Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support electronic device repair businesses.

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

The Department offers a range of support offers for SMEs across the UK, including those in the electronic device repair sector as featured in the new Business Growth Service website.

These measures are set out in the Small Business Plan released in July 2025; this includes the most significant legislative reforms in 25 years to tackle late payments; unlocking billions of pounds in financial support; removing unnecessary red tape; revitalising High Streets and boosting Digital and AI Adoption among small businesses.

In Ashfield, and across Nottinghamshire, businesses can access free, impartial business advice through the government-backed Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire Growth Hub.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her department is taking to reduce waiting times for Fitness to Drive assessments.

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

During a medical investigation into a person’s fitness to drive the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) may require a functional on-road driving assessment. These are delivered through specialist driving assessment centres that provide clinical and on-road evaluation of a driver’s functional ability where a medical condition may affect safe driving. These assessments require appropriately trained clinicians and specialist driving assessors, as well as access to adapted vehicles and suitable testing environments.

The DVLA is working closely with the Department for Transport and the Mobility centres network (England) to provide accessible and timely access to driving and mobility assessments.

There is a significant demand on Mobility centre assessment services, and this can result in delays in some areas. There is regular engagement with the centres to understand the challenges and maintain appropriate levels of grant funding. Individual Driving Mobility centres are responsible for managing their own assessments and waiting times. Central information on current waiting times for fitness to drive assessments is not held.

Mobility centres are responsible for providing suitable vehicles for the applicant to use. These cover a range of adaptations to meet the needs of the majority of users. The Department for Transport has also provided targeted funding to the Mobility Centres to support upgrading their vehicle fleets and enhance the range of vehicle adaptations available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her department is taking to ensure that people are provided vehicles similar to their usual vehicle during Fitness to Drive assessments.

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

During a medical investigation into a person’s fitness to drive the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) may require a functional on-road driving assessment. These are delivered through specialist driving assessment centres that provide clinical and on-road evaluation of a driver’s functional ability where a medical condition may affect safe driving. These assessments require appropriately trained clinicians and specialist driving assessors, as well as access to adapted vehicles and suitable testing environments.

The DVLA is working closely with the Department for Transport and the Mobility centres network (England) to provide accessible and timely access to driving and mobility assessments.

There is a significant demand on Mobility centre assessment services, and this can result in delays in some areas. There is regular engagement with the centres to understand the challenges and maintain appropriate levels of grant funding. Individual Driving Mobility centres are responsible for managing their own assessments and waiting times. Central information on current waiting times for fitness to drive assessments is not held.

Mobility centres are responsible for providing suitable vehicles for the applicant to use. These cover a range of adaptations to meet the needs of the majority of users. The Department for Transport has also provided targeted funding to the Mobility Centres to support upgrading their vehicle fleets and enhance the range of vehicle adaptations available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her department holds on current waiting times for Fitness to Drive assessments.

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

During a medical investigation into a person’s fitness to drive the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) may require a functional on-road driving assessment. These are delivered through specialist driving assessment centres that provide clinical and on-road evaluation of a driver’s functional ability where a medical condition may affect safe driving. These assessments require appropriately trained clinicians and specialist driving assessors, as well as access to adapted vehicles and suitable testing environments.

The DVLA is working closely with the Department for Transport and the Mobility centres network (England) to provide accessible and timely access to driving and mobility assessments.

There is a significant demand on Mobility centre assessment services, and this can result in delays in some areas. There is regular engagement with the centres to understand the challenges and maintain appropriate levels of grant funding. Individual Driving Mobility centres are responsible for managing their own assessments and waiting times. Central information on current waiting times for fitness to drive assessments is not held.

Mobility centres are responsible for providing suitable vehicles for the applicant to use. These cover a range of adaptations to meet the needs of the majority of users. The Department for Transport has also provided targeted funding to the Mobility Centres to support upgrading their vehicle fleets and enhance the range of vehicle adaptations available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what measures are in place to ensure provisional driving license applications are processed within DVLA target times during periods of high demand for applications.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. There are no delays in applications for a provisional licence where there is no medical condition involved. The DVLA’s target for driving licence applications is to dispatch 95 per cent within three working days for straightforward online applications and 90 per cent within ten working days for straightforward paper applications. In the current financial year, the DVLA has achieved 100 per cent for online applications and 99.9 per cent for paper applications.

Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated can take longer to process as the DVLA is often reliant on receiving information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.

The DVLA is currently experiencing an increase in the volume and complexity of driving licence applications. Unfortunately, this has led to longer waiting times for some customers. In 2024/25 the DVLA made more than 830,000 medical licensing decisions with forecasts showing that more than 925,000 medical applications and notifications will be received in 2025/26.

