Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people (a) sat their practical driving test and (b) used dual control cars in each of the last 5 years for which data is available.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The table below shows the number of candidates who took a car practical driving test in each of the last 5 financial years, and how many of them took at least one test in a car with dual controls.

Please note:

• Where a person took tests in multiple years, they will be counted once in each year.

• As the count is based on a candidate’s driver number, if a candidate changed their driver number and took multiple tests in the same year, each number will be counted separately.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of introducing cross-border reciprocal agreements for concessionary travel on passengers and local economies in border regions.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government recognises the importance of the concessionary travel scheme, which is primarily intended to support local bus travel to assist with access to essential local services, staying active and avoiding isolation. This is why it is administered by Transport Concession Authorities (TCAs) within local government, and travel is usually restricted to England.

Concessionary travel is a devolved policy area and there are different schemes in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with separate administrative arrangements.

TCAs in England that border Wales or Scotland can use their existing powers to offer travel across the border on a discretionary basis, based on their assessment of local need and their overall financial priorities. Discretionary concessionary travel schemes will need to be agreed between the relevant TCAs in England and the relevant Welsh or Scottish authority.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps his Department took to ensure that recent UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) operational funding decisions for key facilities aligned with the UK's broader strategic investments in frontier physical sciences prior to those decisions being finalised; and what formal impact assessments were conducted regarding the continuity of UK capital investment in those same facilities.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

UKRI, through STFC, has undertaken a prioritisation process to ensure its overall financial stability and the ongoing affordability of its National Laboratories, large scale, multi-disciplinary facilities, and the PPAN portfolio. The cross-UKRI Facilities Strategic Advisory Group, which included representation for the physical sciences, were consulted on the range of options under consideration. These are considered, strategic choices to focus resources where they deliver long-term capability and value. The aim is a stronger, more focused, and more sustainable STFC delivering impact for the UK. The outcomes seek to protect key strategic priorities and capabilities including the operation of STFC’s National Laboratories and facilities.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department with telecommunications providers to ensure social tariffs for broadband and mobile data are routinely offered at sign-up to low-income households with disabled children.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Department works with Ofcom and providers to improve social tariff awareness. Telecoms providers signed the Telecoms Consumer Charter, committing them to make social tariffs for those on means-tested benefits easy to find and signposted. Government also encourages more providers to offer low-cost broadband and mobile deals to eligible low-income households, with clear, fair information at sign-up. There are around 30 superfast broadband social tariffs available, with at least one available across 99% of the UK.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what changes will be made to the UK Space Agency's funding and remit following the transition to the Department of Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Following the Government's review of arms-length bodies, the UK Space Agency (UKSA) is now an integral part of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and its staff are departmental officials. This transition does not alter UKSA’s funding or remit.

UKSA expertise continues to drive implementation of policy, funding programmes, sector support and promotion of the UK’s civil space capabilities. The Government is providing £7.8 billion over this spending review period until 2029/30, of which £3.3 billion is allocated to UKSA. This is the highest level of investment in space ever made by the UK.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to promote the UK space sector; and what role UK Space Agency communications will play.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Support from the Department and UK Space Agency (UKSA) includes funded delivery plans, targeted funding through grants, procurement, regulatory reform, support for local clusters and international partnerships. UKSA communications explain how space delivers the Government’s priorities of economic growth and national security and defence, promote funding opportunities to industry and academia and help commercialise the most promising areas of our space economy.

The Government is providing £7.8 billion over this spending review period until 2029/30, of which £3.3 billion is allocated to UKSA. This is the highest level of investment in space ever made by the UK. We will shortly publish more detail in our space strategy.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the under-16s social media ban on organisations that use social media platforms for online campaigns and outreach with young people.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government recognises that some organisations use social media platforms to engage with and provide information to under 16s.

Government is continuing to engage with youth organisations, civil society and other stakeholders regarding implementation of the social media ban.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to publish a response to the consultation entitled Trust-based pension schemes: Trustees and governance, building a stronger future, which closed on 5 March 2026.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

We are continuing to analyse responses to the consultation to support policy development and will publish the Government's response in due course.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the goal is of the decision to ban under 16s from social media; and how she plans to measure whether that goal has been achieved.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government's aim is to give children a safer, healthier online experience - protecting them from harmful, age-inappropriate content and higher-risk features, while ensuring they benefit from positive and educational experiences online.

