Asked by: Matt Bishop (Labour - Forest of Dean)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the HGV weight restriction on the M48 Severn Bridge on (a) haulers, (b) congestion and (c) businesses in (i) Forest of Dean constituency and (ii) surrounding areas; and what steps her Department is taking to (A) identify and (b) implement a solution to the weight restriction.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The weight restriction on the M48 Severn Bridge was introduced by National Highways as a safety measure following the identification of deterioration in the bridge’s main suspension cables. To keep the bridge open to the majority of traffic, vehicles over 7.5 tonnes, have been temporarily restricted.
National Highways carried out traffic modelling to understand potential impacts, including on hauliers, congestion and rerouting in areas such as the Forest of Dean and nearby junctions. The decision to impose a weight restriction followed a review of alternative options and was considered the most effective way to address safety concerns while limiting disruption.
National Highways has engaged with local authorities, industry bodies and operators to keep them informed. A dedicated team is progressing work on a medium-term traffic management solution, which is currently in the feasibility stage. The restriction is expected to remain in place for 12 to 18 months subject to further investigations, with updates provided to stakeholders as work progresses.
Asked by: Matt Bishop (Labour - Forest of Dean)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when he plans to publish research on the impact of (a) smartphones and (b) social media on young people.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is continuing to explore how the evidence base on the impact of social media on children can be improved.
This is why in December 2024, DSIT commissioned a feasibility study on methods and data to understand the impact of smartphones and social media on children.
The Government is currently considering the findings of the feasibility study and will publish the results in due course.
Asked by: Matt Bishop (Labour - Forest of Dean)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to help tackle pay disparities for disabled people.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Tackling pay disparities for disabled people is a priority for this government.
The King’s Speech announced our intention to legislate to introduce mandatory disability pay gap reporting for large employers and to make the right to equal pay effective for disabled people.
Our consultation on disability pay gap reporting closed on 10 June and we are now considering over 650 responses to this.
Our Call for Evidence on changes to equality law, launched in April, seeks views on making the right to equal pay effective for disabled people.
Asked by: Matt Bishop (Labour - Forest of Dean)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to monitor the administration of CPR training in schools.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
All state-funded schools in England are required to teach their pupils first aid training, which includes basic first aid and dealing with common injuries, within their statutory health education provision. In addition, pupils in secondary schools are taught further first aid, for example, how to administer CPR and the purpose of defibrillators.
The department does not monitor the administration of CPR training in schools. When undertaking their first aid needs assessments, schools should consider the needs of their staff, pupils and other non-employees such as visitors, and put in place appropriate provision, including in relation to training, as recommended by the Health and Safety Executive and the department’s first-aid guidance for schools
Asked by: Matt Bishop (Labour - Forest of Dean)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a 20 years’ service medal for Police Community Support Officers.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office will consider any proposal for national long service recognition for Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).
It is only right that we recognise the commitment shown by PCSOs across the country and whose roles are undeniably at the sharp end of policing, diffusing community tensions and providing visible policing presence in our communities.
Asked by: Matt Bishop (Labour - Forest of Dean)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 47133 on Mobile Broadbands, whether the implementation of part two of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 will be included in the review of the telecommunications market.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is continually engaged with developments in the mobile sector. This involves considering sector-wide investment challenges and technological innovations and their impact on the market and rollout of high-quality infrastructure, as well as mobile signal and coverage issues and the quality of service afforded to mobile customers. This is separate to the Government’s work on the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022. The Government monitors the impacts of the PSTI Act reforms through ongoing tracking of progress against connectivity targets and stakeholder engagement.
Asked by: Matt Bishop (Labour - Forest of Dean)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to establish specialist care pathways for people with bipolar to (a) improve treatment and (b) reduce misdiagnosis.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is unacceptable that too many people are not receiving the mental health care they need, and we know that waits for mental health services are far too long, including for people with bipolar disorder. We are determined to change that.
As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future, we will provide access to a specialist mental health professional in every school in England, create a network of open access community Young Futures hubs, recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers to cut wait times and provide faster treatment, and modernise the Mental Health Act.
We are also committed to new models of care for mental health, including reforming care for people experiencing a mental health crisis. We are testing neighbourhood mental health centres for people aged 18 years old and over with serious mental illness. These six pilot schemes are based in Tower Hamlets, Lewisham, Sheffield, York, Birmingham, and Whitehaven.
These models will offer 24/7 open access care closer to home, with an integrated service including healthcare providers, local authorities, and the voluntary sector. These pilots build on international evidence which shows that similar models have led to a reduction in hospitalisation and waiting times, and support our efforts to move more care into the community.
Asked by: Matt Bishop (Labour - Forest of Dean)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking with key stakeholders to meet (a) the requirements of commercial broadcasters and (b) secure public access to live sport.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring access to live sport so that it can be enjoyed by a wide audience. However, this must also be balanced with the ability of sports national governing bodies to generate revenue to invest in their sports at all levels, given broadcasting rights provide essential income for these organisations.
All UK broadcasters are operationally and editorially independent of the government. Decisions relating to coverage of particular sporting events are ultimately a commercial decision for the relevant broadcaster and/or the rights holder of the specific sporting event.
Asked by: Matt Bishop (Labour - Forest of Dean)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to undertake a review of the mobile telecommunications market.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government constantly reviews the mobile sector. As part of this, we are reviewing sector-wide investment challenges, technological innovations and their effect on the market and considering what Government can do to support the telecoms sector to invest in their networks over the next decade. We will also consider any impact on the rollout of high-quality wireless infrastructure and concomitant mobile signal and coverage issues, and the quality of service afforded to mobile customers.
Asked by: Matt Bishop (Labour - Forest of Dean)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that all NICE-approved medicines for osteoporosis are included in (a) ICS and (b) local formularies.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS based on an assessment of their costs and benefits.
The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by the NICE, usually within three months of final guidance.
The 2025/26 NHS Standard Contract, which applies to all contracts between NHS commissioners and providers, stipulates that, where any service involves or may involve the prescribing of medicines, the provider must ensure that its formulary reflects all relevant positive NICE technology appraisals.
The NICE has also published guidance on developing and updating local formularies, which is intended to support commissioners and healthcare providers, including those working within integrated care systems, in developing formularies that reflect local needs, reducing variation in prescribing, and allowing for the rapid adoption of new medicines and treatments. This guidance is available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/mpg1