Neil O'Brien MP: written questions
864 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Driving Tests: LocationDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95328More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of driving-test bookings had their test location changed before the test was taken in the last 12 months.
Answer: Between the 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, just over 565,000 tests were recorded as being moved between driving test centres (DTC). This equates to approximately 31% of tests. Please note, in line with other published data that the Driver and Vehicle Stand...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Disciplinary ProceedingsDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93426More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many disciplinary cases were concluded against civil servants in (a) the Department and (b) its agencies broken down by (i) outcome and (ii) whether the primary allegation related to (A) performance and (B)
Answer: Over the past 12 months (1st November 2024 to 31st October 2025), a total of 247 ‘Discipline’ cases and 58 ‘Managing Poor Performance’ cases have been concluded in the Department for Transport’s central department and its Executive Agencies. A breakdown o...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Redundancy PayDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93425More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total cost was of (a) settlement agreements and (b) special severance payments made to departing staff in the last year.
Answer: For the last year (1st November 2024 to 31st October 2025), there have been no settlement agreements or special severance payments made to departing Department for Transport central staff outside of statutory, contractual or other requirements.
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Performance AppraisalDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93424More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of staff in each grade were rated in the top performance category in the last year.
Answer: The table below shows the number and proportion of each non-Senior Civil Service (SCS) grade receiving the top performance category at the end of 2024/25 for DfTc. GradeNumber of staff receiving the top performance category (“Outstanding”)Proportion of st...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Career DevelopmentDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93423More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of staff were promoted (a) in-grade and (b) to a higher grade in the last year broken down by (i) performance marking in the previous year and (ii) grade.
Answer: Higher Grade promotions Total StaffHigher grade promotionsProportionAO/EO52951%HEO/SEO/FS18201388%G7/G618161186%SCS267218%Totals44322826% Payband GroupsHigher grade promotions23/24 Year End MarkingAE/EO5Not Available/ReportableHEO/SEO/FS24AchievingHEO/SE...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Sick LeaveDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93422More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average number of working days lost to sickness absence per full-time equivalent member of staff was in (a) the Department and (b) its executive agencies in the last year; and how many formal performan
Answer: The figures below are calculated as a rolling 12-month period up until 31st October 2025.The Average Working Days Lost for the Department is currently 4.2.The table below shows the average working days lost for the Department’s Executive Agencies Column1A...
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDisability Living Allowance: MotabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93275More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Disability Living Allowance claimants had active contracts with the Motability Scheme in (a) the East Midlands, (b) the West Midlands, and (c) the East of England in March of each of the last f
Answer: Information on Disability Living Allowance claimants with an active Motability Scheme is not held centrally for analytical purposes. Such information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDisability Living Allowance: MotabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93093More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Disability Living Allowance claimants had active contracts with the Motability Scheme in (a) the North East, (b) the North West, and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber in March of each of the last fi
Answer: Information on Disability Living Allowance claimants with an active Motability Scheme is not held centrally for analytical purposes. Such information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDisability Living Allowance: MotabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93092More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Disability Living Allowance claimants had active contracts with the Motability Scheme in (a) London, (b) the South East, (c) the South West, and (d) Wales in March of each of the last five year
Answer: Information on Disability Living Allowance claimants with an active Motability Scheme is not held centrally for analytical purposes. Such information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: MotabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93091More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will provide the number of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants in a contract with the Motability Scheme to receive a vehicle, broken down by primary medical condition in a) the East Midl
Answer: We will be publishing data to answer this question in due course.
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: MotabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92311More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP claimants had active contracts with the Motability Scheme in (a) the East Midlands, (b) the West Midlands and (c) the East of England in March of each of the last five years up to 2025.
Answer: The information requested is provided in the table below as a snapshot of the PIP caseload with active Motability contracts in July of each of the last 5 years. Jul-21Jul-22Jul-23Jul-24Jul-25North East21,50022,40025,10030,30034,500North West58,80061,3006...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: MotabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92310More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP claimants had active contracts with the Motability Scheme in (a) the North East, (b) the North West and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber in March of each of the last five years up to 2025.
Answer: The information requested is provided in the table below as a snapshot of the PIP caseload with active Motability contracts in July of each of the last 5 years. Jul-21Jul-22Jul-23Jul-24Jul-25North East21,50022,40025,10030,30034,500North West58,80061,3006...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: MotabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92309More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP claimants had active contracts with the Motability Scheme in (a) London, (b) the South East, (c) the South West and (d) Wales in March of each of the last five years up to 2025.
