Written questions by Hayes.

What proportion of food procured by her Department is sourced in the UK.

To date the Government has not held information on where publicly procured food is sourced from.Starting right away, for the first time ever, this government will review the food currently bought in the public sector to determine the standards that it is meeting, where it is bought from and look to introduce monitoring for transparency and accountability within those supply chains to ultimately get the best food for the consumer.This work will be a significant first step to inform any future changes to public sector food procurement policies as we want to help make it an equal playing field for British producers to bid into the £5 billion spent each year on public sector catering contracts.

What steps she plans to take to improve road safety in South Holland and the Deepings constituency in the 2025-2026 financial year.

The Government allocates Integrated Transport Block (ITB) funding to local authorities such as Lincolnshire County Council, which is used for a variety of local transport initiatives such as road safety improvements. ITB allocations for 2025/26 for Lincolnshire County Council and other authorities will be announced shortly. This will enable councils to decide how best to use the available funding; the Department does not get involved in local authority decision making of this sort.On local highway maintenance funding, all local authority allocations for highway maintenance block capital funding in 2025/26, including for Lincolnshire County Council, were announced by the Secretary of State for Transport on 20 December 2024 and are published on Gov.uk. Lincolnshire County Council will be receiving an uplift of over £16.2 million compared to the current financial year, taking its total funding for the year to over £60 million if they meet the incentive element requirements, due to be published shortly.

How many driving test instructors have left their position in each year since 2018.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) approves people to be driving instructors and motorcycle trainers. DVSA publishes driving instructor and motorcycle instructor register data on GOV.UK. This includes data on the numbers of approved driving instructors (ADI) and shows the number of ADIs joining or leaving the register, by reason, per financial year. The attached excel document shows how many ADIs left the ADI register for the financial year 2017/18 to the financial year to date, 2024/25. This includes data on ADIs whose licence lapsed, ADIs who resigned their licence, and ADIs who were removed from the register (Registrar's decision). The same document also includes how many ADIs were added to the ADI register for the same period. This includes data on new ADI registrations, ADIs who renewed their licence (renewals), and ADIs who re-registered after a period of time off the register (Re-registration).

How many new driving test instructors were approved in each of the last three years.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) approves people to be driving instructors and motorcycle trainers. DVSA publishes driving instructor and motorcycle instructor register data on GOV.UK. This includes data on the numbers of approved driving instructors (ADI) and shows the number of ADIs joining or leaving the register, by reason, per financial year. The attached excel document shows how many ADIs left the ADI register for the financial year 2017/18 to the financial year to date, 2024/25. This includes data on ADIs whose licence lapsed, ADIs who resigned their licence, and ADIs who were removed from the register (Registrar's decision). The same document also includes how many ADIs were added to the ADI register for the same period. This includes data on new ADI registrations, ADIs who renewed their licence (renewals), and ADIs who re-registered after a period of time off the register (Re-registration).

If she will make it her policy to encourage local authorities to install hedgehog crossing signs on busy roads.

The Department authorised the use of the small wild animal sign in December 2023, giving local authorities permission to place the sign without reference to the Department. Prior to this none of these signs had been authorised. The Department does not hold information on how many signs are installed by local authorities.There are no plans to encourage local authorities to install these signs, it is entirely a matter for local authorities to decide upon.

How many hedgehog crossing signs have been installed on roads in England in the last three years.

The Department authorised the use of the small wild animal sign in December 2023, giving local authorities permission to place the sign without reference to the Department. Prior to this none of these signs had been authorised. The Department does not hold information on how many signs are installed by local authorities.There are no plans to encourage local authorities to install these signs, it is entirely a matter for local authorities to decide upon.

For what purposes the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

In the last 12 months, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has trialled the use of Microsoft 365 Copilot across Microsoft productivity tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams).DVSA’s Digital, Data and Technology colleagues are also trialling GitHub copilot. DVSA is exploring this in conjunction with Government Digital Service Engineering Excellence. The trial is due to complete on 28 February 2025 and DVSA will provide feedback to the government’s Chief Technology Officer Council.DVSA has also used artificial intelligence (AI) for the following purposes:creating theory test questions prior to them being tested in a controlled test environment.calculating the risk rating for MOT Garages to help prioritise enforcement activity.calculating Operator Compliance Risk Score (OCRS) to help prioritise enforcement activity.rapid storyboard generation using generative AI (GenAI). DVSA uses storyboards to help understand service user journeys.assessing the potential to use Amazon Web Services Rekognition software for fraud prevention.

