Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ben Obese-Jecty this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 81–100 of 125 · Department for Transport
With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, how much of the capital funding to (a) maintain and (b) improve roads between 2026-27 and 2029-30 will be spent in Huntingdon constituency.
Further details on the breakdown of the £24 billion of capital funding will be announced in due course.
With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, how much of the funding to support the roll-out of charging infrastructure will be spent on (a) privately-owned cars, (b) zero emission vans and (c) zero emission HGVs in Huntingdon constituency.
We’re investing over £4.5 billion to help industry and consumers make a supported switch to electric vehicles (EVs). This includes £400 million to support the rollout of charging infrastructure, including along the strategic road network in England, charging infrastructure to facilitate the deployment of zero emission vans and HGVs, and existing grants.Alongside that, the Government’s £381 million Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities in England to work with industry and transform the availability of EV charging for drivers without off-street parking. Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority, which includes Huntingdon, was allocated almost £6.2m capital and resource funding through the LEVI Fund.
How many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025.
Data is published on the average working days lost for the central Department on an annual basis for each financial year. Information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence with figures back to 1999.
Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of building a bypass on the A1 at Buckden roundabout, in the context of potential levels of traffic caused by (a) Universal Studios, (b) proposed development at Brampton Cross and (c) the proposed logistics parks at Hinchingbrooke and Wavesey.
There are currently no plans to bypass the Buckden Roundabout on the A1 in Cambridgeshire. However, the Department and National Highways recognise the significant emerging development in the region and will consider how to maintain the performance of the strategic road network and how it can support emerging development there. This will be considered as part of ongoing engagement with local authorities and other partners.
Whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of homes that would need to be compulsory purchased in order to deliver the third runway at Heathrow.
The Government is currently assessing proposals for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow. Detailed impacts, including on homes, social infrastructure and community facilities, will depend on the final scheme design and boundary, which have not yet been confirmed. Further updates will be provided as the assessment progresses.
Which schools will be demolished as a result of the third runway at Heathrow.
The Government is currently assessing proposals for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow. Detailed impacts, including on homes, social infrastructure and community facilities, will depend on the final scheme design and boundary, which have not yet been confirmed. Further updates will be provided as the assessment progresses.
What estimate she has made of the number of social housing properties that will be demolished in the building of the third runway at Heathrow.
The Government is currently assessing proposals for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow. Detailed impacts, including on homes, social infrastructure and community facilities, will depend on the final scheme design and boundary, which have not yet been confirmed. Further updates will be provided as the assessment progresses.
How many people will be required to move home in order to facilitate the third runway at Heathrow.
The Government is currently assessing proposals for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow. Detailed impacts, including on homes, social infrastructure and community facilities, will depend on the final scheme design and boundary, which have not yet been confirmed. Further updates will be provided as the assessment progresses.
Pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 56675 on Hinchingbrooke Hospital: Roads, what discussions she has had with National Highways on returning land adjacent to Views Common to Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
The Department is not directly involved in negotiations concerning land acquired for the A14 scheme near Views Common. National Highways has been in discussions with Cambridgeshire Constabulary regarding surplus land in that area. A final compensation proposal has been accepted, and documentation is being progressed to enable payment and the return of land.
What upgrades will take place as part of the East Coat Mainline Programme in Huntingdon constituency.
The Department has invested £1.2bn in a package of route-wide infrastructure upgrades as part of the East Coast Main Line Enhancements Programme, the benefits of which are due to be realised through introduction of a recast timetable in this December, which will provide more frequent and faster services across the route. Following the conclusion of the Spending Review, the Department is also working closely with Network Rail and industry stakeholders to develop options for a long-term pipeline of investment on the East Coast Mainline. This work will consider Network Rail’s assessment of the congested infrastructure on the route – including those identified between Huntingdon North Junction and New England North Junction – and explore opportunities to mitigate these constraints.
What progress she has made in implementing recommendations set out in the Stewart Review of HS2, published on 18 June 2025.
