Written questions by Maguire.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the application of Vehicle Excise Duty on (a) new and (b) existing electric vehicles from 1 April 2025 on the (i) affordability and (ii) trends in the level of ownership of (A) electric and (B) zero emission vehicles.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is a tax on vehicles used or kept on public roads. As announced by the Government at Autumn Statement 2022, from April 2025, zero emission and hybrid cars, vans and motorcycles now pay VED in a similar way to petrol and diesel vehicles. Revenue from motoring taxes helps ensure we can continue to fund the vital public services and infrastructure that people and families across the UK expect. The Tax Information and Impact Note published alongside Autumn Finance Bill 2022 estimated the impact on zero emission vehicle take-up of the measure to be ‘minimal’. It can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-of-vehicle-excise-duty-for-zero-emission-cars-vans-and-motorcycles-from-2025/introduction-of-vehicle-excise-duty-for-zero-emission-cars-vans-and-motorcycles-from-2025 The Government is committed to supporting the transition to zero emission vehicles. On 15 July the Government announced a major boost to the electric vehicle transition with the introduction of the £650m Electric Car Grant, supporting drivers purchasing zero emission vehicles with grants of up to £3,750.

How many prisoners have been wrongly released from prison since July 2024.

Releases in error have been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government.While the overwhelming majority of offenders are released correctly, we are clamping down on those releases in error that do occur – including through improved staff training and establishing a new specialist unit. A joint protocol between HMPPS and NPCC is in place, to ensure effective and timely communication between partner agencies when an individual is released in error to rearrest them as quickly as possible.We have gripped this chaos – by building more prison places, ending the last Government’s early release scheme, being transparent with the public, immediately making changes to sentences to ease pressure on the system and now, taking landmark reforms through our Sentencing Bill to make sure that prisons never run out of places again.Totals for releases in error are published each July in the HMPPS Annual Digest, available via Prison and Probation Performance Statistics - GOV.UK, and provide data up to March 2025.The number of people who have been released in error since April 2025 cannot be provided because it would form a subset of releases in error data which underpins future versions of these Official Statistics.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme’s glass packaging fees on the competitiveness of small and medium-sized beverage producers that rely predominantly on glass.

In autumn last year my department published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) scheme on packaging producers as a whole, when the regulations were laid in parliament. This impact assessment includes an analysis of the impact of pEPR on competition but does not include an assessment of the impact on specific materials or sectors. pEPR in the UK has some of the most generous support measures for small businesses across any packaging scheme globally. These are exemptions from disposal fee and recycling (PRN) obligations for producers with an annual turnover below £2 million and packaging tonnage below 50 tonnes; and an exemption from data collection and reporting obligations for small businesses with turnover below £1 million and packaging tonnage below 25 tonnes. These exemptions apply to approximately 70% of businesses supplying packaging in the UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of delaying the full implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme to review its impact on small producers of glass-packaged beverages to ensure the scheme does not undermine the (a) environmental and (b) economic sustainability of the sector.

Packaging extended producer responsibility is an important part of government’s wider commitment to transition to a circular economy. It is the cornerstone of the packaging reforms and delivers a £1.4 billion investment to local councils to deliver better recycling services to households across the UK. Together, the leaders of the UK’s largest waste management companies have said that these reforms unlock a £10 billion investment in the UK’s recycling capacity, creating 25,000 jobs. pEPR in the UK has some of the most generous support measures for small businesses across any packaging scheme globally. These are exemptions from disposal fee and recycling (PRN) obligations for producers with an annual turnover below £2 million and packaging tonnage below 50 tonnes; and an exemption from data collection and reporting obligations for small businesses with turnover below £1 million and packaging tonnage below 25 tonnes. These exemptions apply to approximately 70% of businesses supplying packaging in the UK. The Government is committed to the delivery of these important reforms.

What the agreed timescale is for HMRC to (a) process and (b) refund PAYE payments; and whether HMRC is meeting that timescale.