To keep up with growing customer demand and to offer a better service, the DVLA is updating its online service and is launching a new casework system which will deliver significant improvements to drivers with medical conditions. These enhancements, alongside the recruitment of additional staff to deal with medical applications and answer telephone calls, will deliver real improvements for customers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her department holds on trends in the level of waiting times for provisional driving license applications.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. There are no delays in applications for a provisional licence where there is no medical condition involved. The DVLA’s target for driving licence applications is to dispatch 95 per cent within three working days for straightforward online applications and 90 per cent within ten working days for straightforward paper applications. In the current financial year, the DVLA has achieved 100 per cent for online applications and 99.9 per cent for paper applications.

Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated can take longer to process as the DVLA is often reliant on receiving information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.

The DVLA is currently experiencing an increase in the volume and complexity of driving licence applications. Unfortunately, this has led to longer waiting times for some customers. In 2024/25 the DVLA made more than 830,000 medical licensing decisions with forecasts showing that more than 925,000 medical applications and notifications will be received in 2025/26.

To keep up with growing customer demand and to offer a better service, the DVLA is updating its online service and is launching a new casework system which will deliver significant improvements to drivers with medical conditions. These enhancements, alongside the recruitment of additional staff to deal with medical applications and answer telephone calls, will deliver real improvements for customers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her department holds about the proportion of provisional driving license applications involving non-complex medical conditions that were not assessed within DVLA target waiting times.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. There are no delays in applications for a provisional licence where there is no medical condition involved. The DVLA’s target for driving licence applications is to dispatch 95 per cent within three working days for straightforward online applications and 90 per cent within ten working days for straightforward paper applications. In the current financial year, the DVLA has achieved 100 per cent for online applications and 99.9 per cent for paper applications.

Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated can take longer to process as the DVLA is often reliant on receiving information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.

The DVLA is currently experiencing an increase in the volume and complexity of driving licence applications. Unfortunately, this has led to longer waiting times for some customers. In 2024/25 the DVLA made more than 830,000 medical licensing decisions with forecasts showing that more than 925,000 medical applications and notifications will be received in 2025/26.

To keep up with growing customer demand and to offer a better service, the DVLA is updating its online service and is launching a new casework system which will deliver significant improvements to drivers with medical conditions. These enhancements, alongside the recruitment of additional staff to deal with medical applications and answer telephone calls, will deliver real improvements for customers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her department has held recent conversation with the DVLA regarding the time taken to process provisional driving license applications involving non-complex medical conditions.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. There are no delays in applications for a provisional licence where there is no medical condition involved. The DVLA’s target for driving licence applications is to dispatch 95 per cent within three working days for straightforward online applications and 90 per cent within ten working days for straightforward paper applications. In the current financial year, the DVLA has achieved 100 per cent for online applications and 99.9 per cent for paper applications.

Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated can take longer to process as the DVLA is often reliant on receiving information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.

The DVLA is currently experiencing an increase in the volume and complexity of driving licence applications. Unfortunately, this has led to longer waiting times for some customers. In 2024/25 the DVLA made more than 830,000 medical licensing decisions with forecasts showing that more than 925,000 medical applications and notifications will be received in 2025/26.

To keep up with growing customer demand and to offer a better service, the DVLA is updating its online service and is launching a new casework system which will deliver significant improvements to drivers with medical conditions. These enhancements, alongside the recruitment of additional staff to deal with medical applications and answer telephone calls, will deliver real improvements for customers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her department is taking to ensure provisional driving license applications involving medical conditions are assessed within DVLA target times.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. There are no delays in applications for a provisional licence where there is no medical condition involved. The DVLA’s target for driving licence applications is to dispatch 95 per cent within three working days for straightforward online applications and 90 per cent within ten working days for straightforward paper applications. In the current financial year, the DVLA has achieved 100 per cent for online applications and 99.9 per cent for paper applications.

Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated can take longer to process as the DVLA is often reliant on receiving information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.

The DVLA is currently experiencing an increase in the volume and complexity of driving licence applications. Unfortunately, this has led to longer waiting times for some customers. In 2024/25 the DVLA made more than 830,000 medical licensing decisions with forecasts showing that more than 925,000 medical applications and notifications will be received in 2025/26.

