Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to exempt small businesses from paying VAT on birthday parties in line with the arrangements that currently exist for local leisure centres.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s third-largest tax, forecast to raise around £180 billion in 2025/26, helping to fund vital public services.

Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for those services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

There are no specific VAT reliefs for birthday parties. A local authority leisure centre may not charge VAT if the activity falls within existing VAT exemptions, such as those for sport or education, or where the activity is treated as part of the council’s non-business community functions. Activities such as soft play and bouncy castle parties are taxable at the 20 per cent standard rate.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of driving tests in Broxtowe.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and improve access to driving tests that will break down barriers to opportunity as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

On the 12 November, the Secretary of State for Transport, updated the Transport Select Committee on the government’s ongoing response to high driving test waiting times.

In the coming months, DVSA will:

• Change the booking service to allow only learner car drivers to book and manage their tests
• Introduce a limit on the number of times a learner car driver can move or swap a test to twice and also limit the area they can move a test to once booked.
• Make use of Ministry of Defence (MOD) driving examiners for up to 12 months to help tackle driving test waiting times.

DVSA is also continuing with recruitment campaigns across the country to provide as many tests as possible. Since July last year, DVSA has recruited and trained 344 driving examiners (DE) who are now in post and delivering driving tests. A full-time DE can be expected to add approximately 1,200 tests per year to the booking system.

Nottingham Chilwell test centre serves candidates from Broxtowe. Since June 2024, DVSA has recruited six new entrant driving examiners who are now conducting tests at Chilwell.

DVSA has also advertised for this test centre in its recent recruitment campaign and applicants are working their way through the interview process. DVSA will be advertising again for this test centre in its next recruitment campaign.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what step his Department will take to ensure people who need COVID boosters receive them.

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

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious illness, resulting in hospitalisations and deaths, arising from COVID-19.

The JCVI has advised that population immunity to COVID-19 has been increasing due to a combination of naturally acquired immunity following recovery from infection and vaccine-derived immunity. COVID-19 is now a relatively mild disease for most people, though it can still be unpleasant, with rates of hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 having reduced significantly since COVID-19 first emerged.

The focus of the JCVI advised programme has therefore moved towards targeted vaccination of the two groups who continue to be at higher risk of serious disease, including mortality. These are the oldest adults and individuals who are immunosuppressed. The JCVI’s advice for autumn 2025 is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026

The Government has accepted the JCVI’s advice for autumn 2025 and in line with the advice, a COVID-19 vaccination is being offered to the following groups:

• adults aged 75 years old and over;
• residents in care homes for older adults; and
• individuals aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed.

The campaign in England began on 1 October 2025 and runs until 31 January 2026. General practitioners have been in direct communication with eligible people to encourage them to book their vaccinations, complemented by millions of targeted emails, texts, and letters sent nationally by the National Health Service. Appointments, including walk-in sessions, are available in local pharmacies, general practices, and community clinic drop-in centres across the country.

As for all vaccines, the JCVI keeps the evidence under regular review.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Department holds records on the number of privately owned e-scooters currently in use by the general public that are not covered by appropriate motor vehicle insurance policies; and whether any specific enforcement measures are either in-place, or being considered to ensure compliance with relevant insurance requirements.

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

The Department for Transport does not hold the information requested.

Enforcement of illegal e-scooter use is a matter for the police and a range of motoring offences and penalties already apply.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Department is taking to ensure there are easy, accessible, diplomatic routes for ambassadors and high commissioners to utilise during travel to and from the United Kingdom.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) regularly liaises with missions and airports to assist with the transit arrangements for ambassadors and high commissioners entering or leaving the UK, as well as other international visitors travelling to the UK on official business.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to support charities to increase availability of guide dogs in Nottinghamshire.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The UK government recognises the invaluable role guide dogs play in enhancing the independence and quality of life for individuals with visual impairments and hearing loss.

Assistance dogs are not funded or provided by the government. Direct provision of guide dogs is primarily handled by charitable organisations. Organisations like Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK), an umbrella coalition for well-established dog training organisations, offer information and advice on how to apply for an assistance dog.

As assistance dogs are provided by independent charities and organisations, the Government is not responsible or accountable for supply issues. We are aware of concerns around shortages of assistance dogs since the pandemic and there has been dialogue with assistance dogs charities. Guide Dogs UK have assured us that they are on course to return to pre-pandemic supply levels soon, and are working hard to reduce waiting times with record levels of investment.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to implement the recommendations of the Independent ADHD Taskforce; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of those recommendations on ADHD waiting times, support to people with ADHD and the quality of ADHD services.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England established an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) taskforce which brought together those with lived experience with experts from the National Health Service, education, charity, and justice sectors to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including in accessing timely and equitable access to services and support. We are pleased that the taskforce’s final report was published on 6 November, and we are carefully considering its recommendations.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to encourage housing associations work with local councils on an agreed anti-social behaviour protocol.

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

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission to take back our streets. Social landlords have a range of powers and tools to tackle anti-social behaviour and we expect them to use those powers promptly and proportionately, working with local agencies to put the needs of victims at the heart of their response.

The Neighbourhood and Community Standard, which can be found on gov.uk here, requires registered providers of social housing to work in partnership with appropriate local authority departments, the police and other relevant organisations to deter and tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) and hate incidents in the neighbourhoods where they provide social housing. They must also have policies in place setting out how they will do this.

Providers are also required to collect and publish data on the Tenant Satisfaction Measures, including tenants’ satisfaction with their landlord’s approach to handling anti-social behaviour. This ensures that tenants and other interested parties can hold registered providers to account for the services they provide.

In addition, the Anti-Social Behaviour Case Review brings together partner agencies such as the police, councils and social landlords to investigate tenants’ complaints about ASB and to make sure they have been dealt with properly.

Found: Liberal Democrat; Orkney and Shetland) (Chair) Sarah Bool (Conservative; South Northamptonshire) Juliet Campbell

Found: Conservative; Life peer) Lord Sewell of Sanderstead (Conservative; Life peer) House of Commons Juliet Campbell