Written questions by Cross.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill on the intelligence services.

The Bill will apply to all public authorities, including the intelligence services. At Second Reading of the Bill, the Prime Minister was clear that the duty of candour would need to apply in a particular way to the intelligence services to get the right balance. We are clear that nothing should undermine our national security.We are continuing to work closely with families, stakeholders and the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee to bring forward amendments that achieve this balance. We will update the House in due course.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of HM Revenue and Customs' processes for ensuring income tax rebate claims are processed on time; and what steps she has taken to reduce the backlog of unprocessed income tax rebate claims.

HMRC recognise that repayments are important for customers. They prioritise them and work hard to ensure they are processed as quickly and securely as possible. HMRC balance the provision of prompt payments to eligible customers with effective revenue protection from fraudsters. They continue to invest in automation and to review their internal processes to ensure repayments are issued as quickly as possible. HMRC also understands the importance of keeping the customer, and where appropriate the customer’s representative informed of progress, and are exploring ways of doing that more effectively. In the meantime, HMRC’s online ‘Where’s My Reply’ tool can help customers understand when they can expect to receive a response. HMRC does not produce one overall average processing time across all Income Tax repayment routes, because timings differ depending on the repayment type and checks required. HMRC does not hold a single consolidated measure of outstanding Income Tax repayment claims across all channels, and producing a comprehensive breakdown by the age bands requested would require manual collation from multiple systems. Gathering this data would exceed the cost threshold for answering parliamentary questions. The majority of Income tax repayment claims are for PAYE and Self Assessment (SA) customers. There are several triggers for PAYE and SA repayments, but for those which involve the customer submitting a claim, these are treated as priority post. HMRC have an agreed and published service standard to clear 80% of priority post within 15 working days of receipt. HMRC’s correspondence performance has improved from 68.2% in April 2025 to 87.8% in November 2025. They publish regular updates on their performance at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-quarterly-performance-updates

What is HM Revenue and Customs' average time for processing income tax rebate claims.

HMRC recognise that repayments are important for customers. They prioritise them and work hard to ensure they are processed as quickly and securely as possible. HMRC balance the provision of prompt payments to eligible customers with effective revenue protection from fraudsters. They continue to invest in automation and to review their internal processes to ensure repayments are issued as quickly as possible. HMRC also understands the importance of keeping the customer, and where appropriate the customer’s representative informed of progress, and are exploring ways of doing that more effectively. In the meantime, HMRC’s online ‘Where’s My Reply’ tool can help customers understand when they can expect to receive a response. HMRC does not produce one overall average processing time across all Income Tax repayment routes, because timings differ depending on the repayment type and checks required. HMRC does not hold a single consolidated measure of outstanding Income Tax repayment claims across all channels, and producing a comprehensive breakdown by the age bands requested would require manual collation from multiple systems. Gathering this data would exceed the cost threshold for answering parliamentary questions. The majority of Income tax repayment claims are for PAYE and Self Assessment (SA) customers. There are several triggers for PAYE and SA repayments, but for those which involve the customer submitting a claim, these are treated as priority post. HMRC have an agreed and published service standard to clear 80% of priority post within 15 working days of receipt. HMRC’s correspondence performance has improved from 68.2% in April 2025 to 87.8% in November 2025. They publish regular updates on their performance at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-quarterly-performance-updates

How many outstanding income tax rebate claims does HM Revenue and Customs have; and how many of these claims have been outstanding for more than (a) one month, (b) three months, (c) six months and (d) 12 months.

HMRC recognise that repayments are important for customers. They prioritise them and work hard to ensure they are processed as quickly and securely as possible. HMRC balance the provision of prompt payments to eligible customers with effective revenue protection from fraudsters. They continue to invest in automation and to review their internal processes to ensure repayments are issued as quickly as possible. HMRC also understands the importance of keeping the customer, and where appropriate the customer’s representative informed of progress, and are exploring ways of doing that more effectively. In the meantime, HMRC’s online ‘Where’s My Reply’ tool can help customers understand when they can expect to receive a response. HMRC does not produce one overall average processing time across all Income Tax repayment routes, because timings differ depending on the repayment type and checks required. HMRC does not hold a single consolidated measure of outstanding Income Tax repayment claims across all channels, and producing a comprehensive breakdown by the age bands requested would require manual collation from multiple systems. Gathering this data would exceed the cost threshold for answering parliamentary questions. The majority of Income tax repayment claims are for PAYE and Self Assessment (SA) customers. There are several triggers for PAYE and SA repayments, but for those which involve the customer submitting a claim, these are treated as priority post. HMRC have an agreed and published service standard to clear 80% of priority post within 15 working days of receipt. HMRC’s correspondence performance has improved from 68.2% in April 2025 to 87.8% in November 2025. They publish regular updates on their performance at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-quarterly-performance-updates

What recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on future trade agreements.