We will monitor the implementation of the restrictions carefully and assess whether they are working as intended. Our monitoring and evaluation programme will monitor data on children experiences online, Ofcom evidence, academic studies, and feedback from stakeholder engagement.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether a list of services within scope of the under 16s social media ban will be produced.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government has been clear that it will bring forward measures to prevent under-16s from accessing social media services. We intend to use a model similar to Australia, which means capturing social media services whose purpose is to enable social interaction, and which allow users to post material alongside algorithms. The Australia model includes services such as Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook and X. They have also produced an indicative list of major services likely to be in scope of their regime.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consideration he has given to (a) reducing and (b) zero-rating VAT on building renovations for charitable, heritage and community culture use.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the standard rate of 20 per cent applies to most goods and services, including most construction works.

The Government currently maintains a zero rate of VAT on the construction of new buildings that will be used solely for a relevant charitable purpose, including village halls. Further information can be found here: Buildings and construction (VAT Notice 708) - GOV.UK

More widely, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport administer the Places of Worship Renewal Fund which will allocate £92m to support the upkeep to places of worship over four years. The Fund provides upfront capital grants to enable essential capital works for buildings in greatest need.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the aerial wildfire suppression models used by European countries facing extreme wildfires this summer; and whether it has considered adopting similar arrangements to enhance resilience and response capability during major wildfire incidents.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Fire and rescue services are fully aware of the growing risk of wildfires and, working with their Local Resilience Forum partners, are responsible for maintaining the necessary plans and capabilities required to manage that risk.

Each fire and rescue authority is required to plan for the foreseeable risks in their area (including wildfire), through their Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), informed by engagement with other key local responders. Across the country there are many examples of collaborative working at the local level between land managers, those with local knowledge, first responders and other stakeholders before, during and after wildfires. We also work closely with international partners to share best practice and take learning from incidents in Europe and further afield.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action has been taken by Immigration Enforcement in Edinburgh since 2024 and how successful this action has been.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

Data related specifically to Edinburgh is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Our published national data on enforcement activity is available at the following link Immigration system statistics, year ending June 2026 - GOV.UK

Details of illegal working activity by region, including Scotland, is available at the following link: Illegal working and enforcement data to the end of December 2025: by region - GOV.UK

All aspects of enforcement activity conducted by the Edinburgh Immigration Compliance and Enforcement Team have risen significantly year on year. This includes increases in illegal working operations and arrests, as well as more residential and compliance visits undertaken with law enforcement partners to tackle abuse of the immigration system. While Edinburgh-specific outcomes are not separately available from published statistics, the sustained increase in operational activity demonstrates the team’s success in strengthening enforcement activity and disrupting non-compliance.

Immigration Enforcement regularly conducts joint operations in Edinburgh with the Police, Edinburgh City Council Trading Standards Officers and Licensing Officers and other agencies addressing a range of issues including unlicensed taxis, houses of multiple occupation and the sale of illicit goods.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she has made an assessment of the potential for using the (a) BOADICEA and (b) CanRisk models as the criteria for screening women under 50 for breast cancer.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Routine breast cancer screening starts for women at the age of 50 years old. Women under 50 years old are only offered screening if they are considered to be at high or very high risk. There are no current plans to change that criteria. The eligibility criteria for women in the Very High Risk programme includes the use of the online tool CanRisk. Further information on the Very High Risk programme and CanRisk is available at the following two links:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/breast-screening-higher-risk-women-surveillance-protocols/tests-and-frequency-of-testing-for-women-at-very-high-risk--2#breast-cancer-brca-gene-carriers-and-equivalent-genetic-proven-risks#

https://canrisk.org/

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she plans to extend the criteria for screening women under 50 for breast cancer to other factors such as lifestyle.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Routine breast cancer screening starts for women at the age of 50 years old. Women under 50 years old are only offered screening if they are considered to be at high or very high risk. There are no current plans to change that criteria. The eligibility criteria for women in the Very High Risk programme includes the use of the online tool CanRisk. Further information on the Very High Risk programme and CanRisk is available at the following two links:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/breast-screening-higher-risk-women-surveillance-protocols/tests-and-frequency-of-testing-for-women-at-very-high-risk--2#breast-cancer-brca-gene-carriers-and-equivalent-genetic-proven-risks#

https://canrisk.org/

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he has considered the potential impact of removing VAT charges from sunscreen products.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