To keep up with growing customer demand and to offer a better service, the DVLA is updating its online service and is launching a new casework system which will deliver significant improvements to drivers with medical conditions. These enhancements, alongside the recruitment of additional staff to deal with medical applications and answer telephone calls, will deliver real improvements for customers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her department holds about the proportion of provisional driving license applications that were not assessed within DVLA target waiting times.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. There are no delays in applications for a provisional licence where there is no medical condition involved. The DVLA’s target for driving licence applications is to dispatch 95 per cent within three working days for straightforward online applications and 90 per cent within ten working days for straightforward paper applications. In the current financial year, the DVLA has achieved 100 per cent for online applications and 99.9 per cent for paper applications.

Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated can take longer to process as the DVLA is often reliant on receiving information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.

The DVLA is currently experiencing an increase in the volume and complexity of driving licence applications. Unfortunately, this has led to longer waiting times for some customers. In 2024/25 the DVLA made more than 830,000 medical licensing decisions with forecasts showing that more than 925,000 medical applications and notifications will be received in 2025/26.

To keep up with growing customer demand and to offer a better service, the DVLA is updating its online service and is launching a new casework system which will deliver significant improvements to drivers with medical conditions. These enhancements, alongside the recruitment of additional staff to deal with medical applications and answer telephone calls, will deliver real improvements for customers.

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 promote inward investment in electric appliance manufacturing in the UK.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department promotes inward investment in electric appliance manufacturing through targeted support from the Office for Investment and our global investment network. We work closely with devolved administrations and local partners to showcase the UK’s strengths, including world‑class R&D. Investors can access tailored advice, regulatory support, and incentives such as capital allowances and funding for innovation.

The enhanced Office for Investment is actively pursuing and managing major investment projects that support national growth missions and infrastructure strategies, helping to make the UK the best investment destination in the world.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of prescription charges on people with IBD.

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

The Government currently has no plans to review or amend the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate. No assessment has been made of the potential impact of prescription charges on people with inflammatory bowel disease.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to review the medical exemption list for prescription charges.

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

The Government currently has no plans to review or amend the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate. No assessment has been made of the potential impact of prescription charges on people with inflammatory bowel disease.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help promote British made buses.

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

The Government is committed to supporting the long-term strength and competitiveness of our bus manufacturing sector. In March 2025, the Minister for Roads and Buses launched the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel, bringing together industry experts and local leaders to ensure the UK remains a leader in bus manufacturing. A key objective of the panel is to develop a pipeline of future bus orders to give better planning certainty to the sector and UK-based manufacturers. This pipeline has been published at: 10-year zero emission bus order pipeline - GOV.UK.

Separately, on 12 March 26, my Department announced an additional £73.2 million of funding for 484 zero emission buses through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Area Programme (ZEBRA) for which UK manufacturers have already won the majority of orders for the 2,500 buses delivered so far.

We are also providing further opportunities for UK manufacturers with the £15.6 billion of funding available over five years to improve local transport across some of the biggest city regions, giving local leaders the ability to allocate funding to upgrade and decarbonise their fleets.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to promote British made electronic (a) devices and (b) appliances to consumers.

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

The government is supporting British made electronic devices and appliances by backing domestic manufacturers, promoting innovation, and strengthening product standards. We work closely with industry bodies such as AMDEA (Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances), who lead consumer information campaigns helping shoppers identify high quality UK made products. We also continue to uphold strong safety standards through the Office for Product Safety and Standards. Through this partnership approach, we aim to boost the visibility, competitiveness and consumer confidence in British made electronics and appliances.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made about the potential impact of importing Chinese built electric buses on UK security.

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

The Government takes national security seriously and works closely with the transport sector and others to understand and respond to vulnerabilities for all transport modes.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help ensure electronic waste is safely disposed.

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

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 are founded on the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility, which requires the producers of electrical and electronic equipment to take responsibility for the environmental impact of the products they place on the market when they become waste. Under the WEEE Regulations, the cost of the collection, transport and subsequent environmentally sound treatment and recycling of household waste is financed by producers through membership of a Producer Compliance Scheme.

Electrical and electronic equipment is part of our Circular Economy Growth Plan which considers the evidence for action right across the economy and what interventions may be needed. We intend to publish the Circular Economy Growth Plan soon.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help reduce levels of electronic waste.

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

Defra is actively exploring how we can support circularity in electrical and electronic equipment; a successful transition to a Circular Economy aims to eliminate waste and promote sustainability through reuse and resource efficiency. As part of this, we recognise the importance of continued innovation in methods to reduce levels of waste electricals and electronics.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made about the potential impact of scale of electronic waste on the environment.

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

Defra has not conducted a formal assessment of the potential impact of scale of electronic waste on the environment.

