PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(19 May 2026)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 9 January 2026 to Question 100955 on Department for Transport: Carbon Emissions, what assessment she has made of the administrative costs required for the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain to adapt HGV and PSV licensing regulations to support the transition to zero-emission commercial fleets by 2050.

Asked by:
Rebecca Smith (Conservative)

Traffic Commissioners (TCs) have an important role in regulating the operator licence regime for both goods vehicle and public service vehicles, ensuring operators meet requirements for safety, compliance, and professional competence. Their core function is to protect road safety, fair competition, and (to a more limited extent) the local environment, rather than to regulate vehicle emissions or carbon performance directly.

The exact role, if any, for the TCs is yet to be decided within future regulatory enforcement of the zero-emission strategy or if any changes to the HGV and PSV licensing will be required to support the transition to zero-emission. We will continue to assess any future impacts on the Traffic Commissioner function through the transition to all zero emission commercial fleets.

Answered by:
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