Written questions by Glover.

What steps her Department is taking to help make the HM Revenue and Customs helpline more accessible to customers.

HMRC publish monthly performance data, including information on their telephony service, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-monthly-performance-reports.Improving day-to-day performance is one of the Government’s key priorities for HMRC.A key part of this plan is expanding HMRC’s digital services. This will reduce pressure on phone lines, freeing up HMRC advisors to help those who are digitally excluded, have complex tax affairs, or find themselves in vulnerable circumstances.As of 2024-25, there were more than 5.9 million users of the HMRC app, which allows people to manage their tax affairs quickly and easily.HMRC’s Transformation Roadmap sets out further steps to improve the customer experience for taxpayers, agents, and businesses. The Transformation Roadmap can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmrc-transformation-roadmap

On what criteria will he base the review of the Carr-Hill formula.

We recognise the importance of ensuring that funding for core services is distributed equitably between practices across the country.The review of the Carr-Hill formula will draw on a range of evidence and advice from experts, with a focus on how health need is reflected in funding. Further detail on the review will be confirmed in due course.

What comparative assessment she has made of the amount of Vehicle Excise Duty on (a) electric motorcycles and (b) electric quadricycles.

Different Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates apply to cars, vans, motorcycles, and other vehicles; the rate for each vehicle is calculated according to a range of factors, such as the type of vehicle, its date of first registration, weight, or CO2 emissions. VED for motorcycles is currently based on engine size. There are four engine size ranges, with the lowest rate applying the smallest engines sized 150cc or less (currently £26) and to zero emission motorcycles. In contrast, the highest rate applies to engines sized 600cc and above (currently £121).Quadricycles fall outside of the definition of an electric car or motorcycle in the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994. Electric quadricycles therefore remain exempt from VED.

What discussions his Department has had with Ofgem on selling energy generated by community-led renewable energy schemes directly to the community.

The Secretary of State previously commissioned Ofgem to explore some of the policy and regulatory barriers to local supply. The Department is working closely with Ofgem, Great British Energy and other key stakeholders to determine how best to support local generation being matched with local demand. The energy industry has also been working to make changes to industry rules to support the local trade of energy, including code modifications to the Balancing and Settlement Code, P442, and standardising the classification of local energy sites, P441. Further updates and outcomes from this work will be provided in due course.

Whether her Department holds data on the number of (a) cycle and (b) car parking spaces at each (i) Crown and (ii) Magistrate Court.

HMCTS holds data on the number of car parking spaces at each Crown and Magistrates’ Court, which can be found in the attached spreadsheet. HMCTS does not hold equivalent data on the number of cycle parking spaces at each Crown and Magistrates’ Court.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential risks of the use of (a) illegal or (b) modified e-bikes being used by food delivery riders.

E-bikes must fully comply the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 in order to be legally used on the roads. This is irrespective of whether they have been modified, or whether they are being ridden by a delivery rider or anyone else. While enforcement is a matter for the police, I have written to the Chief Executives of food delivery companies, making clear that riders should be fully aware of the relevant legal requirements and that they should only be using safe and road legal e-bikes.

What steps her Department is taking to improve data collection on e-bike (a) collisions and (b) journey purpose.

E-bikes (both privately owned and as part of bike share schemes) are currently included within the pedal cycle category within the STATS19 system used by police forces to record data on personal injury collisions and overseen by the Standing Committee on Road Injury Collision statistics. The Committee have agreed to explore whether the guidance on reporting of vehicle types, including e-bikes, can be improved. At a population level, we understand there to be a low rate of usage of e-bikes. As and when usage grows, there is the potential for further insight via the National Travel Survey.

With reference to the report entitled Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal E-Bikes by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking, published in June 2025, whether his Department plans to commission a review into the exploitation risks faced by gig economy riders using e-bikes.

We recognise that many delivery riders in the platform economy value the flexibility it can bring. However, new technologies and ways of working have made it more complex for businesses and workers to understand and apply the law, which is why the Government is committed to consulting on a simpler framework for employment status.Our priority is ensuring those workers who are most vulnerable know their rights and have the benefit of protection at work.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing police forces with new enforcement powers to seize (a) unsafe and (b) non-compliant e-bikes.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission to take back our streets. Any form of anti-social, dangerous or inconsiderate behaviour involving vehicles is a serious issue.Our Crime and Policing Bill will give the police greater powers to clamp down on all vehicles, including e-bikes, involved in anti-social behaviour including street racing, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing these vehicles.On 28 May, the Government launched a six-week consultation on proposals to allow the police to dispose of seized vehicles such as e-bikes, which have been used anti-socially from 14 days to 48 hours. Combined, these proposals will help tackle the scourge of vehicles ridden anti-socially and illegally by sending a clear message to would be offenders and local communities that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

What recent discussions he has had with the Office for Product Safety and Standards on the enforcement of existing standards for (a) e-bike batteries and (b) conversion kits.

