Written questions by Glover.

With reference to the commitment made by the Minister for Roads and Buses in topical questions on 11 September 2025, col 1034, when she plans to reinstate the Car Clubs: Local authority toolkit, withdrawn on 15 May 2025.

The Department is considering how best to support local authorities in ensuring a supportive environment for car sharing services in their local areas and more information will follow in due course.

How long before the commencement of publicly funded works on the Lower Thames Crossing will the Full Business Case be published.

Construction enabling works for the Lower Thames Crossing have now begun on both sides of the River Thames. Ground works are underway to create haul roads and site compounds. Site compounds are under construction and utility works have commenced with connections to these. Ecological and archaeological works are also ongoing, as are extensive pre-construction surveys.The project continues to progress through the required assurance and governance processes. The next iteration of the business case will be developed ahead of seeking private sector investment.The project follows the standard Five Case Business Case model used for government projects. Funding decisions continue to undergo rigorous scrutiny and appraisal in line with Department for Transport standards and HM Treasury Green Book principles. The economic dimension of the business case will keep assessing Value for Money alongside the other four dimensions.

How her Department is ensuring that peer-to-peer car sharing remains part of the UK’s wider strategy for decarbonisation and reducing congestion.

The Government understands the value of shared transport, including car sharing schemes, to reduce emissions and congestion, improve air quality and supports efforts to make it available to more people in the UK. The Department is actively considering the experiences shared by stakeholders along with the wider evidence base to develop appropriate measures to support the sector.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of regulatory and insurance barriers facing peer-to-peer car sharing platforms in the UK on the viability of those platforms.

I met with the car sharing sector in November to discuss challenges, opportunities, and how the Government can help create a supportive environment for car sharing services for people across the UK. As part of this, I heard about the barriers facing different kinds of car sharing services, including peer-to-peer services. My Department is actively considering the experiences shared by stakeholders along with the wider evidence base to develop appropriate measures to support the sector.

Whether her Department intends to review the policy framework for peer-to-peer car sharing.

The Minister for Local Transport met with the car sharing sector in November to discuss challenges, opportunities, and how Government can help create a supportive environment for car sharing services for people across the UK. While there is currently no national car sharing policy framework, the Department is actively considering the experiences shared by stakeholders along with the wider evidence base to develop appropriate measures to support the sector, including peer-to-peer car sharing services.

What steps her Department is taking to help support the peer-to-peer car sharing sector.

The Minister for Local Transport met with the car sharing sector in November to discuss challenges, opportunities, and how Government can help create a supportive environment for car sharing services for people across the UK. The Department is actively considering the experiences shared by stakeholders along with the wider evidence base to develop appropriate measures to support the sector, including peer-to-peer car sharing services.

Whether her Department has (a) held meetings and (b) consulted with (i) railway companies, (ii) passenger groups and (iii) other stakeholders on potential changes to the Delay Repay scheme.

Ensuring that passengers can access compensation when they face delays is a key part of delivering a fair deal for passengers on the railway. We have one of the most generous Delay Repay systems in Europe. We continue to make progress on improving the ease with which passengers can claim Delay Repay, with the majority of Department for Transport contracted train operators offering automated 'one-click' compensation, and as we do so, we will continue to engage stakeholders where appropriate. Delivering Great British Railways (GBR) offers the opportunity to go further, removing fragmentation and making it easier and more convenient for passengers to claim Delay Repay, including through the upcoming GBR website and app.

Whether she is considering revising the Delay Repay scheme's eligibility criteria.

Ensuring that passengers can access compensation when they face delays is a key part of delivering a fair deal for passengers on the railway. We have one of the most generous Delay Repay systems in Europe. We continue to make progress on improving the ease with which passengers can claim Delay Repay, with the majority of Department for Transport contracted train operators offering automated 'one-click' compensation, and as we do so, we will continue to engage stakeholders where appropriate. Delivering Great British Railways (GBR) offers the opportunity to go further, removing fragmentation and making it easier and more convenient for passengers to claim Delay Repay, including through the upcoming GBR website and app.

Whether she plans to publish policy guidance following the end of the consultation on proposed earned settlement reforms.

The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received.  This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model.Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly.  As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both economic and equality impact assessments.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to implement regulations required in the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given to the hon. Member for Slough, on 26 February 2026 to PQ UIN 114064.

With reference to the Fifty-seventh Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2022-23 on AEA Technology Pension Case, HC 1005, published on 14 June 2023, and the Third Report of the Work and Pensions Committee of 2023-24 on Defined benefit pension schemes, HC 144, published on 26 March 2024, whether he plans to provide redress for AEA Technology pension scheme members.

