Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to help ensure that military families looking to foster a child have adequate housing to meet the criteria required by fostering organisations.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Defence continually reviews its accommodation policies to ensure they are suitable for modern families. All Service personnel who are active foster carers are entitled to accommodation as necessary to support them fostering children. Families wanting to foster a child for the first time are eligible to apply for suitable accommodation where it is available.
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation is committed to providing personnel and their families with high quality, modern and well-maintained accommodation.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the revised covid-19 autumn 2025 vaccination eligibility criteria on vulnerable patients with underlying health conditions.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government’s policy on groups eligible for vaccination programmes is based on the advice of the independent expert body, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Over time, the risk from COVID-19 has reduced across the United Kingdom population, through exposure to the virus, changes in the virus and vaccination.
The JCVI carefully considered the latest evidence on the risk of illness, serious disease in specific groups, as well as cost-effectiveness analysis, to provide the Government with advice on the autumn 2025 programme. The evidence indicates that whilst the risk from COVID-19 is now much lower for most people, adults aged 75 years old and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and those who are immunosuppressed are those at highest risk of serious COVID-19 disease. A more targeted vaccination programme, aimed at individuals, with a higher risk of developing serious disease, and where vaccination was considered potentially cost-effective, was advised for autumn 2025.
Whilst current COVID-19 vaccines provide good protection against hospitalisation and/or death for those at highest risk, they provide very limited protection against acquiring COVID-19 infection or mild illness, meaning any potential public health benefit of reducing transmission is much less evident.
Long term health consequences following COVID-19 infection, including post-COVID syndromes, such as long COVID, have been discussed at meetings of the JCVI. It remains uncertain whether getting extra COVID-19 vaccine doses has any effect on the chances of developing long COVID, how it progresses, or how it affects people.
The JCVI has proactively published an updated list of Research Recommendations, encouraging future investigations on the exploration of data and evidence on the benefit of vaccination amongst post-COVID syndromes, and those with underlying medical conditions who are not currently eligible.
The JCVI keeps all vaccination programmes under review. Accordingly, the Government will consider any additional advice from the JCVI in due course. Further information on the details of the modelling and analysis considered are within the 2025 and spring 2026 advice, on the GOV.UK website.
Information is collected on hospital bed occupancy and on the reason for hospital admissions. It is, however, not possible to determine which admissions associated with COVID-19 were for individuals who were eligible for vaccination in autumn 2024 but no longer eligible in autumn 2025.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will hold discussions with the National House Building Council on protecting homeowners from registered property developers who repeatedly set up new businesses and fail to complete property builds.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department engages regularly with the National House Building Council and is committed to improving upon existing means of redress for new build homebuyers for when things go wrong. This includes bringing into force a statutory New Homes Ombudsman scheme with accompanying Code of Practice.
We are also changing incentives in the housing market and giving local authorities the tools they need to speed up delivery.
On 25 May, we published the Speeding Up Build Out working paper, which sets out proposals to increase build out rates. This includes incentivising and supporting models of development that build out faster, giving local authorities tools to agree and monitor build out rates and potentially giving local authorities the ability to charge developers a ‘Delayed Homes Penalty’.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the penalty for driving without (a) a license and (b) L plates.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
This Government takes road safety seriously. We are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads.
We are considering a range of policies under the new Road Safety Strategy, the first for 10 years. This includes the case for changing motoring offences.
More details will be published in due course.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) parish and (b) district councils to improve access to disabled toilet facilities in rural communities.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Local authorities are best placed to assess and manage toilet provision and location.
However, through our £30.5 million Changing Places Toilet programme, we have supported the installation of 483 new disabled toilet facilities across 220 local authority areas in England. This targeted investment helped address gaps where provision was limited or non-existent, particularly in rural towns and coastal areas.