Following the UK-EU Summit, we have started negotiations on a food and drink agreement, linking our Emissions Trading Schemes (ETS) and we have concluded exploratory talks on an electricity agreement. While the Government is focused on delivering these negotiations, future summits will provide us with opportunities to strengthen our relationship further.

Whether she has made a comparative assessment of the impact of Electric Vehicle Excise Duty on (a) rural and (b) urban motorists.

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 electric vehicles (EVs) contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty. When eVED takes effect in April 2028, eVED rates will be set at 3p per mile for electric vehicles, which is half the equivalent fuel duty rate paid by the average petrol/diesel driver, ensuring that driving an electric vehicle continues to be an attractive choice for consumers. A reduced rate will apply for plug-in hybrid cars. The eVED consultation provides further detail on how eVED will work and seeks views on its implementation. The consultation is available at GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-introduction-of-electric-vehicle-excise-duty-eved.

Whether rural proofing was applied to the development of proposals for Electric Vehicle Excise Duty.

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 electric vehicles (EVs) contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty. When eVED takes effect in April 2028, eVED rates will be set at 3p per mile for electric vehicles, which is half the equivalent fuel duty rate paid by the average petrol/diesel driver, ensuring that driving an electric vehicle continues to be an attractive choice for consumers. A reduced rate will apply for plug-in hybrid cars. The eVED consultation provides further detail on how eVED will work and seeks views on its implementation. The consultation is available at GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-introduction-of-electric-vehicle-excise-duty-eved.

Whether she considered the Transport Committee's report of January 2022 on Road Pricing in the course of developing proposals for Electric Vehicle Excise Duty.

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 electric vehicles (EVs) contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty. When eVED takes effect in April 2028, eVED rates will be set at 3p per mile for electric vehicles, which is half the equivalent fuel duty rate paid by the average petrol/diesel driver, ensuring that driving an electric vehicle continues to be an attractive choice for consumers. A reduced rate will apply for plug-in hybrid cars. The eVED consultation provides further detail on how eVED will work and seeks views on its implementation. The consultation is available at GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-introduction-of-electric-vehicle-excise-duty-eved.

Whether she considered the recommendation on assessing the potential effect of Electric Vehicle Excise Duty on high-mileage drivers, including those in rural communities from the Transport Committee's report of January 2022 on Road Pricing when developing proposals for that duty.

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 electric vehicles (EVs) contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty. When eVED takes effect in April 2028, eVED rates will be set at 3p per mile for electric vehicles, which is half the equivalent fuel duty rate paid by the average petrol/diesel driver, ensuring that driving an electric vehicle continues to be an attractive choice for consumers. A reduced rate will apply for plug-in hybrid cars. The eVED consultation provides further detail on how eVED will work and seeks views on its implementation. The consultation is available at GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-introduction-of-electric-vehicle-excise-duty-eved.

What assessment his department has made of the potential impact of unionisation within the renewables industry on energy bills.

As set out in our Clean Energy Jobs Plan, trade unions working in partnership with government and industry will play a vital role in building the workforce to meet our clean energy ambitions. Hundreds of thousands of people could directly benefit from good jobs with fair wages in the clean energy sector – and we are clear that greater trade union recognition is one of the main ways to improve job quality. This is good for workers and good for business, as studies have shown that workplaces with strong trade union representation have greater job satisfaction, improved retention, and stronger productivity growth which will benefit the sector.

What the average waiting time has been for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to process medical driving licence applications in each of the past three years; and what steps are being taken to reduce delays.

The table below shows the average time the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) took to make a licensing decision in cases where a medical condition must be investigated:Financial YearWorking days2025/26 (to end of November)512024/25442023/2456 The table below shows the number of medical driving licence applications that were outstanding on 3 December for the periods requested: More than three monthsMore than six monthsMore than nine monthsNumber of cases72,42822,6002,288 In 2024/25, the DVLA made more than 830,000 medical licensing decisions. The DVLA aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. However, driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated can take longer as the DVLA is often reliant on information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued. The quickest way to transact with the DVLA is by using its extensive suite of online services. Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, visual impairments, sleep conditions or heart conditions can renew their driving licence online. The DVLA is focusing on delivering significant improvements to digital services for applicants with medical conditions but medical investigations vary widely in their complexity. The DVLA is currently rolling out a new casework system which is expected to deliver significant improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions. When fully implemented, this will provide improved turnaround times, increased capacity, increased automation, higher levels of digital functionality and increased digital communication. The DVLA is also planning to launch a new medical services platform which will enable more customers to transact online and will increase the use of email communication. Applicants may be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information on this can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1180997/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.pdf

How many medical driving licence applications are currently outstanding for more than (a) 3 months, (b) 6 months and (c) 12 months.

