Commons Pushes Safer Roads, Stronger Sanctions and High Street Powers

High-Level Summary

The Commons scrutinised transport policy and delivery, national security resilience, road safety reform, targeted human rights sanctions, and high‑street regulation. Transport questions ranged from rail fare freezes and ticketing to bus funding, rural connectivity and e‑scooter enforcement. The Roads Minister unveiled a new Road Safety Strategy with consultations on a minimum learning period for new drivers, a lower drink‑drive limit, and mandating modern vehicle safety technologies. MPs pressed for tougher and more consistent Magnitsky‑style sanctions, while a Backbench motion to curb gambling premises by removing the aim to permit rule was agreed. An Adjournment debate urged protection of rural post offices in Cheshire, with Ministers pointing to current subsidies and a review of access criteria.

Detailed Summary

Oral Answers: Transport

Members questioned Ministers on rail fares, bus services, rail performance, micromobility enforcement and transport’s role in growth. On fares, Ministers highlighted the first freeze in three decades and ticket sales promotions: “regulated rail fares will be frozen for the first time in 30 years” [ref: a419.5/1]. Concerns over LNER and other operators’ ‘simplification’ were met with assurances that trials would be reviewed to ensure value: “we will want to review this process” [ref: a420.0/1]. On buses, the Government cited multi‑year allocations and new powers in the Bus Services Act 2025, including accessibility and driver training: “from October, most local bus services must provide on-board audible and visual announcements” [ref: a422.1/1]; funding examples included “over £3 billion… including £5.1 million for Slough” [ref: a421.1/1].

Passenger rail questions covered performance and the creation of Great British Railways (GBR). Ministers said reliability is stabilising and that GBR will prioritise users: “a statutory duty to promote the interests of passengers” [ref: a425.7/1]. On Northern Powerhouse Rail, the Secretary of State affirmed commitment while noting timing for announcements: “fully committed to Northern Powerhouse Rail… may have to wait a few days or weeks” [ref: a435.0/1]. On e‑scooters, existing enforcement was reiterated, with potential future requirements to be consulted on: “regulations—including potentially requiring registration or licence plates—will be publicly consulted” [ref: a428.2/1]. For growth, the Secretary cited headline investment: “investing £92 billion to maintain and modernise our roads and railways” [ref: a428.8/1], and referenced imminent Access for All decisions “literally on my desk” [ref: a429.5/1]. Topics also included signalling at Clapham Junction, direct services (e.g. Blackpool–London), the Ely‑Haughley upgrade, and testing backlogs—Ministers pointed to NAO criticism of past handling and booking system reforms so “only genuine learner drivers can book and manage tests” [ref: a436.0/1‑a436.0/3; a436.4/1].

Business of the House

The Leader of the House set out business for 12–20 January, including Committee of the whole House on the Finance (No. 2) Bill and remaining stages of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill [ref: a445.2/2‑a445.2/9]. In exchanges on announcements made outside Parliament, the Leader said farmers were informed “at the earliest opportunity” and reiterated that announcements should be made in the House “wherever possible” [ref: a447.0/6]. Backbench priorities included Met police vetting failures—an HMICFRS investigation has been launched [ref: a450.0/3]—and issues such as local elections, flooding, banking hubs and knife crime. The Chair noted a postponed debate followed multiple urgent questions and statements: “I am only carrying out my job and ensuring that Back Benchers have their voices heard” [ref: a451.0/1].

Select Committee Statement: Subsea Telecommunications Cables

Matt Western outlined the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy’s report on the resilience of subsea telecoms cables, warning they are a new front in hybrid conflict and that governance is fragmented: “Governance of subsea cables has been fragmented across at least eight Departments” [ref: a490.4/4]. Recommendations included establishing an oversight board, strengthening contingency planning and landing‑station security, and considering a sovereign repair ship by 2030 [ref: a490.4/8; a490.4/7]. In discussion, Members queried deterrence within international law and international co‑operation; the Chair said the Government are reviewing legislation and capabilities: they are “launching a comprehensive review of legislation relating to subsea cable infrastructure” [ref: a490.4/10].

