Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government’s forthcoming animal welfare strategy will prohibit (a) the introduction of in-ovo sexing technology and (b) the routine culling of day-old male chicks.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 July 2025 to the hon. Member for Stockport, PQ UIN 64121.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress the car insurance taskforce has made on its work; and when he expects it to report.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government is committed to tackling the high costs of motor insurance. The cross-government motor insurance taskforce, launched in October 2024, has been comprised of ministers from relevant government departments, the Financial Conduct Authority and Competition and Markets Authority. It has been supported by a separate stakeholder panel of industry experts representing the insurance, motor, and consumer sectors.
This taskforce had the strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums.
The taskforce’s final report is intended to be published shortly.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Great British Railways Retail will be required to comply with the statutory Code of Practice on retail market conduct managed by the Office of Rail and Road.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The retail industry code of practice announced in the Government's response to the Railways Bill consultation will incorporate clear requirements for how Great British Railways (GBR) should interact with all market participants. The code of practice will be owned and managed by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). GBR’s licence will require it to comply, with the ORR able to demand corrective action if it considers that GBR has not done so.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what number students eligible for the 16-19 large programme uplift funding in the last five academic years studied the International Baccalaureate Level 3 programme and pursued STEM-related subjects.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The information requested is not held by the department. The department does not hold information on the constituent subjects that make up the International Baccalaureate as this information is not provided by awarding organisations.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, in the last academic year, what (a) percentage and (b) number of pupils were eligible for the Pupil Premium and received the 16-19 large programme uplift funding for studying a T Level and at least one A Level alongside.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Pupil Premium is not available for post-16 students. Therefore, no students were eligible in the last academic year for the Pupil Premium and received the Large Programme Uplift for studying four or more A levels or a T Level and at least one A level alongside.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, in the last academic year, what (a) percentage and (b) number of pupils were eligible for the Pupil Premium and received the 16-19 large programme uplift funding for studying four or more A Levels.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Pupil Premium is not available for post-16 students. Therefore, no students were eligible in the last academic year for the Pupil Premium and received the Large Programme Uplift for studying four or more A levels or a T Level and at least one A level alongside.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of New Zealand's housing-with-care sector and the supply of new homes in that country.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As part of our commitment to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market, my Department continues to consider a range of overseas systems.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department plans to reintroduce the gigabit voucher scheme in Oxfordshire.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
As part of Project Gigabit, Gigaclear is delivering two contracts across Oxfordshire, with a combined value of £26.5 million, to provide gigabit-capable broadband to premises not included in suppliers’ commercial rollout plans. Approximately 9,500 premises across Oxfordshire are currently included in these contracts, which are being delivered until the end of 2026.
The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, which forms another part of Project Gigabit, is currently closed in the Oxfordshire area as our priority currently is to provide gigabit coverage to as many premises as possible through Gigaclear’s contracts.
We will aim to cover the remaining premises as far as possible as funding becomes available, in line with the objective of achieving nationwide gigabit coverage by 2032.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will review the adequacy of the funding levels for Project Gigabit in Oxfordshire.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
As part of Project Gigabit, Gigaclear is delivering two contracts across Oxfordshire, with a combined value of £26.5 million, to provide gigabit-capable broadband to premises not included in suppliers’ commercial rollout plans. Approximately 9,500 premises across Oxfordshire are currently included in these contracts, which are being delivered until the end of 2026.
The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, which forms another part of Project Gigabit, is currently closed in the Oxfordshire area as our priority currently is to provide gigabit coverage to as many premises as possible through Gigaclear’s contracts.
We will aim to cover the remaining premises as far as possible as funding becomes available, in line with the objective of achieving nationwide gigabit coverage by 2032.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 51729 on Railways: Electrification, when she plans to publish the whole-life costs for (a) full and (b) partial electrification for all rolling stock traction types.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Officials from the Department for Transport are working closely with Network Rail to produce their new 'Long-term Planning for Rail Decarbonisation' strategy, this strategy will include an examination of the whole life costs of each option to upgrade traction to set out a realistic, affordable, and deliverable approach to a net zero railway. We expect Network Rail to engage with industry as part of the development of this strategy and we expect to see a draft of this strategy before the end of this year.