Written questions by Snowden.

How many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been for using (i) ghost and (ii) cloned licence plates in each of the last five years.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on prosecutions and convictions for a wide range of offences, including offences relating to motor vehicle licence, trade licence, registration mark, trade plate and registration book offences (except forgery and deception offences) (MOT) in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UK.However, it is not possible to identify specifically offences relating to ghost or clone licensing. This information may be held in court records but to examine individual court records would be of disproportionate costs.

Whether her Department has consulted police forces on their capacity to implement changes to shotgun licensing procedures.

The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation published on 13 February this year, included a commitment to consult on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns.We will be undertaking a public consultation which will launch later this year. We will carefully consider the views put forward through this consultation in due course, which will include the possible impact of any changes on policing.

If she will have discussions with (a) police forces and (b) rural stakeholders on the potential benefits of a (a) digitised and (b) centralised firearms licensing system.

The Government has no plans to introduce the centralisation of the firearms licensing process.The Firearms Act 1968 places statutory responsibility for firearms licensing on the Chief Officer of Police of each individual force in England, Wales and Scotland.This framework is supported by Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police issued by the Home Secretary in respect of firearms licensing and by Authorised Professional Practice issued by the College of Policing.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities and coastal agencies in ensuring public safety during periods of increased jellyfish activity along the coast of Fylde constituency.

Responsibility for safety on the beach sits with the local authority or beach owner. In conjunction with other services HM Coastguard provides safety advice and guidance about the coastal environment.

How many special advisers left government employment as a result of the government reshuffle; and what was the total cost of (a) severance and (b) compensation payments to those individuals.

In line with the Model Contract for Special Advisers, when a special adviser’s appointing minister leaves office special advisers’ contracts are automatically terminated. The Model Contract states special adviser severance entitlement. The cost of severance payments is stated in the Annual Report on Special Advisers.

Whether the membership of the Women’s Business Council reflects geographical diversity; and what steps she took to encourage businesswomen from the North West to apply.

The Women’s Business Council was established to advise the government on maximising women’s contribution to economic growth. The Council’s members are senior business people and entrepreneurs who are leaders on gender equality in the workplace. This Government is committed to strong regional membership - which can drive opportunities for growth right across the country. Current members are based in the north west, south west and the south east and we will continue to look for inspirational leaders from across the UK as the Council’s work progresses.

How much has the Government spent on updating (a) government websites, (b) signage, (c) stationery and (d) other branded materials as a result of changes in (i) ministerial titles and (ii) departmental structures following the reshuffle.

The Cabinet Office does not centrally hold information or data on this topic.

If he will publish an account of the total cost of the government reshuffle, listing totals for (a) redundancy payments, (b) severance payments, (c) relocation costs, and (d) administrative costs associated with ministerial changes.

Severance reformThis Government has reformed ministerial severance payments to ensure that payments are both proportionate and fair. Ministers are now expected to forgo their entitlement to a ministerial severance payment if they have served in office for less than six months or leave office following a serious breach of the Ministerial Code. Ministers who return to office within three months of leaving will be asked to forgo their salary until the end of that three-month period and ministers who have seriously breached the Business Appointment Rules will be expected to repay any severance payment received. Severance paymentsDetails of severance payments received by ministers and special advisers are routinely published in the relevant department’s Annual Report and Accounts. Any severance costs associated with the September reshuffle will be included as part of the 2025-26 Annual Report and Accounts which will be published in late summer 2026. Relocation costsRelocation costs are not recorded by the Cabinet Office Administrative costsAny administrative costs associated with the reshuffle will be part of the costs of running the department and will not be published separately in the Annual Report and Accounts.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring local authorities to install (a) audible and (b) tactile signals on all pedestrian crossings on busy roads for blind and visually impaired people.

The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 permit the use of audible and tactile signals at traffic signal junctions and crossings, but the Department has no plans to make them mandatory. The Department’s good practice advice in Chapter 6 of the Traffic Signs Manual makes clear that tactile signals should be provided at crossing facilities as a default. They can be used at times and in places where audible signals are not suitable, for example where an audible signal is switched off overnight or where the site layout would result in an unclear signal to road users. Chapter 6 is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-signs-manual. The provision of audible and tactile signals and consideration of how they should operate are matters for local authorities, bearing in mind their duties to provide safe movement under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, and to provide accessible services under the Equality Act 2010.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 72990 on Mobile Scooters: Safety, whether he plans to consult members of the public in the review.

As part of the review of the law covering powered mobility devices, we will run a public consultation on potential changes to the legislation.

What steps she is taking to improve safety on the M6 motorway.

Safety is National Highways' top priority, and it regularly reviews safety performance. It will be undertaking a route safety study for the M6 this financial year, which it expects to complete by March 2026.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 72990 on Mobile Scooters: Safety, if he will publish the terms of the review.

This review into the law on powered mobility devices will involve an in-depth investigation of the existing legal framework for the use of powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters on the roads and pavements in Great Britain, as well as the opportunities and risks of using modern technology safely and responsibly which consider the needs of all disabled people. It will not cover taxation, welfare, such as personal independence payments, or policing; nor will we seek changes to medical device regulations.

