Written questions by Timothy.

What the cost of recycling (a) cement, (b) concrete and (c) asphalt for road maintenance and construction was in each year between 2014 and 2024.

The costs involved in recycling materials used in road maintenance and construction are a commercial matter for highway authorities, and the Department does not hold data on this. The Department encourages local highway authorities to consider the use of recycled road materials where feasible.

What the carbon emissions were for Highways England in each year between 2014 and 2024.

The corporate carbon emissions for National Highways (NH), or predecessor organisations (Highways Agency and Highways England), within the period requested were as follows:YeartCO2e2013-1498,4962014-15104,9782015-1695,3732016-1789,5912017-1883,6592018-1972,3022019-2066,0462020-2157,0552021-2250,3882022-2344,8092023-2445,266

What low carbon (a) materials and (b) methods are used by Highways England in road (i) maintenance and (ii) construction.

National Highways use a wide range of low carbon materials and methods such as using bio-binders and recycled materials in asphalt, stipulating lower carbon concrete mixes in construction contracts, and investing in research and development into low-carbon materials. National Highways also follow lean construction practices and the principles of the circular economy to embed approaches that minimise emissions, including updating their standards - the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) - to include use of recycled materials. Additional information on National Highways, ambitious programme for putting roads at the heart of Britain’s net zero future can be found online (see: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/netzerohighways/) and within their ‘Net zero highways Our 2030 / 2040 / 2050 plan’.

If she will list all training that has been provided to traffic officers on managing electric vehicles in incident recovery situations in each year between 2014 and 2024.

National Highways has evolved its training programme for Traffic Officers on Electric Vehicles (EVs) as their use on the network has emerged and grown. Our training provision is aligned to the traffic officer work instructions in operation at that time, which have evolved as the number of EVs on our roads has increased. Booster Pack and Skids training was provided for all Traffic Officers from December 2020 to April 2021. This was consolidated into new starter training from May 2021. Booster Pack training is the familiarisation of the booster pack that Traffic Officer vehicles carry. This training covers component parts of the booster pack and how to apply to release electronic handbrakes in line with manufacturer guidelines. Skids training is delivered to enable Traffic Officers to put skids underneath tyres that are unable to turn when electronic handbrakes cannot be released, enabling clearance of the carriageway. Whilst neither are exclusively EV training, they are methods that can be used with EVs. Both training packages were subsequently consolidated into New Starter training for Traffic Officers as part of the continuous improvement of foundation training. EV eLearning was also rolled out to all Traffic Officers from January 2021 until November 2023, across a range of subjects, including: Overview of EV and HybridsEvaluate the Positives and Negatives of EV and HybridsIdentify Types of EV/Hybrids at scene of incident or breakdownsPotential hazards involved when dealing with EV/HybridsEV and Hybrid component partsH&S (HSE Guidance) The EV and Hybrid Awareness eLearning package covers identification of component parts of EVs, such as High Voltage batteries and their location. The EV training delivered at New Starter Course offers a higher level of awareness, including when EVs are involved in Road Traffic Collisions and sustain a higher degree of damage. Carriageway clearance, which includes EV training, is delivered to all new National Highways Traffic Officers as part of their Foundation training, this has been in place since 2018.

If she will make an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse of building (a) charging infrastructure and (b) on-road services for electric vehicles in each year between 2014 and 2024.

The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV). We will work closely with stakeholders to accelerate the rollout of chargepoints, and to ensure the benefits of the transition are felt across all of society. The On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) has awarded £83 million in grant funding to 219 LAs since 2017 and will see more than 21,300 chargepoints installed.Between 2017 and 2024, over £14m was spent by National Highways to advance the rollout of chargepoint infrastructure on the Strategic Road Network, including £4.5 million through a project to install chargepoints and £9.5m through the Energy Storage Systems project to support ultra rapid chargepoints at motorway service areas. In addition, Ofgem has run a £300m Green Recovery Scheme to accelerate network investment, including to support charging at motorway service areas.The £381m Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities in England to work with industry and transform the availability of EV charging for drivers without off-street parking. The funding backed by substantial private investment, will support the installation of at least 100,000 on-street chargepoints, ensuring the rollout continues at pace to support drivers in every part of the country.In addition, the Government confirmed in the October 2024 Budget that it wants to support the uptake of EVs by investing over £200 million in 2025/26 to accelerate EV chargepoint rollout.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23517, on Crime: Westminster Bridge, what steps her Department is taking to tackle (a) unlawful parking and (b) unlicensed pedicabs on Westminster Bridge; and if she will initiate discussions with the relevant responsible authority.

