Written questions by Fleet.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of DVLA-mandated eye tests in rural and semi-rural communities.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s contract with Specsavers for vision testing services provide coverage across England, Wales and Scotland, with 436 stores able to perform the services required. Specsavers is working to increase the number of stores available to carry out eyesight tests by supplying them with the appropriate equipment. Specsavers may utilise local opticians for customers who live more than 25 miles from their nearest Specsavers branch, for example those living in rural or semi rural areas.

What steps are being taken to assist British road haulage companies which also operate in the European Union to obtain dual registration of their vehicles.

The Department for Transport implemented the dual registration measure in summer 2022 to support the UK’s road haulage companies that specialise in cultural touring internationally. This was in recognition of the particular challenges this sub-sector faced resulting from EU exit, affecting their ability to support multi-stop international tours. Dual registration is not available for general haulage supporting other sectors. The dual registration measure is for operators working on a ‘hire or reward’ basis who have an established haulage base outside Great Britain (GB) and who also maintain a GB haulage base. It allows operators to temporarily transfer their vehicles between their two operator’s licences. Guidance setting out the criteria that must be met in order for an operator to use the dual registration measure is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/dual-registration-for-specialist-events-hauliers. Individual British road haulage companies should decide whether to use the dual registration measure, based on their eligibility and business operating models.

When domestic properties located in Newton purchased as part of the HS2 project will be brought back onto the property market for purchase.

The government recognises there is a desire for more detail on the long-term future of the properties acquired for HS2, following the lifting of safeguarding along the former Phase 2 Eastern Leg and the announcement of the planned disposal programme for Phase 2 properties in July this year. The government is currently procuring a specialist agent to lead development of a disposal strategy and to deliver the programme. The programme will start on the former Eastern Leg. We expect to begin sales on the open market from Spring 2026 onwards. We aim to dispose of surplus property in a sensitive and sensible way in compliance with Treasury rules. We will ensure that wherever possible tenancies can come to their natural end and that we do not flood local markets.

What estimate she has made of the average number of weeks that learner drivers are waiting to take their driving test in Derbyshire; and what steps she is taking to reduce this.

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.The driving test centres (DTC) that serve candidates in the Derbyshire area are Derby, Chesterfield, Worksop, Ashfield and Buxton. The current average waiting time in weeks for a car practical driving test at these DTCs is 24 weeks. Average waiting times are measured by calculating, at a full-time test centre level, the first week in the 24-week booking window where at least 10% of slots released to the public are available to book. DVSA is continuing with recruitment campaigns across the country to provide as many tests as possible. Since July last year, DVSA has recruited and trained 290 driving examiners (DE) who are now in post and delivering driving tests. A full-time DE can be expected to add approximately 1,200 tests per year to the booking system. From recent recruitment in Derbyshire, one new entrant DE, following successful completion of training, will join Derby DTC. A further DE is also transferring into this test centre at the beginning of November. A new DE started in July at Chesterfield DTC and a further two new entrants are waiting to start their training course. DVSA also has a new entrant DE awaiting a training course for Worksop. At Ashfield DTC a new DE started in August, with a further new entrant starting on 6 October. A further three new entrants are also awaiting to start their training course. DVSA has also recruited four new entrant DEs for Buxton DTC and they are delivering driving tests.

If she will take steps to upgrade Junction 28 of the M1.

Improvements to Junction 28 of the M1 form part of the pipeline of projects being developed for possible delivery in a future Road Investment Strategy (RIS) period. Schemes in this pipeline are at this stage uncommitted, and the Department will need to decide which are the most viable for delivery. The Department expects to confirm which schemes remain in the pipeline, and will therefore continue to be developed during the next period, when RIS3 is published early next year.

Whether she has made a recent assessment of the safety of vehicles queuing on the carriageway as they exit the motorway at junction 28 of the M1.

National Highways is currently working on proposals to improve the junction to address congestion and safety issues as well as to support local growth. One of the main reasons for the proposed improvements to Junction 28 of the M1 is to improve safety risks and hazards related to traffic and congestion at the junction, particularly the queuing on the main carriageway which can occur during peak periods.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of upgrading Junction 28 of the M1 on the implementation of the Government's missions.

National Highways is currently working on a business case for these proposals. As part of this, they will consider a wide range of potential impacts including how upgrading the junction would align with Government Missions, such as improving regional economic growth from reduced delays.

When HS2 safeguarding measures will be removed from land in Bolsover constituency.

The Government is thoroughly reviewing the position it has inherited on HS2 and wider rail infrastructure before setting out more detailed plans in due course, including future plans for HS2 Phase 2b Eastern Leg safeguarding.

What steps she is taking to ensure that all communities in (a) rural and (b) semi-rural areas have access to public transport.

The government knows that integrated public transport is vital to keeping communities connected. We also know that in rural and semi-rural areas, bus services can be a lifeline for many and can be the only means of accessing services, including other modes of transportation such as rail links. The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December to put the power over local bus services back into the hands of local leaders. In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. East Midlands Combined County Authority has been allocated £40.6 million of this funding, helping to improve bus services across the area. Rail services, including those in rural and semi-rural areas, are supported by requirements on train operators to plan services and design timetables to meet both current and future passenger demand, while also ensuring value for money for the taxpayer. The government commitment to public ownership through Great British Railways will also help to deliver a unified system that focuses on reliable, affordable, high-quality, and efficient transport services, whilst also ensuring safety and accessibility. Under public ownership, passenger services can be operated in the interests of passengers, not shareholders.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding to Derbyshire County Council for bus routes in rural areas.

