Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing minimum bus service levels for communities of 300 people or more.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government recognises the importance of reliable bus services in keeping communities connected. On 17 December, the government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform.

The aim of the Bill is to give power back to local communities to ensure that bus services reflect the needs of those who rely on these services. We believe that mandating an arbitrary level of service takes power away from communities, and that local leaders are best placed to make decisions about how to improve services. That is why we are providing £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London, including £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Hertfordshire County Council has been allocated £12.2 million. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.

The Bill also includes a socially necessary local services measure. Under the new measure, local transport authorities will need to identify bus services which they consider socially necessary and put in place requirements that must be followed before they can be substantially changed or cancelled. This includes a review to consider the needs of the local community, as well as taking on board the views of bus passengers who use the service. They will also need to consider any alternative options that are available to preserve vital connectivity.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a minimum standard of bus service for communities of 300 people or more.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government recognises the importance of reliable bus services in keeping communities connected. On 17 December, the government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform.

The aim of the Bill is to give power back to local communities to ensure that bus services reflect the needs of those who rely on these services. We believe that mandating an arbitrary level of service takes power away from communities, and that local leaders are best placed to make decisions about how to improve services. That is why we are providing £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London, including £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Hertfordshire County Council has been allocated £12.2 million. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.

The Bill also includes a socially necessary local services measure. Under the new measure, local transport authorities will need to identify bus services which they consider socially necessary and put in place requirements that must be followed before they can be substantially changed or cancelled. This includes a review to consider the needs of the local community, as well as taking on board the views of bus passengers who use the service. They will also need to consider any alternative options that are available to preserve vital connectivity.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the higher rate of Air Passenger Duty by more than the proposed 50% in 2026-27 on (a) the public purse and (b) the UK's greenhouse gas emissions.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that APD rates would be partially adjusted in 2026-27 to help compensate for recent years of below-inflation uprating. The higher rate for private jets will therefore rise by a further 50 per cent on top of the general increase made to all APD rates. You can find the Tax Information and Impact Notice (TIIN) for the 2026/27 rates here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-air-passenger-duty-rates-from-1-april-2026/air-passenger-duty-rates-from-1-april-2026-to-31-march-2027

The TIIN sets out the environmental and revenue impacts of the changes.

The Government also published a consultation on the extension of the higher rate to cover all private jets already within scope of the APD regime. At present, the higher rate only applies to larger private jets, and so many private jet passengers pay the same rates as commercial airline passengers. The consultation closed on 22 January, the Government is considering the responses and will respond in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when HMRC plans to respond to the consultation on Reform of Air Passenger Duty for private jets, which closed on 22 January 2025.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that APD rates would be partially adjusted in 2026-27 to help compensate for recent years of below-inflation uprating. The higher rate for private jets will therefore rise by a further 50 per cent on top of the general increase made to all APD rates. You can find the Tax Information and Impact Notice (TIIN) for the 2026/27 rates here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-air-passenger-duty-rates-from-1-april-2026/air-passenger-duty-rates-from-1-april-2026-to-31-march-2027

The TIIN sets out the environmental and revenue impacts of the changes.

The Government also published a consultation on the extension of the higher rate to cover all private jets already within scope of the APD regime. At present, the higher rate only applies to larger private jets, and so many private jet passengers pay the same rates as commercial airline passengers. The consultation closed on 22 January, the Government is considering the responses and will respond in due course.

Extinction of the slender-billed curlew

Strike action at the British Library

Buying community energy locally

Fireworks anti-social behaviour and regulation

Nature-rich river corridors

Five-year indefinite leave to remain pathway for Skilled Worker visa holders

Sanctions on Israel and International Court of Justice findings

Equitable national prostate cancer screening

Barry Winter

Young farmers' organisations across the United Kingdom

Farmers, growers and the supermarket supply chain

Found: Liberal Democrat; Chippenham) Alison Griffiths (Conservative; Bognor Regis and Littlehampton) Chris Hinchliff

Found: Members present1 Mr Toby Perkins, in the Chair2 Julia Buckley Ellie Chowns Sarah Gibson Chris Hinchliff

Found: Julia Buckley; Dr Ellie Chowns; Barry Gardiner; Annae Gelderd; Sarah Gibson; Pippa Heylings; Chris Hinchliff

Found: Conservative; Bognor Regis and Littlehampton) Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat; South Cambridgeshire) Chris Hinchliff

Found: Not called_NC21 Neil Duncan-Jordan Chris Hinchliff Sammy Wilson Shockat Adam Nadia Whittome Apsana Begum

Found: _NC21 Neil Duncan-Jordan Chris Hinchliff Sammy Wilson Shockat Adam Nadia Whittome Apsana Begum Imran

Found: _NC21 Neil Duncan-Jordan Chris Hinchliff Sammy Wilson Shockat Adam Nadia Whittome Apsana Begum Imran

Submit Evidence (by 4 Nov 2025)

This Environmental Audit Committee inquiry will examine the Climate Change Committee's advice on the Seventh Carbon Budget. It will consider the assumptions and costs underpinning the CCC’s recommendations, explore the balance between emerging and established technologies, the policy choices facing Government, and the potential impacts on households, businesses and the wider economy. The inquiry will also look at how the Government should communicate choices and trade-offs, and how Parliament and the public can best scrutinise delivery plans and progress.