Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data his Department collects on road traffic collisions involving horses; and whether he plans to improve the recording and publication of statistics on such incidents.

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

The Department’s published road collision statistics are based on data reported by police forces via the STATS19 data collection system. STATS19 covers collisions on the public highway reported to and recorded by police, and which involve injury to one or more human participants. This includes collisions involving horses. Within the collection, horses are recorded as vehicles, and riders (when injured) as casualties.

There are currently no plans to change the recording of incidents involving horses in STATS19. The collection is reviewed periodically by the Standing Committee on Road Injury Collision Statistics (SCRICS). Any proposals to amend the collection will be considered during the next review, though the timing of this has not yet been set.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance is provided to local authorities on setting reduced speed limits in rural areas; and whether he plans to increase the powers available to local authorities to introduce speed limit zones in rural communities.

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

Guidance for local authorities on setting reduced speed limits, including in rural areas, is provided through the Department for Transport’s Setting Local Speed Limits guidance. This makes clear that local traffic authorities may introduce speed limits below the national limit where local conditions justify it, based on factors such as road layout, safety considerations and the character of the area.

The Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026 committed to update current guidance on local speed limits and speed‑camera use.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the national speed limit on rural single carriageway roads; and whether he has considered introducing a default speed limit lower than 60mph on unclassified rural roads.

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

The Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026, commits the Government updating the best practice guidance Setting Local Speed Limits which outlines how local authorities may introduce lower limits on rural roads where appropriate. The most recent publicly accessible version of this guidance emphasises that Local traffic authorities have the power to introduce speed limits lower than the national limit where local conditions justify this.

The Road Safety Strategy also looks at exploring whether the proposed rural roads categories are appropriate at a local level and to assessing their potential for national application. Developing a much clearer and more consistent definition of what constitutes a ‘rural road’ could help target safety interventions more effectively, ensuring resources are spent where they can have the greatest impact.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support is available to victims of road traffic collisions involving animals where no human fatality occurs; and whether he plans to review existing support mechanisms for people who are affected.

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

Where a road traffic offence is criminal, those affected by the offence can expect to receive the services set out in the Victims’ Code.

The Victim’s Code is a practical statutory guide for victims of crime, including victims of road traffic offences, to understand what they can expect from the criminal justice system, and outlines the minimum level of service they should receive.

The Ministry of Justice is the lead government department for the Victim’s Code and has committed to undertaking a review of it.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to increase driver accountability for road traffic collisions involving horses and other animals on public roads; and whether she has considered amending the Road Traffic Act 1988.

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

My Department already recognises that horse riders are vulnerable road users with safety needs. Accordingly, the Highway Code covers horse riders and the need for drivers to exercise special care in relation to them.

The Highway Code was updated in 2022 to improve the safety of all road users, particularly the most vulnerable. Key changes included the introduction of a Hierarchy of Road Users, which ensures that those who do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat that they pose to others, along with the strengthening of guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking horse-riders.

The advice on safe passing distances in Rule 163, says that motorists should “pass horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles at speeds under 10mph and allow at least 2 metres of space”.

The Government does not currently have plans to amend the Road Traffic Act in relation to horse riders.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve road safety for equestrians; and whether he plans to update Highway Code guidance or introduce further statutory protections for horse riders.

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

The Highway Code was updated in 2022 to improve road safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses including the introduction of a hierarchy of road users.

Following these updates the Department ran large-scale THINK! advertising campaigns to raise awareness of the changes.

We are also running year-round radio filler adverts encouraging compliance with the guidance to improve safety for those walking, cycling and horse riding. We will also continue to promote the changes via THINK! and Department for Transport social media channels, as well as through partner organisations.

However, as set out in the Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January, more work is needed to continue embedding these changes and overall awareness of the Highway Code. We are considering options in this area, and further details will be shared in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on the welfare of Ukrainian children who have lived in the UK for extended periods if they are required to return to Ukraine; and what consideration is given to the best interests of the child in visa and settlement decisions affecting Ukrainian families.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment and education. We recognise that this uncertainty can be particularly acute for families with children who have lived in the UK for extended periods. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.

In exercising immigration functions, the Home Secretary has regard to the statutory duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the United Kingdom. In line with this duty, the best interests of the child are treated as a primary consideration in immigration decisions affecting Ukrainian families, while recognising that they are not the only consideration.

The Government keeps the situation in Ukraine under close and active review, taking into account security conditions, humanitarian infrastructure and the ability of civilians to return safely and sustainably. No single criterion determines when Ukraine would be considered sufficiently safe for the purposes of ending temporary protection arrangements, and no decisions have been taken at this stage.

The Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route.

The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what weight her Department gives to factors such as school attendance, English language acquisition, and community integration when assessing the future immigration status of Ukrainian families.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment and education. We recognise that this uncertainty can be particularly acute for families with children who have lived in the UK for extended periods. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.

In exercising immigration functions, the Home Secretary has regard to the statutory duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the United Kingdom. In line with this duty, the best interests of the child are treated as a primary consideration in immigration decisions affecting Ukrainian families, while recognising that they are not the only consideration.

The Government keeps the situation in Ukraine under close and active review, taking into account security conditions, humanitarian infrastructure and the ability of civilians to return safely and sustainably. No single criterion determines when Ukraine would be considered sufficiently safe for the purposes of ending temporary protection arrangements, and no decisions have been taken at this stage.

The Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route.

The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to introduce a minimum period of lawful residence after which Ukrainian nationals under the Homes for Ukraine scheme may apply for settled status.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment and education. We recognise that this uncertainty can be particularly acute for families with children who have lived in the UK for extended periods. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.

In exercising immigration functions, the Home Secretary has regard to the statutory duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the United Kingdom. In line with this duty, the best interests of the child are treated as a primary consideration in immigration decisions affecting Ukrainian families, while recognising that they are not the only consideration.

The Government keeps the situation in Ukraine under close and active review, taking into account security conditions, humanitarian infrastructure and the ability of civilians to return safely and sustainably. No single criterion determines when Ukraine would be considered sufficiently safe for the purposes of ending temporary protection arrangements, and no decisions have been taken at this stage.

The Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route.

The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to introduce a route to indefinite leave to remain for Ukrainian nationals currently residing in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment and education. We recognise that this uncertainty can be particularly acute for families with children who have lived in the UK for extended periods. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.

In exercising immigration functions, the Home Secretary has regard to the statutory duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the United Kingdom. In line with this duty, the best interests of the child are treated as a primary consideration in immigration decisions affecting Ukrainian families, while recognising that they are not the only consideration.

The Government keeps the situation in Ukraine under close and active review, taking into account security conditions, humanitarian infrastructure and the ability of civilians to return safely and sustainably. No single criterion determines when Ukraine would be considered sufficiently safe for the purposes of ending temporary protection arrangements, and no decisions have been taken at this stage.

The Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route.

The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria her Department uses to determine when Ukraine is considered sufficiently safe for the purposes of ending temporary protection arrangements for Ukrainian nationals.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment and education. We recognise that this uncertainty can be particularly acute for families with children who have lived in the UK for extended periods. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.

In exercising immigration functions, the Home Secretary has regard to the statutory duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the United Kingdom. In line with this duty, the best interests of the child are treated as a primary consideration in immigration decisions affecting Ukrainian families, while recognising that they are not the only consideration.

The Government keeps the situation in Ukraine under close and active review, taking into account security conditions, humanitarian infrastructure and the ability of civilians to return safely and sustainably. No single criterion determines when Ukraine would be considered sufficiently safe for the purposes of ending temporary protection arrangements, and no decisions have been taken at this stage.

The Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route.

The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce uncertainty for Ukrainian families hosted in the UK regarding their long-term immigration status.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment and education. We recognise that this uncertainty can be particularly acute for families with children who have lived in the UK for extended periods. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.

In exercising immigration functions, the Home Secretary has regard to the statutory duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the United Kingdom. In line with this duty, the best interests of the child are treated as a primary consideration in immigration decisions affecting Ukrainian families, while recognising that they are not the only consideration.

The Government keeps the situation in Ukraine under close and active review, taking into account security conditions, humanitarian infrastructure and the ability of civilians to return safely and sustainably. No single criterion determines when Ukraine would be considered sufficiently safe for the purposes of ending temporary protection arrangements, and no decisions have been taken at this stage.

The Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route.

The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the humanitarian implications for Ukrainian families who have established long-term residence in the UK of being required to return to Ukraine following the expiry of current visa arrangements.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment, and education. We recognise that this uncertainty can be particularly acute for families with children who have lived in the UK for extended periods. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.

In exercising immigration functions, the Home Secretary has regard to the statutory duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the United Kingdom. In line with this duty, the best interests of the child are treated as a primary consideration in immigration decisions affecting Ukrainian families, while recognising that they are not the only consideration.

