theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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David Chadwick:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the planned £4.9 billion in efficiencies and savings in 2030–31 on devolved governments’ budgets. \p James Murray: As a result of decisions at Budget 2025, the Welsh Government will receive an additional £320 million RDEL and £185m CDEL through the operation of the Barnett formula on top of the record settlement provided at Spending Review 2025. This means that the Welsh Government’s settlement continues to grow in real terms between 2024-25 and 2028-29.

The Welsh Government are free to allocate Barnett consequentials as they see fit across their devolved priorities

Where policy changes will take effect in years beyond the existing Spending Review 2025 period, the Barnett formula will apply when departmental budgets change at the next Spending Review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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David Chadwick:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to provide additional support to devolved governments for public sector pay costs. \p James Murray: Public sector pay is a devolved responsibility. This means it is for the devolved governments to decide how to allocate the funding they receive across their areas of responsibility, including public sector pay.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of GDP will be spent on the MOD budget in the financial year that NATO declared defence spending will increase to 3 per cent of GDP. \p James Murray: We are set to spend 2.6 percent of GDP on defence spending in 2027, with an ambition to spend 3 percent of GDP on defence next Parliament when economic and fiscal conditions allow.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the written statement of 25 November 2025, HCWS1097, on Devolution and Growth, and further to the Visitor levy policy paper published on 26 November 2025, whether the levy measure will be classed by the Government as a tax; and whether there is a Tax Information Notice to accompany the measure. \p Dan Tomlinson: The precise design and scope of a devolved power for Mayors to introduce an overnight visitor levy if they so choose is under development. The Government has published a consultation running until 18 February 2026, so that the public, businesses, and local government can inform and help shape the design of the devolved power.

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) has not been published. TIINs usually accompany legislation for tax measures administered by central government.

The impacts of the levy will largely be determined by local decisions. Mayors will decide whether to introduce a levy and, if so, consult on specific proposals.

Following consultation, we expect Mayors would publish a summary of the consultation results and their response, including a final prospectus, and an impact assessment, informed by the consultation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to Question 93370, if she will commission from HMRC an analysis of the tax contribution of the British nationals the ONS estimates have left the UK since July 2024. \p Dan Tomlinson: HMRC does not hold data on all income sources of all individuals that have left the UK, and incomes of individuals vary each year. Individuals who have chosen to leave the UK may still be liable to pay tax in the UK.

HMRC published analysis on Income Tax Liabilities and Statistics annually. Income Tax statistics and distributions - GOV.UK
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Jim McMahon:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate has been made of the value of the tourism levy by mayoral combined authority area. \p Dan Tomlinson: The precise design and scope of the power for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy if they so choose is still under development.

The Government has published a consultation running until 18 February 2026, so that the public, businesses, and local government can shape the design of the power to introduce a levy that will be devolved to local leaders.

The impacts of the levy, including how much it will raise, will largely be determined by local decisions. Mayors will decide whether to introduce a levy and, if so, consult on specific proposals. We expect Mayors to engage constructively with businesses and their communities to hear their concerns. This will inform their decisions regarding whether and how a levy will be applied and how any revenue is raised. Giving this power to local leaders who best understand their region enables them to tailor it to growing their local economies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Budget 2025, HC1492, 26 November 2025, Table 4.1, what is the evidential basis for the reduction in council tax receipts of (a) -£60 million in 2025-26, (b) -£120 million in 2026-27, and (c) -£155 million in 2027-28. \p Dan Tomlinson: The measure does not reduce Council Tax receipts. Summary of the costing is published here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692872fd2a37784b16ecf676/Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to paragraph 4.38 of the OBR, Economic and Fiscal Outlook, November 2025, CP1439, 26 November 2025, whether according to information held by HM Treasury, the 10.2 per cent increase in business rate receipts from 2025-26 to 2026-27 is a figure for (a) England, (b) Great Britain or (c) the United Kingdom. \p Dan Tomlinson: This figure applies to the United Kingdom.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the findings of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic Financial Outlook on the potential impact of the new pay-per-mile tax on electric vehicle sales. \p Dan Tomlinson: As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028. The rate of eVED for EVs will be half of the equivalent fuel duty rate paid by the average petrol/diesel driver, ensuring that EVs are cheaper to own and run for the majority of EV drivers.

