Written questions by Campbell.

What estimate she has made of the difference in annual net income during 2027 for people whose total gross income is £13,000 composed of (a) only the new State Pension, and (b) a basic State Pension plus a personal pension.

As the Chancellor has said, over this Parliament those whose only income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments will not have to pay income tax. As announced at the Budget, the government will ease the administrative burden for pensioners whose sole income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments so that they do not have to pay small amounts of tax via Simple Assessment from 2027-28. The government will set out more detail next year.

Whether she has had discussions with Stellantis on the (a) recall and (b) check of (i) Citroën and (ii) DS Automobiles branded cars potentially affected by a airbag safety fault.

As set out in the answer to Question 74957 on 9 September, the Secretary of State wrote to Stellantis to express serious concerns about the customer impact of the stop-drive recall currently affecting Citroën and DS Automobiles cars in the United Kingdom. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency officials continue to have regular engagement meetings with representatives from Stellantis about the Citroën/DS recall and continue to support Stellantis, prioritising safety while minimising economic and social impact.

How will the recently announced pay per mile charge for EV drivers affect those Northern Ireland based drivers whose work and residence near the border means much of their annual travel is done in the Irish Republic.

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 on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty. As with VED, eVED will apply to UK-registered vehicles; non-UK registered vehicles will be required to register for eVED after a period of six months in the UK. The Government has ruled out charging tax based on when or where people drive to protect motorists’ privacy. This means non-UK mileage driven by UK registered cars will fall into scope of eVED, as with fuel duty, which does not vary by basis of where a car is driven. The vast majority of eVED will be paid on travel in the UK; there were an estimated 225 billion car miles in Great Britain in 2024, and over 9 billion miles travelled by car in Northern Ireland in 2023. The government has published a consultation on GOV.UK, which provides further detail on how eVED is intended to work and seeks views on its implementation, and can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69282ac1a245b0985f034197/eVED_Consultation.pdf

With reference to the Budget announcement on EV vehicle drivers and pay per mile charge, what discussions she will have with the Irish Republic authorities regarding those Irish based EV drivers who regularly use Northern Ireland roads but will not face the same charge.

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 on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty. As with VED, eVED will apply to UK-registered vehicles; non-UK registered vehicles will be required to register for eVED after a period of six months in the UK. The Government has ruled out charging tax based on when or where people drive to protect motorists’ privacy. This means non-UK mileage driven by UK registered cars will fall into scope of eVED, as with fuel duty, which does not vary by basis of where a car is driven. The vast majority of eVED will be paid on travel in the UK; there were an estimated 225 billion car miles in Great Britain in 2024, and over 9 billion miles travelled by car in Northern Ireland in 2023. The government has published a consultation on GOV.UK, which provides further detail on how eVED is intended to work and seeks views on its implementation, and can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69282ac1a245b0985f034197/eVED_Consultation.pdf

If the Future of Flight Industry Group will consider air taxi routes in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Scotland.

Future of Flight Industry Group is the joint government and industry group for the future of flight in the UK. It acts as a senior decision-making body and provides insights to support the delivery of Future of Flight policy and recommendations on how to address challenges and opportunities facing the industry. One of the group’s aims is to deliver the objective of commercial electric vertical take-off and landing operations from 2028. Whilst civil aviation is a reserved matter for the UK government, local transport is devolved. Decisions on specific routes will be taken by industry, in consultation with devolved administrations, regional bodies and local authorities, within a framework that ensures accountability and supports the development of Future of Flight in a way that benefits communities.

What steps is she taking to support the development of electric vertical take off and landing vehicles in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is committed to the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry and to delivering on the future of flight objectives, which include piloted commercial electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) operations from 2028.The Future Flight Challenge was a £300m investment programme designed to support the development of new aviation systems — including electric and autonomous aircraft, drones, advanced airspace management, and supporting infrastructure. This year, over £4.4m of investment is funding projects to demonstrate progress towards commercialisation of Future of Flight technologies. These investments included projects in devolved administrations, such as SATE 1 and SATE 2, which explored the application of eVTOL aircraft.

On how many occasions army bomb disposal units were called out in Northern Ireland in the period between 1 January 2025 and 1 July 2025.

Data for the period 1 January 2025 to 1 July 2025 can be found below: Total Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD) TasksTotal Conventional Munition Disposal (CMD) Tasks3419

Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Natural History Museum on taking steps to enable sales to customers living in Northern Ireland to take place.

My officials have been in talks with the Natural History Museum on this issue. The Museum hopes to resume sales to Northern Ireland during 2026.

Whether the NHS Federated Data Platform has completed roll out to all NHS trusts and integrated care systems.

The progress of the NHS Federated Data Platform’s uptake and deployment has exceeded programme expectations, surpassing the projected uptake. The programme planned to deliver to all National Health Service trusts and integrated care boards (ICBs) by 2027, based on a phased implementation over four and a half years. As of 27 November, the programme has signed up 41 of the 42 ICBs and a total of 165 trusts through a formal Memorandum of Understanding, with 122 trusts live or in delivery. Of those trusts signed up to the platform, there are 127 acute trusts, nine community trusts, 26 mental health trusts, and three ambulance trusts. It is anticipated that by the end of its third year the programme will have deployed tenancies to all 246 organisations.

Whether there have been changes in the levels of (a) fraud and (b) error in the benefits system since July 2024.

