Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including practical cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillator awareness training as part of the driving licence practical test.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Information about first aid, including CPR, is already included in the official learning materials by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), the Highway Code and Driving Essential Skills. Questions are then asked as part of the driver theory test to check learning has taken place.
The requirement for learner drivers to complete accredited CPR and defibrillator awareness training as part of the process of obtaining a full driving licence would require legislative change. There are no current plans to introduce mandatory CPR training as part of the learning to drive process.
DVSA believes testing this knowledge at theory test stage is the correct and proportionate approach. It is important the practical driving test examines as rigorously as possible a person’s ability to drive safely in different road and traffic conditions.
Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of neonicotinoid pesticide use on pollinator populations and food security since the last emergency authorisation.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The last emergency authorisation for one of the three neonicotinoids known to harm pollinators (clothianidin, thiamethoxam, imidacloprid) was granted in 2024 under the previous administration.
Applicants were required to monitor residues of the pesticide active substance (thiamethoxam) and its metabolite in the environment. Monitoring included soil and vegetation; pollen from field margins; and rivers in sugar beet catchments.
Under the National Honey Monitoring Scheme, Defra funds analysis of honey samples to assess levels of pesticides in honey across England.
Two emergency authorisations have been granted for additional sprays of acetamiprid-containing pesticides this year due to high level of aphids faced by farmers. Acetamiprid is a neonicotinoid currently authorised for use on many crops and does not pose the same risk to pollinators.
Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to extend the 20% reduction in business rates from 2027-28 to hairdressing and beauty salons.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government recognises the important contribution that hairdressing and beauty salons make to local communities and local economies.
Businesses continue to benefit from the Government's wider business rates reforms, including permanently lower multipliers for qualifying retail, hospitality and leisure properties and the £4.3 billion support package introduced to support those ratepayers facing large increases in bills following the 2026 revaluation.
Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions she has had on establishing a dedicated national lead for brain cancer.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Rather than have a cancer lead for individual cancer types, we have ensured that the National Cancer Board is formed of a wide range of experts, including from delivery bodies and charities, who will be able to provide specialist input to address issues within the cancer system and drive real progress.
This includes a National Clinical Lead for Rare Cancers who will have a clear mandate to speak up for all rare cancers and provide clinical advice and support for the delivery of the actions in the National Cancer Plan. They will ensure that rare cancers have real parity with more common cancers and drive progress in improving outcomes and survival rates for those diagnosed with rarer cancers.
Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on introducing legal protections preventing employers from changing (a) bonus and (b) commission schemes at short notice.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Department meets regularly with stakeholders to discuss a range of issues around pay and remuneration.
Entitlement to bonuses and commission will depend on the terms of an individual's employment contract and any workplace pay scheme. There is no general legal entitlement to a discretionary bonus. Depending on the circumstances, where bonus or commission arrangements are contractual, the Employment Rights Act 2025’s new fire and rehire measures will also, once commenced, introduce new legal protection in this area. In the meantime, the Code of Practice on Dismissal and Re-engagement sets out employers’ responsibilities when seeking to change contractual terms and conditions of employment.
Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy steps to ban the import of foie gras produced using methods that are illegal in the UK.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government shares the British public's high regard for animal welfare and is committed to delivering the most ambitious animal welfare programme in a generation, as set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy.
It has made clear that the production of foie gras from ducks or geese using force feeding raises serious welfare concerns. Production using force feeding has been banned in the UK for nearly 20 years as it is not compatible with our animal welfare legislation.
The Government remains committed to maintaining and enhancing animal welfare standards and recognises the strength of public feeling on this issue.
Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 103635, whether her Department has completed its assessment of avian influenza risks associated with the release of captive-bred pheasants and partridges for recreational shooting; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of such releases on biodiversity, native wildlife populations and ecosystem balance.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Great Britain regained freedom from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in May 2026 and the current risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza from wild birds, including released captive-bred pheasants and partridges, is assessed as low.
Defra’s Gamebird rapid evidence review was published in 2020 and is available here. Further research into these findings was published in 2025 and available here.
Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on banning trail hunting.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
On 18 June 2026, Defra closed its consultation seeking views on the Government’s proposed approach to implementing a ban on trail hunting. All responses to the consultation are currently being analysed and a summary of responses will be published in due course.
Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to a) ensure schools and colleges follow statutory guidance on keeping children safe in education and b) offer support to students who have experienced sexual violence in school.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Sexual abuse in any form is abhorrent and protecting children from this is an absolute priority for this government.
Working Together to Safeguard Children is the statutory guidance which sets out the collaborative duties and responsibilities placed on agencies to safeguard and protect children. It can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2.
Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) is the statutory safeguarding guidance that all schools and colleges must have regard to, when safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. It includes clear and detailed guidance on managing reports of child-on-child sexual harassment and sexual violence, and on recording concerns, discussions and decisions made. The guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2.
Local authorities, schools and colleges are held to account for safeguarding children through a number of routes, for example statutory guidance, legislation, child safeguarding practice review panels and inspection.