Written questions by Dillon.

Whether her Department plans to update driving theory tests to include greater awareness of (a) horses as flight animals and (b) the risks associated with passing horses too (i) quickly and (ii) closely.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) keeps the driving theory test under continuous review. Both the multiplechoice and hazard perception elements already assess safe driving around vulnerable road users, including horse riders and horsedrawn vehicles.Following updates to The Highway Code in 2022, candidates are required to understand the strengthened guidance on passing horses, to slow to a maximum of 10 mph and leave at least 2 metres where possible, this is reflected in DVSA’s official learning resources and the test itself. The hazard perception test includes computergenerated clips featuring horses to promote early recognition of developing hazards. There is also guidance available in The DVSA Official Guide to Driving; the essential skills, regarding the risk of horses as flight animals.DVSA will continue to refresh theory test materials in line with the Highway Code and emerging evidence on keeping all road users safe.

Communities and Local Government, whether best practice from local authorities on compassion and proportionality will be identified and adopted nationally.

Councils are responsible for the collection of a broad range of debts. Councils are required to recover all debts in accordance with the law. The government will continue to keep this issue under review.

What plans her Department has to conduct an annual review of (a) the duration of closures of public level crossings, (b) the potential impact of those closures on local economies and (c) the potential merits of replacing high-delay road crossings with alternative means of crossing railway lines.

Network Rail is responsible for the safe management and operation of level crossings across the rail network, which includes monitoring their performance and usage and the duration of closures arising from train operations. The Department for Transport has no current plans to conduct an annual review of closure durations or their economic impacts. However, Network Rail already assesses level crossing performance and considers a range of factors when reviewing whether upgrades or alternative solutions—such as bridges, underpasses or road realignments—may be justified. These decisions take account of safety risk, operational needs, local circumstances and the potential impacts on communities and the wider network. The Department continues to work with Network Rail and the safety regulator to support proportionate improvements where they deliver clear safety and network benefits.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the requiring claimants to score four points in a single daily living activity to be eligible for the Personal Independence Payment on people with learning disabilities.

As I set out to the House on 1 July 2025, the Government listened to concerns and withdrew its proposal to introduce an additional requirement to score a minimum of 4 points in a single activity to be eligible for the daily living element of PIP. Instead, we launched the Timms Review, the first full review of PIP since its introduction in 2013. The Review is being co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, and other experts, and aims to ensure that PIP is fair and fit for the future.

If he will establish an inquiry into delays in the NHS providing (a) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and (b) any other services related to children's mental health.

We recognise that many children and young people are currently experiencing significant delays in accessing mental health support and we are taking action to address this, as committed to in the 10-Year Health Plan. This includes providing mental health support for almost one million more young people in school this year and an extra £688 million in Government funding this year to transform mental health services, to hire more staff, deliver more early interventions, and get waiting lists down. As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, the Government is recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health workers by the end of this Parliament. Almost 8,000 of these workers have been recruited since July 2024, which will help to ease pressure on busy mental health services. We will publish a refreshed workforce plan later this year to ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places to care for patients when they need it. Additionally, we are also accelerating the rollout of Mental Health Support Teams in schools to achieve full national coverage by 2029. This includes investing £13 million to pilot enhanced training for staff, so that they can offer more support to young people with complex needs, such as trauma, neurodivergence, and disordered eating.

If she will consider including an equine safety specialist on the new road safety board.

On 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all.The Strategy sets an ambitious target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65% by 2035 (and 70% for children under 16). Delivery of the Strategy will be supported and monitored by a new Road Safety Board chaired by the Minister for Local Transport. This will be supported by an Expert Advisory Panel, which will provide insight from those working directly with road users and communities.The Board and Expert Advisory Panel are currently under development and decisions regarding membership and format will be made in due course.

What steps he is taking to maintain the adequacy of prison education provision in the context of changes to staffing levels.

The Government is committed to ensuring prisoners can access high-quality education and skills provision that supports rehabilitation and reduces reoffending.While the national prison education budget has increased by 3% this financial year, this has not kept pace with rising delivery costs across a range of services, leading to a reduction in what can be delivered through the Core Education contracts. Core Education represents only one part of the wider education, skills and work offer available to prisoners. Prison Governors commission education that meets the needs of their population, and providers are responsible for managing the staffing required to deliver the contracted services. HMPPS works closely with providers and governors to monitor delivery and maintain adequate provision.

