Will Forster Portrait

Will Forster

Liberal Democrat - Woking

11,246 (23.4%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 4th July 2024


Select Committees
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee (since October 2024)
Licensing Hours Extensions Bill (since June 2025)
1 APPG membership (as of 7 May 2025)
South Western Railway
Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
12th Feb 2025 - 18th Mar 2025


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Will Forster has voted in 160 divisions, and 2 times against the majority of their Party.

26 Nov 2024 - Tobacco and Vapes Bill - View Vote Context
Will Forster voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 38 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 415 Noes - 47
26 Mar 2025 - Tobacco and Vapes Bill - View Vote Context
Will Forster voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 38 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 366 Noes - 41
View All Will Forster Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Angela Eagle (Labour)
Minister of State (Home Office)
(16 debate interactions)
Hamish Falconer (Labour)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
(10 debate interactions)
Matt Vickers (Conservative)
Shadow Minister (Crime, Policing and Fire)
(8 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department for Education
(29 debate contributions)
Home Office
(15 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Budget Responsibility Act 2024
(1,161 words contributed)
Finance Act 2025
(727 words contributed)
Employment Rights Bill 2024-26
(54 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Will Forster's debates

Woking Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Will Forster has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Will Forster

3rd June 2025
Will Forster signed this EDM on Wednesday 4th June 2025

Volunteers Week 2025

Tabled by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
That this House supports Volunteers Week 2025; celebrates the extraordinary work that volunteers, charities, and grassroots organisations do to support their local communities; notes the work of volunteer-supported organisations across the South Cotswolds, including Cirencester Stroke Club, Tetbury Men's Shed, The Big Yellow Bus Project, Food for Thought, The Churn …
17 signatures
(Most recent: 5 Jun 2025)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 16
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
3rd June 2025
Will Forster signed this EDM as a sponsor on Wednesday 4th June 2025

World Cider Day 2025

Tabled by: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
That this House celebrates World Cider Day on 3 June, founded in 2013 to promote the heritage, craftsmanship and cultural significance of cider making around the globe; recognises that cider holds a unique place in British life, with the UK cider industry valued at over £3.4 billion annually, supporting thousands …
10 signatures
(Most recent: 5 Jun 2025)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 8
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Conservative: 1
View All Will Forster's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Will Forster, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Will Forster has not been granted any Urgent Questions

1 Adjournment Debate led by Will Forster

Thursday 10th October 2024

Will Forster has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Will Forster has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
6th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department is taking steps to support British businesses that lawfully traded with now-sanctioned Russian (a) businesses and (b) people to help them to recover funds lawfully owed to them.

Our sanctions are designed to minimise impact on the UK and avoid unintended consequences. The Department for Business and Trade has sought to minimise the impact on businesses through implementing appropriate exceptions, specific licences where appropriate, and wind-down periods when some sanctions are introduced. We have also published impact assessments alongside all Russia sanctions legislation.

The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation has also issued General Licences to address a range of issues affecting stakeholders, including permitting activities related to recovering funds, under specific circumstances and conditions.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
15th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many renewable energy projects are waiting to be connected to the National Grid.

Data from the National Energy System Operator (NESO) shows there were 1759 renewable energy projects in the transmission queue at the end of March 2025.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
14th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to extend Ofgem’s regulatory powers to include heat networks.

DESNZ is introducing heat network regulation which aims to provide consumers with comparable protections to existing gas and electricity regulations.

This new regulatory framework was signed into law earlier this year, establishing Ofgem as the market regulator with consumer interests as its highest priority.

When Ofgem formally commence this role in January 2026, they will require suppliers to institute protections for vulnerable consumers and will have powers to collect pricing data, conduct investigations into instances of disproportionately high prices, and intervene when there is sufficient evidence. They will also establish guaranteed standards of performance to ensure that a minimum quality of service is provided.

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
17th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of EPC rating requirements for industrial buildings; and what steps he is taking to support small manufacturers in meeting future energy efficiency standards.

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) regulations consider the energy efficiency of buildings to ensure they are futureproofed for any usage, irrespective of the occupant. MHCLG also recently published a consultation on EPC reform to ensure they are a more effective tool for understanding a buildings energy performance in future.

