Joe Robertson MP: written questions
506 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Air Passenger Duty: Regional AirportsTreasuryTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110600More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of Air Passenger Duty on domestic air routes and regional airport connectivity in the UK, compared with the approach taken by other European countries to support
Answer: The Government is committed to the long-term future of the aviation sector in the UK and recognises the importance of maintaining a thriving and competitive aviation sector in the UK to deliver connectivity. In April 2023, reforms to APD took effect, aimi...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRegional Airports: TaxationDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110599More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the extent to which business rates relief and other fiscal support provided to Heathrow and Gatwick is available to regional airports; and what steps she is taking to
Answer: The UK aviation market operates predominantly in the private sector, however this government recognises the crucial role regional airports play in supporting thousands of local jobs, connecting communities to global opportunities, and strengthening social...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: Rented HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110224More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made a recent assessment of the eligibility of tenants who purchase electricity via landlord-supplied prepayment card systems for support under the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
Answer: In 2025, the Government consulted on whether to expand the Park Homes Warm Home Discount Scheme to other households without a direct relationship with their energy supplier (including those pay their landlord for energy). Given the cost of the scheme fall...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPorts: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109702More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many ports have operational shore power infrastructure capable of supporting zero-emission operations; and how this compares with the number of ports affected by the inclusion of emissions at berth in the U
Answer: The Government does not centrally record the level of live shore power infrastructure at ports, harbours, marinas, terminals or wharves, including whether they offer low voltage or high voltage shore power connections. We are aware of at least nine ports,...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordShipping: UK Emissions Trading SchemeDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109701More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to review the UK Emissions Trading Scheme once the International Maritime Organisation rules come into force.
Answer: Addressing international emissions from shipping is critical and it is important action is taken globally through the International Maritime Organization (IMO). If the IMO Net-Zero Framework is introduced, the Government will review the scope of the UK Em...
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading Scheme: ShippingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109700More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to align UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) maritime rules with the EU ETS to help (a) prevent (i) carbon leakage and (ii) port avoidance and (b) maintain c
Answer: The Government has assessed the impacts of expansion of the Emissions Trading Scheme to domestic maritime. That Impact Assessment concluded that the policy is not expected to materially affect the competitiveness of ports or operators, and that applying t...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading Scheme: ShippingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109699More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much revenue his Department expects to raise annually from the inclusion of domestic maritime in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme; and what proportion of that revenue will be recycled into
Answer: The Government’s Impact Assessment estimates that bringing domestic maritime into the United Kingdom Emissions Trading Scheme will increase allowance purchasing revenue by around £1.9 billion over the 20year appraisal period, averaging approximately £95 m...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBuses: ProcurementDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109394More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the scope within current procurement and trade obligations for contracting authorities to weight social value criteria to support UK jobs and supply chains in pub
Answer: Through the work with the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel my department is currently seeking agreement to implement a minimum weighting for social value to be considered when undergoing bus procurement.
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBuses: ProcurementDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109393More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the average social value weighting applied by contracting authorities in procurements of new buses supported by Government funding schemes in each of the last five years
Answer: My department devolves the procurement activities to the contracting authority for new buses and therefore does not hold information on the average social value weighting which may have been applied.
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading Scheme: ShippingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109392More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of including domestic maritime within the UK Emissions Trading Scheme on the competitiveness of UK ports and shipping operators
Answer: The Government’s Impact Assessment for including domestic maritime emissions within the United Kingdom Emissions Trading Scheme concluded that the policy is not expected to materially affect the competitiveness of United Kingdom ports or shipping operator...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading Scheme: ShippingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109391More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of expanding the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime on shipping and ferry services serving British Overseas Territories; w
Answer: The UK Emissions Trading Scheme Authority has recently consulted on proposals to include a share of emissions from international maritime voyages, including voyages to and from Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories. The consultation invited ...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109390More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, under the proposed pay-per-mile road charging scheme, whether mileage accrued by UK-registered vehicles while driving in the Republic of Ireland would be subject to UK charges; and whether mileage accrued by Republi
Answer: As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028, a new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, recognising that EVs (electric vehicles) contribute to congestion and wear and tear ...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordHoliday Accommodation: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109389More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent rateable value increases on small accommodation providers, including the impact on business viability and local tourism-dependent economies.
