Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to introduce enhanced screening and background checks for vehicle registration plate suppliers, including criminal record checks where appropriate.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government recognises the impact of number plate crime and is committed to addressing this issue. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) works closely with police forces and the National Police Chiefs’ Council to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime.

As part of its Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026, the Government has sought views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect, altered or false number plate. The consultation closed on 11 May and responses are being considered.

The DVLA is also considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier process, which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers and the plates they supply. Options being considered include reviewing fees, scheme structure, resources and funding.

The DVLA uses its social media pages to warn the public of the importance of only buying number plates from a registered supplier and on gov.uk contains information that advises drivers where their nearest suppliers are and what they need to do to purchase new plates.

The Home Office is responsible for police funding. The DVLA offers support and training for police forces on the illegal display and supply of number plates.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has considered increasing penalties available for the manufacture, supply and use of illegal vehicle registration plates.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government recognises the impact of number plate crime and is committed to addressing this issue. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) works closely with police forces and the National Police Chiefs’ Council to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime.

As part of its Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026, the Government has sought views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect, altered or false number plate. The consultation closed on 11 May and responses are being considered.

The DVLA is also considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier process, which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers and the plates they supply. Options being considered include reviewing fees, scheme structure, resources and funding.

The DVLA uses its social media pages to warn the public of the importance of only buying number plates from a registered supplier and on gov.uk contains information that advises drivers where their nearest suppliers are and what they need to do to purchase new plates.

The Home Office is responsible for police funding. The DVLA offers support and training for police forces on the illegal display and supply of number plates.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will introduce mandatory vehicle registration plate compliance checks as part of the MOT testing regime.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Vehicle registration plate compliance checks are already included within the MOT test. Registration plates are inspected to ensure they are legible, correctly displayed and comply with legal requirements, and non-compliant plates can result in an MOT failure.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to raise public awareness of the risks associated with purchasing vehicle registration plates from unauthorised and non-compliant suppliers.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government recognises the impact of number plate crime and is committed to addressing this issue. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) works closely with police forces and the National Police Chiefs’ Council to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime.

As part of its Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026, the Government has sought views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect, altered or false number plate. The consultation closed on 11 May and responses are being considered.

The DVLA is also considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier process, which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers and the plates they supply. Options being considered include reviewing fees, scheme structure, resources and funding.

The DVLA uses its social media pages to warn the public of the importance of only buying number plates from a registered supplier and on gov.uk contains information that advises drivers where their nearest suppliers are and what they need to do to purchase new plates.

The Home Office is responsible for police funding. The DVLA offers support and training for police forces on the illegal display and supply of number plates.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to fund police technology, capability and training to assist police forces in detecting and enforcing offences relating to illegal vehicle registration plates.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government recognises the impact of number plate crime and is committed to addressing this issue. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) works closely with police forces and the National Police Chiefs’ Council to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime.

As part of its Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026, the Government has sought views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect, altered or false number plate. The consultation closed on 11 May and responses are being considered.

The DVLA is also considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier process, which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers and the plates they supply. Options being considered include reviewing fees, scheme structure, resources and funding.

The DVLA uses its social media pages to warn the public of the importance of only buying number plates from a registered supplier and on gov.uk contains information that advises drivers where their nearest suppliers are and what they need to do to purchase new plates.

The Home Office is responsible for police funding. The DVLA offers support and training for police forces on the illegal display and supply of number plates.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to ensure that lower-income families are not priced out of decarbonisation.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government's Warm Homes Plan, published earlier this year, represents the biggest public investment in home upgrades in British history, rolling out cost-effective, clean energy technologies that reduce bills including solar, batteries, and heat pumps.

Low-income households can access fully-funded grant support through the Warm Homes: Local Grant, delivered through local authorities, and the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, delivered through social housing providers.

Additionally, universal grants of up to £9,000 are available for heat pump installations through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and the Warm Homes Plan also committed to brand-new scheme offering low interest, government-backed consumer loans supported with £2 billion of public funding, providing further help with upfront costs.

More widely, the Government’s recent Clean Energy public campaign showed a range of low carbon technologies including the likes of electric vehicles increasingly represent the more affordable and practical choice for all consumers, offering significant financial advantages over their fossil fuel counterparts.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she will commit to providing a £7,500 grant for heat batteries.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government response to last year’s public consultation on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme set out that the scheme will begin to provide grants of £2,500 to support the installation of heat batteries once appropriate product and installation standards are in place. There are no plans to alter the grant level at this time.

However, as with all technologies eligible for support under the scheme, the Government continually reviews whether the level of financial support available to consumers remains sufficient, appropriate and aligned with our wider heat decarbonisation objectives.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she agrees with ADE: Demand’s "No Home Left Behind" report findings that public policy should actively support households to install the clean-heat technology, such as compact heat batteries, that best fits their specific home.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is committed to ensuring that there is a good solution for every building and that consumers have access to a range of suitable low-carbon heating technologies.

