Written questions by Naish.

What steps her Department is taking to support access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure for residents without access to off-street parking.

Awaiting answer.

What discussions her Department has had with the Department for Education on aligning school admissions policy with school transport policy to ensure that families who secure a school place are not disadvantaged by transport eligibility rules.

Awaiting answer.

Whether her Department plans to introduce national (a) guidance and (b) standards for the use of cross-pavement charging solutions, including cable channels and cable covers, for electric vehicle charging.

Awaiting answer.

Whether her Department has assessed the potential merits of introducing a permanent exemption from Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations requirements for closed-door school transport services that do not carry members of the general public.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment her Department has made of the environmental impact of increased private car use by rural families resulting from school transport regulatory requirements.

Awaiting answer.

Whether she plans to allow local authorities to sell spare seats on school-only transport services without triggering full Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations compliance requirements.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment her Department has made of (a) regional disparities in the provision of on-street electric vehicle charging infrastructure and (b) the potential impact of those disparities on the uptake of elec

Awaiting answer.

What steps she is taking to encourage local authorities to take action against engine idling, particularly outside of schools.

All Local Authorities already have powers available to them to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to drivers who are idling unnecessarily. Local Authorities are best placed to determine where to carry out enforcement against idling. Guidance on enforcement issued by the Department for Transport encourages Local Authorities to consider enforcement at sensitive sites, which could include outside schools, hospitals or other sites where unnecessary idling is a persistent issue.

What steps she is taking to provide long-term and stable funding for rural bus services.

The Government knows how important affordable and reliable bus services are in keeping communities connected, including in rural areas. 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.East Midlands Combined County Authority will be allocated £65.5 million of this funding from 2026/27 to 2028/29, in addition to the £21.7 million they have received in 2025/26. 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. The formula used to calculate LABG allocations for 2026/27 onwards includes consideration of the rurality of local areas for the first time, acknowledging the challenges of running services in rural areas, in addition to population size, levels of deprivation, and the extent of existing bus services.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to driving test booking rules on intensive driving schools.

The changes to driving test booking rules follow a call for evidence and a public consultation that many in the driving instructor industry responded to. In addition to reviewing the consultation responses, an options assessment was conducted. This provides a structured approach to decision making by evaluating the potential benefits, risks, and implications of different choices, in line with the better regulation framework guidance. The Options Assessment process is based on the ‘Rationale, Objectives, Appraisal, Monitoring, Evaluation, Feedback’ policy cycle and uses options analysis to ensure good practice in developing policy based on robust evidence. Further details of the options assessment will be published alongside amendments to The Motor Vehicles Regulations 1999 at a later date. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) knows that some learners might need help with the online booking process when these measures are introduced. Before they are implemented, DVSA will make sure the booking system continues to meet government digital accessibility standardsprovide clear, step-by-step guidance on how to book and manage testsoffer telephone support through our customer service centrereview what additional support may be needed for learners with disabilities or limited digital skills DVSA will provide further information on this before the change is implemented. DVSA has engaged with driving instructor representative bodies, including the National Associations Strategic Partnership (NASP), and large driving schools, before, during and after the consultation on improving car driving test booking rules.

What recent discussions her Department has had with driving instructor bodies such as National Associations Strategic Partnership on the consultation on Improving car driving test booking rules.

The changes to driving test booking rules follow a call for evidence and a public consultation that many in the driving instructor industry responded to. In addition to reviewing the consultation responses, an options assessment was conducted. This provides a structured approach to decision making by evaluating the potential benefits, risks, and implications of different choices, in line with the better regulation framework guidance. The Options Assessment process is based on the ‘Rationale, Objectives, Appraisal, Monitoring, Evaluation, Feedback’ policy cycle and uses options analysis to ensure good practice in developing policy based on robust evidence. Further details of the options assessment will be published alongside amendments to The Motor Vehicles Regulations 1999 at a later date. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) knows that some learners might need help with the online booking process when these measures are introduced. Before they are implemented, DVSA will make sure the booking system continues to meet government digital accessibility standardsprovide clear, step-by-step guidance on how to book and manage testsoffer telephone support through our customer service centrereview what additional support may be needed for learners with disabilities or limited digital skills DVSA will provide further information on this before the change is implemented. DVSA has engaged with driving instructor representative bodies, including the National Associations Strategic Partnership (NASP), and large driving schools, before, during and after the consultation on improving car driving test booking rules.

