Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will consider widening the eligibility criteria for the Motability mileage allowance extension.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
Whilst the Department works closely with Motability and is responsible for the main disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme, Motability Foundation is an independent charitable organisation that is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Scheme, along with oversight of Motability Operations.
Motability also understand that living in rural areas often means having to travel further to access everyday services. To support this an additional 3,000 miles per year will be provided on leases for certain customers. Motability Operations’ Rural and Islands Isolation Framework uses national Governments' data on rural isolation to determine eligible postcodes. Motability Operations, which operates the Motability Scheme, is writing directly to customers in eligible postcodes.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish the postcodes eligible for the Motability mileage allowance extension for rural areas.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
Whilst the Department works closely with Motability and is responsible for the main disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme, Motability Foundation is an independent charitable organisation that is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Scheme, along with oversight of Motability Operations.
Motability also understand that living in rural areas often means having to travel further to access everyday services. To support this an additional 3,000 miles per year will be provided on leases for certain customers. Motability Operations’ Rural and Islands Isolation Framework uses national Governments' data on rural isolation to determine eligible postcodes. Motability Operations, which operates the Motability Scheme, is writing directly to customers in eligible postcodes.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the EQ-5D-5L quality of life value set will be adopted in NICE technology appraisals.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is planning to adopt the EQ-5D-5L value set and has recently consulted on proposed changes to its guidance development manuals. NICE is now considering the responses to the consultation and expects to implement changes to its methods in the coming months.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on tackling violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Matthew Patrick
I speak regularly to colleagues across this House, across Government and across the Northern Ireland Executive, raising the issue of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland.
Making progress on this matters enormously to me and to Government. People are rightly passionate about rising to this challenge.
I am proud of the steps we have taken but know that there is far more to do. Just this week, I attended the Violence Against Women and Girls Working Ministerial Group to ensure we can make further progress in Northern Ireland and right across the United Kingdom.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of parental leave entitlements, particularly in cases where one parent receives extended employer-supported paternity leave while the other parent is (a) ineligible for statutory maternity leave and (b) self-employed.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is undertaking a Review of Parental Leave and Pay, which provides an important opportunity to consider whether the current system meets the needs of modern working families, including those who are self-employed.
The Review will conclude in early 2027, at which point the Government will set out its findings and next steps for any potential reforms.
Some employers choose to offer more than the statutory minimum pay, sometimes referred to as ‘occupational’ or ‘contractual’ parental pay. This is a matter between employers and employees.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure parity of baseline parental leave rights, including the standard two-week entitlement, for parents regardless of their partner’s leave arrangements.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is undertaking a Review of Parental Leave and Pay, which provides an important opportunity to consider whether the current system meets the needs of modern working families, including those who are self-employed.
The Review will conclude in early 2027, at which point the Government will set out its findings and next steps for any potential reforms.
Some employers choose to offer more than the statutory minimum pay, sometimes referred to as ‘occupational’ or ‘contractual’ parental pay. This is a matter between employers and employees.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to introduce an indexation mechanism linking the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate to (a) inflation and (b) motoring cost indices.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. The AMAP rate is advisory, so employers can choose to pay more or less than the advisory rate. Employees reimbursed less than the AMAP rate may be able to claim tax relief on the difference, depending on their circumstances. Amounts reimbursed over the AMAP rate are classed as earnings and subject to Income Tax.
In recognition of the pressures facing drivers, the Government announced in May the first uprating of these rates since 2011, backdated to April 2026. For 2026/27, mileage rates for cars and vans will increase from 45p to 55p per mile for the first 10,000 miles annually, followed by 25p per mile thereafter. These rates are UK-wide so apply to Northern Ireland.
The 25p per mile rate for mileage above 10,000 miles remains unchanged, reflecting that the average motorist drives fewer than 10,000 miles for work and the need to balance targeted support with overall fiscal responsibility. Employees can also claim an additional 5p per mile for each fellow employee transported. Mileage rates for other vehicles, including motorcycles, remain unchanged.
Looking ahead and beyond 2026/27, the Government has already committed to a review of these rates and will set this out at the Budget. More broadly, the Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs to ensure that they are appropriate and reflect the current state of the economy.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. The AMAP rate is advisory, so employers can choose to pay more or less than the advisory rate. Employees reimbursed less than the AMAP rate may be able to claim tax relief on the difference, depending on their circumstances. Amounts reimbursed over the AMAP rate are classed as earnings and subject to Income Tax.
In recognition of the pressures facing drivers, the Government announced in May the first uprating of these rates since 2011, backdated to April 2026. For 2026/27, mileage rates for cars and vans will increase from 45p to 55p per mile for the first 10,000 miles annually, followed by 25p per mile thereafter. These rates are UK-wide so apply to Northern Ireland.
The 25p per mile rate for mileage above 10,000 miles remains unchanged, reflecting that the average motorist drives fewer than 10,000 miles for work and the need to balance targeted support with overall fiscal responsibility. Employees can also claim an additional 5p per mile for each fellow employee transported. Mileage rates for other vehicles, including motorcycles, remain unchanged.
Looking ahead and beyond 2026/27, the Government has already committed to a review of these rates and will set this out at the Budget. More broadly, the Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs to ensure that they are appropriate and reflect the current state of the economy.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate on small and medium-sized enterprises and mobile workers in rural regions, including in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. The AMAP rate is advisory, so employers can choose to pay more or less than the advisory rate. Employees reimbursed less than the AMAP rate may be able to claim tax relief on the difference, depending on their circumstances. Amounts reimbursed over the AMAP rate are classed as earnings and subject to Income Tax.
In recognition of the pressures facing drivers, the Government announced in May the first uprating of these rates since 2011, backdated to April 2026. For 2026/27, mileage rates for cars and vans will increase from 45p to 55p per mile for the first 10,000 miles annually, followed by 25p per mile thereafter. These rates are UK-wide so apply to Northern Ireland.
The 25p per mile rate for mileage above 10,000 miles remains unchanged, reflecting that the average motorist drives fewer than 10,000 miles for work and the need to balance targeted support with overall fiscal responsibility. Employees can also claim an additional 5p per mile for each fellow employee transported. Mileage rates for other vehicles, including motorcycles, remain unchanged.
Looking ahead and beyond 2026/27, the Government has already committed to a review of these rates and will set this out at the Budget. More broadly, the Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs to ensure that they are appropriate and reflect the current state of the economy.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her officials have had discussions with colleagues in the Northern Ireland Office on the adequacy of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate of 45 pence per mile.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. The AMAP rate is advisory, so employers can choose to pay more or less than the advisory rate. Employees reimbursed less than the AMAP rate may be able to claim tax relief on the difference, depending on their circumstances. Amounts reimbursed over the AMAP rate are classed as earnings and subject to Income Tax.
In recognition of the pressures facing drivers, the Government announced in May the first uprating of these rates since 2011, backdated to April 2026. For 2026/27, mileage rates for cars and vans will increase from 45p to 55p per mile for the first 10,000 miles annually, followed by 25p per mile thereafter. These rates are UK-wide so apply to Northern Ireland.
The 25p per mile rate for mileage above 10,000 miles remains unchanged, reflecting that the average motorist drives fewer than 10,000 miles for work and the need to balance targeted support with overall fiscal responsibility. Employees can also claim an additional 5p per mile for each fellow employee transported. Mileage rates for other vehicles, including motorcycles, remain unchanged.
Looking ahead and beyond 2026/27, the Government has already committed to a review of these rates and will set this out at the Budget. More broadly, the Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs to ensure that they are appropriate and reflect the current state of the economy.