Written questions by Kohler.

What discussions she has had with Transport for London regarding the 1,435 hours of lift closures across 244 incidents at Wimbledon Park station in 2025 due solely to a lack of trained staff, including a continuous 424-hour closure between 20 November and 8 December 2025.

Ministers and officials have regular conversations with Transport for London on a variety of issues including accessibility of their network. Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor, and TfL is responsible for managing the London Underground.

What discussions she has had with TfL on the increase in lift closures due solely to a lack of trained staff on the London Underground to 6,365 hours in 2025, compared with 6,197 hours in 2024.

Ministers and officials have regular conversations with Transport for London on a variety of issues including accessibility of their network. Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor, and TfL is responsible for managing the London Underground.

What discussions she has had with train operators on the adequacy of criteria used to determine the provision of step-free access upgrades at train stations.

The criteria used to select existing projects for delivery under the Access for All were determined by the previous government.The transition to Great British Railways will remove artificial industry separations and result in the integrated planning and delivery of programmes such as Access for All.

With reference to the Autumn Budget 2024, what the planned timetable is for payments to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

We are investing the £320 million announced at Autumn Budget 2024 to support electric vehicle uptake in the 2025/26 financial year.

With reference to the Autumn Budget 2024, what metrics her Department will use to assess the effectiveness of the funding allocated to accelerate the roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The Government continually reviews its approach to EV charging interventions, working to address barriers that need to be resolved to meet consumer needs. Our approach is underpinned by evidence, including environmental and value for money assessments of interventions, evidence from a range of sources on the market failures that require government intervention, and evidence from the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of programmes to date.More widely, we monitor the roll out of EV charging infrastructure through official chargepoint statistics, including chargepoint installations, types of chargepoint, and regional distribution.

With reference to the Autumn Budget 2024, how the funding allocated for electric vehicle charging infrastructure will be apportioned between (a) local, (b) en-route, (c) home, and (d) workplace charging.

In the Autumn Budget 2024, £320 million funding was allocated to support electric vehicle uptake in financial year 2025/26. Support available includes plug-in grants and the new Electric Car Grant, plus continued support for zero emission HGVs and infrastructure, home and workplace charging and resources for local authorities. New schemes to support cross-pavement charging, charging for NHS fleets, and helping businesses install charging points at depots have also been launched.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of lower-cost imports of electric buses from (a) China and (b) other countries on the competitiveness of UK manufacturers; and what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) procurement and (b) subsidy programmes support domestic industry while still delivering value for money.

The international market is key to spurring and driving innovation, as well as competitive pricing and enabling UK manufacturers to win orders around the world. Data gathered through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) programme suggests that UK bus manufacturers are not being undercut by international suppliers, with prices being broadly comparable. UK-based bus manufacturers have also benefitted most from the Department’s funding programmes. To support the domestic Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) industry, the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel was established in March 2025. The Expert Panel brings together industry experts and local leaders to ensure the UK remains a leader in bus manufacturing. The Expert Panel is looking at how social value can be embedded in the heart of the bus procurement process to ensure every pound of public money spent on ZEBs delivers the greatest possible benefit for our communities and the economy. Section 17 of the Subsidy Control Act prevents state subsidies being given with conditions on using domestic over imported goods or services. This means that when providing subsidies, local transport authorities cannot impose conditions to require that bus operators receiving the subsidies must buy British buses.

Whether her Department has issued guidance to (a) hospitals and (b) local health authorities on collecting consistent data on injuries linked to (i) hire and (ii) electric bikes.

The Department collects data from police forces on road casualties, including in relation to cyclists, and publishes statistics twice a year. There are no plans to extend this to include hospitals or local health authorities.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that (a) hire and (b) e-bike operators comply with safety standards.

All e-cycles used on the road, including those in shared schemes, must comply with regulatory requirements. However, while they can bring real benefits, we know that shared schemes can present safety challenges in terms of poor parking and antisocial behaviour. That’s why we are empowering our local leaders to tackle these issues through licensing.

