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 consider the potential merits of requiring the provision of publicly accessible bleed control kits as part of local authority regeneration plans.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The department has no plans to require local authorities to provide publicly accessible bleed control kits. The department believes local councils are best placed to make decisions about the priorities for local community safety.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support research into earlier detection methods for (a) myeloma and (b) other blood cancers.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department invests £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24, reflecting its high priority.

In the period 2020/21 to 2024/25, NIHR Programmes and Academy invested approximately £1.9 million on an early detection myeloma research project, and £2.8 million across four early detection projects for other blood cancer research projects.

These investments are pivotal towards efforts to improve cancer prevention, treatment and outcomes. Examples of investments into myeloma and other blood cancer research include ‘Real-world testing of software for measuring bone disease on whole-body MRI in patients with and myeloma’, which looks to identify the extent of myeloma, and ‘Real-world testing of software for measuring bone disease on whole-body MRI’, which aims to establish clinical and cost-effectiveness of biomarker-driven care in patients with myeloma.

The Government recognises the crucial need for research into all forms of cancer, including myeloma and other blood cancers, and remain committed to the role of research to improve outcomes for patients. The NIHR continue to encourage and welcome applications for research into any aspect of human health and care.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that fractional ownership schemes are adequately regulated to protect consumers.

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

Housing providers offering shared ownership properties that are grant-funded or delivered via Section 106 agreements must use model leases provided by Homes England or the Greater London Authority. These model leases contain a fundamental clause governing how shared ownership operates. Most shared ownership homes are also delivered by Registered Providers of Social Housing, regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing.

However, private developers offering shared ownership outside of grant funding or Section 106 are not required to follow a model lease or be regulated by the Regulator.

Consumers who encounter issues with their shared ownership arrangement may be able to seek support or redress through the Housing Ombudsman Service, where applicable. Other routes may be available depending on the provider and nature of the issue.

The government is considering what more can be done to improve the experience of shared owners.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an estimate of the proportion of drivers who regularly update their knowledge of the Highway Code.

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

The Department for Transport has not made an estimate of the proportion of drivers who regularly update their knowledge of the Highway Code.

In January 2022 the Department made changes to the Highway Code to help improve road safety for people walking, cycling and horse riding and ran THINK! campaigns to raise awareness of the changes. The percentage of road users reporting to know either a little or a lot about the Highway Code changes in September 2023 was at 70% among all road users (82% amongst drivers), with 86% of road users having heard of the changes by September 2023.

We continue to promote the Highway Code changes on THINK! and DfT social media channels and via our partner organisations, including supporting an upcoming Transport for London campaign encouraging road users to follow Highway Code rules to keep themselves and others safe. In addition, we run three radio filler adverts year-round, encouraging motorists to maintain safe passing distances from cyclists and horse riders, to use the Dutch Reach when opening car doors to keep cyclists safe, and to raise awareness of pedestrian priority at junctions.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that drivers receive training on changes to the Highway Code.

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

The Government does not have any plans to introduce mandatory refresher training for drivers.

Mandatory refresher training could place an undue burden on responsible drivers and disproportionately affect older or lower-income individuals, potentially limiting their independence and mobility.

There are many organisations which provide driver refresher training and assessments should a driver feel they require it. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) also promotes the Pass Plus scheme which is designed to enable drivers to further develop their driving skill to drive more safely on the road in varied driving conditions. The scheme is primarily targeted at drivers who have recently passed their driving test.

There is no statutory basis for training on changes made to the Highway Code after someone has passed their driving test.

DVSA is among many organisations and local authorities who provide public education for people who are licensed to drive. Examples from DVSA include the advice and blog at www.safedrivingforlife.info and the free resources | Safe Driving for Life (and specifically the vulnerable road users quiz), as well as products like The Official DVSA Guide to Better Driving book and The Official DVSA Guide to Better Driving e-learning.

Public education for drivers is also delivered through the relevant social media channels of the Department for Transport, Think Road Safety Campaign, DVSA and National Highways, as well as our partnerships such as Safe Driving For Life.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in freight traffic on the railway crossing in East Tilbury.

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

In agreeing any increases to rail freight, Network Rail works closely with operators and local authorities to ensure that any impacts to level crossings meet robust safety requirements.

With regard to road freight, local traffic authorities have powers under Sections 1 & 2 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, which allow for the restriction or prohibition of the use of HGVs on any road, for a wide range of safety and environmental reasons. These measures can be implemented by making Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) without reference to the Department for Transport.

