Transport Dominates as Government Moves to Strip Peerages

High-Level Summary

The House of Commons concentrated on transport during Oral Questions, covering electric vehicles, rail investment and performance, fares, driving test waits, buses, roads and rural links. Ministers then answered an Urgent Question on the Government’s response to a Humble Address for papers on Lord Mandelson, pledging full compliance and legislation to enable removal of peerages, with first disclosures expected after recess. Backbench time featured debates on LGBT+ History Month and rural mobile connectivity, while a Select Committee statement warned that progress on social housing standards has stalled. The Speaker announced Royal Assent to three Acts; the Business Statement set forthcoming business and recess dates; an Urgent Question examined Pharmacy First payments; and the Adjournment focused on school minibus safety and potential reforms to section 19 permit operations.

Detailed Summary

Transport Questions: Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate

Desmond Swayne asked whether the Government would retain the ZEV mandate. The Secretary of State confirmed: “This Government remain fully committed to the zero emission vehicle transition and the ZEV mandate”, noting ongoing reviews of mechanisms to achieve the 2030/2035 phase‑out dates. Supporters argued the mandate is market‑shaping and boosts investment; Perran Moon asked if it was “a fundamental, market-shaping policy that is driving investment, expanding choice and delivering cheaper motoring”, and the Secretary of State pointed to over £6 billion of private investment in charging and new automotive investments. Concerns about Chinese EV imports and security were answered with assurances that security issues are “front and centre of our minds”. Greg Smith challenged demand and viability, but Ministers replied that EV sales “increased by nearly a quarter in 2025” and nine in ten switchers would recommend an EV, and confirmed a review of the ZEV mandate will start later this year.

Transport Questions: Rail strategy, projects and accessibility

On Northern connectivity, Ministers described Northern Powerhouse Rail as “the biggest transformation in travel in the north of England in a generation”, with options to improve Bradford‑Manchester connectivity including the Calder Valley line. On Todmorden station step‑free access delays, Ministers said Network Rail had taken over delivery, funding remained available, and survey and option work was under way. Broader investment headlines included more than £10 billion over four years and progress on HS2, East West Rail and the TransPennine Route Upgrade. Specific commitments included arranging a meeting on the Energy Coast rail upgrade, tackling Sunday reliability on Great Western through staffing plans, publishing a rolling stock and infrastructure strategy “this summer” to smooth demand, and clarifying that Great British Railways will decide future open access applications, with rights of appeal to the ORR.

Transport Questions: Commuter safety, local schemes and driving test waits

On commuter safety, the Department said it works with the British Transport Police and industry so “everyone both feels safe and is safe when travelling”. Local safety/access issues raised included Gallows Corner, where Ministers noted it is a TfL scheme and that substantive funding has now been provided to allow construction to proceed, and Pokesdown station, where the Secretary of State will press the council to reconsider its withdrawal of funding. On driving tests, measures to reduce waits include changing the booking system so only learners can book/manage tests, limiting changes, geographical restrictions, and utilising military examiners. These changes and recruitment will benefit learners across Great Britain, including Scotland. The Minister called profiteering on test slots “completely unacceptable” and said the system will be changed to block abuse. Responding to criticism of waits, she cited the NAO’s finding that, before 2024, DfT had “largely left DVSA to try and resolve the issue”.

Transport Questions: Fares and the case for Great British Railways

On affordability, the Government said they had frozen regulated fares for the first time in 30 years and ran a Great British Rail Sale with over 1 million discounted tickets. In response to concerns about changes by some operators and rising fares on some journeys, Ministers contrasted past fare increases and industrial action costs, reiterated the freeze, and argued that long‑term savings require a single guiding mind in the form of Great British Railways: “the only way is to get behind our move to create Great British Railways”.

Transport Questions: Buses and rural transport

Ministers said the £3 bus fare cap is extended until March next year, alongside £3 billion multi‑year allocations enabling local authorities to set lower fares, including for young people. They noted previous commitments to a £2 cap had not been funded and pointed to local flexibility to support youth fares. On restoring links such as South Yorkshire’s SL1 tram‑train bus, Ministers agreed to a meeting with the buses Minister. For rural connections, they highlighted the Bus Services Act 2025, which gives local leaders real control, and a £2.3 billion local transport grant for smaller towns and rural areas, and offered to discuss proposals such as paid spare seats on school buses.

Transport Questions: Roads, investment and maintenance

The Department set out a new road safety strategy to reduce those killed and seriously injured by 65% over the next decade and “£24 billion over the next four years” for roads. On specific schemes, they said improvements to A50 junctions are being considered for RIS3 with news due next month, and confirmed public funding will start the Lower Thames Crossing, with further details to come. On maintenance, Ministers announced “a record £7.3 billion over the next four years” and new transparency so councils spend effectively, adding that local road maintenance funding will double over this Parliament.

Urgent Question: Government response to Humble Address on Lord Mandelson papers

Cabinet Office Minister Chris Ward confirmed the Government will comply fully with the Humble Address seeking disclosure around Peter Mandelson’s appointment and outlined parallel actions, including forthcoming legislation to remove peerages and removing Mandelson from the Privy Council: “The Government will comply fully and publish documents as soon as possible”; “the Government will bring forward legislation to ensure that peerages can be removed”. Documents affecting national security or international relations will be referred to the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC); the Prime Minister has written to the ISC and resources will be provided. Departments have been instructed to retain relevant material and the first tranche is expected “when the House comes back from recess”. The Speaker emphasised the ISC’s independence and that private handling would not prejudice a police investigation. Pressed on timing and scope by Alex Burghart, Ward said, “we will comply fully”, scoping had begun and publication would start “as soon as possible after the recess”. He confirmed Palantir correspondence would be provided in writing and that Matthew Doyle papers are outside scope. Ward reiterated that legislation to remove peerages would be introduced “as soon as possible” after recess, and assured Members on ISC resourcing and appeal mechanisms.

