Written questions by Dillon.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of including the provision of safe local cycling infrastructure as part of the Government's response to cost of living pressures.

Awaiting answer.

How the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy 3 will enable local authorities to plan and deliver continuous, high-quality active travel networks.

I am carefully considering the feedback from the consultation on the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, including in respect of the planning and delivery of active travel networks. I expect to publish the Strategy in the Spring.

What steps she is taking to ensure that the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy 3 tackles barriers preventing women from cycling.

The Government does of course recognise how important it is that we tackle such barriers. My Department is reflecting on how best to address this within the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, which we expect to publish in the Spring.

Whether her Department worked with the Home Office in the development of the Government’s Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy.

My Department has been closely involved in the development of the Government’s Violence Against Women and Girls (Freedom from Violence and Abuse) Strategy, which includes nine commitments to help improve safety for women and girls on the transport network. These commitments focus on prevention, early intervention and response, and align with the Government’s ambition to halve VAWG within a decade.

What steps her Department is taking to raise public awareness of vehicle write-off categories.

The Government has no plans to promote awareness of vehicle write-off categories or to make the Association of British Insurers’ (ABI) Code of Practice for the Categorisation of Motor Vehicle Salvage (‘Code of Practice’) statutory. This is because the code is owned and was established by the motor insurance industry through the ABI, as part of their efforts to improve road safety by ensuring that unsafe vehicles do not end up back on the roads.There is already guidance titled ‘Scrapping your vehicle and insurance write-offs’ which can be found at gov.uk, this includes information on vehicle write-off categories and how and when to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.The Government also has no plans to review existing guidance with regards to electric and hybrid vehicles. The latest version of the ‘Code of Practice’, published in May 2025, includes guidance on ‘High Voltage (HV) Battery Electric Vehicles (Over 60 Volts)’.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of skills shortages in the vehicle repair and salvage sector on (a) road safety, (b) insurance costs and (c) repair times, in the context of increasing vehicle complexity.

In October 2024, we formed the motor insurance taskforce, which worked across government, bringing together departments and independent regulators to understand the complexities of the market and to agree a set of actions to help stabilise and reduce premiums. The final taskforce report was published on 10 December 2025. Member departments included the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Education, who as part of the taskforce, are acting to address the broader factors that contribute to the cost of claims. This includes transforming the apprenticeships offer into a new growth and skills offer, which will offer greater flexibility to employers and learners and support the industrial strategy. For example, government is providing £182m over the next 3 years to develop engineering skills to allow the development of short courses specially targeted at engineering skills to support the advanced manufacturing, clean energy and digital sectors. It will also fund the rollout of 14 new Technical Excellence Colleges (TEC), including four in Advanced Manufacturing and related sectors. There has also been an increase in vehicle technicians, mechanics and electrician apprenticeships with nearly 13,000 completed in the last 5 reported years and 4,000 of these in the latest year, 2024/25. The number of EV-trained technicians is also increasing through industry-led measures such as upskilling and continuous professional development.

What considerations her Department has given to placing the ABI Salvage Code of Practice on a statutory footing.

The Government has no plans to promote awareness of vehicle write-off categories or to make the Association of British Insurers’ (ABI) Code of Practice for the Categorisation of Motor Vehicle Salvage (‘Code of Practice’) statutory. This is because the code is owned and was established by the motor insurance industry through the ABI, as part of their efforts to improve road safety by ensuring that unsafe vehicles do not end up back on the roads.There is already guidance titled ‘Scrapping your vehicle and insurance write-offs’ which can be found at gov.uk, this includes information on vehicle write-off categories and how and when to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.The Government also has no plans to review existing guidance with regards to electric and hybrid vehicles. The latest version of the ‘Code of Practice’, published in May 2025, includes guidance on ‘High Voltage (HV) Battery Electric Vehicles (Over 60 Volts)’.

Whether she plans to review existing guidance on the categorisation and repair of written-off vehicles, in the context of advancing vehicle technologies, including electric and hybrid vehicles.

The Government has no plans to promote awareness of vehicle write-off categories or to make the Association of British Insurers’ (ABI) Code of Practice for the Categorisation of Motor Vehicle Salvage (‘Code of Practice’) statutory. This is because the code is owned and was established by the motor insurance industry through the ABI, as part of their efforts to improve road safety by ensuring that unsafe vehicles do not end up back on the roads.There is already guidance titled ‘Scrapping your vehicle and insurance write-offs’ which can be found at gov.uk, this includes information on vehicle write-off categories and how and when to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.The Government also has no plans to review existing guidance with regards to electric and hybrid vehicles. The latest version of the ‘Code of Practice’, published in May 2025, includes guidance on ‘High Voltage (HV) Battery Electric Vehicles (Over 60 Volts)’.

Whether her Department plans to review diversion routes for M4 closures to ensure that country lanes are not used.

For planned closures on the M4, National Highways will identify and review diversion routes in advance to ensure they are safe, suitable and appropriate for the surrounding road network, including for heavy goods vehicles. National Highways will agree diversion routes with the relevant local highway authorities, ensure they are clearly signed in line with national standards and ensure they are monitored while in operation. Diversion routes are kept under review and may be amended where issues are identified.

Whether she has made an estimate of the proportion of automotive technicians qualified to work on electric vehicles.

The Government is committed to ensuring the UK has the right vehicle maintenance and repair skills to remain at the forefront of the transition to electric vehicles (EVs). According to the Institute of the Motor Industry there are 71,942 qualified EV technicians. This means 26% of all technicians in the country are qualified to work on EVs, which make up about 13% of all licensed vehicles in the UK.

What steps her Department is taking to reduce speeding on rural roads in Newbury constituency.

