Written questions by Mayer.

What data her Department holds on penalty charge notice rates for different offences, broken down by (a) year and (b) location.

The Department for Transport does not hold data on penalty charge notice levels applied by local authorities with civil enforcement powers, either on an annual basis, or between parking or other road traffic contraventions by location. Local authorities outside London with civil parking enforcement powers may only select from two banded Parking Penalty Charge Notice levels as prescribed in the Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022. Penalty charges for parking contraventions in London are set by the Mayor for London with the consent of the Secretary of State. The Department for Transport’s statutory guidance for local authorities in England on civil enforcement of parking contraventions recommends local authorities should adopt the lowest charge level consistent with a high level of public acceptability and compliance. Banded penalty charge levels for other civilly enforceable contraventions, i.e. bus lane and moving traffic contraventions, are set in the 2022 regulations in line with penalties for higher level parking contraventions, for example parking in a disabled bay.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to promote (a) safer and (b) environmentally friendly pest control alternatives to rodenticide for (i) residential and (ii) commercial use.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for approving biocidal products such as rodenticides. To ensure that the risks associated with professional use of anticoagulant rodenticides could be properly managed, the UK Government worked with industry stakeholders and a stewardship regime was developed by the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use UK (CRRU) to promote responsible use. This regime is overseen by a Government Oversight Group (GOG), chaired by HSE. The stewardship regime is currently under review and the outcome is expected in 2025. CRRU’s Code of Best Practice promotes a ‘risk hierarchy’ when deciding on a rodent control strategy and this aligns with Defra’s previously published view that anyone seeking to manage wildlife should consider the most humane method of control and apply the least severe solution to control problem animals. CRRU advise there are a range of effective methods for successful rodent management including elimination of harbourage, food and water; and certain forms of trapping. Many methods of rodent control, such as spring traps and live capture and release traps, are inexpensive, reusable and widely available to both the general public and professional pest controllers, whether acting in a residential or commercial setting.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of removing the 50km restriction for 18- to 20-year-old bus and coach drivers on a regular service.

In April, the Department launched a consultation on amending licensing restrictions following requests from industry, the consultation ran for 8 weeks and closed on 5 June. It consulted on measures to amend licensing restrictions which would enable 18- to 20-year-olds to drive a bus and coach over 50km when driving a regular service and enable some of the tests required to be passed in order to gain a driver certificate of professional competence (DCPC) to be taken before a provisional licence is issued.Officials are reviewing responses to the consultation and the Department will publish a response in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to promote the uptake of (a) Covid-19 and (b) flu vaccinations in the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB area.

The 2024 Get Winter Strong campaign supports the uptake of winter vaccinations for influenza and COVID-19. Launched on 23 September, it focuses on eligible cohorts with low uptake, including pregnant women, parents of two to three-year-olds, for the flu only, and people with long-term health conditions.Activity includes paid-for marketing and partnerships, no-cost national media, and social and stakeholder engagement. Advertising is delivered across public spaces, video on demand, and live television. Partnerships with YouTube creators and the online network for parents Netmums target specific, eligible audiences. Media and other no-cost activities will continue into 2025, using virus surveillance and vaccine uptake data from the UK Health Security Agency and the National Health Service.Specific actions by the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board include a well-publicised winter plan, promoting vaccine uptake via a variety of mediums, and outreach campaigns targeted to low uptake groups, schools, and health settings.

If her Department will take steps to reduce the cost of electric vehicle public charging.

The Government is committed to delivering an equitable transition to zero emission vehicles, which works for all drivers. Under the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, all chargepoint operators must display the price of charging using a common metric of p/kwh and make their data on pricing available freely. This will allow drivers to easily compare the price of charging, and find the best chargepoint for their needs.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of planning regulations on the installation of electric vehicle charge points.

The Government is committed to ensuring that planning regulations support the installation of charging infrastructure. The previous government consulted earlier this year on amending the permitted development rights for off-street electric vehicle charging points. Further announcements will be made in due course.

