Written questions by Maynard.

What criteria the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency use in the consideration of applications for licence renewals from drivers who take (a) insulin and (b) diabetes medication.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) assesses licence applications from drivers using insulin or other diabetes medications based on the risk of hypoglycaemia and the stability of diabetes management.Car and motorcycle drivers who use insulin must demonstrate adequate hypoglycaemic awareness and must not have experienced two or more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia in the previous 12 months. The most recent episode must have occurred more than three months prior to application. Drivers are also required to attend regular medical reviews and meet the statutory eyesight standards.Drivers of lorries and buses are subject to more stringent medical requirements due to the size of their vehicles and the length of time they spend driving. They must have had no episodes of severe hypoglycaemia within the last 12 months, demonstrate full hypoglycaemic awareness, and provide medical evidence of stable diabetes control. This includes four weeks of glucose readings as part of an annual independent diabetes medical assessment when they apply for a licence.All insulin-treated drivers must comply with glucose monitoring requirements, including checking glucose levels before driving and at regular intervals while driving. Monitoring may be undertaken using either finger-prick testing or continuous glucose monitoring systems, including Freestyle Libre.For drivers using non-insulin diabetes medications, assessments focus on whether the treatment carries a risk of hypoglycaemia. Car and motorcycle drivers are required to notify the DVLA only if such a risk exists, while lorry and bus drivers must notify the DVLA of any diabetes medication use. In all cases, licence entitlement depends on evidence of stable diabetes management, appropriate monitoring, and effective hypoglycaemic control.Changes to insulin or medication dosage do not automatically affect a person’s entitlement to drive.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes in doses of (a) insulin and (b) diabetic medication on driver license renewals.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) assesses licence applications from drivers using insulin or other diabetes medications based on the risk of hypoglycaemia and the stability of diabetes management.Car and motorcycle drivers who use insulin must demonstrate adequate hypoglycaemic awareness and must not have experienced two or more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia in the previous 12 months. The most recent episode must have occurred more than three months prior to application. Drivers are also required to attend regular medical reviews and meet the statutory eyesight standards.Drivers of lorries and buses are subject to more stringent medical requirements due to the size of their vehicles and the length of time they spend driving. They must have had no episodes of severe hypoglycaemia within the last 12 months, demonstrate full hypoglycaemic awareness, and provide medical evidence of stable diabetes control. This includes four weeks of glucose readings as part of an annual independent diabetes medical assessment when they apply for a licence.All insulin-treated drivers must comply with glucose monitoring requirements, including checking glucose levels before driving and at regular intervals while driving. Monitoring may be undertaken using either finger-prick testing or continuous glucose monitoring systems, including Freestyle Libre.For drivers using non-insulin diabetes medications, assessments focus on whether the treatment carries a risk of hypoglycaemia. Car and motorcycle drivers are required to notify the DVLA only if such a risk exists, while lorry and bus drivers must notify the DVLA of any diabetes medication use. In all cases, licence entitlement depends on evidence of stable diabetes management, appropriate monitoring, and effective hypoglycaemic control.Changes to insulin or medication dosage do not automatically affect a person’s entitlement to drive.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to the licensing regime for shotgun ownership on the rural economy.

The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025, included a commitment to having a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns to bring them more into line with the controls on other firearms in the interests of public safety. The Government response set out the reasons why the Government considers this consultation to be important, and we intend to publish this shortly.We will carefully consider all of the views put forward in response to the consultation once it is published, before taking any decisions on whether and what changes may be necessary in the interests of public safety. The Government will also provide an assessment of the impact of any changes that we intend to bring forward, including to policing and to the business community in rural areas, at the relevant time.

What steps her Department has taken with the Secretary of State for Defence to help tackle LGBTQ+ discrimination in the armed forces.

