Peter Fortune MP: written questions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative assessment she has made of the fee structure of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme and similar schemes in European countries.

Answer: The Department has considered the design of similar schemes in European countries as pEPR has been developed in the UK. However, direct comparisons of fee levels can be misleading because schemes differ in scope, in how drinks containers are treated, and ...

Answered 9 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department will launch the call for evidence on the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme fees.

Answer: The Department has considered the design of similar schemes in European countries as pEPR has been developed in the UK. However, direct comparisons of fee levels can be misleading because schemes differ in scope, in how drinks containers are treated, and ...

Answered 9 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish a comparative analysis of glass packaging Extended Producer Responsibility fees in other advanced economies, including any measures taken to prevent disproportionat

Answer: The Department has considered the design of similar schemes in European countries as pEPR has been developed in the UK. However, direct comparisons of fee levels can be misleading because schemes differ in scope, in how drinks containers are treated, and ...

Answered 9 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that the extended producer responsibility scheme does not reduce investment in UK manufacturing.

Answer: Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) is designed to move the cost of managing household packaging waste from taxpayers to producers, while supporting investment in recycling. Defra and PackUK continue to engage with industry, including pa...

Answered 9 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the impact on pubs of Extended Producer Responsibility fees being applied to goods that do not enter the household waste stream and the

Answer: We are aware of industry concerns about producers being charged disposal fees for packaging that is disposed of through commercial waste streams, including in hospitality settings. Defra is continuing to work at pace with stakeholders on the treatment of ...

Answered 9 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of the cumulative cost of the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme on the brewing sector.

Answer: The Government published an updated assessment in October 2024 of the impact of introducing Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging. This assessed impacts on packaging producers as a whole but did not assess impacts on individual products such as b...

Answered 9 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the inflationary impact of the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on products such as bottles of beer.

Answer: The Government published an updated assessment in October 2024 of the impact of introducing Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging. This assessed impacts on packaging producers as a whole but did not assess impacts on individual products such as b...

Answered 9 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential merits to consumers of competition in fixed telecommunications infrastructure.

Answer: The UK telecoms market is highly competitive. The Statement of Strategic Priorities designated on 27 April 2026 sets out the government’s view on the benefits of competition in the fixed telecoms market for investment in high quality networks, innovation ...

Answered 26 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure that competition in fixed telecommunications infrastructure is sustained and protects consumers’ long-term interests.

Answer: The UK telecoms market is highly competitive. The Statement of Strategic Priorities designated on 27 April 2026 sets out the government’s view on the benefits of competition in the fixed telecoms market for investment in high quality networks, innovation ...

Answered 26 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the impact of increased competition in fixed telecommunications infrastructure on (a) household broadband bills, (b) service choice and (c) broadband spe

Answer: The UK telecoms market is highly competitive. The Statement of Strategic Priorities designated on 27 April 2026 sets out the government’s view on the benefits of competition in the fixed telecoms market for investment in high quality networks, innovation ...

Answered 26 May 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the removal of full Business Property Relief above £2.5 million on levels of forced sales of large family-owned employers.

Answer: The reforms to business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of business asset...

Answered 26 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the capacity of family-owned trading businesses to fund inheritance tax liabilities within six months of death, particularly where probate has not been granted.

Answer: The reforms to business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of business asset...

Answered 26 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of implementing a deferral mechanism for inheritance tax liabilities arising from the reduction of 100% Business Property Relief above £2.5 million where there is

Answer: The reforms to business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of business asset...

Answered 26 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the regulatory dashboard, published on 21 October 2025, if she will publish the letters sent to 19 regulators on enabling safe AI-powered innovation.

Answer: On 28th January 2026, DSIT SoS wrote to 19 regulators as part of the AI Action Plan anniversary. These letters asked regulators to work with DSIT and their sponsor department to publish a plan setting out how they will enable safe AI-powered innovation by...

Answered 3 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much their department spent on X and xAI since July 2024.

Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 106871 on 28 January 2026.

Answered 5 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much their department spent on X and xAI since July 2024.

Answer: HM Treasury has not spent any money on X or xAI since July 2024.

Answered 5 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much their department spent on X and xAI since July 2024.

Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 28th January to PQ 106866

Answered 2 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much their department spent on X and xAI since July 2024.

Answer: Paid advertising on X was suspended in April 2023 following a SAFE Framework assessment. X is currently used only for organic (non-paid) content to communicate policies and public services. The Department for Transport has spent £783.30 with X since July ...

Answered 6 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much their department spent on X and xAI since July 2024.

Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 29 January 2026 to the hon. Member for Windsor, UIN 106863.

Answered 12 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much their department spent on X and xAI since July 2024.

Answer: As of January 2026, total expenditure by the Department since July 2024 has been £69,384.94, inclusive of VAT, on X and zero on xAI.

Answered 20 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much their department spent on X and xAI since July 2024.

Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Bromley and Biggin Hill to the answer of 5 February to Question 106861, an identical question asked by his colleague, the hon. Member for Windsor, on 19 January 2026.

Answered 5 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much their department spent on X and xAI since July 2024.

Answer: The Communication Directorate has spent £0 on X and xAI since July 2024.

Answered 5 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the average annual cost to motorists of ending the temporary 5p fuel duty reduction.

Answer: At Budget 2025, the Government announced continued support for people and businesses by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut until the end of August 2026. Rates will then gradually return to early 2022 levels. The planned increase in line with inflati...

Answered 27 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what support is available to small British manufacturers of natural stone products to help increase their role in the sustainable construction sector.

Answer: The Government is committed to the growth of a sustainable construction sector and to creating the right environment for small and medium sized businesses to thrive. Small British manufacturers of natural stone products can access support through the Busi...

Answered 28 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department will make a decision on the funding of the ACM cladding remediation project at Northpoint Bromley.

Answer: MHCLG funded the cladding remediation project at Northpoint Bromley, including work required to remove the unsafe ACM, completed in 2024. Our delivery partner, the Greater London Authority, has since submitted a funding variation request related to the de...

Answered 7 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what HMRC's target timeline for paying out Construction Industry Scheme tax rebates to small businesses is; and what proportion of rebates are paid within that time.

Answer: 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.Individuals can check when they are likely to receive a response by using HMRC’s ‘Where’s my re...

Answered 24 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of installing ticket barriers at Hayes station in Kent to help tackle (a) fare evasion and (b) anti-social behaviour.

Answer: Since coming into public ownership in 2021, Southeastern Trains have invested significantly in actions to tackle fare evasion and anti-social behaviour, including extra security trained staff at key locations, intelligence led revenue protection exercises...

Answered 27 Oct 2025