Written questions by Glover.

With reference to the National Work-Related Road Safety Charter, what guidance he plans to issue to riders of e-bikes on (a) training, (b) vehicle standards and (c) safe working practices.

In our new Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January 2026 we announced that we will pilot a National Work-Related Road Safety Charter for businesses that require people to drive or ride for them. This includes the use of HGVs, Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs), cars, motorcycles, e-cycles and cycles. The aim of the Charter is to help employers to reduce work-related road risk and improve safety for all road users by promoting good practice, and to improve compliance with current legislation and guidance. The government will develop this Charter in collaboration with business and industry. The pilot will run for two years and will be monitored and fully evaluated.If the pilot and voluntary engagement is insufficient in reducing work related road risk, regulatory measures will be considered.

What steps he is taking to ensure illegally modified e-bikes and (a) identified and (b) addressed within the scope of the National Work-Related Road Safety Charter.

In our new Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January 2026 we announced that we will pilot a National Work-Related Road Safety Charter for businesses that require people to drive or ride for them. This includes the use of HGVs, Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs), cars, motorcycles, e-cycles and cycles. The aim of the Charter is to help employers to reduce work-related road risk and improve safety for all road users by promoting good practice, and to improve compliance with current legislation and guidance. The government will develop this Charter in collaboration with business and industry. The pilot will run for two years and will be monitored and fully evaluated.If the pilot and voluntary engagement is insufficient in reducing work related road risk, regulatory measures will be considered.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an inflation adjustment mechanism for capital gains tax calculations.

An indexation allowance previously existed when Capital Gains Tax (CGT) was charged at income tax rates, with a top rate of 40 per cent. The current rates of 18 and 24 per cent are significantly below the higher rates of income tax, simplifying the calculation of gains for taxpayers. When considering changes to the tax system, the government has to take into account a wide range of factors, including the fiscal cost, administrative burdens, and complexity it would add to the tax system.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department holds information related to an independent comparative assessment of the potential cost to the public pursue of Thames Water's White Horse reservoir proposal with (a) the creation of a smaller reservoir, (b) Severn-Trent Transfer, and (c) a combination of both options.

Thames Water has selected the reservoir as part of its statutory Water Resources Management Plan. Water Resources South East has also conducted an options appraisal process, identifying the reservoir's necessity in its Regional Plan. The plans continue to be scrutinised by the water regulators.

If he will make an assessment of whether individual ICBs are deviating from NICE guidance.

Integrated care boards are legally required to make funding available for medicines recommended in a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal or highly specialised technology evaluation, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance. The effect of this legal obligation is that all NICE-approved treatments must be included in local formularies for use in line with NICE’s recommendations and with no additional funding or formulary restrictions.As part of commitments made in the 2024 voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access, NHS England is developing a local formulary national minimum dataset to increase visibility of local variation in the implementation of NICE guidance, identify where variation in local formularies may be creating barriers to access, and to provide assurance to NHS England when a NICE recommended treatment has been listed on a local formulary.

What guidance her Department has issued to the police on detecting and enforcing traffic contraventions committed by autonomous vehicles where no human driver is actively controlling the vehicle.

Section 39 of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (“AV Act”) sets out the Secretary of State’s duty to identify and investigate incidents involving automated vehicles which have potential regulatory consequences. Chapter 2 of the ongoing Call for Evidence, “Developing the Automated Vehicles Regulatory Framework”, seeks views on the most appropriate methods of detection and enforcement of relevant incidents, including traffic infractions.In addition, guidance specifically relating to forthcoming pilots of automated vehicles, prior to the introduction of the full AV Act, is currently being drafted in conjunction with first responders.

What assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of safety measures on the A34 including (a) signage, (b) road markings, (c) LED road studs and (d) speed management protocols; and if she will publish analysis of collisions and casualties that has informed her Department's policies on the use of (i) speed cameras, (ii) spacing chevrons and (iii) any other safety interventions.

National Highways undertook a road safety review of the A34 in 2017 and subsequently delivered works including upgrading laybys, enhancing road signs and markings, installing LED studs and clearing vegetation. National Highways continues to monitor traffic and incident data along the route. Road casualty statistics and the underlying data are published annually by the Department for Transport.

Whether her Department maintains a record of safety interventions, traffic contraventions and near-misses arising from autonomous vehicle trials.

The Department for Transport does not retain a specific record as set out in the Honourable Member’s question. However, any data related to any incidents from automated vehicle trials, which take place with a safety driver in the vehicle, would be captured within road safety data regularly published by the Department.

Whether he has held discussions with Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board on its policy on access to fertility services.

No discussions have been held with the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (ICB) about its provision of National Health Service-funded in vitro fertilisation treatment.Decisions about the provision of health services in England are made by ICBs and are based on the clinical needs of their local population. They are expected to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, ensuring equal access to fertility treatment across England.Updated NICE fertility guidelines are expected in spring. The Department will continue to support NHS England as they work closely with ICBs to ensure the guidance is fully considered in local commissioning decisions.