As set out by the OBR, the estimated net impact of eVED and other Budget measures, including the ECG and ECS, is 120,000 fewer new EV sales across the forecast period. This is against a baseline which assumes EV sales more than triple from 2025-26 levels by 2030-31, which means the net impact of eVED represents only 2% of total new EV sales in the period.

The Government has set out expected impacts from eVED and other Budget measures in the Budget 2025 Policy Costings document at GOV.UK: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692872fd2a37784b16ecf676/Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf
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Chris Law:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of energy costs and industrial tariffs on small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK stone and quarrying industry. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government continually monitors the UK economy and is bearing down on business energy prices by reducing Great Britain’s reliance on volatile international gas prices, and through a new framework to scrutinise energy levies, ensuring they are affordable and value-for-money.

We know that behind taxation, energy prices are the most cited barrier to growth by SMEs (50%). The Government has a variety of schemes, already in place or due to be launched soon, that either directly support businesses by reducing energy costs or support them to reduce costs by making energy efficiencies and decarbonising. Examples include:

The UK Global Tariff is tailored to the UK economy, and has been designed to balance the interests of consumers and producers, and our wider strategic trade objectives. As with all policy, the Government welcomes feedback and monitors these requests closely.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Chris Law:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will review energy support and taxation policy for energy-intensive industries such as quarrying to ensure fair treatment compared with high-carbon sectors like steel and glass. \p Dan Tomlinson: The government keeps all tax under review as part of the policy making process.

The government is bearing down on business energy prices by reducing Great Britain’s reliance on volatile international gas prices, and through a new framework to scrutinise energy levies, ensuring they are affordable and value-for-money.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of Benefit-in-Kind rates for zero-emission company cars. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government publishes annual statistics on HMRC’s taxable benefits in kind for company cars and company car fuel. These reports document the number of benefit in kind recipients, the CO2 emissions of company cars and their total taxable value. The latest statistics for the tax year 2023-24 were published in June 2025, and are accessible here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefits-in-kind-statistics-june-2025/benefit-in-kind-statistics-commentary-june-2025(opens in a new tab)

The Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs to ensure that they are appropriate and reflect the current state of the economy. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the public finances.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the publication of the draft Rating List of 26 November 2025, if she will publish the changes in average Rateable Values by (a) local authority and (b) region, compared to the previous Rating List, according to information held by the Valuation Office Agency. \p Dan Tomlinson: Statistics on changes in the rateable value of non-domestic properties as a result of the 2026 Revaluation and publication of the draft 2026 Rating List are published here: Change in rateable value of rating lists, 2026 Revaluation
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Clive Efford:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to reduce Government borrowing. \p Lucy Rigby: We need to address the UK’s borrowing and debt, so we spend less on debt interest and more on the priorities of working people.

The government has a credible consolidation plan that ensures borrowing is falling in every year of the forecast. Borrowing this year is set to be the lowest for 6 years.

The government is reducing borrowing while protecting investment, and is maintaining an increase of over £120 billion departmental capital spending over the Parliament.

From 2025 to 2030, the UK is reducing government borrowing more than any other G7 country.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the government has held discussions with Motability following the revision of vehicle brands supported by the scheme to prioritise British made vehicles and to report accurate data on the number of British and non-British made vehicles procured. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals are waiting for their Access to Work application to be processed, and how does this compare to each month since June 2024. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year. \p Andrew Western: Due to the way this information is stored in our systems, it would be difficult and incur disproportionate costs to extract subscriptions to LinkedIn and other social media platforms.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households will be affected by the lifting of the two child benefit cap. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The requested information is published in ‘Table 3.2: Costing of the removal of the two-child limit’ (page 66-67) and is available at EFOs - Office for Budget Responsibility.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what is the average payment per customer for each primary medical condition, as defined in the Access to Work statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The requested information across all Access to Work provision can be found in tables AVG03a (nominal terms expenditure) and AVG03a-R (real terms expenditure) in the published official statistics. Tables AVG03b through AVG03d-R provide further average expenditure breakdowns by any element, any assessment and non-contracted provision. Access to Work statistics: April 2007 to March 2025 - GOV.UK
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Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Motability Scheme on supporting disabled people into employment and training. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Motability Foundation report that 27% of Scheme users have improved access to education and 21% have improved access to employment opportunities. Scheme customers in employment report working an extra 14 hours a week, on average.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Budget 2025, what measures his Department will take to reduce error and fraud in the welfare system by £4.6 billion by 2030-31. \p Andrew Western: Since Autumn Budget 2024, including the new announcements at Autumn Budget 2025, the Government has committed to gross savings of £14.6bn up to the end of 2030/31 from fraud, error and debt activity in GB. These activities include:

