Written questions by Holden.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82402 on Airports: Business Rates, what the rateable value is of each airport that may be uprated; what the proposed revaluation from the Valuation Office Agency is for each airport; and which airports the Valuation Office Agency is receiving ongoing representations relating to.

Due to legislation protecting taxpayer confidentiality, the VOA is unable to disclose information about individual ratepayers or properties; this also includes proposed rateable values. The VOA are currently working on a revaluation of all non-domestic properties. This will come into effect on 1 April 2026, with draft valuations published by the end of this year. The VOA have been engaging with representatives from the airports industry, including all civil airports in England and Wales, and held discussions with Airports UK.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October to Question 78690 on Automatic Number Plate Recognition, whether his Department plans to change rules on the use of automatic number plate recognition in municipal car parks.

The use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), or indeed any surveillance technology, as the sole means of enforcement of parking contraventions by local authorities was restricted by the Deregulation Act 2015.The government has received advice from the Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London Committee (PATROL), along with the British Parking Association and the Local Government Association, which calls for the granting of ANPR powers to local councils for civil parking enforcement.The Government has no plans to amend these restrictions as the current ruling ensures non-compliant motorists are made aware that they are contravening parking restrictions at the time of the contravention.

What discussions he has had with the European Commission on securing exemptions from the Schengen 90/180-day rule for UK (a) road haulage and (b) touring logistics professionals.

The UK and the EU allow for visa-free short-term travel in line with their respective arrangements for third country nationals. UK nationals can travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period; this is standard for third countries travelling visa-free to the EU. The Government will continue to listen to concerns raised by sectors affected by these rules and will advocate for UK nationals abroad.

How many people were employed in the automotive manufacturing sector on (a) 4 July 2024 and (b) the most recent date for which data is available.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 27th October is attached.

Whether the full scheme costs for all Strategic Road Network projects will be published in the final Road Investment Strategy 3 document.

The third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) will be published in March 2026 and will include a total funding line for all enhancements to the strategic road network to be delivered during the period 2026-2031.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82408 on Railways: Public Ownership, what the targets are for (a) punctuality, (b) reliability, (c) service quality and (d) customer satisfaction for GA Trains Limited; and when her Department plans to (i) first and (ii) subsequently publish performance updates.

GA Trains Limited took over ownership of operations on the Greater Anglia route on 12 October 2025 and is now in its transitional phase to embed the new Services Agreement requirements. During this transitional phase GA Trains Limited will continue to publish information on performance against targets for punctuality, reliability, service quality and customer satisfaction that were used prior to the transfer before moving to the revised targets required under the Services Agreement. Performance will be reported and published in a periodic and moving annual average basis.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82734 on Railways: Industrial Disputes, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of industrial action relating to new technology payments for ticket scanning on passengers.

It is for a train operator, as employer, to negotiate terms and conditions that are fair to staff and affordable for taxpayers. Operators have kept officials informed on the progress of their negotiations with the RMT on this matter.CrossCountry and RMT recently reached agreement on a number of issues in dispute including this one. Consequently, the RMT suspended industrial action on 18 October and 1 November.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to benefit in kind taxation for vehicles provided through Employee Car Ownership Schemes on retired scheme participants; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a (a) grandfathering provision and (b) exemption for existing retirees to avoid retrospective taxation.

At Autumn Budget 2024 the Government announced plans to change the legislation around Employee Car Ownership Schemes (ECOS), to prevent them being used by employers to circumvent the employee company car tax (CCT) liability and the employer NICs liability. Private use of a company car is a valuable benefit to an employee, and it is right that CCT is paid on it, ensuring fairness with other taxpayers. On 21 July 2025, the Government published draft legislation to ensure employees receiving vehicles through these arrangements pay CCT. In response to industry feedback, the changes will now take effect from October 2026 rather than April 2026 as originally announced. The Government is considering feedback received as part of the technical consultation.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82740 on Electric Vehicles: Manufacturing, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Electric Car Grant on (a) new jobs created and (b) jobs secured in the automotive manufacturing sector.

The Department does not hold this information.

What steps she is taking to help ensure that passenger (a) fare data and (b) service performance from operators outside the Office of Rail and Road’s are independently verified.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is the official source of most rail fare data and service performance statistics. ORR does not publish statistics in respect of light rail/tramways, heritage railways, London Underground and Eurostar (although ORR receives some performance data from Eurostar as part of its regulation of London St. Pancras Highspeed and these are published in ORR’s Annual Report).

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78728 London, Tilbury and Southend Line: Standards, what performance targets her Department has agreed with c2c on (a) service reliability and (b) the permitted number and proportion of (i) cancellations and (ii) over-running engineering works.

Under the Services Agreement, c2c is required to publish actual performance against agreed targets on its website. This includes both punctuality (T-3) and cancellations (Stations Cancellations). c2c is currently working with its website supplier to have this data added, and we are expecting publication imminently. As further operators come into public ownership, they too will be expected to publish such data. Over-running engineering works is not a KPI that train operating companies are measured against. As noted in our previous correspondence, the Department expects c2c to collaborate closely with Network Rail to minimise the impact of any over-running engineering works and holds it to account on this. GBR is being set up precisely to ensure track and train are integrated so that issues can be managed and resolved faster across both. Ahead of GBR’s formal establishment, integrated management is being put in place in the Anglia region over the coming months.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Schengen 90/180-day rule on UK-based haulage companies operating in the European Union.

