Written questions by Morris.

What information her Department holds on the average age of (a) locomotives and (b) wagons on the rail freight network.

The rail freight industry is mainly privately owned and operated, so the Department does not keep data on the age of these privately owned assets.The regulator for rail, the Office of Rail and Road holds some data on freight rolling stock which can be found here: https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/infrastructure-and-environment/rail-infrastructure-and-assets/ .

What recent assessment she has made of the potential effect of the cost profile of (a) rail and (b) road freight operations on modal shift.

The Department does not hold data on relative changes to operating costs between road and rail freight. As part of continued support for the rail freight sector, the Department has operated the Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme since 2010. Network Rail also offers the Access Charges Discount Policy to stimulate growth, supporting new to rail traffic.

If she will list the total funding received to date by each freight transport company in the infrastructure development phase of the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme.

The Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) R&D programme has provided £58 million to date to 18 UK freight transport companies across different project consortia to support the purchase and demonstration of the heaviest zero emission HGVs, and associated infrastructure.

In light of the fatal incident on the Valaris 121 jackup drilling rig on the UK Continental Shelf on 14 November 2025, if she will provide an update on the Liberian Ship Registry’s investigation into its causes.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is aware of the accident on the Valaris 121 jack-up drilling rig that occurred on the 14 November 2025. The MAIB has been in contact with the Liberian Ship Registry and received confirmation that the registry is conducting a preliminary assessment into the incident, which is in the evidence gathering phase. As Valaris 121 was jacked-up, immobile and carrying out drilling operations, its operations fall under the purview of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Offshore. The MAIB has received confirmation that HSE (Offshore) has commenced an investigation into the accident, and HSE’s contact details have been passed to the Liberian Ship Registry.

With reference to the fatal incident on the Valaris 121 jackup drill rig on 14 November 2025, whether the Maritime Accident and Investigation Branch (a) registered the UK as a Substantially Interested State and (b) provided assistance to the Liberian Shipping Registry.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is aware of the accident on the Valaris 121 jack-up drilling rig that occurred on the 14 November 2025. The MAIB has been in contact with the Liberian Ship Registry and received confirmation that the registry is conducting a preliminary assessment into the incident, which is in the evidence gathering phase. As Valaris 121 was jacked-up, immobile and carrying out drilling operations, its operations fall under the purview of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Offshore. The MAIB has received confirmation that HSE (Offshore) has commenced an investigation into the accident, and HSE’s contact details have been passed to the Liberian Ship Registry.

If he will make an assessment of the reliability of Northern's services on the East Durham coastline from (a) Seaham (b) Horden stations.

The Department, through the Rail North Partnership, has regular discussions with Northern and stakeholders to assess reliability and potential improvements to train services, including those from Horden and Seaham.

What estimate she has made of the funding uplift necessary to restore the number of British Transport Police police officers to 2009/10 levels.

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. BTP work closely with BTPA and industry operators to make final resourcing decisions with their agreed budget.For the FY25/26, a budget increase of 5.9% was agreed. The British Transport Police Authority will set the Force’s budget for 2026/27 this month.Like other police forces the BTP has operational independence, so it is for the BTP Chief Constable and Chief Officers to use a variety of data to inform the deployment of officers and other resources, following the agreement of the budget.The Department has no role in determining the optimal numbers of BTP officers to meet their strategic plans as agreed with the BTPA.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of planned cuts to British Transport Police (a) staffing and (b) stations due to the 2025/26 funding shortfall on the level of (i) passenger and (ii) staff safety and security.

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. BTP work closely with BTPA and industry operators to make final resourcing decisions with their agreed budget.For the FY25/26, a budget increase of 5.9% was agreed. The BTPA will set the Force’s budget for 2026/27 this month. BTP’s budget has increased by £87million since 2021/22.Like other police forces the BTP have operational independence, so the BTP Chief Constable and Chief Officers use a variety of data to inform the deployment of officers and other resources, following the agreement of the budget. Decision over staffing and stations resourcing are reviewed regularly by the BTP under their optimal policing model.The Department is committed to working with the BTP and rail industry to ensure the railway remains safe for passengers and staff, thanks to the efforts of officers and rail staff working tirelessly across the network.

What the age is of Grand Central Rail's current rolling stock.

In March 2025, the Office for Rail and Road reported that average age of Grand Central rolling stock was 23.2 years. In a letter of 26 March 2025, the regulator also approved an extension to Grand Central’s track access contract that included proposals for the phased introduction of new trains by Grand Central throughout 2028.

What guidance has she given to the British Transport Police Authority on British Transport Police funding in the 2026-27 financial year.

