Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 8 January 2026 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial questions addressed issues related to driving test wait times and certificate validity.
  • Secretary of State agreed on the need to improve safety at hazardous rail crossings between Ipswich and Cambridge.
  • Government expressed willingness to discuss reopening Middlewich railway station and meet with constituents regarding rail network improvements.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Baggy Shanker Labour (Co-op) Derby South
Transport
Context

Constituents are frustrated with long waiting times for driving tests, which causes their theory certificates to expire, requiring them to retake the test.

Question

Many constituents tell me how fed up they are with the long waiting times for driving tests. By the time they secure a practical test, their theory certificate has expired, forcing them to pay again. What steps will the Minister take to help people who cannot afford to pay for another test?

Answer from Simon Lightwood

By law, theory tests certificates are valid for two years, for road safety reasons, to ensure that road safety knowledge and hazard perception skills are up to date when the individual takes their practical test. The Government have no plans to change that. My focus remains on driving down test waiting times once and for all, so that we are never in this situation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Steps to help those who cannot afford retaking the theory test due to long waiting times were not addressed.

How: Changing Subject

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Peter Prinsley Lab Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
Transport
Context

There are hazardous rail crossings on the east-west line between Ipswich and Cambridge, including at Thurston.

Question

There remain several hazardous crossings on the busy east-west line between Ipswich and Cambridge, including at Thurston, where pedestrians are obliged to walk across the track. Does the Secretary of State agree that we must support all initiatives to improve the safety of such crossings?

Answer from Heidi Alexander

I do agree. I am pleased to hear that progress has been made in one location, but our ambition to improve safety in and around the rail network does not stop there.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Andrew Cooper Lab Mid Cheshire
Transport
Context

Middlewich railway station closed 66 years ago, and students have asked about reopening the station.

Question

Sixty-six years ago this week, the last regular passenger train called at Middlewich railway station, drawing to a close 92 years of passenger rail travel from the town. A number of students from Middlewich high school have written to me to ask whether the Government would consider reopening the station, and Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington undertook considerable work under the Restoring Your Railway scheme. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss the merits of bringing back railway services to the largest town in Cheshire without a station, and restore that vital connection to Manchester, Crewe and beyond?

Answer from Heidi Alexander

I would be very happy to meet my hon. Friend. How can I resist the invitation to do so when he has been contacted by the next generation about the importance of improving our rail network? I look forward to our discussion.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Ben Goldsborough Lab South Norfolk
Transport
Context

Wymondham railway station is a focus for improving accessibility.

Question

Consider this a pincer movement from South Norfolk to talk about Wymondham railway station and Access for All. I have already had a productive meeting with the Minister for Rail this week. Will the Secretary of State help me to bang some heads together with Network Rail to ensure that we shorten the sidings so that Wyndham station can provide easy access for all?

Answer from Heidi Alexander

My hon. Friend has spoken to me and the Minister for Rail about Wymondham accessibility issues. I thank him for his hugely pragmatic and practical approach to working out how we can fund an affordable scheme there. I will say more about the Access for All programme in the coming weeks, and I will be sure to stay in touch with him on that particular issue.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email