Written questions by Morgan.

What support she is providing to local authorities to ensure best practice highway maintenance.

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to enabling local highway authorities to maintain and renew the local highway network. In addition to the funding that the Department provides to local highway authorities, it provides and endorses guidance such as the Code of Practice on Well Managed Highway Infrastructure. This recommends that local highway authorities take an integrated, risk-based approach to managing their highway infrastructure, and offers advice on all aspects of highway maintenance, from managing vegetation to the frequency of inspections recommended for various types of structures. It makes clear that local highway authorities should consider all parts of the highway network, such as bridges, cycleways, and lighting columns, and not just the fixing of potholes. The Department is committed to updating this guidance as soon as possible, and has begun scoping the changes that will be necessary.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled, Seven million more potholes to be filled next year as public urged to report roads in need of repair, published on 20 December 2024, what criteria her Department will use to establish whether authorities are entitled to the 25 per cent uplift.

The Department will provide more details shortly of the criteria that local authorities will need to meet to unlock the full funding uplift in 2025/26. In short, they are likely to be required to comply with certain reporting requirements; toprovide the Department with certain data about their networks and planned roads maintenance expenditure; and to demonstrate that they are complying with best practice.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the quality of road repairs in Shropshire.

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to enabling local highway authorities to maintain and renew their local highway networks. At Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced an extra £500 million for local highway maintenance for the 2025/26 financial year, a total increase of nearly 50% compared to the current financial year. Funding allocations to English local highway authorities for 2025/26 were announced on 20 December 2024, and Shropshire will receive up to £33.6 million. Shropshire Council is the local highway authority for Shropshire and it is responsible for the condition of its local network. The Government does not set standards for road repairs: it is up to individual local highway authorities to satisfy themselves that they are complying with their responsibilities under the 1980 Highways Act. The Government publishes data annually on the condition of the local road network in England, including Shropshire, and the data is available on gov.uk.

What plans she has to ensure step-free access to Whitchurch Railway Station.

The Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.Given the short time since the general election, I regret I am not yet able to comment on next steps regar...

If her Department will publish the criteria used to decide the bus service improvement plan funding allocations for 2025-26.

The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. S...

Whether her Department made an assessment of Shropshire Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan before deciding the authority’s 2025-26 funding.

The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. S...

Whether her Department took into account the scale of the reduction in bus miles in each authority area over the past five years when allocating Bus Service Improvement Plan funding for 2025-26.

The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. S...

What assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the number of (a) deaths and (b) serious accidents on roads in Shropshire.

This Government takes road safety seriously, and we are 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 details in due course. Local government is the m...

How many track access applications concerning changes to the national passenger rail timetable were received for (a) December 2024, (b) May 2025 and (c) December 2025.

The Department for Transport does not hold this information. Train operators must submit track access applications to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The ORR is responsible for making decisions in relation to these applications and its decisions are pu...

What discussions she has had with the governments of (a) Wales and (b) Scotland on growing cross-border rail patronage through open-access passenger rail operations.

The Secretary of State has not had any discussions specifically on growing cross-border rail patronage through open access with either the government of Wales or Scotland.

What steps she is taking to ensure the timely determination of track access applications on changes to the national passenger rail timetable for (a) May 2025 and (b) December 2025.

The Secretary of State supports and encourages Department for Transport contracted operators to make timely application to the industry Track Access process. Track Access decisions are the responsibility of the Office of Rail and Road as independent rail ...

How long it took her Department to consider each application for a change to the national passenger rail timetable for December 2024; and what the average time was for her Department to determine the outcome of

Operators need to agree their train service level plans and funding in advance of operation allowing enough time for consideration by the Department before they engage with Network Rail's timetable production process. Typically, this is done through an an...

How many urban areas in the West Midlands with populations of over 17,000 do not have a railway station.

It is estimated that there are approximately 12 ‘built up areas’ with a population of 20,000 or more that do not contain operational railway stations within the West Midlands region. Some large cities and towns consist of several built up areas, and whils...

How many urban areas in England with populations of over 17,000 do not have a railway station.

It is estimated that there are approximately 80 ‘built up areas’ with a population of 20,000 or more that do not contain operational railway stations within England. Some large cities and towns consist of several built up areas, and whilst a specific buil...

Which projects her Department plans to include in the third Road Investment Strategy.

The Government is considering the content and timing of the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) alongside all transport infrastructure spend. We will provide an update in due course.

Whether she made an assessment of the adequacy of each business case submitted to the Restoring Your Railway Fund before deciding to withdraw that funding.

The Chancellor’s statement of 29 July 2024 confirmed that the Restoring Your Railway (RYR) programme will be brought to a close. Aside from RYR projects currently at the delivery stage or in construction, all remaining RYR-originated projects are now bein...

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2024 to Question 836 on A483, what progress she has made on the review into improving safety on the A483 in North Shropshire.

National Highways continues to consider the case for safety improvements to the A483 between Pant and Llanymynech through a route optimisation study. The content and timing of the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) will be considered alongside all tran...

What steps she is taking to improve transport links in Oswestry.

This Government is committed to ensuring that people have access to transport and transport infrastructure that enables them to travel to the destinations they want to reach and meets their needs. As my Right Honourable Friend the Chancellor has set out, ...

With reference to Schedule 12 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of inconsistent application of those guidelines by police force

Application of Schedule 12 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, as amended (C&U), is a policing matter. Any concerns on their application should be raised with the responsible local police force(s) in question. My Department d...

With reference to Schedule 12 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, if she will make an assessment of the level of consistency of application of those guidelines by police forces.

Application of Schedule 12 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, as amended (C&U), is a policing matter. Any concerns on their application should be raised with the responsible local police force(s) in question. My Department d...