Written questions by Robertson.

How many GP practices have closed in the last 12 months; and and GPs have (a) resigned and (b) retired in the same period of time.

Data on GP practices, including closure dates, is published as part of the ‘GP and GP practice related data’ set, available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/services/organisation-data-service/data-search-and-export/csv-downloads/gp-and-gp-practice-related-dataData on GP workforce can be found here:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/general-and-personal-medical-services/31-december-2025#

What steps her Department is taking to help support public awareness of the Don’t Swerve a Sight Test campaign.

We appreciate the work that the Association of Optometrists is doing to highlight the importance of good vision for driving.On 7 January 2026, we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all road users. Alongside the strategy, we launched a consultation on introducing mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers.All drivers, regardless of age, have a legal responsibility to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if they develop a medical condition that may affect their ability to drive.

What assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of increasing the number of vision checks required for drivers aged over 70 on road safety.

At the age of 70, drivers must renew their entitlement, and at most, every three years after that. This provides a timely reminder to individuals to consider their health in the context of driving. To renew their entitlement, they must make a legal declaration, via self-certification, that they can meet the legal eyesight standards required to drive and confirm whether they have any medical condition which may affect their fitness to drive. On 7 January 2026, we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all road users including older drivers. Alongside the strategy, we launched a consultation on introducing mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers.A summary of the evidence underpinning the need for mandatory eyesight testing is included in the ‘safety impacts of mandatory eyesight testing’ section of the consultation document.Once the consultation has concluded, we will publish our response in due course.

What discussions she has had with the optical sector on (a) proposals to modernise driver vision testing and (b) any other proposals to strengthen road safety standards.

On 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. Alongside the strategy, we launched five consultations including a consultation on introducing mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers. We welcome responses from optometrists and optometrist organisations to the consultations. My officials have met with various optometrist organisations (including the College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists) while developing the proposed changes to eyesight testing for older drivers, and we will continue to engage with optometrist organisations as our policies develop further.

What steps she is taking to support the maritime sector.

The Government strongly supports the sector, including £448m of funding for maritime decarbonisation, updating the National Policy Statement for Ports, fostering an environment for port investment, backing maritime skills and seafarers’ rights. We will shortly publish a Maritime Growth Strategy with our priorities for sustainable sector growth, people, environment, and safety.

What proportion of the reduction in NHS waiting lists since April 2025 is attributable to patient removals; and if he will publish a breakdown of waiting-list change by treatment status.

Waiting list management information is published, by week, each month, and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/wlmds/Referral-to-treatment (RTT) data is published monthly, for the data two months prior, by NHS England, and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/Whilst we do not currently publish the number of removals from the waiting list for reasons other than a clinical decision, this can be calculated from published RTT data.Between April 2025 and November 2025 inclusive, official statistics show 14,460,885 removals from the list, 12,391,696 of which have been reported as completed pathways, and the remainder, 2,069,189, or 14.3%, were unreported removals. Unreported removals include patients removed from the waiting list for not attending their first appointment, instances where the provider cannot accept the referral because it does not carry out the relevant procedure, and where patients are removed from the waiting list through validation because they no longer need to be treated. We do not currently publish data on the specific reasons for each unreported removal or at what treatment stage in the pathway removals take place.The national elective access policy sets out the principles for providers’ management of their waiting list, including the use of two-way communication with patients to ensure that patients are fully informed and aware of any appointments needed for their care. The policy can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/national-elective-access-policy/

What steps he is taking to ensure patients are not wrongly removed from the official NHS waiting list due to administrative issues.

Waiting list management information is published, by week, each month, and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/wlmds/Referral-to-treatment (RTT) data is published monthly, for the data two months prior, by NHS England, and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/Whilst we do not currently publish the number of removals from the waiting list for reasons other than a clinical decision, this can be calculated from published RTT data.Between April 2025 and November 2025 inclusive, official statistics show 14,460,885 removals from the list, 12,391,696 of which have been reported as completed pathways, and the remainder, 2,069,189, or 14.3%, were unreported removals. Unreported removals include patients removed from the waiting list for not attending their first appointment, instances where the provider cannot accept the referral because it does not carry out the relevant procedure, and where patients are removed from the waiting list through validation because they no longer need to be treated. We do not currently publish data on the specific reasons for each unreported removal or at what treatment stage in the pathway removals take place.The national elective access policy sets out the principles for providers’ management of their waiting list, including the use of two-way communication with patients to ensure that patients are fully informed and aware of any appointments needed for their care. The policy can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/national-elective-access-policy/

If his Department will report the number of patients removed from waiting lists data and the reasons for their removal.

