theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_237
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_237

Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help small unitary authorities to access funding for domestic abuse perpetrator programmes. \p Jess Phillips: For the current financial year (2025/26), the Home Office has awarded over £19 million to continue funding 27 Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) through the Domestic Abuse and Stalking Perpetrator Intervention Fund. This fund enables PCCs to commission domestic abuse and stalking interventions to suit the priorities and scale of their local area. PCCs work with local agencies and delivery partners to deliver a range of interventions which cover the full range of risk and harm.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_238
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_238

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on balancing public access to information on registered sex offenders with (a) data protection and (b) community safety. \p Jess Phillips: Registered sex offenders (RSOs) are managed under the multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA). Under these arrangements, police, prison, probation service practitioners undertake a formal assessment of the risk posed by an RSO. Information about RSOs is held on ViSOR, the UK-wide database system used to store and share information and intelligence on those individuals managed under MAPPA.

The police have common law disclosure powers that allow them to share relevant information with the public when they think there is a credible risk of harm, such as through the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) and the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme (CSODS). With regard to RSOs, the police must ensure that the disclosure of their conviction history is necessary to protect the person from being the victim of a crime, that there is a pressing need for the disclosure. Any decision to disclose under the scheme will be made based on the facts of each individual case, and the police can seek legal advice where necessary.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_239
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_239

Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of strengthening existing legislation to prevent the private display of proscribed terrorist flags and symbols. \p Dan Jarvis: The Government will continue to work with operational partners to consider what, if any, further changes are needed to the counter-terrorism framework so that our tools and powers keep pace with the modern threats that we face.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_240
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_240

Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to amend legislation to improve the appeals process for people on the Children and Adults barred list for exposing children to abuse whose domestic abuse perpetrator is not on the register. \p Jess Phillips: The purpose of the children’s and adults’ barred lists maintained by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is to prevent individuals from applying to work or from working in regulated activity with children and/or vulnerable adults, if they are considered to pose a risk to those groups. The DBS adds individuals to the list(s) if: they have committed a serious violence or sexual offence; or if police information or an employer referral indicates that they may have harmed a child or vulnerable adult or put a child or vulnerable adult at risk of harm.

When considering harm or risk of harm, the DBS will consider a range of evidence on a case-by-case basis. Where domestic abuse is perpetrated by one partner on another and a child is exposed to that behaviour, both the person who is the target of the abuse and the child who is exposed to that behaviour would be considered by the DBS as victims. The DBS would not consider a victim of domestic abuse for barring unless harm had also been caused separately through behaviour demonstrated by that individual.

Where the DBS is considering someone for barring due to actions which have led to harm or pose a risk of harm to a child or a vulnerable adult, the DBS is required by statute to provide them with an opportunity to make representations which are given full consideration before a final barring decision is made.

Once a final barring decision has been made by the DBS, a barred person can appeal that decision to the Administrative Appeals Chamber of the Upper Tribunal in England or Wales. If the Tribunal upholds DBS’s decision, the barred person has the right to request a review of the DBS decision after a minimum barred period has elapsed. There are no plans to change the appeals process.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_241
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_241

Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to prohibit (a) artists and (b) music venues that hold concerts by artists who publicly express support for proscribed terrorist organisations. \p Dan Jarvis: Under section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000 it is already an offence to invite support for a proscribed organisation:

Section 13(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000 makes it an offence to wear clothing or display an article in a public place in circumstances that arouse reasonable suspicion that the person is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation.

The investigation and prosecution of proscription offences is a matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service, which are operationally independent.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_242
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_242

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to review the (a) criteria and (b) process under which information on sex offenders is disclosed to the public under the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme. \p Jess Phillips: The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, introduced in 2011, allows members of the public to make an application to police for information about a person who has contact with a child.

To capture better data in order to review the efficacy of the Scheme, an Annual Data Requirement for police forces was introduced in April 2021, requiring police forces in England and Wales to submit data on the number of applications made, how many related to registered sex offenders and how many resulted in disclosure.