What recent comparative assessment he has made of trends in the levels of violence in (a) public and (b) private prisons.

Public and private prisons are subject to the same performance monitoring of safety outcomes. Safety data is used in contract management, including as a contractual lever to address poor performance.We are committed to a mixed market in custodial services. Private sector companies continue to have an important role to play in the justice system, bringing innovation and expertise.There is evidence of good performance across the privately-run prison estate, and some outstanding performance in areas such as security, respect and preparation for release. Performance varies by prison and area of assessment.

Innovation and Technology, what plans her Department has to (a) provide funding to help improve broadband provision for very hard-to-reach premises and (b) ensure that the Universal Service Obligation supports connectivity to rural communities.

Through Project Gigabit, we are delivering gigabit‑capable broadband to premises that are not included in suppliers’ commercial rollout plans, many of which are in rural areas.Government is committed to delivering gigabit coverage to 99% of UK premises by 2032 and will continue to consider what it can do to further enable alternatives to fibre connections, for premises located in very hard-to-reach areas.The market for ultrafast, alternative connections via technologies such as LEO satellite and 5G fixed wireless access is developing at pace. Government continues to monitor and support the development of this market, including encouraging spectrum releases and ground station deployments, and many remote premises are already adopting these services.Government recognises the need to keep the parameters of the Broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) under review to support connectivity in rural communities. We have hit the legislated trigger point to review the Broadband USO and are working with Ofcom to commence a review in due course.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of delays in Access to Work decision-making on the ability of people with learning disabilities to enter and remain in employment.

We are committed to reducing waiting times in Access to Work so that people can access the support they need. We have increased the number of staff processing Access to Work applications and prioritise cases where someone is about to start a job or needs to renew existing support. Through the Pathways to Work Green Paper, we have consulted on how to improve Access to Work so it can support more disabled people. All elements of the scheme are now being reviewed as we develop plans for future reform.

Whether his Department plans to provide local authorities with guidance on whole society resilience.

In July 2025, the Government published its Resilience Action Plan which set out its approach to enable the whole of society to take action to increase resilience.The Resilience Guidance Doctrine on GOV.UK brings all resilience guidance together in one place. It supports local responders, including local authorities, to understand how to fulfil their duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and how to work with partners to drive community resilience.There is also specific guidance in the ‘Local Authorities Preparedness for Civil Emergencies: A Good Practice Guide for Chief Executives’, which provides assistance to local authorities to make sure they are well-prepared to respond and recover from emergencies, including how to work collaboratively with wider partners. In response to the Grenfell Inquiry recommendations, MHCLG has committed to review this guidance further.Additionally, the Government, UK Resilience Academy, Local Government Association and Society of Local Authority Chief Executives are running a pilot to test a new training offer to local authority chief executives and all relevant staff.

What progress his Department has made in developing independently verified, modelled projections of the number of NHS staff required to meet future population demand, as set out in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.

We have committed to publishing regular workforce planning. This will start with the 10 Year Workforce Plan, which will include updated workforce modelling and its underlying assumptions when published in spring 2026. The updated workforce modelling will be supported by independent external scrutiny to assess and test it.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to provide support for women who are disproportionately affected by long-term health conditions like arthritis.

The Government is committed to supporting women with long-term conditions like arthritis. Through the 10-Year Health Plan’s three big shifts, we will ensure more tests are delivered in the community, improved working between services, and greater use of technology to support women managing their long-term conditions. Delivering these shifts will be a cross-Government effort.We are renewing the women’s health strategy, to tackle enduring challenges and build on vital progress in women’s health.For those with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, including women with arthritis, we are working to deliver the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) MSK Community Delivery Programme. GIRFT teams are working with health system leaders to reduce MSK community waiting times, which are the highest of all community waits, and improve data, metrics, and referral pathways to wider support services.

Communities and Local Government, what support the Government is providing to local planning authorities to ensure they have the expertise to manage parks and gardens casework in the absence of guaranteed specialist input.