If she will make it her policy that the Road Safety Investigation Branch (a) record and (b) publish data on collisions involving illegally modified e-bikes separately from those involving standard pedal cycles.

The Road Safety Investigation Branch will be data-led and provide thematic investigations based on robust evidence and linked data. The work of the branch is currently being scoped out and further details will be shared in due course.

What guidance she has issued to companies conducting autonomous vehicle trials on public communications on the (a) capability and (b) legal compliance of prototype systems.

The ‘Code of Practice: automated vehicle trialling’ is publicly available online through the government’s website. The Code of Practice was published to support organisations or individuals wishing to trial automated vehicle technologies and services. Further guidance will be published to support organisations wishing to deploy through the Automated Passenger Services (APS) permitting scheme, which government intends to introduce in spring.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of the SESRO project on the water bills of customers of (a) Thames Water, (b) Southern Water and (c) Affinity Water; and whether this estimate has been updated for the most recent increases in the expected cost of the project.

The Government is committed to delivering best value for customers through the water infrastructure programme, while supporting growth and ensuring a resilient water supply. The Government’s Water Delivery Taskforce is working across Government, regulators and water industry stakeholders to ensure this. White Horse Reservoir is subject to ongoing assessment through the Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) gated process, which includes further investigations and assessments to inform a development consent application. Through the development consent process consideration is given to flood and safety management and other regulatory requirements. This sits within the safety framework set out by the Reservoirs Act. All required assessments will be submitted by Thames Water to the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State for consideration.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department had a cap for the level of cost increase for Thames Water’s SESRO project above which the project would not have been approved.

The Government is committed to delivering best value for customers through the water infrastructure programme, while supporting growth and ensuring a resilient water supply. The Government’s Water Delivery Taskforce is working across Government, regulators and water industry stakeholders to ensure this. White Horse Reservoir is subject to ongoing assessment through the Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) gated process, which includes further investigations and assessments to inform a development consent application. Through the development consent process consideration is given to flood and safety management and other regulatory requirements. This sits within the safety framework set out by the Reservoirs Act. All required assessments will be submitted by Thames Water to the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State for consideration.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the flood and safety risk assessments for the proposed SESRO reservoir.

The Government is committed to delivering best value for customers through the water infrastructure programme, while supporting growth and ensuring a resilient water supply. The Government’s Water Delivery Taskforce is working across Government, regulators and water industry stakeholders to ensure this. White Horse Reservoir is subject to ongoing assessment through the Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) gated process, which includes further investigations and assessments to inform a development consent application. Through the development consent process consideration is given to flood and safety management and other regulatory requirements. This sits within the safety framework set out by the Reservoirs Act. All required assessments will be submitted by Thames Water to the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State for consideration.

When he plans to respond to the correspondence of 11 November 2025 from the hon. Member for Didcot and Wantage on a request for a meeting on AEAT pensions.

A response to this correspondence was sent to the hon. Member on the 22 December 2025.

What progress the car insurance taskforce has made on its work; and when he expects it to report.

The Government is committed to tackling the high costs of motor insurance. The cross-government motor insurance taskforce, launched in October 2024, has been comprised of ministers from relevant government departments, the Financial Conduct Authority and Competition and Markets Authority. It has been supported by a separate stakeholder panel of industry experts representing the insurance, motor, and consumer sectors.This taskforce had the strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums.The taskforce’s final report is intended to be published shortly.

Whether Great British Railways Retail will be required to comply with the statutory Code of Practice on retail market conduct managed by the Office of Rail and Road.

The retail industry code of practice announced in the Government's response to the Railways Bill consultation will incorporate clear requirements for how Great British Railways (GBR) should interact with all market participants. The code of practice will be owned and managed by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). GBR’s licence will require it to comply, with the ORR able to demand corrective action if it considers that GBR has not done so.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government’s forthcoming animal welfare strategy will prohibit (a) the introduction of in-ovo sexing technology and (b) the routine culling of day-old male chicks.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 July 2025 to the hon. Member for Stockport, PQ UIN 64121.

In the last academic year, what (a) percentage and (b) number of pupils were eligible for the Pupil Premium and received the 16-19 large programme uplift funding for studying four or more A Levels.

The Pupil Premium is not available for post-16 students. Therefore, no students were eligible in the last academic year for the Pupil Premium and received the Large Programme Uplift for studying four or more A levels or a T Level and at least one A level alongside.

What number students eligible for the 16-19 large programme uplift funding in the last five academic years studied the International Baccalaureate Level 3 programme and pursued STEM-related subjects.

The information requested is not held by the department. The department does not hold information on the constituent subjects that make up the International Baccalaureate as this information is not provided by awarding organisations.