There are several triggers that result in PAYE repayments. Where a customer submits a PAYE repayment claim, these are treated as priority post. HMRC have an agreed and published service standard to respond to 80% of priority post within 15 working days. HMRC’s performance has improved from 68.6% in April 2025 to 81% in August 2025. Repayments can also be generated by the provision of updated information from third parties, including employers, and following the tax year end reconciliation of customer accounts. At the tax year end, HMRC proactively check customers have paid the correct amount of tax and this can result in repayments. HMRC aim to complete this reconciliation by the end of the tax year and did this for over 99% of customers last year. Where a PAYE repayment is due, HMRC provides the customer with the calculation of repayment (form P800) and, where eligible, invites them to go online to receive the payment electronically. Where customers claim PAYE repayments online direct to their bank account, HMRC aim to process these within 5 working days. In 2024/25, 99.2% were processed within this timeframe. In more complex cases, for example where the calculation involves multiple tax years, HMRC will automatically send the customer their refund as a payable order within 14 days.

Whether his Department plans to legislate to protect the rights of children to communicate with (a) grandparents and (b) others members of extended family in cases where (i) one and (ii) both parents seek to prevent such contact.

I acknowledge and respect that grandparents and other extended family members often play an important role in children’s lives and can provide stability in families, particularly where parents are separating.Any contact with the child should always be in their child's best interests. This is why there is no statutory right for any adult to have contact with a child. It is already possible for extended family members to seek leave of the court to apply for ‘spending time with’ or ‘living with’ arrangements through a Child Arrangements Order under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989 (‘the Act’). The requirement for grandparents or others to seek the leave of the court first is to ensure that their application is in the child's best interests; but in certain circumstances, applicants may be entitled to apply without the leave of the court under section 10 (5) of the Act. These circumstances include where the child has lived with them for a period of at least three years. Therefore, the Government has no current plans to legislate further on this issue.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of standardising complaint procedures for (a) schools and (b) trusts to ensure that (i) parents and (ii) guardians have the same opportunity to access those procedures.

The department is working closely with the Improving Education Together group to improve the complaints system. We are exploring how to reset the relationship between schools and parents through encouraging informal resolution, reducing duplication, and clarifying roles and responsibilities. Where schools cannot resolve complaints, they should be passed quickly to the right body. We expect to provide more detail in the Schools White Paper.The department has published best practice guidance for maintained schools and academies, including model complaints policies, and this can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-complaints-procedures and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/setting-up-an-academies-complaints-procedure/best-practice-guidance-for-academies-complaints-procedures.Complaints can be escalated to the department once a school’s process has been exhausted, unless the complainant has been obstructed. Once received, officials check whether the school’s complaints policy complies with relevant guidance and regulations.The department values the dedication and expertise of the school workforce and is committed to working with them to re-establish teaching as an attractive, expert profession.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of assessing (a) schools' and (b) trusts' complaint procedures to ensure that the complaint process is adequately (i) accessible and (ii) understandable.

The department is working closely with the Improving Education Together group to improve the complaints system. We are exploring how to reset the relationship between schools and parents through encouraging informal resolution, reducing duplication, and clarifying roles and responsibilities. Where schools cannot resolve complaints, they should be passed quickly to the right body. We expect to provide more detail in the Schools White Paper.The department has published best practice guidance for maintained schools and academies, including model complaints policies, and this can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-complaints-procedures and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/setting-up-an-academies-complaints-procedure/best-practice-guidance-for-academies-complaints-procedures.Complaints can be escalated to the department once a school’s process has been exhausted, unless the complainant has been obstructed. Once received, officials check whether the school’s complaints policy complies with relevant guidance and regulations.The department values the dedication and expertise of the school workforce and is committed to working with them to re-establish teaching as an attractive, expert profession.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the costs of hospital parking for NHS bank staff working shifts at NHS Trusts.

