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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, what plans his Department has to engage with the public in Basildon Borough Council’s area regarding any potential cancellation of the May 2026 local election.

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

On 18 December 2025 I invited Basildon Borough Council, Essex County Council and Thurrock Council and other councils undergoing local government reorganisation to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation. We have been transparent about this process and will consider all the representations we receive, including any from members of the public. The deadline for responses is 15 January and after this the Secretary of State will decide whether to make an Order to change the year of council elections and the House will be updated.

Minister Fahnbulleh also announced on 5 December 2025 that we are minded to hold the inaugural mayoral elections in Greater Essex in May 2028 so that the reorganisation process is complete before a Mayor is elected for Greater Essex. This is because I believe devolution works best when it is built on strong foundations so, moving forward, we want to aim for strong unitary structures being in place before areas access mayoral devolution. To ensure the benefits of devolution are not delayed, we will still establish the Greater Essex Mayoral Strategic Authority and lay the necessary statutory instrument to do so as soon as possible in 2026, subject to council consent. My colleague Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, the Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities, spoke to leaders in Greater Essex following the announcement of funding and next steps for the devolution agreements that are being developed through the Devolution Priority Programme. The Department has continued to engage closely with them since the announcement, jointly discussing the benefits devolution will bring to these areas.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, what plans his Department has to engage with the public in Thurrock regarding any potential cancellation of the May 2026 local election.

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

On 18 December 2025 I invited Basildon Borough Council, Essex County Council and Thurrock Council and other councils undergoing local government reorganisation to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation. We have been transparent about this process and will consider all the representations we receive, including any from members of the public. The deadline for responses is 15 January and after this the Secretary of State will decide whether to make an Order to change the year of council elections and the House will be updated.

Minister Fahnbulleh also announced on 5 December 2025 that we are minded to hold the inaugural mayoral elections in Greater Essex in May 2028 so that the reorganisation process is complete before a Mayor is elected for Greater Essex. This is because I believe devolution works best when it is built on strong foundations so, moving forward, we want to aim for strong unitary structures being in place before areas access mayoral devolution. To ensure the benefits of devolution are not delayed, we will still establish the Greater Essex Mayoral Strategic Authority and lay the necessary statutory instrument to do so as soon as possible in 2026, subject to council consent. My colleague Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, the Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities, spoke to leaders in Greater Essex following the announcement of funding and next steps for the devolution agreements that are being developed through the Devolution Priority Programme. The Department has continued to engage closely with them since the announcement, jointly discussing the benefits devolution will bring to these areas.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, what communications he has received from Thurrock Council regarding the cancellation of the May 2026 (a) local elections and (b) mayoral election.

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

On 18 December 2025 I invited Basildon Borough Council, Essex County Council and Thurrock Council and other councils undergoing local government reorganisation to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation. We have been transparent about this process and will consider all the representations we receive, including any from members of the public. The deadline for responses is 15 January and after this the Secretary of State will decide whether to make an Order to change the year of council elections and the House will be updated.

Minister Fahnbulleh also announced on 5 December 2025 that we are minded to hold the inaugural mayoral elections in Greater Essex in May 2028 so that the reorganisation process is complete before a Mayor is elected for Greater Essex. This is because I believe devolution works best when it is built on strong foundations so, moving forward, we want to aim for strong unitary structures being in place before areas access mayoral devolution. To ensure the benefits of devolution are not delayed, we will still establish the Greater Essex Mayoral Strategic Authority and lay the necessary statutory instrument to do so as soon as possible in 2026, subject to council consent. My colleague Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, the Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities, spoke to leaders in Greater Essex following the announcement of funding and next steps for the devolution agreements that are being developed through the Devolution Priority Programme. The Department has continued to engage closely with them since the announcement, jointly discussing the benefits devolution will bring to these areas.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, what communications he has received from Essex County Council regarding the cancellation of the May 2026 (a) local elections and (b) mayoral election.

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

On 18 December 2025 I invited Basildon Borough Council, Essex County Council and Thurrock Council and other councils undergoing local government reorganisation to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation. We have been transparent about this process and will consider all the representations we receive, including any from members of the public. The deadline for responses is 15 January and after this the Secretary of State will decide whether to make an Order to change the year of council elections and the House will be updated.

