Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of remote enforcement letters on coach operators.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) developed its desk-based assessment (DBA) policy and processes, in collaboration with Traffic Commissioners and industry stakeholders before its introduction, over ten years ago.

DVSA introduced DBAs to reduce time constraints on heavy goods vehicle and coach operators. DBAs give DVSA a more efficient, and less intrusive, method of evaluating an operator's compliance level, rather than conducting physical frontline visits.

DVSA’s remote assessment approach allows operators to submit data or respond to DBAs and intervention letters at a time that best suit their business and minimise any disruption.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 28325 on Parliamentary Estate: Detergents, if he will list the cleaning products used on the parliamentary estate that are not certified as cruelty-free.

Answered by Nick Smith

On 31 March 2025 usage of a further four products which were not certified as cruelty-free was ceased. The remaining cleaning products used on the parliamentary estate that are not certified as cruelty-free are:

• Suma Calc D5 Descaler
• Suma Grill D9 Oven and Grill Cleaner
• Suma Inox D7.1 Stainless Steel Polish
• Carefree Shine & Care Floor Polish
• Carefree Polish Speed Stripper

Our cleaning contractor is currently in the process of sourcing suitable alternatives.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the decision to increase parking penalties in London on her Department's review of penalty charge notice research.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

This Government believes that transport decisions in London, including the level of penalty charge notices (PCN), should be for the Mayor of London. A group of local government and other stakeholders has submitted research to Ministers on PCN levels outside London. The Department will consider carefully their findings and recommendations along with other relevant evidence before any decision is taken.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled Demand responsive transport: local authority toolkit, published on 13 April 2022, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of Demand Responsive Transport (a) as feeder services to existing rail and bus services and (b) in general.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The government believes demand responsive transport (DRT) has an important role to play in ensuring communities can access transport services in areas where more traditional, regular stopping services may not be viable.

The Department has funded 16 innovative DRT pilots through the Rural Mobility Fund. Each scheme is taking part in a detailed monitoring and evaluation process. This will provide a strong base of evidence and good practice for DRT and a better understanding of both the role it can play in rural areas and the challenges associated with introducing it. The final process evaluation will be published later in 2025, and an impact and value for money evaluation is just commencing, with findings available in late 2026.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of exam marking for public qualifications.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) is the independent regulator of qualifications, exams and assessments in England. Ofqual is responsible for ensuring that regulated qualifications reliably indicate the knowledge, skills and understanding students have demonstrated in their exams and assessments, including through marking and standard setting. I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sir Ian Bauckham, to write to the hon. Member directly, and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Found: Ruth Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur; Catherine Atkinson; Mrs Elsie Blundell; Alex Mayer

Found: Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur; Catherine Atkinson; Olly Glover; Katie Lam; Alex Mayer

Found: Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur; Catherine Atkinson; Olly Glover; Katie Lam; Alex Mayer