Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of seeking views on the potential impact of different VAT rates for private hire vehicle operators on market competition as part of its planned consultation on the impacts of the July 2023 High Court ruling in Uber Britannia Ltd v Sefton MBC.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has published a consultation on the potential impacts of this court judgment on the PHV sector and its passengers. This consultation explores range of potential options to help mitigate any potential adverse effects that the court judgment could have on PHVOs, drivers, and passengers.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of a 20% rate of VAT on private hire vehicle journeys on revenue generated for HM Treasury.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has published a consultation on the potential impacts of this court judgment on the PHV sector and its passengers. This consultation explores range of potential options to help mitigate any potential adverse effects that the court judgment could have on PHVOs, drivers, and passengers.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 February 2024 to Question 14272 on Defence: Space Technology, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Skynet secure satellite communications programme continues to provide a significant boost to the UK space sector.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The SKYNET secure satellite communications programme, which is investing £5 billion over the next decade, provides a significant boost to the industry through direct investment into the sector and use of social value provisions in contracts.

SKYNET provides long-term investment in the UK space sector. This includes promoting the development of new technology and use of Small and Medium Enterprises.

Under SKYNET contracts, the Prime contractor is required to demonstrate social value. This includes measures such as investment into graduate or apprenticeship schemes. This will increasingly be part of our approach to major contracts for the space sector in support of our national policy ambitions under the recently-published Space Industrial Plan.

As we move towards the next generation of SKYNET, the investment in this programme will continue to help develop the thriving UK space sector.

Found: Ben Bradley, Member of Parliament for Mansfield and leader of Nottinghamshire County Council described