Following consultation with law enforcement and third sector partners, the police guidance and supporting documents for the scheme were updated and published in April 2023. This included supporting the introduction of online applications to the scheme, making it easier for the public to raise a concern, while also reducing the timeframe for applications to be processed and formalising proactive disclosure processes to ensure that information is provided to the right people at the right time to protect children from harm.

Through the Crime and Policing Bill, this government is going further to strengthen the scheme by seeking to place it on a statutory footing. This means that chief officers will have a statutory duty to have due regard to the guidance.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_243
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_243

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to (a) assess and (b) help tackle the potential risk of threats posed by the People's Republic of China on the United Kingdom's (i) national security, (ii) cyber security, (iii) economic influence and (iv) military capabilities. \p Dan Jarvis: We have a broad suite of powers available to respond to state threats. This includes measures in the National Security Act 2023 which make the UK a harder target for those states which seek to conduct hostile acts, as well as the National Security and Investment Act 2021 which gives the government powers to scrutinise and intervene in business transactions, where necessary and proportionate, to protect national security.

We are taking a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing the UK’s relations with China. We will co-operate where we can; compete where we need to; and challenge where we must, including on issues of national security.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_244
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_244

Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for his polices of levels of (a) presence and activities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the UK and (b) potential threats to Iranian dissidents and UK-based journalists. \p Dan Jarvis: We do not routinely comment on the detail of operational matters or specific threats. The UK Government continually assesses potential threats to the UK and its residents and will continue to take the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms and safety in the UK very seriously.

Last month, I announced new measures to tackle state threats from Iran. This included our intention to place the Iranian state, including Iran’s Intelligence Services, the IRGC and MOIS, on the Enhanced Tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS). I also announced new training for all frontline police officers on state threats; further sanctions against Iranian-linked criminal groups; an independent review of the parts of our counter-terrorism framework which could be applied to state threats; continued support to the Jewish community; and strengthened enforcement of our immigration measures to protect the UK from Iranian interference. Finally, the National Protective Security Authority and Counter Terrorism Policing will continue to provide protective security advice and support to individuals and organisations threatened by the Iranian regime and its criminal proxies, including Persian language media organisations.

The Government's top priority is our national security, and we will continue to use all appropriate tools at our disposal to protect the UK, and its people, from any Iran-linked threats.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_245
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_245

Olivia Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to publish a Hate Crime Action Plan. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Government is determined to tackle all forms of hate crime.

We have a robust legislative framework in place to respond to hate crimes which target race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and transgender identity, and we back the police in taking strong action against the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.

The Government funds an online hate crime reporting portal, True Vision, designed so victims of all types of hate crime do not have to visit a police station to report. We are also continuing to fund the National Online Hate Crime Hub, which supports individual local police forces in dealing specifically with online hate crime, providing expert advice to police to support them in investigating these abhorrent offences.

The Government is carefully considering how best to strengthen the response to hate crime going forward so we can continue to tackle this offending head on.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_246
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_246

Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the merits of increasing penalties for electric cable theft. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Theft, including the theft of cables, is a serious crime and this Government recognises the distress and disruption it can cause, not only to businesses, but also to local communities and critical infrastructure.

The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 was introduced to reduce metal theft by strengthening regulation of the scrap metal industry. The Act requires scrap metal dealers to obtain a licence from their local authority and to verify the identity of those selling the scrap metal; it also bans dealers from paying cash.

Following introduction of the Act, there was an overall downward trend in metal-related theft offences. The latest figures for the year ending March 2024 are 64% lower than in the previous year.

Furthermore, the sentencing guidelines on theft have been amended to highlight that where theft causes disruption to infrastructure, this should be taken into account when assessing the harm.

