Written questions by Mishra.

Whether her Department plans to provide funding for step-free access at Heaton Chapel Station.

This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.In May 2024, the previous government selected 50 stations for initial feasibility work for potential upgrades as part of our Access for All programme. This did not include Heaton Chapel railway station. Given the acute funding pressures on capital investments, any sources of funding that can be identified locally, for example from s106 monies, would also be a way of bringing accessibility at this station further forward.

If her Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of the availability of driving tests in Stockport.

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 the country.As acknowledged in the announcement regarding these measures, DVSA understands the potential impact high waiting times have on learner drivers and the importance of helping learners pass quickly. 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. The table below shows the average waiting time for a car practical driving test in May 2025, at centres that serve customers in Stockport. Driving test centreAverage waiting time in June 2025 (weeks)Bredbury (Manchester)24West Didsbury (Manchester)24Sale (Manchester)24National22.5 From recruitment campaigns, one potential new driving examiner (DE) will be starting their training course on 23 June for West Didsbury. A further potential new DE for Sale will start their course on 25 August. DVSA has made three further offers, with applicants scheduled for courses in the late summer/early autumn. The latest recruitment campaign has yielded nine recruitment drives for the cluster, all of which will be completed by 14 June.

If her Department will publish the average response time for British Transport Police at Stockport station in each of the last five financial years.

British Transport Police (BTP) response times are dependent on the severity of the incident. BTP have provided the following figures for incidents at Stockport railway station over the last 5 financial years:Financial yearImmediate* grade incident BTP response time(20 minute target)Priorityˤ grade incident BTP response time(60 minute target)2024/2519 minutes25 minutes2023/2417 minutes19 minutes2022/2315 minutes32 minutes2021/2216 minutes29 minutes2020/2113 minutes20 minutes* incidents where there is, or is likely to be, a danger of death, the use of violence, or a serious injury to a person or serious damage to property.ˤ urgent initial police action is required, but the incident does not meet the threshold for immediate response Home Office forces will also attend if they are available and are able to arrive at the scene before BTP. Please note that reduced rail travel in 2020/21 and 2021/22 due to COVID-19, and therefore also reduced numbers of incidents, may have contributed to the reduced response times for those years.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for the British Transport Police.

The British Transport Police’s (BTP) budget is set by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). It is the executive non-departmental public body that oversees the Force and is their employer. BTPA sets the BTP’s budget annually following proposals from the Force and views from industry. Set against a backdrop of wider public sector efficiencies and affordability by the rail industry it has agreed a budget increase for the financial year 2025/26 of 5.9%. BTP work closely with BTPA and industry operators to make final resourcing decisions with their agreed budget.The cost of policing the rail network in Great Britain is primarily covered through the funding agreements that the British Transport Police Authority holds with Network Rail, the rail operators and Transport for London.

If her Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of rail (a) capacity and (b) performance of Manchester Airport Station.

I recognise that Manchester Airport station needs to be improved, both in terms of its capacity and its passenger experience. That is why Network Rail is working with TransPennine Express as the station operator and local stakeholders including Manchester Airports Group to extend the platforms to allow more trains to serve the station. At the same time, we are looking at how to improve the experience for passengers, including those from overseas, for whom this station is a major gateway to Manchester and the whole of the North.

If her Department will ask (a) local authorities and (b) combined authorities to undertake an audit of bus stops in order to identify those that fall below the standard.

The Government recognises the value that high-quality public transport infrastructure provides to passengers, including bus stops. Local authorities are responsible for the bus stops in their area, and the government has allocated over £712 million to local authorities in England outside London in this financial year to support and improve bus services. This includes capital funding which can be used to improve infrastructure such as bus stations and stops. The Department has also published Local Transport Note (LTN) 1/24 Bus User Priority which provides guidance on good practice in the design of bus stops. The Government also knows how important safe and accessible bus stations and stops are in supporting people to make inclusive journeys on local bus services. The Bus Services (No.2) Bill, introduced on 17 December, sets out a comprehensive package of measures which will make bus travel more accessible and inclusive. This includes a requirement on Local Transport Authorities to publish Bus Network Accessibility Plans setting out an assessment of existing provision and measures to improve this in future. These plans could include an assessment of bus stops in the local area. The Bill also introduces a power to enable the Secretary of State to publish statutory guidance on the safety and accessibility of bus stations and stops, and to require specified public sector bodies to pay regard to it when they provide new or upgrade existing facilities. The guidance will help authorities to provide infrastructure that people can and want to use, helping to ensure that they are not prevented from using bus services because of inadequate accessibility or safety.

Whether her Department will make an assessment of the impact of (a) unfilled station staff vacancies and (b) use of fixed-term contracts at Avanti West Coast-managed railway stations on (i) trends in the length of delays at ticket offices and (ii) trends in the number of unscheduled closures of ticket offices.

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 and the causes of any negative trends, including staff vacancies. Train operating companies are also required to achieve challenging customer experience targets across a range of measures, including ticket offices being open at advertised times. These standards are regularly and independently inspected via the Service Quality Regime and there are accountability and financial consequences for failure.

Whether permission from her Department was required by Avanti West Coast to undertake its station rostering review.

Permission is not required to undertake a review of working practices made in the ordinary course of business. If potential staff rostering affected changes to ticket office opening hours, the train operator would need to follow the process of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement conditions and Secretary of State guidance.

If she will hold discussions with Avanti West Coast on the (a) reliability and (b) speed of wifi connectivity on west coast mainline passenger railway services.

The Secretary of State and the Rail Minister met with Avanti West Coast (AWC) in January to discuss industrial action and performance. They did not specifically discuss Wi-Fi connectivity however, officials meet with AWC regularly to discuss services for passengers, including Wi-Fi. The Department is considering the feasibility of a range of technology options to improve passenger Wi-Fi services on the rail network. AWC recently completed a positive trial using laser window etching technology to improve connectivity and are exploring future use. The Department is also measuring the strength of mobile signals along the rail network to fully understand where interventions are needed, and the potential impacts. Operators are required to achieve challenging customer experience targets across a range of measures, including Wi-Fi connectivity. These standards are regularly and independently inspected via the Service Quality Regime and there are accountability and financial consequences for failure.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing adequate passenger services to Reddish South railway station.

The Department expects operators to match capacity and frequency of their services to demand, though these must also be operationally sustainable and deliver value for taxpayers. Rail North Partnership, through which the Department and Transport for the North jointly manage the contract with Northern Trains, which serves Reddish South, will assess any business case put forward, but this analysis must balance the economic and social benefits of any enhancement with the performance of existing services and the financial impact on taxpayer subsidy.

Whether her Department plans to improve Passenger Assist service for rail users in England.

We have recently invested over £10 million to enable the Rail Delivery Group to deliver the next phase of the Passenger Assist Improvement Programme. This 25-month programme will deliver a series of improvements including the capability to book a ticket, request assistance and reserve a seat in a single transaction. Importantly, it will give customers the ability to communicate directly with staff and provide a dedicated help function on the Passenger Assist App.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of Avanti West Coast’s management of Stockport railway station.

Avanti West Coast (AWC) is responsible for the day-to-day management of Stockport Station, which includes staffing, facilities management and cleaning. The Department meets with AWC regularly to discuss these responsibilities and to ensure any issues are addressed as soon as possible for passengers. Responsibility for repairs to the structure of the property lies with the station’s landlord, Network Rail. AWC works with Network Rail seeking improvements on behalf of passengers where this is required. Operators are also required to achieve customer experience targets across a range of measures, including at stations. These standards are regularly and independently inspected via the Service Quality Regime and there are accountability and financial consequences for failure.