Written questions by Smith.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of her policy of no reduced rate or exemption for children or family travelling in premium economy of Air Passenger Duty on families travelling with children in premium economy cabins on long haul flights; and how the UK’s approach compares with aviation passenger tax regimes in other European countries.

Air Passenger Duty (APD) applies to airlines, not individual passengers, and is the principal tax on the aviation sector. It is expected to raise £4.7 billion in 2025-26 and it aims to ensure that airlines make a fair contribution to the public finances, particularly given that tickets are VAT free and aviation fuel incurs no duty. The distance-based band structure ensures that those who travel furthest, and in the greatest comfort, incur a greater tax liability. Other countries also have different forms of aviation taxes.Children under 16 years old on the date of the flight, and in the lowest class of travel, are exempt from APD. If children under 16 years old are travelling in any other class (such as premium economy) or in business jets, they are not exempt. Children under 2 years old without a seat are exempt from Air Passenger Duty for all classes of travel.

What proportion of cancer patients in Mid Buckinghamshire constituency receive first treatment within the 62 day target.

Data is not collected at a constituency level. Data on what proportion of cancer patients in the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board received a first treatment within the 62-day cancer waiting time standard can be found on the NHS England website at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancer-waiting-times/

What evidential criteria were applied when assessing motorcycle bus lane consultation responses.

Details of the analysis carried out on the consultation responses are given in the consultation outcome published on 21 November 2024 and available at:www.gov.uk/government/consultations/motorcycles-in-bus-lanes/outcome/motorcycles-in-bus-lanes-consultation-outcome. The consultation response was informed by analysis commissioned by the Department. A copy of this report will be placed in the House library at the earliest opportunity.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 99588, when her Department plans to publish the evaluation of the £3 bus fare cap.

The Department for Transport is currently undertaking an evaluation of the £3 single bus fare cap and its impacts, with the full report expected to be published later this year.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of current eyesight standards for driving; and whether her Department plans to review the regulations governing driver vision requirements.

All drivers, regardless of age, have a legal responsibility to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if they develop a medical condition that may affect their ability to drive. On 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of the strategy, we launched a consultation on introducing mandatory eyesight testing for drivers aged 70 and over. Once the consultation has concluded, we will publish our response in due course.

If she will take steps to replace the number-plate eyesight test with a standardised, clinically validated vision assessment.

There are no plans to replace the number‑plate eyesight test.

Whether her Department plans to introduce a requirement for all drivers to have their eyesight tested by a qualified optometrist when applying for or renewing their driving licence.

All drivers, regardless of age, have a legal responsibility to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if they develop a medical condition that may affect their ability to drive. On 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of the strategy, we launched a consultation on introducing mandatory eyesight testing for drivers aged 70 and over. Once the consultation has concluded, we will publish our response in due course.

What steps he is taking to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

On 22 January, the House approved the Remedial Order which will remove the conditional immunity for terrorists which was provided in the previous Government’s Legacy Act.The Troubles Bill will establish a reformed, human rights compliant and wholly independent Legacy Commission which will carry out investigations and provide family reports.

Whether the Department will treat the transfer of Dartford Crossing toll revenues to a private Lower Thames Crossing operator as a loss of income to the Department.

The Government's preferred financing option at this stage is the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model. Under the RAB model, ownership and operations of the Dartford Crossing would transfer to a new regulated private sector entity, which would be responsible for operating and maintaining both the Dartford Crossing and the new Lower Thames Crossing, ensuring a consistent and reliable service. This entity will be overseen by a regulator to ensure it performs and protects users. Charges from the Dartford Crossing and the new Lower Thames Crossing would be received by the entity under this model and this means charges will be used towards keeping the crossings well‑maintained and journeys running smoothly for users. This approach brings in private capital to fund the majority of construction, delivering better value for taxpayers and reducing the overall pressure on public budgets. The Department has built the effect of this into its financial forecasts.

For what policy reason route-level impact assessments were not published for ferry-dependent communities ahead of laying secondary legislation for the domestic maritime UK ETS.

It is neither proportionate nor expected to conduct individual route-level impact assessments for all routes in scope of the ETS. An Impact Assessment was published alongside the main Authority Response to the "UK Emissions Trading Scheme Scope Expansion: maritime sector” consultation, which includes analysis of regional and distributional impacts.

What timetable exists for the rollout of shore power and grid capacity upgrades at UK ports ahead of the UK ETS entering force for domestic maritime in July 2026.

The policies in the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy, including the expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) to domestic maritime, will encourage investment in maritime decarbonisation. Vessel operators and ports are best placed to determine the timeline for when they invest in shore power rollout.

What steps he plans to take to reduce the potential impact of construction traffic on villages in Mid Buckinghamshire constituency during the construction of the new Category C prison.

We are committed to delivering crucial new prison places in Buckinghamshire and are working constructively with Buckinghamshire Council to agree how to manage construction traffic.We have committed to making improvements to a key junction and funding will be provided to improve local bus services.

Which local authorities have received funding from Government-funded schemes supporting the procurement of new buses, including zero-emission, electric, hydrogen and hybrid buses, in each of the last five years.

My department has published which local authorities have received funding from Government-funded schemes to procure new buses through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas programme on gov.uk.1The West Midlands Combined Authority also received £50m in 2021 for the Coventry All Electric Bus City.In addition, various local authorities have used devolved funding schemes to procure new zero emission buses.