We recognise that this is an important issue which is why electrical and electronic waste is being considered under the Circular Economy Growth Plan which we intend to publish soon.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help raise public awareness of the dangers of irresponsible electronic waste disposal.

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

The WEEE Compliance Fee, paid under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 by electrical producers is used to provide project funding for consumer awareness campaigns in the UK, which are managed by Material Focus and highlight the importance of proper disposal and recycling of electrical waste.

Defra recognises the importance of continued innovation in public awareness campaigns for the collection and treatment of waste electricals and electronics. The Circular Economy Growth Plan will consider the evidence for action right across the economy and evaluate what interventions may be needed. The Circular Economy Growth Plan is due to be published soon.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help improve the availability of (a) apprenticeships and (b) training courses in the electronic device repair industry.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Level 3 Digital Device Repair Technician apprenticeship standard is available to support the electronic device repair industry, and other occupational standards are available to facilitate engineering and manufacturing skills more widely.

To improve the availability of apprenticeships, from the next academic year, the government will fully fund apprenticeship training costs for eligible people aged under 25 at non-levy paying employers. The department currently pays the full training costs for young apprentices aged 16 to 21 at non-levy paying employers and apprentices aged 22-24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or have been, or are, in local authority care.

From October 2026, non-levy paying employers will also receive a £2,000 incentive payment when they take on, as new employees, apprentices under the aged of 25, to help them meet the additional costs of supporting a young person at the beginning of their career.

This is in addition to the £1,000 that the Government already pays to both employers (of all sizes) and providers for apprentices aged 16-18, and for apprentices aged 19-24 who have an EHCP or have been, or are, in local authority care. On top of this, employers will receive additional payments of up to £2,000 for foundation apprenticeships and employers are not required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25 (when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year).

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on the waiting time for emergency ultrasound scans at Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB hospitals.

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

The Department does not hold information on waiting times for emergency ultrasound scans.

However, in December 2025, the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board carried out 2,021 unscheduled, or emergency, non-obstetric ultrasound tests. Unscheduled tests are defined as including the number of diagnostic tests or procedures carried out during the month on patients following an emergency admission, and any diagnostic tests or procedures on patients in accident and emergency.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on the adequacy of mental health support in (a) Ashfield constituency and (b) Nottinghamshire.

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

The Department does not hold specific assessments of the adequacy of mental health support in Ashfield constituency. Mental health services across Nottinghamshire, including Ashfield, are delivered by the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation. The Care Quality Commission’s most recent inspections at the trust found no services rated inadequate and noted strengthened governance and safer care. However, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has made clear that care has fallen short at the trust and expects to see improvements. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has been closely monitoring the implementation of the recommendations from previous Care Quality Commission reports and has committed to meeting the new leadership of the trust once in place.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help improve GCSE pass rates among pupils eligible for free school meals in the Ashfield constituency.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The ‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’ White Paper sets out our plans to build a system that supports every child to achieve and thrive.

It sets a clear path to raising standards and broadens children’s education. This includes a refreshed curriculum, improved transitions and an enrichment entitlement for every child.

To help improve GCSE outcomes for disadvantaged pupils, we are driving standards through new RISE teams, a refreshed high-quality curriculum and assessment system, recruiting 6,500 additional teachers and piloting a new place‑based Headteacher Retention Incentive to attract and support headteachers in the areas that need them most.

Additionally, in the 2026/27 financial year, £3.2 billion of pupil premium funding will support improved outcomes for disadvantaged pupils, and the National Funding Formula will allocate £5.6 billion according to deprivation. We are also developing a new model to better target disadvantage funding at the most entrenched need.

When this generation finishes secondary school, our ambition is for all pupils to reach at least a grade 5 across their GCSEs and for the disadvantage gap to be halved, with 30,000 more disadvantaged pupils passing English and maths GCSEs.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help improve educational opportunities in former coalfield areas.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

All children and young people should have every opportunity to succeed. Our mission is to make this a reality across the country, including in former coalfield areas.

We’re investing £9.5 billion into early years next year to help families access affordable high-quality childcare places all over the country including those in former coalfield areas. We are also taking bold action to lift 550,000 children out of poverty, tackling the high levels of deprivation seen in many former coalfield areas.

Our “Every Child Achieving and Thriving” white paper sets out our plan to provide a stretching, enriching and inclusive school experience for every child. We are consulting on funding reforms to reflect different lengths and depths of disadvantage that children may be experiencing including the persistent challenges faced in former coalfield areas.

