Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, (a) whether her Department monitors roads with a high number of serious traffic collisions, including fatalities; (b) whether her Department has provided guidance to local authorities on reviewing and intervening on these roads; and (c) if she will consider introducing national criteria or minimum thresholds to ensure that frequent collision hotspots are subject to regular review and remedial action.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Department does not directly monitor individual roads for collision risk. Instead, it collects national reported road traffic collision statistics, while local highway authorities are responsible for analysing collisions on their own networks and taking appropriate action.

A range of guidance has been published to support local highway authorities in reviewing and improving safety on their road networks. This includes Setting Local Speed Limits, which supports decisions on appropriate speeds, and Manual for Streets, which provides guidance on the design of streets to improve safety for all road users. Through the recently published Road Safety Strategy, the Department has committed to updating relevant guidance.

There are no current plans to introduce national criteria or minimum thresholds for the review of collision hotspots. Decisions about reviewing and intervening on specific roads are matters for local highway authorities, which are best placed to consider local circumstances. The Department will continue to support local authorities through guidance.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Making Tax Digital reforms on childminders who (a) employ assistants and (b) operate from their own homes and have fixed property‑related costs, including the proposed removal of the 10 per cent wear‑and‑tear allowance for those with qualifying income above £50,000.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Childminders make a significant contribution to children’s development, learning, and wellbeing. The Government has eased rules on working from schools and community centres and increased early years funding rates above 2023 average fees. These increases reflect increased costs, and from April 2026, local authorities must pass at least 97 per cent of funding to providers.

Only a small proportion of childminders with qualifying income over £50,000 have been mandated into Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax from April 2026. Childminders moving to MTD for income tax can continue to claim tax relief for household costs, wear and tear of household items and furniture, and food and drink, by deducting actual business costs. This ensures childminders receive tax relief for all of the costs that they incur in relation to their childminding business. The Government has recently published updated guidance for childminders to help them claim relief for these costs.

The Government will monitor the impact of MTD for income tax on childminders and other home-based childcare providers in the same way as it will for all sole traders moving to MTD for income tax. We will also review the impacts of moving from the 10% deduction to actual costs for wear and tear claims.

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 is taking steps to make private landlords responsible for tackling anti-social behaviour caused by their tenants, particularly where it impacts neighbouring residents.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.

We will crack down on those making neighbourhoods feel unsafe and unwelcoming by introducing the new Respect Order, which local authorities will be able to apply for, and which will carry tough sanctions and penalties for persistent adult offenders.

The police, local authorities and social landlords may already apply for a Civil Injunction under Section 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to prevent behaviour that is causing housing-related nuisance and annoyance.

Landlords have powers to regain possession where necessary. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 shortened the notice period for the existing mandatory eviction ground (7A). Landlords can make a claim to the court immediately in all cases of anti-social behaviour. The Act also ensures judges in possession cases have particular regard to whether tenants have engaged with efforts to resolve their behaviour and the impact on other tenants within HMOs.

Under selective and HMO licensing, local authorities can also use licence conditions to require landlords to take steps to manage and deal with ASB caused by their tenants.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of regulations for making private landlords accountable for anti-social behaviour caused by their tenants; and whether he plans to introduce measures comparable to those applied to social landlords.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.

We will crack down on those making neighbourhoods feel unsafe and unwelcoming by introducing the new Respect Order, which local authorities will be able to apply for, and which will carry tough sanctions and penalties for persistent adult offenders.

The police, local authorities and social landlords may already apply for a Civil Injunction under Section 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to prevent behaviour that is causing housing-related nuisance and annoyance.

Landlords have powers to regain possession where necessary. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 shortened the notice period for the existing mandatory eviction ground (7A). Landlords can make a claim to the court immediately in all cases of anti-social behaviour. The Act also ensures judges in possession cases have particular regard to whether tenants have engaged with efforts to resolve their behaviour and the impact on other tenants within HMOs.

Under selective and HMO licensing, local authorities can also use licence conditions to require landlords to take steps to manage and deal with ASB caused by their tenants.

Jonathan Frisher

VAT for UK hospitality

Hillsborough Law