Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to introduce testing for neurodiversity in educational settings for students aged 16 and above.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream settings is a key part of the government’s ambition to ensure that all children and young people receive the support they need to achieve and thrive, in the most appropriate setting.
The department has recently announced a new £200 million landmark teacher training programme which will support the workforce in identifying and supporting the individual needs of learners.
By 2028, we will have invested up to £15 million to build the evidence base for the National Inclusion Standards. This will include a digital library of high-quality identification tools and provision across the 0-25 system covering all layers of support and making clear what provision should be available in every setting.
The special educational needs and disabilities Code of Practice sets out expectations for supporting neurodiverse learners, and places strong emphasis on inclusive practice.
It remains the case that providers have responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments for all their disabled students.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the removal of ringfenced funding for maternity services on (a) numbers of NHS midwives, (b) maternal safety and (c) infant safety.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has instructed the National Health Service to improve maternity services, as part of a drive to improve quality, as a priority in the Medium‑Term Planning Framework.
While the ring-fenced funding for maternity services has been removed, the same level of funding is being delivered. This is to allow local healthcare system leaders more autonomy to meet the needs of their local population. The Government will continue to monitor integrated care board investment in maternity services.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to increase funding for police forces that is ring-fenced for (a) drivers' road safety education and (b) the enforcement of traffic laws.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
This Government takes road safety extremely seriously and is committed to ensuring police forces are supported and have the resources they need ensure road safety and reduce the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads, as well as tackling behaviours that make our roads less safe.
Total funding to police forces in 2026-27 will be up to £18.4 billion, an increase of up to £796 million compared to the 2025-26 police funding settlement.
The police are operationally independent, and it is a matter for Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Officers to determine how to best to use their available resources, including for road safety on enforcement of traffic laws, taking into account local known problems and priorities.
The Department for Transport continues to run the THINK! Campaign which offers a suite of road safety teaching resources for children (used by teaching intermediaries) and aims to educate young drivers (working alongside police and local authorities). THINK! also delivers paid campaigns aimed at high-risk groups (primarily men aged 17-24), and targets priority issues such as drink driving and speeding. The government will continue to encourage safer road user behaviours via THINK!.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to issue neighbourhood health guidelines for maternal services.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
While there are currently no plans to issues guidelines specifically for maternal services, we are developing guidance to provide greater clarity and consistency for systems in developing and scaling neighbourhood health.
We expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations, and involve National Health Service, local authority, and voluntary sector services.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2026 to Question 109011 on Kidney Diseases: Health Services, when he plans to bring forward a Modern Service Framework for kidney disease.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government will consider long-term conditions for future waves of modern service frameworks (MSFs). The criteria for determining other conditions for future MSFs will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity. After the initial wave of MSFs is complete, the National Quality Board will determine the conditions to prioritise for new MSFs as part of its work programme.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is planning to take to assess the potential impact of the removal of the wear and tear allowance within Making Tax Digital on the (a) sustainability of the childminding sector and (b) availability of childcare for local families.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Childminders make a significant contribution to children’s development, learning, and wellbeing. The Government has eased rules on working from schools and community centres and increased early years funding rates above 2023 average fees. These increases reflect increased costs, and from April 2026, local authorities must pass at least 97 per cent of funding to providers.
Only a small proportion of childminders with qualifying income over £50,000 will be mandated into Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax from April 2026. Childminders moving to MTD for income tax can continue to claim tax relief for household costs, wear and tear of household items and furniture, and food and drink, by deducting actual business costs. This ensures childminders receive tax relief for all of the costs that they incur in relation to their childminding business.
The Government will monitor the impact of MTD for income tax on childminders and other home-based childcare providers in the same way as it will for all sole traders moving to MTD for income tax.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has plans to make it a requirement for cyclists to wear high visibility attire when cycling on public roads.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
There are no plans to make it a requirement for cyclists to wear high visibility clothing when cycling. However, cyclists should ensure that they can be clearly seen by other road users, both for their own safety and for that of others.
This is in line with Rule 59 of The Highway Code which recommends that people who cycle should wear light-coloured or fluorescent clothing to help other road users to see them in daylight and poor light, with reflective clothing and/or accessories in the dark.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the use of exemptions in the Hunting Act 2004 for stag hunting on stag population numbers in the South West.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The department has made no assessment of the potential impact of the use of exemptions in the Hunting Act 2004 for stag hunting on stag population numbers in the South West.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of amending existing legislation to prohibit stag hunting with hounds.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The department has made no assessment of the potential merits of amending existing legislation to prohibit stag hunting with hounds.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2026 to Question 100508 on Animal Breeding, what assessment she has made of the potential consequences of not holding data on the number of animals in Great Britain who were bred for, but not used in, scientific procedures.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office is currently reviewing the potential merits of recording and reporting the number of animals that were bred for, but not used, in scientific procedures.