Written questions by Wrigley.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that rail fares are affordable in Devon.

We are committed to reforming the overcomplicated fares system with a view to simplifying rail fares across the country. Whilst it is our ambition through public ownership to deliver a more affordable railway, any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy require balancing against the potential impacts on passengers, taxpayers and the railway. This year's 4.6 per cent increase will be the lowest absolute increase in three years and will support the Government's long-term plan to achieve financial sustainability of the railway.

What recent discussions she has had with Network rail on expanding rail electrification to Devon.

Department for Transport ministers have had no recent discussions with Network Rail on expanding rail electrification to Devon. To deliver the government’s Net Zero commitment, the Government’s stated approach will be to electrify additional rail lines and deploy alternative traction technologies such as battery and hybrid where it makes operational and economic sense. This whole track and train approach ensures that we find the best solution for each situation, with a particular emphasis on taxpayer Value for Money.

If she will take steps to open additional railway stations in Devon.

The Government is funding the construction of a new Okehampton Interchange station which is planned to open in 2026. Future rail infrastructure investment, including new stations, will be considered as part of the current Spending Review, which will be concluded in June 2025.

What estimate she has made of the revenue to the public purse from the sale of car owners' details by the DVLA to private parking enforcement agencies in each year since 2012, broken down by sales to each private parking enforcement agency.

The income from the fees charged for providing information about registered vehicle keepers by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is shown in the table below: Financial yearTotal (£m)20126.6220137.9520149.52201511.33201614.02201716.68201819.89201923.29202013.18202123.90202230.18202334.08 These fees are set to cover the costs of providing services to customers. Please note that the figures above do not just relate to requests for information from private parking companies. The specific information requested about private parking companies can only be provided at disproportionate cost as it would require the interrogation of each request for information to identify by whom the request was made.

What information his Department holds on commercial usage of DVLA vehicle keeper requests that result in failed parking charge notices.

The law permits the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to disclose information to allow the management of parking on private land. Information is provided as a first point of contact to help investigate alleged parking breaches, determine any liability and to help resolve disputes. The information is provided only to companies that are members of an appropriate accredited trade association and are subject to auditing to ensure the information provided is used appropriately. Private parking operators must follow a code of practice and have processes for private parking charges to be challenged, including referral to an independent appeals service. Motorists may decide to appeal private parking charges for a range of reasons. This is a matter for the private parking sector and the information requested is not held. The DVLA monitors complaints and takes appropriate action, particularly where issues with operators or specific car parks appear to be recurrent.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of time taken for construction between phases 4 and 5 of the rail resilience programme on the design team.

The case for further assessment and delivery of Phase 5 of the South West Rail Resilience Programme will be considered as part of the current Spending Review.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2025 to Question 27628 on Railways: South West; whether the business case for completing phase 5 of the South West Rail Resilience programme includes (a) impacts and (b) costs related to access to health services in the region.

Impacts and costs related to access to health services were not considered in the Outline Business Case for Phase 5 of the South West Rail Resilience Programme, prepared by Network Rail in early 2024.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of not completing phase 5 of the South West rail resilience programme on the economy.

The Department is not intending to undertake any assessments of Phase 5 of the South-West Rail Resilience Programme whilst the Spending Review is ongoing.

If she will hold discussions with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency on the potential implications for their policy on the provision of data to private parking companies of trends in the number of faulty private parking machines.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) would not be aware of appeals made by those in receipt of a private parking penalty or the reasons for them. Appeals are made to the parking operator with the reason/mitigation according to the circumstances and can be further referred for consideration by an independent appeals service. Therefore, the DVLA has no information on trends relating to faulty private parking machines. The law allows the DVLA to provide vehicle keeper data as a first point of contact to allow alleged parking breaches to be followed up.

What discussions she has had with local authorities on a standardised parking app.

The Government continues to support the concept of a National Parking Platform (NPP), a digital system designed to connect parking apps across the UK to provide a simpler service for users, by enabling them to use the app of their choice wherever they park. The Government recognises the many benefits of an NPP and the depth of support for it across the parking sector with over 200 local authorities having expressed an interest in joining. However, we are of the view that it could and should be delivered without the need to rely on public funding, particularly given the dire financial position the Government inherited. The Department is working with the parking industry to explore options for taking forward delivery of a national platform. The industry has responded positively to this and the pilot version of the NPP will continue to be funded to 31 March 2025 while these discussions continue.

If she will publish the cost of restarting phase 5 of the Dawlish rail resilience project design team.

A team at Network Rail is currently funded to develop the fifth phase of the South West Rail Resilience Programme. A decision on further funding will be subject to the outcome of the Spending Review.

If she will make it her policy to take into account the potential impact on access to health services in (a) Exeter, (b) Torbay, (c) Newton Abbot, (d) Dawlish and (e) Teignmouth when making decisions on (i) transport and (ii) connectivity.

Transport investment decisions are based upon the development and consideration of a business case, which assesses the costs of investment set against a wide range of benefits to transport users.

If she will make it her policy to take into account the potential impact on access to health services in (a) Exeter, (b) Torbay, (c) Newton Abbot, (d) Dawlish and (e) Teignmouth when making decisions on phase 5 of the South West Rail Resilience programme.

Transport investment decisions are based upon the development and consideration of a business case. Business cases assess the costs of investment against a wide range of passenger benefits, set against the operational cost to the railway.

If she will make an estimate of the number of Russian shadow fleet vessels that have entered UK waters in the last 12 months.

The UK Government proactively monitors a variety of vessels of interest in UK waters to ensure the safety of seafarers, protect the marine environment, and for national security purposes.

If she will take into account the potential impact on (a) health, (b) hospitals and (c) health services when making decisions on (i) transport and (ii) connectivity.

Transport investment decisions are based upon the development and consideration of a business case, which assesses the costs of investment against a wide range of benefits to transport users and the rest of society, including health-related impacts such as air quality, noise, accidents, and physical activity. The Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG) provides comprehensive guidance and tools to support the inclusion of these impacts in business cases.

With reference to the letter from her Department to the hon. Member for Truro and Falmouth, published on 10 December 2024, whether she plans to fully fund phase 5 of the South West Rail Resilience Programme at

The Chancellor has been clear about the nation's finances and has launched a multi-year Spending Review. Decisions and timescales about individual projects, including the fifth phase of the South-West Rail Resilience Programme, will be informed by the rev...

What criteria her Department is using to assess the viability of the fifth phase of the Rail Resilience Programme for Dawlish.

Proposals for a fifth phase of the South West Rail Resilience Programme will be assessed against the criteria described in the document entitled ‘Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline - A New Approach for Rail Enhancements’ published in March 2018.

If she will make an estimate of the potential impact of the timing of the funding for phase five of the Dawlish Rail Resilience Programme on the cost of phase four of that programme; and whether she plans to se

Decisions in relation to a phase five of the South West Rail Resilience Programme do not impact the cost of phase four, for which all physical works have now been completed. Phase five is being considered as part of the Spending Review in 2025.