Written questions by Holden.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 84267 on the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service, what direct financial or in-kind support her Department currently provides to NaVCIS; whether she has assessed the adequacy of its industry-funded model for tackling organised HGV and freight theft; and whether she plans to allocate public funding to support that Service in the 2026-27 financial year.

As noted in response to question 84267, the Government does not fund the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) and has no plans to do so.NaVCIS is funded by industry to provide dedicated specialist intelligence and enforcement. However we have regular discussions with key policing partners, including the NPCC, NaVCIS and Opal, the national policing intelligence unit for organised acquisitive crime, about the best ways to tackle organised freight crime.

Pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2025, to Question 84335, on Electric Vehicles: Grants, which Chinese firms have received funding under the scheme in 2025-26.

The Department cannot provide breakdown of orders per individual manufacturer due to commercial sensitivity. A list of vehicles eligible for grant support is available on Gov.UK.

With reference to the Answer of 31 October 2025 to Question HL11224 on Railways: Wifi, if she will publish that analysis.

The analysis of the costs and benefits of both Low Earth Orbit satellite technology and trackside infrastructure was conducted in the context of the Spending Review and was about prioritisation of potential projects and programmes. We would not ordinarily release this to protect the commercial interests of government and its suppliers. However, we are preparing a Business Case for LEO which we will publish in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2025 to Question 84703 on Transport: Research, how many bids by UK academics to the NSF–UKRI Lead Agency Opportunity her Department has supported with letters of endorsement since that scheme’s launch.

Since the launch of the National Science Foundation – UKRI Lead Agency Opportunity, the Department for Transport has provided one letter of support for a bid by UK academics. The scheme is administered by UK Research and Innovation, and the Department is not routinely involved in the application process.

What the timetable is for the approval and delivery of Lower Thames Crossing in light of the change of responsibilities for the project.

As with all Tier 1 projects, the Lower Thames Crossing is governed and funded by Government, with delivery by National Highways. The Development Consent Order was approved in March 2025 and enabling works will begin this year. Government is exploring funding options, including private finance, to support mid 2030s completion.

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 consultation her Department has undertaken with vehicle manufacturers and the wider automotive industry on the proposed changes to Employee Car Ownership Schemes, including the number of meetings held since July 2024; and whether the figures used to inform the proposed changes have been independently verified.

At Budget 2025, the government announced that, to allow more time for the sector to prepare for and adapt to the proposed changes in treatment to Employee Car Ownership Schemes (ECOS), its implementation will be delayed to 6 April 2030, with transitional arrangements until April 2032. The tax impact and information notice (TIIN) has been updated to reflect the impact of the changes on the automotive industry. You can find the TIIN here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-employee-car-ownership-schemes-for-income-tax/changes-to-employee-car-ownership-schemes-ecos The government maintains regular engagement with vehicle manufacturers and the wider automotive industry. The costing has been certified by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

What steps she plans to take to ensure that track access charges for operators outside Great British Railways will not be increased to offset the absence of access charges for Great British Railways-operated services or for other purposes during the court of their licenses.

The Government is fundamentally reforming the track access charging framework to remove complexities and the complicated ‘money go round’ that would have required GBR to charge itself for using its own infrastructure. GBR will establish and consult on a new fairer simpler charging framework. The ORR will be a statutory consultee and in its role as a robust, independent appeals body hold GBR’s decisions under the framework to account. To ensure transparency, GBR will need to carry out and publish a cost apportionment process which will account for the cost of providing rail infrastructure and the costs of its own passenger services using GBR managed infrastructure had they been subject to charges.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Railways Bill on fare affordability for passengers on low incomes.

The government recognises the importance of balancing the affordability of rail fares for passengers and the cost to taxpayers of contributions to the railway. As set out in the Railways Bill and the government’s recent consultation response, in the future GBR will have significant responsibility for setting and managing individual fares, reflecting its role as the directing mind for the railway. The new framework will be balanced by the Secretary of State’s role in setting overall parameters for fares, and will also ensure continued safeguarding of existing statutory discount schemes, including those for disabled, senior, and younger passengers, currently delivered as railcards.

What performance indicators Great British Railways will be required to publish on (a) punctuality, (b) reliability and (c) overcrowding.

In March this year, we made station-specific performance information available to passengers for the first time. This shows reliability and punctuality at each station. GBR will be transparent in the operation of its passenger services. It will be for GBR, through its integrated business plan, which will be signed off by the Transport Secretary, to develop a view on how its key performance indicators are expressed. These will then be tested by the Office of Rail and Road. The Office of Rail and Road will have a role in monitoring GBR's performance and advising the Transport Secretary.