As part of the Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January 2026, the department is exploring new sub-categories for rural roads to help target safety and speed management interventions more effectively, ensuring resources are focused where they will have the greatest impact.Local authorities have a duty under section 122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to manage the safe movement of vehicular and other traffic, including pedestrians, and are best placed to assess matters such as speed management interventions.Responsible authorities are asked to have regard to the Department for Transport’s Setting Local Speed Limits guidance, which ensures speed limits are set appropriately and consistently while allowing flexibility to respond to local circumstances.As committed to in the Strategy, the Government will be updating this guidance to further support local authorities in making well‑informed decisions about managing speed on their roads. Final decisions on local speed limits remain with the relevant authority, working with the police who are responsible for enforcement.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential safety and operational benefits of converting the Thatcham level crossing from manually controlled barrier with CCTV to manually controlled barrier with obstacle detection.

Network Rail is responsible for assessing and managing the safety risk at level crossings on the mainline railway in Great Britain, including at Thatcham. It routinely reviews the most appropriate safety measures, taking into account local risk, user behaviour and operational requirements.

If she will consider including an equine safety specialist on the new road safety board.

On 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all.The Strategy sets an ambitious target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65% by 2035 (and 70% for children under 16). Delivery of the Strategy will be supported and monitored by a new Road Safety Board chaired by the Minister for Local Transport. This will be supported by an Expert Advisory Panel, which will provide insight from those working directly with road users and communities.The Board and Expert Advisory Panel are currently under development and decisions regarding membership and format will be made in due course.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on recognition of horse riders and owners who lose horses in road traffic collisions within the Victims’ Code.

The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice specifically about horse riders and owners in road traffic collisions within the Victim’s Code. The Ministry of Justice is the lead government department for the Victim’s Code and has committed to undertaking a review of it. The Highway Code was updated in 2022 to improve road safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses including the introduction of a hierarchy of road users. 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 viaTHINK! and Department for Transport social media channels, as well as through partner organisations. However, as set out in the Road Safety 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.

What plans her Department has to conduct an annual review of (a) the duration of closures of public level crossings, (b) the potential impact of those closures on local economies and (c) the potential merits of replacing high-delay road crossings with alternative means of crossing railway lines.

Network Rail is responsible for the safe management and operation of level crossings across the rail network, which includes monitoring their performance and usage and the duration of closures arising from train operations. The Department for Transport has no current plans to conduct an annual review of closure durations or their economic impacts. However, Network Rail already assesses level crossing performance and considers a range of factors when reviewing whether upgrades or alternative solutions—such as bridges, underpasses or road realignments—may be justified. These decisions take account of safety risk, operational needs, local circumstances and the potential impacts on communities and the wider network. The Department continues to work with Network Rail and the safety regulator to support proportionate improvements where they deliver clear safety and network benefits.

Whether she plans to launch further public information campaigns to raise awareness of changes to the Highway Code introduced in 2022.

The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice specifically about horse riders and owners in road traffic collisions within the Victim’s Code. The Ministry of Justice is the lead government department for the Victim’s Code and has committed to undertaking a review of it. The Highway Code was updated in 2022 to improve road safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses including the introduction of a hierarchy of road users. 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 viaTHINK! and Department for Transport social media channels, as well as through partner organisations. However, as set out in the Road Safety 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.

Whether her Department plans to expand the use of Leicestershire and Rutland’s rural policing team's Hazard Express Van to improve public understanding of the impact of fast-moving vehicles on horses and riders.

We welcome local road safety interventions which demonstrate innovation and contribute to improving road safety and as part of the Roads Policing Innovation Programme, we are working closely with National Police Chiefs' Council to consider opportunities for innovation around wider roads policing. The Government expects forces to use the resources available to them effectively, to tackle crime and protect the public. Forces are operationally independent; therefore, it is for Chief Constables and directly elected PCCs, and Mayors with PCC functions to make operational decisions based on their local knowledge and experience.

Whether her Department plans to amend the Highway Code to provide greater protection for vulnerable road users.

The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice specifically about horse riders and owners in road traffic collisions within the Victim’s Code. The Ministry of Justice is the lead government department for the Victim’s Code and has committed to undertaking a review of it. The Highway Code was updated in 2022 to improve road safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses including the introduction of a hierarchy of road users. 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 viaTHINK! and Department for Transport social media channels, as well as through partner organisations. However, as set out in the Road Safety 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.

Whether her Department plans to update driving theory tests to include greater awareness of (a) horses as flight animals and (b) the risks associated with passing horses too (i) quickly and (ii) closely.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) keeps the driving theory test under continuous review. Both the multiplechoice and hazard perception elements already assess safe driving around vulnerable road users, including horse riders and horsedrawn vehicles.Following updates to The Highway Code in 2022, candidates are required to understand the strengthened guidance on passing horses, to slow to a maximum of 10 mph and leave at least 2 metres where possible, this is reflected in DVSA’s official learning resources and the test itself. The hazard perception test includes computergenerated clips featuring horses to promote early recognition of developing hazards. There is also guidance available in The DVSA Official Guide to Driving; the essential skills, regarding the risk of horses as flight animals.DVSA will continue to refresh theory test materials in line with the Highway Code and emerging evidence on keeping all road users safe.

If she will take steps to review the effectiveness of her Department's policies on reducing road accidents.

On 7 January 2026, we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. The Strategy sets an ambitious target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65% by 2035. This target will focus the efforts of road safety partners across Britain, with measures to improve road design, protect vulnerable road users, and review motoring offences. All of this will be supported and monitored by a new Road Safety Board chaired by the Minister for Local Transport.