Figures may not sum due to rounding.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Jas Athwal:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure timely chid maintenance payments for single parents. \p Andrew Western: Children in separated and single-parent families are statistically more likely to experience poverty compared to those in non-separated families. Through both statutory and non-statutory arrangements, Child Maintenance payments currently help keep around 120,000 children out of poverty each year.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is committed to ensuring that parents meet their financial responsibilities in full and on time. Recent system changes enable us to identify at-risk cases earlier, allowing caseworkers to intervene promptly where partial payments are made and before payments stop altogether.

Where parents fail to meet their obligations, the CMS will not hesitate to use the full range of enforcement powers available. These powers are applied fairly and in the best interests of children and separated families.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has been done as to the number of households that are affected by the overall benefit cap, rather than the two child limit. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Benefit Cap statistics are regularly published, the latest publication is available here: Benefit cap: number of households capped to May 2025 - GOV.UK

The latest two child limit statistics are published here: Universal Credit claimants statistics on the two child limit policy, April 2025 - GOV.UK
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Lincoln Jopp:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2025 to Question 94068 on Universal Credit: Veterans, if he will set out the reasons for differences in how Armed Forces Pensions and service attributable pensions are taken into account for the purposes of calculating Universal Credit payments. \p Sir Stephen Timms: In common with the legacy benefits it replaces, Universal Credit takes into account money available from other sources which allow a claimant to support themselves, allowing a fair balance to be struck between those in the greatest financial need and taxpayers who fund the welfare system. The general principle is that income, other than earnings, which is provided to meet everyday living costs is fully taken into account in the calculation of Universal Credit

As occupational and private pensions are paid to provide support to help people meet their living costs, they are taken fully into account in the assessment of entitlement to Universal Credit. This includes regular Armed Forces pensions, which are treated the same as any other occupational pension.

However, income which is provided to meet additional costs relating to disability is not taken into account. Therefore, payments relating to special schemes for compensation, and those relating to personal injury, are not taken into account as unearned income. Consequently, War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Payments are not taken into account in Universal Credit. Guaranteed Income Payments, Service Attributable Pensions and service-attributable, non-taxable Service Invalidity Pensions are also not taken into account.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to remove the work capability assessment. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper that we are abolishing the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) and that following this, eligibility to the new Universal Credit Health Element would require the claimant to be in receipt of a Daily Living award on Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

Work is continuing to determine the detail of how this reformed system would work and discussions are also under way with the Scottish Government about the interactions between the devolved and reserved systems. We will set out further details of the reformed system, and the timing of WCA abolition, once we are in a position to do so.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households who flowed off the household benefit cap because of an exempting benefit had the off-flow outcome due to receiving (a) Employment Support Allowance support group, (b) Disability Living Allowance, (c) Industrial Injuries and (d) Personal Independence Payment in the quarter to May 2025. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department publishes Official Statistics on the number of households in Great Britain on Housing Benefit or Universal Credit that have flowed off the benefit cap, including outcome at off-flow, which are published quarterly on Stat-Xplore and are currently available up to the quarter to May 2025.

Statistics on the exempting benefit outcomes above are grouped in the ‘Other outcome’ category above. The Department does not produce statistics breaking down this category into individual exempting benefits and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.

Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access general guidance on how to extract the information required.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Mark Garnier:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners receive the full state pension as their only income. \p Torsten Bell: The Department does not hold readily available information to identify how many pensioners receive the full State Pension as their only income. Information is, however, available from Departmental survey data which shows, in 2023/24, around 1.1m pensioner families in the UK received the State Pension and other state benefits as their only source of income. This information is published in the Pensioner Incomes series.
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Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of job vacancies in key professions within his Department’s responsibilities, including contractor organisations. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The independent Office for National Statistics publish monthly estimates of online job adverts by occupation Labour demand volumes by Standard Occupation Classification (SOC 2020), UK - Office for National Statistics and vacancies across each industrial sector VACS02: Vacancies by industry - Office for National Statistics.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will consult with representatives of older FAS and PPF members to explore alternative approaches to compensating people without pension indexation. \p Torsten Bell: The Government has tabled an amendment which provides that compensation payments from the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) and Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) on pensions built up before April 1997 will now be linked to CPI-inflation (capped at 2.5%) and apply prospectively for pensioners whose former schemes provided these increases. Pre-97 increases will also apply to the beneficiaries of eligible members.

