Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will consider issuing on the spot fines for (1) cyclists and motorists jumping red lights, (2) cyclists riding in pedestrian-only areas of public parks, and (3) cyclists and scooter riders riding on public pavements.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The police can issue on-the-spot fines (which are formally referred to as fixed penalty notices) for a range of cycling and motoring offences. Decisions on when to issue fixed penalty notices are an operational matter for the police, using their professional judgement.
In addition to issuing fixed penalty notices on-the-spot, police may also issue motorists with three points on their driving licence for failure to comply with traffic signs.
Cycling in pedestrian-only areas of public parks may constitute an offence under local byelaws or Public Space Protection Orders resulting in a fixed penalty notice, which can be issued on-the-spot. In some circumstances, cycling on a footway is also prohibited, unless the footway is designated for shared use, and the offence may result in an on-the-spot fixed penalty notice. Cycling on a pavement and riding a powered e-scooter on a pavement are also offences and may result in on the spot fines.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have plans to protect leaseholders in retirement villages from freeholders and managing agents who act in bad faith.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government recognise that some specialist retirement housing providers have distinct operational and financing arrangements, and we value the important contribution that this sector makes to supporting older people.
We want to ensure providers can continue to operate effectively and with confidence.
As per the Written Ministerial Statement made on 27 January 2026 HLWS1278 (attached), we will consider through the scrutiny and consultation process whether particular arrangements may be appropriate for certain forms of specialist provision.
The government is committed to ensuring that leaseholders, including those living in retirement homes, are protected from unfair and unreasonable practices.
There are currently two government-approved codes of practice in force in relation to the residential leasehold sector and private retirement housing. These are the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Residential Management Service Charge Code and the Association of Retirement Housing Managers (AHRM) Code of Practice. The enforcement of standards set out in these codes can be taken into account as evidence, at court or tribunal hearings.
Individual leases set out what services leaseholders may expect to receive, and what they should pay for. By law variable service charges must be reasonable and, where costs relate to works or services, the works or services must be of a reasonable standard. Should leaseholders wish to contest the reasonableness of their service charges, they may make an application to the appropriate tribunal. On 4 July, the government published a consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services. It can be found on gov.uk (attached) here.
The government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report, including in relation to specialist accommodation for older people.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill will include provisions for leaseholders in retirement villages.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government recognise that some specialist retirement housing providers have distinct operational and financing arrangements, and we value the important contribution that this sector makes to supporting older people.
We want to ensure providers can continue to operate effectively and with confidence.
As per the Written Ministerial Statement made on 27 January 2026 HLWS1278 (attached), we will consider through the scrutiny and consultation process whether particular arrangements may be appropriate for certain forms of specialist provision.
The government is committed to ensuring that leaseholders, including those living in retirement homes, are protected from unfair and unreasonable practices.
There are currently two government-approved codes of practice in force in relation to the residential leasehold sector and private retirement housing. These are the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Residential Management Service Charge Code and the Association of Retirement Housing Managers (AHRM) Code of Practice. The enforcement of standards set out in these codes can be taken into account as evidence, at court or tribunal hearings.
Individual leases set out what services leaseholders may expect to receive, and what they should pay for. By law variable service charges must be reasonable and, where costs relate to works or services, the works or services must be of a reasonable standard. Should leaseholders wish to contest the reasonableness of their service charges, they may make an application to the appropriate tribunal. On 4 July, the government published a consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services. It can be found on gov.uk (attached) here.
The government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report, including in relation to specialist accommodation for older people.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Europa Nostra shortlisting Victoria Tower Gardens as one of Europe's most endangered heritage sites due to the proposed development of the Holocaust Memorial.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
All material planning considerations will be taken into account in reaching a decision on this case. Full reasons will be set out in the final decision letter.
The MHCLG applicant and decision-maker roles in this case are entirely separate. This question has been answered on behalf of the decision-maker side. Handling arrangements are published on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average wait time for each of HMRC's telephone helpline services; and whether these times have reduced over the last two years.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Across HMRC’s main helplines, the average speed of answering customer calls for 2023–24, 2024–25, and 2025–26 (year-to-date to November 2025) is shown in the table.
The definition of ‘average speed of answering a customer’s call’ (ASA) is the average time spent waiting in the queue for an adviser. This is from the time that the customer finished listening to HMRC’s automated messages and completed their selection from HMRC’s automated menu to the time when they get to speak to an adviser.