What assessment she has made of whether the administrative costs of extending the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to domestic maritime represent value for money relative to the expected abatement investment, as set out in the Impact Assessment.

The Government’s Impact Assessment explains that the aggregate administrative cost of extending the United Kingdom Emissions Trading Scheme to domestic maritime appears high because including all at berth emissions brings a large number of operators into scope, including those whose activity is predominantly international. The assessment shows that the administrative cost per operator is modest and reflects the need to onboard all operators in the first phase of maritime inclusion. The Net Present Social Value remains positive, and the policy is assessed as value for money.

What assessment he has made of the level of risk of double charging of emissions at berth under both the UK ETS and EU ETS for vessels calling at UK ports.

From 1 July 2026, the emissions from the maritime sector to which the UK Emissions Trading Scheme will apply are: • emissions from voyages beginning and ending in the UK, and• emissions at berth and from movements within ports in the UK. The EU Emissions Trading System does not apply to these emissions, and so there will be no double charging of emissions under both the UK ETS and the EU ETS.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications of UK ETS rules for negotiations at the International Maritime Organisation on a global market-based measure.

Addressing international emissions from shipping is critical and it is important action is taken globally through the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Government firmly supported adoption of a global market-based measure, the IMO Net-Zero Framework, last autumn and is disappointed the decision has been postponed. We continue to work with other IMO Member States to secure adoption. The Government also wants to ensure decarbonisation continues here in the UK and has proposed to expand the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to emissions from international voyages from 2028. If the IMO Net-Zero Framework is adopted, the Government will review the scope of the UK ETS to assess the effectiveness and fairness of the system for operators.

What steps his Department is taking to support people living with multiple sclerosis to access timely, high-quality care and treatment in Mid Buckinghamshire constituency.

At the national level, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), including those in the Mid Buckinghamshire constituency, including the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit and the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology. NHS England’s Neurology Transformation Programme has developed a new model of integrated care for neurology services, to support systems to deliver the right service, at the right time for all neurology patients, including those with MS. This focuses on providing access equitably across the country, care as close to home as possible, and early intervention to prevent illness and deterioration in patients with long-term neurological conditions. The Neurology Transformation Programme has developed guidance on improving access to disease-modifying treatments for MS with the aim of enabling people to receive care closer to home. The guidance includes successful delivery models and good practice case studies, and has been made available to National Health Service colleagues. The Neurology Transformation Programme is working with a number of systems across England to implement change, which will be implemented within individual systems, and which would also assess the impact on access to specialised neurology care, including care from specialist nurses, for people living with MS. On 13 August 2025, NHS England updated its service specification for specialised adult neurology services, following extensive consultation. A copy of this service specification is attached. The service specification includes guidance on both the specialised and core neurology services that should be available for patients with MS with a clear model for networked care to improve access to specialist services in underserved areas. The service specification outlines that specialised neurology centres must include access to treatment services for MS and have clear pathways for access to disease-modifying therapies.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the NHS England Neurology Transformation Programme on access to specialised neurology care, including care from specialist nurses, for people living with multiple sclerosis.

At the national level, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), including those in the Mid Buckinghamshire constituency, including the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit and the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology. NHS England’s Neurology Transformation Programme has developed a new model of integrated care for neurology services, to support systems to deliver the right service, at the right time for all neurology patients, including those with MS. This focuses on providing access equitably across the country, care as close to home as possible, and early intervention to prevent illness and deterioration in patients with long-term neurological conditions. The Neurology Transformation Programme has developed guidance on improving access to disease-modifying treatments for MS with the aim of enabling people to receive care closer to home. The guidance includes successful delivery models and good practice case studies, and has been made available to National Health Service colleagues. The Neurology Transformation Programme is working with a number of systems across England to implement change, which will be implemented within individual systems, and which would also assess the impact on access to specialised neurology care, including care from specialist nurses, for people living with MS. On 13 August 2025, NHS England updated its service specification for specialised adult neurology services, following extensive consultation. A copy of this service specification is attached. The service specification includes guidance on both the specialised and core neurology services that should be available for patients with MS with a clear model for networked care to improve access to specialist services in underserved areas. The service specification outlines that specialised neurology centres must include access to treatment services for MS and have clear pathways for access to disease-modifying therapies.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of applying a) a 10p multiplier b) a 15p multiplier or c) the full 20p discount on high street and hospitality businesses; and if she will publish that assessment.

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base. At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest. More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by introducing permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties. The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since COVID. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit. The new RHL tax rates will be 5p below the national tax rates. Making the RHL tax rates even lower would have led to a higher tax rate for high-value properties.

What estimate her department has made of how many a) pubs b) hotels c) restaurants d) indoor leisure and e) night clubs are expected to see their business rates bill i) go up ii) stay the same or iii) decrease from April 2026 as a result of the measures announced in Budget 2025.

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base. At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties, including those in the hospitality and leisure sectors as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest. For the pubs sector, the increase in rateable values will be 30%, which combined with the loss of the temporary RHL relief would lead to an increase in total bills paid by the sector of 45%. However, due to government intervention, the sector’s total bill will only increase by 4% next year. More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including pubs. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties. The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.