The change announced to provide pre-97 indexation for PPF and FAS compensation payments will be made for members whose former schemes provided indexation within their scheme rules on a mandatory or statutory basis. The members captured within our reforms lost out when their scheme transferred to the PPF or qualified for the FAS. We do not intend to consult on the matter of pensions indexation in the PPF and FAS.

I understand that members will want to receive compensation quickly, particularly those with a serious illness or limited life expectancy and I am sympathetic to those concerns.

Legislation introducing indexation on pre-1997 service will apply to eligible members suffering serious ill health in the same way that it applies to other members. Those in receipt of an ill-health pension when their scheme entered a PPF assessment period are entitled to 100% compensation, indexed as set out in the proposals.

The Financial Assistance Scheme has the capacity to pay ill health, severe ill health and terminal ill health payments. All three are regular payments rather than in the form of a lump sum. The Pension Protection Fund makes terminal illness payments in the form of a lump sum. Measures in the Pension Schemes Bill are additionally extending the definition of terminal illness so that affected individuals can access terminal illness payments earlier, at a very difficult time of their lives.

The earliest opportunity to provide pre-97 increases to PPF and FAS members is January 2027, the first annual uprating point after the Pension Schemes Bill is expected to receive Royal Assent.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of SEND tribunal waiting times on the ability of families to hold local authorities to account for non-provision of SEND support. \p Georgia Gould: The volume of appeals to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) Tribunal means that some families face a year-long wait for a hearing, lengthening the time it takes for children and young people to get the support they need. We are working with the Ministry of Justice and His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service to ensure appeals are heard faster, including through the recruitment of 70 new judges, more cases being resolved ‘on paper’, hearings being held in school holidays, and the prioritisation of appeals for those who are moving between education phases.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Dan Norris:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what measures she is taking to ensure the national curriculum equips children with the skills they will need with the increasing influence of AI. \p Georgia Gould: Following the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review’s final report on 5 November, we have accepted the recommendations for computing and will go further by including artificial intelligence (AI) within the curriculum. We are also exploring a potential level 3 qualification in data science and AI. This will empower students to harness the opportunities of AI, whilst navigating its risks responsibly.

We will work with subject experts to embed AI and issues like bias in technology within the refreshed computing curriculum in an age-appropriate way. Content will be shaped through expert engagement, with a public consultation on draft proposals next year.

To support the teaching of AI now, the department-funded National Centre for Computing Education offers free online courses for teachers on machine learning, ethics and generative AI. In July, the government also published updated relationships, sex and health education statutory guidance introducing new content on AI which will be mandatory from 1 September 2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Dan Norris:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what measures she is taking to improve access in schools to music, sport, art and drama for all children. \p Georgia Gould: The government is committed to ensuring that high quality arts, music and physical education is not for the privileged few but an entitlement for all. We will ensure that the reformed national curriculum will support access to art and design, music and physical education, as well as access to drama within English. We will also ensure GCSEs in arts subjects and physical education are inclusive and fit for purpose.

Next year, we will launch the procurement of a new National Centre for Arts and Music Education and a new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network to support excellent teaching, strengthen partnerships between schools and national and local organisations, and promote arts and sporting opportunities for children and young people. In addition, the government has already committed £76 million for the Music Hubs grant this academic year, with future funding to be announced in due course.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of delays in issuing Remediable Service Statements on teachers' retirement planning and financial wellbeing. \p Georgia Gould: As of 6 November 2025, the total number of Remediable Service Statements (RSSs) issued is 70,616. As of the same date, the total that remain outstanding is 71,955.

Recalculating benefits for retired members is a complex process. For those members retiring, these cases are relatively straightforward, as no benefits are already in payment. For retired members, additional complications around tax, interest rules and system functionality required extensive consultation.

Capita, as the scheme administrator, keeps affected members informed of revised timelines through established channels, including My Pension Online and its website. The latest update is available here: https://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/news/public-news/2025/11/timeline-for-sending-out-remediable-service-statements-rss.aspx. As responsibility for this work transitions to Tata Consultancy Services as the new scheme administrator of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme in Summer 2026, the department is working with Tata to finalise the timeline for issuing all RSSs. Once the timeline is confirmed, it will be communicated to all affected scheme members.