Since Autumn Budget 2024, including the new announcements at Autumn Budget 2025, the Government have committed to gross savings of £14.6bn up to the end of 2030/31 from fraud, error and debt activity in the welfare state in Great Britain. The Department publishes yearly estimates of fraud and error in the benefit system. The latest of which is available here: Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2024 to 2025 estimates - GOV.UK, and relates to benefit claims sampled between September 2023 and October 2024.

When he plans to respond to the report of the UK Law Commission's Criminal Appeals consultation.

The Law Commission is currently reviewing the responses to its consultation, and we expect to receive the final report with recommendations by late 2026. Once we receive the report, the Government will carefully consider the findings and respond in due course.

If he will hold discussions with the International Road Transport Union on the extent of ongoing road haulage difficulties that exist for transportation of freight between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

I have met with a range of businesses and representative bodies, including those dealing with the movement of goods by road, and I remain committed to continuing this discussion. HM Revenue & Customs has also been engaging regularly with the International Road Transport Union, and their members directly, to provide bespoke support.

What steps he is taking to help reduce economic dependence on the South East of England.

Under the UK’s Industrial Strategy, the Department for Business and Trade is driving regional growth by supporting priority sectors and attracting investment. This includes working with partners to deliver Industrial Strategy Zones, which provide tax incentives and funding to stimulate investment in city regions such as the advanced materials manufacturing in Greater Manchester, defence in Plymouth, clean energy in Inverness and the Highlands, compound semiconductors in South Wales and advanced manufacturing, photonics, and biotechnology in Northern Ireland.The Business Growth Service offers SMEs a streamlined, UK-wide platform to access funding, expert advice, and export opportunities, reducing administrative burdens and connecting firms with local and national support through business.gov.uk.

What information his Department holds on the number of haulier businesses that have declared insolvency in each year between 2021 and 2024.

Estimated numbers of companies with the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes 49200 (Freight rail transport) and 49410 (Freight transport by road) that entered insolvency in the UK in each calendar year between 2021 and 2024 are presented in the table below.Calendar Year49200 – Freight rail transport49410 – Freight transport by roadTotal20210265265202204114112023050350320243471474

If she will ensure that a national day to remember victims and survivors of terrorism is specifically for innocent victims.

This Government is committed to recognising and supporting victims and survivors of terrorism.That is why, on 24 November, the Government announced plans to introduce a National Day for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism to pay tribute to those whose lives have been lost or forever changed by terrorist attacks.This followed a public consultation on these proposals from 19 March to 11 June which identified strong support for a national day.The Government will continue to work with victims and survivors ahead of an inaugural event in 2026, to shape the format of the national day for future years.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2025 to WPQ 91307, whether she plans to reduce the number of grey squirrels and increase the number of red squirrels by the end of the current Parliament.

To deliver against the statutory targets for biodiversity, in England, we are acting at scale to create, restore, manage, and protect wildlife-rich habitats, reduce pressures on biodiversity, and take targeted action for species including red squirrels. Effective management to reduce grey squirrel populations supports the conservation of red squirrels. To help achieve this, the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme provides payments of £60 per hectare to manage and reduce the impact of grey squirrels. Additionally, Defra continues to explore non-lethal and passive control methods to reduce grey squirrel populations and has contributed funding to the fertility control research led by the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the UK Squirrel Accord.

Pursuant to WPQ 91913, did the dedicated director of the National Wealth Fund based in Northern Ireland meet with the Northern Ireland Executive (a) once, or (b) more than once, since December 2024.

Pursuant to WPQ 91913, in 2025 the National Wealth Fund’s Regional Director for Northern Ireland has met with the Northern Ireland Executive more than once to discuss investment opportunities.

What steps are being taken to inform young adults whose matured Child Trust Fund monies have not been claimed.

The Government is committed to reuniting all young adults with their Child Trust Funds (CTF). HMRC works with CTF providers, industry representatives and others to enable account owners to be aware of and trace their accounts. For example, HMRC has partnered with the University and Colleges Admissions Service to encourage awareness among student peer groups. HMRC issues a range of communications such as the recent press release published on Gov.uk - www.gov.uk/government/news/savings-stash-worth-thousands-waiting-for-758000-young-people. HMRC also provides a free tracing tool on Gov.uk to help people find their CTF provider (www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds/find-a-child-trust-fund) and has also provided a link to The Share Foundation’s CTF account tracing service on Gov.uk, providing an additional way for young people to trace their accounts.

When she expects to receive the report on Mutuals from the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority.

In line with the government’s manifesto commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutuals sector, the Chancellor announced measures to support the sector at Mansion House 2024. This included asking the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to prepare a report on the mutuals landscape, to ensure that regulation for all mutuals remains proportionate and enables growth. The report is expected to be published by the regulators before the end of 2025.

What change in the number of people paying income tax at 40% does she estimate will take place between 2023 and 2028.

The number of people forecast to pay tax by marginal rate from 2023-24 to 2028-29 can be found in Table 3.19 in the OBR’s November 2025 Economic and fiscal outlook – detailed forecast tables: receipts, linked below: https://obr.uk/download/november-2025-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-detailed-forecast-tables-receipts/?tmstv=1764165511 The previous Government made the decision to maintain income tax thresholds at their current levels from April 2021 until April 2028.