Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with (a) police forces and (b) local highway authorities concerning the enforcement of existing legislation in relation to autonomous pavement delivery robots operating on public footways.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the forthcoming guidance on healthy screen use for parents of children aged 5 to 18 will include advice on preparing for the restrictions on under-16s’ access to social media; and when she plans to publish that guidance.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department is developing evidence-based screen use advice for parents and carers of children aged 5 to 18, building on existing screen time advice for families with children under five. The guidance will help parents make informed decisions based on their child’s age, needs and circumstances and will be published early next year. It will also signpost advice to help families prepare for the new social media restrictions.
The government is providing children with a safer and healthier online experience. We are raising the age for accessing social media to 16, alongside stronger protections around livestreaming, contact with unknown adults and harmful online features.
Alongside these protections, we want parents to have practical support to help their children develop healthy relationships with technology.
Across government, we are developing clear materials to help parents understand the new social media restrictions and support their children as they come into effect. Together, these measures will give families clearer information and greater confidence to help children navigate the online world safely.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what analysis her Department has undertaken on the support needs of children who have a parent in prison but do not visit that parent; and what steps it is taking to support those children in the community.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Through the department’s Parental Imprisonment Recognition and Support Pilot Programme, delivered jointly with the Ministry of Justice, we are building the evidence base on effective community support. The pilot focuses on children’s individual circumstances and needs, with local support shaped by families with lived experience and specialist organisations. The department recognises that visiting or maintaining contact with a parent in prison will not be appropriate for every child and parental imprisonment can affect children’s wellbeing, outcomes and opportunities, regardless of whether they visit their parent in prison.
Evaluation of the programme will consider how effectively the range of children's needs are recognised and supported, including those who do not visit or have contact with their parent in prison.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support her Department is providing to Peninsula Transport to introduce reliable fast wifi on trains running between Paddington and Penzance, and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
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 support young wheelchair users in rural areas.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 8 July in response to Question 15027, and I can assure her that we keep these issues under careful review.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Wheelchair Quality Framework is due to be reviewed.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 8 July in response to Question 15027, and I can assure her that we keep these issues under careful review.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of passenger capacity on peak-time Northern services calling at Bromley Cross; and what steps her Department is taking to help ensure passengers are not prevented from boarding due to overcrowding.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
I understand that Ribble Valley services, particularly at peak times, can be very busy. Passenger numbers are monitored; Northern receives regular feedback from traincrew regarding crowding levels.
While there may be isolated occasions when customers have had trouble boarding a service, there have been no formal reports of this being an issue across the route.
In light of correspondence received from Members of Parliament on this issue, Northern will review the level of crowding on peak services at Bromley Cross.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Armed Forces families relocating between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on children, with special educational needs or disabilities; and what discussions her Department has had with the devolved administrations and the Ministry of Defence on ensuring continuity of support for those children, including the recognition of Education, Health and Care Plans or their equivalents, when families move across borders.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department consulted earlier this year on proposals for reforming the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system, including how support is given through education, health and care (EHC) plans. Working closely with the Ministry of Defence, we have sought and received extensive feedback from service families with children with SEND about the particular challenges faced by their need to relocate regularly. We will set out further proposals for reform based on the consultation responses.
Education is a devolved matter, and across the UK there are different approaches to supporting those with special educational or additional needs, including different eligibilities for accessing statutory documents such as an EHC plan. When a family moves across borders, statutory documents from the other UK nations can help inform decisions over the support for a child and we encourage this practice in the SEND Code of Practice.
I have held discussions on these issues with ministerial colleagues in Wales and Northern Ireland, and we will continue to look to improve the continuity of support for children in these circumstances.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the sum allocated to Team Plymouth in the Autumn Budget 2026 is additional to previously announced funding for Team Plymouth.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Yes – the £3 million for the economic inactivity pilot announced at Budget is additional to previously announced funding for Team Plymouth.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Integrated Wildfire Management Plans being prepared by National Park Authorities will (a) include quantified targets for reducing vegetation fuel loads, (b) assess the role of cutting, grazing and controlled burning in achieving those reductions and (c) be in place before spring 2027.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
National Park Authorities play an important role in strengthening landscape resilience and have the flexibility to tailor their approach to local circumstances. In October 2026, National Park Authorities voluntarily committed to embedding wildfire management within their National Park Plans as these are reviewed, helping to ensure that wildfire risk is considered as part of future land management. The UK National Parks position statement identifies fuel loads and the role of controlled burning of vegetation among the issues that National Park Authorities should consider.
Defra and MHCLG are building on this commitment through the development of the England Wildfire Action Plan, which will strengthen our approach across prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.