The Government keeps the situation in Ukraine under close and active review, taking into account security conditions, humanitarian infrastructure, and the ability of civilians to return safely and sustainably. No single criterion determines when Ukraine would be considered sufficiently safe for the purposes of ending temporary protection arrangements, and no decisions have been taken at this stage.

The Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route.

The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society, and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that households are not charged higher assessed water tariffs where a water meter cannot be installed due to infrastructure limitations beyond the customer’s control.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

On water metering, individual water companies are responsible for deciding how best to manage water demand, including their approach to metering. Customers charged on an unmeasured basis are typically charged by reference to the rateable value of the property. Where a meter cannot be installed, customers are instead offered an assessed charge based on one of the following: the number of bedrooms, the type of property, the number of people living in a property or the company’s average metered bill. Additional information about unmeasured charging can be found on the Ofwat website.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to increase the level of accountability for water companies that fail to resolve billing disputes raised by hon. Members on behalf of constituents.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

To rebuild trust It is vital that customers have assurance that their complaints will be resolved. That is why we will establish an independent, impartial, and accredited Water Ombudsman to ensure customer complaints and disputes are taken seriously and are resolved.

Alongside this, the Government is looking at strengthening the consumer advocacy function to provide a stronger voice for customers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of existing legal provisions relating to road traffic collisions involving horses; and whether she has considered introducing legislation to recognise horses and their riders as vulnerable road users for the purposes of criminal liability.

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

The Department already recognises that horse riders are vulnerable road users with safety needs. Accordingly, the Highway Code covers horse riders and the need for drivers to exercise special care in relation to them.

There are a range of offences which create criminal liability for bad driving and the harm that results. Those offences include dangerous or careless driving. The offences apply where a pedestrian or another road user, including horse riders are involved. The independent Sentencing Council provides guidelines to the courts for sentencing driving offences which also list as an aggravating factor, that is a factor meriting an increased sentence, the fact that the “victim was a vulnerable road user, including pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, motorcyclists etc.”

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support rural and off-grid households with energy costs.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recognises the significant pressures these increases to alternative fuel prices place on households in rural communities and off-grid households.

The Chancellor recently confirmed the Government’s approach to rising energy prices will be to target help to those who need it most. To that end, the Government has announced £53 million for low-income families, who heat their homes with oil to help tackle surging prices.

Since the crisis began, we have worked with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to warn companies about unfair practices, such as price gouging, as well as writing to companies to warn them about our expectations of their behaviour. The Government continues to monitor the situation closely, and we are looking at what further support may be needed.

The measures taken in the Autumn Budget reduce the cost of electricity and therefore benefit all households with a domestic electricity meter, including those not on the gas grid. In addition, on 30 January, we announced the continuation of the Warm Home Discount scheme until 2030/31, providing around 6 million eligible households with the £150 rebate on their energy bills each winter.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of (a) legislation and (b) guidance in enabling police forces to take account of patterns of reported dangerous driving behaviour when determining whether to pursue enforcement action following a road traffic incident.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The existing legislative framework provides the police with appropriate powers to investigate and take enforcement action in response to incidents involving dangerous driving. Any form of dangerous driving is considered a serious road safety issue.

How police powers are exercised, including how offending patterns are taken into account, is a matter for the operational judgement of Chief Constables. Decisions on whether to pursue enforcement action following a road traffic incident are made on a case‑by‑case basis, informed by the circumstances of the incident, available evidence and local intelligence.

Guidance for police in this area is provided by the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council. This guidance supports officers to assess risk, proportionality and evidence, and enables forces to make use of intelligence and information where appropriate when determining the most suitable policing response.

The Government keeps legislation and guidance under review but does not direct the police on individual enforcement decisions, reflecting the operational independence of the police.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance is issued to police forces on the investigation of road traffic collisions involving horses and riders where serious injury is caused; and whether she has plans to review existing guidance where no human fatality has occurred.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Guidance is set out on the investigation of all road collisions resulting in serious injury and fatality, by the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

The police are the lead agency for investigations of road traffic collisions and have the primary duty to investigate and establish the circumstances that have led to any serious injury involving horses and riders.

The Government has no plans to review guidance for police officers which informs operational decisions, including the investigation of road traffic collisions, as police have the knowledge, expertise and training to inform reasonable guidance and decisions.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many HMRC online accounts were reported as (a) compromised or (b) subject to unauthorised access in each of the last three financial years.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Information relating to suspected or confirmed account compromise is recorded across different systems and teams, reflecting variation in how fraud presents across HMRC services and channels. As a result, HMRC is unable to provide a comprehensive breakdown of the number of accounts reported as compromised or subject to unauthorised access for each of the last three financial years in the format requested.

HMRC continues to strengthen its capability to identify, respond to and manage compromised accounts, including improving incident management processes and developing more joined‑up approaches to monitoring and response across services.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what policy HMRC follows on suspending automated penalty notices and enforcement action in cases where a taxpayer's account has been compromised by a third party.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Since May 2025, HMRC has seen a significant increase in VAT fraud attempts relating to criminals compromising legitimate customer accounts. HMRC security teams actively investigate these incidents and work with experts across the department to continually strengthen the security of online services.

HMRC’s approach is to identify and prevent fraud upstream by strengthening perimeter controls to prevent fraudulent access to systems, applying effective risk‑based controls at the point of registration and repayment, and targeting the organised criminal groups behind these attacks. HMRC’s Cybercrime team works proactively to understand these threats and identify those responsible.

Where HMRC identifies that a taxpayer’s VAT account has been compromised by a third party, the department takes action to lock the digital account to prevent further unauthorised access and to mitigate any adverse impact on the customer.

HMRC contacts the customer to explain what has occurred, the action taken to correct their account, and any steps the customer needs to take. Until recently, customers were asked to appeal any penalties or interest incurred. However, the process has been adjusted so that any incorrect penalties are now inhibited and removed.

Once the customer regains access to their account, HMRC provides appropriate support and allows additional time for the customer to submit updates and returns without accruing penalties.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HMRC is taking to improve information-sharing between its fraud investigation and customer service functions in cases involving compromised taxpayer accounts.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC is establishing the Fraud Prevention Centre (FPC), a multifunctional capability led by HMRC’s Security directorate, to improve coordination between customer service, fraud investigation and security teams when taxpayer accounts are compromised. Through the FPC, HMRC is improving customer reporting routes, strengthening incident management processes across teams, and deploying targeted technical enhancements to support more joined-up handling of cases and enhanced support for affected customers.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance HMRC issues to third-party debt collection agencies acting on its behalf to recover debts subject to (a) an active dispute or (b) an unresolved fraud investigation.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC does not place tax debts that are either in an active dispute or part of an unresolved investigation with debt collection agencies (DCAs). If a taxpayer communicates to a DCA that their debt is part of an active dispute, which could include being part of an open investigation, the guidance states that the case should be returned to HMRC

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of VAT penalties issued in the 2024-25 financial year were subsequently (a) overturned or (b) cancelled on appeal.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The information you have requested can be found here: 2024-25 HMRC Annual Reports and Accounts and here: 2024-25 Tax Assurance Commissioners Report

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that proposed reforms to the SEND system help support local authorities to comply with their statutory duties.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The Schools White Paper sets clear expectations for local authorities in regard to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision and we are backing that with significant investment to support transformation of the system.

We have written to local authorities and Integrated Care Boards requesting SEND reform plans on improving outcomes for children.

We will hold them to account to deliver strong outcomes for children and young people with SEND and intervene decisively wherever needed.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department plans to designate a national body with statutory responsibility for ensuring the adequate provision of nationwide burial sites; and what steps he is taking to ensure there are an adequate number of burial sites in the absence of such a body.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government does not have day-to-day operational responsibility for burial grounds, which are managed locally. There is no statutory duty on local authorities to make provision for burial, and it is a matter for each authority to allocate local resources in line with local priorities.

The Law Commission’s final report on its review of burial and cremation law was published on 18 March 2026. The report makes a number of recommendations on a future legislative framework for burial but does not propose the creation of a national body to oversee burial provision.

The Government will consider the Law Commission’s recommendations carefully and will respond in due course.

Torbay Hospital

Cost of red diesel

British citizens' right to a family life with spouses in the UK

Leatherhead FC's first league title in 62 years

100th anniversary of the 1st Ewell Village (St Mary’s) Brownies

Protection and restoration of ancient woodland

Wincanton Town Council Bronze Award in the National Council Award Scheme

School libraries and librarians and the National Year of Reading 2026

Food Bill

Mountain rescue in Cumbria

100th anniversary of the birth of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Water sector reform

Found: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat; Stratford-on-Avon) Martin Rhodes (Labour; Glasgow North) Dr Roz Savage

Submit Evidence (by 21 May 2026)

The Environmental Audit Committee is examining the role of HM Treasury in shaping the UK’s response to climate change, nature loss and wider environmental sustainability. The Government’s economic policy objective includes a commitment to “accelerate the transition to a climate resilient, nature positive and net zero economy”.[1]