Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Ministry of Justice Transparency Data entitled Updated estimates of children with a parent in prison, published on 10 September 2026, what analysis his Department has undertaken of the support needs of young adult dependents experiencing parental incarceration.
Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The BOLD (Better Outcomes through Linked Data) Partnerships programme has carried out extensive work on children experiencing parental imprisonment, with children under 18 as their main focus.
For children under 18, parental imprisonment can be a safeguarding and developmental issue with support needs focusing on emotional wellbeing, maintaining stability in education and school attendance, family support, and facilitating contact with the imprisoned parent where safe and appropriate. The purpose of this work is to provide early, preventative support to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes and unmet needs later in life (including as young adults).
For young adult dependants affected by parental imprisonment, the needs are likely to be around income, housing, and employment support. They may also be caring for younger siblings and may need mental health support. These services are offered through adult rather children’s services.
There is limited data on young adult dependants affected by imprisonment as there are no specific data collections relating to this age group. Support for young adult dependants affected by imprisonment is likely to overlap with employment support, youth transition from children’s social care, and youth justice related services.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
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 support disabled residents and families in Leicester East constituency.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Department is taking multiple steps to support disabled residents and families across the country, including in Leicester East.
Financial support is available to people on low or no incomes through benefits, including additional support through Universal Credit for disabled adults, children and young people via the UC Health Element and the Disabled Child Addition. For disabled people looking to start, stay or succeed in work, Access to Work provides a demand-led personalised grant to support recruitment and retention in employment. We have also put in place the equivalent of over 1,000 full-time Pathways to Work advisers across Great Britain, offering tailored employment support.
Locally, through Jobcentre Plus and partnerships with local providers, we provide a range of support for disabled residents. This includes Connect to Work, our voluntary supported employment programme (more information is available here: Connect to Work for job seekers | Leicestershire County Council). We also deliver outreach through Belgrave Library and St Barnabas Library, alongside Family and Community Work Coaches who provide benefit and employment advice. Leicester Jobcentre Plus works closely with Connect to Work, WorkWell, Talking Therapies and Mental Health Individual Placement Support services to help disabled people access employment and health support. In addition, Schools Advisers and Disability Employment Advisers work with Leicester College, Gateway College and Ellesmere College to support disabled young people through Supported Internships and their transition into employment.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
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 mental health support services available to women who have experienced pregnancy loss.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce is considering a wide range of issues to inform the development of the maternity and neonatal action plan, including the mental health support available for women who have experienced pregnancy loss. In her response to the Commons debate on Baby Loss on 12 October, my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, agreed that this issue would be a key focus for the Taskforce’s work, and will also be considered as part of our upcoming Mental Health Strategy.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to expand perinatal mental health provision.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce is considering a wide range of issues to inform the development of the maternity and neonatal action plan, including the mental health support available for women who have experienced pregnancy loss. In her response to the Commons debate on Baby Loss on 12 October, my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, agreed that this issue would be a key focus for the Taskforce’s work, and will also be considered as part of our upcoming Mental Health Strategy.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, since 27 May 2026, how many of the charge points allocated through the Local EV Infrastructure Fund are (a) operational and open to the public, (b) installed but awaiting grid connection and (c) allocated but not yet installed.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As of 1 July 2026, 1,268 public chargers delivered through the Local EV Infrastructure Fund were operational and open to the public. Figures on the number of chargers committed through signed contracts are commercially sensitive, but the programme remains on track to deliver over 100,000 chargers.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2026 to Question 19484 on Large Goods Vehicles: Electric Vehicles, whether her Department's assessment of the total cost of ownership of zero-emission HGVs compared with diesel equivalents differentiates between different operational use cases.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport will publish analysis regarding the total cost of ownership of zero emission HGVs relative to diesel HGVs across use cases alongside the next consultation on the HGV CO2 emissions regulatory framework.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
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 provide targeted employment support in Leicester East constituency.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
In Leicester East, Jobcentre Plus works closely with local partners to provide targeted support for groups facing additional barriers to employment. This includes dedicated youth employability support through the city’s Connexions Hub and Leicester City FC’s Youth Hub, which your constituents can access, alongside outreach activity in community settings such as day centres and libraries. Support includes personalised employment advice, access to skills and training opportunities, apprenticeship signposting, and specialist help for disabled people, care leavers and those with complex needs.
The department forecasts customer cohort volumes to anticipate the level of support and work coach resource required. Work Coaches offer personalised advice to help individuals secure roles that reflect their skills, qualifications and prior experience, alongside targeted job-search support. Where appropriate, Work Coaches also identify any skills gaps and signpost jobseekers to relevant training and provision.
For those who have been on Universal Credit for 6 months or more, the Restart Scheme provides 12 months of personalised and tailored support to help them move into work. The scheme is delivered across England and Wales.
The Government is investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy.
For those disabled people, individuals with long-term health conditions and people with more complex barriers to employment who need intensive, specialist support, Connect to Work, our £1 billion voluntary Supported Employment programme, is available across England and Wales. It will deliver tailored support to around 300,000 by the end of the decade.
Learners in all areas of England, including Leicester East, may benefit from ASF-funded provision where eligible. This can include English, maths, essential digital skills, employability provision, sector-based training and Free Courses for Jobs, helping adults to develop the skills needed to progress into employment or improve their prospects in the labour market.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of Universal Credit expenditure in Leicester East constituency.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
Spending on benefits within each parliamentary constituency can be found in DWP’s Benefit Expenditure by parliamentary constituency publication: Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2025 - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of welfare spending in Leicester East constituency.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
Spending on benefits within each parliamentary constituency can be found in DWP’s Benefit Expenditure by parliamentary constituency publication: Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2025 - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the accessibility of the appeals process for Ultra Low Emission Zone penalty charge notices for people experiencing financial hardship; and whether she has had discussions with Transport for London on (a) payment by instalments, (b) the treatment of first-time contraventions and (c) the effect of payment of a penalty charge on an outstanding appeal.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) and this includes decisions on road schemes which charge users including the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). We work closely with TfL on a range of issues but the operation and management of the ULEZ is a matter solely for them. It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment or intervene in these matters.