This is a high priority for the department, and officials continues to closely monitor progress and work with Capita to streamline processes and introduce automation where possible. Any pension adjustments arising from members’ choices will be backdated with interest to ensure members are not disadvantaged.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of funding for buses in the Autumn Budget 2025 on bus routes serving Aldridge-Brownhills constituency; and whether her Department plans to issue guidance to Combined Authorities on protecting services in semi-rural areas of the West Midlands. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the impact of the Budget’s roads funding announcements on tackling congestion hotspots in Aldridge-Brownhills, including the A452, A461, Chester Road, Walsall Wood Road and Brownhills High Street; and whether additional funding will be made available to local authorities to deliver small-scale but high-impact junction and safety improvements. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_58

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Great British Railways has published (a) service performance standards, (b) routes for consolidation, and (c) a transition timetable in November 2025. \p Keir Mather: The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_59

Jerome Mayhew:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many compensation claims were submitted for train operating companies for which her Department is the operator of last resort in (a) November 2025 and (b) each month since July 2024. \p Keir Mather: The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_60
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_60

Steve Barclay:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will provide a list of all transport schemes given approval to progress following the Spending Review which had a lower benefit cost ratio score than the Ely Area Rail Capacity Enhancement. \p Keir Mather: The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_61
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_61

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what commission percentage is charged on ticket sales made through the digital platforms of all train operating companies managed by DfT Operator Limited. \p Keir Mather: The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_62
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_62

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Great British Railways will charge a commission percentage on ticket sales made through its digital platforms once it is established. \p Keir Mather: The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_63
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_63

Alex Ballinger:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she is taking steps to improve grace periods for parking fines and transparency for the appeal and enforcement process. \p Simon Lightwood: A 10-minute grace period became mandatory for all councils in England on 6 April 2015. It applies at local authority owned or operated car parks and at the end of paid-for and free on-street parking in England. The grace period only applies at the end of permitted paid-for or free parking to allow for accidental overstays beyond a driver's control. It does not apply at the start of a period of parking, nor in circumstances where the driver was not permitted to park (i.e. outside the hours of permitted operation of on-street parking).

A requirement for transparency on matters relating to civil parking enforcement is enshrined in the Secretary of State's statutory guidance for local authorities in England on civil enforcement of parking contraventions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_64

Helen Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is taking steps with the Department for Transport to improve emissions monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to prevent future breaches of vehicle emissions law. \p Simon Lightwood: Since 2016, the Department has greatly increased oversight of emissions tests and established the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA’s) Market Surveillance Unit (MSU) to test vehicle emissions and investigate suspicious practice in the real world as well as in laboratory situations. MSU conducts an annual emissions-testing programme and, where non-compliance is identified, the DVSA works closely with manufacturers to ensure vehicles meet legal requirements.

Legislation introduced in 2018 made it an offence for manufacturers to place vehicles on the market containing prohibited defeat devices. The Department is currently assessing Euro 5 and Euro 6 diesel vehicles to identify any non-compliance and ensure corrective action is taken promptly. Enforcement action will be taken in line with DVSA’s published enforcement policy. The Department is also considering how to strengthen ways in which it can take action in situations where modifications to vehicle emissions systems result in breaches of vehicle emissions law.
wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_65
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_65

Helen Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that emissions from non-compliant diesel vehicles are fully accounted for in the modelling and monitoring underpinning the UK’s Net Zero Strategy. \p Simon Lightwood: Emissions projections for diesel vehicles used in the recently published Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan account for the difference between reported vehicle CO2 emissions, tested using the World Light Duty Test Procedure, and emissions from vehicles operating in ‘real-world’ driving conditions.

The Department for Transport regularly reports its latest modelling and emissions projections to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero as required by Section 13 of the Climate Change Act 2008.
wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_66
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_66

Helen Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential health and social impacts of illegal vehicle emissions on communities living in areas that already breach air-quality standards; and how those findings inform the Government’s net-zero and energy-efficiency policies. \p Simon Lightwood: Defeat devices are illegal, misleading for drivers and can have negative health impacts on the public. The Department for Transport has not conducted a specific assessment of the potential health and social impacts of illegal vehicle emissions on communities living in areas that already breach air-quality standards.