Non-domestic MEES regulations currently only require buildings, including industrial buildings, below EPC E to improve their energy efficiency. We consulted on strengthening this to EPC B by 2030, and plan to publish our government response in the first half of 2025.

In regard to support for small manufacturers, government publishes various schemes on gov.uk, both local and national, that help with the costs of energy efficiency measures. This includes the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund which has offered up to £500 million. Our Business Energy Advice Service Pilot operates in the West Midlands also provides energy demand reduction and decarbonisation recommendations for SMEs with the provision of free match-funded grants available to support implementation. We also encourage SMEs to visit the UK Business Climate Hub, which provides information and advice on how to reduce energy use and carbon emissions.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
17th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to take steps to support the scale-up of low-carbon heat networks in the Warm Homes Plan; and what recent discussions he has had with Ofgem on the effectiveness of consumer protections in terms of (a) pricing, (b) reliability and (c) service quality.

The forthcoming Warm Homes Plan will set out the Government’s vision for upgrading and decarbonising buildings so that they are fit for the future, including through heat networks.

In January 2026, Ofgem will assume its role as heat network market regulator, within a regulatory framework which will provide similar levels of protection available to consumers on gas and electric networks.

Ofgem will have the powers to investigate and intervene in cases where prices appear to be unfair or disproportionate.

They will enforce guaranteed standards of performance to ensure a minimum quality of service is provided at all times, and regulations will include mandated technical standards to improve network reliability.

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing equal incentives for homeowners to install (a) heat batteries and (b) other low-emission heat sources.

Heat batteries are a promising technology because they utilise time-of-use tariffs, do not require outside space, and can be cheaper to install than heat pumps in some circumstances. However, they are less efficient than heat pumps and will therefore use more energy to meet the same heating demand.

The Department is exploring, through studies like the Homes for Net Zero Trial, the role heat batteries could play in the future. As the evidence base develops, we will continue to review the incentives available and whether this is sufficient, appropriate, and in line with our net zero ambitions.

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
30th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to (a) fast track protections for people who experience doxing and (b) help ensure social media platforms (i) act swiftly to remove doxing content and (ii) sanction those who commit such offences.

DSIT is implementing the Online Safety Act which will bring in a number of protections for online users from the harms associated with doxing. In-scope providers will need to enact measures to take down illegal content and protect children from harmful content. Additionally, the largest services (Category 1) must ensure their terms of service are clear and consistently enforced. Ofcom can take enforcement action against companies failing to meet their duties, including fines of up to 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
22nd Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps the Department is taking to tackle doxing; and whether she plans to (a) fast track protections for victims and (b) ensure social media platforms act swiftly to remove content.

DSIT is implementing the Online Safety Act which will bring in a number of protections for online users from the harms associated with doxing. In-scope providers will need to enact measures to take down illegal content and protect children from harmful content. Additionally, the largest services (Category 1) must ensure their terms of service are clear and consistently enforced. Ofcom is required to consult with the Victim's Commissioner before drafting its codes of practice. Ofcom can take enforcement action against companies failing to meet their duties, including fines of up to 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
17th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking with local authorities to ensure that homeless children receive additional (a) educational and (b) pastoral support in schools.

Too often, opportunity for children and young people is defined by their background. Children whose families are experiencing homelessness face barriers to education and this is not acceptable. The Opportunity Mission will break the link between young people’s background and their future success.

As part of this mission, work is progressing urgently to publish the Child Poverty Strategy. The Strategy will tackle overall child poverty, including a focus on those children in deepest poverty lacking essentials.

Alongside this, homeless children are included in the Fair Access Protocol, a mandatory mechanism developed by local authorities in partnership with all schools in their area. This aims to ensure vulnerable children, and those having difficulty in securing a school place in-year, are allocated a school place as quickly as possible.

From April 2025, the department started to roll out Family Help reforms to children’s social care. These reforms prioritise supporting the whole family. Lead practitioners will undertake assessments of all the needs of the family, including families experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness. Practitioners will intervene at the earliest opportunity to prevent challenges escalating.

This financial year, over £500 million is available to local authorities to roll out the Families First Partnership programme which includes Family Help.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
17th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to extend the eligibility of the Apprenticeship Levy to include (a) pre-employment and (b) employability schemes.

The government’s new levy-funded growth and skills offer will introduce greater flexibility to employers and learners in England, creating routes into good, skilled jobs in growing industries, aligned with the government’s industrial strategy. This will include introducing new foundation apprenticeships for young people, as well as shorter-duration apprenticeships.

Foundation apprenticeships will be a work-based training offer that will provide young people with clear progression pathways into further work-based training and employment. Construction will be one of the key sectors that will benefit from new foundation apprenticeships, which will be launching in August 2025.

Further development of the growth and skills offer will be informed by the work of Skills England who will work closely with employers and other key partners to identify priority skills gaps. This will help to ensure that the levy-funded growth and skills offer delivers value for money, meets the needs of business and helps kick-start economic growth.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
17th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department monitors the fee levels charged by higher education providers to (a) Ukrainian students and (b) other students.

The government sets the maximum fees that higher education (HE) providers can charge home fee students on undergraduate courses. HE providers are autonomous and responsible for setting their own fees up to the maximum caps provided for in legislation. The department does not formally monitor the fee levels charged for home students, such as those with Ukraine scheme leave, or other students who may be subject to international fees.

The term ‘generally’ used in the context of the answer to Question 42205, means that persons with Ukraine scheme leave must also meet other eligibility requirements to be eligible for home fee status and student finance, such as the requirement to be ordinarily resident in England on the course start date for student support, or in the UK for home fee status. They must also show they have remained ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands (Channels Islands and Isle of Man) since being granted Ukraine scheme leave.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
17th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2025 to Question 42205 on Overseas Students: Ukraine, what is meant by the term generally in relation to Ukrainian refugees qualifying for (a) home fee status and (b) student support.

The government sets the maximum fees that higher education (HE) providers can charge home fee students on undergraduate courses. HE providers are autonomous and responsible for setting their own fees up to the maximum caps provided for in legislation. The department does not formally monitor the fee levels charged for home students, such as those with Ukraine scheme leave, or other students who may be subject to international fees.

The term ‘generally’ used in the context of the answer to Question 42205, means that persons with Ukraine scheme leave must also meet other eligibility requirements to be eligible for home fee status and student finance, such as the requirement to be ordinarily resident in England on the course start date for student support, or in the UK for home fee status. They must also show they have remained ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands (Channels Islands and Isle of Man) since being granted Ukraine scheme leave.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
8th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to amend the Construction Industry Training Board’s legislative scope order to include (a) plumbing and (b) electrical work.

Plumbing and electrical works are excluded from the Industrial Training Board’s (ITBs) current legislative scope order.

The 2023 independent review of the two remaining ITBs, Construction and Engineering Construction, recommended that there should be consultation with industry on a modified legislative scope order, aimed at resolving the most obvious anomalies.

The department is establishing a steering group to oversee the implementation of the accepted review recommendations and will explore out of scope sectors.

Whilst this is likely to primarily focus on new and emerging sectors, part of the exercise will be to listen to views from industry. Where there is strong evidence to support inclusion of different sectors this will be considered before legislative changes are progressed.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
27th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a GCSE in Ukrainian.

I refer the hon. Member for Woking to the answer of 2 April 2025 to Question HL5393.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
27th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a British Sign Language GCSE.

The department is in the process of developing a British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE. This landmark GCSE is an important step towards greater recognition of BSL as a language and will foster better communication between Deaf and hearing communities.

The department published subject content for the BSL GCSE in December 2023. Ofqual, the independent qualifications regulator, is developing assessment arrangements and will launch a technical consultation on this in due course.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
11th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether Ukrainian students will be eligible for home fee status from the 2025-26 academic year.

In the 2022/23 academic year, the Student Support Regulations were amended so that persons granted leave under one of the Ukraine schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine family scheme and Ukraine extension scheme) would qualify for student support and home fee status in England without requiring them to meet the three-year ordinary residence requirement.

