Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to maintain the availability of free terrestrial television channels beyond (a) 2029 and (b) 2034; and what assessment she has made of the (i) financial impact on viewers and (b) national security implications in the event of hostile interference with streaming services, following the closure of such channels.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government recognises the importance of free-to-air terrestrial television and is considering its longer-term future as viewing increasingly moves online. In particular, Parliament has legislated to secure the future of digital terrestrial television (DTT) until at least 2034. The Media Green Paper, Watch this space, sought views on 2034 and 2044 as possible dates for a managed transition to IPTV, and on how such a transition can be managed in a way that protects audiences and supports a sustainable broadcasting sector. The Government is currently considering the responses it received and will set out its preferred approach in due course. Affordability and national security are key considerations, and the Government is seeking views on how the TV, digital and telecommunications sectors can address these challenges. Commercial broadcasters will also have an important role in determining the future availability of their own free-to-air services on DTT, within the relevant regulatory and policy framework.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
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 plans to take in response to the petition, signed by 30,000 people and delivered to 10 Downing Street on 7 September, on the issue of splitting the local government of the Waterside from that of the New Forest.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government recognises the New Forest’s distinct identity and the importance of its cultural, economic and historic ties, including with the Waterside. Ministers regularly visit local areas to engage with communities and stakeholders and would be happy to consider a future visit at an appropriate time.
With regard to local government reorganisation, the Government has withdrawn the decision in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton and is undertaking a rapid review of the programme, including the withdrawn decision. The Government will set out next steps as soon as possible.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to next visit the New Forest and Waterside to assess their (a) societal, (b) cultural, (c) economic and (d) historical ties and interdependence.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government recognises the New Forest’s distinct identity and the importance of its cultural, economic and historic ties, including with the Waterside. Ministers regularly visit local areas to engage with communities and stakeholders and would be happy to consider a future visit at an appropriate time.
With regard to local government reorganisation, the Government has withdrawn the decision in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton and is undertaking a rapid review of the programme, including the withdrawn decision. The Government will set out next steps as soon as possible.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria the Infected Blood Compensation Authority applies in deciding which categories of (i) infected people and (ii) bereaved family members will have cases prioritised; and where in that priority list are ranked haemophiliacs co-infected by the NHS with HIV and Hepatitis C who are still alive.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the extensive information available on the website of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority regarding the prioritisation of claims, available at the following links:
https://ibca.org.uk/news/ibca-to-prioritise-claims-for-those-who-are-nearing-the-end-of-their-life/
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she will take to help tackle the use of vehicle number plates which are (a) false or (b) unreadable by automatic number plate recognition technology, with regard to (i) increasing penalties for (A) using and (B) supplying such plates, (ii) including number plate verification as a component of MOT tests, (iii) requiring number plate suppliers to be subject to criminal record checks and other background screening, and (iv) supplying police forces with appropriate detection equipment and training.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the impact of number plate crime and is committed to addressing this issue. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) works closely with police forces and the National Police Chiefs’ Council to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime.
In its Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026, the Government set out its vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of this, the Department for Transport is reviewing motoring offences and has sought views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect, altered or false number plate. The consultation closed on 11 May and responses are being considered.
A visual inspection of a vehicle’s number plate is already included as part of the MOT test. The test checks front and rear number plates for security, legibility, visibility and legal conformity.
The DVLA is also considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier process, which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers and the plates they supply. Options being considered include reviewing fees, scheme structure, resources and funding.
The DVLA offers support and training for police forces on the illegal display and supply of number plates.
In addition, the Department for Transport is funding a new National Roads Policing Coordination Centre, which brings together police forces from across England to share intelligence, improve collaboration and make better use of data. Its work includes stepping up enforcement against illegal number plates and trialling new technology to help detect plates designed to evade cameras.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what checks will be introduced to ensure that no-one under 16 can participate in social media; how such age-checks will be introduced for children without age-screening social media participants; and whether such an age-checking system will constitute digital ID for people engaging in social media.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is committed to delivering the social media ban for under-16s and strengthening protections for children online. That is why we will require platforms to implement highly effective age assurance (HEAA) to ensure that their services are not offered to under 16s.
Age assurance technologies are already well established, and a range of methods are currently used to provide highly effective age checks, including to establish whether a user is over 18. Ofcom is now carrying out a rapid assessment of what constitutes HEAA for establishing whether someone is over 16.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is planning to take support the WASPI women's campaign for redress, in the context of the pledge of support given by the Prime Minister during his by-election campaign.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 June 2026 to Question UIN 10882.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will list the instances when recommendations by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman for redress to be paid to successful complainants have been rejected in each of the last three years.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government does not centrally hold information regarding compliance with Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman recommendations. The PHSO publishes compliance data in its annual report; the annual report for 2025 to 2026 records that In the last 3 business years there were 11 instances of ‘Recommendations closed not complied with’.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason her Department did not pause the installation of additional floating bus stops until further research on safety had been carried out in the context of the advice of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee; what analysis she has undertaken of the likelihood of cyclists giving way to blind people trying to cross cycle lanes to board and alight from buses at floating bus stops; and what consideration she has given to representations on that subject by the National Federation of the Blind of the UK and other charitable bodies.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
On 20 November 2025, the Government put a pause on new floating bus stops that require people to board or alight directly from or into a cycle track.
During the passage of the Bus Services Act, officials met with NFBUK who presented their views on the issue. Meetings were also held with other groups representing vision-impaired people.
Active Travel England is currently carrying out research into the safety, accessibility and suitability of floating bus stops across different contexts that will consider potential design solutions to improve accessibility.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to improve (a) awareness and (b) early diagnosis of osteoporosis before people suffer bone fractures as a result of the disease.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
There are resources in place to help support healthcare professionals in the early diagnosis of osteoporosis, such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical knowledge summary on osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures.
The Royal College of General Practitioners also has an e-learning module for general practitioners on the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis, developed in collaboration with the Royal Osteoporosis Society, which is designed to support the early diagnosis of osteoporosis by highlighting which groups are at higher risk of osteoporosis and fragility fractures.
In March this year, the Government announced funding for 20 new bone density, or DEXA, scanners across England, supported by £2.6 million of investment. Tens of thousands of patients will benefit from faster access to bone scans as a result, helping to ensure that people with bone conditions, such as osteoporosis, get diagnosed earlier. This builds on the first wave of 13 DEXA scanners announced last year.
Last year in 2025, over 21,000 extra DEXA scans were delivered compared with the previous year, 2024.