Asked by: Paulette Hamilton (Labour - Birmingham Erdington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to establish a cross-government working group on technology-based interventions for serious and repeat motoring offenders.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is not currently planning to establish such a cross-government working group. However, under the Road Safety Strategy we have established a new National Road Safety Board which brings together Government departments and other partners including the National Police Chiefs Council. The Board will drive forward delivery of the Government's ambitious targets to improve road safety.
We recognise that technology has a role to play in tackling serious and repeat motoring offences. As part of the motoring offences consultation, which closed on 11 May 2026, we sought views on using alcohol ignition locks (alcolocks) as part of a drink drive rehabilitation process. We are currently analysing the responses.
Asked by: Paulette Hamilton (Labour - Birmingham Erdington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with the Ministry of Justice and Home Office on the use of in-vehicle technology to prevent repeat speeding offences.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has not held specific discussions with the Ministry of Justice or Home Office on this point. The Government does not currently have plans to introduce speed limiters or other in-vehicle technology specifically to tackle repeat speeding offences.
Speeding carries penalties including fines, penalty points and disqualification. Under the totting-up system, drivers who accumulate 12 or more penalty points within three years will ordinarily be disqualified. Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the independent courts.
The Government keeps the motoring offences framework under review. We consulted on proposed changes to penalties for motoring offences, but this was not among the measures proposed.
Asked by: Paulette Hamilton (Labour - Birmingham Erdington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with local authorities and police forces on improving enforcement of speed limits around schools.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has not held specific discussions with local authorities or police forces on improving enforcement of speed limits around schools.
The police are responsible for enforcing speed limits and are operationally independent. Decisions on the deployment of resources, including enforcement activity around schools, are a matter for individual chief constables, taking account of local priorities.
Asked by: Paulette Hamilton (Labour - Birmingham Erdington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what her strategy is for increasing public awareness of the risk factors and early symptoms of liver disease.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 September in response to Question 27776.
Asked by: Paulette Hamilton (Labour - Birmingham Erdington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the number of trusts where maternity services have had culturally sensitive training on racism and discrimination on Black women’s experiences and engagement with maternity care.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are rolling out an anti-discrimination programme to all trusts by the end of this year, to be completed by the end of 2027, which will equip leaders and frontline staff to use tried and tested approaches to tackle discriminatory practices. A robust, independent evaluation of this programme has been commissioned and is being undertaken.
This is part of a broader set of actions to tackle the root causes of racism and discrimination. We have also established an inequalities dashboard, to identify areas where specific populations face the greatest disparities, enabling tailored interventions and more equitable support.
Asked by: Paulette Hamilton (Labour - Birmingham Erdington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the affordability of compulsory school uniform items for families; and if she will consider introducing a (a) recommended maximum price (b) price cap for such items.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Too many families report that school uniform costs remain a financial burden and the government has legislated to limit the number of branded uniform items that schools can require, helping to reduce costs for parents and remove barriers to children accessing sport and other school activities.
Schools can now require no more than three branded items, or four in secondary and middle schools where a branded tie is compulsory, saving families up to £50 per child on their back-to-school shop.
We have also strengthened expectations on affordability through statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms. This guidance is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms.
Schools will be expected to consider the cost of individual items, particularly higher-cost items such as blazers, and the overall uniform cost when assessing affordability.
Our approach gives parents choice in how they manage uniform costs, including the option to buy items from a range of retailers. A cost cap would be complex, difficult to enforce and burdensome for schools, and the government has no plans to introduce a maximum price or cost cap.