Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will a) review the withdrawal of the temporary easement for wine as part of the ongoing three-year evaluation of the alcohol excise duty system and b) commission an impact assessment of the decision to withdraw the easement in February 2025, including the effect on SMEs and revenue from alcohol excise duties.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The Government has conducted an evaluation of the 2023 Alcohol Duty reforms, in line with the commitment to do so three years on from their implementation. At Budget 2026, following the collection and review of evidence, HMRC and HM Treasury published a report on its findings. This report is available on the gov.uk website.

The Alcohol Duty evaluation report shows that the reforms have encouraged producers to innovate, reformulate, and meet the demand for lower-strength products.

Alongside the introduction of the 2023 reforms, a temporary easement was put in place for wine importers and producers to help manage the transition to the new method of calculating the duty on their products. The impact of the wine easement was not reviewed as part of the Alcohol Duty evaluation as it was a temporary measure.

The 8.5% ABV limit ensures that Small Producers Relief is targeted at lower-strength products. This is line with the principle underpinning the 2023 Alcohol Duty reforms that stronger alcoholic products should pay more duty.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will review the treatment of products below 8.5% ABV as part of the ongoing three-year evaluation of the alcohol excise duty system, including considering a single rate for all products below 8.5% ABV.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The Government has conducted an evaluation of the 2023 Alcohol Duty reforms, in line with the commitment to do so three years on from their implementation. At Budget 2026, following the collection and review of evidence, HMRC and HM Treasury published a report on its findings. This report is available on the gov.uk website.

The Alcohol Duty evaluation report shows that the reforms have encouraged producers to innovate, reformulate, and meet the demand for lower-strength products.

Alongside the introduction of the 2023 reforms, a temporary easement was put in place for wine importers and producers to help manage the transition to the new method of calculating the duty on their products. The impact of the wine easement was not reviewed as part of the Alcohol Duty evaluation as it was a temporary measure.

The 8.5% ABV limit ensures that Small Producers Relief is targeted at lower-strength products. This is line with the principle underpinning the 2023 Alcohol Duty reforms that stronger alcoholic products should pay more duty.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will review the 8.5% ABV cap for Small Producer Relief as part of the ongoing three-year evaluation of the alcohol excise duty system.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The Government has conducted an evaluation of the 2023 Alcohol Duty reforms, in line with the commitment to do so three years on from their implementation. At Budget 2026, following the collection and review of evidence, HMRC and HM Treasury published a report on its findings. This report is available on the gov.uk website.

The Alcohol Duty evaluation report shows that the reforms have encouraged producers to innovate, reformulate, and meet the demand for lower-strength products.

Alongside the introduction of the 2023 reforms, a temporary easement was put in place for wine importers and producers to help manage the transition to the new method of calculating the duty on their products. The impact of the wine easement was not reviewed as part of the Alcohol Duty evaluation as it was a temporary measure.

The 8.5% ABV limit ensures that Small Producers Relief is targeted at lower-strength products. This is line with the principle underpinning the 2023 Alcohol Duty reforms that stronger alcoholic products should pay more duty.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the reason is for applying an ABV cap to the Small Producer Relief scheme within the alcohol excise duty system.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The Government has conducted an evaluation of the 2023 Alcohol Duty reforms, in line with the commitment to do so three years on from their implementation. At Budget 2026, following the collection and review of evidence, HMRC and HM Treasury published a report on its findings. This report is available on the gov.uk website.

The Alcohol Duty evaluation report shows that the reforms have encouraged producers to innovate, reformulate, and meet the demand for lower-strength products.

Alongside the introduction of the 2023 reforms, a temporary easement was put in place for wine importers and producers to help manage the transition to the new method of calculating the duty on their products. The impact of the wine easement was not reviewed as part of the Alcohol Duty evaluation as it was a temporary measure.

The 8.5% ABV limit ensures that Small Producers Relief is targeted at lower-strength products. This is line with the principle underpinning the 2023 Alcohol Duty reforms that stronger alcoholic products should pay more duty.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her department has made of a) the potential reduction in water consumption, b) the cost of installation and c) the ongoing maintenance costs for householders with regards to greywater harvesting systems in new build homes.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government recognises the benefits of greywater reuse in homes and is taking steps to support its use for domestic purposes. We have committed to reforming how greywater is used in homes through the Clean Water Bill, including an assessment of water savings, cost benefit analysis and management of systems.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her department has made of the potential merits of using greywater harvesting to reduce domestic water consumption.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government recognises the benefits of greywater reuse in homes and is taking steps to support its use for domestic purposes. We have committed to reforming how greywater is used in homes through the Clean Water Bill, including an assessment of water savings, cost benefit analysis and management of systems.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps, if any, the Department is taking to educate drivers about the Highway Code’s guidance on passing distances when overtaking cyclists.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The THINK! Campaign runs year-round radio filler adverts encouraging compliance with the guidance to improve safety for those walking, cycling and horse riding. These were updated in 2025 to include specific messaging about the safe passing distances for cyclists and horse riders. We will continue to promote the changes via THINK! and Department for Transport social media channels, as well as through partner organisations.

As our road environment and technologies evolve, providing education for all road users throughout their lifetime is vital to improving road safety. As set out in the Road Safety Strategy, this Government will publish for the first time national guidance on the development and delivery of road safety education, training and publicity. Alongside this, we will publish a manual to support the implementation of a Lifelong Learning approach for road safety.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what timetable HMRC has set for its review of Benchmark Scale Rates for employee subsistence; and whether that review will consider (a) increasing the five-hour and ten-hour meal allowance rates to reflect current food and drink costs and (b) introducing a mechanism for those rates to be regularly uprated in future.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

In June 2026, the Government announced a review of Benchmark Scale Rates and Overseas Scale Rates, to consider whether the current rates and structures remain appropriate and effective. The Government will consider the findings of the review before determining any next steps.

The Government keeps all taxes under review and decisions on tax policy are taken by the Chancellor at fiscal events.

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Thames link corridor on the Brighton Mainline

Non disclosure agreements

Englishness and ethnicity

Close season for hare shooting

Indefinite Leave to Remain changes

International Court of Justice's July 2024 Advisory Opinion on the Occupied Palestinian Territories

UK arms sales to Israel

Two-state solution in Israel and Palestine

Water sector reform

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Royal National Lifeboat Institution (No. 2)

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) rescue operations

Appointment of Russian diplomat to lead United Nations' mine-action work

Toxicity testing on animals

National strategy for fertility