Decisions on the provision of car parking are made locally by National Health Service organisations, including considering how they affect local recruitment and the retention of their staff. These decisions will need to reflect the local geography and environment, including travel distances.All NHS staff, regardless of their type of employment, are expected to be similarly treated by their employing NHS organisation. This includes where free parking is provided to staff working nights shifts.All NHS trusts are expected to follow the published NHS Car Parking Guidance. This states that car parking charges, where they exist, should be reasonable for the local area. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles

If his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring that NHS bank staff are offered the same discounted parking arrangements as other hospital employees.

Decisions on the provision of car parking are made locally by National Health Service organisations, including considering how they affect local recruitment and the retention of their staff. These decisions will need to reflect the local geography and environment, including travel distances.All NHS staff, regardless of their type of employment, are expected to be similarly treated by their employing NHS organisation. This includes where free parking is provided to staff working nights shifts.All NHS trusts are expected to follow the published NHS Car Parking Guidance. This states that car parking charges, where they exist, should be reasonable for the local area. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of hospital parking costs on (a) recruitment and (b) retention of NHS staff who commute long distances in (a) North Cornwall constituency and (b) other rural areas.

Decisions on the provision of car parking are made locally by National Health Service organisations, including considering how they affect local recruitment and the retention of their staff. These decisions will need to reflect the local geography and environment, including travel distances.All NHS staff, regardless of their type of employment, are expected to be similarly treated by their employing NHS organisation. This includes where free parking is provided to staff working nights shifts.All NHS trusts are expected to follow the published NHS Car Parking Guidance. This states that car parking charges, where they exist, should be reasonable for the local area. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles

How his Department guarantee safe services for patients when a Hospital Trust is regularly at OPEL 4.

The National Health Service’s operational pressures escalation levels (OPEL) framework provides a standardised approach to support an effective, integrated, and coordinated response to acute trust operational pressures. This includes the actions locally, regionally, and nationally that support the depressurising of services and ensure patient safety. Further information about the OPEL framework is published by NHS England at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/integrated-opel-framework-2024-to-2026/ NHS England’s national operations team actively monitors escalations and maintains oversight of organisations at OPEL Escalation Level 4. Where specific support is required, NHS England can enact collaboration with national subject matter experts, regional teams, and external agencies to adapt national policy or provide targeted intervention.

What support his Department has provided to Hospital Trusts that reach Opel 4.

The National Health Service’s operational pressures escalation levels (OPEL) framework provides a standardised approach to support an effective, integrated, and coordinated response to acute trust operational pressures. This includes the actions locally, regionally, and nationally that support the depressurising of services and ensure patient safety. Further information about the OPEL framework is published by NHS England at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/integrated-opel-framework-2024-to-2026/ NHS England’s national operations team actively monitors escalations and maintains oversight of organisations at OPEL Escalation Level 4. Where specific support is required, NHS England can enact collaboration with national subject matter experts, regional teams, and external agencies to adapt national policy or provide targeted intervention.

If her Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of rail connectivity in North Cornwall constituency.

The Government recognises the transport challenges faced by rural communities, including those in North Cornwall. While there are currently no plans to reintroduce rail services to North Cornwall, we encourage local authorities and transport providers, including Great Western Railway, to explore opportunities for enhancing integrated transport links, particularly between rail and bus services. For example, the new £15million Okehampton Interchange station is due to open in 2026, funded by the Government's Levelling Up Fund. This station will become a hub for trains and buses, including enabling improved bus services to North Cornwall, and improved walking and cycling links.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Dartmoor Railway Line into (a) North Cornwall constituency, (b) Launceston and (c) Bude.

The Government recognises the transport challenges faced by rural communities, including those in North Cornwall. While there are currently no plans to reintroduce rail services to North Cornwall, we encourage local authorities and transport providers, including Great Western Railway, to explore opportunities for enhancing integrated transport links, particularly between rail and bus services. For example, the new £15million Okehampton Interchange station is due to open in 2026, funded by the Government's Levelling Up Fund. This station will become a hub for trains and buses, including enabling improved bus services to North Cornwall, and improved walking and cycling links.

Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of designating Cornish lobster as a protected product under the Protected Geographical Indication framework.

The Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) framework plays a vital role in championing food and drink products that are regionally distinct and nationally important, helping to preserve heritage, support rural economies, and promote high-quality British produce. A number of celebrated Cornish foods are already protected - Fal Oyster PDO, Cornish Sardines PGI, Cornish Clotted Cream PDO, Cornish Pasty PGI and Darnibole wine PDO.The designation process is producer-led. As with any prospective name, the Department would welcome an application to protect “Cornish Lobster”. The application would need to give evidence of widespread agreement amongst the lobster fishing fleet of its reputation, exactly what it is, how it is produced or caught and where it comes from. Should producers wish to pursue this, we will carefully consider their case in line with the established criteria under the UK GI schemes.More information, including how to apply can be found at Protected geographical food and drink names: UK GI schemes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing (a) device-based and (b) operating system-based safeguards to prevent live-streamed child sexual abuse.

The Government is unequivocal in its commitment to protecting children from all forms of child sexual exploitation and abuse. This includes work to combat livestreamed abuse and ensuring that offenders cannot use technology to harm children with impunity.The UK has been reported as the third highest consumer of livestreaming and as such we are investing heavily into addressing this heinous crime. The UK is leading the way in supporting the building operational capabilities with other international law enforcement agencies to work together to pursue offenders and safeguard children. The NCA is leading a number of initiatives with industry and engagement with the financial sector to specifically prevent and detect livestreaming offending. This includes work to build on the UK-supported report by the Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) ‘Detecting, Disrupting and Investigating Online Child Sexual Exploitation’.We are also supporting our law enforcement partners as they continue to work tirelessly to prevent consumption. The Home Office invests in a network of Undercover Online Officers (UCOLs) in Regional Organised Crime Units, who deploy online to identify and pursue offenders seeking to sexually exploit children, including those who consume and facilitate livestreaming of child sexual abuse. Home Office funding also supports the National Crime Agency to use its unique capabilities to disrupt high harm offenders, including those based overseas who seek to livestream abuse.In addition to pursuing offenders, we are taking legislative action to protect children online. Through the Crime and Policing Bill, we will introduce a brand-new criminal offence criminalising AI Models which have been designed or adapted to produce child sexual abuse imagery as well as criminalising those who are administrators or moderators of child sexual abuse sites.The Online Safety Act introduces world-leading protections for children. It places robust duties on tech companies to prevent and swiftly remove illegal content, including child sexual abuse material, and to take proactive steps to protect children from harm. Ofcom, as the regulator, will have strong enforcement powers to ensure compliance.We also recognise the importance of device-level protections in preventing livestreaming abuse and we support the development and deployment of safety technologies that can help prevent abuse before it happens. This includes exploring the role of on-device tools that can detect and disrupt livestreamed abuse and other image-based harms, while respecting users’ privacy and maintaining end-to-end encryption.The Government continues to work closely with law enforcement, industry, and child protection experts to ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of efforts to tackle online child sexual abuse.

What assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of UK-based live-streaming of child sexual abuse.