Answer: At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since the pandemic, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To suppo...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordHoliday Accommodation: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109388More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what factors the Valuation Office Agency takes into consideration in (a) coastal and (b) tourism-dependent areas when setting rateable values for self-catering accommodation.
Answer: Self-catered accommodation is valued in the same way as any other class of non-domestic property; through applying the statutory and common law principles that apply across non-domestic rating.
Answered 6 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordHoliday Accommodation: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109387More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the methodology used by the Valuation Office Agency to calculate recent rateable value increases for self-catering accommodation.
Answer: Self-catered accommodation is valued in the same way as any other class of non-domestic property; through applying the statutory and common law principles that apply across non-domestic rating.
Answered 6 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109386More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of applying an interest rate of RPI plus 3% to Plan 2 student loans for graduates earning over £50,270 on the disposable income of those graduates.
Answer: Plan 2 student loans were designed and implemented by previous governments. Students in England starting degrees under this government have different arrangements.Plan 2 loans interest rates are applied at the Retail Price Index (RPI) only, then variable ...
Answered 6 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPharmacy: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108461More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Treasury has conducted or commissioned an impact assessment on how the April 2026 business rates increase may affect the financial sustainability of community pharmacies.
Answer: At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This has led to increases in rateable values for some properties, as current values are based on pandemic-era valuations. In recognition of the impact of the revaluation o...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPharmacy: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108460More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the planned April 2026 business rates increase on community pharmacies.
Answer: At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This has led to increases in rateable values for some properties, as current values are based on pandemic-era valuations. In recognition of the impact of the revaluation o...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108459More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 104846, what assessment has been made of the risk that AI initiatives described as operating on a test-and-learn basis do not deliver the scale of efficienc
Answer: The department has not undertaken a specific risk assessment on whether the AI initiatives operating on a test-and-learn basis will deliver the scale of efficiency savings forecast in the Departmental Efficiency Plan. The department has agreed to achieve ...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108458More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2026 to Question 105753, what assessment the Department has made of which specific budget lines will reduce as a result of the £199 million corporate initiatives efficiencie
Answer: A breakdown of the forecasted £199m in corporate initiative efficiencies published in the Departmental Efficiency Plan described as cash releasing are included below by budget line as published in the departmental Supply Estimate.Budget Line28/29 Cashable...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108457More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answers of 22 January 2026 to Question 105752 and 20 January 2026 to Question 104846, what proportion of the £199 million efficiency saving projected from corporate initiatives in 2028–29 is exp
Answer: None of the £199m in efficiency savings from corporate initiatives have been specifically identified as arising from AI-enabled processes. As part of a test and learn approach, we are assessing the impact and potential benefits of implementing AI and digi...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108456More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2026 to Question 105752, whether the Department has produced a breakdown for corporate initiatives equivalent to that published for executive agency reform, showing (a) gros
Answer: The department has agreed to achieving net savings of £199m in 28/29 from corporate initiatives as part of the Departmental Efficiency Plan. We do not currently hold a breakdown of how the net savings breakdown by gross efficiencies and implementation cos...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: SwindonDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108455More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average waiting time was for a practical car driving test at Swindon Test Centre in the most recent month for which data is available.
Answer: For January 2026, the average waiting time for a car practical driving test at Swindon driving test centre was 18.8 weeks.
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordYouth Services: Isle of WightDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107888More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how the schools identified to receive support through the National Youth Strategy will be selected; and whether schools on the Isle of Wight will receive support.
Answer: The Government's National Youth Strategy is a 10-year plan designed to ensure that every young person nationwide has somewhere to go, someone who cares for them, and a community they feel a part of. Schools are key to implementing the strategy including t...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordYouth Services: Isle of WightDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107887More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Isle of Wight will be eligible for funding under the National Youth Strategy; and what steps are being taken to ensure that the Island is supported thought the national funding criter
Answer: ‘Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy’ is a 10 year plan to ensure every young person across the country has somewhere to go, someone who cares for them and a community they feel part of.This is backed by over £500 million of new youth funding over...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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