Following the recent launch of the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme (UPES), the regulations have been further updated from the 2024/25 academic year, so that those who have been granted leave under UPES will also qualify for student finance and home fee status in line with those granted leave under one of the other Ukraine schemes.

This ensures that Ukrainians who have been affected by the war in Ukraine can access support on the same basis as those within other protection-based categories, such as refugees.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
4th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure drug education is delivered effectively in private schools.

Independent schools have a statutory duty to teach personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, under the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014.

Independent schools have discretion over how they teach health education, but they are encouraged to read the statutory curriculum for health education, which is part of the statutory guidance on relationships, sex and health education (RSHE). The guidance sets out that pupils should be taught the facts about legal and illegal harmful substances and the associated risks to physical and mental wellbeing, including smoking, alcohol use and drug-taking.

Independent schools are subject to the relationships and sex education aspects of the RSHE statutory guidance, which is clear that pupils in secondary schools should understand how the use of alcohol and drugs can lead to risky sexual behaviour. The guidance also sets out that pupils should understand the law on criminal exploitation, including through involvement with gangs or ‘county lines’ drugs operations.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of planned increases to (a) National Insurance Contributions and (b) the National Minimum Wage on the viability of early years providers; and what steps she plans to take to ensure nurseries are supported to prevent closures.

Since July, this government has had to take some tough decisions to get our public finances back on track, but we are continuing to invest in the early years sector, supporting the delivery of the entitlements and recognising the vital role the sector plays in giving children the best start in life.

The department expects to provide over £8 billion for early years entitlements in the 2025/26 financial year, which is a more than 30% increase compared to 2024/25, as the department continues to rollout the expansion of the entitlements to eligible working parents of children aged from nine months.

On 10 December, the department published details of local authorities’ early years entitlements funding for 2025 to 2026. The funding rates for 2025/26 include funding to reflect the national living wage announced at the Autumn Budget 2024.

HM Treasury are also increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500 and expanding this to all eligible employers, meaning some smaller providers may pay no National Insurance at all in the 2025/26 financial year. The government has confirmed that public sector employers, including those in the early years sector, will be compensated for the increase in their National Insurance contributions.

On top of over £8 billion through the core funding rates, the department is also providing an additional £75 million in an expansion grant for 2025/26 to support the sector in this pivotal year to grow the places and the workforce needed to deliver the final phase of expanded childcare entitlements from September 2025. This is in addition to the largest ever uplift in the early years pupil premium, increasing rates by over 45% to up to £570 per eligible child per year. This unprecedented increase is an investment in quality early education for those children who need it most, in the areas that need it most to tackle childcare deserts and give children the support they need to be ‘school ready’ at age 5 and go on to achieve and thrive.

The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, the department discusses what action the local authority is taking to address those issues and, where needed, supports the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
13th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with (a) water companies and (b) local authorities on building new reservoirs to ensure water security.

Ministers and officials have regular discussions with a range of stakeholders, including water companies and local authorities, on many issues related to the water sector.

Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers set out in their Water Resource Management Plans (WRMPs). These plans are statutory and will set out how each company will continue to meet this duty and manage water supply and demand, including system leakages for at least the next 25 years. Within their plans, water companies must consider all options, including demand management and new water resources including reservoirs water transfers. They must also consult on their plans, including with local authorities.

The most recent WRMPs contain proposals for delivery of multiple new schemes by 2050, including 9 new reservoirs. Water companies continue to develop their reservoir proposals with relevant stakeholders including local authorities to ensure long-term water security.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
6th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging on local authorities in the (a) 2025-26, (b) 2026-27 and (c) 2027-28 financial years.

In October 2024, this Government published an updated impact assessment for the introduction of Extended Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR), which includes an assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on Local Authorities at an aggregate level. The impact assessment can be found here: The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on meeting the Government’s circular economy goals.

Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) is the first step in realising the Government’s circular economy manifesto commitment. This forms part of a set of interconnected reforms, including Simpler Recycling in England, the Plastic Packaging Tax, the expansion of the Emissions Trading Scheme and the Deposit Return Scheme for drink containers, which will provide the basis for system wide change.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
8th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on brewers’ ability to invest in the UK; and what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on this issue.

