Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
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 endometriosis on people's ability to remain in work; and if he will set out what support is available to people who have to leave employment or reduce their hours because of the condition.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
For many women, endometriosis can have a significant impact on their lives, by creating more supportive and informed workplaces, we can help ensure that women with endometriosis, and women experiencing other health conditions, can remain in work, progress in their careers, and reach their full potential.
On 1 April 2026, Mariella Frostrup was appointed as the government’s Women’s Employment Ambassador, where she takes a holistic approach to supporting women in the workplace, championing an environment that supports women at every stage of their lives. In this role, the Ambassador works with employers across the country to strengthen workplace support, raise awareness of key health issues and wider challenges affecting women in work, and highlights the vital economic contribution of women.
The Ambassador attended the launch of the Endometriosis (Not) in the Workplace report, supported by Endometriosis UK, on 14 October. In her remarks, she emphasised that supporting women's health in the workplace is not only the right thing to do, but is also vital for retaining talent, reducing inequalities, and strengthening the economy.
In Spring, the government launched voluntary action plans for large employers to improve menopause support and address their gender pay gaps. The guidance highlights where actions to improve menopause support may also benefit employees experiencing other health conditions related to menstrual health, including endometriosis.
The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England, published in April, represents a decisive shift towards addressing longstanding failings in women’s health outcomes, experiences, and access to care. It applies the government’s 10 Year Health Plan to women’s health, aiming for faster, more equitable improvements through fundamental reform rather than incremental changes.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to allow Ukrainian-qualified HGV drivers to work as HGV drivers in the UK.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We recognise how important it is for Ukrainian-qualified HGV drivers to be able to use their skills and experience in the UK. Under current legislation, however, only car driving licence entitlements from Ukraine can be exchanged.
The government recognises the value of mutual recognition arrangements that cover lorry and bus licence categories. Developing these arrangements will take time. In the meantime, the existing car licence exchange continues to provide immediate and significant benefits to citizens.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been detained and questioned under counterterrorism legislation since the proscription of Palestine Action, including how many were questioned at the UK border.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The latest statistics on the operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000, covering the period to June 2026, were published on GOV.UK on 8 October 2026. These statistics are available at:
Operation of police powers under TACT 2000, to June 2026 - GOV.UK
34 arrests were made under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in the year to June 2026. Further information on persons arrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 is published in Table A.02 ('Number of persons arrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, by period of detention and outcome').
The published statistics do not identify whether arrests under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 took place at the UK border.
Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 is a port and border power that allows examining officers to stop, question and, where necessary, detain individuals travelling through ports, airports, international rail terminals and the Northern Ireland border area in order to determine whether they are or have been involved in terrorism. As such, detentions recorded following Schedule 7 examinations relate to the exercise of these border examination powers.
1,487 detentions were made under Schedule 7 in the year to June 2026. Further information on examinations and resultant detentions under Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 is published in Table S.03a ('Number of examinations made under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, with grouped self-defined ethnicity breakdowns').
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many arrests have been made under counterterrorism legislation since the proscription of Palestine Action; and of those how many were made at the UK border.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The latest statistics on the operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000, covering the period to June 2026, were published on GOV.UK on 8 October 2026. These statistics are available at:
Operation of police powers under TACT 2000, to June 2026 - GOV.UK
34 arrests were made under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in the year to June 2026. Further information on persons arrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 is published in Table A.02 ('Number of persons arrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, by period of detention and outcome').
The published statistics do not identify whether arrests under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 took place at the UK border.
Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 is a port and border power that allows examining officers to stop, question and, where necessary, detain individuals travelling through ports, airports, international rail terminals and the Northern Ireland border area in order to determine whether they are or have been involved in terrorism. As such, detentions recorded following Schedule 7 examinations relate to the exercise of these border examination powers.
1,487 detentions were made under Schedule 7 in the year to June 2026. Further information on examinations and resultant detentions under Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 is published in Table S.03a ('Number of examinations made under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, with grouped self-defined ethnicity breakdowns').
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to help support households experiencing rising heating costs through winter 2026-27 in Woking constituency.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
I am incredibly worried about the rising heating costs in Woking and across the country this winter. That is why Andy Burnham's first act as Prime Minister was to scrap VAT on electricity bills, on top of the £150 we removed from bills earlier in the year. Soon 6 million households across the country - including many in your constituency- will receive £150 in Warm Homes Discount - and we are our exploring the delivery of further targeted support to those who need it the most.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of poor-quality paper waste on the ability of recycling facilities to produce high-quality recycled paper.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Simpler Recycling aims to improve material quality by reducing contamination and confusion, including requiring paper and card to be collected separately. Where separate collection is not practical, waste collectors may co-collect materials but must produce a written justification. WRAP, funded by Defra, provides guidance to local authorities on tackling contamination.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions the Government has had with local authorities on improving the quality and consistency of paper recycling collections.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Simpler Recycling aims to improve material quality by reducing contamination and confusion, including requiring paper and card to be collected separately. Where separate collection is not practical, waste collectors may co-collect materials but must produce a written justification. WRAP, funded by Defra, provides guidance to local authorities on tackling contamination.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government has considered introducing the potential merits of introducing measures to improve the quality of paper placed in household recycling bins.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Simpler Recycling aims to improve material quality by reducing contamination and confusion, including requiring paper and card to be collected separately. Where separate collection is not practical, waste collectors may co-collect materials but must produce a written justification. WRAP, funded by Defra, provides guidance to local authorities on tackling contamination.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
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 contamination in paper recycling collections.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Simpler Recycling aims to improve material quality by reducing contamination and confusion, including requiring paper and card to be collected separately. Where separate collection is not practical, waste collectors may co-collect materials but must produce a written justification. WRAP, funded by Defra, provides guidance to local authorities on tackling contamination.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her department will review wheelchair access legislation to secure wheelchair users an enforceable right to access public transport.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is committed to a transport network that puts disabled passengers at its heart - removing barriers and promoting opportunity. We want disabled passengers to travel easily, confidently and with dignity and we recognise the importance of people being able to travel with the mobility aids that support their independence.
We recognise, however, that the existing legislative framework can be complex and that there is a need to ensure accessibility legislation is clear, effective and supported by appropriate enforcement mechanisms.
This is why we have commissioned the Law Commission to review transport accessibility legislation with the aim to make it clearer and more effective. The review will assess whether the different mechanisms for enforcing and promoting compliance with the law, are working effectively and are sufficient to cover all transport modes.