Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the report entitled BCP Council: Increased Penalty Charge Notice and Associated Charges Trial, published in February 2026, whether her Department will be extending the trials of increased Penalty Charge Notices to Sefton Council.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The DfT is not running a trial. As stated in the report entitled "BCP Council: Increased Penalty Charge Notice and Associated Charges Trial", the Department for Transport authorised BCP Council in July 2025 to trial increased PCN levels aligned with London rates.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimates she has made of the number of how many taxpayers with outstanding Loan Charge liabilities HMRC expects to be eligible for the new settlement opportunity following the McCann Review; and how many have been contacted to date.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
At Budget 2024, the Government committed to a new independent review of the loan charge. The purpose of the review was to bring the matter to a close for people who have not settled and paid their Loan Charge liabilities.
The Government has accepted all but one of the Review’s recommendations, and in some areas has gone further. The Government has introduced legislation in the Finance Act to provide for a generous new settlement offer which it hopes maximises the opportunity for individuals to come forward and settle. I am committed to deliver the Government’s ambition to bring this matter to a close for as many customers as possible.
As outlined in the Tax Impact and Information Notice published in November 2025 about the recommendations from the independent loan charge review, there are approximately 32,000 individuals who have an outstanding loan charge liability.
HMRC began contacting customers to notify them of their eligibility for the new settlement opportunity from January 2026. When the new settlement opportunity is enacted, HMRC will contact customers again, in stages, to explain what it means for them based on their specific circumstances.
The Government’s response to the review represents a fair and proportionate attempt to provide a route to resolution for those who have not yet been able to settle with HMRC. In turn, this requires those individuals to now come forward and engage with HMRC in good faith.
Tax avoidance deprives the Exchequer of funds needed to deliver vital public services and it is right that resources are targeted to stop this. There are no plans to apply the review’s recommendations beyond those individuals and employers with outstanding liabilities that were the focus of the review.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of whether people who previously settled Loan Charge liabilities with HMRC will be offered equivalent terms to those available under the new settlement opportunity following the McCann Review.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
At Budget 2024, the Government committed to a new independent review of the loan charge. The purpose of the review was to bring the matter to a close for people who have not settled and paid their Loan Charge liabilities.
The Government has accepted all but one of the Review’s recommendations, and in some areas has gone further. The Government has introduced legislation in the Finance Act to provide for a generous new settlement offer which it hopes maximises the opportunity for individuals to come forward and settle. I am committed to deliver the Government’s ambition to bring this matter to a close for as many customers as possible.
As outlined in the Tax Impact and Information Notice published in November 2025 about the recommendations from the independent loan charge review, there are approximately 32,000 individuals who have an outstanding loan charge liability.
HMRC began contacting customers to notify them of their eligibility for the new settlement opportunity from January 2026. When the new settlement opportunity is enacted, HMRC will contact customers again, in stages, to explain what it means for them based on their specific circumstances.
The Government’s response to the review represents a fair and proportionate attempt to provide a route to resolution for those who have not yet been able to settle with HMRC. In turn, this requires those individuals to now come forward and engage with HMRC in good faith.
Tax avoidance deprives the Exchequer of funds needed to deliver vital public services and it is right that resources are targeted to stop this. There are no plans to apply the review’s recommendations beyond those individuals and employers with outstanding liabilities that were the focus of the review.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much HMRC paid in (a) withheld tax repayments and (b) rebates relating to UK Real Estate Investment Trust distributions to non-UK residents in financial years (i) 2023-24 and (ii) 2024-25; and what compliance and assurance processes apply to such repayments.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC does not routinely publish data on withheld tax repayments relating to Real Estate Investment Trust distributions, the specific figures requested are not readily available in a single dataset. Repayments are administered through a number of different systems and routes, and unfortunately collating the information required would exceed the cost threshold for responding to parliamentary questions.
We can confirm that HMRC operates compliance and assurance processes for repayments of withholding tax. These processes include checks on eligibility for relief, identification of the claimant, validation of the repayment calculation and verification that the non-UK resident is entitled to treaty benefits.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what welfare, health and family‑support provisions are available to submariners completing exceptionally long patrols.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Submariners undertake some of the most demanding duties in Defence and the Department recognises the unique demands placed upon them and their families.
A range of support measures are provided to submariners while on patrol and once they return home, including access to comprehensive medical care, pre- and post‑deployment health checks, comprehensive mental health support, alongside chaplaincy access and secure arrangements for receiving messages from family while deployed.
Families are supported through Royal Navy welfare organisations, including Royal Navy Family and People Support, which provides 24-hour support to Service personnel and their families. All arrangements remain under constant review and further information can be found at: Royal Navy Support
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the oral contribution of the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 8 April 2025 during Treasury Questions, Official Report, column 718, when the relevant Minister plans to meet the hon. Member for Sefton Central.
Answered by James Murray - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
I apologise for the delay in progressing arrangements for your meeting with the relevant minister. We have now spoken with the Department of Health and Social Care and the responsible minister’s office will be in contact to organise a meeting with you as soon as practical.Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his planned timetable is for publication of the Low Carbon Fuel Strategy.
Answered by Anthony Browne
The government will publish a Low Carbon Fuels Strategy this spring to further support investment by setting out a vision for the deployment of low carbon fuels across transport modes up to 2050.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Government’s Joint Action Plan for powered light vehicles, whether he plans to take steps to simplify the licensing regime for mopeds and motorcycles.
Answered by Guy Opperman
I chaired a motorcycle roundtable on 8 May with several key stakeholders from the motorcycle industry and we are working with them to bring together evidence to consider any future measures for licensing.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to announce a timetable for a licencing review of (a) mopeds, (b) motorcycles and (c) other powered light vehicles.
Answered by Guy Opperman
I chaired a motorcycle roundtable on 8 May with several key stakeholders from the motorcycle industry and we are working with them to bring together evidence to consider any future measures for licensing.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of simplifying the licensing regime for powered light vehicles.
Answered by Guy Opperman
I chaired a motorcycle roundtable on 8 May with several key stakeholders from the motorcycle industry and we are working with them to bring together evidence to consider any future measures for licensing.