theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Jerome Mayhew:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what volume of rail freight in tonne-kilometres was moved in (a) November 2025 and (b) each month since July 2024. \p Simon Lightwood: The data for November 2025 has not yet been published. The most recent available data is for Rail Period 7 (14 September 2025 to 11 October 2025) where a total of 1,258 million net tonne-kilometres of freight were moved by rail.

The net tonne-kilometres of rail freight moved each rail period is published by the Office of Rail and Road in Table 1314 which is available at:

https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/freight-rail-usage-and-performance/table-1314-freight-moved-by-commodity-periodic-1/.
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Jerome Mayhew:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of new cars registered in (a) November 2025 and (b) each month since July 2024 were zero-emission vehicles. \p Keir Mather: The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Jerome Mayhew:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many used electric vehicles were sold in (a) November 2025 and (b) each month since July 2024. \p Keir Mather: The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on road safety in the UK of her Department’s policy allowing people who obtained their driving license abroad to drive in the UK for 12 months without obtaining a UK driving license from the DVLA. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the sufficiency of current driving instruction in equipping new drivers with the knowledge and practical skills required for safe motorway driving, including appropriate lane usage; and whether consideration has been given to requiring supervised motorway driving as part of initial learner training and assessment. \p Simon Lightwood: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to promote voluntary motorway lessons with approved instructors after theory test success, ensuring that all drivers can gain appropriate experience in a structured, supportive environment. However, DVSA has no current plans to mandate that all learner drivers must undertake motorway driving prior to their driving test, for several key reasons.

Not all learners have convenient access to motorways, with many candidates living in rural or remote areas where the nearest motorway may be some distance away. Requiring all candidates to drive on a motorway would risk creating an unfair barrier to test readiness and accessibility.

While motorway driving is valuable, the practical driving test already includes a strong focus on high-speed driving environments. Dual carriageways, which can present even greater risk due to variable traffic flows, mixed vehicle types, and more frequent junctions, are included in test routes, wherever possible. They provide critical opportunities to assess a candidate’s ability to manage higher speeds and complex traffic situations.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which driving test centres were at 24 weeks wait times in i.) July 2024 ii.) July 2025 and iii.) the latest month for which figures are available. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many new publicly available electric vehicle charge points were (a) installed and (b) brought into operation in each month since July 2024 up to and including the most recent month for which figures are available. \p Keir Mather: The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in respect of train operating companies for which the Department is the operator, how many services were (a) cancelled and (b) delayed by (i) 30 minutes or more and (ii) 60 minutes or more in each month since July 2024 up to and including the most recent month for which figures are available. \p Keir Mather: The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the impact of the ongoing issues with Kennington Bridge on local, regional and national (a) connectivity and (b) economic development, and on the delivery of other major infrastructure including the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme. \p Simon Lightwood: I am aware of the continuing funding issues with Kennington Bridge and the importance of this key structure both to local, regional and national connectivity. The bridge is a local scheme and therefore any assessment to connectivity, economic development or for the delivery of other major infrastructure is for Oxfordshire County Council to undertake.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the national average waiting time in weeks was for a practical car driving test in (a) November 2025 and (b) each month since July 2024. \p Simon Lightwood: The national average waiting time in November for car practical driving tests will not be available until later in December. The national average for any given month is usually not available until the middle of the following month.

The respective answers to Question 78713 on 20 October 2025, and Question 93246 on 28 November 2025, provided data covering the period July 2024 to October 2025.
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Sir Desmond Swayne:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what engagement she has had with organisations representing motorcyclists in preparation for the Integrated National Transport Strategy. \p Lilian Greenwood: The department has conducted extensive research and engagement with stakeholders and members of the public to inform the strategy. We have heard directly from motorcyclists and motorcycle representative groups, including the Motorcycle Action Group, through our Call for Ideas which closed with 6,340 responses and an 11-stop Regional Roadshow across England.

The insights gathered through our engagement activities have been analysed and are directly informing the strategy as it continues to evolve. The strategy will seek to address the main barriers people face in accessing good transport that were identified through our engagement.

