Written questions by Mayhew.

How many used electric vehicles were sold in (a) November 2025 and (b) each month since July 2024.

The Department for Transport does not hold this information.

What proportion of new cars registered in (a) November 2025 and (b) each month since July 2024 were zero-emission vehicles.

The information requested is given in the link below: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/developing-faster-indicators-of-transport-activity Data for November 2025 was published on 10 December.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2025 to Question 67397 on Aviation: Alternative Fuels, what the total budgeted cost is for the continuation of the Advanced Fuels Fund through to 2029–30.

The Spending Review 2025 will continue support for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the UK to 2029/30 by building on the Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF). DfT will provide details on the parameters of this support in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 83387 on Large Goods Vehicles: Electric Vehicles, what estimate her Department has made of the annual cost of the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme for each of the next five years from 1 January 2026.

We are unable to confirm the spend for 2025-26 as the financial year is still in progress with projects placing orders for final ZE HGVs and infrastructure sites.All project spend is due to end at the end of the current financial year (31 March 2026). Programme spend for the remainder of the Spending Review period (2026/27-2029/30) is £1 million and will cover programme management costs, and benefits monitoring and evaluation activities.

Whether Great British Railways will be required to publish all access decisions and criteria used in determining them.

GBR will take access decisions against duties clearly defined in the bill and public law principles including to act fairly and transparently. As ORR do now, we would expect GBR to publish its access decisions. GBR will be required in Legislation to publish its criteria for taking access decisions in its Access and Use Policy.

Whether Great British Railways will be required to publish a separation policy for its operational and infrastructure functions.

The aim of the Railways Bill is to unite track and train and to reduce the fragmentation that comes with the separation of infrastructure and passenger services operations – a model which has repeatedly failed passengers over many years. However, where there is a need for safeguards, there will be separation. For example, there will be separation of decision-making between GBR's retailer and the wider retail industry management functions for which GBR will be responsible. This will be delivered via a code of practice, which will be owned and managed by the ORR and have the force of a licence condition.

Whether she plans to establish an independent mechanism for public reporting of rail safety incidents.

The main independent mechanism for publicly reporting safety incidents on the railways is the Confidential Incident Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS). The Office of Rail and Road also operate an anonymous whistleblowing service. Therefore, no plans exist to create an additional independent mechanism for public reporting of rail safety incidents.

What process Great British Railways will follow when preparing and consulting on its long-term strategic plan for the rail network.

GBR will engage with stakeholders as it develops its short, medium and long-term plans. However, it will be a matter for GBR to decide on its systems and processes when it is established. With regard to the Secretary of State's Long-Term Rail Strategy, allowed for in the Railways Bill recently introduced, there will be extensive engagement with key stakeholders as the strategy is developed with statutory consultees, such as the Welsh Government.

Which bodies Great British Railways will be statutorily required to consult when proposing service or infrastructure changes.

Government is bringing track and train together in Great British Railways (GBR), which will be a directing mind able to take long-term strategic decisions to make the best use of the network and which will deliver benefits for passengers, freight users and taxpayers. GBR will set out their plans for passenger services and infrastructure in an Integrated Business Plan, which the Secretary of State will approve. When GBR proposes to update its business plan, under the Railways Bill it will be required to consult the Office of Rail and Road and Passenger Watchdog, as well as seek approval from the Secretary of State. This will ensure that there is expert, third party scrutiny on proposed material updates before delivery changes

What targets Great British Railways will be set for increasing the volume of freight transported by rail.

The Government recognises that the economic and environmental potential of rail freight is significant and is committed to the target of at least a 75% increase in freight moved by rail by 2050, alongside other targets that will be announced prior to the stand up of Great British Railways. The recently published Railways Bill requires the Secretary of State to set a rail freight growth target and for GBR to have regard for it.

What targets for emissions reduction will apply to Great British Railways.

