Written questions by Race.

What steps she is taking to help ensure that the transport system supports economic growth.

Growth is the priority Mission of this government. Transport provides the connectivity needed to achieve it. We are improving connectivity through infrastructure programmes such as HS2, East West Rail, and the Transpennine Route Upgrade. We are empowering leaders, improving bus services, and better integrating networks to improve access to opportunities.

How much funding his Department plans to provide for active travel infrastructure in each of the next three financial years.

This Government announced an additional £100 million investment in cycling and walking infrastructure in 2025-26 at the Autumn budget. Final levels of funding for 2025-26 will be confirmed following completion of the Department for Transport’s business planning process. Funding for the next two years will be a matter for the Spending Review.

What steps she is taking to provide (a) residents and (b) workers with access to spaces for (i) shared bike schemes and (ii) other bike storage facilities.

As part of its statutory consultee role for large-scale planning applications, Active Travel England (ATE) assesses the quantity and quality of cycle parking in new residential, retail and business developments alongside measures that would secure access to shared cycle schemes. In particular, ATE applies the best practice parking standards set out in chapter 11 of LTN 1/20 and reviews development travel plans to ensure that bike share schemes can be accessed where the size and location of development will engender demand. Operations and access to spaces for dockless cycle schemes are for local authorities to manage, working with e-cycle scheme operators. Funding for public-accessible cycle storage has been made available from a range of local transport funds, including the Active Travel Fund and City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement.