Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps are being taken to assist British road haulage companies which also operate in the European Union to obtain dual registration of their vehicles.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport implemented the dual registration measure in summer 2022 to support the UK’s road haulage companies that specialise in cultural touring internationally. This was in recognition of the particular challenges this sub-sector faced resulting from EU exit, affecting their ability to support multi-stop international tours. Dual registration is not available for general haulage supporting other sectors.

The dual registration measure is for operators working on a ‘hire or reward’ basis who have an established haulage base outside Great Britain (GB) and who also maintain a GB haulage base. It allows operators to temporarily transfer their vehicles between their two operator’s licences. Guidance setting out the criteria that must be met in order for an operator to use the dual registration measure is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/dual-registration-for-specialist-events-hauliers.

Individual British road haulage companies should decide whether to use the dual registration measure, based on their eligibility and business operating models.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what estimate she has made of the (a) quality and (b) area coverage area for (i) 5G and (ii) other wireless data reception in Bolsover constituency; and what steps she is taking to help improve 5G coverage in that area.

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

Ofcom is responsible for assessing and reporting on mobile network coverage across the UK. As part of the work to improve the accuracy of mobile coverage data, Ofcom updated their definition of ‘good’ mobile coverage in June 2025 to align with user’s expectations of their mobile service today.

According to their Connected Nations Annual Report, published on 19 November 2025, when applying Ofcom’s updated definition of ‘good’ coverage, which represents combined 4G and 5G coverage, 98.7% of the constituency area of Bolsover has access to this level of connectivity from at least one network operator, with 70.6% of the constituency landmass having ‘good’ coverage from all four.

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030, and government is working closely with mobile network operators to ensure that the investment that they have committed translates into benefits for communities right across the UK, including in Bolsover. This includes the identification and removal of barriers to deployment where required.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure full mobile phone signal in Bolsover constituency.

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

Ofcom is responsible for assessing and reporting on mobile network coverage across the UK. As part of the work to improve the accuracy of mobile coverage data, Ofcom updated their definition of ‘good’ mobile coverage in June 2025 to align with user’s expectations of their mobile service today.

According to their Connected Nations Annual Report, published on 19 November 2025, when applying Ofcom’s updated definition of ‘good’ coverage, which represents combined 4G and 5G coverage, 98.7% of the constituency area of Bolsover has access to this level of connectivity from at least one network operator, with 70.6% of the constituency landmass having ‘good’ coverage from all four.

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030, and government is working closely with mobile network operators to ensure that the investment that they have committed translates into benefits for communities right across the UK, including in Bolsover. This includes the identification and removal of barriers to deployment where required.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what comparative estimate she has made of the average download broadband speed in (a) Bolsover constituency, (b) other Derbyshire constituencies and (c) the East Midlands; and what steps she is taking to help improve download speed in that constituency.

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

According to independent website Thinkbroadband, approximately 94% of premises in the Bolsover constituency have access to gigabit-capable broadband, this is higher than the UK average of 89%. They report that the average download speeds in the constituencies of Bolsover, North Derby, South Derby and Derbyshire Dales all exceed 200 Mbps, and exceeds 100 Mbps in the East Midlands region.

To extend coverage, approximately 1,900 premises in the Bolsover constituency are currently in scope of the Project Gigabit contract for Derbyshire, being delivered by Connect Fibre.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with Derbyshire County Council on the adequacy of support for children with special educational needs and disabilities in Bolsover constituency.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

A joint local area special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) inspection was undertaken by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in September 2024, which found widespread and systemic failings leading to significant concerns about the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND.

An improvement notice was issued on 14 January 2025. Ofsted and the CQC approved the priority action plan submitted by the local area partnership (LAP), and a monthly, independently chaired, assurance board monitor’s progress.

The department has put in place systems to track outcomes against the LAPs plan. This includes commissioning a SEND adviser to work collaboratively with an NHS England adviser to challenge, support and monitor progress. Additional support is provided through an intervention support fund, and training through a consortium led by the Council for Disabled Children. Council leaders have written to the department setting out their progress and confirming their commitment to making the improvements necessary.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on securing funding for repair and maintenance works on the early years building at The Brigg Infant School in South Normanton.

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

Ensuring schools and colleges have the resources and buildings they need is a key part of the department’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every young person the best start in life.

The department is investing almost £3 billion per year by 2034/35 in capital maintenance and renewal to improve the condition of the school and college estate, rising from £2.4 billion in 2025/26.

As part of this, the Embark Multi Academy Trust, which The Brigg Infant School joined in May, received an annual School Condition Allocation of £1,690,088 for the 2025/26 financial year. The department expects to set out allocations for the 2026/27 financial year in the spring. The school should speak to the Trust about any issues with its buildings, so the Trust can consider them when prioritising investment to improve the condition of its schools.