VAT rules allow drugs and medications that are dispensed by a registered pharmacist against a prescription issued by a qualifying health professional to be zero rated for VAT. High-factor sunscreen is already on the NHS prescription list for certain conditions and is provided VAT-free when dispensed by a pharmacist to these patients. However, items which are not prescribed by a health professional and dispensed by a pharmacist do not qualify for the relief, even though they may have health benefits. 

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of maintaining helicopters with wildfire suppression capabilities at readiness for deployment in support of domestic wildfire incidents; and if he will consider the feasibility of maintaining a deployable aerial firefighting capability, based onboard the Airbus A400M Atlas, for use in the UK and overseas territories.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Responsibility for responding to wildfires in the UK rests with the relevant civil authorities and emergency services, with military support potentially available where requested through established Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) arrangements on a case-by-case basis. This includes consideration of a clear need for military assistance, whether the requirement is beyond the capability or capacity of the civil authority, and whether support can be provided without unacceptably prejudicing Defence's primary tasks, operational commitments, and readiness.

The Ministry of Defence does not currently hold a requirement to provide a dedicated domestic aerial firefighting capability (including a fixed-wing aerial firefighting capability). However, Defence retains limited aerial firefighting capabilities to support standing tasks overseas. As part of this, Defence maintains a helicopter-based aerial firefighting capability in Cyprus for the specific purpose of meeting our obligations to the Sovereign Base Areas and wider communities during periods of heightened wildfire risk.

The Ministry of Defence has not conducted a specific impact assessment on the absence of a dedicated military aerial firefighting capability, nor a specific assessment of the economic impact arising from that absence.

The Department is aware of the Airbus A400M aerial firefighting system currently under development and testing by the manufacturer. Consequently, the Department has no plans to adapt the RAF A400M Atlas fleet for aerial firefighting purposes, or to procure dedicated water-bombing helicopters or water-bombing equipment for the military helicopter fleet.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changes to Machine Gaming Duty on employment levels in (a) casinos and (b) bingo halls.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

An assessment of the impacts of any decisions taken is published within the relevant Tax Impact and Info Note. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, when he will publish his response to the Competition and Markets Authority's market study into the supply of railway and public road infrastructure by the civil engineering sector.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Government is working to finalise its response and will publish it as soon as possible.

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 updating the Nutrient Profiling Model on incentives for food and drink manufacturers to continue reformulating products to reduce levels of sugar, salt and saturated fat.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answers provided on 31 March in response to Question 120152, on 1 July in response to Question 8994, and on 7 September in response to Question 19910.

I also refer him to the final impact assessment on the proposals to restrict the promotion of less healthy food and drink products, including the costs for enforcement by Local Authority Trading Standards officers, which is available at the following link:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2021/9780348226195/impacts

The Government continues to monitor the enforcement of these restrictions and will re-evaluate the impact on local authorities via the normal post-implementation review.

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 practical challenges associated with calculating and independently validating free sugars content for the purposes of an updated Nutrient Profiling Model.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answers provided on 31 March in response to Question 120152, on 1 July in response to Question 8994, and on 7 September in response to Question 19910.

I also refer him to the final impact assessment on the proposals to restrict the promotion of less healthy food and drink products, including the costs for enforcement by Local Authority Trading Standards officers, which is available at the following link:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2021/9780348226195/impacts

The Government continues to monitor the enforcement of these restrictions and will re-evaluate the impact on local authorities via the normal post-implementation review.

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 adequacy of resources available to local authority Trading Standards services to enforce high fat, salt and sugar regulations.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answers provided on 31 March in response to Question 120152, on 1 July in response to Question 8994, and on 7 September in response to Question 19910.

