Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress the Government has made on delivering a UK Single Trade Window.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government is committed to minimising administrative burdens and frictions experienced by businesses trading internationally. While delivery of the single trade window (STW) was paused at the end of 2024, it remains the Government’s intention to deliver an STW, and we will use the pause to further engage with key border stakeholders to better understand their needs.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to analysis cited in the Road Haulage Association’s 2025 Autumn Budget Submission, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of an increase in fuel duty on household living standards.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
At Budget 2025, the Government announced continued support for people and businesses by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut until the end of August 2026. Rates will then gradually return to early 2022 levels. The planned increase in line with inflation for 2026-27 will not take place, with the government uprating fuel duty rates by RPI from April 2027. This will save the average car driver £49 next year compared to previous plans.
The Government has set out estimated impacts on household incomes from tax, welfare and public service spending decisions taken at Budget 2025, including eVED. These impacts are available at GOV.UK: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69269c6222424e25e6bc31bb/Impact_on_households.pdf
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a fuel duty rebate linked to emissions reductions to encourage the use of low carbon fuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is a relatively new fuel and has limited availability in the UK. When used for domestic heating, HVO benefits from the rebated duty rate of 10.18p per litre, in contrast to the full duty rate of 52.95p per litre.
The Government currently encourages the use of HVO through the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), which incentivises the use of low carbon fuels and reduces emissions from fuel supplied for use in transport and non-road mobile machinery. The RTFO has been very successful in supporting a market for renewable fuel since its introduction in 2008. Renewable fuels supplied under the RTFO currently contribute a third of the savings required for the UK’s transport carbon budget.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to ensure that UK steel producers are not subject to additional decarbonisation-related charges that could impact their competitiveness relative to overseas producers.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The government is committed to supporting the UK steel sector and we will publish our strategy for the sector in 2026. This will articulate what is needed to create a competitive environment and to secure UK steelmaking capability.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of improved on-train wi-fi services on discouraging less sustainable forms of travel.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As part of the Spending Review business case assessing the value for money of delivering improved passenger internet connectivity, we assessed the positive benefits that can arise from ‘modal shift’, arising where people choose to travel by train in preference to using their cars. We followed standard transport appraisal and passenger demand forecast handbook guidance in our assessments.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the steps required to ensure that the improved Wi-Fi capacity enabled by recent investment in Low Earth Orbit connectivity can be delivered to passengers through compatible on-train equipment.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
My officials produced a detailed business case as part of the Spending Review to deploy low earth orbit satellite connections on all mainline trains to improve on train wifi connectivity for passengers. The team is currently working through establishing the procurement and delivery model. We issued a preliminary market engagement notice on gov.uk to begin engaging with industry on how improvements can be delivered to passengers through compatible on-train equipment.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what representations has he made to BP over the use of British steel in the Net Zero Teesside project.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The department regularly engages with key CCUS stakeholders, including BP, to understand progress towards the industry-led, voluntary 50% local content target. The department has emphasised in discussions with industry partners the importance of supporting the UK steel sector and maximising opportunities for British businesses within the UK’s transition to net zero.
There has already been extensive investment in the CCUS supply chain, with £1 bn in UK-based subcontracts already being awarded across the Net Zero Teesside project and its associated CO2 Transport and Storage Company, the Northern Endurance Partnership, both of which are BP led. This demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting domestic industry and jobs.
The department will continue to explore further opportunities to maximise the role of the UK supply chain and we look forward to working closely with BP and other developers to achieve this.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her department is taking to harmonise customs processes between the UK and EU.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government and HMRC continue to speak to the European Commission, including on topics such as customs processes to ensure that those processes are operating smoothly and to identify opportunities for future collaboration.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce administrative burdens on businesses moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government announced at the Autumn Budget a £16.6m package of measures to support businesses to move goods within the UK internal market, including a comprehensive ‘one stop shop’ regulatory support service and additional funding for Intertrade UK.
On 3 December, we announced with the EU that SPS identity checks on retail goods would now be reduced from 10% to 8%, further smoothing flows of trade. Looking ahead, the Government is also negotiating a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU that is set to remove routine checks on animal and plant products moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Great British Railways will be required to procure sufficient mobile data capacity to meet passenger expectations for on-train Wi-Fi across the network.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
While it is too early to confirm specific procurement requirements, improving Wi-Fi provision across the network will be a key part of future planning and engagement with industry partners.