The James Stewart review made 89 recommendations across a number of themes. Four of these are complete and have been successfully implemented, all relating to the governance of the programme. The majority of the remaining recommendations are being implemented as part of the HS2 reset. HS2 Ltd will continue to work with and advise the Department on what is needed to complete the reset programme to deliver HS2 safely and at the lowest reasonable cost. Future updates on the reset and progress on implementation of the recommendations related to HS2 will be shared in the 6 monthly parliamentary report.
Whether she has had discussions with UK aviation authorities on the certification of the Royal Air Force’s Protector MQ-9B.
The UK’s independent aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is leading work with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and NATS towards developing the necessary approvals to integrate the RAF’s Protector MQ-9B. The aim of this collaborative approach is to ensure that this technology can operate safely within the UK’s controlled airspace alongside other users. I receive regular updates from the CAA on all aviation matters.
What steps he is taking to integrate the Royal Air Force’s Protector MQ-9B’s automatic (a) take-off and (b) landing capability with civilian (i) air traffic and (ii) air traffic control.
The aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and NATS continue to work collaboratively towards integrating the RAF Protector (MQ-9B) technology so that it can be safely used within the UK’s controlled airspace. The CAA and the MoD will only give the necessary approvals for Protector to be fully integrated into controlled airspace when it is safe to do so.
Whether she has taken steps to update The Air Navigation Order 2016 to reflect advances in drone capability.
In 2023, the Department for Transport (DfT) commissioned the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to review the UK drone Regulation which was undertaken through a public consultation. The CAA published its consultation reply on 8 May 2025. DfT is now updating the rules for drones to make them simpler, safer, and better suited to how they are used today and in the future. This includes updating the Air Navigation Order 2016.
What steps her Department is taking to prevent the exploitation of trade insurance policies by motorists to allow otherwise uninsured drivers to drive any vehicle on that policy.
All drivers must be insured to drive the vehicle they are using and for the purpose it is used for.The Government takes uninsured driving seriously. Police forces work closely with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) to tackle this. This is achieved through Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE), a scheme where MIB and DVLA collaborate to identify uninsured drivers and police enforcement on the road. There is also a national policing initiative known as Operation Tutelage to reduce the level of uninsured driving on our roads.
How many publicly available roadside electric vehicle chargers there were in Huntingdon constituency as of 1 July 2025.
Data on public electric vehicle charging devices in the UK, held by the Department for Transport, are sourced from the electric vehicle charging platform Zapmap. The table below presents public charging devices in the Huntingdon constituency as of 1st July 2025 broken down by location category. On streetEn routeDestinationOtherTotal public charging devices Huntingdon constituency525927129
What assessment she has made of the level of use of infra-red reflective number plates.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, various police forces and Trading Standards in relation to the supply and use of infra-red number plates. Work is ongoing to quantify the number of illegal number plates that are in circulation. The evidence gathered will support future initiatives needed to address this issue.
With reference to the Number 10 press release entitled UK to deliver on 5% NATO pledge as Government drives greater security for working people, published on 23 June 2025, if she will list her Department's (a) projects and (b) programmes by directorate that will contribute to the resilience and security element of national security spending for each year between 2025-26 and 2034-35 inclusive; and if she will list the amount of spending for each item (a) in real terms (b) as a proportion of concurrent forecast GDP.
We will set out detailed plans for meeting this new target at the appropriate time. The government will continue to report to NATO on delivery against the headline investment pledge and the split in line with NATO’s reporting schedule.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 34050 on Railway Stations: Alconbury Weald, whether Network Rail plan to proceed with the proposed new East Coast Mainline Station at Alconbury Weald.
The outcomes from the Spending Review for East Coast Main Line investment are still being finalised but will be communicated shortly as part of the government’s commitment to set out its overall infrastructure strategy.
What estimate she has made of the number of litres of ethanol that will be supplied as a result of the US-UK trade deal on 8 May 2025.
The US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD) does not impact the number of litres of ethanol that will be supplied in the UK as renewable transport fuel. The UK also already imports a significant amount of ethanol from the US. The deal requires the UK to provide a preferential duty-free tariff rate quota of 1.4 billion litres for U.S. ethanol across the economy. Across Government we will continue to work closely with the industry to understand the impacts of the trade deal and other issues on the UK’s bioethanol companies.