For what purposes Active Travel England has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Active Travel England (ATE) currently does not use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for any formal decision making. ATE uses some AI tools to summarize large sets of publicly available information and is exploring the use of AI to support administrative tasks relating to case management. ATE does use machine learning and advanced data science techniques in its analytical work, but these techniques lie outside of the commonly accepted definition of AI.

For what purposes the Vehicle Certification Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) is trialling Microsoft 365 Copilot to support its activities across Microsoft productivity tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams). No other AI or machine learning has taken place.

For what purposes the Vehicle Certification Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) is trialling Microsoft 365 Copilot to support its activities across Microsoft productivity tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams). No other AI or machine learning has taken place.

What steps she is taking to help support (a) skills development and (b) training in the maritime sector.

DfT remains committed to delivering a maritime workforce, with the skills and people it needs, both now and for the future.DfT works with the Maritime Skills Commission in assessing the sector’s current and future skills needs. DfT and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are working with industry to future-proof seafarer training through the Cadet Training and Modernisation Programme and the Ratings Review. This will ensure UK seafarers remain highly skilled, and equipped with the training to handle new vessels, fuels and future technologies.DfT supports 50% of the cost of cadet training through the £18 million Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) fund and is updating the 2017 SMarT Review and Seafarer Projections report. These reports provide the evidence base and analysis for SMarT and the UK’s need for seafarers over the next decade.

For what purposes the Office of Rail and Road has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is exploring how best it can use AI in a way that improves efficiency and effectiveness without compromising quality, confidentiality or security. The organisation is also exploring how AI might be used in the rail and road sectors, and any implications for its regulatory work. ORR staff are able to use generative AI services with data that is already in the public domain such as enhanced search and summarisation, and initial thinking on documents/emails/presentations in accordance with the guidance to civil servants on their use. For uses that involve non-public information, staff require authorisation. Authorised uses over the last 12 months have been:· Communications work using the Government Communication Service specific generative AI tool.· A pilot exploring the use of a specialist app to produce videos using AI generated avatars and copy· A pilot exploring whether an AI tool can support the creation of formal minutes, and which tool is most effective· A pilot using machine learning techniques to analyse underlying causes of performance issues on the railway· Pilots exploring using AI to search internal documentation for specific purposes.

For what purposes the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

MCA are using Microsoft 365 Copilot, which is a Generative AI tool for productivity. This tool is being trialled by a selected number of users. Copilot has been used to undertake tasks such as summarising documents, minute taking, report writing and document comparisons. AI is not currently in use within the MCA systems or for any citizen services.

For what purposes the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

In the last 12 months the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has used artificial intelligence (AI) for the following purposes: A limited form of AI has been used by the DVLA’s contact centre in the form of a Chatbot.The Drivers Medical team use a form of AI on a small number of cases. However, it is important to note that a decision on whether to issue a driving licence in these cases is always made by a staff member.An AI solution is used to develop in-house training courses.AI is used to assist with cyber security threat detection and analysis.

What steps she is taking with relevant authorities to help tackle dangerous driving in (a) South Holland and The Deepings constituency and (b) other rural areas.

The Government takes road safety seriously, and we are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. Since the general election, the Department has begun work on a new Road Safety Strategy, the first in over a decade. The Department will share more details in due course. The Government’s THINK! road safety campaign, aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads. THINK! launched a major new drink driving campaign in November, highlighting the risks of drinking even a little before driving. The campaign targeted men aged 17-24, who are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on the road than drivers aged 25 and over, and who are over-represented in drink drive casualties. Paid advertising ran across social media, online video and gaming sites, radio and podcasts. The campaign also featured roadside advertising near to pubs and bars and posters and beermats in venues across England and Wales. THINK! also joined forces with industry to launch THINK! 0%, encouraging drivers to always opt for alcohol-free options when getting behind the wheel via timely reminders at the point of purchase, and worked with police forces to support national drink and drug driving enforcement activity in the lead up to Christmas. The enforcement of road traffic law and how available resources are deployed in South Holland and The Deepings constituency, and other rural areas, is the responsibility of individual Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners, taking into account the specific local problems and demands with which they are faced.

