Written questions by Wilson.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the building of the third runway at Heathrow on flights from non-London airports.

We are currently reviewing the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) and plan to consult on a revised ANPS in July 2026. The Department also plans to publish updated aviation passenger forecasts alongside the consultation. These forecasts will take account of the potential impact of the building of a third runway at Heathrow on flights from non-London airports. As part of the review of the ANPS, the Department is also considering domestic connectivity from Heathrow.

What analysis her Department has undertaken on the potential impact of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme expansion to maritime on the competitiveness of Northern Irish ports in attracting cruise business.

The domestic expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will only include emissions from international journeys, including cruises, produced while at berth in UK ports. This means, as outlined in the UK ETS expansion to domestic maritime Impact Assessment, that there is not expected to be any net loss of competitiveness for international cruise visits to UK ports relative to ports in the European Economic Area, where these emissions are already in scope of the EU ETS. As such, the impact is expected to be minimal.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that the proposed expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to international maritime voyages is not in addition to the International Maritime Organisation’s expected rules.

Addressing international emissions from shipping is critical and it is important action is taken globally through the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Government firmly supported adoption of a global market-based measure, the IMO Net-Zero Framework, last autumn and is disappointed the decision has been postponed. We continue to work with other IMO Member States to secure adoption. The Government also wants to ensure decarbonisation continues here in the UK and has proposed to expand the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to emissions from international voyages from 2028. If the IMO Net-Zero Framework is adopted, the Government will review the scope of the UK ETS to assess the effectiveness and fairness of the system for operators as set out in the consultation on the proposed expansion of UK ETS to emissions from international voyages from 2028 published in November 2025.

What discussions her Department has had with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on prioritising access to the national grid for port electrification to support ports who wish to offer onshore power supply connection to cruise line customers.

Reforming the connections process and investing in the grid is a key Government priority. This includes reforms that are expected to deprioritise over half of the existing queue based on readiness and strategic alignment with our strategy as set out in Clean Power 2030. Department for Transport ministers and officials meet regularly with their counterparts in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. These include discussions on the significance of getting sufficient grid capacity to electrify ports, for cruise and ferries to use shore power and policy options to accelerate connection dates for strategic demand customers, such as critical port sites. This is informed by the Department for Transport call for evidence on Net Zero Ports, published in March 2025, which posed questions on managing future energy demand at ports.

What steps her Department is taking to provide certainty to industry in relation to the expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime.

In November, the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Authority published the main Authority Response to the 2024 consultation detailing how the UK ETS will expand to the maritime sector. This main Authority Response included final policy details ahead of implementation next year. The Authority is directly engaging with the sector to ensure the details are understood, including by hosting a webinar which will be an opportunity for stakeholders to ask questions. We are working closely with the sector as part of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Authority to ensure that maritime operators will be sufficiently prepared to join UK ETS from July next year. The Environment Agency, who will regulate the majority of operators, are running a voluntary onboarding period from next month which will help the sector engage with the ETS ahead of July and give operators extra time to get familiar with how it works. Additionally, the Authority will allow for ‘double-surrender’ for maritime operators for the first two scheme years, giving maritime operators extra time and further opportunity to familiarise themselves with UK ETS and the digital systems. Guidance will be provided to address sector-specific requirements and support participants to meet their UK ETS obligations.

What progress her Department has made on supporting the maritime sector to (a) decarbonise and (b) transition to clean fuels and technologies.

In March, the Department published the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy, which sets a pathway to zero emissions for the domestic shipping sector and sets out the policies we will implement to support this transition. This strategy provides certainty and allows the sector to unlock the private investment required to transition to clean fuels and technologies. We are delivering on the commitments we set out to the maritime sector with the UK Emissions Trading Scheme expanding to maritime from next year, and we will be consulting on domestic fuel regulations which will limit the greenhouse gas intensity of maritime fuels. To further support transition to fuels and technologies, I announced a further £448m of R&D funding for UK SHORE which is accelerating maritime decarbonisation through targeted R&D investment, funding projects across the UK from demonstrations and commercial trials to scientific research and feasibility studies. Internationally, the UK will work with others to drive forward global maritime decarbonisation efforts and provide industry with the certainty it needs.

