Written questions by Joseph.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that private car park operators (a) display clear and accessible signage, (b) impose proportionate fines and (c) have an appeals process that is clear and easy to use.

The Government recognises the need for high standards in the private parking industry and is committed to delivering a Code of Practice, in accordance with The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019. We will ensure the Code provides the best possible protection for motorists while giving parking companies the tools to manage their facilities effectively. We are currently reviewing all options and will announce our plans regarding the Government Code in due course.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the age limits for soldiers and officers to rejoin the Army Reserves.

The Minister for Veterans and People has commissioned an internal review in Defence to ensure that we are making the most of the unique contribution our Reserve Forces offer. The review will examine the Reserves landscape and will include some aspects of their terms and conditions of Service.

Whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing blue badge holders to temporarily use an expired badge while its renewal is being processed.

The Department has no plans to allow the temporary use of an expired Blue Badge. It is an offence to use an expired badge which should be returned to the issuing local authority. Allowing the use of expired badges would undermine the effective enforcement of the scheme.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the supply of HRT products in Kent.

The Department manages medicine supply issues at a national level so that stocks remain available to meet regional and local demand. Information on stock levels within Kent is not held centrally.There are over 70 hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products, and the vast majority are in good supply. Previously there has been issues with the supply of a limited number of these products, primarily driven by very sharp increases in demand. Following the Department’s intensive engagement with industry, the supply position has improved considerably. As part of this we have met with suppliers on a very regular basis and have held seven HRT supply roundtables since April 2022, with the most recent in September 2024, with suppliers, wholesalers, and community pharmacists, to provide updates on the supply position and actions being taken to address them, to share data, and to discuss relevant policy developments and potential impacts.We are aware of the supply issues affecting Estradot (estradiol) 50 microgram/24 hour, 75 microgram/24 hour, and 100 microgram/24 hour patches, for which we have issued comprehensive management guidance to the National Health Service, including Serious Shortage Protocols allowing community pharmacists to supply the equivalent strength patch of an alternative brand without the need for a new prescription. Alternative brands of estradiol patches remain available. There are also shortages for Indivina® 1mg/2.5mg and 1mg/5mg tablets until mid-April and a discontinuation of Tridestra® tablets which we have also communicated to the NHS. Alternative combined continuous and cyclical preparations of oral HRT products remain available.

What steps she is taking to improve the provision of bus services in (a) Ashford constituency and (b) Kent.

The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England, including in Kent. The government has committed to increasing accountability by including a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services. In addition, 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. Kent County Council has been allocated over £23 million of this funding. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Highways Agency on increasing the height of the railings on the A28 overbridge over the M20 between junctions 9 and 10.

There have not been recent discussions between the Secretary of State and National Highways on increasing the height of the railings on the A28 overbridge over the M20 between junctions 9 and 10. Both the Department and National Highways take the issue of safety very seriously and are committed to improving the Strategic Road Network (SRN) to provide a safer network. The raising of bridge parapets (safety barriers/railings along the edge of bridges) is not always a straightforward piece of work and can typically require complete replacement of the bridge structure. National Highways usually undertakes this type of work on a priority basis across the whole of the SRN.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the criteria for the eligibility of the Winter Fuel allowance to include pensioners who have received a terminal diagnosis.

Linking Winter Fuel eligibility to Pension Credit and other means tested benefits for pensioners, ensures the least well-off pensioners still receive the help they need; this includes people with a terminal illness who are eligible. There are no plans to change the eligibility criteria. The Department supports people nearing the end of life through the Special Rules for End of Life. These enable people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to certain benefits, without needing to attend a medical assessment or serve waiting periods. In most cases they receive the highest rate of benefit. For many years, the Special Rules have applied to people who have six months or less to live and have now been changed so they apply to people who have 12 months or less to live.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) police officers and (b) public-facing police staff participating in mandatory autism awareness and sensitivity training.