I also refer him to the final impact assessment on the proposals to restrict the promotion of less healthy food and drink products, including the costs for enforcement by Local Authority Trading Standards officers, which is available at the following link:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2021/9780348226195/impacts

The Government continues to monitor the enforcement of these restrictions and will re-evaluate the impact on local authorities via the normal post-implementation review.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the potential health merits of removing VAT from sunscreen products.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Responsibility for VAT policy rests with HM Treasury. The Department of Health and Social Care works closely with other Government departments on matters affecting public health, however, there have not been any recent discussions regarding this matter.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he is taking to protect and enhance UK sovereign capability to design and build satellites.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Through the UK Space Strategy, Government is investing £7.8 billion in the UK space sector to 2029/30, including £2.8 billion in satellite communications to strengthen and scale UK satellite manufacturing and capabilities. Programmes including ESA ARTES, Moonlight and C-LEO will support UK firms to develop and commercialise satellite technologies, strengthen supply chains and secure opportunities in future satellite constellations. The Government is also taking a more interventionist approach to the sector, using grants, procurement and other targeted interventions to support strategically important UK space companies and enhance the UK's ability to design, build and operate satellites, building on our successful heritage in this area.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how the scope of social media services to be banned for under 16s will be future proofed for the design of emerging social media platforms.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The government announced in June that we would be closely following the Australian model for the scope of the social media ban. This means capturing user to user platforms whose purpose is to enable social interaction, and which allow users to post material alongside algorithms. The department is currently working through the details and the final scope criteria will be set out in the regulations that will be laid in Parliament.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he can clarify what specific (a) fiscal metrics and (b) economic thresholds will be used to determine when a return to the 0.7% ODA target is possible.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government is committed to returning to spending 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) on Official Development Assistance (ODA) as soon as fiscal circumstances allow. I refer the Honourable Member to Written Ministerial Statement HLWS291 of 16 July 2026 (0.7 per cent of GNI on ODA target 2025) for further detail.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to (a) reinstate the Community Automated External Defibrillator Fund and (b) introduce VAT relief for community groups purchasing defibrillators.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) is responsible for funding decisions relating to local and community healthcare.

Over 110,000 defibrillators are registered in the United Kingdom on The Circuit, the independent AED database.

A key consideration for any potential new VAT relief is whether savings would be passed on to the consumer, in this case by makers and suppliers of AEDs. Evidence suggest that businesses only partially pass on any savings from lower VAT rates.

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 merits of introducing a national targeted cardiac screening programme for young people and those with a family history of heart disease.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Further to the answer of 17 July to Question 17975, the UK National Screening Committee is now considering responses to the consultation exercise, and will set out its conclusions in the usual way in due course.

On the issue of defibrillator access, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 13 April in response to Question 123969.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of legislating for mandatory registration of newly installed public-access defibrillators on The Circuit database.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Further to the answer of 17 July to Question 17975, the UK National Screening Committee is now considering responses to the consultation exercise, and will set out its conclusions in the usual way in due course.

On the issue of defibrillator access, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 13 April in response to Question 123969.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she has considered regulating airport parking charges.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Decisions on the provision and pricing of airport parking remain a commercial matter for individual operators. Parking revenue, including that from drop-off charges, is an important source of income for airports, supporting investment in future infrastructure and upgrades, enhancing public transport options, and helping to manage congestion around airport sites.

However, the Government recognises concerns about the impact of airport drop-off charges on airport users and we are considering how any such review of this might be taken forward.

Many airports across the UK offer free drop-off alternatives, either within walking distance of the airport or via a complementary shuttle bus service. The department will continue to engage with operators to ensure that, where airports choose to charge, this is implemented in a way that is fair and transparent.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposals to retire aviation apprenticeship standards for certain posts on (a) youth employment and (b) opportunities for skills expansion.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The government recognises the importance of aviation apprenticeships in helping employers develop a skilled workforce. Skills England is consulting with stakeholders on the proposal to retire certain occupational standards, often due to low levels of new starts or a range of delivery challenges, including limited provider availability. The potential impact on youth employment and skills development opportunities will form part of the assessment of consultation responses.

