Written questions by Dhesi.

What recent steps his Department has taken to ensure the safety of rail passengers travelling in extreme heat conditions in (a) Slough and (b) the South East.

Awaiting answer.

What recent steps his Department has taken to ensure the safety of staff working on the rail network in extreme heat.

Awaiting answer.

How many additional full-time equivalent driving test examiners have been recruited for Slough in the past year.

The table below shows the May 2026 average waiting time (based on the national average waiting time metric of when a minimum of 10% of test slots are available) and number of tests booked and available for a car practical driving test at Slough driving te...

What the average waiting time for a practical driving test is at Slough Test Centre.

The table below shows the May 2026 average waiting time (based on the national average waiting time metric of when a minimum of 10% of test slots are available) and number of tests booked and available for a car practical driving test at Slough driving te...

What recent progress has been made in increasing the availability of driving tests in Slough.

The table below shows the May 2026 average waiting time (based on the national average waiting time metric of when a minimum of 10% of test slots are available) and number of tests booked and available for a car practical driving test at Slough driving te...

What is the average number of test slots available per month at Slough Driving Test Centre, for the past year for where data is available.

The table below shows the May 2026 average waiting time (based on the national average waiting time metric of when a minimum of 10% of test slots are available) and number of tests booked and available for a car practical driving test at Slough driving te...

If she will establish a formal mechanism for the Maritime Industry Security Forum to report directly to the National Security Council.

There are no plans for the Maritime Security Industry Forum (MSIF) to report into the National Security Council. It is a channel for the Department for Transport to consult on issues relating to DfT’s existing and proposed maritime security policies with ...

What plans she has to improve the coherence of international maritime security reporting.

The UK plays a leading role in supporting global maritime security through a combination of operational capability, international partnerships, and trusted information sharing. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKTMO) acts as the trusted inter...

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Maritime Industry Security Forum in responding to the current situation in a) the Strait of Hormuz and b) the wider Middle East.

We have not convened the Maritime Security Industry Forum (MSIF) to respond to the current conflict in the wider Middle East, as that forum is focused more on DfT’s existing and proposed maritime security policies. We have however convened the Maritime In...

How many reports of untaxed vehicles being parked on public roads in (a) Langley and (b) Slough were received by the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency in each of the last three years; and what proportion of those reports were followed up on.

The information requested is not readily available. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency officials will write to the honourable member when the information requested has been extracted and assured.

Whether she has assessed the potential merits of introducing lifetime driving bans for individuals who have received multiple disqualifications from driving as a result of dangerous driving convictions.

Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for our independent courts.This includes whether to disqualify an offender from driving and, where appropriate, the length of any disqualification. The courts already have powers to impose lifetime disqualification where that is justified. Separately, under the “totting up” provisions, where a driver has accumulated 12 or more penalty points within a three-year period, the court must ordinarily order disqualification for at least the statutory minimum unless there are grounds to reduce or avoid that disqualification.

What steps they are taking to increase the amount of UK made steel used in procurement contracts overseen by their Department.

All steel procurements overseen by the Department are done so in full alignment and following the principles as set out in the Steel PPN 022. In addition to existing best practice policies, from the 1 September 2025 this required the Department to:Consult UK Steel’s Digital Catalogue prior to design and procurement decisions being made. Include a contract clause which extends this obligation to Tier 1 contractors and their subcontractors (where relevant).Consider if the national security exemption in paragraph 25 of Schedule 2 to the Procurement Act 2023 is relevant to the procurement and apply as appropriate.These additional policy measures are designed to increase the amount of UK Steel used in procurement contracts.

When her department last assessed the financial penalty for driving without insurance; and what assessment was made of the costs of purchasing insurance relative to the costs of paying a fine.

The Government recognises that motor insurance premiums have increased, while the fines for driving uninsured have remained the same. We want to ensure that there are the right incentives in place, and that is why, as part of our new Road Safety Strategy we are consulting on changes to the motoring offences including consideration of whether the minimum penalties for the offence of driving uninsured should be increased.

What recent discussions her Department has had with train operating companies on the adequacy of information available to rail passengers on the use of (a) emergency door releases and (b) passenger communication alarms.

No recent discussions have been had, as these are operational matters which are the responsibility of the train operating companies. However, all train operating companies must adhere to relevant health and safety legislation to be able to operate on the railways. This is enforced by the independent railway safety regulator, the Office of Rail and Road.

With reference to paragraph 88 of the policy paper entitled UK Government Resilience Action Plan, published on 14 July 2025, how many meetings have been attended by civil servants within their Department in relation to the Home Defence Programme; which directorate in the Department owns the Departmental contribution to the Home Defence Programme; and what the job title is of the civil servant leading and cohering the Departmental contribution to the Home Defence Programme.

