Written questions by Gill.

Pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2026 to question 117378, what evidence her Department submitted to the Office for National Statistics' consultation regarding possible changes to the standard for ethnicity categories, including in relation to the recording of Sikhs and Jewish people as ethnic groups.

The Department for Transport submitted no evidence to the Office for National Statistics’ formal consultation regarding views on whether additional tick-box response options are required for a new ethnicity harmonised standard. The Department contributed evidence at an earlier stage, providing data on the detailed responses provided by respondents to the National Travel Survey who had selected an ‘other’ ethnic background category and were subsequently asked how they would describe themselves.

Whether her Department was invited by the Office for National Statistics to provide evidence or input into its review of the ethnicity harmonised standard.

The Department for Transport was invited by the Office for National Statistics, via the Government Statistical Service harmonisation champions network, to respond to a consultation regarding possible changes to the standard for ethnicity categories.

What support she is providing for the (a) provision and (b) enhancement of community transport.

The Government recognises the vital role community transport operators play in connecting people with their communities, enabling access to employment, education and other essential services such as healthcare.The Department makes available up to £3.8 million each year through the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) to community transport operators. An uplift of 60% has been added to BSOG claims for community transport operators until 31 March 2026. This means community transport operators will receive £1.60 for every £1 claimed, reflecting the increased costs faced by the sector.

What steps she is taking to include passenger voice in the governance of Great British Railways.

Great British Railways will be held to account for railway performance and customer experience. The Railways Bill will establish a powerful voice for passengers, the Passenger Watchdog, to independently monitor passenger experience, advocate for passengers and to hold GBR and other operators to account together with ORR. When developing its Integrated Business Plan, GBR will be required to consult with the Passenger Watchdog and will have an ongoing general duty to consider the interests of passengers and the needs of passengers with disabilities.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Greater Birmingham and Solihull: Growth Deal, published on 7 July 2014, how much funding was (a) allocated and (b) provided for the Hagley Road SPRINT project.

Hagley Road Sprint was included in West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) £1.05bn City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) programme for the years 2022/23 to 2026/27. CRSTS is a devolved funding programme and it is for local leaders to decide how to allocate this funding to address their local transport priorities. WMCA has also been allocated a £2.4bn Transport for City Region (TCR) Settlement for the years 2027/28 to 2031/32 to support them to drive growth, improve access to opportunities and decarbonise their transport infrastructure.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing specific (a) Sikh and (b) Jewish options for a person’s ethnic group in data collection conducted by her Department.

There are no plans for the Department for Transport to assess the potential merits of introducing specific (a) Sikh and (b) Jewish options for a person’s ethnic group as part of data collection. For analytical data collection, the Department follows Office for National Statistics guidance on how to capture personal characteristics and ethnic group data choices are aligned to the Civil Service wide NOVA Functional Reference Model.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of establishing a dedicated Road Safety Investigation Branch to (a) investigate road deaths and incidents and (b) recommend necessary improvements.

Improving road safety is a key priority. Injuries and fatalities from road collisions caused by driving are unacceptable, and this Government is working hard to prevent these tragedies for all road users. The Department is continuing to review potential future road safety interventions and available options to increase the overall safety of our roads. We are committed to delivering a new Road Safety Strategy – the first in over a decade - and will set out next steps on this in due course.

