Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits geothermal heat systems which use the water in flooded former coalmines.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to him on 20^th October 2025 to Question UIN 7797.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on how many occasions the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has withdrawn driving licences after receiving notification that the licence holder was medically unfit to drive in the last 5 years.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

It is vital for road safety that, when the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is made aware of a condition that could affect an individual’s ability to drive safely, they ensure that the required medical standards are met before a licence is issued.

The table below shows the number of Group 1 (car and motorcycle) and Group 2 (bus and lorry) driving licences that were revoked or an application refused between 2021 and 2025. Driving licences can be revoked or an application refused following a medical investigation carried out when the DVLA is informed of a medical condition by either the licence holder or a third party. A licence holder who had both Group 1 and Group 2 driving entitlements revoked or refused will be included in the figures for both groups.

Please note that the figures for 2025 are currently incomplete. The figure in the table above reflects those cases that can currently be accurately categorised as revoked or refused in 2025.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many fixed penalty notices for school absences were issued in Bath, North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire in the last academic year.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

For unauthorised school absences during the 2024/25 academic year, Bath and North East Somerset issued 1,014 penalty notices and South Gloucestershire issued 2,043 penalty notices.

A new national framework for penalty notices came into effect from August 2024 designed to embed our support-first approach and improve consistency and fairness across the country.

Our statutory guidance on attendance makes clear that legal intervention, including prosecution, should only be considered where support has been exhausted, not engaged with or, in the cases of term-time holidays, is not appropriate. The guidance sets out clear expectations on how schools, local authorities and wider services should work together to support attendance for all children.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of persistent absence in schools in South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Absence is a key barrier to opportunity. For children to achieve and thrive they need to be in school. The department is committed to improving the attendance of all pupils. Thanks to the efforts of the sector, we saw record improvements in 2024/25 with around 150,000 fewer children persistently absent nationally.

The department publishes figures from the school census on pupil absence in England. The latest data covers the 2024/25 academic year and is published here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/pupil-absence-in-schools-in-england/2024-25.

Published data for the percentage of pupils classified as persistent absentees (defined as missing 10% or more of possible sessions) in schools in South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset since the 2018/19 academic year is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/87184f2c-0671-4abc-c9f4-08dee0eeb30d.

Full year absence statistics for 2019/20 were not published due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of mobile signal coverage on GWR trains.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department has not made a specific assessment of the adequacy of mobile signal coverage on Great Western Railway (GWR) services. However, the Department has secured funding to deploy low earth orbit satellite technology on mainline trains which will significantly improve the on-train Wi-Fi for rail passengers, this will include long-distance services across GWR. Pending final Treasury approval, Officials at the Department for Transport Operator (DFTO) are planning to begin the procurement and design work for this in the second half of this year. DFTO is also repeating an exercise to capture the measurement of 4G and 5G signal strength across the rail corridor and expects the full data to be available early in the new year. This will be published online.

The Peninsula Taskforce and GWR successfully trialled enhanced Wi-Fi on an Intercity Express train, using low earth orbit satellite technology. The trial demonstrated significantly stronger Wi-Fi connectivity, higher data capacity and received positive feedback from passengers.

Network Rail’s Project Reach will also address mobile coverage in 57 tunnels across the rail network.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of modern capital instruments to enable non-member investment in co-operatives.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government wants to ensure that the law governing co-operatives and community benefit societies supports their growth. That is why the Government is funding the Law Commission’s independent review of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. The review is considering ways to update and modernise the legislation, ensuring that it fits the nature and needs of these societies and that regulation is proportionate and effective. This includes consideration of whether shares may be issued with varying rights and to non-user investors.

Once published, the Government will carefully consider the Law Commission’s recommendations to understand whether reform is needed to support these businesses to grow and succeed in the future. The Government is committed to unlocking the full potential of the mutual and co-operative sector to support inclusive growth and we continue to engage regularly with the sector to address the barriers to the sector’s growth

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to support the growth of co-operatives in North East Somerset and Hanham constituency.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to supporting the growth of the co-operatives and mutuals sector and recognises its important role in driving competition, financial inclusion and consumer choice. Since Mansion House 2024, the Government has been delivering a multi-year programme of reforms to support its ambition to double the size of the sector over the long term, including in North East Somerset and Hanham.