As an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions. Skills England reviews standards to ensure that they continue to meet employer need. The current consultation is still live, and no final decision has been taken. Aviation sector stakeholders have been engaged throughout, and we will continue to work closely with them throughout the process.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Skills England undertakes structured engagement with employers in the aviation sector before the proposed retirement of apprenticeship standards.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The government recognises the importance of aviation apprenticeships in helping employers develop a skilled workforce. Skills England is consulting with stakeholders on the proposal to retire certain occupational standards, often due to low levels of new starts or a range of delivery challenges, including limited provider availability. The potential impact on youth employment and skills development opportunities will form part of the assessment of consultation responses.

As an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions. Skills England reviews standards to ensure that they continue to meet employer need. The current consultation is still live, and no final decision has been taken. Aviation sector stakeholders have been engaged throughout, and we will continue to work closely with them throughout the process.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to improve transparency on uptake, turnaround times and outcomes for genetic and biomarker testing across the NHS.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

HS England is responsible for commissioning the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS). Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS GMS and the genomic testing nationally commissioned and funded by NHS England for patients in England is set out in the National Genomic Test Directory.

NHS England captures Patient Level Contract Monitoring (PLCM) data across the NHS GMS to facilitate a national approach to reporting and validating activity data and turnaround times for the genomics element of the pathway. NHS England holds quarterly assurance meetings with the NHS GMS to oversee delivery and publishes PLCM data on a quarterly basis on the NHS England website, at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/genomic-testing-activity/

NHS England continues to develop this dataset, and in the future will develop the collecting and reporting of outcome data.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring the immediate notification of work-related or suspected work related suicide or attempted suicide under the RIDDOR regulations.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

The Government’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy is the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Care for England. Wales and Scotland have their own national strategies.

HSE has a strategic objective to reduce work-related ill health, with a particular focus on mental health and stress, as set out in its 10-year strategy - ‘Protecting people and places’. HSE's regulatory interventions are focussed on enabling employers to identify and manage work-related stress risks effectively, preventing a range of different harm outcomes for workers.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on the number of work related suicides in the financial services, legal, accountancy and other professional services sector.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

The Government’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy is the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Care for England. Wales and Scotland have their own national strategies.

HSE has a strategic objective to reduce work-related ill health, with a particular focus on mental health and stress, as set out in its 10-year strategy - ‘Protecting people and places’. HSE's regulatory interventions are focussed on enabling employers to identify and manage work-related stress risks effectively, preventing a range of different harm outcomes for workers.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, within the context of irregular immigration, how she defines what a small boat is.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The definition of a small boat can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats-last-7-days#about-the-data(opens in a new tab).

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing mandatory zero-rating on data usage for essential government and NHS websites for families with disabled or seriously ill children.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government recognises the importance of helping families with disabled or seriously ill children access essential NHS and government services. We have not made a formal assessment of mandatory zero-rating, since many providers already offer this for key public sector services, including NHS content.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential economic and environmental merits of applying zero-rating for VAT to repair and maintenance work on upland paths.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services, this includes most repair and maintenance works.

Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations. The Chancellor announces decisions on tax policy at fiscal events.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of Potential Driving Instructors (1) passed, (2) failed and (3) did not sit the ADI part 3 test within the 6 month licence period in the most recent year for which data is available.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

It is not possible to determine the proportion of applicants who applied for, and were granted, specifically a second licence period. While the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) records the number of trainee licences issued, this data does not distinguish if these are second trainee licences.

Applications for further trainee licences are considered individually in accordance with the relevant statutory requirements.

Holding a trainee licence is not a requirement for taking the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) Part 3 test, and DVSA's systems do not link Part 3 test outcomes to an individual's six-month trainee licence period.

DVSA publishes overall statistics on ADI Part 3 tests, including pass rates. This data is available on GOV.uk - Approved driving instructor (ADI) qualifying test data - GOV.UK

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of Potential Driving Instructors (a) applied for a second licence period and (b) had their application granted in the most recent year for which data is available.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

It is not possible to determine the proportion of applicants who applied for, and were granted, specifically a second licence period. While the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) records the number of trainee licences issued, this data does not distinguish if these are second trainee licences.

Applications for further trainee licences are considered individually in accordance with the relevant statutory requirements.

Holding a trainee licence is not a requirement for taking the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) Part 3 test, and DVSA's systems do not link Part 3 test outcomes to an individual's six-month trainee licence period.

