Written questions by Glover.

What powers local authorities have to restrict or prohibit the use of pavement delivery robots within their areas.

Where pavement robots currently operate, they do so in partnership with the relevant local authority.The Government announced last week that it will facilitate new trials of pavement delivery robots in new places through powers in the Regulating for Growth Bill. This will be done with a view to creating a clear, lawful route to market for pavement delivery robots which will expand services to new contexts, new areas and with new businesses. As with other trials of new technologies on our roads, such as the e-scooter trials, local leaders will decide whether they want to trial pavement delivery robots and shape how any trial operates. In the longer term, licensing powers for shared micromobility schemes in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act could be extended to pavement robots so that local leaders will always decide whether and how these vehicles can operate in their area.

What steps he is taking to ensure respiratory health is prioritised nationally, including through the introduction of a Modern Service Framework for respiratory care.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the impact on veterans of the absence of long-term funding arrangements for the Veterans Mobility Fund and Veterans Hearing Loss Fund.

Awaiting answer.

What discussions the Department has had with the Department for Science and Technology about the potential for a respiratory Modern Service Framework to strengthen the UK’s life sciences ecosystem by scaling up the adoption of new medicines and innovations for lung conditions.

Awaiting answer.

What the department’s timeline is for deciding on the second wave of Modern Service Frameworks.

Awaiting answer.

What discussions his department has had regarding the future of the Veterans Mobility Fund beyond March 2027.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of (a) the prevalence of respiratory disease and (b) the number of emergency hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in Didcot and Wantage compared with national averages.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority processes and decides applications for compensation in a timely manner.

I understand that applicants have endured traumatic experiences. Compensation is a way in which we recognise victims’ suffering. Last year we paid over £164m in compensation to victims seriously injured or bereaved by violent crime and two thirds of new a...

Communities and Local Government, whether a) there has been an estimate of the number of unoccupied retirement flats across the country and b) can they can clarify whether developers are receiving Government gran

My Department has made no estimate of the number of unoccupied retirement flats across the country. The government does not provide dedicated funding for the construction of new retirement housing. Grant funding from the Social and Affordable Homes Progra...

What assessment she has made of the total expected cost saving and revenue generation opportunities from bringing train operating companies into state ownership.

Public ownership is expected to generate significant savings and revenue generation opportunities for Government. For example, once all currently franchised services have transferred, public ownership will save the taxpayer up to £110 million to £150 mill...

What assessment she has made of the total expected cost saving and revenue generation opportunities from the reorganisation of the railway industry into Great British Railways.

The creation of Great British Railways (GBR) will reduce fragmentation and improve whole-system decision making in the rail industry. Integration of track and train is expected to lead to significant cost efficiencies. A large share of these efficiencies ...

Whether the Government has considering undertaking an impact assessment of the impact of business rates on post offices.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to PQ UIN 125750 and UIN 128242.

Whether they have any plans to consider business rates relief for post offices.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to PQ UIN 125750 and UIN 128242.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of previous research grant cuts on UK space research and development.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has committed a record £58.5 billion investment in R&D over the next 4 years. This includes £38.6 billion allocated to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).The Science and Technology Facilities...

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential long-term impact of the funding cuts of £162 million proposed by the Science and Technology Facilities Council on the astronomy and space s

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has committed a record £58.5 billion investment in R&D over the next 4 years. This includes £38.6 billion allocated to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).The Science and Technology Facilities...

Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to retain specialist staff in the space research and development sector.

The UK Space Agency, as part of DSIT, supports the retention of specialist staff in the space research and development sector through programme funding and enabling long-term international collaborations, including participation in ESA programmes and with...

What assessment she has made of the impact of the 60mph default speed limit on rural roads on safety; and whether she plans to review this default.

The Department for Transport keeps speed limit policy under review as part of its wider road safety work. As set out in the Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026, the Department is updating the Setting Local Speed Limits guidance, to support au...

What information her Department holds on whether women and girls are more likely to experience abuse and harassment while (a) walking and (b) cycling, compared to using public transport.

The ‘Personal Safety on Transport’ survey research was published in February this year. The findings are based on a survey of 4,900 adults across Great Britain and show the proportion of public transport users who experienced things that undermine persona...

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of high service charges and low resale prices of inherited retirement flats on people living in those flats.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 4726 on 8 June 2026.

Whether the Department plans to increase funding opportunities for epilepsy research.

The Department delivers research via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Departmental investment in the NIHR facilitates the direct funding of research projects through NIHR programmes, support for researchers to develop and conduc...