Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential economic merits of zero rating VAT on admission tickets for children's play centres.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the vital role that children’s play centres play in supporting working families and their contribution to communities across the country. To support them and other businesses we are introducing new permanently lower business rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including soft play centres. These tax reductions are worth nearly £1 billion per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. A tax relief here would come at a cost to the Exchequer, reducing the revenue available for vital public services and would have to represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Department for Education on the effect of VAT on the affordability for families of children's play centres.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the vital role that children’s play centres play in supporting working families and their contribution to communities across the country. To support them and other businesses we are introducing new permanently lower business rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including soft play centres. These tax reductions are worth nearly £1 billion per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. A tax relief here would come at a cost to the Exchequer, reducing the revenue available for vital public services and would have to represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the cost impact on the public purse of zero rating VAT for children's play centres.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the vital role that children’s play centres play in supporting working families and their contribution to communities across the country. To support them and other businesses we are introducing new permanently lower business rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including soft play centres. These tax reductions are worth nearly £1 billion per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. A tax relief here would come at a cost to the Exchequer, reducing the revenue available for vital public services and would have to represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2026 to WPQ 120039, what the purpose was of each flight to Albania; which Ministers and senior officials approved each visit; how many officials travelled on each occasion and at what grade; what the cost was of each visit; and whether an assessment was made of whether those engagements could be (a) conducted remotely and (b) combined with other travel.

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

There was a single return flight to Albania, and this was to enable an official to attend a conference of the joint United Nations and World Health Organisation Pan European Programme for Transport, Health and the Environment. A single official at HEO grade attended and no ministers or senior officials were present. The cost of the flight was £144.96. There was no option to attend this event remotely.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether DEFRA has established whether Equal Experts, in conducting the BNG Metric Tool Discovery phase under contract C24064, accessed software products developed by private sector BNG technology companies without those companies' knowledge or consent; and whether her Department has asked this question of Equal Experts in writing.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The statutory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) metric is a Government‑owned tool and is currently only available to users in spreadsheet format. The existing tool has well‑recognised issues relating to accessibility, usability, and data integrity, which the Government's digitisation project will address. Contract C24064 is for Application Development Services and provides digital specialist support and programme delivery capability. The Discovery phase of the BNG metric digitisation project explored a wide range of user needs and potential options and does not represent a delivery commitment. Discovery reports are not routinely published but can be made available on request. Defra first became aware of written representations from private sector companies alleging procedural irregularities in the BNG metric digitisation procurement on 4 March 2026. Checks were undertaken to make sure the work is following due process. User research activities conducted during the Discovery phase were reviewed and found to be compliant with Government standards for research, and therefore further advice has not been sought. We are keen to work with private sector BNG technology providers to ensure digitisation of the BNG metric is a success.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2026 to Question 122220, what the total cost is of mobilising the new sponsorship model and team referred to in that Answer.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

There has been no additional cost to the public purse in establishing the new DFTO sponsorship model and team. The team was formed by redeploying existing staff.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking following the trial of higher parking penalty charge notices in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council in August 2025.

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

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has published a report on their month‑long trial of higher PCNs. The Department is reviewing the findings of this trial.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the level of parking penalty charge notices in deterring nuisance parking.

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

The British Parking Association, the Local Government Association and other key stakeholders have been collaborating to gather comprehensive evidence on the effectiveness of current PCN levels in England outside London. Their findings and recommendations have been submitted to the Department for Transport which will be carefully considered before any decisions are taken.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2026 to Question 123516, whether her Department plans to begin holding data on average or individual replacement battery costs for electric vehicles.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department has no plans to collect and hold the data on average or individual replacement battery costs for EVs, but will closely monitor this issue through continued engagement with industry and consumer groups.

The Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate regulations require manufacturers to provide a warranty of 8 years or 100,000 miles on EV batteries. During the warranty period, if battery capacity drops below 70% for cars or 65% for vans, the manufacturer must provide a replacement battery. Additionally, eligibility for the Government’s Electric Car Grant requires manufacturers to offer customers a 2-year extension on the warranty to 10 years, ensuring vehicles and their batteries have long useable lives.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2026 to Question 123517 on Electric Vehicles: Costs, when her Department expects to conclude its exploration of regulatory options on battery state of health information; and whether she plans to lay proposals before the House.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

On 13 April 2026, the Department launched a public consultation on updating the minimum emission standards for new road vehicles to Euro 7. As part of these proposals, manufacturers would be required to fit electric vehicles with accurate, accessible and comparable battery health monitors. The consultation will remain open until 25 May 2026.

The Government is seeking views on these proposals through that consultation. No final decisions have been taken. Should the proposals be taken forward, they would be laid before the House.