Written questions by McIntyre.

What steps she is taking to improve public transportation options for children with special education needs and disabilities that are in further education.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. Local authorities are responsible for transport to education and training for 16-19 year olds. Post-16 transport guidance requires local authorities to make the necessary transport arrangements or provide financial support to ensure young people can participate in education or training. The needs of young people with SEND should be specifically considered and the arrangements put in place for each group must be documented in local authority transport policy statements.In addition to their statutory responsibilities, many local authorities do offer some form of subsidised transport which, combined with the 16-19 bursary, has been intended to provide financial support to students from low-income households. These decisions are best made locally, in consideration of local needs, the resources available and other local circumstances. With regard to public transport options more widely, the government wants everyone who needs it, including children and young people with SEND, to have access to public transport and is committed to improving services, so they are more inclusive and enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity. The government’s reforms to bus services typify this. On 17th December, the government introduced a new Bus Services Bill that will give local leaders the freedom to take decisions to deliver their local transport priorities and ensure networks meet the needs of the communities who rely on them, including for disabled people. The Bill includes measures which will make bus travel more accessible and inclusive.

What steps she is taking to ensure that people receiving Universal Credit have adequate support for accessing (a) employment opportunities and (b) training in Gloucester.

The local Jobcentre team in Gloucestershire are committed to ensuring that all customers, including those claiming Universal Credit, have ample support in accessing employment opportunities and training. They take a multifaceted approach that draws on locally gathered information and data to deliver a bespoke service to meet the needs of customers and employers. Through employer networking events and visits to local businesses the team communicate how they can support employers with their recruitment needs, including advice on streamlining hiring practices and application processes to take account of diverse capabilities and health challenges, as well as offering space in the Jobcentre for job interviews, support with redundancy and retention, and disability awareness. Monthly recruitment events are held in Gloucester, in collaboration with trusted partners, showcasing a range of vacancies and pre-employment opportunities with local and national employers, with an event at GL1 Leisure Centre on 13 February. The team also hold monthly drop-in sessions on employment support in venues across the community, including Noah’s Ark in Tewkesbury and Bespoke Mentoring in Lydney. Furthermore, the 100 Futures program provides 6-week work placements for young individuals, offering valuable workplace insights and development across several employment sectors. We are working with NHS Integrated Care Boards to collaborate on the Volunteer to Career Scheme, with the first cohort starting this month. In terms of training and provision, Gloucester Jobcentre actively collaborate with partners to offer support, including Sector Based Work Academy Programmes and Movement to Work, meeting regularly with Employment and Training leads at Gloucester County Council, to share information and discuss priorities and plans. The National Careers Service deliver career advice and training support in every Jobcentre. The Restart program offers intensive employment support and in addition to Work Coach support, customers aged 50 and over can benefit from a 12-week employability support program, run in collaboration with Forest Green Rovers and the Employment and Skills Hub. We also deliver outreach services in locations across Gloucestershire, including Cinderford, Coleford and Stroud. These initiatives ensure that customers in Gloucester receive the necessary support to access employment opportunities and training, fostering a pathway to sustainable employment, and you would be welcome to visit Gloucester Jobcentre to see this work at first hand.

What steps she is taking to increase the number of electric vehicle charging points across (a) Gloucester and (b) the South West.

The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV). As of January 2025, the Government and industry have supported the installation of 73,334 publicly available charging devices, up 37% on this time last year. Gloucestershire County Council was allocated almost £3.7m capital and resource funding through the Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund to increase the number of local public chargepoints. The South West region has been allocated over £45.5m capital and resource funding to increase the installation of local charging infrastructure across the region.

What steps her Department is taking to help improve children's oracy in Gloucester.

High and rising school standards are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best life chances.The government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review will seek to deliver a cutting-edge curriculum that ensures children and young people leave compulsory education ready for life and ready for work, building the knowledge, skills and attributes young people need to thrive.​The department agrees that children’s oracy is very important. The Education Endowment Foundation has found that the average impact of oral language interventions is approximately an additional six months’ progress over the course of a year. Approaches that focus on speaking, listening and a combination of the two all show positive impacts on attainment, most notably on reading outcomes. Impact in early years (seven months additional progress) and primary schools (six months additional progress) tends to be higher than in secondary schools (six months additional progress).​In the early years, developing language skills is vital to enable children to thrive.The department has also invested over £20 million in the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI), improving the language skills of reception age children needing extra support with their speech and language development.​ More than 170 primary schools in Gloucestershire have benefited from this support.The English Hubs Programme is dedicated to improving the teaching of reading, with a focus on phonics, early language development and reading for pleasure. The English Hub for schools in Gloucester is Mangotsfield English Hub. Further information can be found here: https://www.mpenglishhub.co.uk/.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to tackle digital poverty in (a) Gloucester and (b) Gloucestershire.

