Julie Minns

The government wants everyone to have access to public transport and is committed to improving services so they are more inclusive and enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity.

On October 1^st, the first phase of Public Service Vehicle Accessible Information Regulations came into force, meaning that local services will provide audible and visible information on stops, destination and diversions by 2026. The government has set out an action plan for improving the bus network, based on giving local leaders the tools they need to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities they serve.

As announced in the King’s Speech, the government will also introduce a new Buses Bill later in this parliamentary session which will help bring to an end the postcode lottery of bus services by giving local leaders the freedom to take decisions to deliver their local transport priorities and ensure networks meet the needs of the communities who rely on them. As part of this legislation we will be looking at what measures could address accessibility barriers to support disabled passengers to use bus services.

The Department is fully aware of the concerns raised by some groups, particularly visually impaired people, over the use of floating bus stops and is working with Active Travel England on ways to address these concerns. It is a complex issue and we are carefully considering a wide range of options in developing next steps.

The Hierarchy of Road Users is a well-established concept which ensures that those road users who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to other road users. It is for local authorities to ensure any infrastructure they place is developed with this in mind.

The Department engages regularly with a wide range of stakeholders. The Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee provides advice on disability transport issues in their role as a statutory advisory body, including advice on buses and local transport.

The Department is fully aware of the concerns raised by some groups, particularly visually impaired people, over the use of floating bus stops and is working with Active Travel England on ways to address these concerns. It is a complex issue and we are carefully considering a wide range of options in developing next steps.

The Hierarchy of Road Users is a well-established concept which ensures that those road users who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to other road users. It is for local authorities to ensure any infrastructure they place is developed with this in mind.

The Department engages regularly with a wide range of stakeholders. The Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee provides advice on disability transport issues in their role as a statutory advisory body, including advice on buses and local transport.

The Department has published comprehensive guidance, last updated in August 2022, to help local authorities make informed decisions about how new and existing roads can be adopted by highway authorities so that they become maintainable at public expense, pursuant to the 1980 Highways Act (as amended). The guidance should also be of interest to planning authorities, local highway authorities, developers, people living in private streets, and people planning to purchase property.

Once adopted, a road remains publicly maintainable by the highway authority, so it is right that roads are constructed by the developer to an appropriate standard. The biggest potential barrier is roads that have not been completed to the appropriate standard required by the highway authority for adoption.

It is important that developers submit details that are in accordance with both the approved highway layout (from the planning application) and technical specifications in relation to the construction of the roads. Until that time all the required maintenance and safety issues are the responsibility of the developer or owner.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) knows that car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this is having on learner drivers.

DVSA does not record, or hold, information about candidates whose driving licence is a requirement of their current, or potential, employment.

DVSA’s main priority is to uphold road safety standards as it reduces car practical driving test waiting times.

NHS England does not hold this information centrally. However, NHS England is fully committed to modernising the breast screening programme and removing barriers to accessing screening.

NHS England does not centrally hold the numbers of static and mobile screening units, or those that have wheelchair accessible X-ray machines. However, NHS England is fully committed to modernising the breast screening programme and removing barriers to accessing screening.

NHS England does not centrally hold the numbers of static and mobile screening units, or those that have wheelchair accessible X-ray machines. However, NHS England is fully committed to modernising the breast screening programme and removing barriers to accessing screening.

NHS England does not centrally hold the numbers of static and mobile screening units, or those that have wheelchair accessible X-ray machines. However, NHS England is fully committed to modernising the breast screening programme and removing barriers to accessing screening.

The UK acknowledges acts of genocide were committed by Da'esh against Yazidis. The UK played a leading role in establishing the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/ISIL (UNITAD). UNITAD has collated and processed considerable evidence of Da'esh atrocities since 2017. It has contributed to addressing the legacy of Da'esh in Iraq, by generating high-quality evidence which has supported trials in third countries, and building capacity within the Iraqi judicial system. The UK will continue working with Iraq and international partners to ensure that Da'esh are held accountable for the crimes they have committed following UNITAD's closure.

Pubs and breweries make an enormous contribution to our economy and society, and this is recognised in the tax system.

The current alcohol duty system supports pubs and breweries through Draught Relief, which ensures eligible products served on draught pay less duty. The duty system also supports small producers by providing a tapered duty discount on products below 8.5% alcohol by volume (ABV).

Supporting our high streets is a vital part of our economic growth mission and the Government is committed to working in partnership with businesses and local communities to deliver this.

The Government is closely monitoring the impact of the recent reforms and rates that took effect on 1 August 2023. As with all taxes, the Government keeps the alcohol duty system under review during its Budget process.

Pubs and breweries make an enormous contribution to our economy and society, and this is recognised in the tax system.