The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 provide various signs for authorities to consider if they choose to do this, including signs informing motorists that certain roads are unsuitable for HGVs or if a weight limit is in place. The restrictions are then enforceable by the police.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of level crossing closures in East Tilbury on the ability of emergency services to respond to incidents.

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

Responsibility for level crossings and their operation lies with the infrastructure manager – in this case, Network Rail – who are aware of the downtime issues at East Tilbury crossing. In line with their duty under safety legislation, Network Rail must operate the crossing in a way that ensures no one is put at risk. This means that the barriers are automatically lowered when trains are approaching and will only open when the crossing is clear of all trains, to avoid the very significant risk of a collision.

Concerns about the current volume of train traffic through East Tilbury, as well as plans to increase the number of freight services here, have been raised by local residents and Network Rail are currently listening to the feedback from the community.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to introduce mandatory refresher training for drivers.

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

The Government does not have any plans to introduce mandatory refresher training for drivers.

Mandatory refresher training could place an undue burden on responsible drivers and disproportionately affect older or lower-income individuals, potentially limiting their independence and mobility.

There are many organisations which provide driver refresher training and assessments should a driver feel they require it. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) also promotes the Pass Plus scheme which is designed to enable drivers to further develop their driving skill to drive more safely on the road in varied driving conditions. The scheme is primarily targeted at drivers who have recently passed their driving test.

There is no statutory basis for training on changes made to the Highway Code after someone has passed their driving test.

DVSA is among many organisations and local authorities who provide public education for people who are licensed to drive. Examples from DVSA include the advice and blog at www.safedrivingforlife.info and the free resources | Safe Driving for Life (and specifically the vulnerable road users quiz), as well as products like The Official DVSA Guide to Better Driving book and The Official DVSA Guide to Better Driving e-learning.

Public education for drivers is also delivered through the relevant social media channels of the Department for Transport, Think Road Safety Campaign, DVSA and National Highways, as well as our partnerships such as Safe Driving For Life.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans for the National Cancer Plan for England to include targets to improve the early diagnosis of blood cancers.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Early diagnosis is a key focus of the National Cancer Plan. It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including blood cancers, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes.

To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the NHS is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.

We will get the NHS diagnosing blood cancers earlier and treating it faster, and we will support the NHS to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment, including for magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners.

The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately drive up this country’s cancer survival rates.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that patients have continued access to Mounjaro at an affordable price following the planned private price increase in September 2025.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

As we shift the focus from treatment to prevention through our 10 Year Health Plan, we are determined to bring revolutionary modern treatments to everyone who needs them, not just those who can afford to pay.

NHS England has worked with Eli Lilly to ensure that the list price increase will not affect National Health Service commissioning of tirzepatide in England as a treatment for eligible patients, and we remain committed to the rollout of this medicine as a weight loss treatment based on clinical priority. This will enable 220,000 eligible people to access the medication over the first three years. Not everyone who wants tirzepatide will be able to access it at first, and the initial eligibility criteria will be for people with a body mass index of 40 or more in addition to four or more qualifying comorbidities.

Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have also entered equivalent agreements to maintain their current commissioning approaches.

Pricing in the private market is a matter for Eli Lilly and for private providers. Private patients who are impacted by price increases should discuss any concerns with their private provider. This includes their options regarding payment plans, alternative treatments, and/or stopping or tapering off their current medication. Eli Lilly is working with private providers to support continued patient access.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of patients seeking medication from unregulated sources on public health.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is responsible for the regulation of all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. This also includes applying the legal controls on the retail sale, supply and advertising of medicines which are set out in the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.

Sourcing any medicine from unregulated suppliers significantly increases the risk of getting a product which is either falsified or not authorised for use. Products purchased in this way will not meet the MHRA’s strict quality and safety standards, and can expose patients to incorrect dosages, or dangerous ingredients that can have serious health consequences.

Many legitimate medicinal products are prescription-only medicines, meaning that a consultation with a doctor or qualified healthcare professional is needed to assess the patient's suitability for the treatment and consider any potential risks. Usually, they should only be obtained from a registered pharmacy against a valid prescription.

Public safety is the number one priority for the MHRA and its Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) works hard to prevent and investigate illegal activity involving medicines and medical devices.

This year, the CEU and its partners have seized millions of doses of illegally traded medicines. It also works closely with web-based sales platforms and the internet industry to identify and remove non-compliant medicines and medical devices where possible.

The MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme collects and monitors information on suspected safety concerns involving healthcare products, including side effects caused by medicines. These reports help the regulator gain a better understanding of medicine interactions and safeguard patients through vigilant monitoring.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of how many and what proportion of recent university graduates are employed in roles that make use of their degree-level skills.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department does not produce these estimates.

Graduate Outcome survey data published by HESA shows that around 70% of UK domiciled students who graduated with an undergraduate degree from a UK higher education provider during the 2022/23 academic year were in high-skilled employment fifteen months after graduation. This data was published in July 2025 and can be found in Table 12 here: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/sb272/figure-12.

The Office for National Statistics have also published ad hoc statistics on employment in graduate roles. Available data for 2023 can be found here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/adhocs/2492onslocalemploymentingraduateandnongraduaterolesbyqualificationandsectorbyukregion2023.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent analysis she has made of the potential impact on the economy of Lifetime ISA savers defering utilising the scheme for purchasing houses due to the house price restriction and withdrawal penalty.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The LISA encourages younger people to save towards later life at the same time as being able to save for their first home.

Data from the latest UK House Price Index shows that while the average price paid by first-time buyers has increased, it is still below the Lifetime ISA property price cap in all regions of the UK except for London, where the average price paid is affected by boroughs with very high property values.

As of 2023/24, there were over 1.3 million LISA accounts open and, since its introduction in 2017, the LISA has helped 227,600 people purchase their first property.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to (a) monitor and (b) help prevent the online sale of products containing asbestos; and whether the Health and Safety Executive has issued recent (i) enforcement actions and (ii) guidance to online marketplaces on this matter.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Product safety regulations require consumer products to be safe when placed on the market, whether sold online or offline. The Office for Product Safety and Standards has published three recalls for products containing asbestos in the last three years.

In the last 12 months, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has not received any concerns related to the supply of asbestos containing articles that were part of its workplace safety remit; should any be received, they would be investigated.

HSE regularly engages with online platforms on their restricted items policies and provides advice to Local Authorities on asbestos related products.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure service personnel are made aware of the social housing support available if they are at risk of homelessness.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This Government recognises the extraordinary contribution that veterans have given to their country through their service. That’s why we have since made changes to social housing allocations regulations to exempt all veterans from local connection and residency tests to facilitate their access to social housing.

Veterans also receive a high level of support to plan and prepare for their discharge from the Armed Services and can access a number of existing support services, including housing support through Op Fortitude. You can find more details about this on gov.uk here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to prioritise veterans presenting at local authorities as homeless for housing assistance.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This Government recognises the extraordinary contribution that veterans have given to their country through their service. That’s why we have since made changes to social housing allocations regulations to exempt all veterans from local connection and residency tests to facilitate their access to social housing.

Veterans also receive a high level of support to plan and prepare for their discharge from the Armed Services and can access a number of existing support services, including housing support through Op Fortitude. You can find more details about this on gov.uk here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that the National Planning Policy Framework supports charities.

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

The National Planning Policy Framework supports the facilities and services communities need. It makes clear that planning policies and decisions should plan positively for the provision and use of shared spaces, community facilities and other local services to enhance the sustainability of communities and residential environments. This can include facilities used by charities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has for the provision of funding to support infrastructure improvements to help tackle road and rail conflicts at railway crossings.

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

The Department confirmed a settlement of £44.1 billion to fund Network Rail’s operations, maintenance and renewal activity across the 5 years of Control Period 7 in England and Wales. This includes funding for maintenance and renewals to help tackle road and rail conflicts at railway crossings. It is for Network Rail, as the infrastructure manager, to determine how it spends its funds and on what, reflecting its need to ensure safety, reliability and to deliver value for money for the taxpayer.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many small businesses have used the tribunal system to pursue late payments in each of the last five years.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The information requested is not collated centrally and judgments produced by the courts and tribunal system do not actively include information on whether the parties are small businesses.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of Lifetime ISA holders that have paid a withdrawal penalty in each of the last five years.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The number of Lifetime ISA holders who have made an unauthorised withdrawal and hence, paid a withdrawal penalty for tax years 2020/21 to 2023/24 is available in the Annual Savings Statistics publication, specifically in the Lifetime Individual Savings Accounts Tables 1a.

The figures for tax year 2024/25 will be released in the 2025 Annual Savings Statistics publication on 18^th September 2025.