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 27th November to question UIN 15161. I hope to say more about the Government’s approach to digital inclusion in the near future.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to increase the supply of social housing in Gloucester constituency.

I refer my Hon Friend to my answer to Question UIN 11383 on 31 October 2024.

What steps he is taking to support business investment in (a) Gloucester constituency and (b) the South West.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) promotes and supports investment opportunities across all of the UK. In Gloucester, DBT has a strong relationship with the County Council and proactively promotes the counties sector strengths, particularly in areas such as Technology and Cyber Security, AgriTech and Advanced Manufacturing. This includes highlighting key developments like The Forum in Gloucester City Centre. DBT recognises the strength of opportunity across the South West region for investors, both in the sectors listed above but also in Floating Offshore Wind, Critical Minerals, Nuclear, Quantum and AI. In addition, Tata’s announcement earlier this year to build a gigafactory in Somerset is expected to create further opportunities for inward investors in the region.

What steps he is taking to improve access to Post Office services in (a) Gloucester and (b) the South West.

Government remains committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Post Office network, and as stated in our manifesto, Government will work to strengthen the network in the South West and across the country in consultation with postmasters, trade unions and customers. Government already provides an annual £50m Network Subsidy funding to support the delivery of a minimum number of branches and a geographical spread of branches in line with published access criteria. This requires 99% of the UK population to be within three miles of their nearest Post Office outlet therefore ensuring the viability of rural and community branches. The Government-set Access Criteria ensures that however the network changes, services remain within local reach of all citizens.

What steps she is taking to improve road safety for cyclists in Gloucester.

This Government takes road safety very seriously and reducing those killed and injured on our roads is a key priority.  The Highway Code was updated in 2022 to improve road safety for cyclists and pedestrians. The Hierarchy of Road Users was introduced, which places those road users most at risk in the event of a collision at the top of the hierarchy.Since 2020-21, Gloucestershire County Council has been awarded over £23 million through the Active Travel Fund. This funding can be used by the authority for new segregated cycling facilities, improved junctions and upgrades to existing routes to improve safety. Over £1 million has been awarded to upgrade the National Cycle Network in Gloucestershire.Earlier this year, Gloucestershire was allocated £462,000 to build capability and enable more people to walk and cycle safely under the Capability Fund. Additionally, 4,977 cycle training places were funded in 2023-24 as part of £224,000 of Bikeability funding.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support economic growth in (a) Gloucester and (b) the South West.

This Government recognises the importance that Gloucester plays as part of the UK’s economy, alongside the significant contribution that the South West makes on the national and international stage. HMT is committed to supporting the national agenda for growth, working with regional stakeholders to deliver investment and programmes which will drive forwards solutions that positively impact businesses and residents across the South West.Through the recent Budget announcement, HMT reaffirmed its commitment to Levelling Up Round 3, with £11,000,000 dedicated to the Greyfriars regeneration project in the City Centre. In addition to this, in October 2024 Gloucester City Council was awarded £688,484 under the Brownfield Land Release Fund 2 (BLRF2) to use the money to turn surplus land into new homes. Gloucester City Council has also benefited from £1,486,352 Shared Prosperity Fund, with local autonomy to direct funding to projects which best support economic growth in the area. Allocations to areas for the period 25/26 are expected to be released in December 2024.The Government is currently undertaking a consultation with stakeholders to help shape the national Industrial Strategy and in parallel with this, officers from Cities and Local Growth Unit will be engaging with partners and businesses across the South West to understand how HMG investment can be best shaped to support economic growth in the region. The upcoming Spending Review in 2025 will further develop potential future funding streams for Gloucester and the wider South West.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help increase levels of innovation in Gloucester.

UK Research and Innovation invested £260 million in the Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bath/Bristol area in 2021-22. There are two active projects based in Gloucester, with a combined value of £218,000. This includes a £122,000 Horizon Europe Guarantee award, delivered by UKRI, to the Gloucestershire Rural Community Council, supporting research to enable rural communities’ actors and policy makers to design better strategies, initiatives and policies fostering sustainability transitions of rural areas. Also, £96,000 awarded to Hill Court Farm Research to provide farmers with a framework for improving nitrogen efficiency.

