Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has of the adequacy of waiting times for ADI driving tests (a) in Ashfield and (b) nationwide.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
One of the biggest contributing factors to the high waiting times for approved driving instructor (ADI) practical tests is a considerable increase over recent years in the number of people applying to become an ADI. In May 2026, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) received over 1,700 applications from people wanting to start the process of becoming a driving instructor. Demand for ADI tests is further exacerbated by the falling pass rate for the ADI part 3 test, which has fallen from 34.2% in 2023-24 to 27.8% in 2025-26, resulting in more candidates having to retake their test.
DVSA has and continues to recruit additional ADI examiners and has increased its capacity to train new examiners. ADI examiners cover several test centre locations and DVSA deploys them according to demand. To identify areas with higher demand, applicants can place ADI practical tests on hold and nominate their preferred test centre location and date. This helps DVSA deploy examiners where they are most needed. Where appropriate, priority is given to those nearing the end of their two-year qualification period. There are currently 66 potential driving instructors awaiting a test at Ashfield driving test centre.
It is vital that at the beginning of the learning process that PDIs and their trainers plan and structure their training according to the individual’s level of ability and current commitments to allow sufficient time for each of the three qualifying elements. This will also help to set realistic expectations about how much time and money the qualifying process takes and the likelihood of achieving full qualification.
DVSA is currently working through an end-to-end review of the ADI qualification journey and intends to improve the clarity and efficiency of the process while maintaining statutory standards.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve waiting times for ADI driving tests (a) in Ashfield and (b) nationwide.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
One of the biggest contributing factors to the high waiting times for approved driving instructor (ADI) practical tests is a considerable increase over recent years in the number of people applying to become an ADI. In May 2026, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) received over 1,700 applications from people wanting to start the process of becoming a driving instructor. Demand for ADI tests is further exacerbated by the falling pass rate for the ADI part 3 test, which has fallen from 34.2% in 2023-24 to 27.8% in 2025-26, resulting in more candidates having to retake their test.
DVSA has and continues to recruit additional ADI examiners and has increased its capacity to train new examiners. ADI examiners cover several test centre locations and DVSA deploys them according to demand. To identify areas with higher demand, applicants can place ADI practical tests on hold and nominate their preferred test centre location and date. This helps DVSA deploy examiners where they are most needed. Where appropriate, priority is given to those nearing the end of their two-year qualification period. There are currently 66 potential driving instructors awaiting a test at Ashfield driving test centre.
It is vital that at the beginning of the learning process that PDIs and their trainers plan and structure their training according to the individual’s level of ability and current commitments to allow sufficient time for each of the three qualifying elements. This will also help to set realistic expectations about how much time and money the qualifying process takes and the likelihood of achieving full qualification.
DVSA is currently working through an end-to-end review of the ADI qualification journey and intends to improve the clarity and efficiency of the process while maintaining statutory standards.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of immigration levels on water (a) usage and (b) security.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Water companies set out how they will meet their water supply duties in their Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). The plans show how they will secure water supplies in the long-term. Companies prepare revised WRMPs every five years and must take account of various factors such as population changes.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of immigration levels on water supply.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Water companies set out how they will meet their water supply duties in their Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). The plans show how they will secure water supplies in the long-term. Companies prepare revised WRMPs every five years and must take account of various factors such as population changes.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria her Department uses when selecting sites for potential new reservoirs.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Reservoirs require detailed feasibility studies to ensure they are located in the right place and designed to be safe, sustainable, and cost-effective. This involves surveying multiple potential sites, complex modelling for hydrology and geology, and refining designs through several rounds of consultation and technical review as new information is made available.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps her Department has taken to improve ambulance response times in (a) Nottinghamshire and (b) England.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to answer given on 26 June in response to Question 11592, which details actions taken both nationally and by East Midlands Ambulance Service, which provides ambulance services in Nottinghamshire.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support veterans with their mental health.
Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)
This Government is fully committed to ensuring that veterans have access to the support they need for their health, including specifically support for mental health.
NHS England delivers Op COURAGE, a fully integrated, specialist mental health service for veterans, which has received over 35,000 referrals. The Government has also launched a new programme to deliver dedicated training for NHS staff to help them identify and support patients with a military background, to ensure that the support offered is comprehensive, appropriate and meets the particular needs of veterans.
We also launched VALOUR, a new system to give veterans across the UK easier access to the essential care and support available to them. VALOUR Recognised Centres will facilitate access to multiple services for veterans, and will connect local, regional, and national services. A network of VALOUR Field Officers will bring together charities, service providers, and local government to improve collaboration and coordination, enabling data-driven policy and service development. Finally, a VALOUR HQ, within the MOD, will gather data and insight, working with policy and research teams to ensure services are designed to meet local needs.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her department is taking to ensure that universities provide transparent data on graduate employment outcomes to help students make informed decisions about higher education pathways.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Although Higher Education (HE) providers are autonomous of government, the department recognises that student choice requires access to high-quality and graduate outcome information. The department continues to work with the Office for Students (OfS), UCAS and sector partners to improve the quality, accessibility and visibility of graduate outcome information, as set out in the Post-16 Skills White Paper.
Discover Uni, operated by the UK HE funding and regulatory bodies, provides comprehensive courses, student and graduate outcomes, and earnings information via Graduate Outcomes and Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) Data. LEO provides a unique data source rarely available internationally linking education, employment, earnings or benefits records, valuable evidence on educational pathways and labour market outcomes supporting the focus on aligning education pathways with priority occupations and addressing skills shortages.
The OfS regulatory framework requires providers to comply with Competition and Markets Authority guidance on consumer protection, including providing prospective students with accurate destination information.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to improve (a) mental and (b) emotional support for children whose parents have been diagnosed with cancer.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department recognises that a cancer diagnosis can have a significant emotional and mental impact not only on patients but also on their children and wider families.
Children whose parents are diagnosed with cancer can access support through National Health Service cancer services, including advice and support from clinical teams, clinical nurse specialists support, and referral to psychological support services where clinically appropriate. Families can also access support from voluntary and community sector organisations, such as Young Lives vs Cancer and Macmillan Cancer Support, which provide information, practical assistance, and emotional support for children, young people, and families affected by cancer.
We continue to work with NHS England and stakeholders to improve support for people affected by cancer and their families.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of fitness requirements in the Army.
Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)
The Army’s current fitness requirements remain appropriate and are kept under regular review to ensure they continue to align with operational requirements. Data is collected across Army fitness events and reviewed by military staff, scientists and independent experts to inform policy and ensure standards remain evidence-based.
Since 2025, the Army has introduced two new measures to strengthen physical readiness. The Soldier Conditioning Assessment (SCA), introduced in April 2026, identifies areas for improvement for individual soldiers and informs tailored training programmes. The Collective Physical Readiness Evaluation (CPRE) enables Commanders to focus physical training on improving collective readiness against mission requirements.
The Army is also formally reviewing its Role Fitness Tests (Soldier), which assess whether soldiers meet the physical capability requirements for their specific occupation, to ensure they remain fit for purpose.