Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps are being taken to support more neurodivergent people into suitable employment.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
Government has in place a number of measures that can support better employment outcomes for neurodivergent people.
Our specialist, voluntary, Supported Employment programme, Connect to Work, is for anyone who is disabled, has a health condition or is experiencing non-health related barriers to work. Connect to Work has a specialist pathway for neurodivergent and learning-disabled participants, using the well-evidenced Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF). The programme is locally led and will support around 300,000 people by the end of the decade.
In Jobcentres around 1,000 (full time equivalent) Pathways to Work Advisers, provide personalised one-to-one support to disabled and neurodivergent customers, and those with health conditions to help customers identify and overcome obstacles which may stop them from moving towards or into work or to access employment and wider skills support, and our employment programmes.
Practical workplace support is also available through Access to Work, a demand-led, personalised discretionary grant delivered across Great Britain. It supports workplace adjustments that go beyond an employer’s responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010. The scheme is available to people with disabilities or health conditions, including neurodivergent conditions, where these affect their ability to work.
Alongside support for individuals, DWP administers the GB-wide Disability Confident scheme, encouraging employers to create disability inclusive workplaces and to support disabled people to get work and get on in work. It provides employers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to attract, recruit, retain and develop disabled people in the workplace.
In 2025, DWP launched an independent advisory panel of academics with expertise and lived experiences of neurodiversity to consider the reasons why neurodivergent people often have poor experiences in the workplace, and a low overall employment rate. In addition, between January and March this year, DWP funded the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service to run a limited series of neurodivergence masterclasses for employers to attend free of charge. This was to address employer and line manager skill and confidence in recruiting and supporting neurodivergent individuals at work. Over 1,800 representatives of employers attended these masterclasses.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps have been taken to ensure staff at the National Careers Service and Jobcentre Plus can adequately support neurodivergent people.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
In England, the National Careers Service currently supports adults with SEND and disabilities as a priority group, including many neurodivergent people. They can access careers information and advice through the website, webchat and telephone line, as well as accessing in-depth advice and guidance from professionally qualified careers advisers through the community-based offer.
As part of the new Jobs and Careers service from 1st October, support will be more inclusive and tailored to individual needs to help people find, progress and stay in work. This includes our recently launched digital tools, known as the Work Hub, designed to help everyone access online support, including an online AI work assistant, CV builder and a new job search tool. We are also upskilling our colleagues to deliver high-quality, personalised employment support through our Get Britain Working Coaching Academy. Our qualified careers advisers will focus on providing in-depth advice and guidance to customers who face greater barriers to working or learning, regardless of whether they are claiming benefits. This includes neurodivergent people.
In terms of Jobcentre Plus support, there are around 1,000 (full time equivalent) Pathways to Work Advisers in place in Jobcentres across England, Scotland and Wales, providing personalised one-to-one support to disabled customers and those with health conditions.
To ensure customers with complex barriers receive the right support from Jobcentres, Disability Employment Advisers help work coaches and Pathways to Work Advisers tailor their support to help customers with long-term health conditions and disabilities move closer or into the labour market.
Jobcentre Plus Recruitment Consultants can signpost to specialist programmes like Connect to Work, which provides intensive support to people with complex barriers to employment, including people who are neurodivergent.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
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 reasons for the current waitlist for Cancer patients awaiting treatment.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises that patients are waiting longer than they should for diagnosis and treatment. With increasing numbers of urgent cancer referrals, we are committed to ensuring that everyone has timely access to high-quality treatments and diagnostic services when they need it.
The National Cancer Plan sets a clear ambition to meet all cancer waiting time standards by the end of this Parliament, ensuring patients get faster diagnosis and treatment, including those with breast cancer. We will achieve this through a modernised, more productive cancer pathway, expanding diagnostic capacity, harnessing technology, and giving the most challenged trusts intensive support to deliver the improvements patients rightly expect.
We are taking a range of steps to improve access to imaging, including expanding capacity through community diagnostic centres, which are providing millions of additional tests, in convenient community settings.
£70 million has been invested into new state of the art linear accelerator radiotherapy machines, to replace older, less efficient machines. This vital investment demonstrates our commitment to improving radiotherapy services and will ensure that the most advanced treatments are available to patients who need it.
The Department would also like to clarify remarks made during the Health and Social Care oral parliamentary questions session on 26 February 2026 regarding cancer treatment statistics. In response to the Hon. Member for Easington's question, the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care noted that investment in radiotherapy machines and cutting waiting lists will allow 27,500 more patients to be treated each year. The correct statistic is that the measures will allow 27,500 additional treatments each year. The Department apologises for the error.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the wait time for (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment for patients with cancer.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises that patients are waiting longer than they should for diagnosis and treatment. With increasing numbers of urgent cancer referrals, we are committed to ensuring that everyone has timely access to high-quality treatments and diagnostic services when they need it.
The National Cancer Plan sets a clear ambition to meet all cancer waiting time standards by the end of this Parliament, ensuring patients get faster diagnosis and treatment, including those with breast cancer. We will achieve this through a modernised, more productive cancer pathway, expanding diagnostic capacity, harnessing technology, and giving the most challenged trusts intensive support to deliver the improvements patients rightly expect.
We are taking a range of steps to improve access to imaging, including expanding capacity through community diagnostic centres, which are providing millions of additional tests, in convenient community settings.
£70 million has been invested into new state of the art linear accelerator radiotherapy machines, to replace older, less efficient machines. This vital investment demonstrates our commitment to improving radiotherapy services and will ensure that the most advanced treatments are available to patients who need it.