Link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66ed20d8c8398625c331e80c/Lifetime_Individual_Savings_Account_Tables_2024.ods

Annual savings statistics - Official statistics announcement - GOV.UK

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to introduce an indexation mechanism to ensure the Lifetime ISA property price cap remains in line with (a) inflation and (b) housing market trends.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Data from the latest UK House Price Index shows that while the average price paid by first-time buyers has increased, it is still below the Lifetime ISA (Individual Savings Accounts) property price cap in all regions of the UK except for London, where the average price paid is affected by boroughs with very high property values. Having a single property cap across the UK simplifies the Lifetime ISA for savers and account providers.

This Government is committed to helping first time buyers own their own home and will do this by building 1.5 million more homes.

The Government keeps all aspects of tax and savings policy under review.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to bring forward proposals to reform the Lifetime ISA scheme in the Autumn Budget 2025.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Data from the latest UK House Price Index shows that while the average price paid by first-time buyers has increased, it is still below the Lifetime ISA (Individual Savings Accounts) property price cap in all regions of the UK except for London, where the average price paid is affected by boroughs with very high property values. Having a single property cap across the UK simplifies the Lifetime ISA for savers and account providers.

This Government is committed to helping first time buyers own their own home and will do this by building 1.5 million more homes.

The Government keeps all aspects of tax and savings policy under review.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure the Lifetime ISA continues to help first-time buyers.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Data from the latest UK House Price Index shows that while the average price paid by first-time buyers has increased, it is still below the Lifetime ISA (Individual Savings Accounts) property price cap in all regions of the UK except for London, where the average price paid is affected by boroughs with very high property values. Having a single property cap across the UK simplifies the Lifetime ISA for savers and account providers.

This Government is committed to helping first time buyers own their own home and will do this by building 1.5 million more homes.

The Government keeps all aspects of tax and savings policy under review.

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 effectiveness of employment support programmes in reducing youth unemployment.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

• Extended periods of unemployment at a young age can lead to poorer health outcomes and reduced lifetime earnings, making early intervention critical. The DWP Youth Offer provides intensive, tailored support to 16 – 24-year-olds claiming Universal Credit (UC), with the aim of maximising employment outcomes.

• The Youth Offer comprises three main elements: the Youth Employment Programme, Youth Hubs and Youth Employability Coaches (YECs). Each element is designed to support young people based on their proximity to the labour market. The Youth Employment Programme is designed to support those who are work ready. Youth Hubs support those with moderate barriers to work, offering a blend of Jobcentre Plus support and place-based services through local partnerships. For Young People with more complex needs, YECs provide intensive, tailored support for up to six months, helping them to build confidence, skills and readiness for work, where employment is a longer-term goal.

• Our Youth Offer Process Evaluation, Youth Offer process evaluation - GOV.UK published October last year, found that the majority of customers felt the support was useful, confidence-building, and tailored to their individual circumstances. Youth Hub customers were particularly likely to report that the support met their needs. In addition to those moving into employment, customers had achieved a variety of different interim outcomes including gaining skills, confidence and work experience.

• Where possible, the Department evaluates the impact of its programmes or schemes on employment and other relevant outcomes. Recent evaluations of the Job Entry Targeted Support scheme, Sector-based Work Academy Programme, the Kickstart scheme and the Youth Employment Initiative all demonstrate the effectiveness of these approaches to supporting additional young people into employment and are published on GOV.UK. Research and statistics - GOV.UK

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) integrated playgrounds, (b) play and (c) other inclusive community facilities on the health and wellbeing of (i) disabled children and (ii) their families in Basildon.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is committed to creating inclusive, accessible parks and play areas.

We have made no assessment of the potential impact of integrated playgrounds, play and other inclusive community facilities in Basildon. local authorities are best placed to evaluate and meet the needs of their local area.

The government is equipping them to do that by providing more funding – an 8% increase in government-funded spending power over the next four years – and the National Planning Policy Framework, which is clear that planning policies and decisions should aim to achieve healthy, inclusive and safe places. Our National Model Design Code, provides a toolkit for planners to help them produce local design codes that include play areas which are accessible and inclusive for all.

Local authorities must also consider their obligations under the Equalities Act of 2010 when providing public spaces, this includes ensuring that they are accessible and inclusive.

The government’s Green Flag Award sets the national and international quality standard for parks and green spaces. The scheme encourages parks managers to ensure parks are welcoming and accessible to all users, including disabled people. I congratulate Basildon’s own Wat Tyler Country Park, a Green Flag Award recipient which includes an inclusive play area with features for wheelchair users and children of all abilities.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to assist local authorities in reducing wait times for children with complex disabilities to access specialist respite services.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, local authorities are required to assess the needs of disabled children. Where the assessment identifies that a child is eligible for support, the local authority must provide suitable services.

