Written questions by Adam.

What steps her Department is taking to encourage local authorities to provide appropriate waiting areas and toilet facilities for licensed taxi and private hire drivers.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of fare-setting practices by digital private hire operators on the financial sustainability of licensed private hire drivers.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment she has made of safety levels at Leicester railway station.

The Department for Transport has not made an assessment of safety levels at Leicester station. The body that monitors and enforces compliance with health and safety legislation on Britain’s rail network, including at stations, is the Office of Rail and Ro...

What oversight mechanism exists to ensure that (a) East Midlands Railway and (b) other rail operators respond adequately to repeated safety concerns raised by staff.

As an employer it is the responsibility of East Midlands Railway, and other operators, to ensure the safety of employees and compliance with all relevant health and safety legislation and regulations. The body that monitors and enforces compliance with he...

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of (a) Amulet and (b) other private security contractors in railway stations.

No system-wide assessment has been made of the effectiveness of either Amulet or other private security contractors working in railway stations. DfT works closely with the rail industry and British Transport Police, who are responsible for ensuring a safe...

What mechanisms are in place for transport staff to report safety concerns anonymously without fear of disciplinary action.

There are several mechanisms that transport staff can use to report safety concerns anonymously without fear of disciplinary action. These include the Confidential Incident Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS) managed by the Rail Safety and Standards Boa...

What recent discussions she has had with the British Transport Police on response times to incidents in Leicester and surrounding areas.

Ministers at the Department for Transport regularly meet with the British Transport Police (BTP) to discuss the work the force are doing to ensure the railway remains a safe environment. The Chief Constable of the BTP has operational independence over the...

What assessment she has made of trends in the levels of delays caused by current emergency call protocols requiring transport staff to contact the British Transport Police before 999 services.

There is no requirement for railway staff to contact the British Transport Police before dialling 999 in an emergency. In emergency situations, staff should dial 999 immediately to secure the fastest available response.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of a decrease in funding on the operational capacity of the British Transport Police in the East Midlands.

The British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) has agreed a three-year budget settlement for BTP which will see BTP’s budget increase from £418.5m in 2025/26 to £481.5m in 2028/29. This will enable the Force to employ over 200 new officers by the end of 20...

What is the Government doing to ensure residents without off-street parking can access domestic-rate electric vehicle charging.

The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV).The £25 million EV Pavement Channel Grant supports local authorities to roll out cross-pavement solutions which enable residents without off-street parking to benefit from cheaper and more convenient domestic EV charging. Residents can also access the Electric Vehicle Charge point Grant for Households with On-Street Parking. As announced on 25 February 2026, from 1 April this year, eligible applicants can receive up to £500 off the cost of installing a domestic charge point when paired with a cross-pavement solution.

What funding is available to support local authorities in providing EV charging for residents without off-street parking.

The Government’s £400 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities to deliver over 100,000 further public charge points for residents without off-street parking. In addition, the £25 million EV Pavement Channel Grant supports local authorities to rollout cross-pavement solutions. This will ensure more residents can benefit from cheaper and more convenient domestic EV charging. This funding is to build on more than 118,000 publicly available chargers in England and Wales as of 1 March.

How the Government plans to ensure cross-pavement EV charging solutions remain sustainable and avoid unnecessary costs in the event that properties change ownership.

The commercial arrangements between each local authority and cross‑pavement solution provider will determine who is responsible for maintenance, including when property ownership changes. It is the responsibility of local authorities to develop their own policies on maintenance and change of ownership. Published in December 2024, the Government’s cross‑pavement solutions guidance helps local authorities develop policies that account for both maintenance requirements and situations involving changes in property ownership.

Will the Government provide guidance to local authorities on permitting cross-pavement EV charging for residents.

The Government is working with local authorities to encourage cross-pavement solutions to support EV charging for those without off-street parking. In December 2024, the Government published cross-pavement solutions guidance to help local authorities understand what they need to consider for the roll-out of cross-pavement solutions. This includes relevant planning permissions, minimum existing standards, responsibilities and case studies from trials.

If she will set targets for companies to provide accessible human customer service channels.

This Government is committed to improving accessibility, customer support, and helping to remove barriers to travel for all users of public transport. The Department recognises the important role staff play in providing face-to-face services on public transport and the reassurance this gives many customers, especially those who may feel vulnerable or may need more support. Innovation across the sector offers significant opportunities to change and improve customer service. Digitalisation and technological improvements will form part of this, across different modes of transport. These should be inclusive of the needs of all passengers, including disabled people. Where adjustments such as in-person assistance may be required, these should be accounted for in planning and development.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential cost to the public purse of introducing a national free travel pass for NHS workers.

There are no current plans to introduce national rail discounts to NHS worker. Once established, Great British Railways will have the opportunity to take a fresh look at the eligibility and restrictions of concession schemes. Any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy requires balancing against the potential impacts on passengers and taxpayers. The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as expanding the eligibility criteria to include NHS workers, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability. However, as part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the government allocated £955 million to support and improve bus services in 25/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, this can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include introducing new fares initiatives to reduce the cost of bus travel for passengers, including NHS workers.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a national free travel pass for NHS workers.

There are no current plans to introduce national rail discounts to NHS worker. Once established, Great British Railways will have the opportunity to take a fresh look at the eligibility and restrictions of concession schemes. Any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy requires balancing against the potential impacts on passengers and taxpayers. The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as expanding the eligibility criteria to include NHS workers, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability. However, as part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the government allocated £955 million to support and improve bus services in 25/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, this can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include introducing new fares initiatives to reduce the cost of bus travel for passengers, including NHS workers.