The Department would also like to clarify remarks made during the Health and Social Care oral parliamentary questions session on 26 February 2026 regarding cancer treatment statistics. In response to the Hon. Member for Easington's question, the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care noted that investment in radiotherapy machines and cutting waiting lists will allow 27,500 more patients to be treated each year. The correct statistic is that the measures will allow 27,500 additional treatments each year. The Department apologises for the error.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) powers and (b) resources of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency to enforce compliance with Construction and Use Regulations relating to (i) trailers lengths and (ii) abnormal load configurations.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport, through the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), collects data on non-compliant vehicles, trailers and load configurations through roadside inspections and targeted enforcement activity. This includes offences and defects relating to roadworthiness, vehicle dimensions, weight limits, load security and compliance with the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. Information on enforcement action, including prohibitions, fixed penalties and prosecutions, is also recorded.
DVSA has powers under road traffic legislation to stop, inspect, weigh and prohibit non-compliant vehicles. DVSA conducts enforcement activities using a targeted enforcement approach, using Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology and intelligence and data insights, to focus resources on the operators and vehicles posing the greatest risk to road safety. DVSA officers are trained and accredited to exercise these powers, and enforcement policies and operational guidance are kept under review to ensure they remain effective and proportionate.
In 2025-26, DVSA detected 28,837 serious roadworthiness defects and traffic offences through its enforcement activity, demonstrating the continued effectiveness of its targeted approach to improving compliance and road safety.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her Department collects on the use of non-compliant (a) vehicles, (b) trailers and (c) load configurations on the road network.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport, through the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), collects data on non-compliant vehicles, trailers and load configurations through roadside inspections and targeted enforcement activity. This includes offences and defects relating to roadworthiness, vehicle dimensions, weight limits, load security and compliance with the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. Information on enforcement action, including prohibitions, fixed penalties and prosecutions, is also recorded.
DVSA has powers under road traffic legislation to stop, inspect, weigh and prohibit non-compliant vehicles. DVSA conducts enforcement activities using a targeted enforcement approach, using Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology and intelligence and data insights, to focus resources on the operators and vehicles posing the greatest risk to road safety. DVSA officers are trained and accredited to exercise these powers, and enforcement policies and operational guidance are kept under review to ensure they remain effective and proportionate.
In 2025-26, DVSA detected 28,837 serious roadworthiness defects and traffic offences through its enforcement activity, demonstrating the continued effectiveness of its targeted approach to improving compliance and road safety.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of (a) vehicles, (b) trailers and (c) load configurations operating outside the requirements of Construction and Use Regulations on road safety.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The UK has historically been a global leader in road safety. However, the government recognises that there is always more that can be done to build a safer future for all road users. That is why we published our new Road Safety Strategy earlier this year, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all.
Vehicles or vehicle configurations that exceed the limits set out in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 are classified as abnormal and indivisible loads and these are regulated under the Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) Order 2003. As these vehicles are typically heavier and/or larger than is allowed for standard vehicles, hauliers must notify the police, local highway authorities, and bridge or structure owners prior to beginning their route. Depending on the width and overall size, these vehicle movements may require attendants, pilot cars, or police escorts. Operators must also provide indemnities to highway and bridge authorities for potential road wear or infrastructure damage.
Any vehicle which exceeds any of the requirements under the Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) Order 2003 needs specific authorisation, via a Vehicle Special Order issued under Section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. This authorisation allows the vehicle to be used legally on public roads despite its non-compliance.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of non-compliance with Construction and Use Regulations on competition in the haulage and logistics sector.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The department has not made a specific assessment of the impact of non-compliance with the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 on competition in the haulage and logistics sector. Compliance with vehicle standards is enforced through DVSA's roadside enforcement activity and the operator licensing regime overseen by the Traffic Commissioners. The government expects all operators to comply with the legal requirements that apply to them to ensure fairness and safety.
DVSA adopts an intelligence-led approach to enforcement, targeting resources towards areas of greatest risk and non-compliance. This approach is intended to maximise the effectiveness of enforcement activity while avoiding unnecessary burdens on compliant operators.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to review the adequacy of current legislation relating to the accountability of corporate entities that benefit from transport operations involving (a) vehicles, (b) trailers or (c) load configurations that do not comply with statutory Construction and Use Regulations.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport takes compliance with vehicle, trailer and load safety requirements seriously. Existing legislation provides enforcement powers and sanctions where statutory requirements are breached. We keep the effectiveness of the legislative framework under review, but there are currently no plans to undertake a specific review of the accountability of corporate entities who use transport operators in relation to breaches of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations.
Where operators fail to comply with relevant legal requirements, Traffic Commissioners may take action against their operator licence, including curtailment, suspension or revocation.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps are being taken to ensure that solar panel installation can be scaled to cover new build properties.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government published the Future Homes and Buildings Standards (FHBS) on 24 March 2026. New homes built to these standards will have high levels of energy-efficiency, excellent insulation, and low carbon heating, such as heat pumps and heat networks. They will also be zero-carbon ready, meaning they will become zero-carbon in operation as the electricity grid decarbonises without the need for further retrofit.
The FHBS includes a functional requirement for all new homes to have a system of on-site renewable electricity generation, subject to practical site constraints. In most cases, we expect this will be met with the installation of solar panels. The FHBS sets energy efficiency requirements for new homes in performance terms, without prescribing specific technologies to be used. This allows developers to innovate and select the most practical and cost-effective solutions appropriate for the site.
The FHBS comes into force for most non-higher risk building work on 24 March 2027, followed by a further 12-month transitional period to give industries, such as the solar installation industry, time to prepare to meet the demand.