We work closely with the National Infrastructure Crime Reduction Partnership who bring together industry and policing and law enforcement partners to tackle metal theft, including cable theft, by sharing intelligence to target offenders and implementing crime prevention measures.

We are also delivering on our commitment to put 13,000 neighbourhood police and community support officers into local communities.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_247
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_247

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers Cambridgeshire Constabulary expects to recruit in (a) 2025-2026, (b) 2026-2027, (c) 2027-2028 and (d) 2028-2029. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Government is committed to ensuring police forces are supported to effectively tackle crime. We are clear that visible policing is essential to restoring public confidence in the police.

The 2025-26 final police funding settlement provides funding of up to £19.6 billion for the policing system in England and Wales. Total funding to police forces will be up to £17.6 billion, an increase of up to £1.2 billion compared to the 2024-25 police funding settlement. This includes up to £376.8 million, allocated to directly support the maintenance of police officers across England and Wales in 2025-26, as well as £200 million to kickstart the first phase of delivering 13,000 additional police officers and PCSOs into neighbourhood roles.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_248
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_248

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the (a) number and (b) duration of shifts required to provide continued cover for the same full-time equivalent warranted police officer patrolling role (i) in a vehicle, (ii) on foot and (iii) in a firearms capacity over a 24 hour period. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office does not hold this data.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_249
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_249

Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making legal aid available to people working in creative industries to enable them to pursue technology firms suspected of breaching copyright laws through artificial intelligence. \p Sir Chris Bryant: The Government has no plans to make such an assessment. We are working to ensure that copyright and intellectual property frameworks remain robust and fit for purpose in the age of AI.

We have received over 11,500 responses to our consultation, principally from creators, and are analysing those responses to shape our approach. We have been clear that AI developers must be more transparent about the content they use to train their models and that rights holders should have effective control of their works.

We encourage rights holders who believe their work has been used unlawfully to seek independent legal advice and we continue to assess how best we might support the creative sector to harness the opportunities this technology provides.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_250
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_250

Sammy Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she is considering the future of terrestrial TV distribution in the BBC Charter review. \p Stephanie Peacock: As the media landscape undergoes the next generational shift, the BBC too must adapt and be supported to do so.

The forthcoming Charter Review is a key opportunity to set the BBC up for success long into the future. It will look at a range of issues to make sure the BBC truly represents and delivers for every person in this country, including the BBC’s services and their distribution.

The BBC also sits on the Future of TV Distribution Stakeholder Forum, which brings together Government, Ofcom and stakeholders, representing both audiences and industry, to consider issues related to distribution.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_251
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_251

Laurence Turner:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent progress her Department has made on the establishment of the community wealth fund. \p Stephanie Peacock: The government announced in November 2024 that it is allocating £87.5 million of dormant assets funding to the Community Wealth Fund and is committed to ensuring it delivers meaningful benefits to disadvantaged communities across England. DCMS and MHCLG are working to shortly publish the government response to the Community Wealth Fund technical consultation. This will set out the final design of the Community Wealth Fund, including further information on how beneficiary communities will be selected, and other elements of its delivery.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_252
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_252

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Football Governance Bill on the financial health of non premier league football clubs. \p Stephanie Peacock: Clubs across the football pyramid have suffered from the consequences of reckless spending, unmanaged debts and poor ownership. That is why the government has introduced the Football Governance Bill which aims to improve the financial sustainability of all clubs in scope, including clubs outside the Premier League, by addressing these key issues, improving the systemic financial resilience of the whole football pyramid.

This Bill will take a proportionate and light touch approach to regulation to avoid undue burden and has been designed through extensive consultation with clubs across the football pyramid.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_253
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_253

Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to promote the National Youth Strategy survey in rural areas. \p Stephanie Peacock: Our engagement for the National Youth Survey has proactively involved young people from urban and rural areas, as well as across a number of different demographic considerations.