Through the Warm Homes Plan, which was published earlier this year and represents the biggest public investment in home upgrades in British history, the Government is rolling out cost-effective, clean energy technologies that reduce bills and carbon emissions including solar, batteries, and heat pumps.

Universal grants of up to £9,000 are available for heat pump installations through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and we recently expanded eligibility for the scheme to include grants of up to £2,500 for both air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries.

Low-income households can access fully-funded grant support for various technologies through the Warm Homes: Local Grant, delivered through local authorities, and the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, delivered through social housing providers.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to ADE: Demand’s "No Home Left Behind" report, what role she sees for heat batteries in easing grid pressure and supporting Clean Power 2030.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The government recognises that heat batteries can play a role in decarbonising domestic heating, noting their ability to take advantage of time-of-use electricity tariffs through charging at off-peak times. The government has committed to provide grants through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, with a value of £2,500, that can support the installation of heat batteries, once appropriate product, design and installation standards have been implemented, including robust consumer protections.

Officials within DESNZ are in regular contact with Association for Decentralised Energy, engaging with them on bringing heat batteries onto the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the potential role heat batteries can play within the government’s overall aims.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to strengthen enforcement and prosecution powers available to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency against suppliers who fail to comply with vehicle registration plate regulations.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers and the plates they supply. Options being considered include reviewing fees, scheme structure, resources and funding.

As part of its review of motoring offences, the Department for Transport has also sought views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect, altered or false number plate. The consultation closed on 11 May and responses are being considered.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many operators of ferry routes between England and France have been issued with a surcharge for non-compliance with the Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024 to date.

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

There have not been any surcharges imposed on operators of ferry routes between England and France to date.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she last had discussions with her French counterpart on the enforcement of seafarer rights in the short sea ferry sector.

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

The Secretary of State for Transport last met with the French Minister for Transport on 8 July 2026.

Department for Transport officials have regular discussions with their counterparts in the French government to discuss enforcement of seafarer employment protections.

On 15 September 2025, the UK and France signed a joint declaration on Cross-Channel information exchange and cooperation, committing to further joint working on enforcement of seafarer measures.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Sentencing Act 2026 on the healthcare treatment of offenders who commit minor crimes.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Sentencing Act 2026 will reduce the use of short custodial sentences and expand the use of community-based disposals where appropriate. This creates opportunities to strengthen routes into treatment pathways, including diverting people with mental health, drug and alcohol needs away from the criminal justice system where appropriate.

The Ministry of Justice is working closely with NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), who are responsible for healthcare services in the community, to maximise the impact of the available treatment offer, targeting support where it can have the greatest impact.

Liaison and Diversion services play a vital role ensuring that when people first encounter the justice system, they can be referred into appropriate health or social care pathways to ensure they receive the right support from the first point of contact. In parallel, we are working closely with health partners to increase the use and effectiveness of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements, tackling the root causes of offending behaviour through structured treatment.

We are also launching an additional seven Intensive Supervision Courts (ISCs), which provide an alternative to short custodial sentences by keeping eligible offenders in the community with wraparound support, including drug and alcohol treatment, mental health support and judicial oversight.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with the Department for Education on including Category D driving licence training for coaches within the Skills Bootcamps programme; and what assessment she made of the potential merits of doing so for addressing shortages in the coach industry.

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

The Government recognises that the bus and coach sector has had issues recruiting and retaining drivers in recent years, though intelligence from the sector suggests the shortage of bus drivers has reduced.

The Government is giving local areas greater control of the delivery of Skills Bootcamps in line with its commitment to devolution, supporting local areas to choose which Skills Bootcamps they offer based on the needs of their local employers and economy.

As of the 2026-27 financial year, Mayoral Strategic Authorities can use 100% of their grant, and non-MSAs have the flexibility to use up to 50% of their grant, to deliver Skills Bootcamps in additional sectors.

Decisions on the provision of Skills Bootcamps for Category D coach driver training are therefore a matter for local authorities.

Planned job losses at Greggs plc

Tackling stigma

Publication of the final report of the Right to Food UK Commission

BBC Scotland TV's reductions to services

Cleaners on Merseyrail

Cleaning and catering workers on Transpennine Express

Undercover Policing Inquiry

Wishes for a full and speedy recovery for Pope Leo XIV

Cable Street 90th anniversary

90th anniversary of the Jarrow Crusade

Seafarers and the Employment Rights Act 2025

Post-16 education

67th anniversary of the Auchengeich Colliery Disaster

Taxation of bank windfall profits

Passenger safety, security and accessibility on East West Rail

Industrial action at V&A Museum