What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to (a) support careers in the maritime sector for young people and (b) create (i) green jobs for existing workers and (ii) high-quality jobs in coastal communities.

The Department is committed to ensuring the UK maritime sector continues to provide high-quality careers at sea and on shore for young people in coastal areas. Officials continue to work with industry to ensure that the green skills training offer is relevant and accessible, and that high-quality jobs are available across the sector, including on shore and in our ports, to support its transition to decarbonisation and use of new technologies including automation. For example, through the Cadet Training and Modernisation Programme, DfT and the MCA have future-proofed seafarer training by including future ‘cleaner’ fuels into the cadet curriculum. DfT officials are also engaging across government to build on the role of ports as a foundational sector in the Industrial Strategy and will support work to build a jobs plan as part of its implementation.

What steps her Department is taking to encourage investment in port infrastructure.

The UK’s ports sector is largely privately owned and operated, with the Government’s role primarily to ensure that the policy and regulatory environment supports investment. Ports policy is devolved, with the Department for Transport responsible for ports in England and Milford Haven in Wales. My Department is streamlining planning and regulatory processes for these ports, including by updating the National Policy Statement for Ports.The Government provides targeted support where there are clear public benefits, such as on decarbonisation. In September the Department announced a £448 million extension to the UK SHORE programme, the biggest ever Government investment in commercial maritime across the UK. In addition, my Department is working with the National Wealth Fund, which has committed at least £5.8 billion of its capital to five sectors, including UK ports.

What steps her Department is taking to prevent off-road motorcycles being declared as (a) used vehicles and (b) components of vehicles.

There is no legal requirement for vehicles to be registered and licensed if they are used exclusively off the public roads. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) does operate a voluntary registration scheme for off-road vehicles, which can assist in the identification of complete, stolen off-road motorcycles.To qualify to register an off-road vehicle, the vehicle can be new or used but it must be complete. It is not possible to register component parts. A declaration that the vehicle will only be used off road is also required.

What steps his Department is taking to include motorcycling in its planned Integrated National Transport Strategy.

Later this year, the department will publish the Integrated National Transport Strategy (INTS) and set the long-term vision for transport across England, placing people at the heart of how we plan, build, and operate transport. The Strategy will aim to address fragmentation and inefficiency across the transport system to ensure that people can easily, reliably, and safely carry out the journeys they want to make, however they choose to travel. We have conducted extensive engagement with stakeholders and members of the public, including motorcyclists and motorcycle user representative groups, through a Call for Ideas, Regional Roadshows, and targeted sessions with seldom heard groups. As the Strategy is still in development, I am unable to comment on specific policy questions, but all the insights gathered through our engagement activities have been analysed and are being considered as the Strategy continues to evolve.

What recent steps she has taken to improve maritime safety standards.

We are constantly striving to improve maritime safety whether this is through the UK’s leadership in international fora, such as the International Maritime Organization, or domestically. With some of the busiest waters in the world, and enhanced by the tireless work of its family organisations, including the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and our General Lighthouse Authorities, the UK continues to deliver world-class maritime safety.

What steps her Department is taking to improve skills in the maritime sector.

The Department remains committed to supporting the development of the UK’s future maritime workforce. Maritime training transforms opportunities, contributing to UK economic growth, boosting individual earnings, employment prospects, and social mobility. Seafarer training is being future-proofed through the DfT and MCA managed Cadet Training and Modernisation programme and Ratings Review. The Department’s £18m Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) fund supports 50% of the cost of cadet training and a range of apprenticeships are available for ratings and wider maritime roles at sea and ashore. The Maritime Skills Commission, which reports to the Department and Maritime UK, assesses the current and future skills needs of the sector and is currently focusing on areas such as skills for emerging technologies.