In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on packaging producers as a whole. This impact assessment did not split the assessment by sector.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the brewing industry of extended producer responsibility fees on glass beer bottles.

It is the responsibility of producers to estimate the cost of their fees. Producers are required to submit the next round of 2024 data by 1 April 2025. Following this and pending satisfactory regulatory checks, Defra intend to use these data to publish pEPR base fees by June 2025.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
30th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a temporary Blue Badge scheme.

The Blue Badge scheme is primarily about helping people with a long-term disability that affects their capacity to access the goods and services they need to use. Anyone may be entitled to a badge if they meet the eligibility criteria.

The Department for Transport has previously issued local authorities with advice on how they could use existing powers to provide locally determined parking concessions within their areas. For example, some local authorities grant parking concessions to assist their elderly residents. The same powers could be used to help those with temporary disabilities.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
15th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the length of time for which a driving theory test certificate is valid.

It is important road safety knowledge and hazard perception skills are up to date at the critical point a person drives unsupervised for the first time.

The maximum duration of two years between passing the theory test and a subsequent practical test is in place to ensure a customer’s road safety knowledge and ability to identify developing hazards is current. This validity period is set in legislation, and the Government has no current plans to lay further legislation to extend it.

Ensuring learner drivers have current relevant knowledge and skills is a vital part of the learning to drive process as new drivers are disproportionately casualties on our roads. Learners therefore need to pass another theory test if their two-year theory test certificate expires.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
2nd Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to provide additional funding to highway authorities affected by the M25/A3 roadworks to cover the increased wear and tear and maintenance costs on diversion routes.

The strategic and local road networks are frequently used to support diversions for one another, typically without the need for compensation from either party. From the early stages of the project, extensive engagement was undertaken with Surrey County Council which is the main local authority impacted by the works. This included detailed discussions on diversion routes that would utilise Surrey County Council’s road network to support the scheme's delivery. The development of these diversion routes carefully considered local communities, road widths, weight and height restrictions, junction configurations, and other relevant constraints.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
27th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the availability of approved driving instructor (ADI) tests; and if she will make it her policy to temporarily extend the two-year qualification period applicable after passing part one of the ADI.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) understands that waiting times remain high for approved driving instructor (ADI) tests and has a rolling programme of recruitment and training for ADI examiners.

Since December 2024, the DVSA has also made available weekend slots for ADI part 2 and part 3 tests.

When managing the book to hold list, DVSA’s deployment team will look at the part 1 expiry date to help prioritise trainee driving instructors whose expiration date is approaching.

The legislation requires that a part three test is booked, not taken, before the expiry of the part one test. The DVSA has put measures in place to support candidates whose part one pass is due to expire by allowing them to book a part three test online, or if no tests are available they can book a test to hold. Both of these options meet the regulatory requirements.

The two-year qualifying period is set in legislation and there are no plans to extend this.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
27th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the extra cost of car insurance premiums faced by (a) all drivers and (b) those drivers who have not previously claimed.

The Government committed in its manifesto to tackle the high costs of motor insurance. Our cross-Government Motor Insurance Taskforce, launched in October, is comprised of ministers from relevant government departments and the Financial Conduct Authority and Competition and Markets Authority.

This Taskforce has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments aimed at stabilising or reducing the cost to all drivers, including those who have not previously made a claim on their motor insurance.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
6th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing permanent weight limits of (a) 38.4 tonnes for four-axle rigid Volumetric Concrete Mixers (VCMs) and (b) 44 tonnes for five-axle rigid VCMs, in the context of the expiration of the derogation agreement in 2028.

The Department ran a call for evidence from October to December 2023 seeking views on three potential options on weight limits for Volumetric Concrete Mixers (VCMs). Evidence was provided to the Department on both the pros and cons of allowing VCMs to continue to operate at higher weights. The Department has reviewed the evidence provided and will publish its findings shortly. Any potential changes to the current policy position on VCM weight limits will need to consider the implications for road safety, infrastructure, the environment, and maintaining fair competition in the market.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
22nd Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department plans to make a decision on the business case for Southern Rail access to Heathrow Airport.