In addition to this, between 2022 and 2025, the government funded the Short Breaks Innovation Programme, where local authorities were invited to bid for a share of £30 million to fund innovative approaches to short breaks delivery, and to the commissioning of such interventions. Some successful local authorities within the programme focused on reducing wait times. A lesson learned report from the programme is due to be published in autumn 2025.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of setting up a combined police forces electric vehicle battery replacement plan to maximise value for money.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The National Police Chiefs Council have begun the process of assessing the impact of transitioning from internal combustion engine to electric vehicles, which includes consideration of the operational consequences, consequences for frontline officers and budgetary impact.

At the Spending Review, the Chancellor confirmed a real terms increase in police spending power. Grant allocations to police forces will be made in the usual way at the police funding settlement.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the relative adequacy of (a) electric and (b) internal combustion engine vehicles in enabling police forces to meet response time targets.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The National Police Chiefs Council have begun the process of assessing the impact of transitioning from internal combustion engine to electric vehicles, which includes consideration of the operational consequences, consequences for frontline officers and budgetary impact.

At the Spending Review, the Chancellor confirmed a real terms increase in police spending power. Grant allocations to police forces will be made in the usual way at the police funding settlement.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential operational impact of switching to electric police vehicles on frontline officers.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The National Police Chiefs Council have begun the process of assessing the impact of transitioning from internal combustion engine to electric vehicles, which includes consideration of the operational consequences, consequences for frontline officers and budgetary impact.

At the Spending Review, the Chancellor confirmed a real terms increase in police spending power. Grant allocations to police forces will be made in the usual way at the police funding settlement.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with local councils on the effectiveness of bleed control kits in urban centres with elevated rates of violent crime or road traffic collisions.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government has engaged with a range of stakeholders on the effectiveness of a number of trauma and bleed kits in regards to serious violence or for use in other settings. In response to the Manchester Arena Inquiry, the Department for Health and Social Care has worked alongside partners such as the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), health stakeholders and civil society to standardise the contents of Public Access Trauma Kits (PAcT kits). These kits can be found at venues and public spaces of private and public sector organisations and are suitable to support the treatment of many life-threatening injuries.

To ensure PAcT kits can be used by any person regardless of training, instructions on their use have been made clearer and universal signage has also been developed so PAcT kit locations can be better identified.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of foreign drivers holding licences from countries with lower testing standards than the UK on road safety.

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

My department has not made an assessment of the impact of foreign drivers holding licences from countries with lower testing standards than the UK.

All drivers on GB roads, are expected to follow the rules and regulations as set out in the Highway Code.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to provide financial support to encourage (a) undergrounding, (b) offshore routing and (c) other alternate routing of electricity pylons in rural and environmentally sensitive areas.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government does not fund the delivery of network infrastructure. Network company investments are funded through consumer bills, and this funding is regulated by Ofgem through the price control process. The design and development of electricity transmission infrastructure is a matter for the developer, including conducting necessary assessments of projects’ impacts on the environment, with the implications of those choices considered through the planning process. The energy National Policy Statement for electricity networks (EN-5) sets out a starting presumption for overhead lines in most cases and identifies when undergrounding or subsea cables should be considered.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring foreign drivers to complete a basic online theory test before being permitted to drive on UK roads.

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

My department has not made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring foriegn drivers to complete a basic online theory test before being permitted to drive on UK roads.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans he has to update regulatory framework to support the use of underground electricity infrastructure in national projects.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Ofgem, as the independent regulator of network developers, is responsible for updating the regulatory framework for electricity networks, including on the use of underground infrastructure. The Government is responsible for planning policy, which for major electricity network infrastructure projects is set out in National Policy Statement EN-5 which sets out the planning framework for overhead lines and other electricity network infrastructure. This policy is currently under review following a consultation in April and any changes will be published in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that cancer patients receive treatment within national target timescales in South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Cancer patients, including those in South Basildon and East Thurrock, are waiting too long for a diagnosis and treatment. We are determined to change that.

We set out expectations for renewed focus on cancer targets in the Elective Reform Plan. Our reforms to cancer care will see more than 100,000 people getting diagnosed faster, and thousands more starting treatment within two months and across the National Health Service, and we have already hit our target of delivering 4.5 million extra operations, scans, and appointments. This is more than double our commitment to deliver an extra two million appointments in England in our first year. The Government has invested £70 million of central funding to replace radiotherapy machines, to ensure the most advanced treatment is available to the patients who need it. The Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, the local provider for cancer services in the South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency, has been awarded funding for a replacement machine.