What steps she is taking to help ensure changes to driving test booking rules mean booking driving tests will be accessible to everyone.

The changes to driving test booking rules follow a call for evidence and a public consultation that many in the driving instructor industry responded to. In addition to reviewing the consultation responses, an options assessment was conducted. This provides a structured approach to decision making by evaluating the potential benefits, risks, and implications of different choices, in line with the better regulation framework guidance. The Options Assessment process is based on the ‘Rationale, Objectives, Appraisal, Monitoring, Evaluation, Feedback’ policy cycle and uses options analysis to ensure good practice in developing policy based on robust evidence. Further details of the options assessment will be published alongside amendments to The Motor Vehicles Regulations 1999 at a later date. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) knows that some learners might need help with the online booking process when these measures are introduced. Before they are implemented, DVSA will make sure the booking system continues to meet government digital accessibility standardsprovide clear, step-by-step guidance on how to book and manage testsoffer telephone support through our customer service centrereview what additional support may be needed for learners with disabilities or limited digital skills DVSA will provide further information on this before the change is implemented. DVSA has engaged with driving instructor representative bodies, including the National Associations Strategic Partnership (NASP), and large driving schools, before, during and after the consultation on improving car driving test booking rules.

Whether her Department plans to include transport cost as a proportion of household income, service frequency, journey times and reliability in assessments of transport poverty in rural areas.

The Department for Transport recognises that rural communities face particular transport challenges. As announced in the Government’s Child Poverty Strategy, the Department is developing a new transport poverty tool to help national and local bodies in England identify where transport connectivity and affordability may be barriers to people’s access to employment and essential services. In developing this tool, officials are considering a range of data sources, together with the perspectives of academics, local transport authorities, community organisations and residents through targeted research, to understand better the transport issues people, particularly those in low-income households, experience.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure taxi drivers are protected from physical and verbal abuse whilst at work (a) in Nottinghamshire and (b) nationally.

Physical and verbal abuse against transport workers is unacceptable and something the Department takes very seriously. The Department’s best practice guidance to taxi and private hire vehicle licensing authorities in England is clear that authorities are required to consider crime and disorder reduction while exercising their duties; this includes ways in which the taxi and private hire vehicle licensing regime can be used to protect drivers. Guidance is also included for the trade on ways they can increase safety and what to do when incidents occur. The Department’s statutory guidance recommends that licensing authorities should consult on the mandating of CCTV in vehicles. The Department’s view is that CCTV in vehicles can enhance both drivers’ and passengers’ safety and consideration of the merits of CCTV by licensing authorities must include both aspects. The Best Practice Guidance highlights that health and safety law creates duties on businesses where requirements apply to workers in the same way as they do for employees. Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (Health and safety for gig economy, agency and temporary workers - HSE) outlines the different type of workers and what is expected of businesses who use their services. This means business subject to duties should establish effective management arrangements and carry out an assessment of the risks to workers while they are at work, and to other people who may be affected by their work activities. Any assessment should identify the significant risks affecting workers and others, and, importantly, identify measures to reduce those risks.

Whether the East Midlands Railway will come into public ownership when its contract expires on 18th October 2026.

The Expiry Date of East Midlands Railway’s National Rail Contract (NRC) with the Department is October 2030, with a ‘Core Term Expiry Date’ of October 2026. Under the terms of NRCs, the Secretary of State can give the operator at least three Railway Periods’ notice (usually 12 weeks) to end the contract on a date stipulated by the Secretary of State, provided that the date is no earlier than the Core Term Expiry Date and coincides with the end of a Railway Period. The Secretary of State has previously announced that Govia Thameslink Railway services will transfer into public ownership on 31 May 2026, and has outlined the intention for Chiltern Railways’ and Great Western Railways’ services to then follow. Expiry notices will be issued to confirm the dates of transfer once a final decision has been taken regarding each operator. Ministers will take decisions on further transfers in due course. Services currently delivered by private sector operators under contract with the Department will transfer to a public-sector operator as current contracts expire, after they reach their contractual break point or if the contractual right to terminate is met - avoiding the need to pay compensation to the current operators for early termination.