The department is also strengthening routes into post-16 education, employment and training so every young person can progress into secure, well-paid work. We recognise that former coalfield areas face some of the biggest barriers to opportunity and this government will ensure those Children and Young People benefit from the landmark reforms we are making to education and beyond.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure all secondary schools offer a wide range of GCSE subject options.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

As part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, schools are expected to offer a range of subject options to help meet the aspirations of all pupils.

On 23 February, the department published a consultation which includes proposals to improve the Progress 8 model to maintain a strong academic core and ensure breadth and choice for every child. The consultation is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/key-stage-4-performance-measures-and-targeted-rise-extension. We want to recognise the value of subjects that strengthen our economy and society, for example the arts and sciences, and the importance of a broad pre-16 curriculum.

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 increase access to medication for people with IBD.

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

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that makes recommendations on whether all new medicines and significant licence extensions for existing medicines should be routinely funded by the National Health Service in England based on an assessment of clinical and cost effectiveness. In the last three years, NICE has recommended five new drugs for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, including upadacitinib, risankizumab, mirikizumab, etrasimod, and guselkumab. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to improve support in the court system for victims of (a) rape and (b) sexual violence.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

To ensure that victims, including those of rape and sexual violence, receive the right and timely support, the Ministry of Justice has announced record investment of £550 million in victim support services over the next three years of this Spending Review period.

In addition, this Government is also taking decisive action to address long-standing issues that impact victims of rape and sexual violence. This includes:

• Funding a record number of sitting days and uncapping Crown Court sitting days in 26/27, so that more rape and other sexual offence cases can be heard.

• Introducing the Courts & Tribunals Bill to drive down the Crown Court caseload and reduce delays.

• Introducing a package of legislative measures to protect victims of sexual violence in particular from unnecessary and intrusive cross-examination about their personal lives at court.

• Announcing that we will introduce free Independent Legal Advisors this year, for victims and survivors of adult rape to help them to understand their legal rights.

• Testing the Operation Soteria model in courtrooms, to ensure rape cases focus on suspects, not victims.

• Rolling out trauma-informed training for all court staff, so that those who come into contact with victims at court understand how best to support their experience.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure free speech is maintained on university campuses.

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

This government is absolutely committed to freedom of speech and academic freedom. We commenced provisions from the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 on 1 August 2025 that strengthen provider duties on free speech, including a requirement to put in place free speech codes of practice, and require the Office for Students (OfS) to promote free speech, while banning non-disclosure agreements on complaints about bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct.

The OfS has also issued extensive guidance to higher education (HE) providers on commencement of their duties. The OfS’ Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom continues to work with the HE sector to offer advice and share best practice, so HE providers themselves are more effectively protecting free speech and academic freedom.

The department is seeking a suitable legislative vehicle to amend and repeal elements of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 at the earliest opportunity.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has had recent correspondence with universities on the enforcement of freedom of speech guidelines.

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

The department has not had recent correspondence with universities on the enforcement of the free speech duties. This answer does not cover any correspondence which the Office for Students may have had with universities on enforcement of freedom of speech.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help support mature students in universities.

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

As autonomous institutions, higher education (HE) providers are responsible for setting their own timetabling and student support arrangements and in doing so, must take the needs of all students including mature learners, into account.

In January 2027 the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) will launch and transform the HE student finance system. The LLE will give adults, up to the age of 60, access to a flexible, four year loan entitlement to use over their working lives to study full courses and individual modules. The LLE will broaden access at levels 4 to 6 for a range of learners, including those returning to education later in life or studying whilst working.

We are also reintroducing targeted, means-tested maintenance grants, providing disadvantaged students with up to £1,000 extra per year on top of existing loans for living costs from academic year 2028/29.

Together, these reforms modernise the student finance system and ensure that mature students can access the support they need to participate and succeed in HE.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help support students to challenge issues of free speech on university campuses.

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

Higher education (HE) must be a space for robust discussion, intellectual rigour and exposure to new ideas. These expectations on our universities are long standing and not negotiable.

There are already routes of redress for students where they believe that a HE provider has breached its duties under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023. As we have previously set out, students can already make complaints relating to free speech to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator, whose service is free at the point of use.

The Office for Students (OfS) already regulates providers in relation to free speech and academic freedom through their existing conditions of registration. The OfS has also issued extensive guidance to HE providers on commencement of their duties, which supports students navigating these issues.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure electrical devices built in the UK are made to high durability standards.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The government is committed to ensuring products made in the UK are to a high standard. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is not responsible for device durability standards. The Department for Business and Trade works closely with domestic manufacturers and industry bodies to strengthen standards and support shoppers in identifying high quality UK made products.