Written questions by Slade.

Whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of lowering the speed limit on rural single carriageway roads.

The Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January 2026, commits the Government to exploring whether the proposed rural roads categories are appropriate at a local level and to assessing their potential for national application. Developing a much clearer and more consistent definition of what constitutes a ‘rural road’ could help target safety interventions more effectively, ensuring resources are spent where they can have the greatest impact. We have also announced the establishment of a data-led Road Safety Investigation Branch, which will investigate collisions on a thematic basis. The strategy has also committed to publishing a new edition of the best practice guidance Setting local speed limits - GOV.UK which outlines how local authorities may introduce lower limits on rural roads where appropriate. The most recent publicly accessible version of this guidance emphasises that Local traffic authorities have the power to introduce speed limits lower than the national limit where local conditions justify this.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of negotiating with his EU counterparts to secure an exemption for professional drivers from the 90 in 180 day Schengen rule.

The Schengen 90/180-day immigration rule has applied since 2021 to all UK nationals (including professional drivers of heavy goods vehicles (HGV) and coaches) undertaking short stays for leisure and work in the Schengen area. The Schengen 90/180 limit is a fundamental part of the EU’s conditions of entry for third country nationals to its territory. As such, it is not UK Government policy.The Government will continue to listen to concerns raised by sectors affected by these rules and will advocate for British citizens abroad. Ultimately any exemptions or amendments to Schengen rules are a matter for Member States and the EU.

Whether she plans to take steps to negotiate an agreement with her EU counterparts to permit British HGV drivers to register biometric details away from the UK/EU border under the Entry/Exit System.

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is being implemented by the EU to improve border security. Whilst the UK Government continues to actively engage with the EU as they continue EES implementation, it is not a UK Government initiative. It is for individual Member States to determine how to register biometric details. The pre-registration of details does not replace checks by the border authorities. The UK Government is working closely with the EU as they roll out their EES checks to encourage a streamlined registration process that will minimise disruption for travellers. This is in addition to close engagement that the Department has had with travel operators and hauliers to support their preparation for EES and to reiterate travel requirements for the Schengen area.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact on road safety in the UK of her Department’s policy allowing people who obtained their driving license abroad to drive in the UK for 12 months without obtaining a UK driving license from the DVLA.

Foreign visitors to the UK are permitted to drive cars and motorcycles for up to 12 months without needing to exchange their licences or take a test. This system was established in 1909 and has remained in place under all recent governments, including the 2010-2015 coalition. After 12 months, people with licences from designated countries must exchange their licence for a UK equivalent whilst other licence holders must pass a UK test. Information about driving safely in the UK, notably driving on the left, is given to foreign drivers at ports.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) requiring all drivers to submit a recent eye test result when applying for a driving license renewal and (b) broadening the required eye tests to include an assessment of (i) vision in reduced lighting, (ii) reaction times, and (iii) peripheral vision.

All drivers, regardless of age, have a legal responsibility to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if they develop a medical condition that may affect their ability to drive. The Government is considering the current process of self-declaration and the challenges posed by an ageing population where certain conditions, including vision conditions, may become more prevalent. In the meantime, the current renewal at age 70 process remains as is, and drivers must legally declare any vision or medical conditions that may affect their ability to drive. Any options for change will be subject to public consultation.

If she is taking steps to ban pavement parking.

The Department held a consultation on pavement parking in 2020 and has been considering all the views expressed in response to the consultation and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them. We will announce the next steps and publish our formal response as soon as possible. In the meantime, local authorities can make use of existing powers to restrict and enforce pavement parking.

Whether she plans to impose (a) quotas and (b) no-flying times at night at (a) Bournemouth International Airport and (b) other regional airports.

The Government only sets noise-related restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. At all other airports, including Bournemouth, flight restrictions are set through the planning system and not by the Government. It is the responsibility of the relevant local planning authority to conduct any necessary noise assessments and to enforce any restrictions.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the process for booking a driving test through the DVLA test booking system on the mental health of young people.