HMRC’s main helplines - Average Speed of Answering a customer’s call (minutes: seconds)
| 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 YTD to November |
Child Benefit | 21:05 | 16:05 | 10:35 |
National Insurance | 20:55 | 21:48 | 10:32 |
Tax Credits Helpline | 19:22 | 22:09 | 05:16 |
Tax Credits Payment Helpline | 22:13 | 16:50 | 05:34 |
Corporation Tax | 13:52 | 11:51 | 11:49 |
Stamp Duty and Capital Gains | 05:45 | 02:47 | 03:26 |
Agent Dedicated Line | 21:56 | 26:38 | 16:37 |
Construction Industry Scheme Helpline | 13:49 | 09:23 | 09:44 |
Employers Helpline | 22:20 | 26:32 | 27:20 |
Online Services Helpline | 08:36 | 11:49 | 05:58 |
PAYE | 34:18 | 22:58 | 17:34 |
Self Assessment Helpline | 37:15 | 23:40 | 16:46 |
VAT | 27:14 | 14:30 | 10:32 |
Overall, ASA has improved over the past two years. In 2023-24, across all HMRC helplines, it was 23 minutes and 14 seconds. In 2025-26 (year to date - end of November 2025), ASA was 13 minutes and 17 seconds.
HMRC are taking steps to make sure more of their services are digital, so customers can self-serve online. HMRC online services and the HMRC app are convenient to access and receive high customer satisfaction ratings. As more people use HMRC online services, advisers are freed up to support those with more complex queries and those who are digitally excluded.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question
To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker how Parliament's Restoration and Renewal project will be funded.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The funding framework for the Restoration and Renewal (R&R) Programme is primarily set out in the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019 (“the Act”). The Act sets out how the R&R Programme is funded in both phase 1 and phase 2 of the Programme. The House Commissions set a limit for the overall expenditure for phase 1. Both Houses of Parliament must approve the funding limit for phase 2.
Under the Act, the R&R Delivery Authority receives its funding on an annual basis via a grant administered by the Corporate Officers of the House of Commons and House of Lords. This is laid as an Estimate in the House of Commons. Subject to parliamentary approval of this expenditure, the monies are provided by HM Treasury.
During development of the Estimate, the Delivery Authority’s proposed budget is initially subject to scrutiny by the R&R Client Team and House finance teams, R&R Delivery Authority Board, R&R Programme Board, and the R&R Client Board. Following this process the Estimates is submitted to the Parliamentary Works Estimates Commission (PWEC). This was established by the Act with a responsibility to review an Estimate for the Delivery Authority’s expenditure before the Estimate is laid. PWEC is required to consult HM Treasury as part of its review; to date, HM Treasury has concluded that the Estimates have been “taut and realistic”.
The National Audit Office (NAO) examines, certifies and reports on the Delivery Authority’s annual statement of accounts. The NAO has the ability to carry out value for money studies into the delivery of the Programme and has undertaken two reviews of the R&R Programme to date.
Some expenditure related to the R&R Programme is not borne by the Delivery Authority, such as the budgets for the R&R Client Team and the House of Lords R&R team as well as elements of spend by Strategic Estates (who, for example, lead on delivering Commons temporary accommodation on the Northern Estate). These budgets are contained within the wider House Administration Estimates and are formally scrutinised by the House Commissions, as advised by their respective finance committees, and are subject to parliamentary approval.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the latest cost estimates for the proposed Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The National Audit Office letter of 24 March 2025 set out that forecast costs for completing the programme stand at £146.6 million.
The Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre is the subject of a planning application. MHCLG applicant and decision-maker roles in this case are entirely separate; this question has been answered on behalf of the applicant. Handling arrangements have been published on the MHCLG website: Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre: MHCLG handling note - GOV.UK (attached).
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what types of building will be exempt from the proposed new energy performance certificate standards for rental properties.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The private rented sector minimum energy efficiency standard regulations apply to all privately rented homes that are let on specific types of tenancy agreement and legally required to have an Energy Performance Certificate. There are a number of exemptions available through the current regulations. We recently consulted on the suitability of current exemptions and will make some amendments and additions to improve the exemptions regime when the new standard applies.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the new energy performance certificates methodology will take into account higher-rated water heaters and infrared heating.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Technologies for which we have already obtained sufficient evidence – including heat batteries for water heating – will be supported at launch of HEM: EPC. Other technologies will be added over time via the new innovative product recognition process.
Government is working with manufacturers to ensure that infrared systems can be represented fully and accurately. To enable this, further work is required from industry to develop a robust, validated test method for measuring their operative temperature.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are on target to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes this Parliament. Progress will be measured through the number of net additional dwellings and we will update Parliament in the usual manner.