Written questions by Hayes.

What information her Department holds on the average bus punctuality rates for Lincolnshire in each year since 2015.

The average bus punctuality rates (specifically, the percentage of non-frequent bus services running on time) for Lincolnshire are available for each year between the year ending March 2015 and the year ending March 2024 in the Department’s published Annual Bus Statistics. This data can be found in Table BUS09a: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/bus-statistics-data-tables#bus-reliability-and-punctuality-bus09.More granular (daily, route-level etc.) punctuality data, including data for Lincolnshire, is provided through the Analyse Bus Open Data Service (ABODS). ABODS enables DfT, local transport authorities, and bus operators to view detailed performance metrics, including line-level, stop-level, and individual journey punctuality, as well as on-time, early, and late arrival patterns based on GPS data from buses.

How many people exchanged a non-GB driving licence for a valid UK licence in each of the last three years.

The table below shows the number of applications to exchange a non-GB driving licence for a GB equivalent that were successful and those which were rejected for the period requested. YearNon-GB licences accepted for exchangeNon-GB licences Rejected for exchange2022146,67298,0062023137,662106,7622024117,72180,798

How many people who applied to register a non-GB driving licence were rejected in each of the last three years.

The table below shows the number of applications to exchange a non-GB driving licence for a GB equivalent that were successful and those which were rejected for the period requested. YearNon-GB licences accepted for exchangeNon-GB licences Rejected for exchange2022146,67298,0062023137,662106,7622024117,72180,798

What steps she is taking to increase the number of apprenticeship starts in her Department.

We remain committed to supporting the use of apprenticeships across all government departments to break down barriers to opportunity. This includes supporting the Government's commitment to 2,000 digital apprenticeships through its TechTrack scheme by 2030 to improve digital skills and drive improvements and efficiency in public services. Additionally, a new cross-Government Level 3 apprenticeship programme in Business Administration, the ‘Civil Service Career Launch Apprenticeship’ (CLA), will see new apprentices kickstart their careers, across various departments, starting from January 2026. Following the introduction of Skills England and a recent review of DfT’s Talent & Apprenticeship Strategy, we have refined our focus on providing apprenticeships within priority skills areas that are better aligned to Government Missions and the skills we are looking to grow within the department.HR are working to provide a wider range of apprenticeships in our Department in key fields, particularly STEM, Digital, Data, and AI, where demand is highest and in using apprenticeships as a route for individuals to obtain essential learning such as HR and Finance qualifications.

With reference to the Supreme Court ruling published on April 16, what plans her Department has to amend its policy on the use of women-only spaces in its buildings by transgender women.

The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Providers should note and follow the ruling. It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling. The Equality & Human Rights Commission, as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers. Ministers will consider the EHRC’s updated draft once they have submitted it following further work in light of this ruling. The Government is considering the implications of the Court’s judgment, including what this means for Government buildings.

What estimate her Department has made of the level of funds invested by Chinese firms in the UK transport sector in the next ten years.

The Department does not have an estimate of the level of funds to be invested by Chinese firms in the UK transport sector over the next ten years. This Government will continue to support UK business to engage with the second largest economy in the world – one of our largest trading partners – while being open-eyed to any risks and ensuring security and resilience.

What the average waiting time is for a practical driving test in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) the East Midlands.

The average waiting time for a practical driving test at test centres in both (a) Lincolnshire and (b) the East Midlands, is 24 weeks respectively, as of 21 April 2025. The current national average for a practical driving test as of March 2025 is 21.7 weeks.

Whether Active Travel England has offered apprenticeships in each year since it was set up.

Active Travel England has not yet advertised apprenticeships for external candidates. Existing employees can access the Department’s apprenticeship offer of level 2 – 7 apprenticeships across a range of skills, including data, finance and project delivery, as part of their personal development. The agency has supported one new joiner to complete an apprenticeship they were part-way through.

If the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2010.

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency has offered apprenticeships in each year, since 2018.

Whether the Office of Rail and Road has offered apprenticeships since 2010.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has offered apprenticeships since 2017. ORR currently has 15 people undertaking an apprenticeship.

Whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2010.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has offered apprenticeships every year since 2015. Specific data wasn’t collected before 2015 although apprenticeships were available.