What steps her Department is taking with the maritime sector to support the scale-up of green (a) fuels, (b) vessels and (c) shore power.

In March 2025, we published the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy (MDS), which sets out our pathway to net zero emissions in domestic maritime by 2050. This strategy includes key policies designed to encourage the uptake of green fuels, vessels, and shore power, directly supporting the UK's ambitious climate goals. The MDS outlines five core policies: implementing fuel regulations internationally and domestically, introducing domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) pricing through the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, taking action on emissions at berth, reducing emissions from smaller vessels, and improving energy efficiency. Alongside the MDS, we also launched two vital calls for evidence to inform policy development: one focusing on small vessels and another on net zero ports. My department is also driving research and development of the fuels and technologies necessary to decarbonise the sector through the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE). To date, UK SHORE has allocated over £200m of funding to over 150 projects, leveraging over £100 million in private investment. This benefits all 12 UK regions, supporting over 350 organisations, including more than 200 SMEs. A further £30m was allocated to the sixth round of Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition announced in January for FY 24/25. The winners of the competition will be announced soon.

What steps she is taking to modernise port infrastructure.

The UK’s ports sector is largely privately owned and operated, with the government’s role primarily to ensure that the policy and regulatory environment supports efficient operation and investment, and to provide targeted support for connectivity and decarbonisation where there are clear public benefits. My Department is working at pace to update and streamline planning and regulatory processes for ports, including by updating the National Policy Statement for Ports. In addition, the Government is working with the National Wealth Fund, which has committed at least £5.8 billion of its capital to five sectors, including ports.

What progress she has made on developing a port strategy.

The Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy sets out Government’s plans for decarbonising the domestic maritime sector, including goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and policies to support this. The Maritime Strategy will be published later this year. It will focus on our four priorities of people, growth, environment and safety. Ports have a crucial role to play across all of these.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of seafarers' welfare, in the context of roster patterns.

The Government is committed to strengthening workers’ rights at sea, which is why as part of the Employment Rights Bill we are introducing powers for Ministers to create a legally-binding Seafarers’ Charter. This will protect and improve seafarer working conditions, including by addressing seafarer fatigue. We will continue to work with like-minded states and through international forums to raise international standards for seafarer welfare.

What steps her Department is taking to help the (a) ports and (b) shipping industries (a) cut emissions and (b) transition to clean fuels.

We have recently published our Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy that sets out our plans to decarbonise the domestic maritime sector. This Strategy includes a package of policy and regulatory measures across both the port and shipping industries. Reducing emissions builds on the increased efficiency of operators, combined with a transition to cleaner zero, and near-zero greenhouse gas emission fuels and energy sources, and this Strategy considers the role of these fuels, and how we will support their uptake. All policies laid out in the Strategy will be developed further and will be subject to formal consultation before implementation.

When the Motor Insurance Taskforce (a) last met and (b) is next scheduled to meet.

The cross-Government Motor Insurance Taskforce met for the first time on 16 October 2024 and the Secretary of State is keen to reconvene again soon. We will provide updates on the Taskforce in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2024 to Question 4347 on Motorcycles: Driving Licences, when the Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group is next scheduled to meet; and whether that meeting will discuss user licensing reform.

The planned meeting of The Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group for autumn 2024 has now been rescheduled for 20 January 2025. The Government is considering plans to review existing requirements for motorcycle training, testing and licensing, taking account of long-standing Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency plans and recent sector proposals.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of simplifying the licensing process for (a) mopeds, (b) motorcycles and (c) other powered light vehicles.

The Department for Transport has received additional evidence from the Motorcycle Industry Association on the road safety considerations for the proposals set out in their report ‘A Licence to Net Zero’, which proposed changes to the existing licensing regime for mopeds, motorcycles and light powered vehicles. Officials are currently analysing this.