Whether her Department plans to extend Transport UK's contract for East Midlands Railway beyond 18 October 2026.

The Expiry Date of East Midlands Railway’s National Rail Contract (NRC) with the Department is October 2030, with a ‘Core Term Expiry Date’ of October 2026. Under the terms of NRCs, the Secretary of State can give the operator at least three Railway Periods’ notice (usually 12 weeks) to end the contract on a date stipulated by the Secretary of State, provided that the date is no earlier than the Core Term Expiry Date and coincides with the end of a Railway Period.

What steps her Department is taking to increase public awareness of changes to the Highway Code as part of the new Road Safety Strategy.

Injuries and fatalities from road collisions caused by driving are unacceptable, and this Government will work hard to prevent these tragedies for all road users. That is why on 7 January 2026, we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. Following updates to the Highway Code in 2022, the department ran large-scale THINK! advertising campaigns to raise awareness of the changes. Via the THINK! campaign, we are also running year-round radio filler adverts encouraging compliance with the guidance to improve safety for those walking, cycling and horse riding. We will also continue to promote the changes via THINK! and Department for Transport social media channels, as well as through partner organisations. However, as set out in the strategy, more work is needed to continue embedding these changes and overall awareness of the Highway Code. We are considering options in this area, and further details will be shared in due course. As our road environment and technologies evolve, providing education for all road users throughout their lifetime is vital to improving road safety. As announced in the strategy to support a Lifelong Learning approach in the UK, the government will publish for the first time national guidance on the development and delivery of road safety education, training and publicity. Alongside this, the government will publish a manual to support the implementation of a Lifelong Learning approach for road safety.

Pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 22112, what progress she has made on assessing the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to create a new category for vehicles that park four wheels on pavements.

On 8 January 2026, the Secretary of State announced the publication of the government’s formal response to the 2020 public consultation 'Pavement parking: options for change' which sets out the legislative measures to tackle pavement parking. In the first instance we will give local authorities powers in 2026 to issue Penalty Charge Notices for vehicles parked in a way that unnecessarily obstructs the pavement. At the next opportunity we will also introduce the necessary primary legislation to make powers available on an opt-in basis to local transport authorities to prohibit pavement parking across their whole area. They will also have powers to exempt locations where pavement parking would still be necessary to maintain traffic flow, such as in narrow streets. Where there is no strategic authority, unitary authorities and county councils would also have the choice to opt in.

What steps her department are taking to help lower charging costs for electric vehicles at public charging points.

The Government is committed to ensuring public charging is affordable and accessible for all. As announced at the Autumn Budget, the Government is reviewing the cost of public EV charging, looking at the impact of energy prices, wider cost contributors, and options for lowering these costs for consumers. Furthermore, at the Autumn Budget, the Government committed an additional £200 million to support the rollout of charging infrastructure. As well as this funding, we are making changes to planning permissions, licensing, and addressing other barriers to make it faster, cheaper and easier to install chargers and ultimately drive down costs for the user.

Whether her department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the beginning of the statutory time period of 9.30am nationally during weekdays for concessionary bus pass holders.

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age. The ENCTS costs around £795 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as extending the travel times, would need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability. However, local authorities in England have the power to offer concessions in addition to their statutory obligations, including by extending travel times. These are additional local concessions provided and funded by local authorities from local resources. The Government is investing in bus services long-term and has confirmed over £3 billion from 2026/27 to support local leaders and bus operators across the country to improve bus services over the remainder of 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 East Midlands Combined Authority will be allocated £65.5 million under the LABG from 2026/27 to 2028/29, in addition to the £21.7 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 funding discretionary concessions.