Written questions by Arthur.

What the total cost of the additional testing allowance introduced in June 2025 has been to date; and what assessment she has made of its effect on the number of tests delivered per full-time equivalent examiner.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) current Additional Testing Allowance (ATA) scheme started in June 2025 to increase practical driving test capacity through voluntary additional testing outside contracted hours. As of June 2026, payments made under the ATA scheme total approximately £11.8 million. The ATA scheme has contributed to increased testing capacity. In June 2026, DVSA conducted 193,757 car practical driving tests, which was 35,328 more tests than in June 2025. Between June 2025 and June 2026, DVSA conducted 278,124 more car practical driving tests than during the same period from June 2024 to June 2025. DVSA has achieved this additional testing capacity through increased driving examiner (DE) capacity (165 more full-time equivalent DEs than in June 2025), examiner overtime and other operational measures.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of the Mass Transit Taskforce working with the devolved governments to help ensure the benefits to the UK supply chain are maximised.

Awaiting answer.

Whether the Mass Transit Taskforce's remit includes tram-train projects.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the answer to Question UIN 63826 on driving test waiting times in Currie, what the average waiting time is for a practical driving test at the Currie Driving Test Centre; and by what date she

The average waiting time for a car practical driving test at Currie driving test centre in May was 24 weeks.DVSA is taking sustained action to increase testing capacity and reduce waiting times as quickly as possible, including recruiting and training mor...

What assessment the Department has made of the level of need for further regulation of autonomous delivery robots operating on public pavements and highways; and whether the Department plans to publish addition

The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles when parliamentary time allows by creating a ‘Low-speed Zero Emission Vehicle’ category. This could be used to regulate pavement robots in future. Any new regulations w...

Whether the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles is exploring the adequacy of compensation arrangements for victims of accidents involving uninsured vehicles in the context of the Automated Vehicles Act

Through the Automated Vehicles Act Implementation Programme, officials from the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles are working with the Motor Insurers' Bureau on insurance for automated vehicles. This includes assessing the adequacy of the insur...

When she plans to launch the consultation on micromobility regulation.

The Government plans to consult on e-scooter regulations over the next year.

What steps she is taking to ensure the maintenance of capital investment in rail infrastructure during the transition period to Great British Railways; and what assessment she has made of the risk of operationa

This government remains committed to the existing settlement for the day-to-day running of the railway during the current funding period (2024 to 2029), including capital spend, and including through the transition from Network Rail to Great British Railw...

What estimate her Department has made of the current and projected capacity of domestic Sustainable Aviation Fuel production facilities in the United Kingdom; and what steps she is taking to help prevent shortf

We recognise the need to protect consumers from excessive costs and have factored this into the design of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate. We continually monitor the market, and, alongside the option of buy-out, the Mandate has a built-in review pro...

What assessment she has made of the likely pass-through of increased SAF compliance costs to consumers and the potential impact on (a) average UK air fares and (b) holiday package prices.

We recognise the need to protect consumers from excessive costs and have factored this into the design of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate. We continually monitor the market, and, alongside the option of buy-out, the Mandate has a built-in review pro...

What plans her Department has to help support the development of standardised high voltage battery diagnostics for electric vehicles to enable repair and reuse.

The Government is aware of calls from industry to develop standardised high voltage battery diagnostics for electric vehicles (EVs), to support repairability as well as the safe working operations of EV technicians. While the Government currently has no p...

What recent discussions she has had with her European counterparts on mutual recognition of UK pilot licences for flying EU registered aircraft.

The Government has been clear that it will work to reset the relationship with Europe, strengthen ties, and tackle barriers to trade. As part of this, the Government is continuing to seek expansions to the Aviation Safety Chapter of the Trade and Cooperat...

What steps her Department is taking to increase the level of collaboration with the EU on transport policy.

This Government has reset its relationship with European partners to strengthen economic and security cooperation following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The Secretary of State, Department for Transport Ministers, and officials engage closely with EU i...

What steps her Department is taking to support the taxi and private hire sectors during the introduction of automated passenger services; and what (a) fiscal and (b) training support will be made available to d

The Government has established a commercial piloting route for Automated Passenger Services. This will enable government, deployers and local authorities to learn from initial deployments, including considering potential impacts on jobs. The initial roll-...

Whether she has assessed the potential impact of (a) defective and (b) poorly maintained Advanced Driver Assistance Systems on road (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries over the last decade.