Minister Fahnbulleh also announced on 5 December 2025 that we are minded to hold the inaugural mayoral elections in Greater Essex in May 2028 so that the reorganisation process is complete before a Mayor is elected for Greater Essex. This is because I believe devolution works best when it is built on strong foundations so, moving forward, we want to aim for strong unitary structures being in place before areas access mayoral devolution. To ensure the benefits of devolution are not delayed, we will still establish the Greater Essex Mayoral Strategic Authority and lay the necessary statutory instrument to do so as soon as possible in 2026, subject to council consent. My colleague Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, the Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities, spoke to leaders in Greater Essex following the announcement of funding and next steps for the devolution agreements that are being developed through the Devolution Priority Programme. The Department has continued to engage closely with them since the announcement, jointly discussing the benefits devolution will bring to these areas.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, what communications he has received from Basildon Council regarding the cancellation of the May 2026 (a) local elections and (b) mayoral election.

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

On 18 December 2025 I invited Basildon Borough Council, Essex County Council and Thurrock Council and other councils undergoing local government reorganisation to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation. We have been transparent about this process and will consider all the representations we receive, including any from members of the public. The deadline for responses is 15 January and after this the Secretary of State will decide whether to make an Order to change the year of council elections and the House will be updated.

Minister Fahnbulleh also announced on 5 December 2025 that we are minded to hold the inaugural mayoral elections in Greater Essex in May 2028 so that the reorganisation process is complete before a Mayor is elected for Greater Essex. This is because I believe devolution works best when it is built on strong foundations so, moving forward, we want to aim for strong unitary structures being in place before areas access mayoral devolution. To ensure the benefits of devolution are not delayed, we will still establish the Greater Essex Mayoral Strategic Authority and lay the necessary statutory instrument to do so as soon as possible in 2026, subject to council consent. My colleague Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, the Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities, spoke to leaders in Greater Essex following the announcement of funding and next steps for the devolution agreements that are being developed through the Devolution Priority Programme. The Department has continued to engage closely with them since the announcement, jointly discussing the benefits devolution will bring to these areas.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has received requests from councils in Essex requesting compensation for preparations made for the 2026 Mayoral Election for Greater Essex.

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

I spoke to leaders in Greater Essex following the announcement of funding and next steps for the devolution agreements that are being developed through the Devolution Priority Programme. The Department has continued to engage closely with them since the announcement, jointly discussing the benefits devolution will bring to these areas.

As the Government confirmed to Parliament on 4 December, we remain committed to the long-term funding offer to all DPP areas, providing £1 million mayoral capacity funding for all areas for financial year 25/26, and a minimum of £3million over the following three financial years, subject to the establishment of the Mayoral Strategic Authorities. Government will also provide each area with a proportion of their investment funds to ensure they can start delivering on key local priorities and deliver the benefits of devolution on the ground, ahead of the mayors taking office.

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 his Department's press release entitled £78bn for councils in turning point settlement to cut deprivation, published on 17 December 2025, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that councils spend allocated money to benefit all residents.

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

The government is making good on long overdue promises to fundamentally update the way we fund local authorities, realigning funding with need and deprivation through the first multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement in a decade. We are introducing a fairer and evidence-based funding system, which will account for local circumstances, including different ability to raise income locally from council tax and the variation in cost of delivering services. Further information on how funding allocations have been calculated is available in the government’s response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0 and the provisional Settlement 2025-26 to 2028-29.

Local authorities are responsible for their own borrowing and investment decisions but must operate within a legislative and guidance framework designed to ensure that borrowing is prudent, affordable and sustainable. The government is responsible for that framework and monitors sector behaviour using information and data from a range of sources, including levels of borrowing and debt. To support compliance with the framework and to protect public money, the government is taking forward work to operationalise the new capital powers introduced by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, which provide for targeted intervention where councils take on excessive risk through borrowing and investment activity.

On handling Thurrock’s debt, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77936 on 13 October 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether public petitions for elections to proceed in Basildon and Thurrock will factor into his decision on whether to cancel elections.

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

The Secretary of State will consider all representations received, including any public petitions, before making a decision on whether to postpone elections. He will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. No decisions have been made at this stage.

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 his Department's press release entitled £78bn for councils in turning point settlement to cut deprivation, published on 17 December 2025, what steps he is taking to ensure that councils are incentivised to pay off debts and ensure long-term financial stability.

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

The government is making good on long overdue promises to fundamentally update the way we fund local authorities, realigning funding with need and deprivation through the first multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement in a decade. We are introducing a fairer and evidence-based funding system, which will account for local circumstances, including different ability to raise income locally from council tax and the variation in cost of delivering services. Further information on how funding allocations have been calculated is available in the government’s response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0 and the provisional Settlement 2025-26 to 2028-29.

Local authorities are responsible for their own borrowing and investment decisions but must operate within a legislative and guidance framework designed to ensure that borrowing is prudent, affordable and sustainable. The government is responsible for that framework and monitors sector behaviour using information and data from a range of sources, including levels of borrowing and debt. To support compliance with the framework and to protect public money, the government is taking forward work to operationalise the new capital powers introduced by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, which provide for targeted intervention where councils take on excessive risk through borrowing and investment activity.

On handling Thurrock’s debt, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77936 on 13 October 2025.

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 his Department's press release entitled £78bn for councils in turning point settlement to cut deprivation, published on 17 December 2025, whether any of the £78 billion will be used to clear Essex County Council’s debts.

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

The government is making good on long overdue promises to fundamentally update the way we fund local authorities, realigning funding with need and deprivation through the first multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement in a decade. We are introducing a fairer and evidence-based funding system, which will account for local circumstances, including different ability to raise income locally from council tax and the variation in cost of delivering services. Further information on how funding allocations have been calculated is available in the government’s response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0 and the provisional Settlement 2025-26 to 2028-29.

Local authorities are responsible for their own borrowing and investment decisions but must operate within a legislative and guidance framework designed to ensure that borrowing is prudent, affordable and sustainable. The government is responsible for that framework and monitors sector behaviour using information and data from a range of sources, including levels of borrowing and debt. To support compliance with the framework and to protect public money, the government is taking forward work to operationalise the new capital powers introduced by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, which provide for targeted intervention where councils take on excessive risk through borrowing and investment activity.

On handling Thurrock’s debt, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77936 on 13 October 2025.

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 his Department's press release entitled £78bn for councils in turning point settlement to cut deprivation, published on 17 December 2025, whether any of the £78 billion will be used to clear Thurrock Council’s debts.

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

The government is making good on long overdue promises to fundamentally update the way we fund local authorities, realigning funding with need and deprivation through the first multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement in a decade. We are introducing a fairer and evidence-based funding system, which will account for local circumstances, including different ability to raise income locally from council tax and the variation in cost of delivering services. Further information on how funding allocations have been calculated is available in the government’s response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0 and the provisional Settlement 2025-26 to 2028-29.

Local authorities are responsible for their own borrowing and investment decisions but must operate within a legislative and guidance framework designed to ensure that borrowing is prudent, affordable and sustainable. The government is responsible for that framework and monitors sector behaviour using information and data from a range of sources, including levels of borrowing and debt. To support compliance with the framework and to protect public money, the government is taking forward work to operationalise the new capital powers introduced by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, which provide for targeted intervention where councils take on excessive risk through borrowing and investment activity.

On handling Thurrock’s debt, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77936 on 13 October 2025.

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 his Department's press release entitled £78bn for councils in turning point settlement to cut deprivation, published on 17 December 2025, what metrics his Department used to determine areas in greatest need.

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

The government is making good on long overdue promises to fundamentally update the way we fund local authorities, realigning funding with need and deprivation through the first multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement in a decade. We are introducing a fairer and evidence-based funding system, which will account for local circumstances, including different ability to raise income locally from council tax and the variation in cost of delivering services. Further information on how funding allocations have been calculated is available in the government’s response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0 and the provisional Settlement 2025-26 to 2028-29.

Local authorities are responsible for their own borrowing and investment decisions but must operate within a legislative and guidance framework designed to ensure that borrowing is prudent, affordable and sustainable. The government is responsible for that framework and monitors sector behaviour using information and data from a range of sources, including levels of borrowing and debt. To support compliance with the framework and to protect public money, the government is taking forward work to operationalise the new capital powers introduced by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, which provide for targeted intervention where councils take on excessive risk through borrowing and investment activity.

On handling Thurrock’s debt, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77936 on 13 October 2025.

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 his Department's press release entitled £78bn for councils in turning point settlement to cut deprivation, published on 17 December 2025, whether any councils are receiving reduced funding due to fiscal discipline.

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

The government is making good on long overdue promises to fundamentally update the way we fund local authorities, realigning funding with need and deprivation through the first multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement in a decade. We are introducing a fairer and evidence-based funding system, which will account for local circumstances, including different ability to raise income locally from council tax and the variation in cost of delivering services. Further information on how funding allocations have been calculated is available in the government’s response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0 and the provisional Settlement 2025-26 to 2028-29.

Local authorities are responsible for their own borrowing and investment decisions but must operate within a legislative and guidance framework designed to ensure that borrowing is prudent, affordable and sustainable. The government is responsible for that framework and monitors sector behaviour using information and data from a range of sources, including levels of borrowing and debt. To support compliance with the framework and to protect public money, the government is taking forward work to operationalise the new capital powers introduced by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, which provide for targeted intervention where councils take on excessive risk through borrowing and investment activity.

On handling Thurrock’s debt, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77936 on 13 October 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, what plans his Department has to engage with the public in Thurrock Council’s area regarding any potential cancellation of the May 2026 local election.

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

On 18 December 2025 I invited Basildon Borough Council, Essex County Council and Thurrock Council and other councils undergoing local government reorganisation to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation. We have been transparent about this process and will consider all the representations we receive, including any from members of the public. The deadline for responses is 15 January and after this the Secretary of State will decide whether to make an Order to change the year of council elections and the House will be updated.

Minister Fahnbulleh also announced on 5 December 2025 that we are minded to hold the inaugural mayoral elections in Greater Essex in May 2028 so that the reorganisation process is complete before a Mayor is elected for Greater Essex. This is because I believe devolution works best when it is built on strong foundations so, moving forward, we want to aim for strong unitary structures being in place before areas access mayoral devolution. To ensure the benefits of devolution are not delayed, we will still establish the Greater Essex Mayoral Strategic Authority and lay the necessary statutory instrument to do so as soon as possible in 2026, subject to council consent. My colleague Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, the Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities, spoke to leaders in Greater Essex following the announcement of funding and next steps for the devolution agreements that are being developed through the Devolution Priority Programme. The Department has continued to engage closely with them since the announcement, jointly discussing the benefits devolution will bring to these areas.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received from Castle Point Council regarding the preferred restructuring of Essex councils.

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

Basildon Borough Council, Castle Point Council, Essex County Council, Rochford Council, Southend-on-Sea Council and Thurrock Council, together with 9 other councils in Essex, submitted four proposals for unitary local government in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.

Southend-on-Sea City Council, Chelmsford City Council, Basildon Borough Council, Brentwood Borough Council, Castle Point Borough Council, Colchester City Council, Harlow District Council, Maldon District Council, Tendring District Council and Uttlesford District Council proposed 5 unitary councils.

Essex County Council, Braintree District Council and Epping Forest District Council proposed 3 unitary councils.

Rochford District Council proposed 4 unitary councils.

Thurrock Council proposed a different 4 unitary councils.

The 15 principal councils collectively wrote to the department to state that whilst there was no consensus on one proposal, there was collective agreement that regardless of the final decision, all partners are committed to working together to ensure that whichever model is selected is delivered in the best possible way.

The 15 principal councils in the area were invited to respond to the statutory consultation on the four proposals, which closed on 11 January. The House will be updated in due course on the outcome of the consultation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received from Rochford Council regarding the preferred restructuring of Essex councils.

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

Basildon Borough Council, Castle Point Council, Essex County Council, Rochford Council, Southend-on-Sea Council and Thurrock Council, together with 9 other councils in Essex, submitted four proposals for unitary local government in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.

Southend-on-Sea City Council, Chelmsford City Council, Basildon Borough Council, Brentwood Borough Council, Castle Point Borough Council, Colchester City Council, Harlow District Council, Maldon District Council, Tendring District Council and Uttlesford District Council proposed 5 unitary councils.

Essex County Council, Braintree District Council and Epping Forest District Council proposed 3 unitary councils.

Rochford District Council proposed 4 unitary councils.

Thurrock Council proposed a different 4 unitary councils.

The 15 principal councils collectively wrote to the department to state that whilst there was no consensus on one proposal, there was collective agreement that regardless of the final decision, all partners are committed to working together to ensure that whichever model is selected is delivered in the best possible way.

The 15 principal councils in the area were invited to respond to the statutory consultation on the four proposals, which closed on 11 January. The House will be updated in due course on the outcome of the consultation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received from Southend Council regarding the preferred restructuring of Essex councils.

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

Basildon Borough Council, Castle Point Council, Essex County Council, Rochford Council, Southend-on-Sea Council and Thurrock Council, together with 9 other councils in Essex, submitted four proposals for unitary local government in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.

Southend-on-Sea City Council, Chelmsford City Council, Basildon Borough Council, Brentwood Borough Council, Castle Point Borough Council, Colchester City Council, Harlow District Council, Maldon District Council, Tendring District Council and Uttlesford District Council proposed 5 unitary councils.

Essex County Council, Braintree District Council and Epping Forest District Council proposed 3 unitary councils.

Rochford District Council proposed 4 unitary councils.

Thurrock Council proposed a different 4 unitary councils.

The 15 principal councils collectively wrote to the department to state that whilst there was no consensus on one proposal, there was collective agreement that regardless of the final decision, all partners are committed to working together to ensure that whichever model is selected is delivered in the best possible way.

The 15 principal councils in the area were invited to respond to the statutory consultation on the four proposals, which closed on 11 January. The House will be updated in due course on the outcome of the consultation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received from Essex County Council regarding the preferred restructuring of Essex councils.

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

Basildon Borough Council, Castle Point Council, Essex County Council, Rochford Council, Southend-on-Sea Council and Thurrock Council, together with 9 other councils in Essex, submitted four proposals for unitary local government in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.

Southend-on-Sea City Council, Chelmsford City Council, Basildon Borough Council, Brentwood Borough Council, Castle Point Borough Council, Colchester City Council, Harlow District Council, Maldon District Council, Tendring District Council and Uttlesford District Council proposed 5 unitary councils.

Essex County Council, Braintree District Council and Epping Forest District Council proposed 3 unitary councils.

Rochford District Council proposed 4 unitary councils.

Thurrock Council proposed a different 4 unitary councils.

The 15 principal councils collectively wrote to the department to state that whilst there was no consensus on one proposal, there was collective agreement that regardless of the final decision, all partners are committed to working together to ensure that whichever model is selected is delivered in the best possible way.

The 15 principal councils in the area were invited to respond to the statutory consultation on the four proposals, which closed on 11 January. The House will be updated in due course on the outcome of the consultation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received from Basildon Council regarding the preferred restructuring of Essex councils.

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

Basildon Borough Council, Castle Point Council, Essex County Council, Rochford Council, Southend-on-Sea Council and Thurrock Council, together with 9 other councils in Essex, submitted four proposals for unitary local government in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.

Southend-on-Sea City Council, Chelmsford City Council, Basildon Borough Council, Brentwood Borough Council, Castle Point Borough Council, Colchester City Council, Harlow District Council, Maldon District Council, Tendring District Council and Uttlesford District Council proposed 5 unitary councils.

Essex County Council, Braintree District Council and Epping Forest District Council proposed 3 unitary councils.

Rochford District Council proposed 4 unitary councils.

Thurrock Council proposed a different 4 unitary councils.

The 15 principal councils collectively wrote to the department to state that whilst there was no consensus on one proposal, there was collective agreement that regardless of the final decision, all partners are committed to working together to ensure that whichever model is selected is delivered in the best possible way.

The 15 principal councils in the area were invited to respond to the statutory consultation on the four proposals, which closed on 11 January. The House will be updated in due course on the outcome of the consultation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received from Thurrock Council regarding the preferred restructuring of Essex councils.