Furthermore, the National Cancer Plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, as well as prevention, and research and innovation. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to better the experience and outcomes for people with cancer.

Our goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next ten years. To do this, we will deliver targeted improvements and interventions, drive research and innovation, focus on prevention, and ensure patients have access to the latest treatments and technology.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of delays in cancer treatment on patients in South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Cancer patients, including those in South Basildon and East Thurrock, are waiting too long for a diagnosis and treatment. We are determined to change that.

We set out expectations for renewed focus on cancer targets in the Elective Reform Plan. Our reforms to cancer care will see more than 100,000 people getting diagnosed faster, and thousands more starting treatment within two months and across the National Health Service, and we have already hit our target of delivering 4.5 million extra operations, scans, and appointments. This is more than double our commitment to deliver an extra two million appointments in England in our first year. The Government has invested £70 million of central funding to replace radiotherapy machines, to ensure the most advanced treatment is available to the patients who need it. The Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, the local provider for cancer services in the South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency, has been awarded funding for a replacement machine.

Furthermore, the National Cancer Plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, as well as prevention, and research and innovation. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to better the experience and outcomes for people with cancer.

Our goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next ten years. To do this, we will deliver targeted improvements and interventions, drive research and innovation, focus on prevention, and ensure patients have access to the latest treatments and technology.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that foreign drivers using UK roads are familiar with the Highway Code and UK road safety rules.

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

All drivers are encouraged to familiarise themselves regularly with the Highway Code and to refer to it periodically to refresh their road safety knowledge.

All road users are required to comply with road traffic law in the interests of their own safety and that of other road users, and this is reflected in The Highway Code. For those who do not adopt a responsible attitude, or if their use of the highway creates an unsafe environment or causes nuisance, there are laws in place that can make them liable for prosecution.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that cancer patients have access to treatments comparable to those available abroad in South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Cancer patients, including those in South Basildon and East Thurrock, are waiting too long for a diagnosis and treatment. We are determined to change that.

We set out expectations for renewed focus on cancer targets in the Elective Reform Plan. Our reforms to cancer care will see more than 100,000 people getting diagnosed faster, and thousands more starting treatment within two months and across the National Health Service, and we have already hit our target of delivering 4.5 million extra operations, scans, and appointments. This is more than double our commitment to deliver an extra two million appointments in England in our first year. The Government has invested £70 million of central funding to replace radiotherapy machines, to ensure the most advanced treatment is available to the patients who need it. The Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, the local provider for cancer services in the South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency, has been awarded funding for a replacement machine.

Furthermore, the National Cancer Plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, as well as prevention, and research and innovation. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to better the experience and outcomes for people with cancer.

Our goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next ten years. To do this, we will deliver targeted improvements and interventions, drive research and innovation, focus on prevention, and ensure patients have access to the latest treatments and technology.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to encourage the use of (a) steering wheel locks, (b) gear stick locks and (c) other car theft prevention measures.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

This Government is determined to drive down vehicle crime. We are working with the automotive industry and police, including the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on the issue, to ensure the strongest response possible.

Via the recently established National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group, we are focusing on prevention and deterrence of theft of and from vehicles. This includes training police officers on the methods used to steal vehicles, encouraging vehicle owners to secure their vehicles, and working with industry to address vulnerabilities in vehicles.

In the Crime and Policing Bill we have banned electronic devices used to steal vehicles, empowering the police and courts to target the criminals using, manufacturing, importing and supplying them.

We also provided £250,000 funding in the financial year 2024-25 to help support work at the ports to prevent stolen vehicles and vehicle parts being shipped abroad, including providing additional staff and specialist equipment.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase levels of police (a) visibility and (b) presence to help tackle (i) youth violence and (ii) knife crime in (A) Essex and (B) South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Knife crime has destroyed far too many lives. That is why, as part of the Safer Streets mission, we are working to halve knife crime within a decade.

We have a comprehensive, data-led and Government-wide approach to this goal. Driving down youth-related violence across the UK, including Essex South Basildon and East Thurrock, will play a key role in meeting this ambition.

To increase police visibility and presence, the Government has introduced the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, which ensures neighbourhood policing teams are spending the majority of their time within their communities, delivering visible patrols and actively engaging with residents and businesses.

Essex Police have also been allocated £1.63m for 2025/26 to deliver the Hotspot Action programme. This programme is a combination of increased high visibility foot patrols and funding of problem-oriented policing (POP) tactics. POP is bespoke to the local areas to tackle the underlying drivers of crime using a comprehensive menu of policing interventions, such as increased targeted knife sweeps, and licensed premises checks.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has undertaken recent research on the potential merits of opening desalination plants to help ensure the resilience of the domestic water supply.

