Written questions by Stephenson.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 2 of the the report entitled New Towns for England, published by WPI Strategy in May 2025, whether her Department has made an assessment of the accuracy of the statement that new towns will cost around £4bn each to build.

The government has tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them. The Taskforce will submit its final report in the near future and the government will subsequently publish both the report and its response. Any hypothetical cost projections associated with the New Towns programme are, at this stage, pure speculation.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 19 of the report entitled New Towns for England, published by WPI Strategy in May 2025, which funding model the Government is considering.

The government has tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them. The Taskforce will submit its final report in the near future and the government will subsequently publish both the report and its response. Any hypothetical cost projections associated with the New Towns programme are, at this stage, pure speculation.

With reference to the press release entitled Government protects thousands of miles of bus services from being scrapped, published on 3 June 2025, whether her Department plans to provide additional funding to local authorities who establish bus companies.

Repealing the ban on establishing new local authority bus companies (LABCos) will give local leaders the freedom and flexibility to establish a bus company that matches the needs of their passengers, their aims and ambitions for the network, and the available funding.The government confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £712 million for local authorities across the country, of which Central Bedfordshire Council was allocated over £3 million.  Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services can be used in whichever way they wish to deliver better services for passengers, which could include setting up a LABCo.The Bus Services (No.2) Bill also removes restrictions on existing LABCos accessing private borrowing, if they are doing so for the purposes of providing local services. This provides a level playing field for existing and new LABCos to access private borrowing if prudent and beneficial to do so.The Department is providing support to local authorities who will wish to explore this option, and we will work with local leaders to ensure this support reflects their needs and priorities.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 3 of the report entitled New Towns for England, published by WPI Strategy in May 2025, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of modular construction.

The government has tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them. The Taskforce will submit its final report in the near future and the government will subsequently publish both the report and its response. Any hypothetical cost projections associated with the New Towns programme are, at this stage, pure speculation.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to Agricultural and Business Property Relief on the economy of the East of England.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free. Information from claims is not recorded to enable regional or national breakdowns of the number of estates expected to be affected. However, the Government has set out that the reforms are expected to result in up to 520 estates across the UK claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data. The Government has also set out that around 1,500 estates across the UK only claiming business property relief are expected to pay more inheritance tax in 2026-27, with around 1,000 of these expected to only hold shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges, such as the Alternative Investment Market. The remaining 500 estates will include business assets from sectors across the economy that are eligible for business property relief. These reforms mean that around three-quarters of estates claiming business property relief in 2026-27 (excluding those estates only holding shares designated as “not listed”) will not pay any more inheritance tax in 2026-27. The reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief are forecast to raise a combined £520 million in 2029-30. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility certified this costing at Autumn Budget 2024 and it does not expect the reforms to have a significant macroeconomic impact.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the findings of the report entitled Taxing Futures: The economic and fiscal implications of changes to BPR & APR for UK family businesses and farms, published by Family Business UK in June 2025.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free. The analysis commissioned by Family Business UK and undertaken by CBI Economics is based on a self-selecting online survey from members of representative groups campaigning against the reforms. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) certified the costing at Autumn Budget 2024. The reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief are forecast to raise a combined £520 million in 2029-30. The OBR does not expect the reforms to have a significant macroeconomic impact.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of reducing funding for Natural England's programme to (a) designate and (b) expand National Landscapes on economic growth.

Given the pressures on public finances, Defra has had to make difficult decisions about funding. It was not affordable to continue Defra funding to Natural England to continue the new National Landscapes designations programme in 25/26. As such, Natural England have made the decision to stop work on some of the planned programme. Other elements of the programme, including the Surrey Hills boundary review and potential new National Landscape in the Yorkshire Wolds, are being maintained and progressed by Natural England as they considered the work was further advanced.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the findings of the report entitled Impact of changes to the UK non-domiciled regime, published by the Centre for Economics and Business Research in April 2025.

