Written questions by Holden.

What estimate she has made of the total cost to the public purse of rebranding Network Rail as Great British Railways, including expenditure and losses relating to new branding, logo replacement, signage, vehicle and train livery changes, digital and printed materials, staff uniforms, estate updates and any associated transition and implementation costs.

Great British Railways i(GBR) s not a rebranding of Network Rail. GBR will bring together track and train as a directing mind, consolidating several different rail bodies to deliver better outcomes for passengers, freight users, and taxpayers. The Department is working to develop a rollout plan for the GBR branding, with a focus on maximising opportunities to ensure value for money, such as repainting trains when they were due to be repainted by their leasing companies, and changing station signage when it is life expired.

How the criteria for the Electric Car Grant was determined; and what engagement with industry was held on this issue.

The Electric Car Grant criteria were designed to support British drivers in accessing affordable, sustainably manufactured electric vehicles. Over 35,000 drivers have benefited from this scheme to date. The grant's design was not discussed with industry during its development to avoid market distortion.Following launch, the Department has engaged closely with vehicle manufacturers and will continue to do so as the grant develops. All grants are regularly reviewed to ensure value for taxpayer's money.

What assessment she has made of the causes of driving test waiting times, including the impact of block-booking and examiner shortages; and what steps she plans to take to improve Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency performance, strengthen oversight of its complaints processes, and implement a recovery plan for the driving test system.

Waiting times are still high for learner drivers. Car practical test waiting times remain high due to sustained increased demand and reduced learner driver confidence in the availability of driving tests. This has contributed to some learners choosing to book their test much earlier in their learning journey before having had any lessons.On the 12 November, the Secretary of State for Transport, updated the Transport Select Committee on the government’s ongoing response to high driving test waiting times.In the coming months, DVSA will:Change the booking service to allow only learner car drivers to book and manage their testsIntroduce a limit on the number of times a learner car driver can move or swap a test to twice and also limit the area they can move a test to once booked.Make use of Ministry of Defence (MOD) driving examiners for up to 12 months to help tackle driving test waiting times.Since July last year, DVSA has recruited and trained 344 driving examiners who are now in post and delivering driving tests. However, 118 prospective driving examiners failed or resigned during training. Currently, there are 71 people in training, 63 booked onto a future course and 79 applicants who have received offers from DVSADespite DVSA’s recruitment efforts, the number of full-time equivalent driving examiners has only increased gradually since July 2024 (1,439) with net increase of 46 full-time equivalent driving examiners in October 2025 (1,485).DVSA has a robust complaints process in place. Complainants can ask DVSA to pass their complaint to an independent complaints assessor if they have been through the final stage of the Agency’s complaints process and are not happy its response.

Pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2025, to Question 77640, on Road Traffic Control: Oxford, if he will publish the data sharing contract.

Such data sharing contracts are not routinely published and there are no plans to do so.

Whether she plans to reform the regulation of driving instructor training, including the Official Register of Driving Instructor Training (ORDIT), to introduce minimum entry standards and protect trainees from misleading training packages and unfair franchise contracts.

This year, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) established the Car Driver Training and Testing Forum, which brings together trade and industry partners to work collaboratively on improving the driver instructor training and testing profession. The forum has created several improvement workstreams, one of which is exploring options for the future of the Official Register of Driving Instructor Training (ORDIT) scheme. DVSA does not regulate driving schools or franchise agreements; these remain private contractual matters between individuals and providers. However, DVSA provides guidance on this on GOV.uk at Driving instructor associations and organisations - GOV.UK, including the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) register guide Approved driving instructor (ADI) register guide - GOV.UK. All potential ADIs sign a declaration confirming they have read and understood this guidance. While DVSA does not directly regulate franchise arrangements, the Agency encourages ADIs to join recognised ADI associations and organisations. These bodies are experienced in supporting instructors to make informed decisions about training and franchise agreements and ensure their interests are represented in industry discussions.

Whether she plans to provide mechanisms for (a) local authorities and (b) Transport for London to challenge service decisions made by Great British Railways that affect their areas.

