Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will include greater protection of the Oxford Green Belt in the National Planning Policy Framework.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government has no plans to include in the National Planning Policy Framework additional protections for Oxford Green Belt beyond those that apply to all green belts in England.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to meet the UK’s commitment under the Global Biodiversity Framework to reduce excess nutrients lost to the environment by at least half by 2030.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Policy in this area is a devolved matter.

The UK Government recognises the need to go further on addressing nutrient pollution and supporting nature to recover.

We have already committed to a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan which will set out how the Government will deliver our legally binding targets, including for reducing nutrient pollution.

We are taking action to work with partners to tackle the main sources of pollution. For example, we are taking action to tackle agricultural pollution and deliver the Environment Act target through a suite of proportionate and effective regulations, advice and incentives.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the implementation of further protections for (a) nature and (b) biodiversity in National Landscapes.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The new Government is committed to making Protected Landscapes (National Parks and National Landscapes) greener, wilder, and more accessible. We are currently considering the best way to do this. To support this, Defra is working with Protected Landscapes organisations to improve data on the state of nature in Protected Landscapes.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of expedited tests for people who require a driving license to secure (a) training or (b) employment in key worker roles.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA’s) main priority is to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, whilst upholding road safety standards.

For practical driving test candidates, DVSA is still offering the Mobile Emergency Worker (MEW) process for those in critical roles. The process, which was implemented during the coronavirus pandemic, is for candidates who are a critical worker in England or Wales and work for one of the following:

• the NHS - in health or social care
• the emergency services
• a local council

They must also:

• need to drive as part of their job (commuting not included)
• respond to ‘threats to life’ as part of their job

The MEW application process has been shared with all applicable emergency organisations. Candidates who meet this eligibility criteria and want a test, should talk to their employer, who will need to apply on their employee’s behalf.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of agricultural property relief on the financial sustainability of farms.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government does not speculate on tax changes outside of fiscal events. Where changes are made, information about impacts is published in the usual way.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of VAT rules applying to (a) cakes, (b) confectionary and (c) food; and if she will take steps to increase levels of business understanding of VAT ratings for new products falling within those categories.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government’s policy on the VAT rules relating to a) cakes b) confectionary and c) food is well established and guidance is readily available on GOV.uk for businesses to consult when deciding on the VAT liability of a product.

The Government keeps all taxes under review.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward regulations on the composition of (a) toddler and (b) other so-called growing up formula milks.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government has not made a recent assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation on the composition of ‘toddler’ or ‘growing up’ milks. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s (SACN) 2023 report, called Feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years, reported findings from national dietary surveys indicating that free sugars intakes for children aged 18 to 60 months old were above the current recommendations. Furthermore, formula milks, mainly follow-on formula and ‘toddler’ and ‘growing up’ milks, were consumed by 36% of children aged one to one and a half years old, and contributed 50% of free sugars intakes in consumers.

Current recommendations from the SACN are that these products are not required by children aged one to five years old and that milk or water, in addition to breast milk, should constitute the majority of drinks given to children aged one to five years old. National Health Service advice is that there is no evidence to suggest that ‘toddler’ or ‘growing up’ milks provide extra nutritional benefits for young children.

We face a childhood obesity crisis, and the Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever, which includes considering what action is needed to improve the diets and associated health outcomes for children.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will meet the Hon. Member for Henley and Thame to discuss an urgent constituency matter.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice Ministerial team conducts engagement with Members on their constituency matters on a routine basis and I would encourage the Member to contact the relevant Minister through the usual channels.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the report entitled 12 Years of Modern Slavery, published by Kalayaan on 16 June 2024, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of reinstating the pre-2012 visa regime for migrant domestic workers.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

We keep all policies and immigration routes under review. There are a number of protections in place for overseas domestic workers (ODWs) designed to minimise the risk of exploitation.

ODWs are able to change their employer without notifying the Home Office, to ensure those who need to escape unsuitable conditions can do so quickly and without additional administration. Employers of ODWs must act in accordance with UK employment law, including the National Minimum Wage.

Workers who find themselves a victim of modern slavery are protected by the National Referral Mechanism and may be eligible to apply for permission to stay as a Domestic Worker who is a Victim of Modern Slavery.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of reducing the number of times a driving test can be re-booked, in the context of recent trends in the usage of automated bots to block book driving test dates.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA’s) main priority is to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, whilst upholding road safety standards.