Whilst discussions with promoters of schemes for a southern rail access route to Heathrow have taken place in recent years, no business case has yet been produced.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
10th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will take steps to respond to the letter from Liberal Democrat hon. Members on the nationalisation of South Western Railway.

The Rail Minister replied to this letter on 14th January 2025.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
19th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the English national concessionary scheme to peak travel times.

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. Local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations under the ENCTS and offer additional discretionary concessions, such as extending the times at which concessionary passes can be used.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
26th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of widening the accessibility criteria for the English national concessionary travel scheme to include peak travel for disabled bus pass holders to help ensure that they can reach (a) work and (b) educational commitments.

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. Local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations under the ENCTS and offer additional discretionary concessions, such as extending the times at which concessionary passes can be used.

The Department publishes statistics on concessionary travel annually on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/concessionary-travel-statistics-year-ending-march-2024/concessionary-travel-statistics-year-ending-march-2024. For the year ending March 2025, 83 out of 85 Travel Concessionary Authorities are offering some form of enhanced discretionary concession in addition to meeting the statutory requirements under the ENCTS.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
26th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on the number of local authorities in England which provide bus travel concessions beyond the legal statutory requirements of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme.

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. Local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations under the ENCTS and offer additional discretionary concessions, such as extending the times at which concessionary passes can be used.

The Department publishes statistics on concessionary travel annually on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/concessionary-travel-statistics-year-ending-march-2024/concessionary-travel-statistics-year-ending-march-2024. For the year ending March 2025, 83 out of 85 Travel Concessionary Authorities are offering some form of enhanced discretionary concession in addition to meeting the statutory requirements under the ENCTS.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
18th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017 to permit 44 tonne operations.

Permitted weights are governed by the Road Vehicles (Authorised Weights) Regulation 1998, as amended. Under these regulations, many goods vehicles are already permitted to operate at up to 44 tonnes.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
15th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what (a) support, (b) benefits and (c) resources her Department provides to (i) humanitarian and (ii) healthcare workers with PTSD who have worked in warzones and are unable to return to work.

For all Universal Credit (UC) customers with health conditions and disabilities additional support is based on the outcome of a Work Capability Assessment (WCA). The outcome may be that they are found to have Limited Capability for Work (LCW), Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) or be found fit for work. An extra amount of UC is awarded if a customer is found to have LCWRA.

Government is committed to reforming the system of health and disability benefits so that it promotes and enables employment among as many people as possible. The system must also work to reduce poverty for disabled people and those with health conditions and support disabled people to live independently. It is also vital to ensure that the system is financially sustainable in the long term.

The Pathways to Work Green Paper, published in March 2025, set out our plans to reform benefits and support for disabled people and people with health conditions. The reforms will ensure the most vulnerable and severely disabled people are protected, so they can live with dignity and security, while supporting those who can work to do so.

This Government is committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of all that we do, so we will consult on these proposals with disabled people and representative organisations.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
6th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of waiting times for cases to be allocated to a Resolution Specialist at The Pensions Ombudsman.

The Pension Ombudsman (TPO) has experienced a significant increase in complaints over the past several years, and this trend is continuing. This has impacted on waiting times for cases to be allocated to a resolution specialist. In response to this pressure, TPO has implemented an Operating Model Review (OMR) programme.

DWP are working closely with TPO to rigorously monitor the impact the OMR is having on waiting times and case allocation to resolution specialists.

Torsten Bell
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
11th Mar 2025
What steps she is taking to improve her Department's customer service.

We are modernising our services, enabling customers to self-serve online, while retaining non-digital channels for those that need them, avoiding digital inclusion and ensuring everyone gets the level of support they need.

For example, we are starting to use conversational platform in some service lines, which provides an automated conversational experience and reduces avoidable contact by signposting customers to more appropriate routeways.

Andrew Western
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
6th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support claimants of disability allowance who (a) have difficulties with oral communication, (b) have deafness, (c) have learning difficulties and (d) do not own a telephone.