Under existing UK product safety law, all consumer products, including e-bike batteries and conversion kits, must meet legal requirements for safety when placed on the market. Tackling unsafe e-bikes is a priority for the Office for Product Safety and Standards, in my Department. They and Local Authority Trading Standards have powers to enforce the law including removing non-compliant products from sale. OPSS has prohibited the supply of certain models of unsafe e-bike batteries, and published 22 separate product recalls for non-compliant e-bikes and similar products since 2022.

What steps his Department is taking to hold online marketplaces accountable for the sale of (a) unsafe and (b) non-compliant e-bike products.

UK product safety law is clear: all products must be safe before being placed on the market, including e-bikes.The Office for Product Safety and Standards leads a national Online Marketplaces Programme of regulatory action to reduce risks from unsafe and non-compliant goods sold online. This involves a range of activities, including regulatory engagement with online marketplaces on products such as e-bikes and enforcement action where necessary.The Government has also introduced the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill to allow updates to the product safety framework and ensure consumers are protected; recognising the increasingly important role of online supply chains.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that self-employed delivery riders are included in mandatory training obligations designed to protect (a) themselves and (b) the public.

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, self-employed people have duties with regards to health and safety where they employ others, or where their work creates a risk to others who are not their employees. Existing UK laws also require that all consumer products must be safe before businesses can place them on the market, including those sold online. We recognise that new technologies and ways of working have made it more complex for businesses and workers to apply the law, which is why the Government has committed to consulting on a simpler framework for employment status.

What steps his Department is taking to prevent people from selling high-powered e-bikes and scooters that are not legal for use on roads.

The UK’s legal framework for product safety places responsibility for the safety of e-bikes and e-scooters on the businesses manufacturing or importing them. The Office for Product Safety and Standards and Local Authority Trading Standards enforce the regulations.Vehicles sold for a legitimate and permitted use but which are used on public land illegally is an enforcement matter for the police, under the Department for Transport’s road safety regime.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether a cost benefit analysis has been carried out on the South East Strategic Reservoir Option.

Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers, efficiently and economically and set out how they plan to continue to meet this duty to their customers through Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). WRMPs are statutory and set out how each company will manage water supply and demand, including reducing leaks, sustainably for at least the next 25 years. Within their plans, water companies must consider all options, including demand management and new water resources including reservoirs and transfers to ensure they meet their duties to customers. Water companies must consult on their WRMPs and these are scrutinised by regulators, including the Environment Agency and Ofwat. Water Resources South East, the regional water resources group of South East water companies, and Thames Water have published their water resources plans, including the analysis and cost information. The plans are available online:www.wrse.org.uk/library/?documentTags=Regional+Plan and www.thameswater.co.uk/about-us/regulation/water-resources.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the total life costs for the South East Strategic Reservoir Option.

Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers, efficiently and economically and set out how they plan to continue to meet this duty to their customers through Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). WRMPs are statutory and set out how each company will manage water supply and demand, including reducing leaks, sustainably for at least the next 25 years. Within their plans, water companies must consider all options, including demand management and new water resources including reservoirs and transfers to ensure they meet their duties to customers. Water companies must consult on their WRMPs and these are scrutinised by regulators, including the Environment Agency and Ofwat. Water Resources South East, the regional water resources group of South East water companies, and Thames Water have published their water resources plans, including the analysis and cost information. The plans are available online:www.wrse.org.uk/library/?documentTags=Regional+Plan and www.thameswater.co.uk/about-us/regulation/water-resources.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact Avanti West Coast’s non-tilting 110mph (a) Class 805 and (b) Class 807 trains on the capacity of the West Coast Main Line.

The new Avanti trains of classes 805 and 807 will make a material improvement to journeys formerly made on the Voyager trains, and will not reduce the capacity of the West Coast main line.

How his Department’s 10 Year Health Plan will support patients with multiple sclerosis in receiving adequate (a) care and (b) support.

The three shifts outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan will support people with long-term conditions, including those with multiple sclerosis, to better manage their condition and access services closer to home. For example, it will empower them to access their medical history and allow them to book and manage their appointments and medication.In addition, by 2028/29, neighbourhood health teams will be organised around the needs of their patients. The plan will create joined-up working across hospitals and into community settings, with multi-disciplinary teams who can provide wrap-around support services.By 2030, one million patients with long-term conditions will be offered personal health budgets, which will enable them to use National Health Service resources and to determine the care that best suits their needs.Patients will be able to self-refer to services where clinically appropriate through My Specialist on the NHS App. This will accelerate their access to treatment and support. The NHS App will provide access to advice, guidance, self-care support, and appointment management. Patients will be able to manage their care in one place, giving them direct access to, and preference over the services they need.As part of the NHS App, My Medicines will enable patients to manage their prescriptions, and My Health will enable patients to monitor their symptoms and bring all their data into one place.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the NHS England Getting It Right First Time neurology programme on the (a) quality and (b) consistency of multiple sclerosis care.

The Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) National Specialty Report made recommendations designed to improve neurology services nationally and to support the National Health Service to deliver care more equitably across the country. The National Specialty Report highlighted differences in how services are delivered and offered an unprecedented opportunity to share successful initiatives between trusts to improve patient services nationally. Building on the GIRFT National Specialty Report, the Neurology Transformation Programme has developed a model of integrated care for neurology services to support integrated care boards to deliver the right service, at the right time for all neurology patients, including those with multiple sclerosis (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 a national data dashboard for integrated care systems to monitor delivery of MS care, including for disease-modifying therapies. Additionally, NHS England has also developed guidance for systems on improving access to disease-modifying treatments for MS closer to home, which includes successful delivery models and good practice case studies.The Neurology Transformation Programme is working with the National Clinical Director for Neurology and the Neurology Clinical Reference Group to develop a revised service specification for neurology. The updated service specification will further build on the specific recommendations in the GIRFT report and will include specific guidance for pathways for MS and other neuroinflammatory conditions.

What steps she is taking through the Get Britain Working White Paper to support people with multiple sclerosis (a) into and (b) to stay in work.

Good work is generally good for health and wellbeing, so we want everyone to get work and get on in work, whoever they are and wherever they live. Disabled people and people with health conditions, including multiple sclerosis, are a diverse group so access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time, is key. We therefore have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals to stay in work and get back into work, including those that join up employment and health systems. Measures include support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres and Access to Work grants, as well as joining up health and employment support around the individual through Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies and Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care. Building on our WorkWell, Employment Advisers in Talking Therapies and Connect to Work programmes, we will ensure people with a health condition have access to the holistic support they need. In the Government’s Pathways to Work Green Paper, we further committed to developing a support guarantee, so that disabled people and those with a health condition get the work, health and skills support they need to access and thrive in employment. And we are delivering the biggest investment in support for disabled people and people with health conditions in at least a generation. Our support guarantee announced as part of the Green Paper is backed up by £2.2bn over four years, including £200m in 2026/27 when our benefit changes begin to take effect and, as announced in the statement on Welfare Reform (30 June) by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, an additional £300m over the next 3 years. This brings our total investment in employment support for disabled people and those with health conditions to £3.8 billion over this Parliament. We will further pilot the integration of employment advisers and work coaches into the neighbourhood health service, so that working age people with long term health conditions have an integrated public service offer. A patient’s employment goals will be part of care plans, to support more joined up service provision. The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and Social Care have worked together on the 10 Year Health Plan. The 10 Year Health Plan will ensure a better health service for everyone, regardless of condition or service area. The Plan sets out the vision for what good joined-up care looks like for people with a combination of health and care needs, including for disabled people. Backed by £240m investment, the Get Britain Working White Paper launched in November 2024, will drive forward approaches to tackling economic inactivity and work toward the long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate. In recognition of the key role employers play a key role in increasing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, the Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions and Business and Trade asked Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead an independent review, considering how best to support and enable employers to recruit and retain more people with health conditions and disabilities, promote healthy workplaces, and support more people to stay in or return to work from periods of sickness absence. Sir Charlie will deliver his final report in the autumn. Employers are crucial in enhancing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions to thrive in the workforce. Our support to employers includes increasing access to Occupational Health, a digital information service for employers and the Disability Confident scheme. Guidance for businesses on supporting employee work-life balance through measures such as flexible working and parental leave can be found on gov.uk and the Help to Grow website.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed welfare reforms on people with (a) multiple sclerosis and (b) other fluctuating conditions.

As I set out in the House of Commons on 1 July 2025, the Government has listened to the concerns raised by Members from across the House about the proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Clause 5 of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill would have amended the legal framework underpinning PIP assessments, specifically by implementing a new requirement that claimants must score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component of PIP. In light of the concerns raised, I confirmed during the debate that clause 5 would be removed from the Bill in Committee.(Hansard, 1 July, col 219) Any changes to PIP eligibility will come after a comprehensive review of the benefit which I shall lead, co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, clinicians, experts, MPs and other stakeholders, so a wide range of views and voices are heard. This review aims to ensure that the PIP assessment is fair and fit for the future.