Officials also met bilaterally with the Motorcycle Action Group on 29 August 2025 to respond to a range of matters of concern to motorcyclists which included an update on the development of the strategy. An update was also provided at the most recent meeting of the officials-led Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group on 15 September, chaired by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
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Sir Desmond Swayne:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to publish the Integrated National Transport Strategy. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Integrated National Transport Strategy will be published early next year and set the long-term vision for domestic transport across England.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that additional capital funding for roads, rail and bus networks announced in the Budget is allocated fairly across the West Midlands, including to areas across Aldridge-Brownhills which do not benefit from major rail interchanges or tram extensions. \p Lilian Greenwood: The West Midlands Combined Authority will receive almost £2.4bn in Transport for City Region (TCR) funding up to 31/32.

Enabling Mayors in recipient areas to deliver schemes that align with local priorities, the TCR programme provides unprecedented, multi-year, consolidated funding settlements to enhance the local transport networks of some of England’s largest city regions, including investment in public and sustainable transport infrastructure, to help to drive growth and productivity.

It is for the Combined Authority to determine how this funding is allocated across the city region in line with local priorities.
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Mr Clive Betts:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with regards new Aurora trains being introduced on the Midland Mainline, what changes to the internal layout of standard class carriages is being proposed compared to Meridian class trains in order to achieve the advertised increased numbers of seats. \p Keir Mather: The new Class 810 ‘Aurora’ trains fit more seats by using the space in standard class more efficiently than the older Class 222 ‘Meridian’ trains.

The main changes are:

The trains still include accessible toilets, priority seating, two wheelchair spaces and two bike spaces, and now have power at every seat and improved Wi‑Fi.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many rail passenger journeys were made in Great Britain in (a) November 2025 and (b) each month since July 2024. \p Keir Mather: The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) publish statistics on rail passenger journeys on a quarterly basis on their data portal: https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/.

This information is not available monthly.

The latest available information on passenger journeys in Great Britain can be found in Table 1223: https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/passenger-rail-usage/table-1223-passenger-journeys-by-operator/.
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Ann Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with the Welsh government regarding the drafting of the Railways Bill. \p Keir Mather: The Department for Transport has worked closely with the Welsh Government throughout the development of the Railways Bill.

This engagement has included both ministerial and official-level meetings to ensure constructive and collaborative development of provisions enabling a responsive railway in the Wales and borders area.
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Sarah Olney:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much of the Structures Fund will be allocated towards the funding of the Lower Thames Crossing. \p Simon Lightwood: Funding for the Lower Thames Crossing is separate to the £1bn announced at Spending Review 2025 for key local highway enhancement projects and a new Structures Fund for repairing run down bridges, decaying flyovers and worn-out tunnels.
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Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what financial support she has provided to areas affected by HS2 cancellation for inherited liabilities and costs incurred. \p Simon Lightwood: We are mindful that the previous Government’s decision to cancel Phases 2a and 2b had a significant impact on local communities. The Department has been working with HS2 Ltd to minimise as far as is possible the disruption caused by this decision for local authorities and affected landowners.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-08)

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Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of ghost number plate enforcement in England. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned and “ghost” number plates. It is already illegal to use a vehicle displaying cloned or “ghost” number plates.

The enforcement of road traffic law and how available resources are deployed is the responsibility of individual Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners, taking into account the specific local problems and demands with which they are faced. The Police are operationally independent and they will investigate each case according to its individual merits.

This Government takes road safety seriously. We are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. We are considering a range of policies under the new Road Safety Strategy; the first for ten years. This includes the case for changing the motoring offences. We are considering concerns raised by campaigns, Parliamentarians and bereaved families that Ministers have met.

The Government intends to publish the Road Safety Strategy by the end of the year.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many trains on the East Coast Main Line have been cancelled due to train faults in 2025 to date. \p Keir Mather: For the East Coast Mainline, between 5 January 2025 and 8 November 2025, there have been 1931.6 full or part cancellations attributed to Technical Fleet Delays (which includes train faults). This figure is weighted by the number of cancelled stops on the East Coast route for a cancelled train, which might only spend part of its journey on the route
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Sammy Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to provide certainty to industry in relation to the expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime. \p Keir Mather: In November, the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Authority published the main Authority Response to the 2024 consultation detailing how the UK ETS will expand to the maritime sector. This main Authority Response included final policy details ahead of implementation next year. The Authority is directly engaging with the sector to ensure the details are understood, including by hosting a webinar which will be an opportunity for stakeholders to ask questions.

We are working closely with the sector as part of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Authority to ensure that maritime operators will be sufficiently prepared to join UK ETS from July next year.

The Environment Agency, who will regulate the majority of operators, are running a voluntary onboarding period from next month which will help the sector engage with the ETS ahead of July and give operators extra time to get familiar with how it works.

