Written questions by Leadbitter.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the (a) car insurance industry and (b) Financial Conduct Authority on the potential merits of bringing forward regulations to require car insurance providers to not disproportionately increase premiums for older drivers beyond what is justified by the specific risk.

This Government committed in its manifesto to tackle the high costs of motor insurance. To deliver on this commitment, the UK Government has formed a cross-government Taskforce on motor insurance, co-chaired by the Department for Transport and His Majesty’s Treasury, which met for the first time on 16th October.The Taskforce is comprised of ministers from relevant government departments and by the Financial Conduct Authority and Competition and Markets Authority. The Taskforce is supported by a separate Stakeholder Panel of industry experts representing the insurance, motor, and consumer sector.This Taskforce has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums, while maintaining appropriate levels of cover. It will evaluate the impact of increased insurance costs on consumers and the insurance industry, including how this impacts different demographics, geographies, and communities.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of an increase in financial incentives to enable households without driveways to invest in home-connected on-street charging infrastructure.

The Government’s Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for Households with On-Street Parking provides up to £350 off the cost of purchasing and installing a chargepoint, when paired with a cross-pavement solution. The Government keeps all grants for chargepoint infrastructure under review.

What assessment her Department has made of the implications for her policies of the barriers facing households without driveways in the transition to electric vehicles.

To support the electric vehicle transition more charging infrastructure will be needed across the country. The exact number in a location will depend on a variety of factors such as availability of off-street parking, future charging behaviour and local driving patterns. Alongside support for public charging, for those without off-street parking, the Government offers the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for Households with On-Street Parking. Eligible applicants can get up to £350 off the cost of installing a domestic chargepoint, when paired with a cross-pavement solution.

What assessment her Department has made of the implications for her policies of the disparities between households (a) with and (b) without off-street parking in accessing electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The Government is committed to making EV charging infrastructure more affordable and accessible, particularly for those without off-street parking. The Government confirmed in the October 2024 Budget that it will continue to support the uptake of EVs by investing over £200 million in 2025/26 to further accelerate chargepoint rollout.Alongside support for public charging, the Department is also supporting the installation of cross-pavement charging solutions through the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for Households with On-Street Parking. Eligible applicants can receive 75% off the cost of purchasing and installing a socket, up to a maximum of £350 when installed alongside a cross-pavement solution.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that households without off-street parking are not left behind in the electric vehicle transition.

The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV). As of 1 November, there are over 71,000 publicly available charging devices in the UK, supporting drivers to switch to EVs. Alongside support for public charging, for those without off-street parking, the Government offers the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for Households with On-Street Parking. Eligible applicants can get up to £350 off the cost of installing a domestic chargepoint, when paired with a cross-pavement solution.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that households without driveways have access to (a) infrastructure that can be supplied from their property at a cheaper domestic electricity tariff and (b) other electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV). Those without off-street parking can access the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for Households with On-Street Parking. Eligible applicants can get up to £350 off the cost of installing a domestic chargepoint, enabling the use of domestic electricity tariffs when paired with a cross-pavement solution. In addition, as of 1 November, there are over 71,000 publicly available charging devices in the UK, supporting drivers to switch to EVs.

Whether his Department plans to take fiscal steps to support households without driveways to access home electric vehicle charging equipment.

The Government’s Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for Households with On-Street Parking provides up to £350 off the cost of purchasing and installing a chargepoint, when paired with a cross-pavement solution.The Government keeps grants for chargepoint infrastructure under review.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of classifying bi-directional EV charging as an Energy Saving Material.

The installation of qualifying energy-saving materials (ESMs) in residential accommodation and buildings used solely for a relevant charitable purpose benefits from a temporary VAT zero rate until March 2027. Following a Call for Evidence (CfE) last year, electrical storage batteries were one of the technologies added to the relief. However, as set out in the Government response to the CfE, at that time, the Government was unable to identify sufficient independent data regarding the efficiency of heat batteries. As such, they do not currently qualify for VAT relief. EV charge points were also proposed to be added to the ESMs VAT relief by CfE respondents. However, they were not added to the relief, because their primary purpose is not to save energy or reduce carbon emissions, meaning EV charge points don’t meet the objectives of the relief. The Government currently has no plans to add further technologies to this VAT relief. Nevertheless, the Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy making process. Changes to the tax system are announced at fiscal events in the usual way.

What steps her Department is taking to improve rail transport links in rural areas to increase access to (a) the Duke of Edinburgh Award and (b) other youth services.

The government continues to be open to initiatives that improve rural railways, and a number of schemes delivered previously through the New Stations Fund have improved access to the rail network for more rural areas.

What fiscal steps her Department is taking to support households with the cost of living.

The government is working to improve living standards for everyone across the country, which is why growth is a key priority. This is why we have got to work straightaway implementing planning reform and establishing the National Wealth Fund and Great British Energy. The approach of this government will centre on fostering good work. This government will reform employment support to offer more people the dignity and purpose of meaningful employment. We have begun supporting households with the cost of living by launching a Ministerial Taskforce on child poverty and updating the Low Pay Commission's remit to reflect the cost of living when making recommendations on the National Living Wage. Any further steps will be set out in due course.