What recent discussions she has had with (i) TfL and (ii) the Mayor of London on the cost of TfL strikes on the North West economy over the last 12 months.

As transport in London is devolved to TfL, the Mayor of London is managing the impact of strike action on London’s transport network. Nevertheless, the Government understands this is disappointing for passengers and businesses and we continue to encourage all sides to work together to resolve this dispute as quickly as possible.

What guidance his Department provides to transport operators on making toilets (a) accessible and (b) usable for people with a stoma.

The Department places accessible travel for disabled people among its highest priorities, as part of our broader commitment to breaking down barriers to opportunity. We are determined to deliver a transport network that puts passengers at its heart-enabling disabled people to travel easily, confidently and with dignity, including those with bowel conditions which require a stoma. On rail, the Department publishes accessibility standards the industry must comply with whenever they install, replace or renew station toilets. This includes accessible toilets. Where toilets are provided on trains it is a legal requirement for operators to comply with the relevant accessibility standards. Given the importance of toilets to passenger comfort, operators should consider appropriate provision when procuring or refurbishing trains. In aviation, regulation and guidance already exists in relation to the provision of accessible toilets that cater for all kinds of disabilities, for both airports and airlines. In addition, there is a requirement for industry to account for the needs of disabled passengers in the design and refurbishment of airports and aircraft. In local transport, the provision and design of bus and coach stations, including accessible toilets, is a matter for local authorities, who should be mindful of their duties under the Equality Act 2010 when making relevant decisions. Disabled people should be able to make journeys with confidence that transport infrastructure will meet their needs. This is why we are introducing a requirement, through the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill, for local authorities to pay regard to new statutory guidance on the safety and accessibility of bus station and stop design when providing new or upgrading existing facilities.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 25 to Question 73558 on Veterans: World War II, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of commemorating the contribution of British famers to national security (a) through their service in the Home Guard and (b) supervision of prisoners of war during the Second World War.

We have no current plans to create initiatives in respect of commemorating the role of British farmers in maintaining national security during the Second World War. In May, Defra relaunched the Women’s Land Army and Timber Corps Scheme, a civilian veteran service medal scheme recognising those women volunteers who took on roles traditionally done by the men away at war by cultivating crops used to help feed the nation.

Whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the (a) quality and (b) availability of stoma care services.

The Government is committed to ensuring patients across the United Kingdom have access to high quality care, including those who need stoma surgery. As set out in the Plan for Change, we are committed to returning to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment by March 2029.No recent assessment has been made about the quality and availability of stoma care services. Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and assessing the quality and availability of stoma care services at a regional level and in accordance with their local populations’ health needs.

What role local authorities have in regulating the timing of roadworks in residential areas; and whether they are empowered to enforce restrictions on noise and working hours.

Local highway authorities play a central role in regulating the timing of roadworks in residential areas. When utility companies apply for permits to carry out street works, authorities can attach conditions to those permits, including restrictions on working hours to help minimise disruption to residents. If a utility company breaches these conditions, the authority is empowered to issue fines under the relevant street works regulations. Authorities also have discretion to schedule their own roadworks outside standard hours, particularly when traffic volumes are lower. Section 60 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 empowers local authorities to restrict noise from street works by setting permitted working hours, which are typically 8am to 6pm on weekdays and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.

What steps she is taking to ensure that (a) contractors and (b) subcontractors used by her Department publish accounts in line with HMRC requirements.

Contractors under direct contract with agreements over £10k are bound by contract terms to both uphold the laws of the land and to not bring the Secretary of State into disrepute.This includes responsibility for any subcontractors they engage.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of environmental protection legislation to limit noise pollution from roadworks in built-up areas on weekends.

The Government is committed to ensuring that noise is managed effectively to promote good health and minimise disruption to people’s quality of life. Section 60 of the Control of Pollution Act allows Local Authorities to address noise from construction sites, including roadworks, by serving a notice imposing requirements as to how the construction may be carried out. This notice may specify a range of conditions, including hours during which the work can be carried out, and the level of noise that may be emitted during specific hours. While there the law does not specify permitted hours for works, weekend work involving noise is commonly restricted to the hours between 8am and 1pm on a Saturday, although there may be circumstances where a Local Authority deems the work to be of sufficient priority for work to be carried out outside of these hours. In all cases, Local Authorities are required under the Control of Pollution Act to ensure best practicable means are employed to minimise noise and protect people in the locality from the effects of noise. The law is designed to enable decisions to be made while taking into account the specifics of a local context.

What (a) access to stoma nurses, (b) psychological services and (c) home delivery of supplies does the NHS provide to people living with a stoma.

National Health Service Talking Therapies Long Term Conditions Services provide evidence-based psychological therapies for people with depression and anxiety disorders, who also have a long-term physical health condition, such as those living with a stoma. All integrated care boards (ICBs) are expected to expand services locally by commissioning NHS Talking Therapies services integrated into physical healthcare pathways. ICBs are legally responsible for commissioning the majority of health services, including stoma-related services like home delivery of supplies, in accordance with their populations’ health needs.The Department does not hold the information requested on access to stoma nurses.