Additionally, the Authority will allow for ‘double-surrender’ for maritime operators for the first two scheme years, giving maritime operators extra time and further opportunity to familiarise themselves with UK ETS and the digital systems.

Guidance will be provided to address sector-specific requirements and support participants to meet their UK ETS obligations.
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Carla Denyer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of (a) the availability of global supply of the feedstocks used for sustainable aviation fuel and (b) the amounts of that feedstock the Government has identified as being needed for decarbonisation of (i) road transport and (ii) aviation. \p Keir Mather: As of the 1st of January 2025, a market for low carbon fuels for use in aviation and road transport has been supported under two separate schemes: the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Mandate and the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).

Targets under both the SAF Mandate and RTFO are set considering global availability of feedstocks and competing demands between transport modes and across sectors of the economy. Any proposals to introduce or change future targets under the RTFO or SAF mandate scheme design will always consider these competing demands.

Accordingly, the Department published a Cost Benefit Analysis for the SAF Mandate, alongside the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) Order 2024 SI No.1187 which introduced the scheme. The Cost Benefit Analysis set out our assessment of the availability of sustainable feedstocks and considered potential feedstock and production constraints. The Department is confident that the SAF Mandate targets have struck the right balance between ambition and deliverability.
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Catherine West:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what efforts she is taking to make sure that car-sharing is available in London and across the UK, in the context of Zipcar closing its UK operations by the end of the year. \p Lilian Greenwood: Car sharing, as one area of shared mobility, is an important option available to local authorities to help people travel, cut congestion and reduce emissions alongside public transport. The Minister for Local Transport met with the shared mobility industry in November to discuss its challenges and opportunities and how Government can continue to support the sector, ensuring that the right measures are in place to support car clubs across the UK. The Department is actively considering what more can be done, including to support local authorities, and is using feedback from the ministerial meeting to inform next steps.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many local bus routes ceased operating in (a) November 2025 and (b) each month since July 2024. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department does not hold this information centrally.
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Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that the Cycle to Work scheme supports equitable access for employees, including (a) those with disabilities who require specially adapted bicycles, (b) individuals undertaking longer or rural commutes, and (c) older employees who may benefit from electric bicycles. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Cycle to Work Scheme has helped millions of people choose a healthier, greener way to travel while boosting local economies and supporting jobs.

It is for employers to decide whether and how to provide cycles for their workforce under the Cycle to Work Scheme. Any scheme must operate within rules set by HM Revenue and Customs, HM Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the number of bus service miles operated in England outside London in (a) November 2025 and (b) each month since July 2024. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department does not hold this information centrally.
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Rebecca Long Bailey:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance she has given to train companies contracted to her Department on the usage of Withdrawal of Implied Permission notices. \p Simon Lightwood: Usage of Withdrawal of Implied Permission (WIP) notices are an operational matter for the train operating company or Network Rail and the Department does not issue guidance.

The Rail Delivery Group are able to provide guidance to operators on WIP notices.
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Rebecca Long Bailey:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which train companies contracted to her Department utilise Withdrawal of Implied Permission notices. \p Simon Lightwood: Usage of Withdrawal of Implied Permission (WIP) notices are an operational matter for the train operating company or Network Rail. The Department does not hold data on which operators utilise WIPs.
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Rebecca Long Bailey:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the sanction of a Withdrawal of Implied Permission notice by one Train Operating Company is confined to the services of the train operating company applying that sanction. \p Simon Lightwood: Individuals who have been issued with a full Withdrawal of Implied Permission (WIP) will be banned from accessing the station the WIP was issued from and will be prohibited from using any train of that particular train operating company that passes through the same station.
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Rebecca Long Bailey:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support the development of a railway-wide Withdrawal of Implied Permission notice. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department keeps security under constant review, however no change of policy for Withdrawal of Implied Permission (WIP) is planned at this stage.
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Rebecca Long Bailey:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data she holds on the use of Withdrawal of Implied Permission notices by train operating companies. \p Simon Lightwood: Use of Withdrawal of Implied Permission (WIP) notices is an operational matter for the train operating companies. The Department does not hold data on WIP notices.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 77643 on London Underground: Strikes, for what reason her Department met with Transport for London on 8 September 2025. \p Simon Lightwood: To confirm the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 84702, the meeting referred to took place on 11 September 2025. Ministers and officials have regular meetings with Transport for London to discuss a variety of issues including any continuing industrial action on the London transport network.
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Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the assurance processes are under which the Post Opening Project Evaluation (POPE) of Major Schemes are conducted. \p Simon Lightwood: National Highways follows its established “Analytical Assurance Framework” for assuring POPE reports, which includes fourth line independent external expert analytical assurance from DfT.