Waiting list management information is published, by week, each month, and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/wlmds/Referral-to-treatment (RTT) data is published monthly, for the data two months prior, by NHS England, and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/Whilst we do not currently publish the number of removals from the waiting list for reasons other than a clinical decision, this can be calculated from published RTT data.Between April 2025 and November 2025 inclusive, official statistics show 14,460,885 removals from the list, 12,391,696 of which have been reported as completed pathways, and the remainder, 2,069,189, or 14.3%, were unreported removals. Unreported removals include patients removed from the waiting list for not attending their first appointment, instances where the provider cannot accept the referral because it does not carry out the relevant procedure, and where patients are removed from the waiting list through validation because they no longer need to be treated. We do not currently publish data on the specific reasons for each unreported removal or at what treatment stage in the pathway removals take place.The national elective access policy sets out the principles for providers’ management of their waiting list, including the use of two-way communication with patients to ensure that patients are fully informed and aware of any appointments needed for their care. The policy can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/national-elective-access-policy/

If his Department will publish full, raw NHS waiting-list data including removals and treatment activity on a weekly and monthly basis.

Waiting list management information is published, by week, each month, and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/wlmds/Referral-to-treatment (RTT) data is published monthly, for the data two months prior, by NHS England, and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/Whilst we do not currently publish the number of removals from the waiting list for reasons other than a clinical decision, this can be calculated from published RTT data.Between April 2025 and November 2025 inclusive, official statistics show 14,460,885 removals from the list, 12,391,696 of which have been reported as completed pathways, and the remainder, 2,069,189, or 14.3%, were unreported removals. Unreported removals include patients removed from the waiting list for not attending their first appointment, instances where the provider cannot accept the referral because it does not carry out the relevant procedure, and where patients are removed from the waiting list through validation because they no longer need to be treated. We do not currently publish data on the specific reasons for each unreported removal or at what treatment stage in the pathway removals take place.The national elective access policy sets out the principles for providers’ management of their waiting list, including the use of two-way communication with patients to ensure that patients are fully informed and aware of any appointments needed for their care. The policy can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/national-elective-access-policy/

Whether she plans to require in-vehicle CCTV in licensed taxis and private hire vehicles.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill seeks a power for the Secretary of State to set in regulations national minimum standards for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing. The power was approved by the House of Commons and the Bill is now being considered by the House of Lords. Should Parliament enable the setting of standards, mandating CCTV in vehicles will be considered as part of that process.

What assessment her Department has made of the extent to which business rates relief and other fiscal support provided to Heathrow and Gatwick is available to regional airports; and what steps she is taking to ensure regional airports are not placed at a competitive disadvantage.

The UK aviation market operates predominantly in the private sector, however this government recognises the crucial role regional airports play in supporting thousands of local jobs, connecting communities to global opportunities, and strengthening social and economic ties across the four nations. My department regularly engages with regional airports including through the Aviation Council, which includes a Regional Connectivity Working Group chaired by industry. At the Budget, the Government announced a £4.3bn business rates support package. This includes a redesigned transitional relief scheme worth £3.2 billion to provide more generous support for those paying higher tax rates (such as the new high-value multiplier), including airports.

If she will provide, for each driving test centre in Great Britain, the car practical driving test waiting time in weeks in January 2026.

The attached Excel document shows the average waiting time in weeks, in January 2026, for a car practical driving test at all driving test centres (DTC) in Great Britain.

What her proposed timeline is for publishing her Department's response to the consultation and evidence-gathering exercise on removing the 50km restriction for 18 to 20-year-old bus and coach drivers.