As set out in the Road Safety Strategy, the Government is committed to taking advantage of vehicle technologies to make our roads safer. The Strategy adopts the internationally recognised Safe System approach, acknowledging that vehicle technologies can significantly reduce risk when they function as intended, and that responsibility for safety is shared across government, manufacturers, repairers and the wider transport sector. My Department is currently exploring options for future policy decisions to maximise the benefits of vehicle technologies. This includes engagement on a wide range of issues related to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including vehicle maintenance. My Department is also consulting on mandating a range of ADAS in new vehicles, alongside a call for evidence seeking views on the ongoing maintenance of these systems. Given the importance of properly maintained vehicles for road safety, the Government keeps the MOT under continual review to ensure it remains effective as vehicle technology evolves. This includes considering how increasingly sophisticated systems, such as ADAS, can be appropriately monitored as part of wider vehicle safety assurance. Officials continue to gather and assess evidence to inform any future changes.

Whether she is considering mandating an assessment of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems as part of the MOT test.

As set out in the Road Safety Strategy, the Government is committed to taking advantage of vehicle technologies to make our roads safer. The Strategy adopts the internationally recognised Safe System approach, acknowledging that vehicle technologies can significantly reduce risk when they function as intended, and that responsibility for safety is shared across government, manufacturers, repairers and the wider transport sector. My Department is currently exploring options for future policy decisions to maximise the benefits of vehicle technologies. This includes engagement on a wide range of issues related to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including vehicle maintenance. My Department is also consulting on mandating a range of ADAS in new vehicles, alongside a call for evidence seeking views on the ongoing maintenance of these systems. Given the importance of properly maintained vehicles for road safety, the Government keeps the MOT under continual review to ensure it remains effective as vehicle technology evolves. This includes considering how increasingly sophisticated systems, such as ADAS, can be appropriately monitored as part of wider vehicle safety assurance. Officials continue to gather and assess evidence to inform any future changes.

Whether she is considering mandating the calibration of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems when vehicle’s windscreens are replaced.

As set out in the Road Safety Strategy, the Government is committed to taking advantage of vehicle technologies to make our roads safer. The Strategy adopts the internationally recognised Safe System approach, acknowledging that vehicle technologies can significantly reduce risk when they function as intended, and that responsibility for safety is shared across government, manufacturers, repairers and the wider transport sector. My Department is currently exploring options for future policy decisions to maximise the benefits of vehicle technologies. This includes engagement on a wide range of issues related to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including vehicle maintenance. My Department is also consulting on mandating a range of ADAS in new vehicles, alongside a call for evidence seeking views on the ongoing maintenance of these systems. Given the importance of properly maintained vehicles for road safety, the Government keeps the MOT under continual review to ensure it remains effective as vehicle technology evolves. This includes considering how increasingly sophisticated systems, such as ADAS, can be appropriately monitored as part of wider vehicle safety assurance. Officials continue to gather and assess evidence to inform any future changes.

If she will publish guidance on maximising the potential safety impact of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems technologies through calibration.

As set out in the Road Safety Strategy, the Government is committed to taking advantage of vehicle technologies to make our roads safer. The Strategy adopts the internationally recognised Safe System approach, acknowledging that vehicle technologies can significantly reduce risk when they function as intended, and that responsibility for safety is shared across government, manufacturers, repairers and the wider transport sector. My Department is currently exploring options for future policy decisions to maximise the benefits of vehicle technologies. This includes engagement on a wide range of issues related to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including vehicle maintenance. My Department is also consulting on mandating a range of ADAS in new vehicles, alongside a call for evidence seeking views on the ongoing maintenance of these systems. Given the importance of properly maintained vehicles for road safety, the Government keeps the MOT under continual review to ensure it remains effective as vehicle technology evolves. This includes considering how increasingly sophisticated systems, such as ADAS, can be appropriately monitored as part of wider vehicle safety assurance. Officials continue to gather and assess evidence to inform any future changes.

What the timetable is for the UK’s potential accession to EUROFIMA; and what the next steps are in the Government’s consideration of participation.

The Department is exploring a range of financing structures to support investment in rolling stock, in partnership with private finance. The Department remains in active engagement with Eurofima, as one element of this work, to assess how its financing mechanisms could support future investment in the UK rolling stock market. The Government will update the House in due course once decisions have been taken on accession to the Eurofima Convention, to support wider rolling stock investment plans.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her Department’s policies on (a) electric vehicle uptake, (b) automotive production, and (c) transport affordability for lower-income households of the French social leasing scheme.

The Department regularly engages with French counterparts on policy, including support for zero emission vehicles, and is carefully reviewing the recent (10 April) announcement of the third iteration of the French Government’s Social Leasing scheme.