As of 21 October 2024, there were 567,344 car practical driving tests booked, and 84,092 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.

It is not possible to allow approved driving instructors (ADI’s) to temporarily work as driving examiners. The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) 1999 regulations require driving test examiners to meet certain criteria and pass an initial qualification and examination and prohibits a person from being an active ADI and an examiner simultaneously.

As part of measures to ensure its booking system is used correctly, DVSA has reduced the number of times a driving test appointment can be changed. Driving test candidates can change their appointment up to six times. If candidates need to make more changes after that, they will need to cancel their test and rebook it. DVSA currently has no plans to reduce this figure further as it is designed to give candidates sufficient flexibility to manage their car practical driving test appointment.

Driving examiners are Civil Servants so their salary is determined by the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance. The guidance sets out the financial parameters within which Civil Service departments can determine pay awards for their staff. DVSA cannot act independently from this guidance.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of (a) pay and (b) incentives for driving examiners (a) in Oxfordshire, (b) in other high-cost areas and (c) generally.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA’s) main priority is to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, whilst upholding road safety standards.

As of 21 October 2024, there were 567,344 car practical driving tests booked, and 84,092 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.

It is not possible to allow approved driving instructors (ADI’s) to temporarily work as driving examiners. The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) 1999 regulations require driving test examiners to meet certain criteria and pass an initial qualification and examination and prohibits a person from being an active ADI and an examiner simultaneously.

As part of measures to ensure its booking system is used correctly, DVSA has reduced the number of times a driving test appointment can be changed. Driving test candidates can change their appointment up to six times. If candidates need to make more changes after that, they will need to cancel their test and rebook it. DVSA currently has no plans to reduce this figure further as it is designed to give candidates sufficient flexibility to manage their car practical driving test appointment.

Driving examiners are Civil Servants so their salary is determined by the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance. The guidance sets out the financial parameters within which Civil Service departments can determine pay awards for their staff. DVSA cannot act independently from this guidance.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing driving instructors to temporarily work as examiners, in the context of recent trends in the availability of driving tests.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA’s) main priority is to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, whilst upholding road safety standards.

As of 21 October 2024, there were 567,344 car practical driving tests booked, and 84,092 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.

It is not possible to allow approved driving instructors (ADI’s) to temporarily work as driving examiners. The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) 1999 regulations require driving test examiners to meet certain criteria and pass an initial qualification and examination and prohibits a person from being an active ADI and an examiner simultaneously.

As part of measures to ensure its booking system is used correctly, DVSA has reduced the number of times a driving test appointment can be changed. Driving test candidates can change their appointment up to six times. If candidates need to make more changes after that, they will need to cancel their test and rebook it. DVSA currently has no plans to reduce this figure further as it is designed to give candidates sufficient flexibility to manage their car practical driving test appointment.

Driving examiners are Civil Servants so their salary is determined by the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance. The guidance sets out the financial parameters within which Civil Service departments can determine pay awards for their staff. DVSA cannot act independently from this guidance.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to include retirement property leaseholders as a separate category in planned leasehold and commonhold reform.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Over the course of this Parliament, the Government will honour its manifesto commitment to finally bring the feudal leasehold system to an end.

We will enact remaining Law Commission recommendations relating to enfranchisement and the Right to Manage, tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents, reinvigorate commonhold through a comprehensive new legal framework, and ban the sale of new leasehold flats so commonhold becomes the default tenure.

We have made clear that we intend to publish draft legislation on leasehold and commonhold reform in this session so that it may be subject to broad consultation and additional parliamentary scrutiny. We will announce further details in due course.

The Government intends to act quickly to provide homeowners with greater rights, powers, and protections over their homes by implementing the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. As part of the King’s Speech, we committed to consulting on the best way of restricting the sale of new leasehold flats. This consultation will provide an opportunity for interested stakeholders to make their views known.

Release of Emily Damari

Social care workers and National Insurance

Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief

Haggis the pygmy hippo

Israeli Knesset decision to ban UNRWA

Frozen pensions for UK citizens overseas

Overseas constituencies