What data her Department has on increases in penalty charge notice fees for parking compared to fines for other traffic contraventions.

The Department for Transport does not hold data on penalty charge notice levels applied by local authorities with civil enforcement powers, either on an annual basis, or between parking or other road traffic contraventions by location. Local authorities outside London with civil parking enforcement powers may only select from two banded Parking Penalty Charge Notice levels as prescribed in the Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022. Penalty charges for parking contraventions in London are set by the Mayor for London with the consent of the Secretary of State. The Department for Transport’s statutory guidance for local authorities in England on civil enforcement of parking contraventions recommends local authorities should adopt the lowest charge level consistent with a high level of public acceptability and compliance. Banded penalty charge levels for other civilly enforceable contraventions, i.e. bus lane and moving traffic contraventions, are set in the 2022 regulations in line with penalties for higher level parking contraventions, for example parking in a disabled bay.

Whether her Department is taking steps to strengthen restrictions on the use of rodenticides in order to reduce exposure to non-target wildlife.

Rodenticide products are regulated under the Great Britain Biocidal Products Regulations (GB BPR). Under this legislation, evaluations of the safety of biocides to humans, animals and the environment are carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on behalf of Ministers. The Rodenticides Stewardship Scheme was developed by The Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use UK to further promote responsible use by the three groups of professional users (pest controllers, farmers and gamekeepers). Compliance with the scheme and its principles is a legal requirement as part of the authorisation and use of rodenticide products. The scheme is overseen by the Government Oversight Group for Rodenticide Stewardship (GOG), chaired by HSE and includes representatives from relevant government departments and agencies. The GOG is conducting a review to consider how rodenticide stewardship in the UK can be strengthened. It will consider all relevant and appropriate evidence. The detailed work of this review is expected to be completed in 2025.

If she will make it her policy to allow local leaders to use Skills Bootcamp funding to support training for coach drivers.

Skills Bootcamps are an important offer in the skills landscape, and the department continues to support the delivery of Skills Bootcamps through funding Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and local areas directly. We continue to keep the sectors eligible for Skills Bootcamps funding under review.MCAs and the Greater London Authority have the flexibility to use up to 50% of their grants to test Skills Bootcamps in additional sectors. As of the 2024/25 financial year, two trailblazer areas, the West Midlands Combined Authority and Greater Manchester Combined Authority can use 100% of their grants to this effect.

How many flooding incidents the fire and rescue services have responded to in England in each year since 2010.

The latest available data (year ending March 2024) on the number flooding incidents attended by Fire and rescue Services in England is published in FIRE0901, available here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67165e5c9242eecc6c849b5e/fire-statistics-data-tables-fire0901-241024.xlsxThis provides the number of flooding incidents by year for England, for each fire and rescue service (FRS), designated as either metropolitan or non-metropolitan, for each FRS, designated as either predominantly rural, significantly rural, or predominantly urban, and for each individual FRS.The table below provides the number of flooding incidents in England between the years ending March 2010 and years ending March 2024. Year ending MarchNumber of flooding incidents201015,069201116,784201211,886201317,908201414,486201512,391201613,714201714,120201815,674201913,370202015,543202114,922202215,959202317,837202417,797

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of revising the permitted weight limits on volumetric concrete mixers.

The Department ran a call for evidence from October to December 2023 seeking views on three potential options on weight limits for volumetric concrete mixers (VCMs). Any potential changes to the current policy position on VCM weight limits will need to consider the implications for road safety, infrastructure, the environment, and maintaining fair competition in the market. The Department is currently reviewing the outcomes and will publish its findings in due course.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of permitted weight limits on volumetric concrete mixers on trends in the levels of carbon emissions.