The Government is unequivocal in its commitment to protecting children from all forms of child sexual exploitation and abuse. This includes work to combat livestreamed abuse and ensuring that offenders cannot use technology to harm children with impunity.The UK has been reported as the third highest consumer of livestreaming and as such we are investing heavily into addressing this heinous crime. The UK is leading the way in supporting the building operational capabilities with other international law enforcement agencies to work together to pursue offenders and safeguard children. The NCA is leading a number of initiatives with industry and engagement with the financial sector to specifically prevent and detect livestreaming offending. This includes work to build on the UK-supported report by the Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) ‘Detecting, Disrupting and Investigating Online Child Sexual Exploitation’.We are also supporting our law enforcement partners as they continue to work tirelessly to prevent consumption. The Home Office invests in a network of Undercover Online Officers (UCOLs) in Regional Organised Crime Units, who deploy online to identify and pursue offenders seeking to sexually exploit children, including those who consume and facilitate livestreaming of child sexual abuse. Home Office funding also supports the National Crime Agency to use its unique capabilities to disrupt high harm offenders, including those based overseas who seek to livestream abuse.In addition to pursuing offenders, we are taking legislative action to protect children online. Through the Crime and Policing Bill, we will introduce a brand-new criminal offence criminalising AI Models which have been designed or adapted to produce child sexual abuse imagery as well as criminalising those who are administrators or moderators of child sexual abuse sites.The Online Safety Act introduces world-leading protections for children. It places robust duties on tech companies to prevent and swiftly remove illegal content, including child sexual abuse material, and to take proactive steps to protect children from harm. Ofcom, as the regulator, will have strong enforcement powers to ensure compliance.We also recognise the importance of device-level protections in preventing livestreaming abuse and we support the development and deployment of safety technologies that can help prevent abuse before it happens. This includes exploring the role of on-device tools that can detect and disrupt livestreamed abuse and other image-based harms, while respecting users’ privacy and maintaining end-to-end encryption.The Government continues to work closely with law enforcement, industry, and child protection experts to ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of efforts to tackle online child sexual abuse.

What steps her Department is taking to (a) prevent and (b) limit UK-based offenders from (i) creating demand for, (ii) accessing and (iii) viewing live-streamed child sexual abuse.

The Government is unequivocal in its commitment to protecting children from all forms of child sexual exploitation and abuse. This includes work to combat livestreamed abuse and ensuring that offenders cannot use technology to harm children with impunity.The UK has been reported as the third highest consumer of livestreaming and as such we are investing heavily into addressing this heinous crime. The UK is leading the way in supporting the building operational capabilities with other international law enforcement agencies to work together to pursue offenders and safeguard children. The NCA is leading a number of initiatives with industry and engagement with the financial sector to specifically prevent and detect livestreaming offending. This includes work to build on the UK-supported report by the Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) ‘Detecting, Disrupting and Investigating Online Child Sexual Exploitation’.We are also supporting our law enforcement partners as they continue to work tirelessly to prevent consumption. The Home Office invests in a network of Undercover Online Officers (UCOLs) in Regional Organised Crime Units, who deploy online to identify and pursue offenders seeking to sexually exploit children, including those who consume and facilitate livestreaming of child sexual abuse. Home Office funding also supports the National Crime Agency to use its unique capabilities to disrupt high harm offenders, including those based overseas who seek to livestream abuse.In addition to pursuing offenders, we are taking legislative action to protect children online. Through the Crime and Policing Bill, we will introduce a brand-new criminal offence criminalising AI Models which have been designed or adapted to produce child sexual abuse imagery as well as criminalising those who are administrators or moderators of child sexual abuse sites.The Online Safety Act introduces world-leading protections for children. It places robust duties on tech companies to prevent and swiftly remove illegal content, including child sexual abuse material, and to take proactive steps to protect children from harm. Ofcom, as the regulator, will have strong enforcement powers to ensure compliance.We also recognise the importance of device-level protections in preventing livestreaming abuse and we support the development and deployment of safety technologies that can help prevent abuse before it happens. This includes exploring the role of on-device tools that can detect and disrupt livestreamed abuse and other image-based harms, while respecting users’ privacy and maintaining end-to-end encryption.The Government continues to work closely with law enforcement, industry, and child protection experts to ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of efforts to tackle online child sexual abuse.

What estimate her Department has made of the cost to (a) implement and (b) administer the proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief under the inheritance tax regime, including any (i) projected staffing, (ii) system and (iii) compliance costs; and whether this estimate will be published prior to the reforms taking effect in April 2026.

I refer to the answer given on 5 September 2025 to PQ UIN 70546.https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-08-29/70546