Written questions by Smith.

What discussions he has had with the metal packaging industry on the UK Steel Strategy; and when those discussions took place.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of base fees for steel packaging under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on plastic use; and whether she plans to review those fees.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 125945 on Universal Credit, what data his Department holds on the relationship between hours worked and reductions in Universal Credit awards through the earnings taper.

The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

What the (a) mean and (b) median average waiting time was between application for Access to Work and an initial assessment, in each of the past two years, broken down by region.

Access to Work does not record the information requested in a way that allows data to be extracted by region. Providing this would require manual examination of individual case records and would therefore incur disproportionate cost. Access to Work applications are managed through a national queue and processed in chronological order, meaning that a customer’s region does not determine waiting time.

How many Universal Credit claimants had their award reduced through the earnings taper in each of the last five years; and how many claimants experienced monthly reductions of (a) less than £100, (b) £100 to £249, (c) £250 to £499 and (d) £500 or more.

The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

How many Access to Work applicants waited more than (a) six months, (b) nine months and (c) one year for approval of their application in each of the past two years, broken down by region.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of differences in waiting times for Access to Work, including (a) initial assessment, (b) approval and (c) commencement of support between regions.

Awaiting answer.

With reference o the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 75830 on Access to Work Programme, how many of the 118 staff remain assigned to Access to Work.

Awaiting answer.

How much her Department has spent on public relations companies since 4 July 2024 since 4 July 2024, and for what purpose.

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

What the average waiting time was between approval of an Access to Work application and commencement of support in each of the past two years, broken down by region.

The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

What expenditure has the Northern Lighthouse Board undertaken on public affairs companies, and for what purposes, since 4 July 2024.

Awaiting answer.

Pursuant to the announcement of 25 March 2026 entitled £1 billion to cut costs for businesses, drive growth and clean up UK roads, a) how much funding has been allocated to the Depot Charging Scheme in each financial year covered by the announcement, b) what estimate her Department has made of the number of (i) electric vans and (ii) zero emission HGVs expected to be supported by the funding, and (c) how much of this funding is expected to be made available to (i) SMEs and (ii) large businesses.

£171 million has been allocated to the Depot Charging Scheme for financial year 2026/27 out to Financial Year 2029/30, with £28 million confirmed for the 2026/27 Financial Year and £38 million for 2027/28. Grant rates and future application windows will be confirmed in due course. The Zero Emission Van Grant and the Zero Emission Truck Grant are demand led and the number of grants offered will be dependent on the needs of SMEs and large businesses across the UK.

A) what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues and with international counterparts on plans to link the UK and EU Emissions Trading Schemes and b) what impact assessment has been done to identify how it will affect the maritime sector and, in particular, island communities such as the Isle of Wight.

Negotiations to agree linking of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and EU ETS are ongoing, including for the maritime sector. The Government is working to negotiate a good deal in line with UK interests, as quickly as feasible, as set out in the Common Understanding in May 2025. The Government is committed to providing Parliament with appropriate analysis of our EU deal. We will not be able to provide a full assessment of the impacts whilst negotiations are ongoing, and a final agreement has not yet been reached. As negotiations progress, the Government will follow normal processes for any necessary legislative changes and assess impacts accordingly.

With reference to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 118920, if she will develop new Outline Business Cases for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to mitigate the risk of cyber-attacks affecting the automotive sector.

Government has written to businesses about the tools government provides and the steps they can take to protect themselves from cyber-attacks, including the Cyber Action Toolkit and the Cyber Essentials scheme. It is vital firms take up this support.Government has also issued a Cyber Governance Code of Practice which focuses on the role of the Board and senior leaders in effectively governing cyber risk. It is underpinned by Cyber Governance Training, which helps boards and directors to strengthen their understanding of how to govern cyber security risks, and the Cyber Security Toolkit for Boards, which supports them in implementing the Code’s actions.

With reference to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 118920, whether she has plans to undertake a BCR assessment for the dualling of single sections of the Clitheroe to Manchester Victoria line.

The most recent appraisal was undertaken in 2014 as part of the Blackburn to Manchester Rail Scheme, which assessed options to double the single-track sections between Blackburn and Bolton. The preferred option was to extend the Darwen passing loop, which presented a core BCR of 1.67. The £13.8 million scheme was funded by Blackburn & Darwen Council and the Local Growth Fund. It was delivered by Network Rail in 2015 and the half hourly rail service between Blackburn and Manchester Victoria commenced in December 2017. The Department has no plans to undertake further economic analysis or development work on this corridor, but would welcome discussions with Lancashire County Combined Authority, should they wish to prioritise any such analysis locally.

Whether her Department has identified a) disadvantages for members of the Armed Forces community in transport usage and b) the potential for co-production of measures to help tackle those disadvantages.

The Department is committed to the Armed Forces Covenant and to supporting members of the Armed Forces community in accessing the transport system. The Department has not identified specific disadvantages for members of the Armed Forces community in transport usage as a distinct group beyond those reflected in wider accessibility and transport disadvantage analysis. We recognise that individuals within the Armed Forces community may face particular challenges linked to mobility, relocation and access to local transport services. The Department engages with the Armed Forces community and relevant stakeholders and will consider opportunities for co-production where appropriate, including in the development of transport policy tools and related interventions. Support is provided through the HM Forces Railcard, and the Veterans Railcard. Disabled military personnel may also be eligible for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme where they meet the statutory disability criteria. Departmental guidance to local authorities recommends automatic eligibility for applicants in receipt of the War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement. The Ministry of Defence has engaged with Department for Transport officials on the expansion of the Armed Forces Covenant legal duty to include transport and the extension of the duty to UK Government departments. As part of this engagement, the Department reviewed draft statutory guidance relating to the Covenant duty, including the application of the “due regard” obligation in transport policy and the treatment of military evidence of disability in relation to transport concession schemes. The Department’s views informed development of the final guidance. Local authorities and regional transport bodies are expected to have due regard to the Armed Forces Covenant when exercising their transport functions. The Department will continue to support implementation of these duties.

What plans she has to ensure a) her Department, b) local authorities and c) regional transport bodies take account of duties under the Armed Forces Covenant when expanded.

The Department is committed to the Armed Forces Covenant and to supporting members of the Armed Forces community in accessing the transport system. The Department has not identified specific disadvantages for members of the Armed Forces community in transport usage as a distinct group beyond those reflected in wider accessibility and transport disadvantage analysis. We recognise that individuals within the Armed Forces community may face particular challenges linked to mobility, relocation and access to local transport services. The Department engages with the Armed Forces community and relevant stakeholders and will consider opportunities for co-production where appropriate, including in the development of transport policy tools and related interventions. Support is provided through the HM Forces Railcard, and the Veterans Railcard. Disabled military personnel may also be eligible for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme where they meet the statutory disability criteria. Departmental guidance to local authorities recommends automatic eligibility for applicants in receipt of the War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement. The Ministry of Defence has engaged with Department for Transport officials on the expansion of the Armed Forces Covenant legal duty to include transport and the extension of the duty to UK Government departments. As part of this engagement, the Department reviewed draft statutory guidance relating to the Covenant duty, including the application of the “due regard” obligation in transport policy and the treatment of military evidence of disability in relation to transport concession schemes. The Department’s views informed development of the final guidance. Local authorities and regional transport bodies are expected to have due regard to the Armed Forces Covenant when exercising their transport functions. The Department will continue to support implementation of these duties.

With reference to the answer of 24 March 2026 to WPQ 120039, what the purpose was of each flight to Kuwait; which Ministers and senior officials approved each visit; how many officials travelled on each occasion and at what grade; what the cost was of each visit; and whether an assessment was made of whether those engagements could be (a) conducted remotely and (b) combined with other travel.

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

With reference to the answer of 24 March 2026 to WPQ 120039, what the purpose was of the flight to Kazakhstan; which Ministers and senior officials approved the visit; how many officials travelled on that occasion and at what grade; what the cost was of the visit; and whether an assessment was made of whether those engagements could be (a) conducted remotely and (b) combined with other travel.

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.