Ministers Pledge Rollouts, Safety and Lower Bills

High-Level Summary

Westminster Hall held five debates covering UK bus manufacturing, rural gigabit broadband, women’s safety in public spaces, support for consumer energy bills, and the digital exploitation of women and girls. Members urged stronger procurement, social value weighting and industrial policy to boost domestic bus production; Ministers pointed to a forthcoming 10‑year order pipeline and social value guidance. Rural broadband progress was acknowledged alongside delays, with updates on remedial action in Devon and Somerset and the aim of 99% gigabit coverage by 2032. The Government outlined funding and design measures to make active travel safer for women and girls, set out bill‑cutting and home‑upgrade plans, and described steps to tackle online harms, including action on deepfakes and age verification. All motions were agreed without division.

Detailed Summary

UK Bus Manufacturing

Euan Stainbank contrasted rising UK registrations of zero‑emission buses with falling domestic output: “There were 694 more zero emission buses registered in Britain in 2025 compared with 2024” and “There were 167 fewer built in the United Kingdom in 2025 compared with 2024.” He argued franchising and procurement reform can support British manufacturers, warning, “We will be talking about transitioning to reliance on other places in the world” if policy does not shift. He urged a stronger social value emphasis, suggesting “a 30% social value weighting,” and guidance under the Procurement Act. He also cited “a National Cyber Security Centre and Department for Transport investigation into the risk of remote deactivation” in some imported buses.

Contributors highlighted Alexander Dennis and Wrightbus, the impact of public procurement choices and alleged security risks. Jim Allister criticised purchases in London, stating, “479 Chinese buses have been put on our streets, with another 160 to follow” and called for assertive use of social value. Minister Simon Lightwood said a UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel had developed a forward pipeline and “I intend to publish the pipeline shortly”. He noted ZEBRA had supported “the roll-out of 2,500 zero emission buses”, and that the Bus Services Act will “introduce a requirement that new diesel buses cannot be used on local bus routes in England… not before 2030”. He confirmed legal limits on mandating UK-built purchases but had secured mayoral commitments for “social value criteria at least 10% of weighting” and promised best‑practice guidance. On security, he cautioned, “The use of terms such as ‘kill switches’ is alarmist” while stressing existing cyber regulations. Outcome: motion agreed; next steps include publication of the 10‑year pipeline and dissemination of social‑value guidance.

Rural Broadband: Installation

Ashley Fox described poor rural connectivity and business impacts, including a case where “BT told Sue she would be better off using Starlink” when speeds were inadequate. He acknowledged national progress—“In 2018, full-fibre coverage stood at 6%… today, the proportion is 78%”—but warned that “Many villages are still looking at waits until 2030” and sought assurances on funding and Ofcom’s strategic priorities.

Minister Kanishka Narayan reaffirmed the mission to reach 99% gigabit by 2032 and current coverage “over 89% of UK premises”. He acknowledged descoping delays in Devon and Somerset and reported remedial action: “approximately 3,000 premises are now included in approved voucher projects,” with “around 8,500” more being considered for inclusion in an Openreach contract change to be finalised in spring. On a reported funding shortfall, he said, “Openreach has not made that representation to me” and the Government is “squarely focused on reaching the 99% target”. He also pointed to alternatives for very hard‑to‑reach areas, including satellite and fixed wireless access. Outcome: motion agreed; next steps include amending the Openreach contract scope in spring and concluding the Ofcom priorities review “in due course”.

Women’s Safety: Walking, Wheeling, Cycling and Running

Jessica Asato set out the routine harassment faced by women in public spaces, including while exercising. She cited research that “82% of the women… had safety concerns while running, and 68% had experienced abuse… but only 5% had reported it to the police”. She said, “Women’s fear and experiences of harassment are often minimised” and urged better reporting, design and segregated infrastructure. She also noted that 72% of women worry about personal safety in the dark. Members called for improved lighting, safer routes, and embedding women’s safety in transport and planning.

Minister Lilian Greenwood affirmed an aim “to halve violence against women and girls in a decade” with a cross‑Government approach. She announced £626 million over four years for active travel—“enough for 500 miles of new walking and cycling routes”—and said the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy would include objectives on safety and ease. Active Travel England is supporting design for women and girls, and the Government is updating the Manual for Streets to include advice on improving personal safety. Outcome: motion agreed; next steps include publishing CWIS3 in spring and continuing ATE’s work with local authorities.

Consumer Energy Bills: Government Support

Luke Taylor linked high bills to global shocks and cold‑related harm, citing that “The End Fuel Poverty Coalition estimated that 4,950 excess winter deaths… were caused by living in cold homes during that first chaotic winter of 2022-23”. He urged immediate affordability measures and structural reforms, including a social tariff and shifting levies, and sought clarity on Warm Homes Plan delivery and Ofcom’s Statement of Strategic Priorities.

Minister Martin McCluskey said affordability is the Government’s “No. 1 priority”, pointing to clean‑energy expansion—“8.4 GW of new offshore wind capacity” in the latest auction—and near‑term relief by “taking an average £150 of costs off energy bills from April 2026” and expanding the Warm Home Discount to up to 6 million households. He described the Warm Homes Plan as “the biggest ever public investment in home upgrades,” targeting “up to 5 million homes by 2030” with £5 billion for free upgrades and a further £5 billion for low or zero‑interest loans. He also highlighted Ofgem’s updated debt strategy, including a proposed debt relief scheme, and a review of cost allocation and recovery to keep bills fair. Outcome: motion agreed; next steps include consultations on consumer protections, Warm Homes Agency advice and Ofgem reforms.

Digital Exploitation of Women and Girls

Mark Hendrick outlined the prevalence of online harms and low trust in redress: in a Lancashire survey, “Half of the women… said they had experienced unwanted or inappropriate messages… Only 12%… reported it… and just 8% trusted the wider criminal justice system”. He detailed technology‑facilitated abuse, stalking, deepfakes and non‑consensual image sharing, urging a legal definition, mandatory police guidance and updated legislation, and welcomed a planned offence covering non‑consensual intimate images.

Minister Jess Phillips emphasised agile enforcement and safety‑by‑design, citing early Online Safety Act impacts: “Pornhub has reported a 77% reduction in traffic since age verification” and “Ofcom has issued £1 million fines” for non‑compliance. She confirmed action to “ban nudification apps” via the Crime and Policing Bill and to make it “impossible for children to take and share naked images of themselves”. She also referred to standardising police responses through a new national centre and “expanding the use of covert officers” targeting online VAWG offenders. Outcome: motion agreed; next steps include legislating for new offences and continued Online Safety Act enforcement.