To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to recruit and retain Blood Bike volunteers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to recruit and retain Blood Bike volunteers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has considered introducing national provision to permit registered volunteer blood bike services to use bus lanes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has considered introducing national provision to permit registered volunteer blood bike services to use bus lanes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of Ofcom customer protection regulations against poor delivery services from couriers such as Evri.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of Ofcom customer protection regulations against poor delivery services from couriers such as Evri.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has assessed the potential impact of courier networks using sub‑accounts within courier networks on trends in the level of people working illegally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has assessed the potential impact of courier networks using sub‑accounts within courier networks on trends in the level of people working illegally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal working investigations have been opened into parcel delivery firms in each of the last five years; and how many resulted in (a) civil penalties and (b) prosecutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal working investigations have been opened into parcel delivery firms in each of the last five years; and how many resulted in (a) civil penalties and (b) prosecutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of working conditions for self‑employed couriers in the parcel delivery sector, including training standards, pay rates, and safeguarding obligations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of working conditions for self‑employed couriers in the parcel delivery sector, including training standards, pay rates, and safeguarding obligations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an estimate of the (a) number of local authorities which have exempted blood bikes from the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, (b) cost of those exemptions individually and (c) savings from a national exemption.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an estimate of the (a) number of local authorities which have exempted blood bikes from the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, (b) cost of those exemptions individually and (c) savings from a national exemption.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether there has been any consideration given to designating blood bikes within the exemptions to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, under section 87.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether there has been any consideration given to designating blood bikes within the exemptions to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, under section 87.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies on employment law of the adequacy of working rights of app-based (a) private hire drivers and (b) couriers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies on employment law of the adequacy of working rights of app-based (a) private hire drivers and (b) couriers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department’s policy is on the transportation of live lobsters through (a) postal and (b) courier services within the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department’s policy is on the transportation of live lobsters through (a) postal and (b) courier services within the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps she has taken to ensure adequate (a) working conditions and (b) pay for app-based (i) private hire drivers and (ii) couriers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps she has taken to ensure adequate (a) working conditions and (b) pay for app-based (i) private hire drivers and (ii) couriers.

What steps she is taking to help improve road safety for gig economy couriers using two wheeled vehicles.

What steps she is taking to help improve road safety for gig economy couriers using two wheeled vehicles.

This Government have announced a £500 million road maintenance funding uplift for next year, as well as £300 million for active travel schemes. That will improve road conditions and safety for all road users, including delivery riders.

This Government have announced a £500 million road maintenance funding uplift for next year, as well as £300 million for active travel schemes. That will improve road conditions and safety for all road users, including delivery riders.

Two-wheeled couriers working in the gig economy experience more road dangers than average riders due to time pressures from employers. Research from University College London shows that gig economy riders are three times as likely to report damage to their vehicle and nearly twice as likely to report injury. What steps are being taken, including with employers of gig economy riders and other stake- holders, to protect gig economy riders and reduce dangers for them and other road users and pedestrians?

Two-wheeled couriers working in the gig economy experience more road dangers than average riders due to time pressures from employers. Research from University College London shows that gig economy riders are three times as likely to report damage to their vehicle and nearly twice as likely to report injury. What steps are being taken, including with employers of gig economy riders and other stake- holders, to protect gig economy riders and reduce dangers for them and other road users and pedestrians?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that important issue, which I know will be familiar to many Members across the House. In December, the Minister for Local Transport wrote to the main food delivery companies to remind them of the importance the Government place on the safety of food delivery riders and other road users and to remind them of their obligations. It is essential that delivery riders follow the highway code, despite the time pressure they are sometimes operating under.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that important issue, which I know will be familiar to many Members across the House. In December, the Minister for Local Transport wrote to the main food delivery companies to remind them of the importance the Government place on the safety of food delivery riders and other road users and to remind them of their obligations. It is essential that delivery riders follow the highway code, despite the time pressure they are sometimes operating under.

I thank the Minister for her answer on the work the Government are doing with businesses to support people dealing with the consequences of the gig economy and road safety. Will she join with me in my work to ensure that the area around Baker Street is safer for residents, and will she work with me and residents around Baker Street to make the case to gig economy businesses that we need to do more on enforcement and on the regulation of these workers?

I thank the Minister for her answer on the work the Government are doing with businesses to support people dealing with the consequences of the gig economy and road safety. Will she join with me in my work to ensure that the area around Baker Street is safer for residents, and will she work with me and residents around Baker Street to make the case to gig economy businesses that we need to do more on enforcement and on the regulation of these workers?

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise concerns. Obviously, enforcement of the rules on using cycles and e-cycles is a matter for the police, but I would be very happy to meet her to discuss the issue.

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise concerns. Obviously, enforcement of the rules on using cycles and e-cycles is a matter for the police, but I would be very happy to meet her to discuss the issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had discussions with delivery companies on ensuring that courier services are accessible for all.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had discussions with delivery companies on ensuring that courier services are accessible for all.

I appreciate the hon. Member’s interest in ensuring a fair deal for his constituents. The Government’s universal service obligation on Royal Mail guarantees delivery of parcels at uniform rates throughout the UK, without any geographical restrictions. Where other courier businesses decide to serve should be a commercial decision for them.

I appreciate the hon. Member’s interest in ensuring a fair deal for his constituents. The Government’s universal service obligation on Royal Mail guarantees delivery of parcels at uniform rates throughout the UK, without any geographical restrictions. Where other courier businesses decide to serve should be a commercial decision for them.