The Government is committed to supporting LGBT personnel in the Armed Forces, including through engagement with our LGBT networks, same-sex marriages in military chapels and involvement with major Pride events. We are also implementing all 49 of Lord Etherton’s recommendations to right the historic wrong of LGBT people being banned from service in the armed forces.

When he plans to publish the findings of the consultation on Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes.

The consultation on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector closed on 2nd May and a government response will be published in due course.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to requirements for EPC certificates on properties used as short term holiday lets.

The recent consultation on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector sought views on whether short-term lets should be included in the scope of our proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030, to help ensure a consistent standard across all private rented properties. No final decisions have been made, and the government has proposed to maintain a range of exemptions available to landlords to ensure that required investment is fair and proportionate. Government remains committed to taking an evidence-based approach and will consider the balance between supporting tourism and reaching our net zero goals.

What steps she is taking to reduce incidences of freight crime.

We fully recognise the serious and growing threat that freight crime poses to businesses, drivers, and the wider economy. This Government is determined to crack down on it. The incidences of freight crime, where criminals rip the sides of lorries and take the goods inside, is frightening for those dedicated HGV drivers across the UK, and the perception this crime is low risk and high reward is unacceptable.There are strong links between freight crime and serious organised crime, which is a major threat to the national security and prosperity of the UK and estimated to cost the economy at least £47 billion annually.This Government is committed to tackling serious and organised crime in all its forms. We work closely with Opal, the police’s national intelligence unit focused on serious organised acquisitive crime, which has multiple thematic desks, including a vehicle crime intelligence desk which covers freight crime.We will continue to work with law enforcement agencies and other invested stakeholders to change the unacceptable perception that freight crime is low risk and high reward and find solutions which will tackle it.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what action the Government is taking to press for international journalists to be allowed into Gaza.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 21 October in response to Question HL10542, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:Journalists and media workers play an important role in sharing the devastating reality of war with the global public and the Government opposes all attempts to restrict press freedom and block entry to journalists during conflicts. On 21 August, the UK joined a Media Freedom Coalition statement urging Israel to allow immediate media access to independent foreign media and afford protection for journalists working in Gaza.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what action the Government is taking to help ensure civilians who need to leave Gaza for urgent medical treatment are able to be evacuated.

I refer the Hon Member to the Foreign Secretary's statement on the Middle East, made to the House on 18 November.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what action the Government is taking to ensure sufficient humanitarian aid is entering Gaza.

I refer the Hon Member to the Foreign Secretary's statement on the Middle East, made to the House on 18 November.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she can disclose how much additional risk the Flood Re scheme is underwriting this year than it was when it launched; and whether she holds any information about the sustainability of those trendlines through to 2039.

In its first operational year (2016/17), the Flood Re scheme’s Liability Limit was £2.1 billion and 127,326 policies were ceded to the scheme. By 2024/25, 346,200 policies were ceded and from 1 April 2025, the Liability Limit reset to £3.2 billion for three years, with annual Consumer Price Index adjustments thereafter. The Liability Limit is set for successive three-year periods and reviewed ongoingly by the Scheme Administrator, Flood Re Ltd, to ensure alignment with the Flood Reinsurance (Scheme and Scheme Administrator Designation) Regulations 2015. Flood Re Ltd monitors risk exposure and sustainability as part of its statutory obligations. Its future trajectory, including sustainability through to 2039, is based on ceding forecasts, their risk levels and a prudent margin for uncertainty. Flood Re must also publish a Transition Plan every five years, outlining how it will move towards a market with affordable flood insurance without the need for the scheme after 2039.

Food and Rural Affairs, what information her Department holds on the reasons for households not obtaining insurance for flooding in spite of being eligible for the Flood Re scheme; and if she will call on Flood Re to clarify why such cases are occurring in Witney constituency.

