Asked by: David Taylor (Labour - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will estimate the number of vehicles under the jurisdiction of his Department coming to their end of life; and if he will make an assessment with the Secretary of State for Defence of the potential merits of making those vehicles available to the Ukrainian military.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Environment Agency, through its strategic asset management programme, would be selling 193 commercial vehicle assets before the end of the current financial year.
The granting of weapons and equipment to Ukraine is made in response to official requests made by the Ukrainian Government.
We continue to liaise closely with Ukraine to deliver the capabilities they require to resist Russian aggression.
The UK has provided over 240 armoured and protected mobility vehicles, alongside hundreds of support vehicles to Ukraine this year.
The UK and partners will continue to ensure we equip Ukraine as best we can to defend its sovereign territory and ensure it is in a position of strength for any peace negotiations. This Government has stepped up support for Ukraine, with a record £4.5 billion of support this year alone. The Prime Minister has committed to £3 billion a year of military support for Ukraine for as long as needed.
Asked by: David Taylor (Labour - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of vehicles under the jurisdiction of her Department coming to their end of life; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making those vehicles available to the Ukrainian military.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 11 June to Question 56574.
Asked by: David Taylor (Labour - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he he has made of the potential merits of establishing a bilateral security agreement with Kosovo as an additional mechanism for the KFOR mission.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Kosovo Force (KFOR) plays a vital part in maintaining a safe and secure environment in Kosovo, with a significant UK contribution including provision of the bulk of KFOR's Strategic Reserve Force which deployed to help manage down tensions in 2023. The UK provides a substantial package of bilateral security support to Kosovo through defence education, training, and advice under a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding. In Kosovo in April, the Foreign Secretary discussed with Kosovo's President Osmani the potential for enhancing the UK-Kosovo bilateral relationship, including through defence and security cooperation. We will take forward further discussions once a new Kosovan government is in place.
Asked by: David Taylor (Labour - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support young people into work in Hertfordshire.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I thank the honourable Gentlemen for his question. Mr Speaker, as well as building our new Jobs and Careers service, which will help young people in Hertfordshire have access to better opportunities, DWP have now signed a Grant Funding Agreement of up to £19.7 million with Hertfordshire County Council for the delivery of their local Connect to Work programme, which will open for participants - including young people - at the beginning of July.
Asked by: David Taylor (Labour - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of transferring surplus warrior infantry fighting vehicles (a) awaiting disposal or (b) due to be decommissioned by 2030 to Ukraine.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) are key platforms for the British Army to meet Defence Commitments.
Although small numbers are scheduled for disposal, these will have been selected in line with serviceability and suitability for role. As such, without substantial investment, they are not likely to offer significant capability to Ukraine and providing such small numbers would only increase the diversity of Ukraine’s armoured vehicle fleet – increasing their logistic and training burdens.
The UK will continue to work with Ukraine to identify how best to help them to resist Russian aggression.
Asked by: David Taylor (Labour - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the number of vehicles owned by his Department coming to their end of life; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making those vehicles available to the Ukrainian military.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Energy and Net Zero does not own any vehicles.
Asked by: David Taylor (Labour - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the number of vehicles under the jurisdiction of her Department coming to their end of life; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making those vehicles available to the Ukrainian military.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has not made a specific estimate of the number of vehicles under its jurisdiction that are approaching the end of their operational life. It is also important to note that a proportion of vehicles are leased rather than owned outright, and therefore would not be available for disposal by the Department.
Decisions regarding the disposal or repurposing of vehicles are made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account operational requirements, value for money, and relevant legal and security considerations. At present, there are no plans to assess the potential merits of making such vehicles available to the Ukrainian military. Any such decision would need to be considered in the context of broader cross-government policy on defence support and international assistance.
Asked by: David Taylor (Labour - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure that Lukoil is not able to avoid UK sanctions.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We cannot comment on future designations. The UK has targeted Russian oil and those who produce it, by banning its import, implementing the Oil Price Cap, sanctioning two Russian oil majors, and specifying 251 shadow fleet oil tankers. Ships sanctioned by the UK in 2024 collectively carried $1.6 billion less year-on-year in Russian oil and oil products in Q1 2025.
We have also targeted those enabling Russia's illicit oil trade. These include a British national involved in procuring vessels for Russia's shadow fleet on behalf of Lukoil and networks established to enable the trade of Russian oil via the shadow fleet.
Asked by: David Taylor (Labour - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the difference between travel concessions for (a) Metropolitan Police Officers and (b) NHS staff working in Central London; and whether she plans to introduce similar subsidised travel schemes for essential medical staff using National Rail services.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy will require balancing against the potential impacts on passengers, taxpayers and the railway.
There are no current plans to review concessions in advance of the transition to Great British Railways, but it will have the opportunity to take a fresh look at the justification of the eligibility and restrictions of concessionary schemes.
Asked by: David Taylor (Labour - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the level of regularity of bus services in Hemel Hempstead constituency on the ability of residents to commute to work.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government knows that a modern public transport network is vital to keeping communities connected, and ensuring people can commute to work. The government believes that local transport authorities, working with bus operators, are best placed to determine and design local bus networks in their area. The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England.
In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country, of which Hertfordshire County Council has been allocated £12.2 million. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce improvements to bus services to best meet the needs of passengers in their local area, including increasing the frequency of bus services.