In order to reach young people in all areas of the country, we developed a communications campaign and worked with a variety of stakeholders who support young people to disseminate information. We developed a toolkit for organisations to run their own consultation workshops with young people to feed in their views. In addition to this, we have run a wide-ranging survey, workshops, focus groups and ‘hacks’ to give young people the opportunity to develop solutions.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_254
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_254

Mr James Frith:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44518 on BetIndex and Football Index, if she will introduce a regulator levy to fund compensation for people who lost money through the collapse of Football Index and BetIndex. \p Stephanie Peacock: Whilst the Government deeply sympathises with those impacted by the collapse of Football Index and BetIndex, we do not plan to introduce a regulator levy to fund compensation for people who lost money as a result.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_255
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_255

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing support for Twinning Associations. \p Stephanie Peacock: DCMS does not hold responsibility for this policy area and has therefore not conducted any such assessment.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_256
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_256

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Supreme Court ruling published on April 16, what plans her Department has to amend its policy on the use of women-only spaces in its buildings by transgender women. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Providers should note and follow the ruling.

It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling.

The Equality & Human Rights Commission, as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers. Ministers will consider the EHRC’s updated draft once they have submitted it following further work in light of this ruling.

The Government is considering the implications of the Court’s judgment, including what this means for Government buildings.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_257
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_257

Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with the creative industries on joining Creative Europe. \p Sir Chris Bryant: The UK is not part of Creative Europe, and has not been since the UK left the European Union.

This government has not proposed any plans to rejoin Creative Europe, though we are committed to finding constructive ways to work with the EU and deliver for the British people on shared priorities and global challenges.

We recognise the UK’s creative and cultural sectors provide a unique and valuable contribution to Europe’s diverse cultural landscape. We are working with our world-leading sectors to ensure that they can continue to promote growth and enrich lives, at home and abroad, including through initiatives such as the £7 million UK Global Screen Fund, and the £1.6 million Music Export Growth Scheme.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_258
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_258

Natasha Irons:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of funding grassroots bowls on (a) tackling loneliness and (b) public health. \p Stephanie Peacock: We are committed to providing support for grassroots clubs who provide access and opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity. Bowls has a unique and important role to play in tackling loneliness through supporting people to have the social connections they need and in driving positive public health outcomes.

Our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England has a long-term partnership with the Bowls Development Alliance. It has awarded them over £1.8m (since 2022) in investment and funding. Sport England also provides free resources and support to grassroots sports clubs and volunteers through its Buddle tool. Furthermore, Sport England’s Movement Fund also offers crowdfunding pledges, grants and resources to improve physical activity opportunities for the people and communities who need it the most which includes the refurbishment or upgrading facilities.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_259
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_259

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that drivers are meeting the eyesight standards for driving. \p Lilian Greenwood: Driver licensing is devolved in Northern Ireland. In Great Britain, drivers are required by law to notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if they develop a medical condition that may affect safe driving or if they are no longer able to meet the required eyesight standards for driving. When the DVLA is notified, an investigation will be carried out and the driver may be required to undertake a formal assessment of vision, which must be carried out by a professional optometrist on specialised equipment. The DVLA may also act on information received from third parties. These types of notifications are most commonly received from the police, healthcare professionals, family, friends or neighbours.

If the police suspect that the driver of a vehicle does not meet the required standards of vision, then they can conduct a roadside vision test which requires the licence holder to be able to read a number plate from 20 metres in good daylight. If the police notify the DVLA that a driver has failed the test the licence will be revoked. If the driver does pass the eyesight test, the police can still notify the DVLA if they suspect that the driver has a medical condition or poor eyesight. The DVLA will then investigate to ensure the driver can meet the required standards.