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

Water companies are responsible for researching and selecting the best value water supply options to sustainably secure water supplies for their customers. Government and regulators require water companies to consider desalination alongside all other water supply and demand management options to meet future water needs, which could amount to an additional 5 billion litres per day by 2055. The latest water company Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs) contain proposals for 9 new desalination plants.

A list of significant water resources infrastructure projects that water companies propose in their WRMPs, including the desalination plants, is available on GOV.UK.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to tackle (a) youth violence and (b) knife crime in (i) Essex and (ii) South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Halving knife crime over the next decade is a key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission. Driving down youth-related violence across the UK, including Essex South Basildon and East Thurrock, will play a key role in meeting this ambition.

To date, we have taken action to ban zombie knives and the ban on ninja swords came into force on 1 August 2025 - it is now illegal to sell or own these weapons. We have also implemented, “Ronan’s Law”, a range of measures which will include stricter rules for online sellers of knives.

Over £66 million is available to all 43 police force areas to fund the 'Hotspot Action' programme in 2025/26. This includes Essex Police who have been allocated £1.63m for 2025/26. This programme is a combination of increased high visibility foot patrols and funding of problem-oriented policing (POP) tactics. POP is bespoke to the local areas to tackle the underlying drivers of crime using a comprehensive menu of policing interventions, such as increased targeted knife sweeps, and licensed premises checks.

Through the Young Futures Programme, the Government will introduce Prevention Partnerships across the country, to intervene earlier and ensure that children and young people vulnerable to being drawn into crime are identified and offered support in a more systematic way.

As we design the Young Futures Programme, we will ensure that it learns from and builds on the work of the Violence Reduction Units (VRUs). VRUs bring together partners, including from the voluntary and community sector, to understand and tackle the drivers of serious violence in their area.

In 2025/26 the Home Office is investing over £1.5m in grant funding to the Essex VRU, alongside £297k to continue the implementation of the Serious Violence Duty.

This funding will support delivery of a range of early intervention and prevention programmes, which includes youth workers in A&E settings steering young people away from violence at a ‘teachable moment’ and education inclusion programmes.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure that universities provide students with the skills most in demand by employers.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Higher education (HE) providers have duties to co-operate in the development and review of Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) developed by Employer Representative Bodies and have regard to the plan when making decisions in relation to their technical education or training provision.

LSIPs form a key part of the overall strategic planning system in an area. The plans set out the critical skill needs of employers in an area, up to and including HE, and the actions needed to address them. HE providers are a key partner in both the development and delivery of LSIPs.

The department will soon publish our plans for HE reform as part of the post-16 Skills White Paper.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to reduce the time taken for job seekers to receive appointments for improving CVs.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Customers have regular appointments with their Work Coach. For those in the Intensive Work Search regime, who are the most likely to be seeking work, these are usually weekly in the first 13 weeks of their claim. Where it is identified or requested that there is a need to create or improve their CV, their Work Coach is equipped to coach the customer to create or improve their CV which can be undertaken in these regular appointments. Where the customer requires additional support to this coaching, the work coach may refer the customer to other appropriate support or provision.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to provide employment support to young people not in education, employment or training.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Get Britain Working White Paper set out our cross-Government plan to get people into work and get on at work. A key focus is supporting young people into employment, education or training. We are planning to offer greater employment support in every part of the country to ensure that those who need it – including young people – can access opportunities to get into work and fulfil their potential.

As part of this, the government will launch a new Youth Guarantee for all young people aged 18-21 in England to ensure that they can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or help to find work.

DWP already provides young people aged 16-24 with labour market support through an extensive range of interventions at a national and local level. This includes flexible provision driven by local need, nationwide employment programmes and support delivered by Work Coaches based in our Jobcentres and in local communities working alongside partners.

In addition, Youth Hubs and Jobcentres across the country are increasing awareness of the Flexible Support Fund, which can help cover costs such as transport to job interviews, Jobcentres and training courses – removing practical barriers to employment.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps is he taking to improve access to innovative treatments for patients diagnosed with rare cancers.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department of Health and Social Care is committed to ensuring that all patients, including those with rare cancers, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments.

The National Cancer Plan, which is due to be published later this year, will include details on how cancer research will be supported, ensuring all cancer patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, as well as speeding up diagnosis.

