Greg Smith MP: written questions
415 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Children's Play: VAT Zero RatingTreasuryTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125565More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential economic merits of zero rating VAT on admission tickets for children's play centres.
Answer: The Government recognises the vital role that children’s play centres play in supporting working families and their contribution to communities across the country. To support them and other businesses we are introducing new permanently lower business rate...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordChildren's Play: VAT Zero RatingTreasuryTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125564More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the cost impact on the public purse of zero rating VAT for children's play centres.
Answer: The Government recognises the vital role that children’s play centres play in supporting working families and their contribution to communities across the country. To support them and other businesses we are introducing new permanently lower business rate...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordChildren's Play: VAT Zero RatingTreasuryTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125560More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Department for Education on the effect of VAT on the affordability for families of children's play centres.
Answer: The Government recognises the vital role that children’s play centres play in supporting working families and their contribution to communities across the country. To support them and other businesses we are introducing new permanently lower business rate...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123824More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, a) what assessment she has made of progress towards delivering an additional one million pothole repairs per year; b) whether the Government is currently on track to meet that target in (i) 2025–26 and (ii) 202
Answer: The Government’s record £7.3 billion investment over the next four years will bring annual funding for local authorities to repair and renew their roads and fix potholes to over £2 billion annually, doubling annual funding by 2029-30 compared to 2024-25 l...
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFerries: Isle of WightDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123822More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has been made of the role ferry services to the Isle of Wight play in providing access to essential services, including healthcare, education and employment.
Answer: The Government recognises that communities rely on Cross-Solent ferry services for accessing jobs, education and healthcare. They operate in a commercial environment without intervention from the Government. The Department has regular discussions on these...
Answered 14 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading Scheme: ShippingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123821More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions Ministers and officials held with the Northern Ireland Executive and DAERA in the period immediately preceding the Assembly vote on the UK ETS maritime extension.
Answer: The ETS Authority, made up of the four governments work together for the implementation and ongoing maintenance of the UK ETS. There is regular dialogue between DESNZ and the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA...
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: Greenhouse Gas EmissionsCabinet OfficeTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123820More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government Property Agency has made an estimate of staff time or resource allocated to measuring, collecting, reporting or validating greenhouse gas emissions across the parts of the estate for which
Answer: I refer to my answer for 116583. The GPA calculates greenhouse gas emissions for office space occupied by GPA staff and provides utility consumption data for departments occupying other buildings within its managed estate. As this activity is performed by...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: Hire ServicesDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123819More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has reviewed the design of the Government Fleet Commitment to ensure that short-term vehicle hire is captured within its targets.
Answer: Short term vehicle hires, which can happen at short notice, are subject to vehicle availability at the time and the policies of each hire company. The previous Government did not include vehicles hired for fewer than six days within the Government Fleet C...
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHGV Parking and Driver Welfare Grant SchemeDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123818More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2026 to Question 110890, what estimate her Department has made of (a) the total number of HGV parking spaces originally expected to be delivered under the HGV Parking and D
Answer: The HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Match Funding Grant Scheme was initially estimated to have the potential to create up to an additional 1500 spaces. These figures were based on information provided to the Department by operators as part of the applicati...
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHybrid Vehicles: FiresDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123817More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 116554, whether her Department has corroborated the findings of Thatcham Research; whether any UK fire and rescue services have provided data on hybrid vehicle
Answer: The Department has not corroborated the findings of Thatcham Research, nor has it received data on hybrid vehicle fire incidents from Fire & Rescue Services. The Chief Scientific Advisors at the Department for Transport and Ministry for Housing, Commu...
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordEast West Rail Line: OxfordDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123816More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in which month will the first East West Rail services operate from Oxford to Oxford Park Way.
Answer: The Department continues to work closely with Chiltern Railways and other partners to confirm a start date for the first EWR services between Oxford and Oxford Parkway. For passenger services to commence, trains will need to have been modified and fully t...
Answered 14 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: VacanciesDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123815More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2026 to Question 118042, what alternative methods the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency uses to identify the source of applications for driving examiner roles.
Answer: All driving examiner (DE) applications are made through Civil Service Jobs on GOV.UK.Whilst the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) cannot get details of applicant referral sources from the Government Recruitment Service, for campaigns up to Novemb...
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: VacanciesDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123814More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2026 to Question 118043, how many applications for driving examiner roles were received by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency in each of the last three years.
