Every parliamentary written question tabled by Rupert Lowe this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 61–80 of 2,391 · this parliament
Pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2026 to Question 126871, if he will require the Food Standards Agency to record inspection, enforcement activity and associated costs by slaughter method, including stunned and non‑stunned slaughter.
Awaiting answer.
Pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2026 to Question 126871, if he will require the Food Standards Agency to record data on the volume of meat produced from animals slaughtered with stunning and without stunning, disaggregated by slaughter method.
Awaiting answer.
Pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2026 to Question 126871, if he will require the Food Standards Agency to record and publish animal welfare non‑compliances disaggregated by slaughter method, including stunned and non‑stunned slaughter.
Awaiting answer.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the absence of routinely collected, disaggregated data on ethnicity, religion, and immigration or settlement status in private family law cases involving alleged harm on his Department’s ability to discharge its Public Sector Equality Duty when developing or applying policy, practice directions, or operational guidance.
Awaiting answer.
What mechanisms are currently used by the Department to ensure that private family law policy and guidance are evidence‑based, representative of the wider population, and compliant with the Public Sector Equality Duty in the absence of routinely collected court data disaggregated by ethnicity, religion, and immigration or settlement status.
Awaiting answer.
Pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2026 to Question 126870, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Service Level Agreement’s treatment of all slaughter methods as a single category on the adequacy of the evidence base to evaluate differences in inspection requirements, regulatory costs, and animal welfare outcomes between stunned and non‑stunned slaughter.
Awaiting answer.
Pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2026 to Question 126871, if he will require the Food Standards Agency to record Official Veterinarian and Official Auxiliary supervision time associated with stunned and non‑stunned slaughter separately.
Awaiting answer.
What minimum English language proficiency requirements apply to frontline rail staff responsible for passenger information and safety‑critical communications; and whether her Department or the Office of Rail and Road has conducted any audits or assessments in the last five years of the ability of non‑native English‑speaking staff in those roles to communicate effectively in English during both normal operations and emergencies.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation
What steps he is taking to ensure that boys and young men receive targeted support to improve education, employment and training outcomes.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
What minimum English language proficiency requirements apply to prison officers in England and Wales; and whether his Department or HM Prison and Probation Service has conducted any audits or assessments in the last five years of the ability of non‑native English‑speaking officers to communicate effectively in English with prisoners and colleagues.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of disparities in rates of males and females not being in education, employment or training on boys and young men.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
What minimum English language proficiency requirements apply to frontline adult social care workers in England; and whether his Department, or any relevant regulator, has conducted audits or assessments in the last five years of the ability of non‑native English‑speaking staff in those roles to communicate effectively in English with service users and carers.
Providers registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are required to deploy enough suitably qualified, competent, and experienced staff and only employ 'fit and proper' staff who are able to provide care and treatment appropriate to their role, as per Regulations 18 and 19 of the Health and Social Care 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 respectively.It is the responsibility of a care provider to ensure that everyone involved in the delivery of services has the required level of English language competence to enable them to communicate effectively with people who use services and colleagues.The CQC can assess providers’ compliance with these regulations through assessment and monitoring activity. Where an assessment of a service has been carried out, individual reports will be published to the CQC’s website. Where a breach or non-compliance of regulation is identified, the CQC can take regulatory action as set out in the CQC’s published enforcement policy, which is available at the following link:https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/enforcement/enforcement-policy
What minimum English language proficiency requirements apply to (a) Border Force officers and (b) immigration enforcement staff; and whether her Department has conducted any audits or assessments in the last five years of the ability of non-native English-speaking staff in those roles to communicate effectively in English with members of the public.
Border Force roles are classified as reserved posts and are therefore open only to UK nationals. Individuals who have settled status in the UK are required to meet English language requirements as part of the UK nationality process. This requirement is assessed by an approved provider at an authorised test centre. As a result, there is no separate English language requirement for Border Force roles, as this criterion will already have been met through the UK nationality process.While no specific audit has been undertaken, communication proficiency is assessed through a robust recruitment and training process and ongoing performance management processes.With regard to reading and writing proficiency, operational roles require GCSEs in English and Mathematics. While non-operational roles do not necessarily include GCSE requirements, they typically require specific skills, experience, or professional expertise that would exceed GCSE-level standards.
Whether his Department plans to publish gender‑disaggregated monitoring data on the potential impact of the 200,000‑job employment and apprenticeship programme announced on 16 March 2026 on the number of men not in education, employment or training.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
What minimum English language proficiency requirements apply to (a) police officers and (b) police community support officers in England and Wales; and whether her Department, or any relevant inspectorate, has undertaken audits or assessments in the last five years of the ability of non-native English-speaking officers to communicate effectively in English with members of the public.
This Government is committed to ensuring consistent, high standards for entry into the police.In respect of police officers, regulations currently require chief officers to satisfy themselves that all new recruits are competent in written and spoken English.In respect of Police Community Support Officers, PCSO’s will typically have at least a Level 2 qualification or equivalent (e.g. GCSE grade A-C) in English prior to joining.We continue to work closely with the College of Policing to ensure standards are regularly reviewed to ensure they meet operational requirements. The College is currently consulting on a new national standard for English and Maths to ensure a consistent approach across all forces.
What minimum English language proficiency requirements apply to (a) approved driving instructors and (b) driving examiners; and whether her Department or the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has conducted any audits or assessments in the last five years of the ability of non-native English-speaking instructors and examiners to communicate effectively in English with learner drivers.
As with other civil service roles, driving examiners must meet the requirements of the post, including being able to communicate effectively to conduct the driving test safely and to the required standards. To be registered as an approved driving instructor in Great Britain, individuals must meet the statutory requirements for registration and pass the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) qualifying examinations such as the Theory Test, which is only conducted in English or Welsh. DVSA monitors performance through supervision, standards checks and quality assurance processes and will take appropriate action where required standards are not met.
What minimum English language proficiency requirements apply to Jobcentre Plus work coaches and other frontline staff; and whether his Department has conducted any audits or assessments in the last five years of the ability of non‑native English‑speaking staff in those roles to communicate effectively in English with claimants, including those with complex needs.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Whether employment and apprenticeship reforms announced on 16 March 2026 include measures to reduce the number of young men not in education, employment or training.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
What guidance her Department issues to local licensing authorities on minimum English language proficiency requirements for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers; and whether her Department has collected or reviewed any evidence or audits in the last five years on the ability of non‑native English‑speaking drivers to communicate effectively in English with passengers.
The department recognises the importance of proficiency in English language. That’s why its existing statutory guidance recommends that all licensing authorities should require taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to demonstrate written and oral English language proficiency. Licensing authorities are responsible for deciding how English language proficiency is demonstrated. As of 1 April 2024, 81% of licensing authorities in England reported that they required the taxi drivers they license to demonstrate English language proficiency and 82% of licensing authorities in England reported that they required the private hire vehicle drivers they license to demonstrate English language proficiency.
What minimum English language proficiency requirements apply to probation officers and probation services staff; and whether his Department or HM Prison and Probation Service has conducted any audits or assessments in the last five years of the ability of non‑native English‑speaking staff in those roles to communicate effectively in English with offenders under supervision.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.