The Government also supports the Rare Cancers Bill and its ambitions to incentivise clinical trials and access to innovative treatments for rare cancers. The Department is working to fast-track clinical trials to drive global investment into life sciences, improve health outcomes and accelerate the development of medicines and therapies of the future, including for rare cancers. DHSC invests £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24, reflecting its high priority.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of diagnosis rates for rare cancers, broken down by each county.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to supporting the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including rare and less common cancers, earlier and to treat them faster.

The National Disease Registration Service in NHS England, as the national cancer registry, collects diagnosis and treatment data on cancer patients in England. Further information on the National Disease Registration Service is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs

The Department has not made a formal assessment of this data broken down by county, however the forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on how the NHS will improve diagnosis and outcomes for all cancer patients in England, including for rare and less common cancers.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the impact of house price growth in the last year on home ownership rates among young people.

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

The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people, including key workers, are now locked out of homeownership.

In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, the government is supporting people into home ownership, including through the shared ownership scheme and the Lifetime ISA.

The government has also introduced a new, permanent Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, available to support and sustain availability of low deposit mortgage products for prospective buyers.

First-time buyers in East England may also benefit from home ownership initiatives offered at the local level.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to introduce targeted housing initiatives to support young people in high-cost areas.

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

The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people, including key workers, are now locked out of homeownership.

In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, the government is supporting people into home ownership, including through the shared ownership scheme and the Lifetime ISA.

The government has also introduced a new, permanent Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, available to support and sustain availability of low deposit mortgage products for prospective buyers.

First-time buyers in East England may also benefit from home ownership initiatives offered at the local level.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the average house price for first time buyers in East England.

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

The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people, including key workers, are now locked out of homeownership.

In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, the government is supporting people into home ownership, including through the shared ownership scheme and the Lifetime ISA.

The government has also introduced a new, permanent Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, available to support and sustain availability of low deposit mortgage products for prospective buyers.

First-time buyers in East England may also benefit from home ownership initiatives offered at the local level.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the affordability of housing for young people in East England.

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

The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people, including key workers, are now locked out of homeownership.

In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, the government is supporting people into home ownership, including through the shared ownership scheme and the Lifetime ISA.

The government has also introduced a new, permanent Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, available to support and sustain availability of low deposit mortgage products for prospective buyers.

First-time buyers in East England may also benefit from home ownership initiatives offered at the local level.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an estimate of savings to local authorities from providing funding to local charities.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The voluntary, community and social enterprise sector plays an important role in the delivery of services and running of facilities that support happier, healthier communities. Many local authorities deliver in partnership with their community organisations, and we encourage them to continue to do so.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to reform the tribunal process to make it more cost-effective for small businesses seeking redress for late payments.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Claims for late payment are generally made as specified money claims to the County Court and not to a specific tribunal.

We are taking multiple steps to drive improvements and reduce delays in the County Court which will result in better experience including for small businesses.

We are investing in the Court’s digital infrastructure. Our new digital services (such as Online Civil Money Claims) are supporting swifter access to justice with reduced processing times, and more engagement with the justice system as evidenced by higher levels of defended claims and admissions for cases. Cases which can progress on digital services consistently progress three times quicker from the time the claim is issued to the generation of a Standard Directions Order.

The introduction of mandatory mediation for money claims under £10,000 via the HM Courts & Tribunals Service Small Claims Mediation Service has enabled a larger number of claims to be settled earlier, at lower cost and without requiring a final judicial hearing.

Additionally, the extension of Fixed Recoverable Costs to most civil claims under £100,000 is delivering access to justice at proportionate cost by making it clear at the start of proceedings the adverse costs that parties are liable to pay. This allows small businesses in litigation to make an informed choice about whether and how to proceed.

International driving test standards and road safety

Biology and pregnancy

Upholding biological sex-based protections in single-sex spaces

Protection of free expression and resistance to blasphemy laws

Interception of small boats by France

Non-stun slaughter ban

Mauritius Treaty (No. 2)

Ban on full face coverings in public spaces

Maintaining institutional neutrality of publicly funded buildings and spaces

Mandatory data collection of child sexual offenders

Reform of the special educational needs and disabilities system

Assasination of Charlie Kirk

Proposals to resettle people from Palestine in the United Kingdom

80 years of Christian Aid

Impact of net zero policies on the agricultural sector and rural communities

Funding and support for SEND

Consequences of the Equality Act 2010

Diversity, equality and inclusion in public sector internships and graduate schemes

Free speech and the use of armed police

500th anniversary of William Tyndale translating the Bible into English

Conduct of Lord Mandelson