On 18 November 2025, my Department published a consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, closed on 13 January 2026. The consultation asked for views on the impact of removing consultee status in the planning application process from the Gardens Trust, The Theatres Trust and Sport England. No final decisions will be taken on the role of these statutory consultees until all consultation feedback has been fully analysed and considered. A government response will be published in due course. Regardless of consultation outcomes, these statutory consultees will continue to engage through public consultation and targeted notifications in the planning process.

What steps he is taking to address rising legal costs associated with clinical negligence claims.

The rising costs of clinical negligence claims against the National Health Service in England are of great concern to the Government. Costs have more than doubled in the last ten years and are forecast to continue rising, putting further pressure on NHS finances.Although forecasts remain uncertain, it is likely that the costs of clinical negligence will continue to grow substantially. The Government Actuary’s Department forecasts that annual payments for compensation and legal costs will increase from £3 billion in 2024/25 to £4.1 billion by 2029/30.As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan for England, David Lock KC is providing expert policy advice on the rising costs of clinical negligence and how we can improve patients’ experience of claims. The review is ongoing, following initial advice to ministers and the recent National Audit Office report.We welcome the report by the National Audit Office. The results of David Lock’s work will inform future policy making in this area. No decisions on policy have been taken at this point, and the Government will provide an update on the work done and next steps in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on planning outcomes of the decision to remove statutory consultee status from certain bodies in the planning process.

On 18 November 2025, my Department published a consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, closed on 13 January 2026. The consultation asked for views on the impact of removing consultee status in the planning application process from the Gardens Trust, The Theatres Trust and Sport England. No final decisions will be taken on the role of these statutory consultees until all consultation feedback has been fully analysed and considered. A government response will be published in due course. Regardless of consultation outcomes, these statutory consultees will continue to engage through public consultation and targeted notifications in the planning process.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of repealing section 2(4) of the Law Reform (Personal Injuries) Act 1948.

The rising costs of clinical negligence claims against the National Health Service in England are of great concern to the Government. Costs have more than doubled in the last ten years and are forecast to continue rising, putting further pressure on NHS finances.Although forecasts remain uncertain, it is likely that the costs of clinical negligence will continue to grow substantially. The Government Actuary’s Department forecasts that annual payments for compensation and legal costs will increase from £3 billion in 2024/25 to £4.1 billion by 2029/30.As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan for England, David Lock KC is providing expert policy advice on the rising costs of clinical negligence and how we can improve patients’ experience of claims. The review is ongoing, following initial advice to ministers and the recent National Audit Office report.We welcome the report by the National Audit Office. The results of David Lock’s work will inform future policy making in this area. No decisions on policy have been taken at this point, and the Government will provide an update on the work done and next steps in due course.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle health disparities amongst people who live in the most deprived areas.

It is a priority for the Government is to increase the amount of time people spend in good health and prevent premature deaths, with a vision of ensuring that all individuals, regardless of background or location, live longer, healthier lives. Our 10-Year Health Plan for the National Health Service in England sets out a reimagined service designed to tackle inequalities in both access and outcomes, as well as to give everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from, the means to engage with it on their own terms. Delivering the plan is a cross-Government effort.For example, we know that the Carr-Hill formula is considered outdated, and evidence suggests that general practices (GPs) serving in deprived parts of England receive on average 9.8% less funding per needs-adjusted patient than those in less deprived communities, despite having greater health needs and significantly higher patient-to-GP ratios. This is why we are currently reviewing the formula to ensure that resources are targeted where they are most needed.We also recognise that much of what determines of health and wellbeing in influenced by factors other than health services. Recent cross-Government action has included the introduction of Awaab’s Law and reform of the Decent Homes Standard for the social and private rented sector, the English Devolution Bill, and a new statutory heath inequalities duty for strategic authorities.

When he plans to announce the next phase of the National Service Frameworks.

Early priorities for Modern Service Frameworks will include cardiovascular disease, sepsis, severe mental illness and the first ever service framework for frailty and dementia. As advised by the National Quality Board, the Government will consider other conditions for future phases of MSFs and has recently announced an MSF on palliative and end-of-life care.

Whether he is taking steps to establish staff treatment hubs.

Following the publication of the 10-Year Health Plan on 3 July 2025, work is underway to develop implementation and operational plans for the Staff Treatments Hubs. This will determine factors such as location, budgets, timeframes, and capacity.