The Government supports the NHS’s advice that adults should have their eyes tested every two years. This recommendation is included in many of the DVLA’s application forms and information leaflets about driving. Optometrists and ophthalmologists also play an important part by advising their patients of the implications of their vision on driving and the effect of their eye condition or any treatment that they are receiving. The General Medical Council and General Optical Council guidance confirms that it is appropriate for practitioners to notify the DVLA directly about a patient that is medically unfit to drive where the patient cannot or will notify themselves.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_260
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_260

Wendy Chamberlain:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the efficiency of the Royal Mail First Class service in delivering letters of notification on driving suspensions from the DVLA. \p Lilian Greenwood: When a driving licence is revoked, the law requires that the notice of revocation must be served in writing to the licence holder. The letter notifying the individual of the revocation is sent by first class post and the licence is revoked two working days from the date the letter is posted.

The Royal Mail aims to deliver over 90 per cent of first-class post by the next working day, including Saturdays. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency already makes allowances for Bank Holidays and non-working days.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_261
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_261

Katie White:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to provide guidance to local authorities on pavement parking regulations. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to our pavement parking consultation in 2020 and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them. As soon as the Government has decided its preferred way forward, we will announce the next steps and publish our formal response. We will also publish any relevant guidance once that response has been published.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_262
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_262

Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure consistency across local authorities over motorcycles using bus lanes. \p Lilian Greenwood: As set out in the consultation response published on 21 November 2024, the Department for Transport will update TAL 1/24 to include advice that local authorities should work with neighbouring authorities to achieve consistency of provision across boundaries, particularly in urban areas but no publication date has been set.

The Department is also considering how best to work with combined authorities and Transport for London, to encourage a more joined up approach to motorcycle access in these areas.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_263
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_263

Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her Department has to modernise the booking of driving tests in Hampshire. \p Lilian Greenwood: As set out in the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) 2024/25 business plan, DVSA is beginning the process of replacing its booking system. The system has many uses including:

DVSA will start by replacing the test booking and scheduling service. This will allow better capture and meeting of customers’ requirements, including those with additional needs. DVSA will update the way it schedules tests using modern, flexible technology that makes better use of examiners’ time and reduces manual processes.

To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the DVSA continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests across the country and has announced further measures to review the driving test booking system.

On the 18 December 2024, a call for evidence was launched, seeking views on the current rules to book tests. This will lead to consultation on improving processes, with potential future legislative changes. On the 23 April the Secretary of State announced that this consultation has been fast-tracked to May 2025.

On 6 January 2025, DVSA introduced new terms and conditions for use of the service driving instructors and trainers use to book and manage practical driving tests for their pupils. Since this change DVSA has issued 25 warnings, 4 suspensions, and closed 90 business accounts.

DVSA has deployed bot protection to help stop automated systems from buying up tests unfairly. These applications, however, are constantly evolving and changing, and DVSA’s work on this is ongoing.

The Department has no plans to expand transport support for provisional drivers unable to book a driving test.

DVSA’s main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.

On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport also announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce driving test waiting times across the country.

Further information on these actions and progress on the DVSA’s 7-point plan, which was set out last year, can be found on GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_264
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_264

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Supreme Court ruling published on April 16, what plans her Department has to amend its policy on the use of women-only spaces in its buildings by transgender women. \p Mike Kane: The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Providers should note and follow the ruling.

It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling.

The Equality & Human Rights Commission, as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers. Ministers will consider the EHRC’s updated draft once they have submitted it following further work in light of this ruling.

The Government is considering the implications of the Court’s judgment, including what this means for Government buildings.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_265
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_265

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps she has taken to help increase the number of (a) driving instructors and (b) examiners. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not employ driving instructors. Whilst DVSA does not have the power to either increase or limit the number of approved driving instructors (ADIs), the number of instructors on the DVSA’s ADI register has increased in the last few years.

The number of new applications to start the qualification process to become an ADI has also increased and DVSA are using all available ADI examiner resources to provide as many ADI qualifications tests as possible, to ensure potential instructors can complete the process.

On the 18 December 2024, DVSA set out plans to reduce driving test waiting times across the country. These steps included recruiting 450 driving examiners.

