Sojan Joseph MP: written questions
4 Jul 2024–3 Jul 2025
How these years work
Our reporting years run from 4 July to 3 July, starting with the 2024 general election. They are not official parliamentary sessions. Office costs keep IPSA’s April–March financial years. Records may cover only part of a year; a missing record does not mean no work was done.
Read what this MP said, asked and contributed in Parliament.
17 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: TollsDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63233More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Statement of 17 June 2025 on Dart Charge, HCWS708, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Local Resident Discount Scheme for the Dartford Crossing
Answer: The current approach of applying the local resident discount only to people who live within the boroughs where the Dartford Crossing is located (Dartford and Thurrock), recognises that it is the people living in those boroughs who are most affected by the...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRoad Traffic Control: KentDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42967More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum on avoiding the routine deployment of Operation Brock during school holidays.
Answer: The Kent and Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF) is operationally independent from His Majesty’s Government (HMG). The KMRF's decision to deploy Operation Brock ahead of the Easter getaway was taken after extensive discussions, taking into account previous dis...
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordParking: Pedestrian AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42356More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing restrictions on pavement parking on pedestrians with (a) a visual impairment (b) people with mobility issues, (c) children and (d) parents wit
Answer: The Government fully understands the serious problems that vehicles parked on the pavement can cause for pedestrians, especially people with mobility or sight impairments, as well as those with prams or pushchairs. The Department has been considering all ...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41704More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the DVSA on the adequacy of its online booking system for booking practical driving tests.
Answer: As set out in the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) 2024/25 business plan, DVSA is beginning the process of replacing its booking system. DVSA also launched a call for evidence on 18 December 2024, seeking views on the current rules to book tes...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: ConcessionsDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38507More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending the hours at which English National Concessionary Travel Scheme bus passes can be used in (a) Kent and (b) England.
Answer: The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such ...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRoad Works: KentDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35933More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps National Highways is taking with (a) other road agencies, (b) utility companies and (c) local councils to help ensure minimal disruption when roadworks take place in (i) Ashford constituency and (ii)
Answer: National Highways is part of the Kent Corridor Coordination Group (KCCG), which was established as a collaborative forum to coordinate the delivery of multiple concurrent road improvement and maintenance schemes in Kent. By adopting a ‘corridor approach,’...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBlue Badge SchemeDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30341More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing blue badge holders to temporarily use an expired badge while its renewal is being processed.
Answer: The Department has no plans to allow the temporary use of an expired Blue Badge. It is an offence to use an expired badge which should be returned to the issuing local authority. Allowing the use of expired badges would undermine the effective enforcement...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: KentDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27954More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve the provision of bus services in (a) Ashford constituency and (b) Kent.
Answer: The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordA28: BridgesDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27725More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had recent discussions with the Highways Agency on increasing the height of the railings on the A28 overbridge over the M20 between junctions 9 and 10.
Answer: There have not been recent discussions between the Secretary of State and National Highways on increasing the height of the railings on the A28 overbridge over the M20 between junctions 9 and 10. Both the Department and National Highways take the issue of...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: AutismDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27452More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of ensuring that all public-facing transport staff participate in mandatory autism awareness and sensitivity training.
Answer: This Government wants to focus on how transport can be designed, built and operated to better serve the people who use it – delivering on our pledge to put people at the heart of what we do on transport and enabling them to live healthy, fulfilling lives ...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLarge Goods Vehicles: ConcreteDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 21357 on Large Goods Vehicles: Concrete, what her Department's planned timetable is for publishing its findings.
Answer: The Department will publish its findings shortly.
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordTaxis: TrainingDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24587More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of statutory safeguard training for (a) private hire and (b) taxi drivers under the Police and Crime Act 2017.
Answer: The Policing and Crime Act 2017 enables the Secretary of State for Transport to issue statutory guidance to licensing authorities on exercising their taxi and private hire vehicle licensing functions to protect children and vulnerable adults. Statutory gu...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9888More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve bus services for rural communities in Kent.
Answer: Good local bus services are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities. As announced in the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024, the government will introduce a Buses Bill later this parliamentary session, which will put decision-making into th...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: AshfordDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9886More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help reduce driving test waiting times in Ashford constituency.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA’s) main priority is to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, whilst upholding road safety standards. DVSA continues to take measures to increase test availability. These include the recruitment of...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRoads: AshfordDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9381More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that potholes are fixed promptly in Ashford constituency.
Answer: The Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local road network. Kent County Council is the local highway authority for the Ashford constituency, and it is therefore responsible for the ...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRoads: FreightDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 900488More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the impact of the EU Entry/Exit System on road haulage.
Answer: Department for Transport Ministers and officials regularly meet colleagues from the Home Office, the Cabinet Office and FCDO to discuss the impacts of the EU Entry/Exit System on travel between the UK and the Schengen Area, including the impacts on freigh...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Weed ControlDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4503More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that thistles and ragwort are removed from land owned by her Department between the village of Mersham and the Sevington inland border facility.
Answer: I can confirm that a cut of the field to remove the thistles and ragwort was completed by Sunday 8th September. The cut was started following an ecological walkover visit on Monday 2nd September to ensure that the works could go ahead without impacting ne...
Answered 11 Sept 2024
Original Parliament record
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4 Jul 2024–3 Jul 2025. One record per UIN and tabled date; the named department is not a measure of answer quality.
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