DVSA publishes overall statistics on ADI Part 3 tests, including pass rates. This data is available on GOV.uk - Approved driving instructor (ADI) qualifying test data - GOV.UK

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government is taking steps to promote accredited e-bike compliance and inspection training to police forces nationally; and what guidance is being issued to ensure officers can accurately distinguish between road-legal Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles and illegal e-bikes to prevent wrongful seizures.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The training of police officers is an operational matter for Chief Constables and police forces. Police forces are responsible for ensuring that officers have the skills and knowledge necessary to enforce the law effectively and proportionately. This includes ensuring officers understand the distinction between road-legal Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles and illegal e-bikes. Decisions on whether a vehicle meets the legal requirements to qualify as an Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle and vehicle seizure are operational matters for the police to determine in accordance with the relevant legislation and policing guidance.

The Home Office works closely with policing partners, including the National Police Chiefs' Council, on issues relating to the enforcement of road traffic and anti-social behaviour legislation. Discussions with policing partners cover a range of issues associated with the unlawful use of vehicles, including illegally modified e-bikes and off-road vehicles. Decisions on any future regulatory measures relating to the sale of such vehicles are primarily matters for the Department for Business and Trade.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has had discussions with (a) police leaders and (b) the National Police Chiefs' Council on potential regulatory measures for the sale of (i) off-road vehicles and (ii) high powered e-bikes.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The training of police officers is an operational matter for Chief Constables and police forces. Police forces are responsible for ensuring that officers have the skills and knowledge necessary to enforce the law effectively and proportionately. This includes ensuring officers understand the distinction between road-legal Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles and illegal e-bikes. Decisions on whether a vehicle meets the legal requirements to qualify as an Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle and vehicle seizure are operational matters for the police to determine in accordance with the relevant legislation and policing guidance.

The Home Office works closely with policing partners, including the National Police Chiefs' Council, on issues relating to the enforcement of road traffic and anti-social behaviour legislation. Discussions with policing partners cover a range of issues associated with the unlawful use of vehicles, including illegally modified e-bikes and off-road vehicles. Decisions on any future regulatory measures relating to the sale of such vehicles are primarily matters for the Department for Business and Trade.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of the security funding settlements announced for minority faiths for 2026–27; and if she will make it her policy to keep those settlements under review should the threat picture change.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Government is clear that protecting the right of all faith communities to worship freely and without fear is fundamental.

In 2026/27, the Government has made available a record £77.4 million available for the Home Office’s protective security schemes for faith communities. Funding allocations are determined on the basis of police data, threat assessments and wider security advice, helping to ensure that support is targeted towards communities facing the greatest risks from terrorism, hate crime and wider security threats. This vital work sits alongside wider Government measures to strengthen the protection of communities and to tackle hatred in all its forms.

We continue to work closely with policing, security and other partners to monitor the threat picture and strengthen protections for communities where necessary. Funding allocations and protective security arrangements remain under review and will continue to be informed by the latest assessments of risk and operational need.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to work with youth organisations in Scotland to understand the opinions of young Scottish people.

Answered by Melanie Ward - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

The UK Government is committed to ensuring our policies reflect the views and barriers facing young people across Scotland. The Scotland Office maintains regular dialogue with youth organisations and charities, and officials have met with both Includem and Inspiring Scotland this year.

Young people’s experiences of mental health and employment support are directly informing our approach to delivering in Scotland, including extending the Youth Hubs initiative to another 18 areas, bringing the total in Scotland to 28.

This will help ensure even more young people have access to essential mental health support, housing advice, and career guidance, including CV advice so they can fulfil their potential.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has undertaken a recent review of the risks to (a) livestock, (b) property and (c) the environment arising from the release of Chinese lanterns; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a nationwide ban.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Local councils already have powers to apply local controls to restrict or ban the use of sky lanterns (including Chinese lanterns) on council or public land or issue a fixed penalty notice for littering.

