Written questions by Glover.

What powers local authorities have to restrict or prohibit the use of pavement delivery robots within their areas.

Where pavement robots currently operate, they do so in partnership with the relevant local authority.The Government announced last week that it will facilitate new trials of pavement delivery robots in new places through powers in the Regulating for Growth Bill. This will be done with a view to creating a clear, lawful route to market for pavement delivery robots which will expand services to new contexts, new areas and with new businesses. As with other trials of new technologies on our roads, such as the e-scooter trials, local leaders will decide whether they want to trial pavement delivery robots and shape how any trial operates. In the longer term, licensing powers for shared micromobility schemes in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act could be extended to pavement robots so that local leaders will always decide whether and how these vehicles can operate in their area.

What assessment she has made of the total expected cost saving and revenue generation opportunities from the reorganisation of the railway industry into Great British Railways.

The creation of Great British Railways (GBR) will reduce fragmentation and improve whole-system decision making in the rail industry. Integration of track and train is expected to lead to significant cost efficiencies. A large share of these efficiencies ...

What assessment she has made of the total expected cost saving and revenue generation opportunities from bringing train operating companies into state ownership.

Public ownership is expected to generate significant savings and revenue generation opportunities for Government. For example, once all currently franchised services have transferred, public ownership will save the taxpayer up to £110 million to £150 mill...

What assessment she has made of the impact of the 60mph default speed limit on rural roads on safety; and whether she plans to review this default.

The Department for Transport keeps speed limit policy under review as part of its wider road safety work. As set out in the Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026, the Department is updating the Setting Local Speed Limits guidance, to support au...

What information her Department holds on whether women and girls are more likely to experience abuse and harassment while (a) walking and (b) cycling, compared to using public transport.

The ‘Personal Safety on Transport’ survey research was published in February this year. The findings are based on a survey of 4,900 adults across Great Britain and show the proportion of public transport users who experienced things that undermine persona...

What steps her Department is taking to provide adequate bus services to allow people to access early years education.

The Government knows how important affordable bus services are in enabling young people to access education, work and vital services. Local authorities are responsible for assessing and meeting the transport needs of their communities, including ensuring ...

How her department is contributing to assessments on local government reorganisation.

While the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is the lead department on local government reorganisation, my department has provided input to them on transport impacts at both interim and final plan stages.

Whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of Network Rail's funding from 2024 to 2029 to prevent average asset deterioration of the railway network by maintaining the average asset (a) age and (b) perc

The settlement for Network Rail in its current funding period was provided as part of a detailed process run by the independent rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road. This process included consideration of forecast asset age and the affordability of...

Whether her Department has assessed changes in average asset age and percentage asset life used across major railway infrastructure asset categories since 2015.

Yes, since CP6 a number of improvements have been made to the measures used by Network Rail to monitor asset condition.

What vehicle type are pavement delivery robots classified as in legislation.

The Government does not have any involvement, and has not approved, any pavement delivery robot operations in the UK. The Government recognises that the current legal framework does not provide the certainty businesses need to invest, which is why we have...

What assessment they have made of the adequacy of the legal framework that pavement delivery robots operate within.

The Government does not have any involvement, and has not approved, any pavement delivery robot operations in the UK. The Government recognises that the current legal framework does not provide the certainty businesses need to invest, which is why we have...

Whether her Department has approved the use of pavement delivery robots to operate in urban areas.

The Government does not have any involvement, and has not approved, any pavement delivery robot operations in the UK. The Government recognises that the current legal framework does not provide the certainty businesses need to invest, which is why we have...

Whether she has made an estimate of the funding required by Network Rail for the control period 2029 to 2034 to recover the average asset age to 2015 levels across key asset categories.

Funding decisions for the next Funding Period (April 2029 to March 2034), including developing the evidence base for these decisions and appropriate baselines, will take place as part of Funding Period Review 2029.

Whether loss of revenue from user charges at the Dartford Crossings is accounted for in the Department's finances.

The Government's preferred financing option at this stage is the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model. Under the RAB model, ownership and operations of the Dartford Crossing would transfer to a new regulated private sector entity, which would be responsible f...

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of delivery robots operating on pavements on public safety.

The Government is aware pavement robots are being used in some towns around the country. We are committed to bringing forward legislation to ensure the safe and lawful use of micromobility vehicles when parliamentary time allows, and the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill contains powers for local leaders to control where micromobility delivery vehicles can be used in future.Safety will remain our top priority whilst considering regulation for new technology, and any new regulations will be subject to public consultation and impact assessment, including on safety, wheelchair users and visually impaired people, before they come into force.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of delivery robots on wheelchair users and visually-impaired people.

The Government is aware pavement robots are being used in some towns around the country. We are committed to bringing forward legislation to ensure the safe and lawful use of micromobility vehicles when parliamentary time allows, and the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill contains powers for local leaders to control where micromobility delivery vehicles can be used in future.Safety will remain our top priority whilst considering regulation for new technology, and any new regulations will be subject to public consultation and impact assessment, including on safety, wheelchair users and visually impaired people, before they come into force.

Whether loss of revenue from user charges at the Dartford Crossings is accounted for in the Department's finances.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Whether a new Accounting Officer Assessment for the Lower Thames Crossing will be published.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Whether her Department has considered in what way the UK's operational responsibility for providing air traffic services in the Shanwick Oceanic Control Area could help support operational trials of contrail-mitigation routing.

The Government recognises that aviation has non-CO2 impacts such as contrails which may have significant warming impacts on the climate, although significant scientific uncertainties remain. The Government has funded 14 projects as part of our Non-CO2 R&D Programme to better our understanding of aviation’s non-CO2 impacts and to identify and develop potential mitigation options. The Department also established a Contrail Impact Mitigation Task and Finish Group under the Jet Zero Taskforce which assessed the UK’s capability to undertake contrail avoidance manoeuvres as a means of reducing aviation’s non‑CO₂ climate impacts. The report highlighted that the atmospheric conditions in the North Atlantic make it prone to forming persistent warming contrails. The report was published on 17 March 2026 and one of the key recommendations from this report was for the UK to undertake large-scale trials in the North Atlantic. The Department is carefully considering all the recommendations and is currently exploring options to fund a large‑scale trial in UK controlled airspace.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of contrail-mitigation measures in reducing aviation's climate impact.

The Government recognises that aviation has non-CO2 impacts such as contrails which may have significant warming impacts on the climate, although significant scientific uncertainties remain. The Government has funded 14 projects as part of our Non-CO2 R&D Programme to better our understanding of aviation’s non-CO2 impacts and to identify and develop potential mitigation options. The Department also established a Contrail Impact Mitigation Task and Finish Group under the Jet Zero Taskforce which assessed the UK’s capability to undertake contrail avoidance manoeuvres as a means of reducing aviation’s non‑CO₂ climate impacts. The report highlighted that the atmospheric conditions in the North Atlantic make it prone to forming persistent warming contrails. The report was published on 17 March 2026 and one of the key recommendations from this report was for the UK to undertake large-scale trials in the North Atlantic. The Department is carefully considering all the recommendations and is currently exploring options to fund a large‑scale trial in UK controlled airspace.