The Government’s priority is improving the UK’s competitiveness internationally and securing economic growth. The non-dom reforms have been specifically designed to make the UK competitive with a modern, simple tax regime that is also fair. The reforms establish a tax regime for new residents, which is more attractive to new arrivals than the current rules. The Government published a Tax Information and Impact Note for this policy on 30 October. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tax-changes-for-non-uk-domiciled-individuals/reforming-the-taxation-of-non-uk-domiciled-individuals. There have always been relatively large flows of non-doms in and out of the UK every year. For example. in the latest HMRC statistics for tax year 2023/24, 9,500 non-doms left and 9,100 arrived. We anticipate that some non-doms ineligible for the new regime will exit the UK in response to the changes. Taking this migration response into account, the OBR expects the non-dom reforms to raise £33.8 billion over the next five years to help fund the public services and investment projects needed to drive growth.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 49823 on Air Passenger Duty: Economic Growth, if she will estimate the potential impact of higher rates of Air Passenger Duty on the number of flights taken.

As set out in the March 2025 OBR forecast, passenger numbers are expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels in the coming year, and are expected to be around 10% higher than 2024-25 once the new APD rates are implemented in 2026-27. The expected passenger growth will only be slightly lower (less than one percentage point) than if rates were to increase in line forecast RPI, per the standard annual uprating. The government is committed to securing the long-term future of the aviation sector in the UK and recognises the benefits of the connectivity it creates between the UK and the rest of the world.

Whether she plans reforms to encourage (a) investment and (b) growth in the (i) beer and (ii) pub sector.

The Government recognises the vital role that pubs play in supporting communities and local economies such as in Mid Bedfordshire. That’s why we are streamlining licensing via a new National Licensing Policy Framework to be more modern, proportionate, and enabling. This includes looking to removing the requirement for printed notices in local newspapers, increasing the maximum entitlement for temporary event notices and supporting the removal of outdated licence conditions. We have increased the generosity of the discount available for small brewers, by increasing the relative value of the Small Producers Relief discount, compared to the main duty rates, for both draught and non-draught products. We have cut alcohol duty on draught products saving the sector over £85m annually and we are also reviewing the beer market to enable small brewers better access to local pubs. To support businesses, including breweries, invest and grow, the Government committed to keeping a permanent full expensing system, as well as the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA). Full expensing allows companies to claim 100 per cent capital allowances on qualifying main rate investments. The more flexible AIA allows businesses to deduct the entire cost of investments, up to £1 million per year, including qualifying second-hand assets and assets bought for leasing or hiring. And finally, the Government has protected the smallest businesses from the impact of the increase to Employer National Insurance by more than doubling the Employment Allowance to £10,500, and will permanently lower tax for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties with rateable values below 500,000.

What steps she is taking to support employment in the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels.

This government recognises the importance of the clean energy sector to economic growth. The Department works closely with DfT to help people on benefits find employment with employers in the transport sector. Government support for low carbon fuel production, including sustainable aviation fuel, is designed to unlock private investment and create high-quality green jobs. Low carbon fuel production is expected to support up to 15,000 jobs and contribute £5bn to the economy by 2050. The ability to connect jobseekers looking for roles with employers requiring workers at the right time and in the right places is vital to support the transition to net zero and supports the move to an 80% employment rate. Reskilling and increasing the transferability of workers between sectors will be essential for a fair transition.

If she will make an assessment of the long-term economic benefits of permanently reducing the business rates multiplier for the (a) beer and (b) pub sectors.

To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support. Eligibility for the new RHL multipliers is intended to broadly reflect the scope of the existing RHL relief scheme, and will be set out in legislation later this year. Ahead of these changes being made, the Government recognises that business will need support in 2025/26. As such, we have extended the RHL relief for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. Under the previous Government, RHL relief was due to end entirely in April 2025. By extending the relief, the Government has saved the average pub, with a ratable value of £16,800, over £3,300. Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance, which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions. Nevertheless, when the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that business rates reform supports regional economic growth in (a) rural and (b) coastal areas.

The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment and is fit for the 21st century. To ensure that key amenities are available, and that community assets are protected in rural areas, Rural Rates Relief provides 100% business rates relief for certain properties in eligible rural areas with populations below 3,000. To deliver our manifesto pledge, from 2026/27, we also intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RVs) below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. Ahead of these new multipliers coming into force, the Government prevented the current RHL business rates relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. We also froze the small business multiplier. Taken together with Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR), this protects over a million properties from inflationary increases. As highlighted in the Transforming Business Rates Discussion Paper published at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government is interested in hearing stakeholders’ views on the extent to which the current system acts as a barrier to investment. The Government will be publishing an Interim Report summarising stakeholder feedback to date, and setting out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement on Local Government Reorganisation of 3 June 2025, HCWS676, for what reason Bedfordshire has not received funding to support development of proposals for a Mayoral Combined Authority.