Westminster Bridge is owned and managed by Transport for London (TfL). Ministers and officials have regular conversations with TfL on a variety of issues but decisions about unlawful parking and unlicenced pedicabs on Westminster Bridge are solely for them to make. However, the Department for Transport has recognised the need to regulate the Pedicabs industry in London through the passing of the Pedicabs (London) Act 2024. This legislation will be applied through regulations that TfL are currently consulting on until 7 March 2025.

How many trees have been planted by Highways England in each year between 2014 and 2024; and what the cost to the public purse was of this work.

National Highways (NH) does not keep a central record of the number of trees they have planted across England in any given year. However, as outlined in their ‘Net zero highways: our 2030 / 2040 / 2050 plan’, NH aims to plant at least 3 million trees by 2030 (in addition to the trees planted as ‘essential mitigation’ for projects).

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23517 on Crime: Westminster Bridge, which public bodies are responsible for law enforcement in relation to (a) unlawful gambling, (b) unlawful street vendors, (c) red line parking and (d) unlicensed pedicabs on Westminster Bridge.

Localised incidents of illegal gambling are the responsibility of the relevant licensing authority and relevant police force. In the case of Westminster Bridge, this is Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police. The police are able to ask street vendors to show their licence. Westminster Bridge is on the Transport for London Road Network and enforcement action against illegally parked vehicles there is a matter for Transport for London (TfL). The Pedicabs (London) Act 2024 conferred powers onto TfL to regulate London’s pedicab industry for the first time, and TfL has now begun the process of consulting on the proposed regulations.

What discussions his Department has had with (a) Highways England and (b) Distribution Network Operators on steps to accelerate the upgrades to substations near charging points on (i) motorways and (ii) A roads.

Government is committed to accelerating the rollout of EV charging infrastructure to support long journeys in line with ambitions for a zero emission car, van and HGV fleet. Access to a comprehensive ultra-rapid chargepoint network will enable more consumers to confidently purchase electric vehicles. There has been good progress on chargepoints on our Strategic Road Network (SRN), covering motorways and major A Roads in England. There are now over 4,500 rapid and ultra rapid chargers within one mile of the strategic road network, a major increase since January 2022 (Zapmap). Within this, there are over 1,100 open-access rapid and ultra-rapid chargepoints (industry data) at motorway service areas in England, which is an over 40% increase in the last year. Government is taking a range of actions to support improvements in charging infrastructure on the SRN, including to address gaps in the network, and has been engaging closely with industry, including distribution network operators (DNOs). This includes working with Ofgem and distribution network operators to develop a new, more affordable, approach so power capacity use at charging sites can be increased over time in line with demand, and on the Green Recovery Scheme, a £300m scheme to accelerate network investment. Government has worked with National Highways to deliver a joint Energy Storage Systems (ESS) project (£11m) to fund batteries, and on a £70m pilot scheme to part-fund grid upgrades, both to support charging at motorway sites.

If she will make an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse for Highways England to decarbonise (a) internal operations by 2030, (b) road maintenance and construction by 2040, and (c) travel on roads by 2050.

The draft third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3), which will cover five years from April 2026 to March 2031, will be published in due course. This will set out the Government’s objectives for the Strategic Road Network and the funding available. This includes in relation to National Highways’ climate obligations and commitments.

How many electric vehicle pilots were administered by Highways England in each year between 2014 and 2024; and what the cost to the public purse was per pilot.

National Highways has an electric vehicle pilot working group. It has undertaken 3 electric vehicle trials as follows: 2023 – present: £337,382.832024 – present: £453,487.402024 – present: £16,206.05 The first two pilot projects listed were supported via the National Highways designated funds programme to support its commitment to progress towards a zero-emission fleet. The third pilot was provided as a business demonstrator, provided on a loan basis by the vehicle manufacturer.

