Joe Robertson MP: written questions 2026
371 published records · newest first.
Written questions
NHS: Waiting ListsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111344More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will publish full, raw NHS waiting-list data including removals and treatment activity on a weekly and monthly basis.
Answer: Waiting list management information is published, by week, each month, and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/wlmds/Referral-to-treatment (RTT) data is published monthly, for t...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving: EyesightDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111343More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the optical sector on (a) proposals to modernise driver vision testing and (b) any other proposals to strengthen road safety standards.
Answer: On 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. Alongside the strategy, we launched five consultations including a consultation on introducing mandatory eyesight testing for olde...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving: EyesightDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111342More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help support public awareness of the Don’t Swerve a Sight Test campaign.
Answer: We appreciate the work that the Association of Optometrists is doing to highlight the importance of good vision for driving.On 7 January 2026, we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all road u...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving: Older PeopleDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111341More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of increasing the number of vision checks required for drivers aged over 70 on road safety.
Answer: At the age of 70, drivers must renew their entitlement, and at most, every three years after that. This provides a timely reminder to individuals to consider their health in the context of driving. To renew their entitlement, they must make a legal declar...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordTaxis: CCTVDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111020More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to require in-vehicle CCTV in licensed taxis and private hire vehicles.
Answer: The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill seeks a power for the Secretary of State to set in regulations national minimum standards for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing. The power was approved by the House of Commons and the Bill is now...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Waiting ListsDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110603More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will provide, for each driving test centre in Great Britain, the car practical driving test waiting time in weeks in January 2026.
Answer: The attached Excel document shows the average waiting time in weeks, in January 2026, for a car practical driving test at all driving test centres (DTC) in Great Britain.
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving LicencesDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110602More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average processing time was for driving licence applications in December 2025.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 January to question UIN 103613.
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBus Services: DriversDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110601More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her proposed timeline is for publishing her Department's response to the consultation and evidence-gathering exercise on removing the 50km restriction for 18 to 20-year-old bus and coach drivers.
Answer: In April 2024, the previous government launched a consultation to help support driver recruitment, including a measure to amend licensing restrictions which would enable 18 to 19-year-olds to drive a bus and coach over 50km when driving a regular service,...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAir Passenger Duty: Regional AirportsTreasuryTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110600More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of Air Passenger Duty on domestic air routes and regional airport connectivity in the UK, compared with the approach taken by other European countries to support
Answer: The Government is committed to the long-term future of the aviation sector in the UK and recognises the importance of maintaining a thriving and competitive aviation sector in the UK to deliver connectivity. In April 2023, reforms to APD took effect, aimi...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRegional Airports: TaxationDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110599More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the extent to which business rates relief and other fiscal support provided to Heathrow and Gatwick is available to regional airports; and what steps she is taking to
Answer: The UK aviation market operates predominantly in the private sector, however this government recognises the crucial role regional airports play in supporting thousands of local jobs, connecting communities to global opportunities, and strengthening social...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: Rented HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110224More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made a recent assessment of the eligibility of tenants who purchase electricity via landlord-supplied prepayment card systems for support under the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
Answer: In 2025, the Government consulted on whether to expand the Park Homes Warm Home Discount Scheme to other households without a direct relationship with their energy supplier (including those pay their landlord for energy). Given the cost of the scheme fall...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPorts: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109702More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many ports have operational shore power infrastructure capable of supporting zero-emission operations; and how this compares with the number of ports affected by the inclusion of emissions at berth in the U
Answer: The Government does not centrally record the level of live shore power infrastructure at ports, harbours, marinas, terminals or wharves, including whether they offer low voltage or high voltage shore power connections. We are aware of at least nine ports,...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordShipping: UK Emissions Trading SchemeDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109701More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to review the UK Emissions Trading Scheme once the International Maritime Organisation rules come into force.
Answer: Addressing international emissions from shipping is critical and it is important action is taken globally through the International Maritime Organization (IMO). If the IMO Net-Zero Framework is introduced, the Government will review the scope of the UK Em...
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading Scheme: ShippingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109700More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to align UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) maritime rules with the EU ETS to help (a) prevent (i) carbon leakage and (ii) port avoidance and (b) maintain c
Answer: The Government has assessed the impacts of expansion of the Emissions Trading Scheme to domestic maritime. That Impact Assessment concluded that the policy is not expected to materially affect the competitiveness of ports or operators, and that applying t...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading Scheme: ShippingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109699More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much revenue his Department expects to raise annually from the inclusion of domestic maritime in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme; and what proportion of that revenue will be recycled into
Answer: The Government’s Impact Assessment estimates that bringing domestic maritime into the United Kingdom Emissions Trading Scheme will increase allowance purchasing revenue by around £1.9 billion over the 20year appraisal period, averaging approximately £95 m...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBuses: ProcurementDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109394More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the scope within current procurement and trade obligations for contracting authorities to weight social value criteria to support UK jobs and supply chains in pub
Answer: Through the work with the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel my department is currently seeking agreement to implement a minimum weighting for social value to be considered when undergoing bus procurement.
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBuses: ProcurementDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109393More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the average social value weighting applied by contracting authorities in procurements of new buses supported by Government funding schemes in each of the last five years
Answer: My department devolves the procurement activities to the contracting authority for new buses and therefore does not hold information on the average social value weighting which may have been applied.
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading Scheme: ShippingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109392More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of including domestic maritime within the UK Emissions Trading Scheme on the competitiveness of UK ports and shipping operators
Answer: The Government’s Impact Assessment for including domestic maritime emissions within the United Kingdom Emissions Trading Scheme concluded that the policy is not expected to materially affect the competitiveness of United Kingdom ports or shipping operator...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading Scheme: ShippingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109391More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of expanding the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime on shipping and ferry services serving British Overseas Territories; w
Answer: The UK Emissions Trading Scheme Authority has recently consulted on proposals to include a share of emissions from international maritime voyages, including voyages to and from Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories. The consultation invited ...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109390More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, under the proposed pay-per-mile road charging scheme, whether mileage accrued by UK-registered vehicles while driving in the Republic of Ireland would be subject to UK charges; and whether mileage accrued by Republi
Answer: 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 ...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordHoliday Accommodation: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109389More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent rateable value increases on small accommodation providers, including the impact on business viability and local tourism-dependent economies.
Answer: At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since the pandemic, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To suppo...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordHoliday Accommodation: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109388More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what factors the Valuation Office Agency takes into consideration in (a) coastal and (b) tourism-dependent areas when setting rateable values for self-catering accommodation.
Answer: Self-catered accommodation is valued in the same way as any other class of non-domestic property; through applying the statutory and common law principles that apply across non-domestic rating.
Answered 6 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordHoliday Accommodation: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109387More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the methodology used by the Valuation Office Agency to calculate recent rateable value increases for self-catering accommodation.
Answer: Self-catered accommodation is valued in the same way as any other class of non-domestic property; through applying the statutory and common law principles that apply across non-domestic rating.
Answered 6 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109386More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of applying an interest rate of RPI plus 3% to Plan 2 student loans for graduates earning over £50,270 on the disposable income of those graduates.
Answer: Plan 2 student loans were designed and implemented by previous governments. Students in England starting degrees under this government have different arrangements.Plan 2 loans interest rates are applied at the Retail Price Index (RPI) only, then variable ...
Answered 6 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPharmacy: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108461More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Treasury has conducted or commissioned an impact assessment on how the April 2026 business rates increase may affect the financial sustainability of community pharmacies.
Answer: At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This has led to increases in rateable values for some properties, as current values are based on pandemic-era valuations. In recognition of the impact of the revaluation o...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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