Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department has taken to prohibit the sale and use of LEDs which dazzle (a) pedestrians, (b) cyclists and (c) other drivers.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The lighting of road vehicles is regulated by the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 as amended (RVLR). It is illegal to sell unapproved LED light sources for use in modern car, truck and bus headlamps. Changes were made to the MOT manual to align with the requirements of the RVLR to ensure that modern vehicles fitted with unapproved light sources fitted will fail the MOT.
Furthermore, the Government recognises the increased public concern around headlamp glare and has commissioned independent research to understand the causes.
Careful consideration will be given to that work when it reports later this year to determine what future actions may be appropriate to ensure the safety of all road users.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle the use of illegally modified (a) cars and (b) motorcycles that produce excessive noise.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport takes the impact of excessive noise on health, wellbeing and the natural environment seriously. Strict noise regulations for cars and motorcycles are harmonised at an international level and require vehicles to demonstrate compliance before being placed on the market. Replacement silencers that are to be used on the road must also meet strict noise limits that are aligned with those of the original vehicle.
The Department published the results of roadside trials of noise camera technology last year and continues to keep a keen interest in this technology. However, it is ultimately for local authorities and the police to consider what the most appropriate enforcement routes may be within their area, based on their knowledge of the issue locally. The Department has limited means for influencing local decision making on enforcement priorities.
The police have powers to deal with noisy vehicles on an ongoing basis. Under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 they can take action if they suspect a vehicle is being driven in a manner that makes excessive noise which is avoidable through reasonable driver care. In the same Regulations, exhausts and silencers are required to be maintained in good working order and not modified so as to increase noise.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions her Department has had with the Health and Safety Executive on the collection of data on (a) fatalities and (b) serious injuries caused by cattle.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department of Work and Pensions has had no recent discussions with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) about the collection of data on fatalities and serious injuries caused by cattle.
Data is collected and published by the HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) that require certain work-related injuries and fatalities, including those caused by cattle to members of the public, to be reported.
Guidance on reporting requirements is published by HSE on their website at https://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/.
Statistical data from these reports is published by HSE and is freely available to view on their website at https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/index.htm.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring universities to conduct human rights due diligence checks when offering security-related courses to organisations based in countries listed as a human rights priority in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's report entitled Human Rights and Democracy Report 2022, published on 13 July 2023.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world, and we remain committed to the promotion of universal human rights. Universities attract international engagement from across the world, and this global reach plays an important part in promoting British values, such as the rule of law and respect for human rights.
Higher education (HE) providers are autonomous bodies, independent from government, and therefore responsible for their own policies and procedures.
However, English HE providers must uphold applicable public interest governance principles, including on free speech, and we expect the sector to be alert to regulatory risks when collaborating with international partners, conducting appropriate due diligence to comply with all legislation, including the Human Rights Act 1998. The Office for Students (OfS) have introduced a further registration condition on harassment and sexual misconduct, which will come into force on 1 August 2025. This condition is important in ensuring HE students are free from harassment and sexual misconduct that would otherwise adversely affect their ability to benefit from their studies.
As the independent regulator, it is the role of the OfS to monitor and assess registered providers’ compliance with all its conditions of registration.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department is developing plans to require universities to develop institution-wide human rights policies and procedures.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world, and we remain committed to the promotion of universal human rights. Universities attract international engagement from across the world, and this global reach plays an important part in promoting British values, such as the rule of law and respect for human rights.
Higher education (HE) providers are autonomous bodies, independent from government, and therefore responsible for their own policies and procedures.
However, English HE providers must uphold applicable public interest governance principles, including on free speech, and we expect the sector to be alert to regulatory risks when collaborating with international partners, conducting appropriate due diligence to comply with all legislation, including the Human Rights Act 1998. The Office for Students (OfS) have introduced a further registration condition on harassment and sexual misconduct, which will come into force on 1 August 2025. This condition is important in ensuring HE students are free from harassment and sexual misconduct that would otherwise adversely affect their ability to benefit from their studies.
As the independent regulator, it is the role of the OfS to monitor and assess registered providers’ compliance with all its conditions of registration.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the merits of placing China on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
No decision has been made in relation to specifying China on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. As the Security Minister confirmed in Parliament on 1 April, countries are considered separately, and decisions are made based on a robust evidence base. It would not be appropriate to speculate on which countries may or may not be specified in the future, but any changes will be announced in Parliament in the usual way.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans his Department is considering to attract high quality research teams from United States' universities.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We recognise and value the US as a key partner in R&D and look forward to continuing our collaboration on shared priorities to drive economic growth and technological advancement. Both the UK and US are committed to facilitating the exchange of talent and students to enhance R&D capabilities.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications of the US Government's policies on deportation flights to El Salvador for his Department's advice to UK travellers to the US.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
US immigration is a matter for the US Government, in accordance with international law. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office keeps our travel advice under regular review to ensure it provides accurate information to British nationals.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has sought advice from the Intelligence Agencies on the potential threat to the integrity of UK democracy from (a) Russia, (b) Iran, (c) China and (d) other hostile states.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It is the longstanding policy of successive UK Governments that we do not comment on operational intelligence or security matters. The UK Government is committed to defending the integrity of the UK's democracy from all state threats, including through the Defending Democracy Taskforce (DDTF). This cross-government Taskforce brings together Ministers, along with representatives from the intelligence community and law enforcement, to coordinate the Government's work to protect our democracy and call out threats, including from Russia, China, and Iran; as the Minister whose portfolio includes national security, I represent the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) at the Taskforce. For example, in December 2023 and March 2024, the Government publicly attributed and sanctioned groups affiliated with Russia and China respectively for interfering in the UK's democracy. The FCDO will continue to work with the DDTF and with the intelligence community to protect the UK's democratic integrity.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of US Government policy on universities on British students studying in the US.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
US domestic policy is a matter for the US Government. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides travel advice to inform British nationals so they can make decisions about travelling abroad. We constantly review our travel advice for each country or territory to ensure it includes up-to-date information and advice on the most relevant issues for British people visiting or living there. We stand ready to provide consular support to British nationals abroad 24/7.