We remain committed to addressing the environmental challenges faced not only by rail – which is already a comparatively low-emission way to travel – but across transport. We will set out long term environmental expectations for GBR through the Long-Term Rail Strategy and these will also be outlined in GBR’s business plan.

What steps she plans to take to ensure continuity of existing safety management systems during the transition from Network Rail to Great British Railways.

The safety of the railways will always be our first priority. Network Rail, train operators, Department for Transport Operator and the ORR have been working together to agree and implement the safety management systems that will need to be in place for day one of Great British Railways. Where appropriate, existing arrangements will continue.

What plans she has to ensure open access operators continue to have opportunities to expand services under Great British Railways.

The Bill contains clear legislative safeguards to ensure non-GBR operators, including open access operators, have fair access to the GBR-managed network. Open access operators can bring benefits to the rail network and passengers and will continue to play a role in delivering services where it represents best use of the network.

Whether Great British Railways will be required to publish an annual environmental performance report.

We expect that GBR will include detail in their annual report and accounts as Network Rail do today, and for GBR to comply with all legal requirements. We remain committed to addressing the environmental challenges faced not only by rail – which is already a comparatively low-emission way to travel – but across all transport modes.

What fiscal provision has been made to cover the costs of relocating key Network Rail and DfT Operator Limited personnel to Derby, as part of establishing the new headquarters of Great British Railways.

The work to establish GBR Headquarters in Derby is continuing. It is not, at this time, confirmed which key roles will be based in Derby. Should any key roles be relocated, the costs associated with this will be defined as part of formal consultation.

What functions of Great British Railways will be located at the new Derby headquarters.

Derby will be the heart of our new rail network as the home of GBR, and work to establish the GBR Headquarters in Derby, including which functions will be located there, is continuing. The national headquarters will bring high-skilled jobs to a city already brimming with rail industry talent.

What recent estimate her Department has made of the savings arising from the establishment of Great British Railways; and what (a) data and (b) calculations her Department used to make this estimate.

The Railways Bill Impact Assessment provides an assessment of the potential impacts of the rail reform policies within the Railways Bill, including the establishment of Great British Railways.

Whether her Department plans to set statutory response times for complaints made under the Great British Railways passenger complaints system.

We expect that the establishment of GBR will mean that there will be a single complaint process for passengers for the majority of rail services.GBR will have to follow the minimum standards set by the passenger watchdog on complaint handling when setting up its complaint handling system. ORR currently sets this standard and guides licenced operators to provide a full response to at least 95% of all complaints within 20 working days. It will be up to the watchdog to determine if this guidance is updated once it takes over this function from ORR.The passenger watchdog will also ensure all passengers have access to a fair and independent alternative dispute resolution service (the Rail Ombudsman) to resolve disputes with operators where passengers have been let down.

What mechanisms her Department will establish to safeguard commercially sensitive route proposals made by open access rail operators.

The Railways Bill will reform the existing rules for access and use of the railway by enabling GBR to take decisions on best use of the network. GBR will make these decisions against duties clearly defined in the bill, public law principles including to act fair and transparently, its own policies (which legislation requires GBR must consult on and publish), and wider legal obligations, including competition law. GBR's processes and behaviours will need to ensure that any third party commercial sensitive information provided to GBR as part of this assessment is appropriately handled, in manner that enables all parties to comply with their legal obligations.

What mechanisms will her Department put in place to ensure operational decisions taken by Great British Railways are accountable to passengers.

GBR will be held to account for railway performance and customer experience.There will be a powerful voice for passengers, the Passenger Watchdog, which will independently monitor passenger experience, advocate for passengers and monitor GBR and other operators. Minimum consumer standards will be set and monitored by the Passenger Watchdog and independently enforced by ORR. ORR will also have powers to independently monitor GBR's business performance and advise the Transport Secretary.When developing its Integrated Business Plan, GBR will be required to consult with the Passenger Watchdog and will have a continuing general duty to consider the interests of passengers and the needs of passengers with disabilities.