Whether her Department is taking to steps with (a) transport and (b) safety regulators to ensure (i) public awareness campaigns, (ii) regulation and (iii) other preventative measures are in place to help reduce the incidence of injuries associated with (A) hire and (B) e-bikes.

The Government fully supports the safe and legal use of Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (“E-bikes”), whether privately owned or rented. E-bikes must comply with the UK's product safety framework and be safe before they are placed on the market. In October 2024 the Department for Business and Trade launched the “Buy Safe, Be Safe” campaign which informs the public about e-bike safety. In July this year the Product Regulation and Metrology Act received Royal Assent. It contains new powers to address product safety challenges including e-bikes. In addition, the English Devolution and Community Powers Bill includes provisions to regulate on-street micromobility services such as shared e-bike schemes. This measure will empower local leaders to have greater influence over the management of these services.

What steps she is taking to ensure that (a) insurers, (b) technology developers, (c) investigators and (d) other key stakeholders can access essential AV data for (a) real-world performance monitoring and (b) post-collision analysis.

The Department for Transport is working to implement the Automated Vehicles (AV) Act 2024, which includes provisions to enable appropriate access to AV data. As part of the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles’ AV Act Implementation Programme, work is ongoing to ensure that key stakeholders can access the data they need to support the safe deployment of self-driving technologies. This includes a recent call for evidence on the Statement of Safety Principles and consultation on protecting marketing terms, with the aim of delivering the regulatory framework in the second half of 2027. At the international level, the UK continues to contribute to the work underway at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on harmonised rules for automated driving systems. This includes provisions for a regulation on a data storage system for AVs, which will ensure that AVs record and store the key data points required for performance monitoring and post-collision analysis. The AV Act allows for conditions to be set in secondary legislation to require the sharing of data and information (including with public bodies and insurers) where it is necessary to support the safe operation of AVs. It requires arrangements to be made for monitoring and assessing the general performance of AVs, with an annual report produced. The Act also makes provisions for the investigation of incidents, ensuring that incident inspectors have the powers to access all data needed.

What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help (a) prevent and (b) disrupt modern slavery.

The DfT works collaboratively with delivery bodies to tackle modern slavery in supply chains. A DfT modern slavery working group has been in place since 2020, to help embed modern slavery commercial policies, including Cabinet Office Procurement Policy Notes and share best practice. DfT has invited a number of suppliers to complete the Modern Slavery Assessment Tool (MSAT), including its strategic suppliers.  This seeks assurances from our suppliers on the policies and procedures they have in place to help protect their workforce.The Commercial Function within DfT continues to raise awareness and build knowledge of modern slavery, through training opportunities and events.  The Group Commercial Director is the DfT Anti-Slavery Advocate and is committed to developing and promoting policies and programmes to address modern slavery in commercial activity.DfT also continues to highlight the importance of this work with its suppliers, using events as a platform to remind suppliers of the government’s commitment to mitigate modern slavery in supply chains, examples of this are through supply chain management meetings and supplier engagement opportunities.

What discussions she has had with the British Transport Police on the adequacy of its procedures for (a) identifying victims of (i) modern slavery and (ii) county lines and (b) referring them for support.

There is no place for modern slavery or county lines in our society and the British Transport Police (BTP) work to make the railway a hostile environment for criminals committing these offences and a place of safety for victims of exploitation. The BTP are having much success in their programmes to address these issues. In 2024/25 there were over 230 children safeguarded and 14 modern slavery charges secured by BTP. The BTP are one of five Police forces with a dedicated County Lines Task Force funded by the Home Office. The taskforce is an intelligence-led proactive unit focused on tackling drug supply and criminal child exploitation, working across the whole rail network in England, Scotland and Wales. I can reassure you that safeguarding and identifying victims is at the heart of the taskforce’s operations and they have dedicated safeguarding professionals embedded in the team to put support in place for vulnerable individuals. Whilst this vital work takes place year round, I would like to highlight the work the force did recently, during the national County Lines week of action which ran from 23 June – 29 June 2025. BTP’s County Lines Taskforce ran 48 operations across England, Scotland and Wales which saw 38 people offered support after being identified as victims of exploitation by drugs gangs.

