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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether overnight stays associated with major infrastructure projects, including Hinkley Point C in Somerset, would be within the scope of a future Overnight Visitor Levy.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.

Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether consideration has been given to exempting business-related overnight stays from a future Overnight Visitor Levy.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.

Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of an Overnight Visitor Levy on financial viability of small independent bed and breakfast operators and guest houses.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.

Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of an Overnight Visitor Levy on the competitiveness of tourist destinations in the South West compared with destinations in Wales.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.

Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to issue guidance on the proportion of revenue from an Overnight Visitor Levy to be spent on tourism-related infrastructure and services.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.

Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the administrative costs to accommodation providers in collecting and remitting an Overnight Visitor Levy.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.

Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to require mayoral authorities to consult local accommodation providers before introducing an Overnight Visitor Levy.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.

Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether an assessment has been produced of the potential impact of an Overnight Visitor Levy on visitor attendance at major events and festivals across England.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.

Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an estimate of the annual revenue that could be generated from an Overnight Visitor Levy.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.

Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Department or National Highways has undertaken any assessment of the potential use of tolling or road user charging on roads funded through Roads Investment Strategy 3.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

With the exception of the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC), there are no plans for tolling or road user charging on roads funded through Roads Investment Strategy 3, other than where such arrangements are already in place.

LTC will be financed using the Regulated Asset Base model as this is the best way of reducing the cost burden of the project to taxpayers. To do this, the model harnesses private investment, with a link through to charges on users, who are ultimately major beneficiaries of the scheme.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2026 to Question 13039 on Aviation: Antisocial Behaviour, whether her Department holds data on the proportion of incidents involving disruptive or unruly airline passengers in which alcohol was identified as a contributing factor.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport does not collect or hold data on the proportion of incidents involving disruptive or unruly airline passengers in which alcohol was identified as a contributing factor. Airlines and airports may collect this data as part of their reporting practices.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2026 to Question 10713 on Railways: CCTV, whether the Network Rail programme will connect all Network Rail-managed station CCTV into the single cloud-based system; and what categories of railway CCTV will remain outside the system once the programme has been completed.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Further to the Answer of 26 June 2026 to Question 10713, the rail CCTV connectivity project is in its start-up phase. Network Rail is delivering the project on behalf of the rail industry and will use an agreed model, currently being developed, to prioritise the connection of station CCTV to the cloud-based system. The requested details will be available in 2027/28.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2026 to Question 11747 on International Broadcasting, whether any Minister in her Department has had discussions with stakeholders on Western international broadcasting capacity in (a) Africa, (b) the Middle East and (c) South and South East Asia since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is not aware of any such discussions, but details of all ministerial meetings with external organisations are routinely published by the FCDO in its quarterly transparency releases.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2026 to Question 11742 on British Overseas Territories, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of each monitoring visit undertaken by officials from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to British Overseas Territories since 4 July 2024, broken down by (a) destination and (b) visit.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Ministers met with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee to discuss its advice on floating bus stops during the preparation of the statutory guidance published on 26 January 2026.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee provided comments on the draft guidance as part of the consultation process established by the Bus Services Act 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has taken steps to identify alternative sources of Government funding for the restoration of Hammersmith Bridge, other than the Structures Fund.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

As the asset owner, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham has responsibility for funding the repair and maintenance of Hammersmith Bridge.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Cabinet Office guidance permits arm's length bodies to use public funds to appoint external public affairs or lobbying consultancies to engage with ministers, government departments or Parliament.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Cabinet Office does not issue specific guidance on this matter. However, the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies states that ‘it will always be an improper use of public funds for public bodies to employ consultants or other companies to lobby Parliament, government or political parties.’ Responsibility for ensuring compliance with these standards rests with the Accounting Officer of each arm's length body and their respective sponsoring department.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will include Freedom of Religion or Belief in any future Human Rights and Democracy Reports.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 19 June in response to Question 9575.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the level of violence faced by converted Christians in Syria.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 22 June in response to Question 10866 and to my written statement to the House on 29 April.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of how the UK can support the prevention of further violence against Christians in Syria.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 22 June in response to Question 10866 and to my written statement to the House on 29 April.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much of the £250 million in humanitarian assistance being given to Syria will directly or indirectly go towards supporting the inclusion of Syrian minority communities, and specifically religious minorities.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 22 June in response to Question 10866 and to my written statement to the House on 29 April.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact on UK vehicle manufacturing of the Rules of Origin requirements for electric vehicles and batteries due to apply from 1 January 2027 under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

New rules of origin requirements for electric vehicles under the TCA are scheduled to come into force on 1st January 2027. The UK Government recognises and shares the growing concern from industry about the potential impact of the upcoming rule changes on both UK and EU production. We are engaging with the European Commission and the UK automotive sector on the issue with a view to finding a mutually satisfactory solution. That includes, as a priority, looking to finalise joint guidance on the origin requirements related to Cathode Active Material.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of simplifying or consolidating the statutory qualification and certification requirements for professional bus, coach and heavy goods vehicle drivers.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

A review in 2021/22 concluded that the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) should be retained but reformed. A package of reforms was introduced in December 2024 to provide greater flexibility for drivers and operators.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has no plans to consolidate the qualification processes for these types of vehicles. The skills and knowledge necessary to safely drive each vehicle category are sufficiently different to require separate assessments. Drivers, however, who hold licence entitlements for both lorries and buses only need to complete one set of 35 hours periodic training every five years to maintain their Driver CPC qualification.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 1 June 2026, to Question 3552, on Parking Offences: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, if she will publish the formal application and associated correspondence requesting the trial of higher parking fines.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport does not routinely publish such correspondence.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many habitat management plans Network Rail has produced in each of the last five financial years.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Network Rail confirms that 188 site-specific habitat management plans have been produced in the last five financial years.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2026 to Question 14930 on Railways: Standards, whether her Department maintains a record of the operational systems used by state-owned Train Operating Companies to record service cancellations.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department does not maintain a central record of the operational systems used by individual train operating companies to record service cancellations. Train operators are responsible for their day-to-day operational systems and reporting arrangements, while performance information is collected and monitored through industry-standard assurance and performance reporting processes.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2026, to Question 13237, on Department for Transport: Public Relations, how much spending has there been on these contracts since July 2024.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The value of all contracts referred to in the answer to 13237 are published on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search (contracts above £12,000 - including VAT and £25,000 in the wider public sector) and/or Find a Tender - Find a Tender.

ORR currently holds contracts with Field Consulting, the spend on these contracts since July 2024 would be £9000.

From July 2024 to 31 May 2026, National Highways spent £280,921 on its technical professional services’ public affairs contract.

Transport Focus have a Public Affairs monitoring contract with Randall’s Monitoring Ltd. They have spent £6,210 excluding VAT on this.

Network Rail holds a contract for stakeholder engagement services with Lexington Communications. The contract was awarded in September 2021. Spend on this contract amounts to £423,439.93 since July 2024. Network Rail also spent a total of £143,480 with Yonder. . A total of £33,660 has been spent on the Future Governance Forum project since July 2024.

HS2 Ltd identified 2 live contracts which fall into the scope of Public Affairs spending. From July 2024 to 30 April 2026, HS2 Ltd has spent £71,100 on live contracts.

Found: Bishop (Labour; Forest of Dean) Pam Cox (Labour; Colchester) Janet Daby (Labour; Lewisham East) Sir Ashley Fox

Found: This includes Sir Ashley Fox MP’s request that a probation roadshow be held for Justice Select Committee

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Andy Slaughter (Chair); Janet Daby; Sir Ashley Fox; Warinder Juss