As part of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) plan to reduce driving test waiting times, announced in December 2024, the agency launched a call for evidence seeking views and experiences of booking and managing practical car driving tests, which received almost 27,000 responses. The DVSA analysed the evidence from this and developed proposals on improving processes. On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced the consultation, following on from the call for evidence, had been fast-tracked. As acknowledged in the announcement regarding these measures, DVSA understands the potential impact on learner drivers, including younger drivers, and the importance of helping learners pass quickly. The consultation launched on 28 May. Views are being sought from the driver training industry, learner drivers and other interested parties. The consultation will close at 11:59pm on 23 July 2025. The consultation has already seen a large number of responses. Once closed, and all responses analysed, DVSA will announce next steps as soon as possible.

With reference to the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency's consultation entitled Improving car driving test booking rules, published on 28 May 2025, what her Department's planned timeline is for making changes to car driving test booking rules.

As part of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) plan to reduce driving test waiting times, announced in December 2024, the agency launched a call for evidence seeking views and experiences of booking and managing practical car driving tests, which received almost 27,000 responses. The DVSA analysed the evidence from this and developed proposals on improving processes. On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced the consultation, following on from the call for evidence, had been fast-tracked. As acknowledged in the announcement regarding these measures, DVSA understands the potential impact on learner drivers, including younger drivers, and the importance of helping learners pass quickly. The consultation launched on 28 May. Views are being sought from the driver training industry, learner drivers and other interested parties. The consultation will close at 11:59pm on 23 July 2025. The consultation has already seen a large number of responses. Once closed, and all responses analysed, DVSA will announce next steps as soon as possible.

What assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the DVLA self-reporting process for (a) age-related and (b) other health conditions.

The law requires all driving licence holders, regardless of age, to notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) of any medical condition that could affect their fitness to drive. When renewing their driving entitlement at the age of 70, licence holders must declare that they can continue to meet the relevant medical standards, including eyesight. Failure to do so is an offence. If a driver of any age notifies the DVLA of a medical condition, an investigation will be carried out. This can involve requesting additional information from the applicant or driver’s healthcare professionals or they may be asked to attend a medical examination or driving assessment. In 2023, the DVLA carried out a call for evidence to seek views on the current legislative basis for establishing whether a person is medically fit to drive. The evidence gathered, including the process of self-declaration, is being fully considered.

With reference to the ongoing e-scooter trials, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of e-scooters on (a) the modal shift of transport away from private cars and (b) reducing traffic congestion in trial areas; and what estimate she has made of the number of collisions involving e-scooters.

The first national evaluation of the e-scooter trials was published in December 2022. This found that e-scooters increasingly replaced private motor vehicle or taxi use over time (from 12% of journeys in March 2021 to 21% in December 2021). 42% of e-scooter trips replaced walking journeys in December 2021, and 9% of e-scooter journeys in the same period would otherwise not have been made. Statistics on road collisions are collected via data reported to the Department by police forces. Provisional estimates for the year ending June 2024 suggest that there were 1,194 casualties in collisions involving both private and rented e-scooters.

What recent assessment she has made of the impact of the current caps on the values of fines available to local authorities outside London on driver behaviour.

No recent assessment has been made. A number of parking sector stakeholders conducted research recently into this complex issue, and it has been submitted to the Department. Officials will be reviewing the research and its findings in due course.

What information her Department holds on the number of vehicular accidents involving drivers who have not disclosed age-related health conditions on their driving license renewals in each of the last five years.

This information is not held by the Department for Transport.The Department’s data on road injury collisions is based on information reported to the police via the STATS19 data collection system. STATS19 does not capture information on the health conditions of those involved in collisions.

What meetings her officials had with the then hon. member for Mid Dorset and North Poole on flooding at Bakers Arms Roundabout on the A35 during the last Parliament; and what agreements were made to consider me

The Department has no record of meetings on this matter during the last Parliament.