Every parliamentary written question tabled by Martin Wrigley this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 81–100 of 133 · Department for Transport
Pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21418 on South West Main Line: Dawlish, what criteria she used for the decision not to include funding for phase 5 of the South West Rail Resilience Programme at Dawlish in the Spending Review 2025.
Following the Chancellors’s statement on 11 June we are now working to confirm our wider portfolio of rail enhancements, which will be published as part of the government’s commitment to set out its overall infrastructure pipeline.
Whether her Department plans to provide funding for the Teign estuary project through the Local Transport Grant.
At the Spending Review (SR), the government announced £2.3 billion across the SR period for the Local Transport Grant (LTG). Allocations have been published, and Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority have been allocated £40.9m. This is in addition to £4.7m the authority was allocated in 2025/26 through the Integrated Transport Block. This funding is for maintaining and improving local transport infrastructure, delivering transport schemes that will boost growth. Local leaders can choose how to spend it, including on supporting new housing developments, improving public transport, and making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Funding guidance will be issued later this year to support local areas in deciding how to best utilise their LTG allocations. In addition, Active Travel England recently announced capital funding allocations for 2025/26 to local authorities through the Consolidated Active Travel Fund. Devon County Council’s allocation is £2.3m, and this can be used to support the delivery of high quality walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure as well as capability building measures and behaviour changes activities. It is for Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority to decide how they wish to spend their LTG and Consolidated Active Travel Fund allocations, including on the Teign Estuary Project, alongside other priority projects in their Local Transport Plan.
If she will take steps to increase the number of full time equivalent examiners at the Newton Abbot Driving Test Centre in the 2025-26 financial year.
On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport announced that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain. Since announcing these measures, DVSA has reintroduced overtime pay incentives for everyone delivering driving tests. The additional testing allowance scheme launched this month (June 2025). The DVSA’s plan to reduce waiting times as set out in December last year, included recruiting and training 450 driving examiners (DE). As with all test centres in Great Britain, DVSA will assess the recruitment needs at Newton Abbot test centre when it launches any future recruitment campaigns.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of abolishing peak time pricing on rail fares to and from Devon.
Peak and off-peak fares are an important tool to manage demand and alleviate crowding on peak time services by encouraging those who can travel off-peak to do so. Any changes to rail policy need to balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers to ensure everyone gets a fair deal.
What steps she is taking to help increase access to driving tests in the Newton Abbot 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 on the DVSA’s 7-point plan, which was set out last year, can be found on GOV.UK. As well as the above measures, at Newton Abbot driving test centre (DTC) DVSA continue to provide as many tests as possible. The DTC currently has a driving examiner (DE) on temporary duty to add additional capacity. DEs also continue to provide overtime tests at weekends at the DTC.
Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 46252 on Cars: Lighting, if she will send a copy of the report to the hon. Member for Newton Abbot when it is complete.
Once the independent research on headlamp glare completes, the research organisation will publish a report on their website which will be accessible to the public. The Department will provide the Honourable Member for Newton Abbot with the weblink to the report at that time.
If she will provide additional funding for pothole repair in Newton Abbot constituency.
This Government takes the condition of our country’s roads very seriously and is committed to supporting local highway authorities in maintaining and renewing the local highway network and tackling the maintenance backlog.Devon County Council is the highway authority for Devon including the Newton Abbot constituency. The Government is providing Devon County Council with over £83 million for highway maintenance for the 2025/26 financial year, an increase of £22.5 million compared to 2024/25.25% of the additional £22.5 million funding is contingent on Devon County Council demonstrating to HM Government that they are complying with certain criteria, aimed at driving best practice and continual improvement in highway maintenance best practice.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the M5 into Newton Abbot constituency.
National Highways routinely assesses the current performance and potential future needs of the strategic road network through its Route Strategies process. The routes serving the Newton Abbot constituency and surrounding area have been considered as part of its South West Peninsula strategy. There are no plans to extend the M5 into the Newton Abbot constituency, and the A38 Devon Expressway will remain the principal strategic route serving Newton Abbot in Devon.
What recent discussions she has had with Great Western Railway on the potential closure of ticket offices in Devon.
I am not aware of any plans to close ticket offices in Devon. Closing a ticket office would be a major change under the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement and any proposal to close a ticket office would require a period of consultation before any decision was made.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of re-opening Kingskerswell station.
No assessment of the potential merits of reopening Kingskerswell station is planned at this time.
Pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43362 on Railways: Newton Abbot, if she will extend South Western Railway services from Exeter St David's to Newton Abbot when it enters public ownership.
There are currently no plans to extend South Western Railway services from Exeter St David’s to Newton Abbot when it enters public ownership.
If she will take steps to ensure that ticket offices in Devon are not closed.
I am not aware of any plans to close ticket offices in Devon. Closing a ticket office would be a major change under the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement and any proposal to close a ticket office would require a period of consultation before any decision was made.
