Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency expects Barrow driving test centre to reach its full staffing capacity; and when that centre was last operating at full capacity.

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

Following the recent qualification of a new driving examiner (DE), there are now three full time equivalent DEs conducting tests at Barrow-in- Furness driving test centre (DTC).

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is satisfied that the current number of DEs at Barrow-in-Furness DTC is sufficient to service demand. A full-time DE can be expected to add approximately 1,200 tests per year to the booking system.

There are currently no further plans to recruit additional DEs at this centre. However, DVSA continually reviews its recruitment needs to ensure the agency maintains the right level of resource to meet customer demand.

The average waiting time (based on the national average waiting time metric of when a minimum of 10% of test slots are available) for Barrow-In-Furness, in May 2026, was 12 weeks. The national average was 21.8 weeks

As of 15 June 2026, there are 522 car practical driving tests booked and 389 available at Barrow-In-Furness.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress her Department has made towards launching the proposed consultation on the licensing of animal rescue and sanctuary organisations; and what the expected timeframe is for that consultation.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government committed in the Animal Welfare Strategy to launch a consultation on the potential licensing of domestic rescue and rehoming organisations. This will seek views from all those with an interest in this important sector. This Government is already engaging with stakeholders to inform future rescue and rehoming policy and the consultation will follow in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria will be used to select areas for the Community Power Pilots.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan

We will publish more information on Community Power Pilots, including the places we will be working with and the criteria that will be used, in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what measures will be used to assess the effectiveness of the Community Right to Buy Fund in sustaining community assets at risk of closure; and whether the Department will publish regular data on the number and location of assets acquired through the Fund.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan

The newly announced Pride in Place Community Right to Buy Fund, backed by £61 million, will help communities buy and run the buildings and spaces they value most, including pubs, shops, community centres, sports facilities and cultural venues.

The Fund will be a targeted and strategic offer, designed to support the new Community Right to Buy and focusing on communities in the most deprived areas. The funding is part of the £301m earmarked to support our high streets and community spaces, and builds on our wider package of investment in communities including the £5.8 billion Pride in Place Programme.

The details of this Fund, including timelines, eligibility criteria and monitoring and evaluation will be set out in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how the Community Right to Buy Fund will interact with the wider Pride in Place programme and associated high street funding streams.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan

The newly announced Pride in Place Community Right to Buy Fund, backed by £61 million, will help communities buy and run the buildings and spaces they value most, including pubs, shops, community centres, sports facilities and cultural venues.

The Fund will be a targeted and strategic offer, designed to support the new Community Right to Buy and focusing on communities in the most deprived areas. The funding is part of the £301m earmarked to support our high streets and community spaces, and builds on our wider package of investment in communities including the £5.8 billion Pride in Place Programme.

The details of this Fund, including timelines, eligibility criteria and monitoring and evaluation will be set out in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria will be used to identify areas with historically low levels of investment for the purposes of allocating Community Right to Buy Fund support.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan

The newly announced Pride in Place Community Right to Buy Fund, backed by £61 million, will help communities buy and run the buildings and spaces they value most, including pubs, shops, community centres, sports facilities and cultural venues.

The Fund will be a targeted and strategic offer, designed to support the new Community Right to Buy and focusing on communities in the most deprived areas. The funding is part of the £301m earmarked to support our high streets and community spaces, and builds on our wider package of investment in communities including the £5.8 billion Pride in Place Programme.

The details of this Fund, including timelines, eligibility criteria and monitoring and evaluation will be set out in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the Community Right to Buy Fund will open for applications; and what the timetable is for allocating the £61 million announced on 16 June 2026.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan

The newly announced Pride in Place Community Right to Buy Fund, backed by £61 million, will help communities buy and run the buildings and spaces they value most, including pubs, shops, community centres, sports facilities and cultural venues.

The Fund will be a targeted and strategic offer, designed to support the new Community Right to Buy and focusing on communities in the most deprived areas. The funding is part of the £301m earmarked to support our high streets and community spaces, and builds on our wider package of investment in communities including the £5.8 billion Pride in Place Programme.

The details of this Fund, including timelines, eligibility criteria and monitoring and evaluation will be set out in due course.

Memorial plaque for Ann Widdecombe

Found: Norman (Conservative; Hereford and South Herefordshire) Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat; North Devon) Michelle Scrogham

Found: Defence Committee members present: Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Chair); Alex Baker; Michelle Scrogham.

Found: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Chair); Alex Baker; Lincoln Jopp; Emma Lewell; Mike Martin; Ian Roome; Michelle Scrogham

Submit Evidence (by 7 Oct 2026)

This inquiry will examine the UK’s resilience and preparedness for conflict, asking whether the UK government is meeting its obligations under NATO’s Article 3. The inquiry will also look at what powers the proposed Defence Readiness Bill might need to include to enable civil assistance to military authority in the event of a conflict.