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 real-terms reductions in core funding on the delivery of statutory services by Buckinghamshire Council.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has been listening closely to the views expressed by the public, local authorities and other bodies on the proposals set out in the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation. No final decisions on the outcome of the review have yet been taken.

The vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement. We will publish further information in the government’s consultation response in Autumn, followed by the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to introduce an independent complaints system for the BBC.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The principle of BBC First - where the BBC has the opportunity to try and resolve complaints about its content before consideration by Ofcom - was formalised by the current Charter. If a complainant is not satisfied by the BBC’s initial response to their complaint, they have the option to escalate it for consideration by the independent regulator, Ofcom.

The public expects and deserves the highest editorial standards from the BBC. The Secretary of State has been consistently clear that where these standards are not met, firm and transparent action must follow.

The forthcoming Charter Review will look at how the BBC can remain independent and accountable to the public it serves and continue to provide trusted and truthful news to combat an era of growing disinformation.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, published in October 2025, what assessment she has made of that report's recommendations on motor insurance tax.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

We have established a cross-government motor insurance taskforce with a strategic remit to set the direction for UK government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing car insurance premiums. The taskforce's final report will be published in the autumn.

Insurance pricing is a decision which is affected by a wide range of factors, and the taxes that insurers pay are just one part of this. There is no guarantee that any reductions in Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) would be passed on to policy holders.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, published in October 2025, what assessment she has made of that report's recommendations on fuel duty.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced continued support for people and businesses by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut and cancelling the planned increase in line with inflation for 2025/26. The temporary 5p cut is scheduled to expire in March 2026. The Government considers representations from a wide variety of stakeholders, with decisions on rates made at fiscal events.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, published in October 2025, what assessment he has made of that report's recommendations on the official Private parking code of practice.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector and welcomes the support and views of the RAC, along with other motoring groups and parking industry representatives.

In accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the government is preparing a code of practice that provides guidance on the operation and management of private parking facilities.

The government has recently consulted on its proposals for the code and will respond in due course.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to ensure that funding for newly licensed medicines results in improved patient outcomes.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology works closely with the Department of Health and Social Care to implement the Life Sciences Sector Plan, which seeks to improve patient outcomes by driving health innovation in England.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the NHS on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded based on an assessment of clinical and cost-effectiveness. This process ensures that new licensed medicines will only be routinely funded by the NHS where evidence demonstrates that their costs are justified by the benefits that they bring for NHS patients.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, published in October 2025, what assessment she has made of that report's recommendations on ghost number plates.

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

The Department has noted the recent publication of the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, and is considering the recommendations.

Improving road safety is one of my Department’s highest priorities. This Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. Our Road Safety Strategy is under development and will include a broad range of policies. We intend to publish by the end of the year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, published in October 2025, what assessment she has made of that report's recommendations on excessive speeding.

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

The Department has noted the recent publication of the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, and is considering the recommendations.

Improving road safety is one of my Department’s highest priorities. This Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. Our Road Safety Strategy is under development and will include a broad range of policies. We intend to publish by the end of the year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, published in October 2025, what assessment she has made of that report's recommendations on yellow box junction enforcement by local authorities.

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

The Department will make an assessment on the report’s recommendations in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, published in October 2025, what assessment she has made of that report's recommendations on an alcohol interlocks trial.

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

The Department has noted the recent publication of the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, and is considering the recommendations.

Improving road safety is one of my Department’s highest priorities. This Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. Our Road Safety Strategy is under development and will include a broad range of policies. We intend to publish by the end of the year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, published in October 2025, what assessment she has made that report's recommendations on road safety.

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

The Department has noted the recent publication of the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, and is considering the recommendations.

Improving road safety is one of my Department’s highest priorities. This Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. Our Road Safety Strategy is under development and will include a broad range of policies. We intend to publish by the end of the year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, published in October 2025, what assessment she has made of that report's recommendations on General Safety Regulation 2.

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

The Department has noted the recent publication of the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, and is considering the recommendations.

Improving road safety is one of my Department’s highest priorities. This Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. Our Road Safety Strategy is under development and will include a broad range of policies. We intend to publish by the end of the year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, published in October 2025, what assessment she has made of that report's recommendations on vehicle cloning.

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

The Department has noted the recent publication of the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, and is considering the recommendations.

Improving road safety is one of my Department’s highest priorities. This Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. Our Road Safety Strategy is under development and will include a broad range of policies. We intend to publish by the end of the year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, published in October 2025, what assessment she has made of that report's recommendations on headlight glare.

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

The Department has noted the recent publication of the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, and is considering the recommendations.

Improving road safety is one of my Department’s highest priorities. This Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. Our Road Safety Strategy is under development and will include a broad range of policies. We intend to publish by the end of the year.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her US counterpart on reports of BBC Panorama editing President Trump's speech.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 17 November to Question 89121, which sets out the Government's position on this matter.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, published in October 2025, what assessment she has made of that report's recommendations on requiring local authorities to allow at least two different payment methods for parking.

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

The Department for Transport have noted the recent publication of the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, including its recommendation on payment methods for parking, and is considering its recommendations.