Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with (a) FIFA and (b) the FA on the price of tickets for England fans at the World Cup 2026.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government understands the strong interest in ticket pricing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the impact it has on fans.

FIFA is an independent international body with its own governance structures. Ticket pricing is a commercial decision determined solely by the World Cup organisers, which are FIFA and the Host Nations (Canada, Mexico, and the United States).

Representations regarding the interests of fans fall to the respective football associations. The Football Association (FA), Scottish Football Association (SFA), Football Association of Wales (FAW), and Irish Football Association (IFA) are the recognised home nation representatives within the international football structure, and are the appropriate bodies to raise such matters with FIFA.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what criteria her Department used to select the locations of the Young Future Hubs; and for what reason no local authorities in south Yorkshire were chosen.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The eight Young Futures Hubs early adopter locations, published last week, were selected using knife crime and anti-social behaviour metrics, maximising impact of the Young Future Hub by placing them where it will benefit the most at-risk young people. The decision was also taken to have one early adopter per region in England to ensure we could test the best way to reach young people in a diverse range of locations. In Yorkshire and the Humber, Leeds has been chosen to act as an early adopter.

The locations for the remaining 42 Hubs will be determined in due course. The design and implementation of the programme in future years will be informed by our work with early adopters.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of moving (a) further powers and (b) responsibilities for (i) taxi licensing and (ii) youth services from constituent unitary councils to Mayoral Combined Authorities.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government remains committed to consulting on whether to make all Local Transport Authorities (including Mayoral Combined Authorities) responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing. Administering the regime across this larger footprint would increase the consistency of standards; create greater economies of scale; and enable more effective use of enforcement powers across a whole functional economic area.

The new National Youth Strategy highlights the leadership of local authorities in the youth sector and the importance of taking a place-based approach to funding to empower local communities in delivering their local youth offers. This function will remain with local authorities as they deliver local services aligned with local needs. However, we recognise the role of Strategic Authorities in setting strategic direction and supporting youth provision and encourage their work to collaborate and take collective decisions on youth priorities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the compatibility of the government’s new ECG scheme with the principle of market competition.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Electric Car Grant is fully compatible with the principle of market competition.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will consider expanding the eligibility criteria of the Electric Car Grant.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Electric Car Grant criteria were designed to support British drivers to access affordable, sustainably manufactured electric vehicles. Over 40,000 drivers have benefited from this scheme to date. The grant's design was not discussed with industry during its development to avoid market distortion.

Following launch, the Department has engaged closely with vehicle manufacturers and will continue to do so as the grant develops. All grants are regularly reviewed to ensure value for money and eligibility criteria may evolve over time.

Officials continue to monitor the grant and assess its impact as the market responds.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her officials have produced an impact assessment on the market of the existing Electric Car Grant criteria; and whether she will publish it.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Electric Car Grant criteria were designed to support British drivers to access affordable, sustainably manufactured electric vehicles. Over 40,000 drivers have benefited from this scheme to date. The grant's design was not discussed with industry during its development to avoid market distortion.

Following launch, the Department has engaged closely with vehicle manufacturers and will continue to do so as the grant develops. All grants are regularly reviewed to ensure value for money and eligibility criteria may evolve over time.

Officials continue to monitor the grant and assess its impact as the market responds.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will set out how the electric car grant criteria were determined, including what discussions she had with the car sector.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Electric Car Grant criteria were designed to support British drivers to access affordable, sustainably manufactured electric vehicles. Over 40,000 drivers have benefited from this scheme to date. The grant's design was not discussed with industry during its development to avoid market distortion.

Following launch, the Department has engaged closely with vehicle manufacturers and will continue to do so as the grant develops. All grants are regularly reviewed to ensure value for money and eligibility criteria may evolve over time.

Officials continue to monitor the grant and assess its impact as the market responds.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Electric Car Grant criteria will change when the review of the Science Based Target Initiative is complete; and what time opportunity will her department offer to industry regarding the implementation of the new target.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

A Science Based Target validated by the Science Based Target Initiative is an eligibility requirement for the Electric Car Grant. Further details are included in the grant application guidance.

The Science Based Target Initiative is independent of Government and was not involved in the grant's creation to avoid potential market distortion.

All grants are kept under continuous monitoring and reviewed regularly to ensure they continue to deliver value for money.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions the Government have had with Science Based Targets Initiative through the formulation of the Electric Car Grant.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

A Science Based Target validated by the Science Based Target Initiative is an eligibility requirement for the Electric Car Grant. Further details are included in the grant application guidance.

The Science Based Target Initiative is independent of Government and was not involved in the grant's creation to avoid potential market distortion.

All grants are kept under continuous monitoring and reviewed regularly to ensure they continue to deliver value for money.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether manufacturers are required to have Science Based Targets to be eligible for the Electric Car Grant.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

A Science Based Target validated by the Science Based Target Initiative is an eligibility requirement for the Electric Car Grant. Further details are included in the grant application guidance.

The Science Based Target Initiative is independent of Government and was not involved in the grant's creation to avoid potential market distortion.

All grants are kept under continuous monitoring and reviewed regularly to ensure they continue to deliver value for money.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department had any role in the development of the electric car grant.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

I refer the Member to the answer given to UIN 90404 on 21^st November 2025.

Found: Public Accounts Committee members present: Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Chair); Mr Clive Betts.

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Clive Betts (Chair); Rachel Gilmour; Chris Kane; Rupert Lowe;