Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage longer vehicle leases in the Motability scheme.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department works closely with Motability Foundation and is responsible for the disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme. Motability Foundation is an independent charitable organisation that is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Scheme, along with oversight of Motability Operations.

Most vehicles available within the Scheme are leased for three years, however some are for longer periods. The policies relating to the operation of the scheme are determined by the Motability Foundation and not DWP.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Motability Operations Ltd about reducing the environmental impact and embodied carbon of the Motability scheme.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department works closely with Motability Foundation and is responsible for the disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme. Motability Foundation is an independent charitable organisation that is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Scheme, along with oversight of Motability Operations.

Motability is leading on work to ensure that disabled people’s needs are understood and supported as the transition to Electric Vehicles (EVs) continues. Motability Foundation has commissioned research into EV design to understand the challenges that disabled people may face in using them and has conducted extensive research to understand the barriers disabled people face when using EVs charge points. Working in partnership with the UK Government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles, the British Standards Institution was commissioned to develop a national accessible charging standard for EVs charge points. To assist their customers, a charge point is fitted as part of a Motability lease, and for customers unable to have a charge point they receive a subscription to one of the public charging networks.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to devolve drugs policy to councils or mayors.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Local areas already have an important role to play in tackling drugs and reducing harms through Combatting Drugs Partnerships which operate in all areas of England. There are examples of effective work by mayors and councils, working with policing, health, housing and employment agencies locally that show the value of the contribution being made by local partnerships.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have considered alternative proposals to local government unitarisation put forward by district councils.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Local Government Minister wrote to all councils on the 16 December in two tier areas to set out the arrangements for local government reorganisation, including inviting council leaders to develop unitary proposals that are in the best interests of the whole area, rather than developing competing proposals.

Unitary councils can lead to better outcomes for residents, save significant money which can be reinvested in public services, and improve accountability with fewer politicians who are more able to focus on delivering for residents. The Government’s policy is to facilitate a programme of local government reorganisation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what criteria they will apply to "small unitary authorities" when assessing whether they will be expected to merge with other authorities.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Minister for Local Government wrote to all councils in two-tier areas and neighbouring small unitaries on publication of the English Devolution White Paper on 16^th December to set out his ambitions and expectations in greater detail. In this letter the Minster set out his intention to formally invite unitary proposals in January 2025, and this invitation will set out further detail on the criteria that will be considered when taking decisions on proposals that are submitted to Government.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to make it simpler and quicker for communities to request changes to speed limits and implement road danger reduction measures.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Decisions on making local speed limits and implementing road danger reduction measures on roads in England rest with the transport authorities who have responsibility for roads in local areas. The Department for Transport issues best practice guidance on setting local speed limits designed to make sure that speed limits are appropriately and consistently set while allowing for flexibility to deal with local circumstances.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government, what discussions they have had with the Canal & River Trust regarding concerns raised by the community of boaters without a permanent mooring.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra officials meet formally with the Canal and River Trust senior management three times a year, at which a range of issues are discussed. The minutes of those meetings are published on the Trust’s website.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the navigation licence surcharge applied to continuous cruiser licences.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has no such plans. Navigation authorities are responsible for operational matters on their waterways, including setting the terms and conditions of their boat licencing regimes.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to take steps to ensure that boat dwellers without a mooring are not subject to disproportionate enforcement action by navigation authorities such as the Canal & River Trust.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

All navigation authorities in England and Wales are responsible for operational matters on their waterways, including setting fees and charges for those using them and the use of corresponding enforcement powers, under the relevant statutory provisions.  The Government does not have a role in that but recognises that boaters using navigable waterways require a valid licence from the relevant navigation authority and are expected to comply with the terms of their licences for the benefit of all waterway users. The Canal and River Trust has provided assurances that appropriate enforcement action on its waterways is only used as a last resort in response to persistent non-compliance, to ensure fairness to all boaters who do comply.

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