Local transport minister, Simon Lightwood, took part in a competition against a team of pro cricketers to showcase the difficulty of the learner bus driver test, in order to promote apprenticeships for the next generation of bus drivers.

A new Local Government Authority (LGA) survey has found that almost three quarters of responding councils felt that it will be very or fairly difficult compared to earlier years to set a balanced budget for 2025-26

The Chancellor has announced £2 billion of new grant funding to deliver up to 18,000 new social and affordable homes.
The government has promised to build 1.5 million new homes.
The £2 billion investment comes as a down payment from the Treasury ahead of more long term investment in social and affordable housing planned later this year, which will provide additional funding for 2026-27 and well as for future years.
Thousands of new affordable homes will start construction by March 2027 and will complete by the end of this Parliament.

First minister John Swinney will announce £25 million investment for local authorities to invest in the renewing play parks across Scotland. All councils will receive a share of the funding to improve the standard of play parks, which will ensure that children have safe environments to play and socialise in.

From mid-April onwards, local authorities in England will start to receive their share of the government’s record £1.6 billion highway maintenance funding, including an extra £500 million, which is enough to fill seven million potholes a year.
In order to receive the full amount, all councils in England must publish annual progress reports and prove public confidence in their work, starting from today (24th March 2025). Those who fail to do this will have 25 per cent of the uplift (£125 million in total) withheld.

The Chancellor has announced £600 million worth of investment to train up to 60,000 more skilled construction workers.
It is hoped the investment will deliver well-paid jobs across the country in the construction sector, while helping to build 1.5 million homes.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics have shown that there are over 35,000 job vacancies and employers report that over half of vacancies can’t be filled due to a lack of required skills. There is expected to be further demand as the push to deliver more homes and infrastructure continues.