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Written question asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated) on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 23 June 2026. It was answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Driverless Vehicles

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the deployment of self-driving vehicles and autonomous passenger transport services in the UK.

Answer

On 22 May 2026, the Automated Passenger Services (APS) permitting scheme, introduced under the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, formally opened for applications. The scheme is intended to support small-scale pilot deployments, enabling operators to pilot these services and assess their commercial viability in Great Britain.

In March 2026, my department published non-statutory guidance for applicants, first responders, and local authorities and transport bodies to support understanding of the APS scheme.

Implementation of the full regulatory framework remains on track for 2027, creating a clear, legal environment for the wider uptake of self-driving technology on Great Britain’s roads.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL796
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Driverless vehicles
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk