Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what methodology was used to calculate the 4% impairment fee applied under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The impairment provision is based on the bad debt experience of Defra with charging schemes that are most similar to pEPR, whilst taking into consideration the large values of some of our Notice of Liabilities.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made of an assessment of the extent to which the 4% impairment fee has contributed to (a) financial strain and (b) non-payment among obligated producers.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Incorporating impairment provisions for bad debt in a cost recovery scheme is an expected consideration of Government, as detailed in Managing Public Money guidelines, and is common practice when setting fees. Whilst Notice of Liabilities issued under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme are due for payment after 50 calendar days, liable producers have the facility to pay in quarterly instalments. These impairment provisions can only be used for specific purposes and will be subject to regular scrutiny and review. To minimise impairment and provide transparency, PackUK intends to collect debt rigorously but fairly and will review the impairment provision at least quarterly. Where the impairment provision isn’t fully utilised liable producers will be given a refund.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has held with industry since Extended Producer Responsibility invoices were issued to assess the impact of the 4% impairment fee on business cashflow and profitability.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra holds regular conversations with industry regarding all aspects of the pEPR scheme, including the impairment provision within notices of liability. Incorporating impairment provisions for bad debt in a cost recovery scheme is an expected consideration of Government as detailed in Managing Public Money guidelines and is common practice when setting fees. Whilst Notice of Liabilities issued under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme are due for payment after 50 calendar days, liable producers have the facility to pay in quarterly instalments. These impairment provisions can only be used for specific purposes and will be subject to regular scrutiny and review. Where the impairment provision isn’t fully utilised liable producers will be given a refund.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
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.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
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.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
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.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
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.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
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.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
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.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
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.