On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport announced that she has asked DVSA to take action on four additional measures. These include:

Further information regarding these measures can be found on GOV.UK
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_266
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_266

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the availability of driving tests in Slough constituency. \p Lilian Greenwood: The table below shows the number of car practical driving tests booked and available in the 24-week booking window, as of 28th April 2025, for driving test centres (DTCs) serving customers in the Slough constituency:

DTC

Car practical driving tests booked

Car practical driving test available

Slough

1836

1

Yeading

1952

32

Uxbridge

2309

20

To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests across the country and has announced further measures to review the driving test booking system.

On the 18 December 2024, a call for evidence was launched, seeking views on the current rules to book tests. This will lead to consultation on improving processes, with potential future legislative changes. On the 23 April the Secretary of State announced that this consultation has been fast-tracked to May 2025.

On 6 January 2025, DVSA introduced new terms and conditions for use of the service driving instructors and trainers use to book and manage practical driving tests for their pupils. Since this change DVSA has issued 25 warnings, 4 suspensions, and closed 90 business accounts.

DVSA has deployed bot protection to help stop automated systems from buying up tests unfairly. These applications, however, are constantly evolving and changing, and DVSA’s work on this is ongoing.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_267
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_267

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 46010 on Speed limits, what her planned (a) timetable and (b) scope is for the forthcoming road safety strategy. \p Lilian Greenwood: I would like to make clear that improving road safety is one of my key priorities. Too many people are killed and seriously injured in road traffic collisions, and this Government will work hard to prevent these tragedies for all road users. That is why we are developing our Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course.

At the Transport Select Committee in April 2025, the Secretary of State set out that we hope to publish the Strategy later this year.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_268
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_268

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 29802 on Parking: Software, what recent discussions her Department has had with the parking industry on the future rollout of the National Parking Platform. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Department for Transport continues to engage with the parking sector regarding alternative options for taking forward delivery of a national parking platform.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_269
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_269

Alex Ballinger:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is taking steps to help tackle the use of (a) fraudulent and (b) substitute insurance by fast food delivery drivers. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Government takes uninsured driving seriously. This is achieved through Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE), a scheme where the Motor Insurers’ Bureau and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency collaborate to identify uninsured drivers and police enforcement on the road.

All drivers must be insured to drive the vehicle they are using and for the purpose it is used for. As with all drivers, they are subject to roadside enforcement by the police.

Motor insurers are responsible for setting the terms and conditions of the policies that they offer, and it is for them to decide the level of risk that they take in issuing any policy to a given applicant. They use a range of criteria to assess the potential risk a driver poses, including the age of the applicant, the type of vehicle being insured, the postal area where the applicant lives and the driving experience and record of the applicant. The setting of premiums is a commercial decision for individual insurers based on their underwriting experience and the Government does not intervene or seek to control the market.

The Equality Act 2010 provides general protection against age discrimination for people of all ages. However, the Act also includes an exemption for those conducting an assessment of risk for the purposes of providing a financial service to another person. This means that motor insurance companies are still able to take age into account when considering the premium to be paid or indeed whether to insure people of any particular age group.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_270
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_270

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Civil Aviation Authority is taking to support small and medium-sized enterprises to test innovative aerospace technologies that require exemptions from standard Civil Aviation Authority boundaries. \p Mike Kane: The Department through its Future of Flight programme and support for Jet Zero technology is working with the CAA to enable testing of innovative aerospace technologies by mainly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This includes:
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_271
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_271

Sadik Al-Hassan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with her counterparts in the Welsh Government on the potential impact of the £205 million subsidy for Cardiff Airport on the competitiveness of (a) Bristol Airport and (b) other nearby airports. \p Mike Kane: As aviation is devolved, decisions regarding any subsidies made to Cardiff Airport is a matter for the Welsh Government. While the Secretary of State has not had any conversations with counterparts in the Welsh Government, officials continue to engage the Welsh Government and nearby airports to understand the potential impacts.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_272
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_272

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to ensure that people released under early-release schemes are prepared to return to society. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: This Government inherited prisons days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe. Offenders released on licence are subject to strict conditions, such as curfews and exclusion zones, and face being returned to prison if they break the rules.