This includes supporting the sector’s long-term development through the Law Commission’s independent review of co-operative legislation and ongoing engagement with the industry-led Mutual and Co-operative Sector Business Council. The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade is also considering responses to its call for evidence on how the government can continue to support co-operatives and non-financial mutuals to start, grow and sustain, as well as support existing businesses transition into a co-operative or mutual model. The Government’s approach focuses on removing barriers to growth and creating the conditions for sustainable expansion across the sector.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress the Co-operative Development Unit has made in promoting co-operative and community ownership in the West of England.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My Department is working across government to deliver our manifesto commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutuals sector, following the commitment to establish a Co-operatives Development Unit in the Pride in Place Strategy.

The government has also introduced a new Pride in Place Community Right to Buy Fund that will support communities in taking advantage of the Community Right to Buy, created by our English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support community ownership of local assets in the West of England.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Community spaces have a significant role to play in developing social networks, encouraging community participation, and promoting civic pride. Through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026, we are empowering communities with the introduction of a new Community Right to Buy, giving them the first opportunity to purchase Assets of Community Value when they are put up for sale by their owner.

We are currently developing the wider regulatory framework to implement the new powers and more information will be announced in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the development of the National Care Service meets the needs of autistic adults who require long-term social care support.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

On 29 July, the Prime Minister set out his objectives to reform the social care system, and brought forward the timetable for Baroness Casey’s commission to inform that reform programme. More information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-sets-out-new-path-to-fix-social-care-together-29-july-2026

All aspects of the current system will be reviewed as part of that process, and we will continue to update Parliament on a regular basis.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support high streets in North East Somerset and Hanham constituency.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

To restore high streets, we have announced measures to tackle organised crime, cut business rates for pubs, and stop the spread of vape shops and gambling outlets.

Later this year, we will publish a High Streets Strategy, setting out the longer-term plan for bringing life back to our town centres.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the redeployment opportunities available to long-serving Skill Zone 1 employees in the West of England, including older members of staff.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

The Ministry of Defence has not conducted a specific assessment of redeployment opportunities for long-serving Skill Zone 1 (SZ1) employees in the West of England, including older members of staff.

Opportunities for redeployment are available through vacancies advertised on Civil Service Jobs. In the past two years, one SZ1 vacancy has been advertised in the West of England. There have been nine SZ1 vacancies advertised across the UK over the same period.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support will be provided to caretakers across the Army Reserve and University Officers’ Training Corps estate who need to secure alternative accommodation.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

The Army Caretaker Review remains ongoing and no final decisions have been made. Consultation on the proposed implementation plan is taking place with the recognised trade unions. Affected employees have been informed of the proposal and indicative timeline and will be updated following consultation.

Of the 123 caretakers currently in scope of the review, 89% occupy accommodation linked to their caretaker role. This data is correct as at 1 September 2026. The proposed timetable for vacating linked accommodation, including cases where employment may continue beyond 31 March 2027, remains subject to consultation and implementation planning.

The Department recognises the uncertainty and potential impact on affected caretakers and their families. Housing-related issues, including transitional arrangements and the proposed timetable for vacating tied accommodation, are being considered as part of implementation planning. Requests to remain in accommodation beyond the end of the role, under a different rental agreement, would be considered on a case-by-case basis by the property owner, taking account of Defence requirements, site security, estate plans and individual circumstances.

Affected employees will receive support through line management, Human Resources , trades union representatives and the Employee Assistance Programme. Army caretakers across the UK, will also be encouraged to engage early with local housing authorities and relevant independent advice services where they may need support to secure alternative accommodation.

Work is underway to identify suitable redeployment opportunities within Defence and the wider Civil Service. Redundancy would only be considered where suitable redeployment cannot be secured. Any financial assistance or compensation would be considered in line with the relevant Civil Service compensation scheme provisions and wider departmental policy.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government has made an estimate of the number of organised deer hunts that operated under exemptions relating to the flushing of deer to guns in 2024/25.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

No, this Government has not made such an estimate.

Found: Innovation, growth and the regions Mayor Dan Norris, Mayor of the West of England; Cllr.