Written questions by Mayhew.

Whether her Department has made changes to the membership of the Road Transport Group since 4 July 2024.

The Department for Transport is made up of seven groups led by a Director General or Permanent Secretary, which are subdivided into directorates and divisions. Organisational structures are always kept under review to best deliver the Department’s responsibilities. As of 10 December 2024, there have been no major organisational restructures which have resulted in substantive changes to the membership, scope or responsibilities of any of the groups since 4 July 2024.

Whether her Department has made changes to the membership of the Rail Services Group since 4 July 2024.

The Department for Transport is made up of seven groups led by a Director General or Permanent Secretary, which are subdivided into directorates and divisions. Organisational structures are always kept under review to best deliver the Department’s responsibilities. As of 10 December 2024, there have been no major organisational restructures which have resulted in substantive changes to the membership, scope or responsibilities of any of the groups since 4 July 2024.

Whether her Department has made changes to the membership of the Decarbonisation, Technology and Strategy Group since 4 July 2024.

The Department for Transport is made up of seven groups led by a Director General or Permanent Secretary, which are subdivided into directorates and divisions. Organisational structures are always kept under review to best deliver the Department’s responsibilities. As of 10 December 2024, there have been no major organisational restructures which have resulted in substantive changes to the membership, scope or responsibilities of any of the groups since 4 July 2024.

Whether her Department has made changes to the (a) scope and (b) responsibilities of the Major Rail Projects Group since 4 July 2024.

The Department for Transport is made up of seven groups led by a Director General or Permanent Secretary, which are subdivided into directorates and divisions. Organisational structures are always kept under review to best deliver the Department’s responsibilities. As of 10 December 2024, there have been no major organisational restructures which have resulted in substantive changes to the membership, scope or responsibilities of any of the groups since 4 July 2024.

Whether her Department has made changes to the membership of the Public Transport and Local Group since 4 July 2024.

The Department for Transport is made up of seven groups led by a Director General or Permanent Secretary, which are subdivided into directorates and divisions. Organisational structures are always kept under review to best deliver the Department’s responsibilities. As of 10 December 2024, there have been no major organisational restructures which have resulted in substantive changes to the membership, scope or responsibilities of any of the groups since 4 July 2024.

Whether her Department plans to implement key performance indicators to measure the performance of rail operators after franchises have expired.

Under the provisions of the Passenger Railways Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024, passenger services operations currently delivered by privately-owned operators under National Rail Contracts with the Department will transfer into public ownership when existing contracts expire. The Department will continue to hold all operators to account for their performance through a range of measures, including key performance indicators. The Department is also working on plans with operators and Network Rail to display performance information at stations – this will provide passengers with transparency and will allow the public to hold the rail industry and the Department to account for delivery.

Whether her Department has made changes to the (a) scope and (b) responsibilities of the Rail Services Group since 4 July 2024.

The Department for Transport is made up of seven groups led by a Director General or Permanent Secretary, which are subdivided into directorates and divisions. Organisational structures are always kept under review to best deliver the Department’s responsibilities. As of 10 December 2024, there have been no major organisational restructures which have resulted in substantive changes to the membership, scope or responsibilities of any of the groups since 4 July 2024.

If her Department will create a value for money team.

The Department takes value for money for the taxpayer seriously, and this is ingrained in the way the Department works. There are currently no plans to create a specific value for money team within the Department.

Whether her Department has made changes to the membership of the Aviation, Maritime and Security Group since 4 July 2024.

The Department for Transport is made up of seven groups led by a Director General or Permanent Secretary, which are subdivided into directorates and divisions. Organisational structures are always kept under review to best deliver the Department’s responsibilities. As of 10 December 2024, there have been no major organisational restructures which have resulted in substantive changes to the membership, scope or responsibilities of any of the groups since 4 July 2024.

Whether her Department has made changes to the membership of the Major Rail Projects Group since 4 July 2024.

The Department for Transport is made up of seven groups led by a Director General or Permanent Secretary, which are subdivided into directorates and divisions. Organisational structures are always kept under review to best deliver the Department’s responsibilities. As of 10 December 2024, there have been no major organisational restructures which have resulted in substantive changes to the membership, scope or responsibilities of any of the groups since 4 July 2024.

Whether her Department has appointed additional members to the Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group.

The Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group was launched on the 7 November 2024. Members were selected for expertise, knowledge and willingness to put the needs of passengers first.Based on feedback from stakeholders, the decision was taken to expand the group’s membership ahead of the first meeting. This was done with a view to further strengthening its breadth of expertise and reach across industry, which is critical for the Group to deliver tangible progress.

Whether her Department has made changes to the (a) scope and (b) responsibilities of the Roads Transport Group since 4 July 2024.

The Department for Transport is made up of seven groups led by a Director General or Permanent Secretary, which are subdivided into directorates and divisions. Organisational structures are always kept under review to best deliver the Department’s responsibilities. As of 10 December 2024, there have been no major organisational restructures which have resulted in substantive changes to the membership, scope or responsibilities of any of the groups since 4 July 2024.

What information her Department holds on the number of (a) employees working in the private school bus services sector and (b) privately contracted buses used by local authorities for school bus services.

The Department for Transport does not hold specific data on the number of employees working in the private school bus services sector, or on the number of privately contracted buses used by local authorities for school bus services. Local authorities are responsible for arranging and managing these contracts, and they are best placed to provide information about the services they commission.