As these are complex reports it is right that my officials take the time to provide summary advice of these reports in the round and undertake wider assurance to advise me on the quality of collective findings.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2025 to Question 90394 on the Restoring Your Railways Fund, if she will publish the equality impact assessment completed by her Department of the decision to close the Restoring Your Railways programme. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department had due regard for the Public Sector Equalities Duty, and completed an Equalities Impact Assessment related to the closure of the Restoring Your Railway programme. The Department does not habitually publish such advice and legal compliance documents in this manner and it would not be appropriate to do so in this case.
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Oliver Ryan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential (a) implications for her policies on reforming the driving-test booking system’s of DataDome’s blog entitled Alert: Security Gaps Allow Bots to Exploit UK Driving Test Booking System, published on 16 April 2025, and (b) impact of restricting instructors from booking and managing tests on the professional driver-training sector, small businesses and learner drivers, including vulnerable and neurodiverse learners. \p Simon Lightwood: 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.

The measures the Secretary of State for Transport announced on 12 November are designed to make the practical driving test booking process fairer, providing all learners with equal access to the booking system and ensuring that everyone pays the prescribed fee.

The public consultation sought views from the driver training industry, learner drivers and other interested parties. Further detail on the rationale, which will set out the detailed analysis, will be provided in the consultation report which will be published in due course.

DVSA has implemented a multi-layered approach to protect the integrity of its booking system and ensure fair access for legitimate users. Where bots are known to actively target, DVSA deploys and utilises advanced bot protection.

DVSA deploys enhanced bot protection to help stop automated systems from buying up tests unfairly. However, these applications constantly evolve and change. DVSA’s work on this is ongoing. Protection measures taken by DVSA analyse multiple indicators such as typing speed, request frequency, device fingerprinting, and traffic patterns to identify non-human activity. When suspicious behaviour is detected, DVSA applied rules to block or throttle automated requests. DVSA continuously updates it approach to counter evolving tactics used by bot operators, who often attempt to mimic human behaviour.
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Steff Aquarone:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to (a) help reduce exam stress and (b) support pupils with exam stress. \p Georgia Gould: The department recognises that it is normal for young people to experience some stress around exams. It is important that this stress is identified early and the right support is in place to help young people manage it in a healthy and constructive way. Schools play a key role in supporting students through this, and mental health charities such as YoungMinds have published guidance on staying well during revision and exams. Their guidance is available at:

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/media/mqljrydj/staying-well-during-revision-and-exams.pdf.

The department is providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every school by expanding Mental Health Support Teams (MHST), so every child and young person has access to early support to address problems before they escalate. By April 2026, we estimate that 60% of pupils in schools and learners in further education in England will be covered by an MHST, up from 52% in April 2025.

The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review carefully considered evidence on wellbeing and found that many factors can impact student mental health. The Review recommended reducing exam volume to help improve the overall student experience. We will work closely with Ofqual and exam boards to reduce GCSE exam time by 2.5 to 3 hours for the average student, while maintaining high standards and protecting the integrity and validity of the qualifications system.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding her Department has provided towards supplying schools with (a) tablets, (b) laptops and (c) other electronic devices to children since 2015, broken down by (i) local authority area and (ii) year. \p Olivia Bailey: Schools, trusts and local authorities can use their budgets at their discretion to purchase technology for their pupils. The department does not mandate a specific device to pupil ratio or recommend how much funding should be allocated for devices.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the department delivered over 1.95 million laptops and tablets to schools, academy trusts and local authorities in England through the ‘Get Help With Technology’ programme, launched in March 2020, which supported remote learning for disadvantaged children. The last devices were delivered by March 2022 and the service closed in June 2022.

The programme represented an investment of approximately £400 million, covering procurement and distribution of devices, alongside connectivity support for families without internet access.

Data on dispatched devices is published in statistical releases via the Explore Education Statistics portal here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/laptops-and-tablets-data/2022-april.