Training on mental ill health and autism is already integrated throughout the initial police learning programme which all new recruits must complete.Policing is operationally independent, and it is a matter for the chief constables of each force to decide which additional training their officers should undertake.The National Police Chiefs’ Council has produced an e-learning course on neurodiversity, which are available to all police officers.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) teachers and (b) other teaching staff participating in mandatory autism awareness and sensitivity training.

As set out in the cross-government autism strategy (2021 to 2026), the government wants to improve understanding and acceptance of autism and for public sector services to become more autism-inclusive.Under the Equality Act 2010, public sector organisations, including schools, are required to make changes in their approach or provision to ensure that services are accessible to disabled people as well as to everybody else.There is work underway in the department to improve autism awareness. High quality, evidence-based teaching is critical in ensuring that the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are met effectively.The Teachers’ Standards set clear expectations that teachers must understand the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND. The department funds the £12 million Universal Services Programme, which helps the school and further education workforce to identify the needs of pupils with SEND earlier and more effectively. The programme includes autism training, delivered by Autism Education Trust training partners, to over 200,000 education professionals so far.Also, following the recent review, the initial teacher training and early career framework (ITTECF), which was published in January 2024, contains significantly more content related to adaptive teaching and supporting pupils with SEND.The department is committing to a full review of the delivery of the early career teacher (ECT) entitlement, including the content of the ITTECF, in 2027 to ensure it continues to provide the best possible support for ECTs based on the most up-to date-evidence. This review will focus on increasing support for mentors, as well as for teaching pupils with SEND.In education settings, school staff can access a range of training as appropriate to their career stage. Training to support pupils with autism should include information on how to access health and social care as necessary.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of ensuring that all public-facing transport staff participate in mandatory autism awareness and sensitivity training.

This Government wants to focus on how transport can be designed, built and operated to better serve the people who use it – delivering on our pledge to put people at the heart of what we do on transport and enabling them to live healthy, fulfilling lives without barriers to opportunity.The Government is committed to delivering a transport network which allows disabled people, including those with less visible impairments, such as autism, to travel easily and confidently, with dignity and without extra cost.Having clear accountability and appropriately trained staff acting to support passengers, whether disabled or not, to make the journeys they want and need to make is essential. To support this, many staff working on our public transport network already undertake disability awareness training.The Government expects Local Authorities and Transport Operators to lead this process and we want to empower them to do this. That is why we are bringing forward the Bus Services (No.2) Bill, and undertaking wider reform on our railway, including the establishment of Great British Railways with a customer-focused culture.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of ensuring that public-facing (a) leisure and (b) sports staff participate in mandatory autism awareness and sensitivity training.

As set out in the cross-government autism strategy (2021-2026), we want to improve understanding and acceptance of autism, and for public sector services to become more autism-inclusive.Under the Equality Act 2010, public sector organisations are required to make changes in their approach or provision to ensure that services are accessible to disabled people as well as to everybody else.The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) is the professional development body for the UK’s sport and physical activity sector. It is committed to supporting, developing and enabling professionals and organisations to inspire our nation to become more active.CIMSPA provides access to many resources and training programmes which explore how people with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) can be supported in sport and physical activity.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with local authorities on the implications of developers failing to meet their commitments in planning agreements under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

The government is clear that developers must deliver on their planning obligations. Section 106 planning obligations are legal agreements, and a local planning authority may take enforcement action in respect of any breach of the obligations contained within them. Enforcement is at the discretion of the local planning authority, and therefore it is for the local planning authority to decide whether enforcement action is appropriate in each case.The government is committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 21357 on Large Goods Vehicles: Concrete, what her Department's planned timetable is for publishing its findings.

The Department will publish its findings shortly.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of ensuring that adults aged over 60 with pre-existing conditions are included in the respiratory syncytial virus vaccination programme.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) keeps all vaccine programmes under review and will continue to update its advice as new evidence emerges. In October 2024, the JCVI agreed that it would need to formally review, in detail, the evidence for a potential extension to the programme for the very elderly and risk groups in those aged less than 75 years old. This review would be undertaken by the JCVI respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) sub-committee.The Department will consider any future JCVI advice on who should be offered an RSV immunisation. Once published, minutes of JCVI meetings are available on the GOV.UK website, at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation#sub-committee-membership-and-minutes

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) support and (b) resources available to the (i) Sea Cadets, (ii) Volunteer Cadet Corps, (iii) Army Cadet Force, (iv) Air Training Corps and (v) Combined Cadet Force in (A) England and (B) Kent.

