Asked by: Lord Bishop of Chester (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent aggression faced by RNLI volunteers; and what plans they have to support those who serve on lifeboats, particularly in light of their inclusion in the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 as search and rescue personnel.
Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
This Government values the vital work of emergency service workers and has taken action to strengthen protections and underline the seriousness of offences committed against them. That is why the law on assaults against emergency workers, including RNLI personnel, and the associated penalties are kept under regular review.
Volunteers for organisations like the RNLI and HM Coastguard provide a vital service, often in the most challenging circumstances, and there is no place for abuse, intimidation or threats – whether in person or online. The RNLI and HM Coastguard are currently reviewing their security procedures and have put in place enhanced welfare arrangements.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Chester (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government why they increased the mileage rate for the first 10,000 business miles from £0.45 to £0.55 for cars but left it unchanged for motorcycles; and whether they plan to ensure parity of treatment.
Answered by Lord Livermore
Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle tax free.
In March, the Government announced a review of approved mileage rates, recognising that motoring costs have evolved significantly in recent years. This review will include consideration of the mileage rate for motorcycles.
As a targeted response to pressures facing drivers as a result of the Iran war, in May 2026, the Government announced an increase to the AMAPs rate for cars and vans to 55 pence per mile for the first 10,000 business miles from 6 April 2026 for tax year 2026/2027. This does not include the rate for motorcycles, which remains at 24p.
Wider questions on the mileage system will be considered at the Budget. More broadly, the Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs to ensure that they are appropriate and reflect the current state of the economy.