Written questions by Brown-Fuller.

If she will ask the Civil Aviation Authority to review regulations and policy to better protect farm livestock, wildlife and other animals from the alarm and distress caused by low flying aircraft.

Awaiting answer.

If she will ban discharge from all vessels in UK territorial waters.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the DVLA webchat.

In 2025-2026, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s contact centre answered 8,929,400 customer contacts, of which 964,576 were answered via webchat. The webchat service provides customers with an online option to support them when they are using one of the DVLA’s digital services or if they have a general enquiry. The DVLA’s webchat also incorporates a chatbot function which automatically answered 498,780 customers in 2025-26 without any human intervention. The chatbot function is available constantly, allowing the DVLA to answer some customer enquiries outside of its standard opening hours.In 2025-26, the average time taken to handle an enquiry via the webchat channel was around 90 seconds quicker than the telephone option.

If she will consider introducing number plates for e-bikes and e-scooters.

Introducing a number plate system on e-bikes would be complex and expensive to design and administer. It would also require fitting registration plates that were sufficiently visible and robust and could not easily be transferred from one cycle to another. A previous detailed review of this idea concluded that the cost and complexity of introducing such a system would far outweigh the benefits. Regarding private e-scooters, they are currently illegal to use on public roads, cycle lanes and pavements. The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles, such as e-scooters, when parliamentary time allows. Any regulations, which could include a potential requirement for number plates, will be consulted on before they come into force so that all interested parties have a chance to shape the new regime.

Whether she has made an (a) assessment of the effectiveness of her policies to reduce waiting times for driving tests and (b) estimate of the costs to (i) people in Chichester constituency and (ii) the economy of those waiting times.

The average waiting time in weeks, in December 2025, for a car practical driving test at Chichester driving test centre was 24 weeks.The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers across the country, particularly where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and improve access to driving tests that will break down barriers to opportunity as part of the government’s Plan for Change, supporting economic growth. On the 12 November, the Secretary of State for Transport, updated the Transport Select Committee on the government’s ongoing response to high driving test waiting times. In the coming months, DVSA will:Change the booking service to allow only learner car drivers to book and manage their testsIntroduce a limit on the number of times a learner car driver can move or swap a test to twice and also limit the area they can move a test to once booked.Make use of MOD driving examiners for up to 12 months to help tackle driving test waiting times.

Whether he plans to extend drink driving offences to include a) persons on cycles, b) riding horses and c) in charge of horse drawn vehicles.

This Government takes road safety seriously. We are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. We are considering a range of policies under the new strategy; the first for 10 years. This includes the case for changing motoring offences such as drink driving. We intend to publish by the end of the year.

Whether she plans to scrap the Certificate of Professional Competence scheme.

The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) is designed to support road safety and the ensure professionalism of vocational drivers. It is a requirement for UK and EU freight and passenger vehicle licence holders operating within the UK and those travelling to, from or within the European Union, including the Republic of Ireland. Therefore, the Government has no plans to scrap the DCPC.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Certificate of Professional Competence scheme.

The Department for Transport, along with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, keep the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) under review to ensure it meets the requirements of drivers and their employers. In December 2024, reforms to the DCPC for drivers operating in the UK only reduced the minimum course length from 7 to 3.5 hours and allowed for more on-line training, providing more flexibility in how and when the training is delivered. In February 2025, the Department introduced the Return to Driving course which makes it easier for some with a valid licence to return to the profession by taking an initial 7-hour course and completing a further 28 hours of training within the next 12 months.

If she will increase the number of motorcycle test centres.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) keeps the network of its driving test centres under regular review, including those that deliver practical motorcycle tests. There are currently no plans to increase the overall number of driving test centres. DVSA has plans in place to train more motorcycle examiners with the view to increase the volume of motorcycle tests available from the current locations.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending (a) free and (b) discounted bus travel to people under the age of 22; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that young people in rural areas are not excluded from (i) education, (ii) employment and (c) family and community life due to the (A) rising cost of bus fares and (B) reduction of local services.

The government knows how important affordable and reliable bus services are in enabling people to get to education, work and access vital services. On 1 January, we introduced a £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London to help passengers continue to access cheaper bus services and better opportunities. At the Spending Review we announced the cap would be extended until March 2027.The majority of bus services operate on a commercial basis by private operators, and any decisions regarding the level at which fares are set outside the scope of the £3 bus fare cap are commercial decisions for operators. Bus operators can choose to offer discounted fares for young people, and in the year ending March 2025, youth discounts were offered by at least one commercial bus operator in 73 out of 85 local authority areas in England outside London. The government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill on 17 December as part of our ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill will put passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of the industry by putting the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in rural areas. The Bill includes a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services. In addition, we have 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, of which West Sussex Council was allocated £9.6 million.  Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent, protect crucial bus routes and introducing new fares initiatives, including for young people, to reduce the cost of bus travel further. The government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in this Spending Review. On 11 June, the government confirmed additional funding per year from 2026/27 to maintain and improve bus services, including extending the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027.