Although this programme closed on 31 March 2025, changes to building regulations have made it mandatory to include Changing Places facilities in new public buildings (or those undergoing major redevelopment) that fall above a certain size threshold. This aims to significantly increase the availability of these vital facilities over time and makes accessibility a mainstream consideration in how we plan and build our public spaces.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) vulnerable adults and (b) adults with learning difficulties are adequately supported in managing rent payments under Universal Credit in cases where direct payments to landlords have been cancelled and individuals are unable to manage the new arrangements independently.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Housing costs can be paid direct to landlords at any point during a Universal Credit claim where the claimant is vulnerable or has rent arrears or there is a risk of eviction. The need for such an arrangement may be identified by DWP staff or requested by the claimant, their appointee, caseworker or landlord.
Landlord payments are only removed where claimants are able to manage their own affairs or where they ask for this and we are satisfied that it’s in their best interests.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Home Office's document entitled Statement of changes in immigration rules, published on 1 July 2025, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that vacancies in social care settings can be filled.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Although overseas recruitment for adult social care ended as of 22 July 2025, for a transition period until 2028, in-country switching for those already in the country and working legally for their employers will be permitted. This means, for example, that care providers will continue to be able to recruit those who want to switch from student or graduate visas, who we know have provided a vital role in workforce capacity in recent years. This approach will be kept under review.
International workers who are already sponsored to work legally in the sector by the end of the transition period will be able to continue to extend their stay, change sponsors and when qualified, apply to settle. These arrangements include those who need to switch employers following a sponsor licence revocation. The Department is providing up to £12.5 million this financial year to 15 regional partnerships to help support workers affected by licence revocation into alternative, ethical employment.
More broadly, we recognise the scale of reform needed to make adult social care attractive as a career and are determined to ensure those who work in care are respected as professionals. That is why we are introducing new Fair Pay Agreements for adult social care workers, with legislation currently going through Parliament, implementing the first universal career structure for adult social care. We are also providing £12 million this year for staff to complete training and qualifications. These changes will help attract staff to the sector, providing proper recognition and opportunities for them to build their careers.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) a nationwide implementation of a digital verification tool to ensure only qualified professionals can purchase gas critical products or parts and (b) a UK inventory register of gas critical products and parts to support this.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Gas Safe Register (GSR) operates under an agreement with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to maintain the register of businesses and operatives who are competent to undertake gas work in the UK. It is a requirement under GSR’s Rules of Registration for engineers to carry an in-date, valid ID card which displays who the holder is, and what gas work they are competent to perform. HSE continues to advise consumers to always verify the identity and credentials of engineers or persons entering their property.
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations (1998) requires gas-fuelled appliances to be installed by a competent and Gas Safe Registered engineer. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has no power to restrict online or physical sale of gas appliances or parts. HSE strongly advises that gas appliances, flues and pipework are installed, regularly maintained and serviced at least annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring all operatives entering a UK home to undertake gas work to display their Gas Safe Register accreditation and ID.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Gas Safe Register (GSR) operates under an agreement with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to maintain the register of businesses and operatives who are competent to undertake gas work in the UK. It is a requirement under GSR’s Rules of Registration for engineers to carry an in-date, valid ID card which displays who the holder is, and what gas work they are competent to perform. HSE continues to advise consumers to always verify the identity and credentials of engineers or persons entering their property.
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations (1998) requires gas-fuelled appliances to be installed by a competent and Gas Safe Registered engineer. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has no power to restrict online or physical sale of gas appliances or parts. HSE strongly advises that gas appliances, flues and pipework are installed, regularly maintained and serviced at least annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of early morning rail connectivity from North East Hampshire to (a) Gatwick Airport and (b) East Croydon.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Rail services between North East Hampshire and Gatwick Airport are provided by Great Western Railway (GWR) via the North Downs Line between Reading and Gatwick Airport via Guildford and Redhill. There are no direct services from North East Hampshire to East Croydon.
Passengers for East Croydon on this route or from North East Hampshire would need to change trains at Redhill or Gatwick Airport for services to East Croydon via the Brighton Main Line. The Department for Transport is open to proposals for service enhancements that provide improvements for passengers, improve performance, and reduce net subsidy.