Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help reduce the number of driving test appointments wasted due to candidates failing to attend.

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

To reduce missed appointments, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) issues text reminders to learners between 2 and 12 days beforehand to help learners plan for their test. Learners can also get email alerts, check their test details online, and find resources on the GOV.UK website.

Driving examiners will terminate a test on public safety grounds only where it is necessary to manage risk to the learner, the examiner or other road users. Through its "Ready to Pass?" campaign, DVSA encourages learners to make sure that they will be ready and able to take the test they have booked and to change or cancel their appointment in good time if they are not.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of driving tests terminated on the grounds of public safety.

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

To reduce missed appointments, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) issues text reminders to learners between 2 and 12 days beforehand to help learners plan for their test. Learners can also get email alerts, check their test details online, and find resources on the GOV.UK website.

Driving examiners will terminate a test on public safety grounds only where it is necessary to manage risk to the learner, the examiner or other road users. Through its "Ready to Pass?" campaign, DVSA encourages learners to make sure that they will be ready and able to take the test they have booked and to change or cancel their appointment in good time if they are not.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to increase road safety.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

On 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. Alongside the strategy, 5 consultations were published, and they will be open until 11 May:

• motoring offences
• introducing a minimum learning period for learner drivers (category B driving licence)
• introducing mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers
• improving moped and motorcycle training, testing and licensing (categories AM, A1, A2 and A driving licence)
• mandating vehicle safety technologies in GB type approval

The Strategy sets ambitious targets to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65%, and 70% for children under 16, by 2035. Five consultations were launched alongside the Strategy addressing vulnerable road users, vehicle safety technologies and motoring offences.

The steps we take to improve road safety will be supported and monitored by a new Road Safety Board which I will chair as the Minister for Local Transport.

Road safety is a shared responsibility, and the new strategy reflects that. It considers action needed by government, local authorities, industry, emergency services and communities to tackle the causes of collisions and save lives. By investing in infrastructure, education, and enforcement, we are taking decisive steps to make our roads safer for everyone.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will provide an update on the status of the Royal Mail Statutory Scheme Pension deficit.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The administration of the Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme (RMSPS) is the responsibility of the Cabinet Office.

The RMSPS was created in April 2012 when the UK government assumed responsibility for the historic liabilities (accrued before 2012) of the Royal Mail Pension Plan (RMPP).

The scheme is closed to new members and further benefit accrual. It will continue to operate until all members and their beneficiaries have received their entitlements. The scheme holds no investment assets. All liabilities are met by annual parliamentary votes for funding.

The RMSPS’ deficit at 31 March 2025 is £28.2 billion.

This information can be found in the annual report and accounts:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/royal-mail-statutory-pension-scheme-2024-2025

It should be noted that on 22 April 2026, the Government announced the termination of the new Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme (RMSPS) contract with Capita. This decision was taken following Capita’s failure to meet critical transition milestones and IT automation requirements over an 18-month planning period. To ensure no member is detrimentally impacted, service delivery will continue under the existing contract while the Government assesses a new delivery model.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether additional funding for the Targeted Plus group will be ring fenced.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is taking steps to ensure that this additional funding will be spent for its intended purpose to support mainstream inclusion, this includes providing funding such as the Inclusive Mainstream Fund as a separate grant with reporting conditions and guidance to be published to achieve this.

Our special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reform consultation document proposes a continuum of support for children’s needs. Support will range from the Universal offer (including high-quality adaptive teaching) to the Targeted layer (such as small group provision) and Targeted Plus support (such as speech and language therapy).

We are providing additional funding to boost the capacity of mainstream settings to meet this continuum of need, before any legislative changes. The department will publish guidance and conditions of grant to ensure that settings and local authorities spend the funding on this purpose.

The Inclusive Mainstream fund provides over £500 million per year for schools, colleges and early years settings so they can improve their inclusive practice. We have published information on £1.8 billion for local authorities over the three years to provide a new Experts at Hand offer, strengthening the capability of mainstream settings to meet SEND needs by providing access to expert support from education and health professionals.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the merits of ending the NHS' Federated Data Platform contract with Palantir.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed

The current contract for the NHS Federated Data Platform is for seven years, ending in 2031, with the initial term ending March 2027.

Advice is given regularly on the contract and performance, and ministers have been given advice on the need for a decision this year on the extension of the contract in line with standard contract management processes.

We continuously assess performance against the contract, and performance of the programme as a whole, and publish data on uptake and benefits each quarter.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce livestock crime.

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

The Government recognises that there can be challenges in responding to rural crime. That is why the Government collaborated with the National Police Chiefs’ Councils to deliver their renewal of the Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy, which was published in November. The strategy, lasting until 2028, will ensure efforts to reduce crime benefit every community no matter where they live, including rural communities.

Last financial year (2025/26), the Government provided £800,000 of funding to the National Rural Crime Unit and the National Wildlife Crime Unit, and it is providing the same level of funding across 2026/27. These capabilities play key roles in helping police across the UK tackle organised theft and disrupt serious and organised crime groups, which can pose unique challenges for policing in large and isolated rural areas.

The Government was pleased to support the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025, which came into force on 18 March 2026. It modernised the definitions and scope of the offence, strengthened police powers to collect evidence and prosecute offenders, and increased the maximum penalty from a £1,000 fine to an “unlimited” fine, to act as a deterrent for livestock worrying.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether proposed SEND reforms include provision for education other than in school.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure the safe disposal of solar panels and wind turbines at the end of their viability.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

Found: meeting Members present: Andy Slaughter (Chair); Pam Cox; Warinder Juss; Tessa Munt; Vikki Slade; Tony Vaughan

Found: Tony Vaughan. Q47 Tony Vaughan: Thank you, Chair.

Found: Any other support not included in Category 2(a)
Description: Research services shared with Tony Vaughan