If she will (a) limit and (b) regulate the (i) number and (ii) frequency of (A) pleasure and (B) display flights by small aircraft above National Landscapes that are home to protected wildlife.

The Air Navigation Guidance 2017 states that National Parks and Areas of Natural Beauty are designated areas with specific statutory purposes to ensure their continued protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty. Given the finite amount of airspace available, it will not always be possible to avoid overflying these areas, and there are no legislative requirements to do so. When airspace changes are being considered, the guidance states that local circumstances, including community views on specific areas that should be avoided, should be taken into account where possible. This applies to controlled airspace, although most pleasure flights by small aircraft use uncontrolled airspace, which does not contain restrictions for flying over National Parks and Areas of Natural Beauty. However, all airspace users must follow the Rules of the Air 2007.

If she will (a) limit and (b) regulate the (i) number and (I) frequency of (A) pleasure and (B) display flights by small aircraft above residential areas.

Currently there are no plans to formally limit the number of small aircraft over residential areas. However, all airspace users must follow The Rules of the Air Regulations 2007 which set out minimum heights for flight above built-up areas.

What steps her Department is taking to improve standards of road safety among delivery (a) riders and (b) drivers; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of withdrawing the right of provisional licence holders to work in this industry.

Everyone who rides or drives, including delivery couriers, has a duty to behave in a safe and responsible manner, and to follow the rules set out in The Highway Code. I have no plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of withdrawing the right of provisional licence holders to ride while working. The Department worked closely with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to update the joint DfT/HSE guidance on work related road safety. The revised guidance, published in September 2021 and called Driving and riding safely for work, clearly sets out what commercial organisations and their employees must do to manage work related road safety and what their obligations are under law. Improving road safety is one of my highest priorities. Dangerous or unsafe behaviour by anyone on our roads is unacceptable. Too many people are killed and seriously injured in road traffic collisions, and this Government will work hard to prevent these tragedies for all road users. My department is developing the Government’s Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the capital funding settlement for road investment strategies on infrastructure investment along the A27.

As the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 11 June 2025, this Government will deliver notable improvements to people’s everyday travel by providing £24 billion of capital funding between 2026-27 and 2029-30 to maintain and improve roads across the country. We will provide updates on what this means for specific schemes and routes in due course.

What plans she has to increase the proportion of her Department's spending on active travel infrastructure.

Future funding for active travel, including capital funding for infrastructure, will be set out following the conclusion of the Spending Review.

What steps her Department is taking to increase the number of available driving tests in Chichester constituency.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain. Further information on these actions and progress of DVSA’s plan to reduce driving test waiting times, which was announced in December 2024, can be found on GOV.UK. To increase the number of tests available in Chichester, DVSA is deploying additional driving examiner (DE) resource from neighbouring driving test centres. From recent recruitment campaigns for the area, DVSA has a potential new DE starting training later this month. DVSA has also offered another candidate a training course starting later in the year. DVSA will continue to recruit in the area and has begun its next recruitment campaign. Once the campaign has closed, DVSA will make offers to successful applicants. DVSA is committed to providing its customers, including those in rural areas, with the best service possible. DVSA continually reviews its estate to ensure it represents good value for money and is efficient.

What steps she is taking to reduce driving test waiting times in rural areas.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain. Further information on these actions and progress of DVSA’s plan to reduce driving test waiting times, which was announced in December 2024, can be found on GOV.UK. To increase the number of tests available in Chichester, DVSA is deploying additional driving examiner (DE) resource from neighbouring driving test centres. From recent recruitment campaigns for the area, DVSA has a potential new DE starting training later this month. DVSA has also offered another candidate a training course starting later in the year. DVSA will continue to recruit in the area and has begun its next recruitment campaign. Once the campaign has closed, DVSA will make offers to successful applicants. DVSA is committed to providing its customers, including those in rural areas, with the best service possible. DVSA continually reviews its estate to ensure it represents good value for money and is efficient.

What steps National Highways are taking to reduce congestion on the A27 through Chichester.

National Highways has developed a number of options to improve the performance of the A27 through Chichester as part of the pipeline of projects being considered for possible delivery in a future Road Investment Strategy, beyond 2031.

What steps National Highways are taking to improve road safety at roundabouts on the A27 in Chichester.

The safety of road users is National Highways’ top priority, and the company regularly reviews the safety performance of the strategic road network. Options identified by National Highways as part of the development of proposals within the RIS pipeline would seek to improve the safety performance of the A27, particularly at the junctions to the south of Chichester.

How much funding her Department has provided for the repair of potholes in Chichester constituency.

The Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network. West Sussex County Council is the local highway authority for the Chichester constituency, and it is therefore responsible for the condition of its local network. In the current financial year the Department has provided a little over £19 million of highway maintenance funding to West Sussex County Council. This Government has a commitment to enable local highway authorities in England to fix up to a million more potholes a year. At Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced an extra £500 million for local highway maintenance for the 2025/26 financial year, an increase of nearly 50% compared to the current financial year exceeding this Government’s manifesto commitment on repairing local roads. The Government will confirm funding allocations to English local highway authorities in due course.