Answer: The table below shows the number of completed applications received for driving examiner (DE) roles in the years 2023 to 2025.YearTotal completed applications received20233,53620246,693202511,132 This data includes only completed application forms on Civi...
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordVehicle Certification Agency: Fees and ChargesDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123813More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2026 to Question 119471 on the Vehicle Certification Agency, what internal efficiency measures are being undertaken by the Vehicle Certification Agency; what the estimated ann
Answer: The Vehicle Certification Agency is taking forward a number of measures, including service digitisation, and updating legacy systems. This is estimated to deliver circa £1-1.5m in additional efficiency savings in the 2026/27 financial year.
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordLarge Goods Vehicles and Vans: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123812More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the funding allocation for the Zero Emission Truck and Van represents a capped budget; and what estimate she has made of the total potential liability.
Answer: The Zero Emission Van and Truck Grants are subject to a set budget of £877 million to 2030 and will close when available funding has been allocated for this period.
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordIain GuilleForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122285More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations she has made to her Turkish counterpart on the pre-trial detention of Iain Guille, and what steps she is taking to help protect his welfare.
Answer: The Minister of State for Europe, Stephen Doughty, has discussed Iain Guille's detention and welfare with his Turkish counterpart on two occasions, most recently in February 2026. UK Consular officials, in conjunction with their Canadian counterparts, hav...
Answered 2 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Charging PointsDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121470More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average cost per kWh was for public rapid electric vehicle charging in each year since 2021.
Answer: This information is available from external industry sources such as Zapmap, who estimate that the current average cost of rapid/ultra rapid public charging is around 76p/kWh, as of February 2026. This price level has remained broadly constant over the pa...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: PricesDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121469More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of when electric vehicles will reach price parity with internal combustion engine vehicles.
Answer: As part of the October 2023 Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), the Department for Transport published projections for the costs of zero emission cars and vans to 2050. The analysis can be found here :https://assets.publishing...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121468More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what information his Department holds on the average industrial electricity price for automotive manufacturers in (a) the UK and (b) international competitors.
Answer: The department publishes an annual comparison of the UK’s industrial electricity prices to the IEA and a bi-annual comparison of the UK’s non-domestic electricity prices to the EU.International non-domestic energy prices - GOV.UK These are average prices ...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBus Services: CyclewaysDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120941More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2026 to Question 116791, whether engagement with organisations representing disabled people in relation to the guidance entitled Floating Bus Stops: Provision and Design was un
Answer: The statutory guidance on the provision and design of floating bus stops is a joint publication between the Department and Active Travel England (ATE). Stakeholder engagement on the development of the guidance was undertaken by officials from both organis...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFreightDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120940More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2026 to WPQ 104866, when her Department will be using enhanced data and insight capabilities on the freight and logistics system to inform its advice on transport infrastruc
Answer: The Department for Transport’s programme of work to identify, develop and provide enhanced data and insights capabilities on the freight and logistics system will be delivered through multiple projects over the next few years. Further detail on projects w...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTrain Operating Companies: StaffDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120939More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to publish details of staff costs of individual Train Operating Companies in the DFTO: Annual Report and Accounts 2025 to 2026.
Answer: The DFTO Annual Report and Accounts 2025-2026 will include the staff costs for all DFTO Group employees on a consolidated basis. The breakdown of staff costs by individual Train Operating Company will be available in the individual Annual Report and Accou...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRed Diesel: PricesTreasuryTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120024More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the cost of Red Diesel on a) agriculture and horticulture, b) forestry, c) rail and d) marine; and what steps she is taking to help mitigate changes in prices.
Answer: Certain sectors, such as agriculture and horticulture, retained access to red diesel after it was withdrawn from most sectors in 2022. In contrast to full duty diesel, taxed at 52.95 pence per litre (ppl), red diesel currently incurs a duty of 10.18 ppl. ...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Excise DutiesDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119474More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate the Department for Transport has made of the vehicle excise duty (VED) revenue foregone as a result of early renewals by zero-emission vehicle owners prior to the introduction of new VED rates.
Answer: The information requested can be found in the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25 and can be viewed at www.gov.uk/government/publications/dvla-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025.
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDriver and Vehicle Standards Agency: Fees and ChargesDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119473More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the fee deficit of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) keeps its fees under continual review. Any changes to fee levels would be subject to public consultation and Parliamentary approval.
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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