Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with international counterparts on accelerating the deployment of remote-controlled and autonomous mine-clearance technology to Ukraine to minimize the physical risk to civilian humanitarian deminers.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to her on 17 July 2026 to Questions 17642 and 17643 which remain extant.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support the police in identifying, seizing and prosecuting the use of non-compliant e-bikes on public roads.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department’s advice for consumers is clear that e-bikes that do not comply with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 are classed as motor vehicles and must be registered, taxed and insured to be legally used on the roads.
The police have existing powers to seize these e-bikes, where they have not been properly registered as motor vehicles, under Section 165A of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
In addition, the Crime and Policing Act 2026 strengthened police powers so that they will no longer be required to provide a warning before seizing any vehicle where it is used anti-socially. This includes faster and more powerful e-bikes that have been properly registered as motor vehicles.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of supporting the E-Bike Positive campaign.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government welcomes the E-Bike Positive campaign and the Department’s advice for consumers on purchasing electrically assisted pedal cycles has been updated to refer to it.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his department has made on a) funding access to lipreading classes and b) classifying them as health and wellbeing courses rather than leisure activities to recognise their importance.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Adult Skills Fund (ASF) fully funds or co-funds education and skills training for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry level to Level 3, helping them gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning.
In addition to qualification-based provision, the ASF can fund Tailored Learning, which is flexible, non-qualification provision developed to meet the needs of learners and communities. Lipreading is an eligible Tailored Learning aim and may be delivered through ASF-funded provision, including where it supports objectives such as health and wellbeing, social inclusion, confidence building or progression into further learning.
The Department recognises the value of lipreading provision in supporting people with hearing loss to communicate effectively, maintain independence and participate in everyday life. The Department has not made a separate assessment of the merits of classifying lipreading courses as health and wellbeing courses rather than leisure activities. However, under existing ASF arrangements, lipreading provision can already be funded as Tailored Learning, including where it is intended to improve an individual's health and wellbeing.
As of August 2026, approximately 76% of the ASF is devolved to 20 Strategic Authorities, which are responsible for determining how adult skills funding is used locally beyond national statutory entitlements, including decisions on whether to fund lipreading provision. In non-devolved areas, the Department funds ASF provision directly and providers have flexibility to determine their local offer in line with learner and community needs.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the suggested recommendations provided in the Royal College of Anaesthetists’ report titled 'The Anaesthetic Workforce: UK State of the Nation Report, June 2026'.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 16 July in response to Question 17628.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the potential impact of the requirement for all rental properties to obtain a level of C for the Energy Performance Certificate on homeowners, and whether exemptions have been considered for properties that have previously made energy efficiency improvements such as loft insulation or double glazing installed.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Impact Assessment, which provides an estimated impact of the final policy, including on owners of let homes was published on 7 February 2026.
Properties that can demonstrate appropriate energy efficiency measures are already in place will have these represented in their EPC assessment and rating. Those property owners who make energy efficiency improvements before the standard applies and can demonstrate their property is EPC C before 1 October 2029 will be considered compliant under the transition measures until their EPC expires. Those who install, or have installed since 1 October 2025, relevant measures in their properties, but are unable to achieve a C rating in advance of the transition deadline, may be able to count their spend towards a cost cap exemption once the standard applies.