The Schengen 90/180-day immigration rule has applied since 2021 to all UK nationals (including drivers of heavy goods vehicles (HGV) and coaches) undertaking short stays for leisure and work in the Schengen area. The Schengen 90/180 limit is a fundamental part of the EU’s conditions of entry for third country nationals to its territory. As such, it is not UK Government policy. The Department for Transport is undertaking a research study to improve understanding of the effects of a) the Schengen 90/180-day limit to date, and b) preparedness for the implementation of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) on the international operations of GB-based HGV and coach businesses that hold standard international operator licences. The data is currently being processed, and the study’s findings will be published in due course.

Whether Great British Railways or the Office of Rail and Road will be responsible for (a) granting and (b) monitoring open access rail applications under the new rail structure.

The Government has consulted on establishing GBR as a new directing mind for the railway, able to take access and charging decisions in the public interest in a framework based in primary legislation. As set in the consultation, new statutory duties will ensure that GBR access decisions are transparent and accountable, enabling fair treatment for all operators wishing to access the GBR-managed network. The ORR will ensure fair access to the GBR managed network through a robust appeals process. The Government will respond to the consultation in due course.

If she will list the (a) oil refineries and (b) fuel producers which (i) manufacture sustainable aviation fuel and (ii) are developing (A) second-generation and (B) advanced sustainable aviation fuel facilities.

The only commercial scale SAF producer in the UK is P66’s Humberside Refinery. There are a wide range of SAF projects across the UK using different technologies and at different stages of development. However, much of the information on the development of fuel projects that DfT holds is commercially sensitive. Through the Advanced Fuels Fund we have awarded over £198m to 21 UK SAF projects. Information on these projects is published on gov.uk.

What recent estimate she has made of the total cost to taxpayers of the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate compliance system; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of that system on (a) emissions savings and (b) the price of new commercial vehicles for operators.

The societal and carbon impacts of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate were summarised within the cost benefit analysis published in October 2023.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of conventional (a) pothole repair and (b) resurfacing techniques on levels of carbon emissions.

The Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is determined to support local highway authorities in adopting new and innovative technologies to maintain and improve their highway networks in a way that is cost effective and reduces carbon impacts. The Department has funded Live Labs 2, a three-year, £30 million programme designed to support the local highways sector to adopt innovation and reduce its carbon impacts. Projects funded under the programme include the trialling and demonstration of sustainable materials and processes and the creation of toolkits and databases so that all local highway authorities can access findings and lessons learned from the programme. The Department is also supporting a new Carbon Leadership Programme, which will support local highway authorities in benchmarking the carbon intensity of their operations and gain insights into actions they could take to reduce carbon emissions. Where road and pothole repair forms part of a capital investment project, the Department requires a carbon management plan (CMP) (in line with the Department’s policies for retained schemes) which would include a comprehensive whole life carbon assessment, and a plan to reduce carbon across the project lifecycle in line with PAS2080 principles.

What support his Department is providing to UK companies in the (a) events and (b) logistics sectors affected by EU visa and travel restrictions under the Schengen 90/180-day rule.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) recognises the challenges UK businesses face in complying with the Schengen 90/180 day rule. I note many of these stem from the botched Brexit deal which he supported. Any changes to the rule are a matter for Member States and the EU. However, DBT publishes guidance for UK nationals travelling to the EU and EFTA countries for business purposes (Travelling to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein for work - GOV.UK). DBT will continue to listen to concerns raised by businesses affected by these rules, to advocate for UK companies abroad, and to explore mutually beneficial improvements to short-term business mobility between the UK and EU.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 65386 on VAT Treatment of Private Hire Vehicles, if she will publish the Government’s response to the consultation referred to in that Answer.

The Government continues to take the issue of VAT treatment of private hire vehicle services seriously and recognises the importance of clarity to the sector. The Government will therefore publish a response to the consultation on the VAT treatment of private hire vehicles soon.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78712 on Bus Services: Fares, what (a) modelling, (b) internal estimates, (c) tables and (d) equations her Department holds on the number of bus journeys for which passengers have paid a fare between £2 and £3 since 5 July 2024 to inform the (i) actual and (ii) projected cost of the (A) £2 and (B) £3 fare cap policy.

On 1 January, the Government introduced a £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London throughout 2025 to prevent a cliff-edge fare hike for passengers. This was initially funded by over £150 million allocated in the Autumn 2024 Budget, and the estimated cost of a £2 cap over the same period was £444 million. At the Spending Review, the Government confirmed additional funding per year to maintain and improve bus services, and extend the £3 fare cap until March 2027. The fare cap is a voluntary scheme for eligible bus operators, who are reimbursed the difference between the cap and the shadow commercial fare via fixed funding rather than on an individual journey basis. The Department gathers extensive data from bus operators, and the methodology to determine operator allocations uses historic data from 2022 and current data to predict each operator’s ticket sales for each period of the £3 fare cap. Participating operators receive details of their fixed funding allocations prior to the start of each phase of the scheme, minimising the financial risk to the Department. It is on this basis that the Department is able to determine the cost of delivering the fare cap. The Department published the final monitoring and evaluation report into the impact of the first 10 months of the £2 bus fare cap scheme on 12 February. The Department is currently undertaking an evaluation of the £3 single bus fare cap and its impacts, and this will be published once completed.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2025 to Question 77640 on Road Traffic Control: Oxford, how much income the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has received from Oxfordshire County Council for sharing vehicle registration data relating to (a) congestion charging and (b) traffic filter schemes in (i) 2024-25 and (ii) 2025-26.

The information requested is not available because the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not record data at this level of detail.