The department monitors pupil access to devices via the Technology in Schools Survey here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/technology-in-schools-survey-report-2022-to-2023.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department has given to (a) headteachers and (b) school governors on the use of artificial intelligence in schools. \p Olivia Bailey: The department has published clear guidance to support schools in using artificial intelligence (AI) safely and effectively. This includes the Generative AI policy paper, which sets out opportunities, risks and legal responsibilities, and online support materials developed with sector experts. These resources provide practical advice for headteachers and governors on integrating AI into digital strategies, safeguarding pupil data, and ensuring compliance with data protection and intellectual property law. Toolkits for educators and leaders outline safe use cases, risk management and how AI can reduce workload without replacing teacher judgment. The guidance emphasises that AI should enhance teaching, not diminish human oversight, and schools must take care when considering pupil-facing AI.

Materials are available on GOV.UK under “Using AI in education settings: support materials”, alongside the policy paper “Generative artificial intelligence in education”, updated June 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_185

Melanie Onn:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the (a) financial sustainability of early years providers and (b) capacity of schools to deliver wraparound care in areas experiencing long waiting lists. \p Olivia Bailey: In 2025/26, this government plans to spend over £8 billion on early years entitlements, increasing to over £9 billion in 2026/27, and we have increased the early years pupil premium by over 45%. On top of this we have provided further supplementary funding of £75 million for the Early Years Expansion Grant.

At Spending Review 2025, the government announced it will provide an additional £1.6 billion per year by 2028/29. We will also spend over £400 million over the next four years to deliver school-based nurseries across England.

The free breakfast clubs programme has delivered more than 5 million breakfasts and offered places to almost 180,000 pupils across the country. We are investing a further £80 million into the programme to fund an additional 2,000 schools between April 2026 and March 2027. Since September 2024, the National Wraparound Programme has also provided over 50,000 additional full childcare places. In 2026/27, we are providing local authorities with £12.9 million to sustain these places, ensuring sufficiency of school-age childcare and supporting national rollout of free breakfast clubs.
wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_186
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_186

Helen Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of levels of provision for blind and partially sighted students in further education (a) with and (b) without education, health and care plans (i) during the transition from school to further education and (ii) at other times; and what steps she is taking to improve accountability for ensuring (A) timely and (B) effective reasonable adjustments are (1) identified, (2) funded and (3) implemented. \p Georgia Gould: Support for people with visual impairments in and transitioning into, further education is guided by legal duties under the Equality Act 2010 and the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) Code of Practice, with tailored provisions depending on the needs of the individual. This applies to those with or without education, health and care plans (EHCPs).

All education and training providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, including those with visual impairments, so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled students. Reasonable adjustments can include adapting teaching methods, using assistive technology, modifying assessments, and offering personalised support services.

Ensuring that support is provided in a timely and effective manner is the responsibility of the local authority.

The new Ofsted handbook requires further education providers to embed inclusion across all aspects of provision. Providers must identify their learners’ needs and demonstrate measurable impact on progress and wellbeing.

The department tracks the progress and attainment of learners with SEND and participation and retention rates for learners with EHCPs or special educational needs support and are determined that our reforms to the system should improve experiences and outcomes for learners and their families.
wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_187
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_187

Dr Danny Chambers:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of Health and Social Care on the potential merits of introducing heart screening for young people participating in physical education in (a) schools and (b) universities. \p Georgia Gould: The department has not held specific discussions with the Department for Health and Social Care on heart screening for young people participating in physical education.

All pupils attending compulsory education are required to take part in physical education as part of the national curriculum. We expect schools to be aware of the risks associated with sporting activities and to provide a safe environment for pupils. The government recognises the value of physical activity in enhancing the health and wellbeing of young people.

Universities are autonomous institutions and are responsible for decisions about the welfare and health of their students.
wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_188
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_188

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to ensure that children with SEND have access to a GCSE curriculum irrespective of their educational setting. \p Georgia Gould: Every child in our country deserves the best possible school experience; one that is academically stretching, where every child feels like they belong, and that sets them up for life and work.

As part of the department’s Plan for Change, we are determined to fix the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system and restore the trust of parents. We will do this by strengthening accountability on mainstream settings to be inclusive including through Ofsted; support the mainstream workforce to increase their SEND expertise and encourage schools to set up Resourced Provision or special educational needs units to increase capacity in mainstream schools. This will enable children to receive specialist support whilst learning alongside their friends and wider community.