If she will list all (a) start and (b) end dates for lease agreements held by Highways England for their vehicle fleet.

National Highways does not currently have any lease agreements for vehicles in place for its vehicle fleet.

If she will make an estimate of the number and proportion of Highways England vehicles that were (a) petrol, (b) diesel, (c) hydrogen, (d) hybrid, (e) plug-in hybrid and (f) fully electric in each year between 2014 and 2024.

National Highways keeps records of the vehicles that make up its fleet; the breakdown of vehicle fuel type between 2014 and 2024 can be found in the table below. Vehicle TypeYearPetrolDieselHydrogenHybridPlug-in HybridFully Electric20140685000020150717000020160730000120170755000120180784000120190826003512020083300312192021083300440202022076200616392023059700811572024046000883132 National Highways have an ambitious plan for their non-traffic officer vehicles to be 100% electric by 2027, with traffic officer vehicles to be 100% electric by 2030 (as laid out in their Net zero highways: our 2030 / 2040 / 2050 plan).

What proportion of lighting on (a) motorways and (b) A roads has been replaced with LEDs in each year between 2014 and 2024; and what the cost to the public purse was of this work.

The answer could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

What industrial disputes are ongoing within (a) their Department and (b) each of the arm’s length bodies connected to their Department; how many (i) staff and (ii) contractors are involved in each dispute; what the form of industrial action is in each dispute; which recognised trade union is involved in each dispute; what the substantive matter is that is being disputed in each case; and what steps he plans to take to end each dispute.

No recognised trade union currently holds a mandate to call industrial action in the Department for Transport or its Executive Agencies.Members of PCS and Prospect unions in the Civil Aviation Authority have voted to take industrial action in a dispute over pay. The CAA is a statutory corporation and a public corporation of the Department for Transport. The number of staff potentially involved in the dispute is approximately 1,600, although it is estimated that 22% of staff are members of these unions.PCS has called for a two-day strike commencing on 16 January followed by an overtime ban and work to rule.Prospect has called for an overtime ban and work to rule commencing on 20 January.Ministers look forward to a speedy resolution of this dispute and note that discussions between CAA management and unions are continuing. The pay of employees of the CAA is wholly a matter for the organisation itself.

Whether she plans to decolonise the (a) artwork and (b) heritage assets in (i) her Department, (ii) each of its arm’s length bodies and (iii) railway stations.

The Department borrows art from the Government Art Collection and does not own artwork. As separate legal entities, the responsibility for creating policy and guidance for artwork sits with each individual Arm’s Length Body, rather than with the Department.

On what statutory basis the Special Escort Group is able to disapply (a) highways and (b) speeding restrictions; and whether she has a statutory role in this process.

The Special Escort Group have the same road traffic exemptions and powers to stop and direct traffic as any other uniformed police officers, where necessary in the execution of their duty.

What discussions she has had with (a) Stagecoach and (b) Stephensons on the frequency of buses in (i) England, (ii) the East of England and (iii) Suffolk.

The Department for Transport meets regularly with stakeholders, including bus operators, to discuss policy relating to local bus services.

What his planned timescale is for (a) commencing and (b) completing upgrades to Ely and Haughley junctions.

This government is committed to delivering economic growth, and projects such as the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement and upgrades to Haughley Junction have the potential to contribute to this. While the previous government made public statements of support for both projects, no funding was provided to allow either to progress. The Chancellor has been clear about the state of the nation's finances and has launched a multi-year Spending Review. Decisions and timescales about individual projects will be informed by the review process and confirmed in due course.

What data her Department holds on the number of passenger complaints for each railway franchise in each of the last 10 years.

Information on the number of passenger complaints for each railway franchise can be found online at: https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/passenger-experience/passenger-rail-service-complaints/table-4100-complaints-closed-by-operator/ . Note that this table provides information based on the number of passenger complaints closed by each operator. The time series for this data set begins in the financial year April 2016 to March 2017.