Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of passenger capacity on peak-time Northern services calling at Bromley Cross; and what steps her Department is taking to help ensure passengers are not prevented from boarding due to overcrowding.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
I understand that Ribble Valley services, particularly at peak times, can be very busy. Passenger numbers are monitored; Northern receives regular feedback from traincrew regarding crowding levels.
While there may be isolated occasions when customers have had trouble boarding a service, there have been no formal reports of this being an issue across the route.
In light of correspondence received from Members of Parliament on this issue, Northern will review the level of crowding on peak services at Bromley Cross.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Armed Forces families relocating between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on children, with special educational needs or disabilities; and what discussions her Department has had with the devolved administrations and the Ministry of Defence on ensuring continuity of support for those children, including the recognition of Education, Health and Care Plans or their equivalents, when families move across borders.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department consulted earlier this year on proposals for reforming the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system, including how support is given through education, health and care (EHC) plans. Working closely with the Ministry of Defence, we have sought and received extensive feedback from service families with children with SEND about the particular challenges faced by their need to relocate regularly. We will set out further proposals for reform based on the consultation responses.
Education is a devolved matter, and across the UK there are different approaches to supporting those with special educational or additional needs, including different eligibilities for accessing statutory documents such as an EHC plan. When a family moves across borders, statutory documents from the other UK nations can help inform decisions over the support for a child and we encourage this practice in the SEND Code of Practice.
I have held discussions on these issues with ministerial colleagues in Wales and Northern Ireland, and we will continue to look to improve the continuity of support for children in these circumstances.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the sum allocated to Team Plymouth in the Autumn Budget 2026 is additional to previously announced funding for Team Plymouth.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Yes – the £3 million for the economic inactivity pilot announced at Budget is additional to previously announced funding for Team Plymouth.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Integrated Wildfire Management Plans being prepared by National Park Authorities will (a) include quantified targets for reducing vegetation fuel loads, (b) assess the role of cutting, grazing and controlled burning in achieving those reductions and (c) be in place before spring 2027.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
National Park Authorities play an important role in strengthening landscape resilience and have the flexibility to tailor their approach to local circumstances. In October 2026, National Park Authorities voluntarily committed to embedding wildfire management within their National Park Plans as these are reviewed, helping to ensure that wildfire risk is considered as part of future land management. The UK National Parks position statement identifies fuel loads and the role of controlled burning of vegetation among the issues that National Park Authorities should consider.
Defra and MHCLG are building on this commitment through the development of the England Wildfire Action Plan, which will strengthen our approach across prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of establishing a business rate retention zone to finance upgrades to Stratford International station on Exchequer revenues.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
Business rate retention zones play a role in driving local growth, for example by supporting regeneration, unlocking commercial development and accelerating investment in priority sectors.
The Autumn Budget 2026 confirmed the government’s intention to intention to take forward the first wave of new Mayoral Strategic Authority Business Rates Retention Zones, including Stratford, subject to business case approval.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has considered introducing a national framework for congestion charging in towns and cities.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has not considered introducing a national framework for congestion charging in towns and cities.
Decisions on whether to introduce road user charging schemes are the responsibility of local authorities. Local traffic authorities already have the legislative powers to introduce such schemes in their areas where they consider them appropriate.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how local authorities' unfunded activity to deliver Family Hubs will be measured against the minimum expectations laid out in guidance.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government is committed to ensuring that families can access joined-up support through Best Start Family Hubs (BSFH). The department’s guidance sets minimum expectations for services that are not receiving additional investment through the programme.
Local authorities are responsible for shaping delivery to reflect local needs. How they deliver these wider-service expectations is for them to determine. All local authorities have published Best Start in Life local plans and developed BSFH delivery plans explaining how programme funding and activity will deliver against programme expectations.
The department supports and monitors BSFH delivery against the guidance through these plans, local authority data returns and regular engagement with local authorities. A national evaluation will also assess whether the programme is achieving its intended outcomes and help inform future delivery.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the contract for the National Centre for Family Hubs has been retendered; and if not, when her Department expects a tender to be announced.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The contract for the National Centre for Family Hubs ended on 30 September 2026.
Over the summer, the department undertook an open and competitive procurement exercise to secure a Best Start in Life Implementation Partner. This exercise has now been completed.
The Implementation Partner will provide support to local authorities at individual local authority, regional and national level to improve outcomes for children and families. Further details of the support offer will be communicated to local authorities shortly.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the new specification for the contract for the National Centre for Family Hubs will include regional coordinators.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The contract for the National Centre for Family Hubs ended on 30 September 2026.
Over the summer, the department undertook an open and competitive procurement exercise to secure a Best Start in Life Implementation Partner. This exercise has now been completed.
The Implementation Partner will provide support to local authorities at individual local authority, regional and national level to improve outcomes for children and families. Further details of the support offer will be communicated to local authorities shortly.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a tax on motorcycle parking.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government understands concerns about the impact of airport drop-off charges and will therefore be taking forward a review into drop off charges. This will be completed within 12 months of Royal Assent of the Civil Aviation Bill. This will allow sufficient time to consider the range of issues raised by passengers and Parliamentarians, including transparency, charging practices, affordability and available alternatives.
The Government keeps all taxes under review and the Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the public finances.