Written questions by Glover.

Whether her Department has considered in what way the UK's operational responsibility for providing air traffic services in the Shanwick Oceanic Control Area could help support operational trials of contrail-mitigation routing.

The Government recognises that aviation has non-CO2 impacts such as contrails which may have significant warming impacts on the climate, although significant scientific uncertainties remain. The Government has funded 14 projects as part of our Non-CO2 R&D Programme to better our understanding of aviation’s non-CO2 impacts and to identify and develop potential mitigation options. The Department also established a Contrail Impact Mitigation Task and Finish Group under the Jet Zero Taskforce which assessed the UK’s capability to undertake contrail avoidance manoeuvres as a means of reducing aviation’s non‑CO₂ climate impacts. The report highlighted that the atmospheric conditions in the North Atlantic make it prone to forming persistent warming contrails. The report was published on 17 March 2026 and one of the key recommendations from this report was for the UK to undertake large-scale trials in the North Atlantic. The Department is carefully considering all the recommendations and is currently exploring options to fund a large‑scale trial in UK controlled airspace.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of using the atmospheric and geographic features of the North Atlantic to support contrail-mitigation measures to reduce aviation's climate impact.

The Government recognises that aviation has non-CO2 impacts such as contrails which may have significant warming impacts on the climate, although significant scientific uncertainties remain. The Government has funded 14 projects as part of our Non-CO2 R&D Programme to better our understanding of aviation’s non-CO2 impacts and to identify and develop potential mitigation options. The Department also established a Contrail Impact Mitigation Task and Finish Group under the Jet Zero Taskforce which assessed the UK’s capability to undertake contrail avoidance manoeuvres as a means of reducing aviation’s non‑CO₂ climate impacts. The report highlighted that the atmospheric conditions in the North Atlantic make it prone to forming persistent warming contrails. The report was published on 17 March 2026 and one of the key recommendations from this report was for the UK to undertake large-scale trials in the North Atlantic. The Department is carefully considering all the recommendations and is currently exploring options to fund a large‑scale trial in UK controlled airspace.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of contrail-mitigation measures in reducing aviation's climate impact.

The Government recognises that aviation has non-CO2 impacts such as contrails which may have significant warming impacts on the climate, although significant scientific uncertainties remain. The Government has funded 14 projects as part of our Non-CO2 R&D Programme to better our understanding of aviation’s non-CO2 impacts and to identify and develop potential mitigation options. The Department also established a Contrail Impact Mitigation Task and Finish Group under the Jet Zero Taskforce which assessed the UK’s capability to undertake contrail avoidance manoeuvres as a means of reducing aviation’s non‑CO₂ climate impacts. The report highlighted that the atmospheric conditions in the North Atlantic make it prone to forming persistent warming contrails. The report was published on 17 March 2026 and one of the key recommendations from this report was for the UK to undertake large-scale trials in the North Atlantic. The Department is carefully considering all the recommendations and is currently exploring options to fund a large‑scale trial in UK controlled airspace.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of commissioning a digital industrial strategy to support public and private sector organisations in modernising their digital and cyber processes and capabilities.

The Government published the Modern Industrial Strategy in June 2025. Drawing on extensive analysis and stakeholder engagement, it set out our priorities and actions for supporting business and sectors to grow, including through adopting technologies. There are no plans for a further digital industrial strategy. The Government is also progressing the recommendations of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Digital Adoption Taskforce.For the public sector, the Roadmap for Modern Digital Government and the Government Cyber Action Plan set out cross-government efforts to replace outdated legacy systems, build data-sharing platforms, strengthen cyber security, and invest in long-term capability in the workforce.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with Israeli counterparts on restrictions on access to religious sites for Palestinian Muslims in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

The UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all around the world, including in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The UK Special Envoy for FoRB discussed the issue of access to holy sites during his visit to the Holy See in March 2026. We condemn the record levels of settler violence in the West Bank, and we are carefully monitoring restrictions on movement and access that affect holy sites.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to secure the immediate re-opening of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all around the world, including in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The UK Special Envoy for FoRB discussed the issue of access to holy sites during his visit to the Holy See in March 2026. We condemn the record levels of settler violence in the West Bank, and we are carefully monitoring restrictions on movement and access that affect holy sites.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the report by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, entitled Religious Persecution of Palestinian Muslims, published on 13 March 2026.

The UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all around the world, including in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The UK Special Envoy for FoRB discussed the issue of access to holy sites during his visit to the Holy See in March 2026. We condemn the record levels of settler violence in the West Bank, and we are carefully monitoring restrictions on movement and access that affect holy sites.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications fir her policies if the impact of Israeli restrictions on access to religious sites on Palestinian Muslims in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

The UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all around the world, including in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The UK Special Envoy for FoRB discussed the issue of access to holy sites during his visit to the Holy See in March 2026. We condemn the record levels of settler violence in the West Bank, and we are carefully monitoring restrictions on movement and access that affect holy sites.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of Israeli settlers carrying out attacks on mosques during Ramadan in the occupied West Bank.

The UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all around the world, including in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The UK Special Envoy for FoRB discussed the issue of access to holy sites during his visit to the Holy See in March 2026. We condemn the record levels of settler violence in the West Bank, and we are carefully monitoring restrictions on movement and access that affect holy sites.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the proposed creation of new permitted development rights.

The government recently amended existing permitted development rights in respect of electric vehicle (EV) charging points through the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2025. The Department for Transport recently consulted on a series of other changes to various permitted development rights for EV charging. That consultation can be found on gov.uk here.

What the monthly average waiting time was for a car practical driving test at each driving test centre and zone for each month since April 2015.

The answers to Questions 6462 on 9 October 2024, and 89574 on 11 November 2025, provide data covering April 2015 to October 2025 respectively. The attached spreadsheet shows the monthly average waiting time for a car practical driving test at each driving test centre, and zone, for each month between November 2025, and February 2026. Please note, some driving test centres no longer conduct car tests or have closed. There are also some driving test centres that did not conduct car tests in some individual months.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene in maternity and delivery facilities in low and middle-income countries.

The UK recognises the vital role that improving access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities plays in preventing maternal and infant deaths, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and safeguarding women and girls.We work with a range of international partners on this agenda, from our long-standing partnership with the World Bank on its Water Strategy Implementation Plan to supporting individual governments overseas to improve access to WASH in healthcare facilities. Details of our total WASH sector spend for 2025 will be published in the normal way later this year.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking through its international development programmes to reduce maternal sepsis linked to poor hygiene conditions during childbirth.

The UK recognises the vital role that improving access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities plays in preventing maternal and infant deaths, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and safeguarding women and girls.We work with a range of international partners on this agenda, from our long-standing partnership with the World Bank on its Water Strategy Implementation Plan to supporting individual governments overseas to improve access to WASH in healthcare facilities. Details of our total WASH sector spend for 2025 will be published in the normal way later this year.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene services in healthcare facilities on gender equality.

The UK recognises the vital role that improving access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities plays in preventing maternal and infant deaths, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and safeguarding women and girls.We work with a range of international partners on this agenda, from our long-standing partnership with the World Bank on its Water Strategy Implementation Plan to supporting individual governments overseas to improve access to WASH in healthcare facilities. Details of our total WASH sector spend for 2025 will be published in the normal way later this year.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of providing funding for water, sanitation and hygiene services in maternity facilities on levels of (a) maternal and newborn mortality and (b) anti-microbial resistance.

The UK recognises the vital role that improving access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities plays in preventing maternal and infant deaths, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and safeguarding women and girls.We work with a range of international partners on this agenda, from our long-standing partnership with the World Bank on its Water Strategy Implementation Plan to supporting individual governments overseas to improve access to WASH in healthcare facilities. Details of our total WASH sector spend for 2025 will be published in the normal way later this year.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with operators of integrated retirement communities on ensuring older people from all income groups can access the sector.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 87630 on 11 November 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of housing with care for older people in the Government's social care strategy.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 87630 on 11 November 2025.

With reference to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report on changes to women's State Pension age, published on 21 March 2024, if he will make an estimate of the potential (a) cost; and (b) mechanisms available to provide compensation to impacted women in Didcot and Wantage.

The Government has made its decision on this case based on due process and careful consideration of the body of evidence. The detailed reasons for this decision have been placed in the House library.

What assessment has been made of the potential impact of the car insurance taskforce’s recommendations on reducing premiums for consumers.

The cross-government taskforce on motor insurance was formed in October 2024, to fulfil the government’s commitment to tackling the soaring cost of motor insurance in the UK. The taskforce worked across government, bringing together departments and independent regulators to understand the complexities of the market and to agree a set of actions. Government departments and regulators are acting to address the broader factors that contribute to the cost of claims, such as vehicle theft and the cost of repairs. Though the taskforce has now concluded, the government will continue its work to deliver against the actions set out in the report.

What actions were taken as a result of the peer-to-peer car sharing roundtable, chaired by the Minister for Local Transport on 10th November 2025.

Following the November roundtable, the Department is actively considering the experiences shared by stakeholders along with the wider evidence base to develop appropriate measures to support the sector. This includes the role of local authorities in creating a positive environment for car sharing services in their local areas and how government can best support this.