The Resilience Action Plan sets out the Government’s strategic approach to how we will strengthen our domestic resilience and invest to protect the nation. Department for Transport officials regularly attend meetings to discuss the implementation of the Resilience Action Plan as well as matters of national security and defence. Led by the Director of Resilience, Analysis, International and Sanctions the Department for Transport is actively contributing to this through the work of several different teams including those in the Resilience, Analysis, International and Sanctions Directorate and the Transport Security Directorate. DfT regularly meet with the transport sector and colleagues across government to discuss and improve transport resilience and security.

With reference to page 92 of the Strategic Defence Review, how many meetings officials from their Department have attended on the national conversation on defence and security; which directorate in their Department is responsible for the departmental contribution to that national conversation; and what the job title is of the official responsible.

Officials from the Department for Transport regularly attend meetings to discuss matters of national security, defence and resilience as well as the associated public communications required to deliver these lines of efforts. As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, the national conversation will be a multi-year, cross-departmental effort designed to deliver on the whole-of-society approach to national security and defence allowing Government, the private sector and public to play their part in strengthening the UK’s resilience to any potential future shocks. This work addresses the risks and threats the UK faces, including those below and above the threshold of an armed attack. The Department for Transport is actively supporting this work through teams including those in the Resilience, Analysis, International and Sanctions Directorate and the Transport Security Directorate.

How many driving tests (a) took place, (b) were cancelled and (c) went unused at the Slough Driving Test Centre in each month of (i) 2024 and (ii) 2025.

The attached Excel spreadsheet shows how many practical car driving tests were conducted and cancelled, at Slough driving test centre in each month of 2024 and 2025. Also included is the number of practical car driving test slots that were available to book during this period but were not used. It is not possible to include data on the number of tests cancelled that then go on to be unused. Please note this data is up to 31 March 2025. Data for individual driving test centres is updated annually. The next update to this information will be published in June/July. DVSA publishes some of this data which is available on GOV.UK DVSA is continuing with recruitment campaigns across the country, including in Slough and the southeast, to provide as many tests as possible. A full-time driving examiner (DE) can be expected to add approximately 1,200 tests per year to the booking system.For Slough driving test centre (DTC), a new entrant driving examiner has successfully completed their training which will help to increase the number of tests available at this centre. Two further new entrant driving examiners will also be undertaking training shortly.For the southeast, since 1 April 2025, DVSA has successfully recruited 108 new driving examiners.

What recent steps she has taken to reduce waiting times for practical driving tests in (a) Slough and (b) South East.

The attached Excel spreadsheet shows how many practical car driving tests were conducted and cancelled, at Slough driving test centre in each month of 2024 and 2025. Also included is the number of practical car driving test slots that were available to book during this period but were not used. It is not possible to include data on the number of tests cancelled that then go on to be unused. Please note this data is up to 31 March 2025. Data for individual driving test centres is updated annually. The next update to this information will be published in June/July. DVSA publishes some of this data which is available on GOV.UK DVSA is continuing with recruitment campaigns across the country, including in Slough and the southeast, to provide as many tests as possible. A full-time driving examiner (DE) can be expected to add approximately 1,200 tests per year to the booking system.For Slough driving test centre (DTC), a new entrant driving examiner has successfully completed their training which will help to increase the number of tests available at this centre. Two further new entrant driving examiners will also be undertaking training shortly.For the southeast, since 1 April 2025, DVSA has successfully recruited 108 new driving examiners.

With reference to paragraph 88 of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan, how many meetings Ministers in their Department have attended related to the Home Defence Programme.

Department for Transport Ministers have regular discussions with officials, external experts and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience. The Home Defence Programme was established in August 2024 to build the UK’s resilience to any potential escalation to conflict. It is an evolving and enduring programme of work which provides defence, security and resilience planning, focused on aligning military and civil effort in the event of a period of crisis and international hostilities affecting the UK, informed by and reflecting the recommendations from government strategies, including the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan. The Department for Transport is actively supporting this work.

What recent discussions she has had with local authorities on enforcement against pavement parking.

On 8 January 2026, I announced the publication of the government’s formal response to the 2020 public consultation 'Pavement parking: options for change' which sets out what the government plans to do to tackle pavement parking. In the first instance we plan to give local authorities powers in 2026 to issue Penalty Charge Notices for vehicles parked in a way that unnecessarily obstructs the pavement. I have hosted two stakeholder roundtables on pavement parking policy. One of the roundtables was attended by representatives from several Mayoral Combined Authorities. I have also corresponded with various Local Authorities, and my officials have held engagement sessions with Local Authorities on our pavement parking policy approach.