Local government reorganisation and the establishment of mayoral combined authorities through devolution are separate processes. While funding was made available for the 21 two-tier areas developing proposals for new unitary authorities as part of local government reorganisation, funding for devolution is not available until strategic authorities are being established.Bedfordshire will not receive funding to deliver local government reorganisation as it is already an area with unitary authorities. Bedfordshire is also currently not part of a mayoral strategic authority. Next steps for future waves of devolution will be confirmed in due course, subject to further ministerial decisions and local conversations.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of reforms to Level 7 apprenticeships on the Pathways to Planning programme.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 67508 on 21 July 2025 and Question UIN 54911 on 10 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the national distribution of the length of time between the date on which developers and local authorities agree funding under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the date on which developers transfer funds under that agreement.

Planning practice guidance on planning obligations, which can be found on gov.uk here, states that the terms of commuted contributions should form part of the discussions between a developer and a local planning authority and be reflected in any planning obligations agreement. Agreements should include clauses stating when the local planning authority should be notified of the completion of units within the development and when the funds should be paid. Authorities can also charge a monitoring fee through section 106 planning obligations, to cover the cost of monitoring and reporting on delivery of that section 106 obligation. Any local planning authority that receives a contribution from development through section 106 planning obligations must prepare and publish an Infrastructure Funding Statement at least annually. Reporting on developer contributions helps local communities and developers see how contributions have been spent and understand what future funds will be spent on, ensuring a transparent and accountable system. Detailed guidance and an infrastructure funding statement template can be found on the planning advisory service website. However, the chief planner has written to local planning authorities to remind them of their statutory duty to prepare and publish an infrastructure funding statement where they receive developer contributions via section 106 or community infrastructure levy. The government is committed to strengthening the system of developer contributions, including section 106 planning obligations, to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. We will provide further details in due course.

With reference to the press release entitled Managing healthcare easy as online banking with revamped NHS App, published on 3 July 2025, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people who are digitally-excluded can access health services available through the NHS App.

We are working to improve access to digital services, outcomes, and experiences for the widest range of people, based on their preferences. Digital health tools should be part of a wider offering that includes face-to-face support, with appropriate help for people who struggle to access digital services. Centrally built services, such as the NHS App and the NHS.UK website, are designed to meet international accessibility standards. We are modernising the mobile patient experience within the NHS App, ensuring information is clearly structured and easy to find and understand.NHS England has successfully run several programmes to support patients, carers, and health service staff with their digital skills. These include:- the Digital Health Champions programme, a proof of concept to support citizens who have no or low digital skills with understanding how to access health services online;- the Widening Digital Participation programme, aimed to ensure more people have the digital skills, motivation, and means to access health information and services online; and- the NHS App ‘Spoken Word’ Pilot project, designed to test the efficacy of promoting National Health Service digital health products and services in languages other than English. We have also recruited over 2,000 NHS App ambassadors and 1,400 libraries to help people to learn how to use it. NHS England has published a framework for NHS action on digital inclusion and is developing further resources to support practical actions. All programmes are actively considering how they can contribute to improvements in healthcare inequalities and digital inclusion.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the potential cost to (a) the public purse and (b) private developers of constructing 12 new towns.

The government has tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them. The Taskforce will submit its final report in the near future and the government will subsequently publish both the report and its response. Any hypothetical cost projections associated with the New Towns programme are, at this stage, pure speculation.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of open access rail operators on (a) connectivity, (b) passenger choice and (c) service quality.

In the right circumstances, Open Access can provide benefits such as improved connectivity and choice for passengers but can also increase costs to taxpayers and create additional performance pressures on an already constrained network. We are clear that there will remain a role for Open Access in the reformed rail sector, but equally that it must genuinely add value and not simply inhibit the efficient operation of the network or divert revenue from existing operators – all of which are currently supported by the taxpayer in some form.

What recent discussions she has had with her French counterpart on intercepting small boats in shallow waters.

We continue to work closely with the French Government as they review their Maritime Doctrine so they can intervene successfully at sea and increase preventions. We are engaging extensively across the French system to ensure the earliest possible deployment of these new tactics.