How many fast charging points for electric vehicles are operational in South Holland and The Deepings constituency.

The below table shows public EV charging devices in South Holland and the Deepings constituency, as of 1 January 2025. Charging devices are categorised into the below speed bandings in the data held by the Department. Devices in higher power speed bandings can deliver charging at quicker speeds. 3kW up to 8kW charging devices8kW to 49kW charging devices50kW to 149kW charging devices150kW and above charging devicesSouth Holland and The Deepings constituency307130 The table includes only public charging devices as power rating data for private charging devices is not available.Data on public electric vehicle charging devices in the UK, held by the Department for Transport, are sourced from the electric vehicle charging platform Zapmap. Charging devices not recorded on Zapmap are not included and the true number of charging devices may be slightly higher than recorded in these figures.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency on delays in booking practical driving tests.

I regularly meet with officials from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to discuss various topics. I last met with DVSA’s Chief Executive Officer, Loveday Ryder, on 18 March 2025 to discuss car practical driving test waiting times and other topics.

What steps she is taking to tackle people fraudulently impersonating someone else at the practical part of the driving test.

To ensure Great Britain’s roads remain among the safest in the world, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has robust measures in place to stop people using false identities when taking a driving test.At the start of the driving test, all driving examiners (DE) carry out thorough identification and documentation checks to satisfy themselves of the person’s identity, and the validity of the driving licence and theory test pass certificate.To make it harder for fraudsters to impersonate a candidate, the DVSA has worked in partnership with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to give DEs access to an enlarged photograph of the candidate, as shown on the driving licence, to help the examiner decide if the person presenting for test is the correct candidate. If a candidate fails to satisfy the examiner that they have complied with the requirements, the examiner will, under legislation, refuse to take the test.All fraudulent activity identified is referred to the DVSA’s Investigations and Counter Fraud team for further investigation. DVSA uses intelligence to identify vehicles and individuals involved in previous fraudulent test attempts and consider this when verifying the identity of people taking a theory or practical driving test. DVSA will revoke fraudulently obtained licences where it detects people impersonating someone else at the theory or practical driving test.

What steps her Department is taking to monitor train service improvements in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

The Department can confirm that subject to the conclusion of the wider industry timetable process, East Midlands Railway (EMR) has identified the potential for service improvements across Lincolnshire to be implemented in the forthcoming December 2025 timetable change. This includes additional services between Lincoln and Peterborough.

If she will take steps to help tackle speeding in Lincolnshire.

Enforcement of the speed limit is for the police. The Department for Transport makes highways and local transport funding available to local transport authorities, who decide how to use the funding to support local priorities. Local authorities have the responsibility of making decisions about the roads under their care, based on their knowledge of the area and taking into account local needs and considerations.  This includes setting local speed limits and introducing traffic calming measures.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the (a) construction and (b) operation of a new National Grid electricity substation at Weston Marsh on levels of traffic in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

Roads in the South Holland and the Deepings constituency are the responsibility of Lincolnshire County Council, as the Local Highway Authority and Local Traffic Authority. This Department does not make an assessment of the impact of individual projects of this nature on the local road network.

If she will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Road Traffic Act 1988 to require drivers to stop and report accidents involving cats.

There are no plans to amend section 170 of the Road Traffic Act to make it mandatory for drivers to report road collisions involving cats. Although there is no obligation to report all collisions with animals on roads, Rule 286 of The Highway Code advises drivers to report any collisions involving an animal to the police, and if possible, they should make enquiries to ascertain the owner of domestic animals and advise them of the situation. Since June 2024, all cats in England over 20 weeks of age must be microchipped and registered on a compliant database, unless exempt or free-living. This will make it easier for National Highways and local authorities to reunite cats with their keepers.

If she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of increasing the permitted weight of electric HGVs on the construction sector.

The Department keeps vehicle regulations, including maximum permitted weight limits, under review, to determine whether they remain appropriate during the transition towards zero emission HGVs. No assessment which focuses exclusively on vehicles used in the construction sector is planned.

What recent discussions she has had with East Midlands Railways on the feasibility of increasing the frequency of train services to and from Spalding.

East Midlands Railway’s proposed new regional timetable for December 2025 includes one additional service every weekday and four additional services every Saturday calling at Spalding.