Neil O'Brien MP: written questions 2025

425 published records · newest first.

Written questions

Driving 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 record
Driving 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 record
Ministry 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 record
Blue 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 record
Blue 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 record
Department 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 record
Department 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 record
Department 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 record
Department 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
Home Office: Conditions of EmploymentHome OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89588More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff in her Department had their probationary period extended in the last 12 months.
Answer: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
Home Office: Termination of EmploymentHome OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89587More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff in her Department did not retain employment following the completion of their probationary period in the last 12 months.
Answer: In the last 12 months 59 Home Office employees were dismissed during their probationary period for efficiency reasons.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Termination of EmploymentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89586More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many and what proportion of staff in her Department left employment in the last 12 months following formal (a) performance and (b) capability procedures.
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's total staff headcount is approximately 17,500 employees, working in hundreds of different locations around the world, many with locally-managed HR arrangements and procedures. The requested information ...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Performance AppraisalForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89585More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many staff and what proportion in her Department were subject to formal performance management procedures as a result of unsatisfactory performance in the last 12 months.
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's total staff headcount is approximately 17,500 employees, working in hundreds of different locations around the world, many with locally-managed HR arrangements and procedures. The requested information ...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
Treasury: Employment Tribunals ServiceTreasuryTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89584More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87382 on Treasury: Employment Tribunals Service, how many employment tribunal claims have been lodged against her Department in the last 12 months.
Answer: HM Treasury have had one employment tribunal claim lodged against them in the last 12 months.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
Home Office: Employment Tribunals ServiceHome OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89583More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many employment tribunal claims alleging breaches of the Equality Act 2010 have been lodged against her Department in the last 12 months.
Answer: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
Home Office: Employment Tribunals ServiceHome OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89582More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many employment tribunal claims relating to unfair dismissal have been lodged against her Department in the last 12 months.
Answer: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
Department for Work and Pensions: Conditions of EmploymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89581More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff in his Department had their probationary period extended in the last 12 months.
Answer: The information requested is not held centrally and due to the additional activity that would be required to provide it, would incur disproportionate cost.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
Department for Work and Pensions: Termination of EmploymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89580More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff in his Department did not retain employment following the completion of their probationary period in the last 12 months.
Answer: The information requested is not held centrally and due to the additional activity that would be required to provide it, would incur disproportionate cost.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Ukrainian LanguageForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89579More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many staff in her Department have language proficiency in Ukrainian at (a) CEFR level C1 and (b) higher.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 6 November in response to Question 86285.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Russian LanguageForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89578More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 April 2025 to Question 40311 on Russia: Diplomatic Service, how many staff in her Department have language proficiency in Russian at (a) CEFR leve
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 6 November in response to Question 86285.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Mandarin LanguageForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89577More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many staff in her Department have language proficiency in Mandarin at (a) CEFR level C1 and (b) higher.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 6 November in response to Question 86285.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
Ministry of Justice: EqualityMinistry of JusticeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89576More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) Equality Impact Assessments and (b) equality screenings have been produced by his Department in the last three months.
Answer: Under the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), all public authorities, including Government departments, are required by law to have due regard to certain equality considerations when carrying out their functions. While equality impact assessments and equa...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
Department for Work and Pensions: EqualityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89575More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) Equality Impact Assessments and (b) equality screenings have been produced by his Department in the last three months.
Answer: The information requested is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
Driving Tests: Waiting ListsDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89574More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2024 to Question 6462 on Driving Tests: Waiting Lists, what the monthly average waiting time for a car practical driving test was at each (a) driving test centre and (b) zone
Answer: The answer to Question 6462 on 9 October 2024 provided data covering April 2015 to September 2024. The attached spreadsheet shows the monthly average waiting time for a car practical driving test at each driving test centre and zone for each month between...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: EqualityForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88798More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many people in her Department have equality, diversity and inclusion responsibilities.
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's total staff headcount is approximately 17,500 employees. The number of full time equivalent (FTE) staff who cover diversity and inclusion issues among their wider human resources responsibilities is cur...
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record

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