On 5 November, the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review published its final report which includes recommendations for a refreshed curriculum and assessment system in England. ​In the government’s response to the report, the department made a clear commitment to supporting a high-quality curriculum, including for children with SEND.
wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_189
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_189

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to issue guidance to schools on how to access training resources to help deliver the CPR Smart programme. \p Georgia Gould: All state funded schools are required to teach first aid as part of the statutory health education set out in the relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) statutory guidance. Independent schools are required to cover health education as part of their responsibility to provide personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education.

The statutory RSHE guidance includes basic first aid for primary school children, for example dealing with common injuries, such as head injuries, whilst pupils in secondary schools are taught further first aid, for example how to administer CPR and the purpose of defibrillators and how to use them.

The guidance sets out that it is for schools to decide how they teach RSHE topics, including how to draw on expertise available to them locally, such as that provided by the CPR Smart programme.
wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_190
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_190

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 83833 on Schools: Employers' Contributions, what estimate she has made of the proportion of the £3.7 billion increase in school funding for 2025-26 that will be used to meet additional costs associated with increases in employers’ National Insurance contributions. \p Georgia Gould: As part of the £3.7 billion increase in funding for schools in the 2025/26 financial year, the department is providing mainstream schools and high needs settings with over £930 million to support them with the increases to employer national insurance contributions (NICs) from April 2025.
wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_191
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_191

Damien Egan:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure parents of children with SEND are informed of (a) their rights and (b) the protections available to them. \p Georgia Gould: The Children and Families Act 2014 requires local authorities to publish a Local Offer, setting out in one place information about provision they expect to be available across education, health and social care for children and young people in their area who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those without an education, health and care plan.

Every local authority must have a SEND information, advice and support service. These provide free and impartial advice to children and young people with SEND and their parents and carers.

The department works with national organisations such as Contact, IPSEA and the National Network of Parent Carer Forums. We also fund local parent carer forums across England who gather the views and experiences of local SEND families to help shape and inform policy and provision and offer a valuable peer support network for parents and carers navigating the SEND system.
wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_192
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_192

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether funding is available for schools to purchase (a) defibrillators and (b) CPR training equipment. \p Georgia Gould: The department provided over 20,000 defibrillators to almost 18,000 schools, ensuring that all state-funded schools in England have access to a device.

The programme is now closed; however, schools who wish to purchase defibrillators are able to buy them through the NHS Defibs4Schools programme, which provides defibrillators of a suitable specification. Defibs4Schools can be contacted at: xxx@xxx.xx.

Schools have the autonomy to decide how they teach first aid, including teaching additional topical content and which resources to use.

It is for schools to decide what training equipment may be suitable to facilitate the delivery of CPR training at their school, based on their individual circumstances. The department provides advice on free resources in its defibrillator guidance to schools, including the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) RevivR CPR training and BHF CPR training pack for secondary schools. More information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/automated-external-defibrillators-aeds-in-schools.
wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_193
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_193

Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with relevant stakeholders on improving waiting lists for Education, Health and Care plan assessments in (a) Northumberland and (b) the North East. \p Georgia Gould: Data on the number of requests for an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment, the number of assessments carried out and assessments outstanding is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans/2025. This includes data for the North East. The latest data was published on 26 June 2025. ​​​

Following the above publication of EHC plan statistics, departmental officials met with all North East local authorities during July and August 2025, including Northumberland County Council. Officials discussed the published data including the overall timeliness of assessments and actions each local area was taking to improve services and reduce wait times for children, young people and their families undergoing an EHC needs assessment.

The department will continue to work with North East local area partnerships to monitor the delivery of special educational needs and disabilities services and offer support when required.
wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_194
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-08 conversation_194

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to teach young people from disadvantaged backgrounds about (a) finance, (b)employment and (c) other life skills. \p Georgia Gould: On 5 November, the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review published its final recommendations for a refreshed curriculum and assessment system in England.

The government’s response to the report includes a commitment to commits to strengthening pupils’ foundational understanding of financial education in maths and citizenship, with digital resources to support teaching. New statutory citizenship at key stages 1 and 2 will also ensure that primary aged children are introduced to key content on media literacy, financial literacy, law and rights, democracy and government and climate education. These principles will be extended to the secondary core content to reflect the age range of pupils and will focus on more complex content, particularly digital elements of financial literacy.

The department expects schools to develop and improve their careers provision to be inclusive for all young people in line with the world-class Gatsby Benchmarks, including benchmark 3, which focuses on addressing the individual needs of each pupil.