U.K., Oct. 20 -- UK Parliament issued the following news:

Do you have relevant expertise and experience or a special interest in the Highways (Financing) Bill, which is currently passing through Parliament?

If so, you can submit your views in writing to the House of Commons Public Bill Committee.

The Public Bill Committee will meet for the first time on Thursday 29 October 2026 to scrutinise the Highways (Financing) Bill line by line. and is expected to report by 5.00pm on Tuesday 24 November 2026.

When the Committee concludes its consideration of the Bill, it is no longer able to receive written evidence.

Anyone considering submitting written evidence is strongly advised to do so as soon as possible, as the Committee can conclude its considerations earlier than the expected deadline.

Aims of the Bill

The bill aims to establish a new framework for financing major road infrastructure projects in England through private sector investment. It would enable private companies to fund, build and maintain specific highways in return for being granted powers to charge tolls on those roads. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) would act as the independent regulator of the new regime.

The bill would:

establish duties for the Office for Road and Rail (ORR) and the Secretary of State

create a licensing regime for private highway operators

provide powers for charging and enforcing tolls

establish regulatory oversight and enforcement arrangements

introduce a special administration regime for private highway operators that become insolvent

The bill would also permit barrierless tolling on roads where tolls are already authorised under existing legislation.

Follow the progress of the Highways (Financing) Bill

The Highways (Financing) Bill 2026-27 was presented in the House of Commons on 10 September 2026 and had its second reading on 15 October 2026.

Bills before Parliament: Highways (Financing) Bill

Read the Explanatory Notes for the Highways (Financing) Bill

House of Commons Library Briefing Paper on the Highways (Financing) Bill

Oral evidence sessions will be held on Thursday 29 October.

Guidance on submitting written evidence

Deadline for written evidence submissions

The Public Bill Committee is now able to receive written evidence. The sooner you send in your submission, the more time the Committee will have to take it into consideration.

Amendments tabled to the Bill, and information regarding the order in which amendments will be taken in Committee, will be available in due course on the Bill’s publications page (under ‘Amendment paper’ and ‘Selection of amendments’).

Once the Committee has dealt with an amendment, it will not revisit it. Your submission should be emailed to scrutiny@parliament.uk

Further guidance on submitting written evidence (pdf, 771KB)

Easy-read guidance on submitting evidence to a public bill committee

Image: House of Commons

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.