GBR will be required to consult Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) where decisions on passenger services or rail infrastructure could have a significant impact on their areas. GBR will also have regard to Local Transport Plans and the Mayor of London’s Transport Strategy to ensure local priorities are considered. Alongside this, GBR will agree partnerships with Mayoral Strategic Authorities, bringing local influence into railway planning. This collaborative approach is designed to maintain regular communication and a shared understanding of trade-offs. In addition, the Bill also establishes the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) as a robust and independent appeals body, providing a clear route for appeal of GBR’s access and charging decisions.

Whether she plans to publish a statement of financial relationship between Great British Railways and the Department for Transport, including arrangements with devolved administrations.

Relevant GBR financial information will be published in due course as officials continue to work with industry partners to ensure that the sector’s financial model is best placed to deliver change.

Pursuant to the Answers of 20 October 2025 to Question 78714 and of 30 October 2025 to Question 84271 on Railways: Tickets, whether the Department considers current participation levels in the Digital Pay As You Go trials in (a) Yorkshire and (b) the East Midlands to be sufficient to draw conclusions about the scheme’s effectiveness.

The Digital Pay As You Go trials are an opportunity for passengers to test cutting-edge technology and benefit from simpler, more flexible tickets. We have had good engagement from passengers, with 2,214 participants signed up across the three live trials.The Department and delivery partners are pushing for as close to 1000 participants per trial as possible. We are working with Ipsos, an independent research agency, to effectively evaluate passenger views and participation rates of all trials. The findings from this evaluation will underpin Ministerial decisions on the next steps for any future schemes.

How much local authorities made in profit from (a) traffic junction enforcement, (b) clean air zones and (c) congestion charging in 2024-25.

The Department for Transport does not hold this data.

What meetings her Department has held with motorcycling organisations on the forthcoming Integrated National Transport Strategy; and if she will recognise motorcycling as a means of transport for access to work and education.

The Department has conducted extensive engagement with stakeholders and members of the public to inform the strategy and has heard directly from motorcyclists and motorcycle representative groups including Motorcycle Action Group through our Call for Ideas and Regional Roadshow. The insights gathered through our engagement activities have been analysed and are directly informing the strategy as it continues to evolve. Officials also met bilaterally with the Motorcycle Action Group on 29 August 2025 to respond to a range of matters of concern to motorcyclists which included an update on the development of the strategy. An update was also provided at the most recent meeting of the officials led Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group on 15 September, chaired by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.

With reference to the Answer of 31 October 2025 to Question HL11224 on Railways: Wifi, if she will publish that analysis.

The analysis of the costs and benefits of both Low Earth Orbit satellite technology and trackside infrastructure was conducted in the context of the Spending Review and was about prioritisation of potential projects and programmes. We would not ordinarily release this to protect the commercial interests of government and its suppliers. However, we are preparing a Business Case for LEO which we will publish in due course.

How much expenditure has been incurred for the new Network Rail clock design to date; and what is the budget for the programme as a whole.

Network Rail’s new clock design was the subject of an international competition launched in April 2023 under the previous Government. The winning team received £35,000 for the purchase of the Intellectual Property rights to the design, and runners up shared an additional £35,000. Installation of the one-off clock at London Bridge cost Network Rail £120,000 and is the largest circular digital screen on the UK rail network – sized to provide clear visibility for 200,000 passengers passing it each day. The rollout of the clock to other stations has been delivered as part of a wider programme of accessibility and inclusivity upgrades to customer information systems, costing Network Rail £330,000. Network Rail do not have a separated estimate of cost for the specific clock element of this.

Which bodies Great British Railways will be statutorily required to consult when proposing service or infrastructure changes.

Government is bringing track and train together in Great British Railways (GBR), which will be a directing mind able to take long-term strategic decisions to make the best use of the network and which will deliver benefits for passengers, freight users and taxpayers. GBR will set out their plans for passenger services and infrastructure in an Integrated Business Plan, which the Secretary of State will approve. When GBR proposes to update its business plan, under the Railways Bill it will be required to consult the Office of Rail and Road and Passenger Watchdog, as well as seek approval from the Secretary of State. This will ensure that there is expert, third party scrutiny on proposed material updates before delivery changes.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2025 to Question 84703 on Transport: Research, how many bids by UK academics to the NSF–UKRI Lead Agency Opportunity her Department has supported with letters of endorsement since that scheme’s launch.