We are committed to sustaining the Ministry of Defence Cadet Forces in Kent, in England, and across the UK. And Kent, as with other counties, is very well served with numerous Sea Cadet units, Army Cadet detachments and Air Cadet squadrons in the community, and Combined Cadet Force contingents in schools. We know that participation in the Cadet Forces provides the opportunity for young people to develop key attributes such as confidence, self-discipline, and resilience, and helps to increase their performance at school and improving employment and career prospects. We know that if just 1% of cadets change their life outcomes each year – so that they take part in education or training or gain employment – then the annual cost of the Cadet Forces is covered. We are proud that we already invest a significant amount each year in these excellent organisations, and I have directed that we review how we can improve the offer and size of the Cadet Forces. The Government is convinced of the benefits that the Cadet Forces provide, not just for young people who participate, but also for the adult volunteers who deliver the cadet experience, and for society as a whole.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of cadet forces on the (i) mental health and (ii) wellbeing of young people.

The Ministry of Defence has commissioned studies on the impact and value of the Cadet Forces to society and to schools. This independent research provides clear evidence that the cadet experience is not only engaging and fun but can, for some, be literally life changing. We know that by participating in the cadets, young people can develop many important attributes and key life skills such as the ability to work well in a team, self-confidence, resilience and determination. All these contribute to positive health and wellbeing outcomes for the participants. In fact, the research indicates that in terms of health and wellbeing alone participation in the Cadet Forces could yield significant annual returns on investment estimated as being in the region of £120 million each year. This being due to lifetime benefits accruing from increasing participation in further and higher education, fewer GP visits, and reductions in the use of mental health services.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of statutory safeguard training for (a) private hire and (b) taxi drivers under the Police and Crime Act 2017.

The Policing and Crime Act 2017 enables the Secretary of State for Transport to issue statutory guidance to licensing authorities on exercising their taxi and private hire vehicle licensing functions to protect children and vulnerable adults. Statutory guidance was published in 2020 under these powers. This means that all licensing authorities should provide safeguarding advice and guidance to the sector and should require all taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to undertake safeguarding training. Licensing authorities are responsible for deciding the content and format of such training.

What steps he is taking to reduce accident and emergency waiting times in hospitals in East Kent.

The Government recognises the pressures on the National Health Service during the winter period and the impact this is having on accident and emergency waiting times, including in hospitals in East Kent.We are committed to supporting the NHS to improve performance and achieve the standards set out in the NHS Constitution but must be clear that there are no quick fixes.However, we are determined to turn things around through investment and reform. My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced £25.6 billion of additional healthcare funding over the next two years, and we will set out an urgent and emergency care improvement plan shortly, as well as a 10-Year Health Plan to radically reform the NHS and build a health service that is fit for the future.

If her Department will publish a timeline for the introduction of mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting.

As set out in the King’s Speech in July, the government is committed to introducing mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting for large employers. These measures will be part of the upcoming Equality (Race and Disability) Bill, which will be published in draft in this parliamentary session We will shortly be consulting on our proposals to help us shape the legislation and will announce further details on timing in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage local authorities to include the recycling of small electrical items as part of household waste collections.

The Waste Electronics and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) regulations make producers responsible for the electrical products they place on the market when they become waste. As part of this producers can pay into the WEEE Compliance Fee fund that provides project funding for local authorities seeking to provide more recycling opportunities for local residents. It also funds consumer awareness campaigns highlighting the importance of properly disposing of their electrical waste. According to Material Focus, 100 local authorities in the United Kingdom operate Kerbside collection for small electricals.