The table below shows the average time the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) took to make a licensing decision in cases where a medical condition must be investigated:Financial YearWorking days2025/26 (to end of November)512024/25442023/2456 The table below shows the number of medical driving licence applications that were outstanding on 3 December for the periods requested: More than three monthsMore than six monthsMore than nine monthsNumber of cases72,42822,6002,288 In 2024/25, the DVLA made more than 830,000 medical licensing decisions. The DVLA aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. However, driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated can take longer as the DVLA is often reliant on information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued. The quickest way to transact with the DVLA is by using its extensive suite of online services. Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, visual impairments, sleep conditions or heart conditions can renew their driving licence online. The DVLA is focusing on delivering significant improvements to digital services for applicants with medical conditions but medical investigations vary widely in their complexity. The DVLA is currently rolling out a new casework system which is expected to deliver significant improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions. When fully implemented, this will provide improved turnaround times, increased capacity, increased automation, higher levels of digital functionality and increased digital communication. The DVLA is also planning to launch a new medical services platform which will enable more customers to transact online and will increase the use of email communication. Applicants may be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information on this can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1180997/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.pdf

For what reason the DVLA continues to rely on postal correspondence for medical driving licence assessments; and whether there are plans to modernise communication methods to allow applicants to communicate with the DVLA electronically, including through email or secure digital platforms.

The table below shows the average time the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) took to make a licensing decision in cases where a medical condition must be investigated:Financial YearWorking days2025/26 (to end of November)512024/25442023/2456 The table below shows the number of medical driving licence applications that were outstanding on 3 December for the periods requested: More than three monthsMore than six monthsMore than nine monthsNumber of cases72,42822,6002,288 In 2024/25, the DVLA made more than 830,000 medical licensing decisions. The DVLA aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. However, driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated can take longer as the DVLA is often reliant on information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued. The quickest way to transact with the DVLA is by using its extensive suite of online services. Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, visual impairments, sleep conditions or heart conditions can renew their driving licence online. The DVLA is focusing on delivering significant improvements to digital services for applicants with medical conditions but medical investigations vary widely in their complexity. The DVLA is currently rolling out a new casework system which is expected to deliver significant improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions. When fully implemented, this will provide improved turnaround times, increased capacity, increased automation, higher levels of digital functionality and increased digital communication. The DVLA is also planning to launch a new medical services platform which will enable more customers to transact online and will increase the use of email communication. Applicants may be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information on this can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1180997/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.pdf

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the pay per mile charge for electric vehicles on sales of new i) battery electric cars and ii) plug-in hybrid cars.

The Government intends to create a fair motoring tax system while supporting the automotive industry and ensuring EVs remain an attractive choice for consumers. 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 contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty. While it is fair for EV drivers to contribute for their car usage, the government is also committed to ensuring that driving an electric vehicle is an attractive choice for consumers. Therefore, the rate of eVED paid by electric vehicle drivers will be half the fuel duty rate paid by the average petrol/diesel driver, ensuring that it will still be cheaper to own and run an EV for the majority of EV drivers. The Government is also providing generous additional support to incentivise the use of electric vehicles, including £1.3 billion of additional funding for the Electric Car Grant (ECG), £200 million for chargepoint rollout, and increasing the Expensive Car Supplement (ECS) threshold to £50,000 for EVs. This support will be introduced before the tax takes effect to support continued momentum in EV take-up. The Government has set out the expected impacts from eVED and other Budget measures in the Budget 2025 Policy Costings document at GOV.UK: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692872fd2a37784b16ecf676/Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf

What discussions she has had with oil and gas companies, industry representatives, supply chains and the energy sector on the impact of the Energy Profits Levy on the availability of investment and skilled workforce to deliver clean power projects.

The Chancellor and her Ministerial team have regular discussions with the oil and gas sector on a range of policy matters, including the Energy Profits Levy (EPL). The Energy Profits Levy (EPL) was introduced in 2022 by the previous government. The government remains committed to managing the North Sea in a way that ensures a fair, orderly and prosperous transition, while recognising that domestic oil and gas will continue to play a role in the UK’s energy mix for decades to come. We recognise the vital economic contribution of the sector in Noth-East Scotland, supporting over 150,000 jobs nationwide and underpinning the UK’s energy security. That is why the North Sea Future Plan, published at Autumn Budget 2025, announced a new Jobs Brokerage Service offering end-to-end career transition support for oil and gas workers. Earlier in October the government also published the Clean Energy Jobs Plan which sets out cross-cutting actions to deliver the skilled workforce needed to make Britain a clean energy superpower, including delivering Clean Power 2030. Additionally, Autumn Budget 2025 set a clear path for the EPL to end by 2030 at the latest, or earlier if the EPL’s price floor, the Energy Security Investment Mechanism, is triggered. We have also given the oil and gas sector long-term certainty by confirming details of the future fiscal and regulatory regime, giving investors the long-term certainty and predictability they need to keep investing.

When she last (a) visited (i) Aberdeen and (ii) Aberdeenshire and (b) met an oil and gas company in (A) Aberdeen and (B) Aberdeenshire in relation to oil and gas activities.

The Chancellor engages with different stakeholders on a range of policy issues. Her last trip to Aberdeen was in August 2025 where she visited the St Fergus gas plant near Peterhead. Additionally, in March 2025, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury hosted a roundtable in Aberdeen with stakeholders from the oil and gas sector.Details of Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are published regularly online. The most recent publication can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/csv-preview/68d50fe09ce370a7e0a0fca0/HMT_ministerial_meeting_Apr_to_Jun_25.csv

What estimate his Department has made of changes in the level of gas imports from (a) Norway, (b) USA, (c) Qatar and (d) the rest of the world relative to UK domestically produced gas from 2025 to 2030 by (i) volume and (ii) proportion.

The Government works with the Energy System operators to closely monitor and forecast the UK’s supply and demand for natural gas. The National Energy System Operator’s 2025 publication of Future Energy Scenarios contains a breakdown of gas supply sources, including imports to the UK.

Whether he has made an estimate of the change in the number of jobs in the North Sea oil and gas sector from (a) operator and (b) supply chain companies in each year between 2026 and 2030.

Robert Gordon University estimates that by the early 2030s, the UK oil and gas workforce will be between 57,000 and 71,000, down from 115,000 in 2024. The natural decline of North Sea oil and gas has seen more than 70,000 jobs lost in the last decade. The Government published its North Sea Future Plan (26 November), setting out how we will support our North Sea supply chains, protect current jobs, and secure the next generation of good jobs.

When she last visited (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire; when she last met an oil and gas company in (i) Aberdeen and (ii) Aberdeenshire in relation to their oil and gas activities; and which businesses were met.

The Chancellor engages with different stakeholders on a range of policy issues. Her last trip to Aberdeen was in August 2025 where she visited the St Fergus gas plant near Peterhead. Additionally, in March 2025, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury hosted a roundtable in Aberdeen with stakeholders from the oil and gas sector.Details of Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are published regularly online. The most recent publication can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/csv-preview/68d50fe09ce370a7e0a0fca0/HMT_ministerial_meeting_Apr_to_Jun_25.csv

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Energy Profits Levy remaining in place until 2030 on trends in the levels of employment in (a) operators and (b) supply chain companies in the North Sea oil and gas sector in each year inclusive between 2026 and 2030.

The Energy Profits Levy (EPL) was introduced in 2022 by the previous government. The government considered the impact of the extension to the EPL until 31 March 2030, announced at Autumn Budget 2024, on the economy, including investment. The summary of impacts for the extension and other EPL reforms announced at Autumn Budget 2024 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-profits-levy-reforms-2024. Employment levels in the oil and gas sector depend on a wide range of factors including global commodity prices, aggregate investment levels and exploration and development activity. The government is committed to supporting North Sea workers and communities to transition and take advantage of the growth opportunities in clean energy. That is why the North Sea Future Plan, published at Autumn Budget 2025, announced a new Jobs Brokerage Service offering end-to-end career transition support for oil and gas workers. Earlier in October the government also published the Clean Energy Jobs Plan which sets out cross-cutting actions to deliver the skilled workforce needed to make Britain a clean energy superpower, including delivering Clean Power 2030. As part of the Plan, £20 million of funding was announced for the Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund to support workers to retrain and access clean energy roles.