There is robust and varied preparation work that probation undertakes following a detailed assessment of individual needs, to ensure an effective resettlement into the community. This includes support with finding work, with Prison Employment Leads, Employment Hubs, ID and Banking Administrators and Employment Advisory Boards in every resettlement prison.

Release planning may also include temporary accommodation for those at risk of homelessness, with a transitional accommodation service which provides prison leavers at risk of homelessness and who are supervised by probation with up to 12 weeks of accommodation.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_274
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_274

Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of staffing levels at HMP Styal. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The number of prison officers at Bands 3-5 at HMP Styal is currently 97% of the target staffing figure. Recruitment is in progress to fill the vacant positions.

Prison staffing models remain under regular review. This includes looking at elements of current staffing arrangements at HMP Styal, to assess how effectively they meet operational needs.

Across the prison estate as a whole, the staffing position has greatly improved. At prisons where recruitment challenges remain, we continue to offer an additional supplement to attract new prison officers.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_275
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_275

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2025 to Question 46823, on Electronic Tagging: Standards: what recent estimate she has made of the number of offenders not tagged as a result of the Probation Service holding an incorrect address for the offender in each of the last five years. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_276
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_276

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many Rapid Deployment Cells are in use at Channings Wood. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Whilst there are not any Rapid Deployment Cells (RDCs) currently in use at HMP Channings Wood, there are 30 RDCs in construction at the site. We expect these to be operational by the end of 2025.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_277
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_277

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to help promote support groups that provide training for employment for former prisoners. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: We are committed to breaking the cycle of re-offending, by better supporting prisons to link with employers and the voluntary sector to get more people with convictions into work. We know that finding employment after release reduces the chances of re-offending significantly - by up to nine percentage points.

HM Prison & Probation Service, through its Creating Future Opportunities programme, offers tailored support for ex-offenders to secure employment, training and education opportunities, so that they are able to make a positive new start on release. This includes promoting the use of voluntary and community sector enterprise (VCSE) organisations as contributors to this work. Employment Advisory Board members also have the opportunity link up with offenders after release, to interview and potentially recruit offenders.

In addition, Clinks, the national infrastructure charity dedicated to supporting voluntary organisations working with people in the criminal justice system, has been awarded a further four years of grant funding to support small and medium VCSE organisations in the criminal justice system. This includes many of our delivery partners in prisons and probation who provide ex-offenders with training and employment support.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_278
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_278

Rachel Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the First-Tier Tribunal. \p Alex Davies-Jones: This Government inherited a broken justice system with record and rising court backlogs. The Lord Chancellor recently announced that for 2025-26, the Ministry of Justice will provide a total budget of £2,538 million.

We have continued investment this year in the recruitment of up to 1,000 judges and tribunal members across all jurisdictions. This includes recruitment targeted at First-tier Tribunal chambers with the greatest business need.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) continues to invest in improving tribunal productivity through the deployment of Legal Officers to actively manage cases, the development of modern case management systems, and the use of remote hearing technology.

As a result, the Lord Chancellor was able to announce on 5 March the sitting day allocations for the First-tier Tribunal for 2025/26, which will enable all chambers of the First-tier Tribunal to sit at, or near, their maximum capacity for the year.

We recognise that there remain significant challenges for the performance of the First-tier Tribunal. We are therefore continuing to monitor demand on the Tribunal and are working with the Judiciary, HMCTS and relevant Government Departments on the further actions needed to alleviate pressures on the Tribunal system, improve efficiency and reduce waiting times to ensure timely access to justice for all parties.