For hearing and speech impaired customers:

DWP utilise the Video Relay Service (VRS) which enables customers to communicate in real time via a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter using a video connection on an electronic device. There is no need to be in the same location or for the customer to make an appointment. This service is available across DWP and Department for Communities Northern Ireland (DfCNI) service lines.

DWP also use Relay UK, previously known as Next Generation Text. The ‘app’ enables customer to contact a BT agent and type a message to them. The BT agent then calls DWP and verbally passes on the typed message. It works in reverse for a three-way conversation ie the DWP telephony agent speaks, and the BT Relay agent types the message back to the customer.

For customers with learning difficulties:

PIP

Customers with learning difficulties will often be represented by a third party or appointee who can support them to make a claim to disability related benefits, however we are aware that this does not apply in all cases.

When an application for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is made by someone with learning difficulties or cognitive impairments, who is acting on their own behalf, we apply a marker to the case which indicates to colleagues in DWP (and colleagues who are involved in the assessment) that the customer requires additional support. The system marker also prevents the case being closed if the customer fails to engage or is not able to meet requirements to complete or return forms.

Work Capability Assessment

Customers requiring a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) are sent a clerical WCA50. The WCA50 will also gather details of any Reasonable Adjustment (RA) or Alternative Format (AF) requirements. If a RA/AF requirement is established, we would update the availability constraints within Medical Services Referral System (MSRS) to advise the healthcare providers that a face-to-face assessment is required. All WCA appointment letters are sent out clerically too. In cases where customers are vulnerable, and require more intensive support, home visits can be arranged through the Visiting Service, who can help with form completion for example.

Disability Living Allowance

For someone who we need to speak to eg: Parent/Guardian (PG) where they have identified/requested a reasonable adjustment, any business with DLA Adult/DLA Child will be conducted in that manner, including if needed BSL. (Same service as PIP).

For learning difficulties, DLACS system(s) does not have a marker, however if the PG has an appointee DLA Child would need to make enquiries and potentially refer for a visiting officer to establish the child’s wellbeing and the PG support requirements.

For customers who do not have a telephone:

PIP:

Support can be provided by third parties, but a clerical process is available, which means applications for disability benefits can be made in writing. Where the disability benefit is subject to an assessment with a healthcare provider, appointments can be made for face-to-face appointments for those unable to participate in telephony assessments.

DLA Child/Adult:

Primarily DLA Child/Adult operate on a postal notification service, DLA uses a freephone number and where a customer does not have a telephone, DWP JCP resources would be available to initiate contact. From mid-March 2025 enhanced functionality will allow customers using the online option to advise DWP of any Reasonable Adjustment (RA) or Alternative Format (AF) requirements.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
6th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle (a) discrepancies between contribution amounts on pension statements and payslips, (b) lack of online access to manage pensions and (c) other common issues with workplace pensions.

The independent Pensions Regulator (TPR) is responsible for providing detailed guidance to employers on how to meet their automatic enrolment duties. This includes guidance on avoiding common errors, such as incorrect pension contributions, failing to enrol employees correctly and missing or late payments. Pension scheme managers and trustees also have a responsibility to ensure the correct management of schemes including monitoring the payment of contributions.

If an employee has concerns regarding their workplace pension such as unpaid contributions, they should raise this with their employer in the first instance. An individual can report their employer to TPR if it is not complying with the law and/or make a complaint to The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) who can investigate the complaint and provide a remedy if the employer is found to be at fault. TPO, in collaboration with MoneyHelper and TPR, has published a factsheet for customers about this: Workplace pensions – unpaid pension contributions | The Pensions Ombudsman.

Accessible information and good communications are important in enabling savers to better understand their pensions. Some schemes already offer online access to help members easily and securely view their pension details. The government is also supporting the delivery of pensions dashboards, which will allow people to view their whole pensions picture, including their State Pension, securely and in one place. This will help reunite people with their lost pension pots and support better engagement – empowering individuals to better prepare for retirement.