Government funding for bus services in Derbyshire has been allocated to the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA). The government allocated £40.6 million to EMCCA in 25/26 to support and improve bus services. This is an increase on funding allocated to EMCCA’s constituent authorities in 24/25, including Derbyshire County Council, which totalled £39.5 million. This funding can be used whichever way the local transport authority wishes to deliver better bus services for passengers, including supporting bus routes in rural areas.

What steps her Department is taking to help promote private funding for new EV charging infrastructure at motorway service areas.

Access to a comprehensive charging network will enable more consumers to confidently purchase electric vehicles. Government is committed to supporting industry deliver a visible, reliable charging infrastructure on the Strategic Road Network, ahead of need, and support industry's own investment in transport decarbonisation. There has been great progress on the rollout of chargepoint infrastructure on our Strategic Road Network. Rapid and ultra-rapid chargepoint numbers at motorway service areas have increased by around 125% over the last 18 months (based on industry data). Within one mile of the Strategic Road Network, there are over 5,250 open-access rapid and ultra-rapid chargers - an increase of around 100% in the last 18 months (based on data from Zapmap). Industry has already committed over £6bn investment to support the rollout of public chargepoints across the UK, and government is working closely with industry to target government support where it is needed, including gaps in provision on the Strategic Road Network due to barriers such as high connection costs.

What discussions her Department has had with motorway service area operators on the renewal of leases of those areas.

Government owns the freehold of 19 motorway service areas. The DfT is in discussions with the operators regarding the future of the leases, recognising that many of these expire from around 2030. The nature of these discussions means they are commercially confidential.

What steps her Department is taking to support the roll out of (a) parking and (b) welfare facilities for HGV drivers at motorway service areas.

The Department for Transport (DfT) and industry are jointly investing up to £43.5 million to upgrade HGV parking and driver welfare facilities across England, including at independent truck stops and motorway service areas. This is on top of up to £26 million joint investment by National Highways and industry in lorry parking facilities, including Motorway Service Areas, along the strategic road network. This investment is supporting operators across 30 counties in England to improve security, toilets, showers and refreshment facilities and increase lorry parking spaces.DfT also established an industry-led Task and Finish Group (TGF) on HGV facilities, which commenced in February 2024. The TFG was a 12-month, industry-led forum focused on increasing capacity for safe and secure HGV parking, and driving industry adoption of existing HGV parking standards. DfT is considering the conclusions of this group.

What steps her Department is taking to encourage public-private collaboration in the (a) investment and (b) delivery of welfare facilities for HGV drivers.

The Department for Transport (DfT) and industry are jointly investing up to £43.5 million to upgrade HGV parking and driver welfare facilities across England, including at independent truck stops and motorway service areas. This is on top of up to £26 million joint investment by National Highways and industry in lorry parking facilities, including Motorway Service Areas, along the strategic road network. This investment is supporting operators across 30 counties in England to improve security, toilets, showers and refreshment facilities and increase lorry parking spaces.DfT also established an industry-led Task and Finish Group (TGF) on HGV facilities, which commenced in February 2024. The TFG was a 12-month, industry-led forum focused on increasing capacity for safe and secure HGV parking, and driving industry adoption of existing HGV parking standards. DfT is considering the conclusions of this group.

What steps she is taking to protect bus services in Derbyshire that travel to (a) hospitals, (b) leisure attractions and (c) other key out of town locations.

The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England, including ensuring access to vital local services such as hospitals or providing links to leisure attractions. The government has committed to increasing accountability by including a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services. In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities, of which East Midlands Combined County Authority has been allocated £40.5 million. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.

How many bus routes have been registered in Derbyshire in each of the last five years.

The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain only publish data on a Traffic Area wide basis. The North Western Traffic Area includes the counties of Derbyshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, and the metropolitan boroughs of Merseyside and Greater Manchester. Between the 2019-20 and 2023-24 reporting years the Traffic Commissioner annual reports detail the following: Applications Processed Live local bus registrationsNewVariationsExisting registrations cancelled2023-24166554110147522022-23202842015696172021-22267948719525602020-21284725823932542019-2031775481875577 An existing registration being cancelled does not always mean a bus route was closed. For example, a registration could have been cancelled and replaced with another registration that covers much of the same route, or the route continues to be served by different operator.It should also be noted that prior to 2019-20 the total number of live local bus service registrations included an element of double-counting as services running across multiple local authority areas were recorded multiple times, e.g. a service running between Derbyshire and Greater Manchester was presented as two services when it should have been counted as a single service. This has now been rectified.

What recent discussions she has had with National Highways on works to improve congestion at junction 28 of the M1.

Officials from my Department regularly engage with National Highways on the progress of proposals to improve the safety and performance of Junction 28 of the M1. The proposals are in early stages of development and are being considered for possible delivery as part of a future Road Investment Strategy.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) the level of transport related social exclusion and (b) cuts to community transport by Derbyshire County Council on people in Bolsover constituency.

The government understands that a modern transport network is vital to kickstarting economic growth, providing access to services and preventing isolation. Good local transport services are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities, connecting people and enabling access to employment, education and essential services. The Government confirmed almost £1bn to support bus funding across England. Derbyshire County Council, which is now part of East Midland Combined Authority (EMCA), will benefit from a total bus funding of more than £40m which will be allocated to the EMCA to support, improve and protect bus services and keep fares down. The Bus Service Improvement Plan for Derbyshire County Council can be found here. We encourage local transport authorities to engage with community transport operators when preparing their Bus Service Improvement Plans, which are vital in setting out long-term plans for bus services and how they will be improved.