Victoria Collins 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.
27 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Bus Services: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63423More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of bus services in rural areas in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.
Answer: The government recognises the importance of accessible, frequent and affordable bus services in keeping communities connected, including in rural areas. Buses in England outside London were deregulated by the Transport Act 1985 and at present are largely ...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63422More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase railway capacity in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.
Answer: Rail services in the Hertfordshire region are supported by requirements on train operators to plan services and design timetables to meet both current and future passenger demand, while also ensuring value for money for the taxpayer. Operators must contin...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63421More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of passenger rail performance in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and b) Hertfordshire.
Answer: Department officials continuously monitor the performance of train operating companies across a range of measures and meet regularly with senior management to scrutinise and challenge their companies’ performance. The Department will continue to engage wi...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Insurance: DisabilityDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61421More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the (a) Financial Conduct Authority and (b) Chancellor of the Exchequer on the affordability of motor insurance for drivers requiring specialist vehicles due to (i) disability
Answer: This Government is committed to tackle the high costs of motor insurance. The cross-Government motor insurance taskforce, launched in October, is comprised of ministers from relevant government departments and the Financial Conduct Authority and Competiti...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Transport: WomenDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57829More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) school-aged girls and (b) young women can access help on public transport if they are concerned for their safety.
Answer: The Department is committed to ensuring everyone, including women and girls, is safe on the transport network. As part of our aim to reduce Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) by half over the next decade, we have an ambitious, evidence-based programm...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Insurance: DisabilityDepartment for TransportTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56137More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with car insurance companies on the affordability of compulsory car insurance for drivers who require larger vehicles for disability-related mobility needs.
Answer: My officials meet motor insurers and their representative bodies such as the Association of British Insurers periodically to discuss a range of motor insurance issues.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52770More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve the affordability of rail fares in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.
Answer: We are overhauling the fares and ticketing system to make it easier for passengers to trust that they are buying the right ticket and getting the best fare, with the move to Great British Railways (GBR) passengers will be able to receive a more consistent...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52768More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase access to rail links in rural communities in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.
Answer: The Government knows that public transport needs to be better integrated in order to improve the experience for passengers, providing access to services and keeping communities connected. We also know that in rural areas, bus services can be a lifeline fo...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52767More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of passenger rail performance in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.
Answer: Performance in the area has been challenging in recent months, affected by a range of issues including points failures, train faults and external trespass and fatality incidents affecting Thameslink services operated by Govia Thameslink Railway. However, ...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordLondon Northwestern Railway and Thameslink line: ConcessionsDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46363More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is taking steps to enable railcard holders to use their discounts with contactless payments on (a) London Northwestern Railway and (b) Govia Thameslink Railway services.
Answer: Whilst currently you are not able to link railcards to contactless bankcards, we are working with Transport for London on the functionality to use Railcard discounts with Pay As You Go (PAYG) with contactless, and this will follow in due course. Passenge...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBlue Badge Scheme: ApplicationsDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46362More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is taking steps to (a) review and (b) amend the Blue Badge eligibility criteria to accommodate individuals with temporary disabilities.
Answer: The Blue Badge scheme is primarily about helping people with a long-term disability, that affects their capacity to access the goods and services they need to use. The Department for Transport currently has no plans to amend the eligibility criteria. The ...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAviation: CrewDepartment for TransportTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45292More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to raise the retirement age for commercial pilots.
Answer: Age limits for commercial pilots are set out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in standards and recommended practices, which the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) apply. These are under review by ICAO and the CAA remain engaged with ...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44796More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help improve bus connectivity in )a) Great Gaddesden and (b) other rural areas.
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 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: Buckinghamshire and HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44793More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support the (a) early commencement of services and (b) reliability of bus services between (i) Tring, (ii) Aylesbury, and (iii) Hemel Hempstead.
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 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTrain Operating CompaniesDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44277More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to introduce (a) accountability and (b) enforcement provisions for private train companies during rail nationalisation.
Answer: During the transition of passenger services to a public sector operator, the Secretary of State for Transport will continue to hold private sector operators to account through a range of measures, using enforcement provisions where required. All operators...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTravel Cards: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Oyster card scheme to stations in the Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: Transport for London (TfL) and Operators can consider and propose Oyster expansion where a positive business case can be demonstrated. No such proposals have been put forward to the Department. However, we are expanding ticketing innovations such as Pay A...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTrain Operating CompaniesDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31559More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure private train operating companies are held to account for their performance during the transition to rail nationalisation; and what steps she will take to ensure that performa
Answer: The Secretary of State for Transport will not tolerate poor performance and will continue to hold all operators to account through a range of measures, including during the transition of services to a public sector operator. All operators will continue t...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLuton Airport: Air PollutionDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26218More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of ultra fine particles at Luton airport on local residents.
Answer: There are currently no legal limits for ultra fine particulate concentrations. Air quality at Luton Airport is closely monitored and is reported in its Sustainability Reports.
Answered 31 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordLuton Airport: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26217More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her decision on the application to expand Luton airport of the level of emissions from flights departing from that airport.
Answer: The statutory deadline for a decision on the application for a Development Consent Order for London Luton airport expansion is 3 April 2025. Given the Secretary of State’s role in determining the application, it would not be appropriate to comment on the ...
Answered 31 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordAirports: National Policy StatementsDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26216More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to update the policy paper entitled Airports National Policy Statement, published on 5 June 2018, to reflect the net zero targets set out in legislation.
Answer: The Government has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer. Once proposals have been received, the government will review the Airports National Policy Statement in line with the requirements of the Planning Act...
Answered 31 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving: EyesightDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24349More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with the DVLA on the potential merits of accepting eye tests from certified opticians other than Specsavers for frequent license renewals where they are required.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will already consider eyesight tests carried out by opticians other than Specsavers. However, examinations carried out by Specsavers, as the DVLA’s contracted partner, ensure a consistent application of the r...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordAirports: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21516More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 900487 on Airports: Carbon Emissions, what strict environmental standards she will use to assess airport expansions.
Answer: The assessment of applications for airport expansion will take account of all relevant law, policy and other material considerations. This includes environmental assessments undertaken as part of the planning application process.The UK’s obligations on gr...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20845More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of enlisting approved driving instructors to carry out practical driving tests on a temporary basis; and if she will make an assessment of t
Answer: It is not possible to allow approved driving instructors (ADI’s) to temporarily work as driving examiners. The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) 1999 regulations require driving test examiners to meet certain criteria and pass an initial qualification and...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20836More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to increase the availability of practical driving tests in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times right across the country. I announced to Parliament via a Written Ministerial Statemen...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: WiFiDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her Department holds on the proportion of train journeys that had Wi-Fi available on board in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024 to date.
Answer: The department does not hold this data as it is currently a matter for individual train operators. Under Great British Railways, a wider programme to deliver improved passenger Wi-Fi connectivity will be considered.
Answered 3 Dec 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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