Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress her Department has made on the introduction of a registration scheme for short-term lets.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Parliament legislated for a national registration scheme for short-term lets in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. The government remains committed to implementing this registration scheme.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support small-scale onshore wind projects.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the important role small-scale onshore wind can play in achieving our decarbonisation goals.
The Government supports small-scale onshore wind through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), a mechanism that ensures homes or farms with wind turbines receive payments for the renewable electricity they export to the grid.
The Government is also consulting on proposals to introduce a new permitted development right for small-scale, non-domestic wind turbines in England, making it easier for businesses, farms, and public sector organisations to install a single turbine for microgeneration, without needing to submit a full planning application, subject to safeguards.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to protect Dartmoor ponies in the context of the publication of stocking densities for Countryside Stewardship schemes.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises the importance of Dartmoor’s pony populations.
Grazing rates within the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier have been developed in line with evidence that moderate to low grazing can benefit biodiversity, soil carbon and natural flood management. These schemes offer a range of stocking densities, reflecting differing moorland habitats and conditions.
Ponies are supported through these schemes for their role in conservation grazing and, in this case, for their value to biodiversity as a native breed unique to Dartmoor. However, as with all livestock, they are included in stocking density calculations as they contribute to overall grazing pressure.
Defra will continue to monitor impacts on pony populations and consider mitigations where necessary to support their long‑term sustainability.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of grazing density calculations on Dartmoor pony populations.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has assessed the impact of including ponies in grazing density calculations under Countryside Stewardship schemes and considers that this supports the sustainability of Dartmoor pony populations.
Inclusion ensures ponies are recognised within scheme payments, including Native Breed support for Dartmoor Hill Ponies, and reflects evidence of their ecological value in controlling dominant vegetation and supporting biodiversity.
Defra will continue to monitor impacts on Dartmoor pony populations and consider mitigations where necessary to ensure their long‑term sustainability.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of timescales for medical driving licence renewals.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has seen sustained growth in the volume and complexity of medical licence applications which has led to increased waiting times for some customers. In the interests of road safety, the DVLA must be satisfied that the required medical standards are met before a driving licence is issued.
To improve its services to customers, the DVLA has introduced a new casework system and launched a new medical services portal, so the majority of customers can now apply online through the DVLA’s driver and vehicles account. This was launched on 31 March 2026.
These enhancements, alongside the recruitment of additional staff to deal with these applications and answer telephone calls, are delivering real improvements in services and turnaround times for customers.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of animal welfare practices in slaughterhouses.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The legislation sets out strict requirements to protect the welfare of animals when slaughtered and official veterinarians of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) are present in all approved slaughterhouses to monitor and enforce welfare requirements. When the FSA identifies breaches, they are fully investigated, and proportionate action is taken to protect animal welfare. It carries out a rigorous programme of annual audits in approved slaughterhouses.
Post-implementation reviews of the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015, the most recent of which was published earlier this year, have confirmed that the legislation has met its objectives of improving welfare and providing assurance that slaughterhouses operate to high welfare standards.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions his Department in cooperation with other departments has had with private sector organisations on the standardisation of their bereavement notification processes, in order to reduce the level of distress caused to bereaved families.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Internal policies relating to bereavement are a matter for individual businesses, but we expect companies to treat consumers with compassion in such circumstances, with many organisations having specialist bereavement advisors to support consumers during such times.
Under consumer legislation, businesses are required to carry out their services with reasonable care and skill, and within a reasonable time. Businesses in regulated sectors may have additional obligations, such as financial organisations which are bound by the Consumer Duty.
My department has not had any recent discussions with organisations about improving bereavement processes. However, we do engage with businesses more generally on consumer protection matters.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department assessed the adequacy of existing consumer protection regulations in ensuring that companies treat bereaved customers with appropriate sensitivity and consistency.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Internal policies relating to bereavement are a matter for individual businesses, but we expect companies to treat consumers with compassion in such circumstances, with many organisations having specialist bereavement advisors to support consumers during such times.
Under consumer legislation, businesses are required to carry out their services with reasonable care and skill, and within a reasonable time. Businesses in regulated sectors may have additional obligations, such as financial organisations which are bound by the Consumer Duty.
My department has not had any recent discussions with organisations about improving bereavement processes. However, we do engage with businesses more generally on consumer protection matters.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had any recent discussions with industry bodies representing (a) banks, (b) insurers, and (c) utility companies on improving bereavement processes for customers.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Internal policies relating to bereavement are a matter for individual businesses, but we expect companies to treat consumers with compassion in such circumstances, with many organisations having specialist bereavement advisors to support consumers during such times.
Under consumer legislation, businesses are required to carry out their services with reasonable care and skill, and within a reasonable time. Businesses in regulated sectors may have additional obligations, such as financial organisations which are bound by the Consumer Duty.
My department has not had any recent discussions with organisations about improving bereavement processes. However, we do engage with businesses more generally on consumer protection matters.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of extending the Tell Us Once service to include private sector organisations including banks, insurance companies, and utility providers, in order to reduce the administrative burden on bereaved families.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Discovery and analysis work on both modernising the Tell Us Once service and considering its scope is due to commence in summer 2026.