Voluntary initiatives aimed at minimising the risks associated with sky lanterns also exist, including the Code of Practice for sky lanterns developed by industry to ensure that they are manufactured to be safe and are sold responsibly.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of withdrawing UK Research and Innovation operational funding for international research facilities on UK operational standing within those international science infrastructure projects and the retention of UK-based scientific talent in frontier physical sciences.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

UK Research and Innovation and the Science and Technology Facilities Council undertook a structured assessment of the impacts of different funding options across STFC's portfolio. This considered factors including scientific excellence, long-term research impact, strategic importance to the UK, international leadership, value for money and the preservation of capabilities that would be difficult or impossible to recreate if lost. Major international subscriptions are being fully protected, helping to maintain UK participation in world-leading facilities and collaborations. As part of the prioritisation process, STFC grant funding for Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics postdoctoral researchers was maintained at 2025/26 levels, protect funding for grant funded postdoc researchers at 25/26 levels, while PhD studentships and fellowships were also protected.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the communication of the current national terrorism threat level of Severe to communities considered to be at heightened risk of terrorist attack; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure those communities receive timely and appropriate security information.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre independently sets the UK National Threat Level, which is currently SEVERE, meaning that a terrorist attack is highly likely. The threat level provides transparency about the threat the UK faces and supports a shared understanding across the partners delivering the counter-terrorism strategy. As the Security Minister has previously announced, he has initiated a review of the national threat level system, which currently captures only the threat from terrorism, to ensure that it remains fully relevant, and that we are communicating as clearly as possible with the public about the national security threats that we face today.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that communities at heightened risk receive clear and timely information about the terrorist threat. The Home Office works closely with the police and other partners to monitor threats and ensure that effective and proportionate protections are in place. Free guidance, advice and training are available through ProtectUK, including Action Counters Terrorism and See, Check and Notify resources. Faith Security Training also provides practical support to help faith communities strengthen their security awareness and preparedness.

We do not comment on detailed protective security arrangements for particular communities or locations, as doing so could compromise their effectiveness.

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 and champion the work of Maggie's, and similar charities, in providing practical, emotional and psychological support to people with cancer and their families and friends; and how that work will be reflected in the delivery of the living well component of the national cancer plan.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department recognises and applauds the work of Maggie’s, who, for more than thirty years, have provided caring and supportive environments for people with cancer and their families during their times of greatest need. Many other charities across the country provide similar help and play a crucial part within the overall support available to cancer patients and their families. The Department maintains a regular dialogue with those charities to assess how their services can be supported, including through the delivery of the National Cancer Plan.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the review of orphan medicines regulation required by the Rare Cancers Act 2026 will consider the full pathway from regulatory authorisation to NHS patient access, including evidence generation, health technology assessment and uptake of treatments for rare cancers.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The review required by the Rare Cancers Act 2026 will focus on the regulatory framework for orphan medicines used in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of rare cancers. It will consider international regulatory approaches and assess whether the United Kingdom's regulatory framework is effective in encouraging research and development of treatments for rare cancers. We will set out further details in the usual way in due course.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on (a) the number of work-related suicides or attempted suicides in the UK over the last 5 years and (b) how these are divided into sub-categories across different industries or sectors.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

One Best Start Family Hub has been established in the Huntingdon constituency at:

Best Start Family Hub – Huntingdon, Sallowbush Road, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE29 7AF.

Hailes Quarry junior parkrun's first anniversary

Launch of Bainfield Bowling & Social Club's Junior Development Programme

Pope Leo XIV

Support for local pubs and social clubs

ClubSport Stirling

Cable Street 90th anniversary

Defibrillators in police vehicles

Work of Sands and Baby Loss Awareness Week

Glasgow Wood 20th anniversary

30 years of Maggie’s in Glasgow

Cancer and access to travel insurance

Found: Watch the meeting Transport Committee members present: Ruth Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur

Found: Watch the meeting Transport Committee members present: Ruth Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Ruth Cadbury (Chair); Dr Scott Arthur; Jacob Collier; Daniel Francis

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Ruth Cadbury (Chair); Dr Scott Arthur; Jacob Collier; Daniel Francis

Found: Watch the meeting Transport Committee members present: Ruth Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur

Found: Watch the meeting Transport Committee members present: Ruth Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur

Submit Evidence (by 13 Nov 2026)

The Transport Committee is exploring Government interventions in public transport fares, pricing and ticketing.