Whether she plans to enable track access agreements longer than five years on the railway network.

The Government recognises the importance of certainty for operators when entering into track access agreements. The new access framework will enable GBR to offer this longer-term certainty to third parties – including contracts beyond 5 years.

What assessments she has made of potential duplication of functions between Network Rail and Great British Railways, and their (a) cost and (b) impact, during the transition period.

Network Rail and its functions will become a foundational part of Great British Railways (GBR) as it is stood up. The GBR design process is underway, considering how all functions in Network Rail, DfT Operator, publicly-owned train operating companies (TOC) and parts of the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) should transfer to GBR. The costs of implementation are being considered as part of the business case for GBR setup.

Whether Great British Railways will be required to publish data on (a) permanently cancelled services and (b) decisions to withdraw particular routes.

GBR's planned services will be a matter of public record. GBR will continue to be subject to the closures regime for rail services.

What information her Department holds on the criteria that will be used by Great British Railways to allocate funding for (a) infrastructure and (b) rolling stock.

Spending Review 25 and CP7 set railway budgets up to and including financial year 2028/29. The next Periodic Review and future Spending Reviews determine funding levels beyond 2028/29. While it’s government’s responsibility to allocate funding for GBR to use, including for infrastructure and rolling stock activity, it will be GBR’s responsibility, as the railways’ directing mind, to decide how it intends to carry out that activity within the funding allocated.

If she will support the financial resilience of small and medium-sized haulage businesses facing increased fuel and operating costs.

We regularly engage with road haulage industry associations and wider industry to understand the financial challenges faced by the sector including its small and medium sized businesses. At the Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced continued support for people and businesses by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut and cancelling the planned increase in line with inflation for 2025/26. HGVs will see an average saving of £1,100 in 2025/26.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Railways Bill on private sector innovation within the rail industry.

Establishing GBR through the Railways Bill will provide an integrated approach and greater longer-term certainty for rail, giving the private sector the confidence it needs to invest and support innovation throughout the sector. In addition, 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.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Railways Bill on the coordination of services in London.

GBR will maintain and strengthen collaborative arrangements with Transport for London (TfL), recognising its role in operating London Overground and Elizabeth line services on the national network and supporting seamless journeys across modes. London is integral to the rail network: in April 2023 to March 2024, it accounted for 952 million passenger journeys, the highest of any region. We will continue to engage with TfL and the Greater London Authority on the organisational design of GBR to ensure effective coordination. The design of GBR is being developed alongside the passage of this legislation.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 82989 on Level 7 apprenticeships, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on the potential impact of this policy on workforce availability in the transport sector.

No meeting occurred between the Secretary of State and the Department for Education Secretary of State regarding Level 7 apprenticeship funding, as the responsibility now lies with the Department for Work and Pensions’ Secretary of State. The Government is prioritising funding to support young entrants, helping them take their first steps in rewarding careers, particularly in transport. The removal of Level 7 apprenticeships for those over 22 is expected to have a negligible impact on the transport sector, as confirmed by the Department for Work and Pensions during the Transport Select Committee on Skills on 5 November 2025. Level 7 apprenticeships remain funded for learners under 22-years-old as part of Government reforms, recognising their value for young people.

Whether she plans to extend full expensing to leased assets to support small and medium-sized transport businesses that lease vehicles.

The UK has one of the most generous and competitive capital allowances regimes in the world and is top of the rankings of OECD countries for plant and machinery capital allowances.The Annual Investment Allowance allows both incorporated and unincorporated businesses to deduct the entire cost of investment in both main and special rate assets in one go, up to £1 million per year, including assets bought for leasing or hiring.

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 75870 on Parking: Pedestrian Areas, what the terms of reference are for the new research on pavement parking; what the budget is; and how the research contract will be awarded.

The Terms of Reference are yet to be drafted, however, we have commissioned the design stage of a study to update and strengthen our evidence base on the extent and impact of pavement parking. The purpose of the research will be to understand not only where and how pavement parking occurs but how it affects people’s lives, and particularly the lives of vulnerable road users. This research will enable the Department to evaluate the impact of any future changes to pavement parking policies. The design stage has been awarded to Frontier Economics and SYSTRA under an existing call-off contract, with agreed framework rates (under Public Contracts Regulations 2015). The budget is still being agreed. Budget and commissioning routes for further stages of the study cannot be specified at this stage.