Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish further information on the extension of the Ukrainian visa scheme.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

On 1 September, the Home Secretary announced in parliament that the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (UPE) would be extended for an additional 24 months to enable those eligible to obtain a further period of permission following their initial permission under UPE. More detail will follow in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to introduce a right for every adult patient to have a named advocate or support person with them throughout their hospital stay.

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

We recognise the vital role that families, loved ones, advocates and carers play in supporting people to manage their health. There are rights in place to protect those most vulnerable. The Mental Health Act and the Care Act both outline the rights of individuals to appoint an advocate to support them during their care.

Both outpatients and day patients can invite someone to join them at their hospital appointment, such as a carer, family member or friend.

At present, the Department has not made plans to introduce a right for every adult patient to have a named advocate or support person with them throughout the duration of their inpatient stay in hospital.

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 additional support for energy bills for people in Newbury in winter 2025.

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

The Government recognises that we need to support households in constituencies like Newbury and across the UK who struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power by 2030. This is why we delivered the Warm Home Discount to around 3 million eligible low-income households last winter. On 19 June we announced that we are expanding the Warm Home Discount to around an additional 2.7 million households. This means that from next winter, around 6 million low-income households will receive the £150 support to help with their energy bill costs.

The Government has been clear with suppliers that they should do all that they can to support their customers – including vulnerable consumers – who may be struggling with their bills. I would urge any consumers who are struggling to pay their bills to speak to their supplier, local authority, or Citizens Advice who may be able to provide help and support. Your constituents in Newbury can also visit the GOV.UK website, where extra cost-of-living support can be found: www.gov.uk/cost-of-living.

The Government is continuing to work with Ofgem and energy suppliers to ensure energy bills remain fair and affordable while we transition to clean power by 2030.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of procurement rules on the government's ability to engage with start-up search engine businesses to support their growth.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government is determined to ensure the £385 billion of public money spent on public procurement annually, delivers economic growth and supports small businesses and start-ups. For too long, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups have been held back by government procurement processes that are too slow, bureaucratic, and difficult to navigate.

The Procurement Act, which came into force on 24 February 2025, introduces new measures to make it easier for start-ups, small businesses and social enterprises to access public sector supply-chains, removing unnecessary burdens and costs, and opening up opportunities to the most innovative and agile firms.

The Government is analysing responses to our recent consultation on further reforms to public procurement processes. These proposals aim to drive economic growth, support small businesses, and better support innovation. We will publish our conclusions and further actions to improve public procurement in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to bring forward regulations on the fast fashion industry.

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

This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. The government has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England, which we plan to publish for consultation in due course.

The Circular Economy Taskforce will initially focus on six sectors that have the greatest potential to grow the economy: textiles; agri-food; built environment; chemicals and plastics; electrical and electronic equipment; and transport.

The Taskforce has been extensively engaging with industry leaders, trade associations, and other key stakeholders to ensure that the Strategy reflects the needs and insights of all involved.

As we develop the strategy, we will consider the evidence for action right across the economy, and alongside The Circular Economy Taskforce we will assess what interventions may be needed across the textiles sector. The Taskforce will consider evidence across a range of interventions.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to introduce tougher questions in driving (a) practical and (b) theory tests on equestrian road safety.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) regularly reviews the questions at the point of test to ensure they remain clear, relevant and effective in assessing candidates’ knowledge.

Questions asked during the practical test are designed to focus on the vehicle itself. This ensures that learners can demonstrate they can safely operate and maintain their vehicle in real-world situations.

Broader knowledge of road rules, hazard perception and theory is fully assessed in the theory test, which is taken before the practical. Together, the two parts of the driving test are designed to complement each other, ensuring new drivers have both the theoretical understanding and the practical skills needed to drive safely and responsibly.

DVSA has recognised the need to promote the recognition of hazards by drivers when sharing the road with horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles. These are well represented within the hazard perception part of the test, a CGI video test which requires candidates to identify developing hazards on the road in good time.

Both the multiple choice and hazard perception parts of the theory test are continually being updated and added to, with one of the focuses being on vulnerable road users such as horse riders.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had recent discussions with National Highways on the potential merits of introducing spacing chevrons on the A34.

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

National Highways has not identified a specific issue with mainline collisions on the A34 that would prompt such an intervention and as such, currently has no plans to install spacing chevrons on the A34.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that water bills do not rise in the context of the closure of Ofwat.

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

The price controls set as part of Price Review 2024 came into effect on 1st April 2025, setting water bill levels for 2025-2030. The abolition of Ofwat and creation of a new water regulator will not affect these.

The Government has set out its intention to create a single powerful super-regulator responsible for the entire water sector, with the teeth to enforce the high standards the public rightly demand and to help protect the public from the kind of bill hikes we saw last year. Subject to consultation this autumn, the Government will abolish Ofwat and merge its functions with water functions across the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

Until the single water regulator is fully established, the existing regulators will continue to carry out their functions and enforcement responsibilities in full. The Government will clarify its expectations through a Strategic Policy Statement and ministerial direction, expected to be published later this year.

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 plans to take steps to hold (a) highway businesses, (b) agriculture businesses and (c) other non-water sector polluters accountable for water pollution.

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

For the first time, river systems will be managed as a whole to tackle pollution from all sources, ensuring every sector plays its part in cleaning up our waterways.

Subject to consultation this autumn, the Government will abolish Ofwat and merge its functions with water functions across the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Drinking Water Inspectorate to form a single new regulator.

There will be a regional element to the new regulator to ensure greater local involvement in water planning and allow all sources of pollution to be addressed across the river catchment.

Until the single water regulator is fully established, the existing regulators will continue to carry out their functions and enforcement responsibilities in full. The Government will clarify its expectations through a Strategic Policy Statement and ministerial direction, expected to be published later this year.

Independence of Healthwatch England

Dame Annette Brooke

Neurodivergent children at school

Commemoration of H G Wells’ birthday

Tribute to Councillor Nick Cottle

Dentistry in Taunton and Wellington

Mental health care in Gaza

Air Ambulance Week 2025 (No. 2)

Oversight of automated moderation by social media companies

National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) grant

Final delivery plan on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)

40mph default speed limit on country lanes

Eating disorders and online harms

Motor neurone disease

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Found: _NC1 Mr Lee Dillon Gideon Amos Vikki Slade Manuela Perteghella Mr Will Forster Clive Jones Sarah Dyke

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