single integrated funding settlement, which includes CRSTS, to ensure that funding is prioritised locally to meet local connectivity requirements. The Department has implemented a Task and Finish group to work closely with GMCA to gain further clarity of their transport devolution ambitions ahead of receipt of this settlement. The Department has strongly endorsed and supported the successful introduction of the Bee Network, with the Secretary of State visiting GMCA to mark the implementation of the final stage of Bus Franchising in January. The Department is providing £66.3m in bus funding to GMCA in 2025/26.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of re-introducing the hard shoulder on all motorways.

The latest set of safety data published by National Highways continues to show that, overall, smart motorways are safer than conventional motorways for deaths or serious injuries. However, the risk of a collision between a moving and a stopped vehicle is greater on smart motorways without a permanent hard shoulder than on other motorway types, which is why National Highways continues to take action aimed at reducing this risk, rolling out over 150 additional emergency areas and improving operational technology performance. We will continue to assess the safety of these roads as well as evaluating the effectiveness of the additional investment in safety measures. It should also be noted that whilst hard shoulders offer a place of relative safety, they are not a safe place to stop, with one out of every 20 fatal casualties on motorways occurring on a hard shoulder.

Whether she has had recent discussions with local authorities on the potential merits of including provisions to help tackle pavement parking in the English Devolution Bill.

In 2020, the Department undertook a public consultation on options for changing the way pavement parking is managed outside London. When the Government has decided its preferred way forward this will be announced along with publication of a formal response to the consultation. In the meantime, local authorities can make use of existing powers to manage pavement parking.

What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to increase the UKs (a) manufacturing and (b) refining capacity for sustainable aviation fuel.

Building a UK Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) industry represents a significant economic opportunity which can bring good, high-skilled jobs across the UK. The SAF Mandate, which is the UK’s key policy to decarbonise jet fuel, secures demand for SAF by obligating the supply of an increasing amount of SAF in the overall UK aviation fuel mix. We are putting £63 million into the Advanced Fuels Fund in 2025/2026 to help support UK SAF plants to reach commercial scale. The Government is also legislating to introduce a revenue certainty mechanism, giving SAF producers confidence to invest in new plants in the UK.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Mayor of Greater Manchester on pavement parking.

In 2020, the Department undertook a public consultation on options for changing the way pavement parking is managed outside London. When the Government has decided its preferred way forward this will be announced along with publication of a formal response to the consultation. In the meantime, local authorities can make use of existing powers to manage pavement parking.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of (a) funding for and (b) resourcing of the British Transport Police.

The British Transport Police’s (BTP) budget is set by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). It is the executive non-departmental public body that oversees the Force and is their employer. BTPA sets the BTP’s budget annually following proposals from the Force and views from industry. Set against a backdrop of wider public sector efficiencies and affordability by the rail industry it has agreed a budget increase for the financial year 2025/26 of 5.9%. The cost of policing the rail network in Great Britain is primarily covered through the funding agreements that the British Transport Police Authority holds with Network Rail, the rail operators and Transport for London. BTP are dedicated to building a modern, inclusive, and resilient force that reflects the communities it serves, and that keeps the railway safe and secure for passengers and rail staff. Their latest headcount figures show the Force is successful at maintaining staff and officer numbers at a consistent level.

Whether she has had recent discussions with transport industry representatives on (a) increasing the levels of participation and (b) the career advancement of women in the transport sector.

We are working closely with industry experts to ensure that women are represented within all levels of the transport system. This includes supporting the Generation Logistics campaign. Led by the industry, this initiative aims to raise awareness and enhance perceptions of careers in logistics, including promoting roles to women where they are currently under-represented. Officials engage regularly with industry stakeholders, including employers and trade associations, to understand and address issues relating to the recruitment, retention and promotion of women in transport. We also work closely with modal partners such as Women In Rail, Women in Bus and Coach and the Women In Maritime on programmes to support women in their careers.

What steps she has taken to ensure more women take up leadership positions across the transport sector.

We are working across the transport sector to ensure that women are represented within all levels of the transport system. Specifically on leadership positions, we are supporters of the 'women in aviation and aerospace charter’, a commitment for organisations to support the progression of women into senior roles in the aviation and aerospace sectors by focusing on roles in the executive pipeline and the mid-tier level. We also work closely with modal partners such as Women In Rail, Women in Bus and Coach and the Women In Maritime on programmes to support women in their careers.

Whether she is taking steps with Greater Manchester Combined Authority to improve connectivity between Heywood and Middleton and other towns in Greater Manchester.

We work closely with the Mayor and Greater Manchester Combined Authority to support their plans and strategies to improve connectivity within and across Greater Manchester including Middleton and Heywood. This has included strong endorsement and support for the successful introduction of the Bee Network, including providing £66.3m for buses in 2025/26, protecting and supporting services, and delivering Bus Service Improvement Plans. We are providing substantial transport funding for the Greater Manchester region, including over £1bn from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) for 2022/23 – 2026/27. This includes the tram/train scheme from Bury-Rochdale that goes through Heywood and is designed to significantly enhance local connectivity. Transport for Greater Manchester is targeting delivery of this scheme in the early 2030's, with an outline business case due with the Department in early 2026. Additionally, an extra £200m for CRSTS was announced in October to further support transport connectivity in major city regions, including Greater Manchester. Through the Greater Manchester Pathfinder Devolution Deal we are providing Greater Manchester with a single integrated funding settlement, which includes CRSTS, to ensure that funding is prioritised locally to meet local connectivity requirements.

What discussions her Department has had with officials within the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on further housing development near Castleton Rail Station in Heywood and Middleton North constituency to support (a) local and (b) regional economic growth.

The Department is continuing to work with MHCLG and other partners to deliver a well-designed, integrated, and affordable transport network that plays a vital role in unlocking homes, and delivering wider benefits, including reducing congestion and emissions, promoting less sedentary lifestyles, and ensuring communities can access jobs and services.As recently announced by the Chancellor, as part of the governments reform of the planning system, untapped land near commuter transport hubs will be unlocked for housing - with plans to consult in the Spring on a new, streamlined set of national policies for decision making to guide planning decisions taken by local authorities and promote housebuilding in key areas.We will continue to work closely with the Mayor and local leaders across Greater Manchester, including those in Middleton and Heywood, to ensure these reforms maximise transport investment benefits for housing and growth.We are providing substantial transport funding for the Greater Manchester region, including over £1bn from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) for 2022/23 – 2026/27. This includes the tram/train scheme from Bury-Rochdale that goes through Castleton and Heywood. As the business case development progresses on this CRSTS scheme, DFT officials will continue to support GMCA officials, and will ensure potential benefits from planned housing are considered in this work.Additionally, an extra £200m for CRSTS was announced in October to further support transport in major city regions, including Greater Manchester.

What steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to increase the number of electric vehicle charging points across (a) Heywood and Middleton North constituency and (b) Greater Manchester.

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 January 2025, the Government and industry have supported the installation of 73,334 publicly available charging devices, up 37% on this time last year. Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which includes Heywood and Middleton North constituency, has been allocated almost £17.6m capital and resource funding through the Local EV Infrastructure Fund to increase the number of local public chargepoints across the area. In December we also announced new initiatives to support and speed up chargepoint infrastructure delivery across the country. This included measures to make it easier for industry to install chargepoints, new guidance for local authorities, and publishing the outcome of a review on improving the grid connection process for EV charging infrastructure.