What steps she is taking to help tackle drink driving in rural areas.

The Government takes road safety seriously, and we are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. Since the general election, the Department has begun work on a new Road Safety Strategy, the first in over a decade. The Department will share more details in due course. The Government’s THINK! road safety campaign, aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads. THINK! launched a major new drink driving campaign in November, highlighting the risks of drinking even a little before driving. The campaign targeted men aged 17-24, who are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on the road than drivers aged 25 and over, and who are over-represented in drink drive casualties. Paid advertising ran across social media, online video and gaming sites, radio and podcasts. The campaign also featured roadside advertising near to pubs and bars and posters and beermats in venues across England and Wales. THINK! also joined forces with industry to launch THINK! 0%, encouraging drivers to always opt for alcohol-free options when getting behind the wheel via timely reminders at the point of purchase, and worked with police forces to support national drink and drug driving enforcement activity in the lead up to Christmas. The enforcement of road traffic law and how available resources are deployed in South Holland and The Deepings constituency, and other rural areas, is the responsibility of individual Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners, taking into account the specific local problems and demands with which they are faced.

What steps she is taking to improve the accessibility of bus services for disabled people in Lincolnshire.

The government is committed to improving bus services right across the country, including in Lincolnshire, so they are more inclusive and enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity. On 1st October 2024, the first phase of the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 came into force, meaning that newer vehicles providing local services must provide audible and visible information on stops, destinations and diversions. The majority of services will need to comply by October 2026.On 17th December, the government introduced a new Bus Services Bill that will give local leaders the freedom to take decisions to deliver their local transport priorities and ensure networks meet the needs of the communities who rely on them, including for disabled people. The Bill includes measures which will make bus travel more accessible and inclusive.

For what purposes (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have used AI in the last 12 months.

Over the last 12 months AI has been used for a variety of purposes in the Department for Transport.The department is participating in a pilot of the Microsoft Copilot AI product with ~230 staff. The pilot is being conducted to determine the benefits of this product (particularly potential efficiencies) and its reliability in relation to accuracy and data security.The department also has an internal programme to develop bespoke in-house AI solutions for a number of specific use cases. The majority of these are still in development and have therefore not yet been used. Those that have are listed below:Automated drafting of correspondence: AI is being used (currently within a small pilot) to create first drafts of responses to treat official correspondence. These are checked and finalised by officials before being sent.Automated consultation analysis: AI is being developed to streamline the analysis of open text responses to public consultations, in collaboration with the Alan Turing Institute. This is being piloted with a live call for ideas. The performance of the AI is being thoroughly evaluated by social research specialist to ensure reliability.Fraud detection: AI enabled computer vision has been used to detect fabricated applications for the department's electric vehicle chargepoint grant. This has flagged a large number of applications, leading to further investigation and grants being reclaimed.Automation of roadside surveys: AI enabled computer vision has been used to automate aspects of a survey to measure vehicle excise duty compliance, replacing a time-consuming manual process.HGV detection: AI enabled computer vision has been used to analyse ariel imagery to assess potential locations for a future network of electric HGV chargers.Where personal data has been processed in any of the above examples a Data Protection Impact Assessment has been carried out and all data has been handled in-line with the department’s personal information charter.

What estimate she has made of the annual running costs of the Jet Zero Taskforce.

The Jet Zero Taskforce convenes government and stakeholders from across the UK aviation sector to identify, and advise on, unblocking the key barriers in delivering greener aviation. Membership of the Taskforce is on a voluntary basis and there are no paid positions. Administrative running costs are minimal.

What plans she has to provide funding for the expansion of electric vehicle chargepoints in (a) South Holland and The Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

The Government’s £381 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities to transform the availability of EV charging for drivers without off-street parking across England. Lincolnshire County Council, which South Holland and The Deepings sit within, has been allocated £6,380,592 capital and resource funding through the LEVI Fund to expand local public chargepoints.