Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her Department's planned timetable is for making a decision on the proposed A39 Camelford Bypass plans.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government’s Budget in October delivers increased investment in local transport, supporting everyday journeys and addressing poor connectivity within our towns and cities across the country. The Department’s Major Road Network/ Large Local Majors programme, which includes the proposed A39 Camelford Bypass scheme, is now being reviewed in light of the Budget. Further details will be released in due course.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support unsustainable debt burdens and service payments from countries in Africa.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Supporting developing countries to tackle unsustainable debt is a key development priority of this government. Where we are a creditor, we have fully engaged in debt restructuring negotiations. We welcome recent Common Framework debt agreements with Zambia and Ghana.
We are also focussed on strengthening the system for the future. This means improving debt transparency, strengthening debt management, global implementation of sustainable lending and borrowing practices, and wider roll out of Natural Disaster Clauses which pause debt repayments when a climate or health disaster hits.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 2.44 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC295, what the (a) territorial extent and (b) timetable is for the consultation on encouraging small brewers to retain and expand their access to UK pubs.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government wants to work with the hospitality industry, including the pub sector, to identify the barriers to small brewers accessing their local markets – particularly where there is consumer demand, for example in tourist areas – and to look at options for overcoming those barriers.
The government will set out further details of any consultation in due course, as well as the territorial extend of any measures.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 2.51 of Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to Agricultural Property Relief on food security.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/what-are-the-changes-to-agricultural-property-relief#:~:text=From%206%20April%202026%2C%20the,rather%20than%20the%20standard%2040%25. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief in 2026-27 are expected to be unaffected by these reforms.
In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.
The UK has high food security and Autumn Budget 2024 continued to support and improve food security. The Government has provided £5 billion across this year and next to support the ongoing transition towards a more productive and environmentally sustainable agricultural sector in England. This will strengthen the domestic sector, and improve food security.