Innovation and Technology, what plans he has to tackle digital exclusion in Gloucester.

Digital inclusion is a priority for me and for Government. It means everyone should have the access, skills, support and confidence to participate in a modern digital society, whatever their circumstances. Work is ongoing to develop our approach to tackling digital exclusion and we hope to announce more on this soon. We look forward to working closely with the third sector, business and local authorities, including those in Gloucester, to ensure our plans are targeted to and based on individual needs.

What steps he is taking to improve recruitment and retention in the Armed Forces.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces (Luke Pollard) on 29 October 2024 to Question 10078 to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Chris Evans).

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the condition of local roads.

The Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network. It publishes data annually on the condition of local roads which is available on gov.uk.At Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced an extra £500 million for local highway maintenance for the 2025/26 financial year, an increase of nearly 50% compared to the current financial year - exceeding this Government’s manifesto commitment on repairing local roads. The Government will confirm 2025/26 funding allocations to English local highway authorities, including Gloucestershire County Council, in due course.

What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle violence against women and girls.

This Government has set out an unprecedented ambition to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) within a decade. Achieving this mission will require a transformation in the way we work together on this issue across Government, public services, charities and the private sector.We have already taken significant steps to improve the policing and criminal justice response to these heinous crimes, including the introduction of domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms and the belated roll-out of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders. The Home Office is also working with the NPCC and the College of Policing on the use of data-led tools to pursue the most prolific perpetrators.To drive progress on the mission, we have established a violence against women and girls ministerial group, which will drive activity across Government departments, ranging from prevention work in schools to sustained support for victims and survivors.

What estimate she has made of the average increase in the State Pension in each of the next five years.

The Government has committed to uprating the basic and new State Pensions by the Triple Lock for the length of this parliament. Based on OBR Autumn 2024 forecasts, over the course of this parliament, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension will go up by around £1,900. At the same time, the full yearly rate of basic State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,500. Table A.3 of the Economic Fiscal outlook sets out the OBR’s economic and fiscal forecasts in each year, including the Triple Lock uprating forecast which is the rate at which basic and new State Pension is increased by for the following financial year. For example, the 2024-25 rate will determine the rate of increase for basic and new State Pension for the year 2025-26. Forecast year'Triple-lock' guarantee2024-254.0%*2025-264.3%2026-272.5%2027-282.5%2028-292.5%2029-302.5% * Note: After the forecast was finalised, inflation and earnings outturn data and revisions were released which have changed state pension triple lock rate for 2024-25 (to be used in uprating for 2025-26) to 4.1 per cent.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help tackle overcrowding in social housing in (a) Gloucester and (b) England.

I refer my Hon Friend to my answer to Question UIN 11383 on 31 October 2024 that sets out the steps the government is taking to increase social and affordable housebuilding, which will help tackle overcrowding.Local authorities, including Gloucester City Council, are responsible for allocating social housing through schemes managed locally. In doing so, they are governed by a framework set by central government which ensures that they must give ‘reasonable preference’ to specific groups, including people in overcrowded housing. Statutory allocations guidance also recommends local authorities consider giving ‘additional preference’ (high priority) to families in severe overcrowding which poses a serious health hazard.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the extension of the Household Support Fund in 2025-26 on low-income households in Gloucester.

No assessment has been made on the potential impact of the extension of the Household Support Fund in 2025-26 on low-income households in Gloucester. We are currently conducting an evaluation of the Household Support Scheme that ran from April 2023 to March 2024, to understand the benefits of the awards made across England during this period. This will be published in due course. Management information on the Household Support Fund from April 2023 to March 2024, including details of how funding was spent in Gloucestershire, of which Gloucester is a part, is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/household-support-fund-4-management-information-for-1-april-2023-to-31-march-2024.

What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the effectiveness of legislation in preventing hate crime offences against LGBT+ people in Gloucester constituency.

This Government is absolutely committed to tackling all forms of hate crime across England and Wales, and I will continue to work with ministerial colleagues across relevant Government departments on how to strengthen the effectiveness of hate crime legislation.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ban the use of shock collars.

The Government will introduce the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation and will bring forward plans in due course. Ministers will be considering available evidence around the use of hand-controlled e-collars and their effects on the welfare of animals.