What resources and support are available to people who are d/Deaf (a) in preparation for and (b) during their driving (i) theory and (ii) practical tests.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) works with publishing partners, the Stationary Office, to publish The Highway Code and other materials to help people when learning to drive. The DVSA wants the content it produces to be as accessible as possible to everyone.When booking a theory or practical test, candidates are advised to say if they have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition.DVSA has recently worked with Cabinet Office to identify how the customer journey can be improved for d/Deaf candidates working towards their theory test. As a result, DVSA will be introducing improvements to British Sign Language (BSL) learning, theory test content, the theory test booking journey (including using BSL), and the experience at the theory test centre.Candidates can already take their theory test in BSL if they are d/Deaf or have a hearing impairment; a BSL video appears on the screen next to the questions and answers.Other options for theory test candidates include:having a sign language interpreter or lip speaker with them during the testusing a listening aid (hearing loop)It usually helps BSL users to learn their theory with a d/Deaf-aware driving instructor. The Disabled Driving Instructors association can help d/Deaf people with learning to drive and can be accessed at: www.disabilitydrivinginstructors.com/driving-advice/hearing-difficultiesWhen taking a car practical driving test, candidates can use a BSL interpreter, who can also be their driving instructor.When taking the test, the driving examiner can use prompt cards to support a candidate that is d/Deaf or has hearing loss. These prompt cards give short written instructions and diagrams, so candidates know what they need to do.These prompt cards are published on GOV.UK so learners can familiarise themselves with them before the test, and so that driving instructors can use them as part of their training or mock tests. Driving tests: prompt cards to support learner drivers who are deaf - GOV.UK.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) practical and (b) theory driving (i) lessons and (ii) tests are accessible for people who are d/Deaf.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) works with publishing partners, the Stationary Office, to publish The Highway Code and other materials to help people when learning to drive. The DVSA wants the content it produces to be as accessible as possible to everyone.When booking a theory or practical test, candidates are advised to say if they have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition.DVSA has recently worked with Cabinet Office to identify how the customer journey can be improved for d/Deaf candidates working towards their theory test. As a result, DVSA will be introducing improvements to British Sign Language (BSL) learning, theory test content, the theory test booking journey (including using BSL), and the experience at the theory test centre.Candidates can already take their theory test in BSL if they are d/Deaf or have a hearing impairment; a BSL video appears on the screen next to the questions and answers.Other options for theory test candidates include:having a sign language interpreter or lip speaker with them during the testusing a listening aid (hearing loop)It usually helps BSL users to learn their theory with a d/Deaf-aware driving instructor. The Disabled Driving Instructors association can help d/Deaf people with learning to drive and can be accessed at: www.disabilitydrivinginstructors.com/driving-advice/hearing-difficultiesWhen taking a car practical driving test, candidates can use a BSL interpreter, who can also be their driving instructor.When taking the test, the driving examiner can use prompt cards to support a candidate that is d/Deaf or has hearing loss. These prompt cards give short written instructions and diagrams, so candidates know what they need to do.These prompt cards are published on GOV.UK so learners can familiarise themselves with them before the test, and so that driving instructors can use them as part of their training or mock tests. Driving tests: prompt cards to support learner drivers who are deaf - GOV.UK.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of restoring Birmingham’s Cross City service to four trains per hour on the economy.

West Midlands Trains (WMT) are working on the feasibility of increasing CrossCity line services where the infrastructure allows, and the business case for such an increase will be expected to include the impact on passengers, taxpayers and the economy.

Will she make an assessment of the potential merits of delivering the next stage of the Midlands Rail Hub.

Midlands Rail Hub would kickstart economic growth and break down barriers to opportunity by upgrading connectivity and reliability, and last year £123m was committed to design its first phase. In December, the Chancellor launched the second stage of the Spending Review. All infrastructure investment projects are subject to the outcome of the Spending Review, including the next stage of the Midlands Rail Hub.

What the average waiting time for driving tests is in Birmingham, Edgbaston constituency.

The table below shows the average waiting time for driving test centres that serve customers living in the Edgbaston constituency, as of the 17 March 2025. Driving test centreAverage waiting time as of the 17 March 2025 (in weeks).Birmingham (Kings Heath)24Birmingham (South Yardley)24Birmingham (Shirley)24Birmingham (Garretts Green)24Birmingham (Kingstanding)24 The current national average for driving tests as of February 2025 is 21.3 weeks.

Whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of requiring electric bike users to (a) have a number plate and (b) be insured.

The Government has no intention of requiring cyclists, including those who ride Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles, to display number plates or to have insurance. This would require a national registration scheme for all cycles which would be complex and expensive to design and administer. It would also be likely to lead to a significant reduction in the number of people cycling, which would have negative health and environmental consequences. The Government believes that insurance for cycling should remain a matter of personal choice. Cyclists who are not insured are liable for the consequences of their actions should these result in injury or damages to others.