Local authorities are best placed to determine the most effective route to reducing nitrogen dioxide in their cities, and we continue to support them in meeting legally binding obligations to improve air quality. This includes implementing seven Clean Air Zones and other measures such as improved traffic management, cycle lanes and funding for vehicle upgrades. Evidence shows that Clean Air Zones are effective in reducing air pollution.

The government is committed to reducing emissions from diesel cars by reinstating the 2030 phase-out date for new cars relying solely on internal combustion engines, and by committing to phase out all new non-zero emission cars and vans by 2035.
wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_67
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_67

Helen Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of non-compliant diesel vehicles on the UK’s ability to meet its legally binding carbon budgets and net-zero targets. \p Simon Lightwood: Emissions projections for diesel vehicles used in carbon budgets modelling account for the difference between reported vehicle CO2 emissions, tested currently using the World Light Duty Test Procedure, and emissions from vehicles operating in ‘real-world’ driving conditions.

The Department for Transport, through the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, is leading investigations into suspected non-compliant diesel vehicles under assimilated Regulation (EU) 2018/858. Where non-compliance is identified, manufacturers are required to take corrective action.
wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_68
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_68

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 86345 on Whitchurch Station: Access, when she plans to announce her Department’s decision regarding the stations selected for Access for All funding. \p Simon Lightwood: We are committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognise the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.

Since 2006 the Access for All programme has installed accessible, step free routes at over 270 stations plus a range of smaller scale access improvements at around 1500 stations.

In May 2024, the previous government published a list of 50 additional stations selected for initial feasibility work.

Network Rail have now completed all 50 feasibility studies and we will shortly be announcing which of those stations will progress.
wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_69
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_69

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she expects the Office for National Statistics to (a) determine a timescale for its review of rolling stock leasing agreements and (b) identify which leases or train operating companies will form part of the review sample. \p Simon Lightwood: Timescales for its work in this area are for the ONS to determine, as an independent body.
wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_70
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_70

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish a breakdown of all committed public expenditure for the Lower Thames Crossing project to date. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department will continue to publish information on committed public expenditure for the Lower Thames Crossing through official reporting mechanisms. To date, over £1.3bn has been spent on the project, including technical surveys, design, land purchase, planning permission, and contract awards.
wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_71
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_71

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 90397 on Road Traffic Control: Oxford, what information the DVLA holds on which intermediary companies are currently used by (a) Oxford City Council and (b) Oxfordshire County Council. \p Simon Lightwood: While the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is aware of the third-party providers used by the councils referenced to facilitate requests for vehicle keeper information, this relates to a commercial arrangement between them and the third parties and it would not be appropriate to disclose that information.
wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_72
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_72

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment the Government has made of a) annual levies and monitoring charges associated with environmental mitigation and disposal sites used by UK ports, b) the consistency of fee structures across different regions, and c) the cumulative impact of these charges on port operators and logistics businesses. \p Keir Mather: a) ‎ The assessment annual levies and monitoring charges associated with environmental mitigation and disposal sites used by UK ports is undertaken by the ports who collect the fees. Ports are required to review their port waste management plan and get it re-approved every five years. The waste management plan amongst other specifications sets out the fee, and how this is calculated. Any major changes will require the port to review and change their port waste management plan before the five-year period. MCA surveyors' review, inspect and approve port waste management to ensure compliance with the regulations.

b) Ports are required to calculate their fees as mandated by the regulations, which means the ports can recover their cost and the ‘polluter’ pays. These fees will vary due to regional variances in the cost of waste management in the different regions.

c) A post implementation review of the regulations was also undertaken and published in 2023. The review found that the regulations were fit for purpose and were achieving the policy objectives and indicated that although industry had the opportunity to communicate any impacts of the requirements to the MCA, no significant concerns have been raised.
wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_73
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_73

Jerome Mayhew:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she will take to ensure Great British Railways Retail is treated as a market participant operating under the same terms and conditions as independent rail operators; and what discussions she has had with the Office of Rail and Road on this matter. \p Keir Mather: The retail industry code of practice announced in the Government's response to the Railways Bill consultation will incorporate clear requirements for how Great British Railways (GBR) should interact with all market participants. The code of practice will be owned and managed by the Office of Rail and Road, and GBR’s licence will require it to comply.

The government has confirmed that there will be full consultation on the production of the code of practice, thereby ensuring important input from industry, regulatory and other stakeholders. The government recognises that there will be a range of interested parties in both its original development and any ongoing updates to ensure it remains effective.