Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the impact of vehicle headlight glare on road safety; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that vehicle lighting standards adequately protect road users from being dazzled by headlights.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Historical police recorded collision statistics in Great Britain identified glare from headlamps as a contributory factor in some collisions. Whilst those statistics do not show any discernible trend over time that would suggest an underlying road safety issue linked to advances in road vehicle lighting technology, the government also acknowledges that glare is a real frustration for many drivers and may be discouraging motorists from driving at night.
Modern vehicle headlamps are designed, tested and approved to internationally recognised standards to help prevent undue glare across a wide range of road and environmental conditions. Nevertheless, given the concerns raised, work is underway at the international level to understand and address the issue. As set out in the Road Safety Strategy, the government is also undertaking further targeted research in this area to inform that international work.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of (a) the effectiveness of the regulatory framework for water companies and (b) the its potential impact on (i) strengthening personal accountability for water company executives and directors involved in serious environmental breaches and (ii) restricting bonuses and other financial rewards where companies have failed to meet their obligations.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Through the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, the Government has introduced most significant increase in water regulator enforcement powers in a decade, giving regulators stronger powers to hold executives accountable for obstructing investigations, impose automatic penalties, and block executive bonuses. Ofwat has blocked over £4 million in potential bonuses from being paid in its first year using the new powers.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
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 existing and planned energy-from-waste incineration capacity on waste reduction, recycling rates and the transition to a circular economy.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
On 30 December 2024, Defra published the Residual Waste Infrastructure Capacity Note and an accompanying statement. Our analysis of future residual waste treatment needs in England includes the effects of packaging reforms. This evidence-based approach supports targeted investment, economic growth and the transition to a circular economy.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to question UIN 91562, what percentage of England's fishing catch quota for 2026 has been distributed through (a) Fixed Quota Allocation Units, (b) the Quota Application Mechanism and (c) other routes.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In 2026, 5% of English allocated quota was distributed via QAM, around 87% via methods based on FQA Units (‘existing quota’ and ‘additional quota’) and 9% via alternative routes. Allocations were last updated by the Marine Management Organisation on 9th September. Figures are rounded and do not sum to 100%.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to introduce legislation banning the (a) sale, (b) possession and (c) use of snares.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 12 March 2026 in response to PQ UIN 120391.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ending funding for certain early support hubs in March 2027 on the number of young people at risk of becoming not in education, employment or training.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 July in response to Question 17211.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department plans to expand access to early support hubs to help prevent young people’s mental health difficulties from allowing them to participate in education, employment or training.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 July in response to Question 17211.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to increase investment in pancreatic cancer research; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of that research on improving treatment options and survival rates for pancreatic cancer patients.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer for provided on 15 July in response to Question 16704.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation to require supermarkets to donate edible unsold food to charities and community organisations instead of disposing of it.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government supports food waste reduction through WRAP’s UK Food and Drink Pact and Food Waste Reduction Roadmap, helping businesses measure, reduce, report waste and increase surplus food redistribution. Businesses should prioritise redistribution; in 2024 retail redistributed 97,889 tonnes, 46% of surplus food redistributed in the UK.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to increase the speed of short-term measures to reduce emissions and improve climate resilience.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government is committed to greater climate resilience and mitigation, and is investing £97m for the biggest upgrade of national resilience capabilities in nearly twenty years, including specialist equipment, dedicated off-road vehicles, enhanced incident management and wildfire training for firefighters.
This summer has been the hottest on record, and preparing for more extreme weather is part of building a more resilient country. That is why we have extended the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant to air-to-air heat pumps, which can cool as well as heat a home, we have made plug-in solar available across Great Britain, and we are investing significantly to upgrade the school estate.
Alongside this, our Energising Britain plan provides households with clear, accessible and impartial information about the everyday actions people can take to cut bills, reduce emissions, and protect the environment.
The Prime Minister also announced measures to support farmers in August, including up to £15m funding to build on-farm reservoirs, and temporary adjustments to Environmental Land Management Agreements.