If he will make an assessment of the (a) adequacy of disability access at train stations in Newton Abbot constituency and (b) potential impact of removing customer service assistants at railway stations on disabled residents.
We are committed to enhancing railway accessibility for all, including those in the Newton Abbey constituency with disabilities. As part of the ongoing Spending Review, we are assessing public spending and cannot comment on individual schemes until the process concludes this Summer.Rail operators, under their license conditions and Accessible Travel Policy, must participate in the Passenger Assist scheme, ensuring disabled passengers and those with additional needs can travel safely and with confidence.
If she will take steps to fund a disability access lift at Teignmouth railway station.
We are committed to the Access for All programme, which has delivered accessible routes at more than 270 stations. Teighmouth station was not selected by the previous Government for the programme, but the station already has an accessible route, and if any passenger is unable to use the station GWR will provide assistance or alternative transport at no additional cost.
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 34686 on Cars: Lighting, what steps her Department is taking to (a) measure the causes of headlamp glare and (b) develop potential countermeasures to headlight glare.
All types of road vehicle headlamps, including those using LED technology, are designed, tested and approved to internationally recognised standards to help prevent undue glare on a broad range of roads and environments. Police recorded collision statistics in Great Britain do not show any discernible trend over time that would suggest an underlying road safety issue linked to advances in lighting technology. However, Government recognises increased public concern around headlamp glare and, as noted in my answer to Question 34686, has commissioned independent research. This is measuring light levels experienced by drivers during real driving on UK roads and considers factors like vehicle characteristics, weather conditions and ambient lighting. It also includes a programme of stakeholder engagement to build a comprehensive understanding of the issues. Careful consideration will be given to that work when it reports later this year to determine what future actions may be appropriate to ensure the safety of all road users.
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 34686 on Cars: Lighting, if the Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of LED headlight brightness on (a) older drivers, (b) cyclists, and (c) pedestrians.
All types of road vehicle headlamps, including those using LED technology, are designed, tested and approved to internationally recognised standards to help prevent undue glare on a broad range of roads and environments. Police recorded collision statistics in Great Britain do not show any discernible trend over time that would suggest an underlying road safety issue linked to advances in lighting technology. However, Government recognises increased public concern around headlamp glare and, as noted in my answer to Question 34686, has commissioned independent research. This is measuring light levels experienced by drivers during real driving on UK roads and considers factors like vehicle characteristics, weather conditions and ambient lighting. It also includes a programme of stakeholder engagement to build a comprehensive understanding of the issues. Careful consideration will be given to that work when it reports later this year to determine what future actions may be appropriate to ensure the safety of all road users.
Whether she is taking steps to ensure that vehicles sold in the UK will have automatic headlamp levelling systems by 2027.
Recognising the global nature of the automotive industry, the detailed technical requirements for new vehicles are typically developed within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), in which the UK is an active member. The UNECE amended its regulations in 2023 to include requirements for automatic headlamp levelling. Vehicle manufacturers can already approve vehicles to this latest regulation, but the transitional provisions covering these requirements run from September 2027 to September 2030 and it would breach our international treaty obligations to mandate these provisions for all vehicles sold during this period. The domestic vehicle type-approval regulation sets the minimum standards to be met by vehicles before entering service in Great Britain, and is kept under constant review. A decision on automatic headlamp levelling will be taken in due course.
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 34686 on Cars: Lighting, if her Department will commission research into potential correlations between LED headlight brightness and road accidents caused by glare.
All types of road vehicle headlamps, including those using LED technology, are designed, tested and approved to internationally recognised standards to help prevent undue glare on a broad range of roads and environments. Police recorded collision statistics in Great Britain do not show any discernible trend over time that would suggest an underlying road safety issue linked to advances in lighting technology. However, Government recognises increased public concern around headlamp glare and, as noted in my answer to Question 34686, has commissioned independent research. This is measuring light levels experienced by drivers during real driving on UK roads and considers factors like vehicle characteristics, weather conditions and ambient lighting. It also includes a programme of stakeholder engagement to build a comprehensive understanding of the issues. Careful consideration will be given to that work when it reports later this year to determine what future actions may be appropriate to ensure the safety of all road users.
How many complaints her Department has received on (a) glare and (b) dazzle caused by LED headlights in the last 12 months.
The Department for Transport does not routinely categorise or record the number of cases where correspondence is received complaining about specific issues. However, based on a manual review of records, in the 12 months up to 22 April the department has received 69 items of correspondence citing “glare” from road vehicles and 9 items citing “dazzle” from road vehicles.
What recent discussions she has had with GWR on ticket offices in Devon.
The Department expects all train operating companies to use reasonable endeavours to meet their obligations for regulated staffed ticket office opening hours under Schedule 17 of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement. As such, we regularly review ticket office opening hours compliance.