Royal Assent notification

The Speaker notified Royal Assent to three Acts: the Licensing Hours Extensions Act 2026, the Secure 16 to 19 Academies Act 2026, and the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026.

Urgent Question: Pharmacy First payments

Responding to Dr Luke Evans, Health Minister Zubir Ahmed said the Pharmacy First payment structure and a reduced claim window were agreed with Community Pharmacy England for 2025‑26, including a new £500 fixed first payment broadening eligibility. He noted suspensions from providing the service may occur pending investigation to protect patient safety, and said core funding had increased to over £3 billion in the last two years. Challenged that payments were being withheld on a technicality, he said the remuneration method was sector‑agreed and that provisions allow payment where IT problems caused delays. He highlighted independent prescribers as a key, expanding part of the workforce and undertook to write with funding details, said Pharmacy First payments are “dynamic” month‑to‑month reflecting activity, and committed to unblocking GP‑pharmacy referral pathways.

Business Statement: forthcoming business and recess dates

The Leader of the House announced business for the week commencing 23 February and provisional business for the week of 2 March, including the Second Reading of the Representation of the People Bill and the Spring Forecast Statement, and set recess dates: summer recess rising 16 July and returning 1 September 2026; conference recess rising 15 September and returning 12 October 2026; and Christmas recess rising 17 December and returning 4 January 2027. In exchanges, the Government pointed to work to raise standards in public life, stating they are “working with the newly established Ethics and Integrity Commission to ensure that we reach the highest possible standards in public life”.

Select Committee statement: condition of homes in the social rented sector

Florence Eshalomi outlined the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee’s report finding that progress in improving social homes has stalled since the pandemic, with “around 430,000 social homes still fail[ing] to meet the basic standard of decency”. The Committee welcomed Awaab’s Law and the new Decent Homes Standard, but asked for clear timelines for phased implementation, interim annual targets before 2035 and a process to review and update the standard at least every 10 years. It urged a new modern Decent Homes Programme to support landlords to raise standards.

Bill presented: Representation of the People Bill

The Government presented a Bill to extend voting rights to 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds; reform voter registration and electoral administration; regulate political expenditure and donations; set information standards for electronic campaigning; strengthen offences and sanctions; adjust Electoral Commission disclosure powers; and create disqualification and sentencing provisions where offences are aggravated by hostility towards those involved in elections. Second Reading is scheduled for Monday 23 February.

Backbench Debate: LGBT+ History Month

Opening, Nadia Whittome celebrated advances but warned of regression after the Supreme Court ruling and interim EHRC guidance, urging legislative clarification to ensure trans inclusion. She said, “Trans people have always existed, trans people will always exist” and affirmed solidarity: “There is no LGB without the T”. Members called for a trans‑inclusive ban on conversion practices and equalisation of hate crime laws; Kate Osborne stated: “I am a lesbian, and nothing about me needs to be fixed”. Sarah Owen highlighted rising hate crime against LGBT+ people. The Minister for LGBT+ Equality, Olivia Bailey, said the Government “will always stand with LGBT+ people”, confirmed plans to equalise hate crime laws via the House of Lords and to bring forward a trans‑inclusive ban on conversion practices, and noted that the UK will host the 2027 European IDAHOT forum.

Backbench Debate: Rural Mobile Connectivity

Helen Morgan led a debate on poor rural mobile coverage, citing widespread resident experiences, the gap between Ofcom’s maps and lived reality, and Streetwave/River Severn Partnership testing that showed larger not‑spots than official data: while Ofcom estimated 1.45% of areas without good voice capability, the partnership’s testing indicated 15.33%. She argued for mandatory mast sharing or rural roaming and better Ofcom accountability, and warned that the digital landline switchover without resilient mobile risks safety during power cuts. She criticised delays and delivery in the shared rural network and Project Gigabit. The Digital Economy Minister reiterated the ambition for stand‑alone 5G in all populated areas by 2030, said Ofcom’s Map Your Mobile tool and a mobile market review will improve coverage data and investment, and stated that the shared rural network has delivered 4G to 96% of the landmass from at least one operator and to 81% from all four, with public elements continuing to January 2027. He added that Ofcom is reviewing power resilience for masts and that the smart meter network must reach 99.25% of premises.

Adjournment Debate: School minibus safety

Sarah Edwards called for tightening the regime for school minibuses, recalling the 1993 M40 tragedy and arguing current section 19 permit arrangements rely too much on guidance rather than enforceable standards. She urged mandating D1/PCV licensing and accredited training for school minibus drivers, phasing out lightweight minibus‑van conversions, national inspections, clearer legal definitions and Ofsted scrutiny: the current system “falls short” and “Section 19 permits for schools should be replaced with statutory regulations”. The Roads Minister noted improvements since 1993 (seatbelts, vehicle design, licensing) and that incidents have decreased, outlined existing permit guidance on maintenance, training, rest and responsibilities, and said the permit system supports valued not‑for‑profit services. She acknowledged the challenges raised and said DfT and DfE Ministers would meet to consider further steps, within the context of the new road safety strategy targeting a 70% reduction in child KSI by 2035.