Answer: The information requested is provided in the table below as a snapshot of the PIP caseload with active Motability contracts in July of each of the last 5 years. Jul-21Jul-22Jul-23Jul-24Jul-25North East21,50022,40025,10030,30034,500North West58,80061,3006...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordChina: Diplomatic ServiceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92122More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 March 2025 to Question 40312 on China: Diplomatic Service, how many staff in her Department have achieved Mandarin qualifications at (a) C1 and (
Answer: Almost 100 valid Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) qualifications in Russian are currently held at C1 level or above by FCDO staff, and almost 75 in Mandarin. Exam passes are valid for five years. Some staff may concurrently hold a valid...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRussia: Diplomatic ServiceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92121More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 April 2025 to Question 40311, if she will provide an updated figure for the number of staff in her Department who currently hold valid Russian-lan
Answer: Almost 100 valid Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) qualifications in Russian are currently held at C1 level or above by FCDO staff, and almost 75 in Mandarin. Exam passes are valid for five years. Some staff may concurrently hold a valid...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91661More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has assessed the potential merits of offering bonus payments to driving instructors for undertaking driving tests above their contracted duties.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not employ driving instructors. By law, approved driving instructors (ADI) cannot work as examiners at the same time as being a registered instructor, even temporarily. Whilst DVSA does not have the powe...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91660More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of driving-licence numbers entered on driving-test booking forms have subsequently been changed since March 2025.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not employ driving instructors. By law, approved driving instructors (ADI) cannot work as examiners at the same time as being a registered instructor, even temporarily. Whilst DVSA does not have the powe...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Instruction: RecruitmentDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91658More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many new driving instructors have been hired since January 2015.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not employ driving instructors. By law, approved driving instructors (ADI) cannot work as examiners at the same time as being a registered instructor, even temporarily. Whilst DVSA does not have the powe...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Freedom of InformationMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91657More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 26 September 2024 to Question 1555 on Ministry of Defence: Equality and with reference to the Freedom of Information Act response with reference FOI2025/21409, disclosed on 12 September
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is content for this Freedom of Information request response to be published, and a copy is provided below. Request: “How many staff in the MOD have job titles that includes at least one of the words (a) equality, (b) diversit...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBlue Badge Scheme: Community TransportDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90988More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department’s guidance entitled Who can get a Blue Badge, updated 10 August 2021, if she will review the guidance to ensure that community transport providers are able to apply successfully
Answer: An organisational badge may be issued to an organisation for use in a motor vehicle or vehicles when the vehicle or vehicles are to be used to carry disabled people who would themselves be eligible for a badge as specified in Section 4(2) of the Disabled ...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBlue Badge SchemeDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90986More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with local authorities on whether the current organisational Blue Badge guidance adequately enables community transport providers to apply successfully.
Answer: The Department regularly engages with local authorities on a range of Blue Badge issues, including the local authority guidance. It is generally preferable for disabled individuals to hold their own Blue Badge, enabling them to use it in any vehicle they ...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: EqualityDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90328More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) Equality Impact Assessments and (b) equality screenings have been produced by her Department in the last three months.
Answer: In line with the Equality Act 2010, Defra encourages and promotes the completion of Equality Impact Assessments to ensure our policies and decisions consider impacts on protected groups. Defra does not hold information centrally on Equality Impact Assessm...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: EqualityDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90327More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) Equality Impact Assessments and (b) equality screenings have been produced by her Department in the last three months.
Answer: The Department does not maintain a central record of the number of EIAs produced. Equality screenings are a requirement under Northern Ireland’s Section 75 framework and are not part of standard equality assessment practice in Great Britain.
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Education: Conditions of EmploymentDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90326More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many staff in her Department had their probationary period extended in the last 12 months.
Answer: The department’s probation policy and guidance advises managers on the steps to take to assess a new employee’s suitability for the post and provides support to enable them to succeed. It also advises on the steps to take where performance, attendance or ...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Education: Termination of EmploymentDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90325More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many staff in her Department did not retain employment following the completion of their probationary period in the last 12 months.
Answer: The department’s probation policy and guidance advises managers on the steps to take to assess a new employee’s suitability for the post and provides support to enable them to succeed. It also advises on the steps to take where performance, attendance or ...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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