Written Questions

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that local authorities consider (a) lighting and (b) personal safety when assessing walking routes to school in Surrey Heath constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to review the presumption that a child can be accompanied by a parent when determining whether a walking route to school is available in Surrey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on evidential standards when measuring walking distances for home-to-school transport eligibility in Surrey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of alternative transport when free home-to-school travel assistance is withdrawn in Surrey Heath constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to review the use by local authorities of Road Safety GB’s Assessment of Walked Routes to Schools Guidelines when determining eligibility for free home-to-school travel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of reviewing the law on unfitness to plead.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of including driving instructors under the position of trust law.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent steps she has taken to ensure retired civil servants receive pension a) quotes and b) payments on time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in what way parental and compassionate leave policies differ in terms of (a) practical application and (b) administrative processes between each branch of the armed forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he takes to ensure that regulations for parental and compassionate leave are communicated to personnel in each branch of the armed forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether commanding officers receive training on implementing parental and compassionate leave policies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) parental and (b) compassionate leave requests were (i) refused, (ii) deferred and (iii) recalled in each branch of the armed forces in 2025.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of moving parental and compassionate leave requests outside of the direct chain of command.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces personnel took paternity leave, broken down by (a) branch of the armed forces and (b) age in each of the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the retention rate is for armed forces personnel who (a) have and (b) have not taken paternity leave.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding her Department has provided to Portsmouth City Council over the past two years for domestic abuse services and to tackle violence against women and girls.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding her Department has provided to Portsmouth City Council over the past two years for domestic abuse services and to tackle violence against women and girls.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many wildfires took place in each local authority in West Yorkshire in each of the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many fires were caused by disposable barbecues in the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many wildfires took place in moorland in the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to protect moorland from wildfires.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to restore moorland damaged by wildfire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he is taking to support more businesses to expand into the high street.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle antisocial behaviour in rural towns and villages.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to expand provision of police in semi-rural and rural areas.