The Department does not determine the budget for the British Transport Police. The British Transport Police’s (BTP) budget is set independently of the Department by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA), following proposals from the Force and views from the industry. Earlier this year, the Rail Minister convened two high-level roundtable meetings with senior rail industry stakeholders to ensure that funding decisions are informed by a broad range of perspectives. The BTPA has since formalised its industry engagement by creating a strategic forum bringing together representatives from BTP, BTPA, the Department for Transport and the key BTP funders. This provides a platform for constructive dialogue on balancing funding with service expectations, ensuring decisions reflect shared priorities and deliver value for passengers and taxpayers.

How many trains on the East Coast Main Line have been cancelled due to train faults in 2025 to date.

For the East Coast Mainline, between 5 January 2025 and 8 November 2025, there have been 1931.6 full or part cancellations attributed to Technical Fleet Delays (which includes train faults). This figure is weighted by the number of cancelled stops on the East Coast route for a cancelled train, which might only spend part of its journey on the route

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of planned cuts to British Transport Police (a) staffing and (b) stations due to the 2025/26 funding shortfall on the prevalence of crime, including anti-social behaviour, on the rail network.

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. BTP works closely with BTPA and industry operators to make final resourcing decisions with their agreed budget.For the FY25/26, a budget increase of 5.9% was agreed. The BTPA will set the Force’s budget for 2026/27 this month.Our railways remain safe for the vast majority of passengers and staff. Whilst total crime increased in 2024/2025, crimes per million passengers has decreased since 2023/2024 from 26.8 to 26.0. The reasons and drivers for crime on the railway network are complex, and yearly changes are not directly attributable to BTP funding levels.The BTPA are responsible for delivering an effective and efficient police force and monitoring the performance of the force. Like other police forces the BTP has operational independence, so the BTP Chief Constable and Chief Officers use a variety of data to inform the deployment of officers and other resources, following the agreement of the budget. Decisions on staffing and stations resourcing are reviewed regularly by the BTP under their optimal policing model.

How many Grand Central Rail services have been cancelled due to train faults in 2025 to date.

The most recent data available from the regulator shows that out of 3365 planned Grand Central services between January and June 2025, 58 services were cancelled due to faults attributed to the operator.

Pursuant to the answer to written question 85133 on 4 November 2025, if he will instruct the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to request that data from the Certifying Authorities.

As mentioned previously, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency do not hold this data directly, as inspections are delegated to Certifying Authorities. We will engage with the Certifying Authorities to request the relevant information and will provide an update once this data has been obtained.

What her Department’s estimate is of the number of seafarers employed in the workboat sector.

The Department for Transport, in collaboration with the Workboat Association and the Chamber of Shipping, is working to expand the Seafarer Employment Survey in 2025 to include Workboat Association vessel-owning members. The results of the expansion of the survey will be used to provide a more accurate picture of employment in this sector in the future. At present, the Department does not have a published estimate of the number of seafarers employed in the workboat sector.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the adoption of alcohol interlock technology in other jurisdictions.

The Government is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. We are considering a range of policies under the new Road Safety Strategy; the first for ten years. This includes the case for changing the motoring offences, such as drink driving. We intend to publish this by the end of the year. In 2019 the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) was awarded a grant from the Department for Transport to undertake research into the feasibility of the using alcohol interlocks (“alcolocks”) as part of drink-drive offender rehabilitation programmes. The research was published by PACTS and can be found at:www.pacts.org.uk/new-pacts-research-project-alcohol-interlocks/This research examined alcohol interlock usage in other countries.

How many flag state inspections of commercial workboats for compliance with the Maritime Labour Convention have been carried out by organisations certified by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each year since 2016.

These inspections are delegated to the Certifying Authorities, and as such the Maritime and Coastguard Agency do not hold that data directly.

If she will set out the statutory limits on seafarers’ hours of work and rest when employed on Workboats over 200 gross tonnage in UK territorial waters.

The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018 apply to all sea-going commercially operated vessels, including workboats over 200 gross tonnage operating in UK territorial waters. These set the minimum hours of rest as(a) 10 hours in any 24-hour period; and(b) 77 hours in any 7-day period.The 10 hours of rest in (a) may be divided into no more than two periods, one of which is to be at least six hours in length.

What the funding arrangements are for the (a) Department for Transport Operator Limited and (b) transfer of staff from Rail Service, Rail Strategy and Reform and Corporate Delivery.

Department for Transport Operator Limited (formerly DfT OLR Holding Limited) is the government’s public sector rail owning group and is currently funded by charging its train operating company subsidiaries for services provided but also by dividends when received. The Department for Transport will be able to confirm future funding arrangements for Department for Transport Operator Limited in due course.

If she will publish any impact assessment for the transfer of staff to the Department for Transport Operator Limited from Rail Service, Rail Strategy and Reform and Corporate Delivery.

The planned transfer of some staff from DfT to the DfT Operator will take place under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) Regulations 2006. Formal consultation is expected to commence later in the autumn, and we will continue to communicate and share materials with staff and stakeholders as appropriate.