Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria her Department uses when deciding whether a major transport project should be added to the Government’s Major Projects Portfolio.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP), including which projects and programmes are included, is managed by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA). The criteria for GMPP projects are typically those where approval is required from HM Treasury (HMT), either because the budget exceeds the department’s delegated authority level and/or because the project is novel, complex, contentious, or requires primary legislation. The department engages with NISTA on a monthly basis to ensure that the correct projects and programmes are added to the GMPP.

NISTA is currently undergoing a review of the Government Major Projects Portfolio, which currently comprises over 200 projects, programmes and portfolios. It is expected that it will significantly reduce the number of major projects that the centre of government actively supports.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the cost to the public purse of delaying the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme.

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

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.

WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026

As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the recent government review of the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme on planned delivery timescales for the Bradford–Leeds line.

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

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.

WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026

As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has imposed new conditions on the release of funding for the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme following the government review.

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

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.

WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026

As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of delaying the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme into the late 2030s on Bradford.

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

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.

WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026

As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme is delivered by the late 2030s.

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

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.

WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026

As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the impact of inflation on the projected costs of the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme following its delay.

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

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.

WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026

As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what lessons her Department has learned from the cancellation of previous mass transit proposals in West Yorkshire when overseeing the current scheme.

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

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.

WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026

As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has conducted an equality impact assessment of the delay to the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme.

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

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.

WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026

As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what specific risks were identified by her Department that led to requiring West Yorkshire Combined Authority to separate route planning from the business case for the mass transit system.

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

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.

WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026

As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that the delay to the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme does not disproportionately disadvantage communities in Bradford.

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

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.

WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026

As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the £2.1bn funding commitment for the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme remains fully allocated to the project following the programme reset.

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

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.

WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026

As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what role the Rail Minister has been given in overseeing the West Yorkshire mass transit project following the recent review.

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

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.

WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026

As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he expects the remaining provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 relating to the regulation of service charges to be brought into force; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure leaseholders are protected from excessive or unreasonable service charges in the interim.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has already made significant progress when it comes to commencing provisions in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024:

• On 24 July 2024, we brought into force provisions relating to rentcharge arrears, building safety legal costs and the work of professional insolvency practitioners.
• On 31 October 2024, we brought into force further building safety measures.
• On 31 January 2025, we commenced provisions to remove the two-year qualifying rule in relation to enfranchisement and lease extensions.
• On 3 March 2025, the right to manage provisions (expanding access, reforming its costs, and voting rights) came into force.

The government recognises the considerable financial strain that rising service charges place on leaseholders and tenants. The level of service charge that leaseholders pay depends on many factors, including the terms of a lease and the age and condition of a building. By law, variable service charges must be reasonable. Overcharging through service charges is completely unacceptable. Should leaseholders wish to contest the reasonableness of their service charges they may make an application to the appropriate tribunal.

On 4 July 2025, the government published a consultation, jointly with the Welsh Government, on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services. The consultation included proposals to increase transparency over service charges and enhance access to redress through the relevant provisions in the Act. It also proposed new reforms the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here. It closed on 26 September 2025, and we are analysing responses with a view to bringing the relevant measures into force as quickly as possible.

On 18 December 2025, the government launched a consultation on proposals to implement the Act’s new consumer protections for homeowners living on freehold estates. These include ensuring that homeowners who pay an estate management charge have better access to information they need to understand what they are paying for, the right to challenge the reasonableness at the First-tier Tribunal (in England), and to go to the tribunal to appoint a substitute manager. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 12 March 2026. We will look to bring these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.

The Act also sets the method for calculating the price of a statutory lease extension or freehold acquisition, known as the valuation process. It removes the requirement for marriage value to be paid, caps the treatment of ground rents in the valuation calculation at 0.1% of the freehold value, and allows government to prescribe the rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium. Valuation rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium will be set by the Secretary of State in secondary legislation. We will consult on valuation rates and commence the relevant provisions as soon as possible. As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), primary legislation will be required to rectify a small number of specific flaws in the 2024 Act before the Act’s enfranchisement provisions are commenced.

Right To Food UK Commission

Food insecurity amongst workers in food processing, manufacturing and retail sectors

Local news journalism and STV regional broadcasting

Banning under 16s from social media

Changes to Right To Protest in the Public Order Act 2023

Billy Bremner Raploch statue

Commemoration of Terry Yorath

Gender apartheid

Centenary of the derailment of the Flying Scotsman

Parliamentary screening of The Removed and historic forced adoptions

International sport and alleged United States violations of international law

Hunger strike by pro-Palestinian activists

10th anniversary of Boxing Day floods

US military attack on Venezuela