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

Basildon Borough Council, Castle Point Council, Essex County Council, Rochford Council, Southend-on-Sea Council and Thurrock Council, together with 9 other councils in Essex, submitted four proposals for unitary local government in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.

Southend-on-Sea City Council, Chelmsford City Council, Basildon Borough Council, Brentwood Borough Council, Castle Point Borough Council, Colchester City Council, Harlow District Council, Maldon District Council, Tendring District Council and Uttlesford District Council proposed 5 unitary councils.

Essex County Council, Braintree District Council and Epping Forest District Council proposed 3 unitary councils.

Rochford District Council proposed 4 unitary councils.

Thurrock Council proposed a different 4 unitary councils.

The 15 principal councils collectively wrote to the department to state that whilst there was no consensus on one proposal, there was collective agreement that regardless of the final decision, all partners are committed to working together to ensure that whichever model is selected is delivered in the best possible way.

The 15 principal councils in the area were invited to respond to the statutory consultation on the four proposals, which closed on 11 January. The House will be updated in due course on the outcome of the consultation.

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 letter from the Minister for Local Government and Homelessness to Leaders of councils with elections in May 2026 where proposals for reorganisation have been submitted and decisions not yet taken, dated 18 December 2025, whether he consulted the Electoral Commission before his Department wrote to council leaders asking if they wanted their elections in May 2026 to be cancelled.

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

On 18 December councils undergoing local government reorganisation were invited to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

As is standard for decisions of this nature, the Secretary of State had discussions with relevant colleagues in Government.

We will consider all the representations we receive, including any from the Electoral Commission.

Nine local elections in 2025 were postponed and the rationale for that decision has been set out to the House, including in the Explanatory Memorandum that accompanies the Order that changed the year of elections.

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 his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, what discussions he has had with special advisers on the cancellation of local elections.

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

On 18 December councils undergoing local government reorganisation were invited to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

As is standard for decisions of this nature, the Secretary of State had discussions with relevant colleagues in Government.

We will consider all the representations we receive, including any from the Electoral Commission.

Nine local elections in 2025 were postponed and the rationale for that decision has been set out to the House, including in the Explanatory Memorandum that accompanies the Order that changed the year of elections.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, whether any discussions were had by his Department prior to the cancellation of the 2025 local elections on cancelling the 2026 local elections as well.

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

On 18 December councils undergoing local government reorganisation were invited to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

As is standard for decisions of this nature, the Secretary of State had discussions with relevant colleagues in Government.

We will consider all the representations we receive, including any from the Electoral Commission.

Nine local elections in 2025 were postponed and the rationale for that decision has been set out to the House, including in the Explanatory Memorandum that accompanies the Order that changed the year of elections.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, at what time and date did he make the decision to ask local councils if they wanted to cancel their 2026 local elections.

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

On 18 December councils undergoing local government reorganisation were invited to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

As is standard for decisions of this nature, the Secretary of State had discussions with relevant colleagues in Government.

We will consider all the representations we receive, including any from the Electoral Commission.

Nine local elections in 2025 were postponed and the rationale for that decision has been set out to the House, including in the Explanatory Memorandum that accompanies the Order that changed the year of elections.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues regarding cancelling 2026’s council elections.

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

On 18 December councils undergoing local government reorganisation were invited to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

As is standard for decisions of this nature, the Secretary of State had discussions with relevant colleagues in Government.

We will consider all the representations we receive, including any from the Electoral Commission.

Nine local elections in 2025 were postponed and the rationale for that decision has been set out to the House, including in the Explanatory Memorandum that accompanies the Order that changed the year of elections.

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 his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on the cancellation of local elections in May 2026.

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

On 18 December councils undergoing local government reorganisation were invited to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

As is standard for decisions of this nature, the Secretary of State had discussions with relevant colleagues in Government.

We will consider all the representations we receive, including any from the Electoral Commission.

Nine local elections in 2025 were postponed and the rationale for that decision has been set out to the House, including in the Explanatory Memorandum that accompanies the Order that changed the year of elections.

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 his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, whether Essex County Council will be permitted to express an opinion on the cancellation of lower tier authorities such as Basildon.