Whether has had discussions with British Transport Police on the adequacy of the training available to help officers (a) identify and (b) respond to county lines exploitation.

The British Transport Police (BTP) have a comprehensive training programme in place. All new police officers and police community support officers receive input from the County Lines Taskforce safeguarding team in their initial training and the team provide training to other teams within the force when required. BTP’s County Lines safeguarding team also deliver the national County Lines coordination centre hydra training which is open to all BTP officers. They also invite partners from children’s services to attend and take part alongside them. The force also provide resources and guidance to officers on how to identify exploitation and make effective referrals.

What discussions she has had with the British Transport Police on tackling county lines.

Ministers and officials at the Department meet with the British Transport Police on a regular basis to discuss the work the force are doing to ensure the railway remains a safe environment for the public and rail staff. The BTP’s County Lines taskforce are undertaking excellent work to tackle County Lines activity on the railway. The taskforce is an intelligence-led proactive unit, focused on tackling drug supply and child exploitation, working across the whole rail network in England, Scotland and Wales.

If she will make it her policy to publish an Outcome Delivery Plan for 2025 to 2026.

The Outcome Delivery Plans are co-ordinated through the Cabinet Office and we are awaiting confirmation on whether they will be published for this year and the process and timing of this.

Whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to require transport authorities to integrate reporting tools for (a) gendered violence and (b) anti-social behaviour into transport apps.

This Government is committed to tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), and we have set out our unprecedented mission to halve it within a decade. Achieving this means concerted work on prevention and overhauling every aspect of society’s response to these devastating crimes. The Department for Transport is working with partners across government and the transport industry to play its part in achieve this mission. We know that consistency of reporting is an important issue and we intend to look at this in more detail. However, we would always encourage victims of violence and anti-social behaviour to report these incidents to the police in the usual way.

Whether she plans to expand public awareness campaigns that encourage reporting of sexual harassment on public transport.

This Government is committed to tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), and we have set out our unprecedented mission to halve it within a decade. Achieving this means concerted work on prevention and overhauling every aspect of society’s response to these devastating crimes.The Department for Transport is working with partners across government and the transport industry to play its part in achieve this mission.This includes working with the British Transport Police to encourage reporting via the 61016 text reporting number. We are also supportive of the Rail Delivery Group’s ‘Zero Tolerance Campaign’ which raises awareness of sexual harassment and encourages reporting and bystander interventions when safe to do so.We are also bringing forward measures in the Bus Services (No. 2) mandating training for staff in the bus industry on how to recognise and respond to incidents of violence against women and girls, as well as anti-social behaviour (ASB).

What assessment the Car Insurance Taskforce made of the potential impact of fraudulent insurance claims made by people who stage road traffic collisions to gain compensation on levels of car insurance premiums.

This Government committed in its manifesto to tackle the high costs of motor insurance. To deliver on this commitment, the UK Government formed a cross-government Taskforce on motor insurance, co-chaired by the Department for Transport and His Majesty’s Treasury. The Taskforce which met most recently on 28 April has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums. It will look at the increased insurance costs on consumers and the insurance industry. The Government will provide updates on the Taskforce in due course. Regarding fraudulent insurance claims, the Government is committed to tackling this threat and has worked in collaboration with the UK insurance sector to publish an insurance fraud charter. This is a voluntary agreement which aims to raise the visibility of insurance fraud, improve victim support and better detect and prevent scams, such as crash-for cash.

How much funding she plans to provide through the (a) Bus Service Operator Grant and (b) Bus Service Improvement Plan in the Spending Review 2025.

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 across the country, consisting of both Bus Service Operators Grant and Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. All future bus funding is being considered as part of the ongoing multi-year Spending Review, which provides the opportunity for the Department to assess the sector’s funding needs so that bus services are adequately funded to support the government’s missions on economic growth and overcoming barriers to opportunity.