Written questions by Patel.

With reference to the Written Statement of 4 December 2024, HCWS281 on Railway Passenger Services, what plans she has to consult (a) Members of Parliament, (b) local authorities, (c) passenger representatives and (d) business representatives before the Greater Anglia franchise is transferred into public ownership in autumn 2025.

The Written Statement, HCWS281, outlined that Greater Anglia’s services will transfer into public ownership in autumn 2025 and that an expiry notice will be issued to Greater Anglia in due course to confirm the exact date. Bringing passenger services into public ownership was a clear manifesto commitment and the Department has no plans to consult on this. Bringing these services into public ownership is an initial step towards wider rail reform, including establishing Great British Railways. The Department will set out proposals for these further, fundamental reforms in a consultation which will be launched around the turn of the year.

With reference to the Written Statement of 4 December 2024, HCWS281 on Railway Passenger Services, whether she plans to (a) improve (i) step-free access and (ii) rail infrastructure for Greater Anglia services and (b) redevelop stations on the Greater Anglia route.

The Access for All programme has delivered step free access at more than 250 stations across Britain. Ministers are carefully considering the best approach to the Access for All programme. We are unable to comment on next steps regarding specific stations including on Greater Anglia services at the moment. Greater Anglia have taken steps to improve station accessibility with their work on virtual trains and station tours and a new accessible footbridge will be installed at Stowmarket during 2025. The business planning round for 25/26 is currently underway and proposals regarding redevelopments and rail infrastructure will be reviewed with decisions made in due course.

With reference to paragraph 4.96 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, how her Department plans to allocate the additional £500 million for local roads maintenance baseline funding in the 2024-25 financial year; and by what method her Department plans to use to distribute that funding.

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network. The Government will confirm 2025/26 funding allocations to English local highway authorities, including Essex County Council, in due course.

When she plans to publish funding allocations for highways in Essex County Council for the 2025-26 financial year.

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network. The Government will confirm 2025/26 funding allocations to English local highway authorities, including Essex County Council, in due course.

If she will make an estimate of the potential impact of the time taken to determine the application for the A12 Junction 19 to Junction 25 widening scheme on (a) the economy, (b) road safety and (c) the cost of the scheme.

The Development Consent Order (DCO) application for the A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening scheme, was granted on 12 January 2024. I can confirm that the DCO was determined within the statutory timeframes.

If she will provide funding for the A12 widening scheme.

On 30 July 2024, the Secretary of State announced that she was commissioning a review of the Department’s capital spend portfolio. This review is ongoing and will support the development of our long-term strategy for transport, developing a modern and integrated network with people at its heart, ensuring that transport infrastructure can be delivered efficiently and on time. The A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening scheme is being considered as part of the capital review alongside other future road projects.

What funding she has allocated to Essex County Council for highways in each of the next five years.

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local road network. Within the Budget on 30 October, the Chancellor announced that for the 2025/26 financial year there would be a £500 million increase for local highways maintenance funding in England, an increase of nearly 50% compared to the current financial year. Funding allocations for specific local highway authorities for 2025/26, including Essex County Council, will be confirmed in due course. Funding allocations for individual local highway authorities beyond 2025/26 will be a matter for the forthcoming Spending Review.

If she will provide funding for the A120 dual carriageway scheme.

The A120 Braintree to A12 dualling scheme is part of the pipeline of projects being considered for possible delivery as part of a future Road Investment Strategy beyond 2030.

If she will provide funding to improve step-free access at railway stations.

The Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. Since its launch in 2006, the Access for All programme has delivered step free access at more than 250 stations across Great Britain. Since April 2024, Access for All projects have entered into passenger service at nine stations, with a further 25 stations scheduled to enter into passenger service by April 2025.

What funding she plans to provide to Essex County Council for highways in each of the next five years.

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local road network. To this end, we will provide authorities with funding to help them fix up to one million more potholes across England in each year of this parliament. Essex County Council will receive £34.5 million from the Department for Transport during 2024/25 to enable it to carry out its local highway maintenance responsibilities. Funding for future years is a matter for the Spending Review.

Whether she has had recent discussions with National Highways on the planned timetable for work on the A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening scheme.

On 30 July 2024, the Secretary of State announced that she was commissioning a review of the Department’s capital spend portfolio. This review will support the development of our long-term strategy for transport, developing a modern and integrated network with people at its heart, ensuring that transport infrastructure can be delivered efficiently and on time. I regularly meet with National Highways to discuss a range of matters and will continue to do so during the capital review and after.

If she will provide additional funding to National Highways for the A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening scheme.

On 30 July 2024, the Secretary of State announced that she was commissioning a review of the Department’s capital spend portfolio. This review will support the development of our long-term strategy for transport, developing a modern and integrated network with people at its heart, ensuring that transport infrastructure can be delivered efficiently and on time. The A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening scheme will be considered as part of the capital review alongside other future road projects and, as the Rt Hon Member will know, major investment decisions are a matter for the forthcoming Spending Review.

What plans she has for further funding under the Access for All scheme; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allocating such funding to provide step-free access at Marks Tey railway station.

We are carefully considering the best approach to the Access for All programme. This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.

Whether she plans to provide funding for the renovation of Witham railway station.

Funding decisions on station renovations such as Witham will be taken in due course, as part of departmental planning for 2025/26 and beyond. At this time, there are no timescales for when delivery of a Witham upgrade scheme might be possible.

What plans she has for the future of the East Anglia railway franchise.

The Government has been clear that all passenger railway services delivered by private sector companies under National Rail Contracts will be brought into public ownership by the end of this Parliament as current contracts end, train operating companies reach their contractual break point, or if contractual conditions for termination are met.

Whether she plans to announce new investment for highways in Essex.

On 30 July 2024, the Secretary of State announced that she was commissioning a review of the Department’s capital spend portfolio. This review will support the development of our long-term strategy for transport, developing a modern and integrated network with people at its heart, ensuring that transport infrastructure can be delivered efficiently and on time. Major investment decisions are a matter for the forthcoming Spending Review.