In April 2024, the previous government launched a consultation to help support driver recruitment, including a measure to amend licensing restrictions which would enable 18 to 19-year-olds to drive a bus and coach over 50km when driving a regular service, aiming help to increase the number of available bus drivers, particularly for longer, more rural routes.Following the change of government, the Department has re-engaged with industry to better understand the likely effect of removing the current restrictions.Once all responses have been gathered, they will be considered alongside contributions from other stakeholders. This combined evidence base will be used to determine our next steps.

What assessment her Department has made of the impact of Air Passenger Duty on domestic air routes and regional airport connectivity in the UK, compared with the approach taken by other European countries to supporting internal air connectivity.

The Government is committed to the long-term future of the aviation sector in the UK and recognises the importance of maintaining a thriving and competitive aviation sector in the UK to deliver connectivity. In April 2023, reforms to APD took effect, aiming to bolster air connectivity within the UK. This included the introduction of a new band for domestic flights, initially set at half the rate for short-haul international flights. The domestic rate applies to all flights between airports in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland (excluding private jets) and is currently set at £7 for economy passengers until April 2026. The Government is clear that APD is an appropriate tax that ensures airlines make a fair contribution to the public finances, particularly given that tickets are VAT free and aviation fuel incurs no duty. Other countries also have different forms of aviation taxes.

What the average processing time was for driving licence applications in December 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 January to question UIN 103613.

Whether he has made a recent assessment of the eligibility of tenants who purchase electricity via landlord-supplied prepayment card systems for support under the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

In 2025, the Government consulted on whether to expand the Park Homes Warm Home Discount Scheme to other households without a direct relationship with their energy supplier (including those pay their landlord for energy). Given the cost of the scheme falls on energy bills it was decided not to expand the scheme in this way. Households who are ineligible for a rebate payment may still be eligible for support through Warm Home Discount Industry Initiatives.

How much revenue his Department expects to raise annually from the inclusion of domestic maritime in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme; and what proportion of that revenue will be recycled into maritime decarbonisation projects.

The Government’s Impact Assessment estimates that bringing domestic maritime into the United Kingdom Emissions Trading Scheme will increase allowance purchasing revenue by around £1.9 billion over the 20year appraisal period, averaging approximately £95 million a year. Receipts from the United Kingdom Emissions Trading Scheme support the Government’s wider priorities, including spending that helps deliver the transition to net zero. The Government recognises that decarbonising the maritime sector requires a suite of policies, and continues to provide funding, guidance and policy support to facilitate the uptake of cleaner technologies across the sector.

What steps his Department is taking to align UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) maritime rules with the EU ETS to help (a) prevent (i) carbon leakage and (ii) port avoidance and (b) maintain competitiveness.

The Government has assessed the impacts of expansion of the Emissions Trading Scheme to domestic maritime. That Impact Assessment concluded that the policy is not expected to materially affect the competitiveness of ports or operators, and that applying the scheme consistently to domestic voyages and at berth emissions does not create a credible incentive for traffic diversion. This is in part because many of the core maritime rules closely mirror those for the EU Emissions Trading System. This will reduce administrative burden for operators participating in both regimes, and it will also ensure no double charging between the two regimes.

Whether her Department plans to review the UK Emissions Trading Scheme once the International Maritime Organisation rules come into force.

Addressing international emissions from shipping is critical and it is important action is taken globally through the International Maritime Organization (IMO). If the IMO Net-Zero Framework is introduced, the Government will review the scope of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to assess the effectiveness and fairness of the system for operators.

How many ports have operational shore power infrastructure capable of supporting zero-emission operations; and how this compares with the number of ports affected by the inclusion of emissions at berth in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme.

The Government does not centrally record the level of live shore power infrastructure at ports, harbours, marinas, terminals or wharves, including whether they offer low voltage or high voltage shore power connections. We are aware of at least nine ports, harbours, marinas, terminals and wharves that have live operational shore power units that allows some vessels to run on shore power today. At least another two locations are currently installing shore power. Of these eleven locations, six of them received R&D funding through the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme. The policies in the Government’s Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy will encourage more investment in maritime decarbonisation, including shore power rollout at more ports.