Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that young people living in rural communities have access to reliable and affordable public transport to attend post-16 education, particularly in areas where scheduled bus services have been withdrawn and demand-responsive transport cannot guarantee regular journeys.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government knows that every community has its own unique needs from its public transport network and wants to empower local leaders to work with operators to design networks that meet those needs. Each area is different and therefore a tailored bus network, which may include Demand Responsive Transport (DRT), is required. There is no single solution in rural areas and DRT can be better suited to some places than others. Some DRT is currently used by young people to travel to college in rural areas. There are variations in how DRT can be used, including contracts for specific services at specific times and operating semi-flexibly. Local authorities are best able to determine how to meet the local transport needs of young people attending college in their area.
The Department for Transport published DRT Best Practice Guidance last December, which encourages engagement between different areas of the local authority such as between transport, education and social care and with the local community, including colleges, to identify need and maximise usage of DRT vehicles throughout the day.
The Bus Services Act 2025 puts decision-making into the hands of local leaders across England, including those in rural areas, allowing local areas to determine how best to design their bus services so that they have control over routes and schedules. It also requires local authorities in Enhanced Partnership areas to identify socially necessary local services, produce bus network accessibility plans and to consult disability organisations on changes to services.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the suitability of demand-responsive bus services as the primary means of transport for young people who need to make regular journeys to schools and further education colleges in rural areas.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government knows that every community has its own unique needs from its public transport network and wants to empower local leaders to work with operators to design networks that meet those needs. Each area is different and therefore a tailored bus network, which may include Demand Responsive Transport (DRT), is required. There is no single solution in rural areas and DRT can be better suited to some places than others. Some DRT is currently used by young people to travel to college in rural areas. There are variations in how DRT can be used, including contracts for specific services at specific times and operating semi-flexibly. Local authorities are best able to determine how to meet the local transport needs of young people attending college in their area.
The Department for Transport published DRT Best Practice Guidance last December, which encourages engagement between different areas of the local authority such as between transport, education and social care and with the local community, including colleges, to identify need and maximise usage of DRT vehicles throughout the day.
The Bus Services Act 2025 puts decision-making into the hands of local leaders across England, including those in rural areas, allowing local areas to determine how best to design their bus services so that they have control over routes and schedules. It also requires local authorities in Enhanced Partnership areas to identify socially necessary local services, produce bus network accessibility plans and to consult disability organisations on changes to services.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to establish a confidential reporting mechanism for SEND whistleblowers, parents, carers, schools and professionals to report concerns about local authority SEND practice.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Concerns about local authority special education needs and disabilities (SEND) practice deserve to be taken seriously. If a parent, carer, school or professional has a complaint about a local authority, they should complain directly to the local authority. If they remain dissatisfied, they may refer the matter to contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
All local areas are due to receive a full inspection under the current Ofsted and Care Quality Commission Area SEND inspection framework by the end of 2027. In the department’s recent SEND reform consultation, we proposed updating the framework to align with the clarified statutory roles that local authorities and Integrated Care Boards will have in relation to children and young people with SEND. We are carefully analysing responses to the consultation and will publish our response in due course. Any proposed changes to the Area SEND inspection framework will be subject to a full public consultation.
The department also monitors local authority performance, for example, through the publication of annual data on education, health and care plans and assessments, including timeliness. Local authorities that are performing poorly receive additional oversight and specialist advice. Where serious concerns arise, the department may intervene directly, using statutory powers and improvement partners to support recovery and improve services for children and young people.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether TV Licensing enforcement correspondence is barcoded under (a) Royal Mail's Mailmark scheme and (b) an equivalent scheme operated by another delivery operator; what despatch and delivery reporting data is generated and retained as a result; and whether such correspondence is dated on (i) generation and (ii) despatch.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The BBC is responsible for the collection and enforcement of the licence fee. The Government is therefore not involved in TV Licensing operations and does not hold information on its processes.
The Government expects the BBC to collect the licence fee in an efficient and proportionate manner, in line with its Charter requirements.