Flood Re is a joint Government-industry scheme enabling high flood risk households to access affordable insurance. Since launch, Flood Re has supported more than 650,000 households, with 346,000 policies ceded to them in 2024/25. Prior to Flood Re’s inception, the average home insurance quote for a householder with a flood claim was about £4,400. As of December 2024, the average was c. £1,100, with 99% of householders at high risk of flooding now able to obtain quotes from 10 or more insurers. The decision to insure a property, and/or to cede a policy to Flood Re is a decision made by each insurance company, but all households eligible under the Flood Re Scheme should be able to access to flood insurance cover. It remains important that policy holders shop around for an insurer to find the most suitable policy for their needs as individual insurers will consider a range of factors in setting their premiums. Defra continues working with Flood Re and insurers to monitor affordability, and have not been made aware of any Flood Re eligible properties being refused flood cover on an industry wide basis.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many new properties were covered by FloodRe in the last twelve months.

In 2024/25, Flood Re provided cover for over 346,000 household policies. Of these, 30% of the policies ceded to Flood Re in the financial year to 31 March 2025 had not previously been ceded to the Scheme. In total, 650,000 properties have benefited since the scheme’s launch. Flood Re publish these figures annually in their annual report.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many properties are covered by FloodRe.

In 2024/25, Flood Re provided cover for over 346,000 household policies. Of these, 30% of the policies ceded to Flood Re in the financial year to 31 March 2025 had not previously been ceded to the Scheme. In total, 650,000 properties have benefited since the scheme’s launch. Flood Re publish these figures annually in their annual report.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that decisions relating to local government reorganisation meet public sector equality duties.

The Government received final proposals for the invitation area of Oxfordshire on 28 November and will launch a statutory consultation before deciding which, if any, proposal to implement. Decisions on the most appropriate option for each area, including Oxfordshire, will be judgements in the round, having regard to the statutory guidance and the available evidence.All public bodies, including the Government and local authorities, are required to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010. This duty applies to the local government reorganisation process.

What assessment she has made of trends in the level of costs for the haulage industry.

The Department for Transport regularly engages with road haulage industry associations and wider industry to understand the financial challenges faced by the sector.

What steps the Government is taking to increase capacity and resources in community schools, to accommodate pupils transferring from the private to comprehensive school sector in the last year.

I refer the hon. Member for Witney to the answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 81701.

Communities and Local Government, how his Department plans to assess local government reorganisation proposals; and whether those proposals will be assessed against the guidance set out in the letter sent by the former Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution to the leaders of two-tier councils in Oxfordshire on 5 February 2025.

The Government received final proposals for the invitation area of Oxfordshire on 28 November and will launch a statutory consultation before deciding which, if any, proposal to implement. Decisions on the most appropriate option for each area, including Oxfordshire, will be judgements in the round, having regard to the statutory guidance and the available evidence.All public bodies, including the Government and local authorities, are required to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010. This duty applies to the local government reorganisation process.

What steps the Government is taking to help specialist independent SEND schools remain open in in response to independent school closures in the last year.

Independent special schools are private enterprises. Local authorities have the discretion to make support, training and resources available to them. As private enterprises, the proprietor of the school is responsible for its financial viability. The department recognises that independent special schools can play an important role in the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, particularly in meeting highly complex needs and building capacity in the system. Independent special schools should be part of local authorities’ strategic planning of SEND provision, and the department works to support local authorities to ensure that every local area has sufficient school places for children that need them. Where a pupil’s place in a private school is funded by the local authority because the private school is named in the pupil’s education, health and care plan, the local authority is able to reclaim the VAT they are charged on the fees of these pupils via the Section 33 VAT Act 1994 Refund Scheme.

What recent assessment he has made of international progress towards meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Before the Paris Agreement policies put the world on track for up to 4°C of warming by 2100. The latest Emissions Gap Report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), published in October 2025, estimates that current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) put the world on course for 2.3°C to 2.5°C, or 1.9°C if all countries meet their NDC and net zero commitments in full. Following COP30, the UK will continue to push for greater ambition globally to limit temperature increase to 1.5°C.