The current alcohol duty system supports pubs and breweries through Draught Relief, which ensures eligible products served on draught pay less duty. The duty system also supports small producers by providing a tapered duty discount on products below 8.5% alcohol by volume (ABV).

Supporting our high streets is a vital part of our economic growth mission and the Government is committed to working in partnership with businesses and local communities to deliver this.

The Government is closely monitoring the impact of the recent reforms and rates that took effect on 1 August 2023. As with all taxes, the Government keeps the alcohol duty system under review during its Budget process.

Pubs and breweries make an enormous contribution to our economy and society, and this is recognised in the tax system.

The current alcohol duty system supports pubs and breweries through Draught Relief, which ensures eligible products served on draught pay less duty. The duty system also supports small producers by providing a tapered duty discount on products below 8.5% alcohol by volume (ABV).

Supporting our high streets is a vital part of our economic growth mission and the Government is committed to working in partnership with businesses and local communities to deliver this.

The Government is closely monitoring the impact of the recent reforms and rates that took effect on 1 August 2023. As with all taxes, the Government keeps the alcohol duty system under review during its Budget process.

Health and Safety Notices of Contravention (NOC) can be issued to any organisation within Defence at a local level and this information is not held centrally by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publishes details of NOC it has issued to organisations including the MOD on its website which can be found at this link - Notices found - Enforcement notices public (hse.gov.uk).

Furthermore, it may be helpful to provide a list of Crown Censures which are served on the department by the HSE for a more serious breach of health and safety law if the HSE deems that, but for Crown immunity, there would have been sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.

The MOD and Reserve Forces and Cadet Associations have received the following Crown Censures since 2013:-

From 1 January 2013 to 13 October 2024, three UK Armed Forces personnel tragically died from heat related causes confirmed by a Coroner and listed on the death certificates. All three deaths occurred in July 2013. The inquest for all three deaths began on 26 June 2015 at Solihull Council, Civic Suite, Council House, Solihull, West Midlands.

Since 2013, two Army personnel have sadly died whilst undertaking the combat fitness test element of the annual fitness test. No other personnel have died within 24 hours of completing their annual fitness test during this period.

The Ministry of Defence does not hold any information of annual fitness tests being cancelled due to the safe temperature being exceeded because this information is not recorded.

The requested information is provided in the following tables:

Royal Navy

Table Notes:

• Data prior to 2015 is incomplete and has been excluded.
• Year awarded represents the year the competence was awarded to the employee.
• Data for 2024 is up to 21 October 2024.

Army

Table Notes:

• Year awarded represents the year the competence was awarded to the employee.
• Data for 2024 is up to 18 October 2024.

Royal Air Force

Table Notes:

• Data prior to 2016 is incomplete and has been excluded.
• Year awarded represents the year the competence was awarded to the employee.
• Data for 2024 is up to 18 October 2024.

Over the course of this Parliament, the Government will further reform the leasehold system. 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.

The Government has made clear it intends 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.

As our manifesto made clear, the Government will address the inconsistencies in voter identification that prevent legitimate electors from voting, specifically including veterans of HM Armed Forces. We are considering what changes to make in order to achieve this and will bring forward proposals in due course.

The Electoral Commission is the independent electoral regulator and will be reporting on the administration of the May local elections and the recent General Election. This will include the proportion of individuals turned away for lack of accepted identification. We anticipate publication of their initial findings on voter ID in September and their full election report later in the year.

As our manifesto made clear, the Government will address the inconsistencies in voter identification that prevent legitimate electors from voting, specifically including veterans of HM Armed Forces. We are considering what changes to make in order to achieve this and will bring forward proposals in due course.

The Electoral Commission is the independent electoral regulator and will be reporting on the administration of the May local elections and the recent General Election. This will include the proportion of individuals turned away for lack of accepted identification. We anticipate publication of their initial findings on voter ID in September and their full election report later in the year.

As our manifesto made clear, the Government will address the inconsistencies in voter identification that prevent legitimate electors from voting, specifically including veterans of HM Armed Forces. We are considering what changes to make in order to achieve this and will bring forward proposals in due course.

The Electoral Commission is the independent electoral regulator and will be reporting on the administration of the May local elections and the recent General Election. This will include the proportion of individuals turned away for lack of accepted identification. We anticipate publication of their initial findings on voter ID in September and their full election report later in the year.

As our manifesto made clear, the Government will address the inconsistencies in voter identification that prevent legitimate electors from voting, specifically including veterans of HM Armed Forces. We are considering what changes to make in order to achieve this and will bring forward proposals in due course.

The Electoral Commission is the independent electoral regulator and will be reporting on the administration of the May local elections and the recent General Election. This will include the proportion of individuals turned away for lack of accepted identification. We anticipate publication of their initial findings on voter ID in September and their full election report later in the year.