Written questions by Collier.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the shortage of secure HGV parking on the haulage industry.

The Department recognises that a shortage of secure HGV parking can have impacts on the haulage industry, including on driver welfare. A national survey of lorry parking is underway which will provide a fresh baseline on the availability of secure lorry parking and HGV driver welfare provision. The 2026 survey is scheduled to be published in the autumn. The survey was last conducted in 2022 and provided the evidence base for the design of the HGV Parking Matched Funding Grant Scheme. With industry, this scheme is delivering up to £35.7 million in joint investment to enhance truck stops across England. The Department has commissioned an independent evaluation of the scheme to consider its application and delivery process, the role of the scheme in improving lorry driver facilities, including security, in England and the impact of the site improvements for drivers. This analysis is underway and due to be finalised in Summer 2026.

What recent discussions she has had with the logistics and haulage industry on improving welfare facilities for HGV drivers.

Department for Transport ministers and officials hold regular discussions with representatives from the logistics and haulage industry to understand the sector’s priorities, including for improving driver welfare and rest facilities. The Freight Council met on the 11 February under the chair of the Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security and was an opportunity for the industry to raise concerns, including on welfare facilities for HGV drivers. More recently, on the 25 February the Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security and the Policing Minister Sarah Jones jointly hosted a freight roundtable with representatives from the haulage sector, trade bodies and police in attendance. Ministers heard directly from the sector on their concerns relating to freight crime including HGV parking and drivers' welfare.

With reference to her Department's joint press notice entitled Mirror, signal, manoeuvres: Military driving examiners mobilised to cut test backlog, published on 12 November 2025, which areas the military driving examiners will be deployed to.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has accepted the resource of Defence Driving Examiners (DDEs), to be based at the driving test centres with the highest demand near their MOD base or home location.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of restricting the resale of driving tests on (a) levels of access to and (b) the cost of driving tests.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) understands the impact, including the financial implications, the reselling of practical driving tests is having on learner drivers.On 28 May, DVSA launched a public consultation on improving the rules for booking car driving tests. The consultation closed on 23 July. DVSA is reviewing the feedback given and will announce the next steps as soon as possible. Further information on the consultation can be found at:www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-car-driving-test-booking-rules/improving-car-driving-test-booking-rules. The consultation is about changing the rules on how car driving tests can be booked and managed. It looks at how to make test booking fairer, including the possibility of stopping people charging extra fees to book tests and simplifying the system for learners and approved driving instructors. Any additional measures will only be introduced if it is considered appropriate to do so to support the continued delivery of the driver testing service and following public consultation. All available driving test appointments are shown on DVSA’s live booking system, and as well as releasing tests on a rolling 24-week basis on a Monday, additional appointments are released throughout the week. As new test appointments appear on the booking service at different times of the day and through the week, DVSA advises candidates to continue to check for earlier appointments. DVSA encourages learner drivers to only use the official GOV.UK website to book and manage their driving test. DVSA has published advice aimed at learner drivers warning them of the risks of using third party services/apps to book a practical driving test. Further information can be found on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/news/learner-drivers-warned-about-the-risks-of-driving-test-cancellation-finders.

What recent discussions she has had with local authorities on their use of her Department's connectivity tool in (a) plan-making and (b) decision-taking.

The Connectivity Tool was launched on 26 June and is free to use by all local authorities via the gov.uk website. The tool is jointly badged with the MHCLG and has been explicitly designed in collaboration with local authorities to help inform their plans, strategies and decisions. This landmark platform will serve as the new national metric of connectivity, transforming how we plan for new development and the transport infrastructure needed to support it.

What estimate she has made of the cost to Great British Railways of implementing the proposed EHRC Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations.

Work is underway to design the form and functions of Great British Railways. Set up costs and future budgets will be confirmed in due course.

What data her Department holds on the maintenance schedule for Branston Bridge in Staffordshire.

Asset management and safety, including information on maintenance schedules, is the responsibility of the owner of the infrastructure in question, which for this bridge is Staffordshire County Council.