Since the launch of the National Science Foundation – UKRI Lead Agency Opportunity, the Department for Transport has provided one letter of support for a bid by UK academics. The scheme is administered by UK Research and Innovation, and the Department is not routinely involved in the application process.

What the timetable is for the approval and delivery of Lower Thames Crossing in light of the change of responsibilities for the project.

As with all Tier 1 projects, the Lower Thames Crossing is governed and funded by Government, with delivery by National Highways. The Development Consent Order was approved in March 2025 and enabling works will begin this year. Government is exploring funding options, including private finance, to support mid 2030s completion.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2025 to Question 84275, how much highways maintenance funding was provided to local authorities in aggregate in real terms in each year since 2019-20, including 2025-26.

Funding YearTotal in real terms (2024 to 2025 millions of £)Total in cash terms (millions of £)2019 to 20201,5751,2782020 to 20212,0171,7222021 to 20221,6361,4002022 to 20231,5121,3852023 to 20241,7991,7352024 to 20251,5351,5352025 to 20261,912*1,963Total11,98611,018 The above table includes highways maintenance capital funding from the Department for Transport, including the Highways Maintenance Block, Integrated Transport Block, Potholes Funding, Network North, the Local Transport Grant, and highways funding that has been consolidated into City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) between 2022/23 to 2024/25. The figures also include funding from the Pothole Action Fund, the Wet Weather Resilience Fund, and the Traffic Signals Maintenance Scheme. The £226 million Local Transport Grant of 2025/26 is for local transport and maintenance more widely. Integrated Transport Block funding is for local transport maintenance and enhancements. *For 2025/26, the figures are exclusive of baseline highways maintenance funding and Integrated Transport Block funding that has been consolidated into CRSTS funding. The Department has not split out how much of this funding is for highways maintenance as, by the nature of the funding, it is consolidated transport funding for local authorities to decide how best to use. The real terms figure provided for 2025/26 would thus be higher if it were possible to include these figures. These figures are presented in real terms and adjusted for inflation using 2024-25 prices. GDP deflators as of 30 September 2025 were used.

What meetings her Department has held with motorcycling organisations on the forthcoming Road Safety Strategy; and if she will announce measures to support motorcycle safety.

The National Motorcyclists Council attended a Ministerial road safety roundtable on 7 October 2024 which commenced external engagement on a future road safety strategy. Officials met bilaterally with the Motorcycle Action Group on 29 August 2025 to respond to a range of matters of concern to motorcyclists which included a brief update on the development of the Road Safety Strategy. An update was also provided at the most recent meeting of the officials led Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group on 15 September, chaired by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.

Pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2025, to Question 84335, on Electric Vehicles: Grants, which Chinese firms have received funding under the scheme in 2025-26.

The Department cannot provide breakdown of orders per individual manufacturer due to commercial sensitivity. A list of vehicles eligible for grant support is available on Gov.UK.

What performance indicators Great British Railways will be required to publish on (a) punctuality, (b) reliability and (c) overcrowding.

In March this year, we made station-specific performance information available to passengers for the first time. This shows reliability and punctuality at each station. GBR will be transparent in the operation of its passenger services. It will be for GBR, through its integrated business plan, which will be signed off by the Transport Secretary, to develop a view on how its key performance indicators are expressed. These will then be tested by the Office of Rail and Road. The Office of Rail and Road will have a role in monitoring GBR's performance and advising the Transport Secretary.

What steps she plans to take to ensure that track access charges for operators outside Great British Railways will not be increased to offset the absence of access charges for Great British Railways-operated services or for other purposes during the court of their licenses.

The Government is fundamentally reforming the track access charging framework to remove complexities and the complicated ‘money go round’ that would have required GBR to charge itself for using its own infrastructure. GBR will establish and consult on a new fairer simpler charging framework. The ORR will be a statutory consultee and in its role as a robust, independent appeals body hold GBR’s decisions under the framework to account. To ensure transparency, GBR will need to carry out and publish a cost apportionment process which will account for the cost of providing rail infrastructure and the costs of its own passenger services using GBR managed infrastructure had they been subject to charges.