Ministerial Statement: Road Safety Strategy

The Roads Minister announced a national strategy aiming to reduce those killed or seriously injured on the roads by 65% by 2035, and by 70% for under‑16s: “reducing those killed or seriously injured… by 65% by 2035” [ref: a434.7/1]. Consultations include a minimum learning period for learner drivers, a lower drink‑drive limit, reforms to motorcycle training, and possible mandatory eyesight tests for over‑70s [ref: a469.1/6‑a469.1/8]. The plan also proposes mandating 18 vehicle safety technologies (e.g. autonomous emergency braking), a data‑led road safety investigation branch, updated speed and camera guidance, and tougher penalties for uninsured driving and illegal number plates [ref: a469.1/9‑a469.1/16].

Opposition and cross‑party questions probed impacts on test wait times and hospitality, drug‑driving enforcement, cognitive testing for older drivers, school‑zone safety, and ‘ghost plate’ enforcement. Ministers said measures will be evidence‑led—“we are acting on the evidence” [ref: a473.2/2]—and that booking reforms will ensure “only genuine learner drivers can book and manage tests” [ref: a436.4/1]. They confirmed action on drug‑driving publicity and testing, and consultation on tougher penalties for illegal plates: “we are looking to improve testing and processing so that we can bring more convictions” [ref: a481.3/1]; “tougher penalties for those who use illegal plates” [ref: a476.1/1].

Backbench Business: Human Rights Abuses and Magnitsky Sanctions

Sir Iain Duncan Smith led a debate urging stronger, more consistent application of Magnitsky‑style sanctions. The motion argued that implementation is “inconsistent and insufficient” and called for enhanced enforcement, greater oversight and better support for victims [ref: a496.3/2]. Examples cited included failure to mirror allied designations (e.g. senior officials linked to abuses in China, and UAE‑related actors in Sudan), and cases of arbitrary detention (such as Ryan Cornelius, Jagtar Singh Johal and Jimmy Lai), with a call to sanction Hong Kong officials: “Not a single Hong Kong individual is named on the UK sanctions list” [ref: a500.1/16].

The Minister responded that the Government had introduced over 1,000 new designations this Parliament under various regimes and highlighted enforcement activity by the NCA and OFSI: “in 2025 alone, OFSI issued four major civil monetary penalties, totalling over £900,000” [ref: a527.1/3]. The House agreed the motion: “Question put and agreed to… Resolved” [ref: a528.1/6‑a528.1/8].

Backbench Business: High Street Gambling Reform

Dawn Butler’s motion sought removal of the ‘aim to permit’ rule to give councils more control over gambling premises. She described clustering in deprived areas and the associated harms, including debt, mental health decline and suicide: “In Harlesden, we have 10 betting shops within a 10-minute walk” [ref: a530.3/4]; “an average of one suicide a day due to gambling harms” [ref: a533.1/2]. Members cited the impact on veterans and grooming of young people via gaming, and called for public health input and cumulative impact tools.

The Government acknowledged harms, confirmed an intention to introduce cumulative impact assessments “when parliamentary time allows,” and noted that planning remains separate from licensing; they also pointed to wider reforms and existing local powers to set conditions and enforce licensing. CIAs will enable “data‑driven decisions on premises licences” [ref: a552.3/3]. The motion was agreed to: “Question put and agreed to… Resolved” [ref: a552.4/6‑a552.4/8].

Adjournment Debate: Post Offices in Cheshire

Aphra Brandreth argued that post offices are essential national infrastructure, especially in rural Cheshire, citing closures in Kelsall and access‑to‑cash issues in Malpas. She asked the Government to maintain at least 11,500 branches and protect rural ‘main’ offices, noting access criteria requiring that “99% of the population live within three miles of a post office” [ref: a554.2/2].

The Minister praised postmasters, said the Government are reviewing access criteria via a Green Paper (starting from maintaining network size), welcomed the new banking framework to boost income from banking services, and highlighted current support: “we are providing £83 million in subsidies for the network this year” [ref: a558.2/11]; he undertook to raise specific cases with Post Office management [ref: a558.2/1].