The issues raised by the AEA Technology pension case have been extensively considered, including by Parliamentary committees, in debates in Parliament, and by Government.AEAT members receive compensation through the Pension Protection Fund, which provides a statutory safety net for members of eligible private sector defined benefit schemes following employer insolvency.The Government is also introducing prospective increases on compensation payments from the Pension Protection Fund and Financial Assistance Scheme on pensions built up before 6 April 1997. These will be Consumer Price Index-linked (capped at 2.5%) and apply prospectively (i.e. to payments going forward) for members whose former schemes provided for these increases. AEAT members with pre‑1997 accrual will benefit from these increases.

For what reason The Pensions Ombudsman and The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman were unable to investigate the information on pension options provided by the Government and its agents to AEA Technology pension scheme members in 1996.

The Pensions Ombudsman and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman may only investigate matters within the statutory jurisdictions set by Parliament. Decisions on which bodies may investigate pension matters reflect deliberate Parliamentary choices to ensure clear roles and an effective system of redress. In the case of the AEA Technology pension scheme, specific issues have been considered by both Ombudsmen.

What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on conversion between civil partnership and marriage.

In 2019, when civil partnerships were made available for opposite-sex couples in England and Wales, the Government ran a public consultation on the future of conversion rights between marriage and civil partnerships for both opposite-sex and same-sex couples in England and Wales. We recognise the importance of people being able to formalise their relationships in the way they want, with the person they love. We are giving this matter careful consideration and will update the House in due course.

What assessment has been made, as part of the Road Safety Strategy, of the contribution of delivery work - involving e-bikes - to deaths and serious injuries.

No assessment has been made as part of the Road Safety Strategy of the contribution of delivery work, whether involving e-bikes or other modes of road transport, to deaths and injuries. The evidence base for an assessment is limited but it is estimated that approximately 1 in 3 of all road traffic fatalities UK-wide involve someone who is driving/riding for work. The announced pilot in the Road Safety Strategy of a National Work-Related Road Safety Charter for businesses that require people to drive or ride for them, will be developed in collaboration with business and industry with an aim to collect and monitor data to enable an evaluation of the pilot. The Department for Transport is commissioning research on the road behaviours of food delivery riders using e-bikes. This is expected to take about a year, and we will of course publish the findings from it.

How many train coaches that are fit for operational service are currently stored out of use in sidings.

Rolling stock that is currently on lease to train operating companies is either in operational use, undergoing routine maintenance, or in scheduled overhaul.Where leases have expired and rolling stock has been returned to its owner, responsibility for decisions relating to storage and condition rests with the rolling stock owning company. The Department does not hold information regarding the operational condition of rolling stock that is stored out of use and no longer under lease.

Whether her Department is developing an integrated safety strategy for the A34; and what discussions she has had with relevant local authorities on (a) funding and (b) delivery of safety improvements along the route.

National Highways’s route strategies are the principal evidence-gathering mechanism that informs investment planning for the Strategic Road Network. The A34 is considered as part of the ‘Solent to Midlands’ route strategy where ‘Improving Safety for All’ is a key theme and objective. There is significant consultation with local authorities and stakeholders in the formation of these strategies, and they are reviewed, and reconsulted on, as part of the development of each 5-year Road Investment Strategy cycle.

What further safety improvements are planned for the A34 beyond those currently underway; and what the planned timetable is for the completion of current works.

National Highways is currently undertaking a renewal of the road markings on the A34 from Chieveley to the M40, which is due to be completed by 18 March. It is undertaking studies into the safety performance of slip roads accessing the A34 from the communities of East Ilsley and Beedon, and this work is due to conclude later in the spring. It is also reviewing the access from Chieveley, and looking into options for flood reduction at East Ilsley.

What steps she is taking to help promote and raise awareness of measures to prevent bike thefts such as insurance, appropriate bike locks, and police bike marking.

I am aware that bike theft is a major problem and that the fear of having a bike stolen can act as a serious deterrent to those who might otherwise want to take up cycling. Active Travel England is providing funding for local authorities to introduce secure cycle parking. Ultimately, enforcement of offences concerning cycle theft and advice on preventative measures is a matter for the police.

How much it is costing the police to house dogs that have been confiscated under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

The Home Office does not hold data on the total cost to policing for housing dogs confiscated under the Dangerous Dogs Act.I would refer the hon member to the response previously provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UIN: 74382.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the ability of autonomous systems to correctly interpret traffic signals at complex or partially obscured junctions in dense urban environments.

Self-driving vehicles will be expected to operate safely and legally on GB's road infrastructure as it currently exists, just as human drivers do now. Although not essential for safe self-driving, adaptations to roads and other infrastructure have the potential to bring benefits to both conventional and self-driving vehicles. Some functions for Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) technology, for example routing services, will require connectivity. Road authorities may choose to develop their networks to maximise the benefits of new technologies.