Torsten Bell
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
14th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has considered providing dedicated capital funding for new (a) MRI and (b) CT scanners for radiotherapy departments.

The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the reforms needed to return to the 18-week Referral to Treatment (RTT) constitutional standard by March 2029, a standard which has not been met consistently since September 2015. This will include ensuring the diagnostic capacity, such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners, required to deliver on the standard.

As announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, capital spending is set to increase to £13.6 billion in 2025/26, representing record levels of capital investment into healthcare.

This settlement includes a £1.65 billion capital investment to fund new surgical hubs, diagnostic scanners, and beds, supporting National Health Service performance across secondary and emergency care in 2025/26. Of this, £70 million will fund new radiotherapy machines to improve cancer treatment.

In addition, the Government is backing the NHS with over £4 billion in operational capital in 2025/26, enabling systems to allocate funding to local priorities such as replacement diagnostic and radiotherapy equipment.

All future spending commitments beyond 2025/26 will be determined through the next phase of the Spending Review process.

Ashley Dalton
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
14th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to review the use of block contracts for radiotherapy services, in the context of (a) recent trends in levels of patient numbers and (b) Lord Darzi's Independent Investigation of the National Health Service in England, published in September 2024.

NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for ensuring that the healthcare needs of local communities are met. These responsibilities include ensuring adequate healthcare provision, care, and wider support for local populations, including in remote and rural areas. This includes radiotherapy treatment. The Government will work to ensure that the best standard of healthcare is available no matter where people live.

Since April 2022, the responsibility for investing in new radiotherapy machines has been with local systems. However, the Government is investing £70 million of central funding to replace outdated radiotherapy machines, to ensure the most advanced treatment is available to patients who need it. There are no current plans to review the use of block contracts for radiotherapy services.

All future spending commitments beyond 2025/26, including this one, will be determined through the next phase of the Spending Review process, which will conclude in June.

Ashley Dalton
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
14th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of (a) clinical oncologists, (b) therapeutic radiographers, (c) medical physicists and (d) engineers as part of the NHS 10 year plan.

A central part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce and those who support our workforce, and how we ensure the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.

Getting the NHS back to working for patients means ending the workforce crisis across the health service. We intend to take a fresh look at the Long Term Workforce Plan, to ensure it fully aligns with the level of ambition and reforms required following the 10-Year Health Plan. Decisions about recruitment are matters for individual NHS trusts.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
7th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on ensuring the provision of community pharmacies in new housing developments.

Local authorities are required to undertake a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served by local pharmacies. Legislation requires PNAs to include consideration of the future need for pharmaceutical services in the area. The Department has published an information pack to support local authorities in preparation of PNAs, which is available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/617bdc31d3bf7f5601cf3168/pharmaceutical-needs-assessment-information-pack.pdf

Chapter 6 of the information pack provides advice on how future needs, improvement, or better access should be articulated in the PNA, including following any new housing developments. These assessments inform commissioning decisions by integrated care boards.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
6th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to support community pharmacies.

For 2025/26, funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework has been increased to £3.073 billion. This represents the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service, at over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26.

There is also additional funding available, for example for pharmacies delivering Pharmacy First consultations and flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. The Pharmacy Access Scheme provides additional funding to support pharmacies in areas where there are fewer.

This year, legislation will also be laid to enable all pharmacies to benefit from the efficiencies of hub and spoke dispensing, and/or using pharmacy technicians to undertake more of the work in pharmacies, enabling pharmacists to spend more time with patients.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
8th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support and expand Urgent Community Response teams.

Increasing access to urgent community response (UCR) services is a requirement within the 2025/26 NHS Operational Planning guidance, with integrated care board plans showing increases in capacity across the country. UCR also features as a key service within the ‘urgent neighbourhood services’ component of the published Neighbourhood Health guidance.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
8th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of enabling urgent community response teams to administer urgent care at home.

Increasing access to urgent community response (UCR) services is a requirement within the 2025/26 NHS Operational Planning guidance, with integrated care board plans showing increases in capacity across the country. UCR also features as a key service within the ‘urgent neighbourhood services’ component of the published Neighbourhood Health guidance.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)