The Department ran a call for evidence from October to December 2023 seeking views on three potential options on weight limits for Volumetric Concrete Mixers (VCMs). Evidence was provided to the Department on both the pros and cons of allowing VCMs to continue to operate at higher weights. The Department has reviewed the evidence provided and will publish its findings in due course. Any potential changes to the current policy position on VCM weight limits will need to consider the implications for road safety, infrastructure, the environment, and maintaining fair competition in the market. As part of its consideration of the evidence, the Department has assessed the potential environmental impacts in accordance with the Environment Act 2021 which requires Ministers of the Crown to have ‘due regard’ to the environmental principles policy statement when making policy.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of permitted weight limits on volumetric concrete mixers on the financial sustainability of the haulage industry.

The Department ran a call for evidence from October to December 2023 seeking views on three potential options on weight limits for volumetric concrete mixers (VCMs). Any potential changes to the current policy position on VCM weight limits will need to consider the implications for maintaining fair competition in the market. No formal impact assessment was produced, as the costs implied were estimated to be below the threshold at which this is considered proportionate. The Department is currently reviewing the outcomes and will publish its findings in due course.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to paragraph 4.94 of of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC295, published on 30 October 2024, what steps his Department is taking to support the development of human-specific technologies such as organ-on-a-chip.

The Government funds research through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and many programmes, including those on organoids, cell behaviour or AI, may eventually lead to the development of human-specific technologies that can replace the need for the use of animals. The Government also funds the development and dissemination of techniques that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research through the National Centre for the 3Rs (NC3Rs). Since its launch in 2004, the NC3Rs has committed over £100 million through its research and innovation to provide new 3Rs approaches for scientists in academia and industry to use

If her Department will publish the formula used to determine the final allocations for bus service improvement plan funding for local transport authorities for 2025-26.

The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Central Bedfordshire Council has been allocated £3 million of this funding. Funding for local authorities to deliver their bus service improvement plans has been allocated based on local needs, including population, the distance that buses travel, and levels of deprivation.

How many DVLA photocard renewals were made at a Crown Post Office last year.

According to the Post Office, the number of DVLA photocard renewals made at Directly Managed Branches for the 2023/2024 Financial Year was 55,014. Across the total network, the number of DVLA photocard renewals made for the same Financial Year was 525,827.

How many buses funded through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme (a) have been ordered and (b) are on the road.

Of the 2,263 buses funded through the ZEBRA 1 and 2 programmes 1,674 buses have been ordered (1,025 - ZEBRA 1 & 649 ZEBRA 2) whilst there are currently 582 ZEBs in service.

How many buses funded through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme are UK-manufactured.

UK-based bus manufacturers have benefited the most from the Department’s funding programmes, such as ZEBRA. It is estimated that 60% of ZEBRA-supported buses will be procured from UK-based manufacturers, supporting economic growth and jobs across the zero-carbon transport industry. The transition to zero emission buses represents a great opportunity for UK bus manufacturers, both to supply the zero emission buses needed here in the UK and to win export orders abroad as other countries upgrade their bus fleets.

How many Paper Check and Send for (a) new and (b) renewal Passports appointments were made at Crown Post offices in the last year for which figures are available.

As it is not possible to categorise Paper Check & Send applications by whether they are ‘New’ or ‘Renewal’, the Post Office have also shared their statistics for Digital Check & Send applications. The number of Passport Paper Check & Send applications made at Directly Managed Branches for the 2023/2024 Financial Year was 16,733. Across the total network, the number of Passport Paper Check & Send applications made for the same Financial Year was 175,924 Comparatively, the number of Passport Digital Check & Send applications made at Directly Managed Branches for the 2023/2024 Financial Year was 60,253. Across the total network, the number of Passport Digital Check & Send applications made for the same Financial Year was 430,755.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to paragraph 4.94 of of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC295, published on 30 October 2024, whether any of the core research funding will be used for projects that involve experimenting on animals.

Alternative methods cannot currently replicate the complexity of an intact biological system, so the use of animals remains essential both in basic and translational medical research and in preclinical testing. Currently 32% of Medical Research Council-funded research programmes involve some use of animals licensed under the ASPA (Animals Scientific Procedures Act). The manifesto committed the Government to partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing. This is a long-term goal, and it will likely take many years of scientific and technical advancement and validation to reach this point.