Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to reduce VAT on reused, refurbished and repaired goods to incentivise circular consumer practices.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Second-hand goods may already benefit from a reduced rate of VAT under the VAT margin scheme. Sellers of eligible goods are not required to charge VAT on the full final sale price of the good, but instead on the difference between the amount paid for the item and the final sale price.

VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £171 billion in 2024/25. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

The government has no plans to further reduce VAT on reused, refurbished and repaired goods.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will extend 'right to repair' legislation (1) further to encourage reuse and repair practices, and (2) to ensure that manufacturers provide appropriate parts and service information.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy. We have convened a Circular Economy Taskforce, comprising experts from industry, academia, and civil society, to help develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England. The Strategy will map our transition to a circular economy, supported by a series of roadmaps that detail the interventions that the government and others will make on a sector-by-sector basis.

Defra recognises that reuse and repair are fundamental tenets of any circular economy and will consider the evidence for appropriate action right across the economy as we develop the Strategy.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to ensure that commonly discarded goods are instead reused to generate economic, environmental and social value.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy. We have convened a Circular Economy Taskforce, comprising experts from industry, academia, and civil society, to help develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England. The Strategy will map our transition to a circular economy, supported by a series of roadmaps that detail the interventions that the government and others will make on a sector-by-sector basis.

Defra recognises that reuse and repair are fundamental tenets of any circular economy and will consider the evidence for appropriate action right across the economy as we develop the Strategy.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to encourage the uptake of reuse and repair as drivers of a circular economy.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy. We have convened a Circular Economy Taskforce, comprising experts from industry, academia, and civil society, to help develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England. The Strategy will map our transition to a circular economy, supported by a series of roadmaps that detail the interventions that the government and others will make on a sector-by-sector basis.

Defra recognises that reuse and repair are fundamental tenets of any circular economy and will consider the evidence for appropriate action right across the economy as we develop the Strategy.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what the relationship will be between the biodiversity net gain rules and the future Nature Restoration Fund.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Last year the Environment Act introduced a new mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirement of 10% for new developments, subject to some exceptions.

The Nature Restoration Fund will be in addition to BNG and will run concurrently, focusing on enabling development in areas where that has stalled due to specific environmental obligations relating to impacts on protected sites or species in those areas

We will ensure that developers receive a user-friendly experience and that BNG credit and the Nature Restoration Fund revenue is deployed in a joined-up manner to maximise environmental outcomes.

Found: Best; Viscount Chandos; Baroness Drake; Lord Gilbert of Panteg; Baroness Harding of Winscombe; Lord Teverson

Found: Best; Viscount Chandos; Baroness Drake; Lord Gilbert of Panteg; Baroness Harding of Winscombe; Lord Teverson

Found: Taylor of Bolton (The Chair); Lord Best; Viscount Chandos; Baroness Drake; Lord Gilbert of Panteg; Lord Teverson