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

Local government reorganisation is complex and we have listened to councils telling us about the constraints they are operating within, and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges. On 18 December I invited councils undergoing local government reorganisation with local elections in May 2026 to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

Councils are in the best position to judge the impact of potential postponements on their area and in the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders, this government will listen to them. They have been asked to make any request for a postponement explicit, as this will of course be relevant in deciding whether postponement is necessary for a particular council. If a Council does not make an explicit request or provide clear views and evidence in respect of their judgment on capacity, then the Secretary of State will take that into account and consider relevant evidence – but it will clearly make the decision making process more difficult and the Secretary of State will be less likely to decide to delay, given the locally-led approach taken. The Secretary of State is only minded to make an Order to postpone elections for one year for those councils who raise capacity concerns. It is ultimately up to councils how or whether they respond.

We have been transparent about this process and will consider all the representations we receive. The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. The deadline for responses is 15 January and after this the Secretary of State will decide whether to make an Order to change the year of council elections and the House will be updated.

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 his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, whether borough and district councils will be permitted to provide opinions on the cancellation of elections for upper-tier authorities.

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

Local government reorganisation is complex and we have listened to councils telling us about the constraints they are operating within, and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges. On 18 December I invited councils undergoing local government reorganisation with local elections in May 2026 to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

Councils are in the best position to judge the impact of potential postponements on their area and in the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders, this government will listen to them. They have been asked to make any request for a postponement explicit, as this will of course be relevant in deciding whether postponement is necessary for a particular council. If a Council does not make an explicit request or provide clear views and evidence in respect of their judgment on capacity, then the Secretary of State will take that into account and consider relevant evidence – but it will clearly make the decision making process more difficult and the Secretary of State will be less likely to decide to delay, given the locally-led approach taken. The Secretary of State is only minded to make an Order to postpone elections for one year for those councils who raise capacity concerns. It is ultimately up to councils how or whether they respond.

We have been transparent about this process and will consider all the representations we receive. The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. The deadline for responses is 15 January and after this the Secretary of State will decide whether to make an Order to change the year of council elections and the House will be updated.

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 his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, whether he will accept representations from opposition councillors in Basildon, Thurrock and Essex on the cancellation of local elections.

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

Local government reorganisation is complex and we have listened to councils telling us about the constraints they are operating within, and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges. On 18 December I invited councils undergoing local government reorganisation with local elections in May 2026 to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

Councils are in the best position to judge the impact of potential postponements on their area and in the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders, this government will listen to them. They have been asked to make any request for a postponement explicit, as this will of course be relevant in deciding whether postponement is necessary for a particular council. If a Council does not make an explicit request or provide clear views and evidence in respect of their judgment on capacity, then the Secretary of State will take that into account and consider relevant evidence – but it will clearly make the decision making process more difficult and the Secretary of State will be less likely to decide to delay, given the locally-led approach taken. The Secretary of State is only minded to make an Order to postpone elections for one year for those councils who raise capacity concerns. It is ultimately up to councils how or whether they respond.

We have been transparent about this process and will consider all the representations we receive. The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. The deadline for responses is 15 January and after this the Secretary of State will decide whether to make an Order to change the year of council elections and the House will be updated.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, what metrics will he use to determine whether council areas have not made enough progress on local government reorganisation and can therefore have their May 2026 election cancelled.

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

Local government reorganisation is complex and we have listened to councils telling us about the constraints they are operating within, and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges. On 18 December I invited councils undergoing local government reorganisation with local elections in May 2026 to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

Councils are in the best position to judge the impact of potential postponements on their area and in the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders, this government will listen to them. They have been asked to make any request for a postponement explicit, as this will of course be relevant in deciding whether postponement is necessary for a particular council. If a Council does not make an explicit request or provide clear views and evidence in respect of their judgment on capacity, then the Secretary of State will take that into account and consider relevant evidence – but it will clearly make the decision making process more difficult and the Secretary of State will be less likely to decide to delay, given the locally-led approach taken. The Secretary of State is only minded to make an Order to postpone elections for one year for those councils who raise capacity concerns. It is ultimately up to councils how or whether they respond.

We have been transparent about this process and will consider all the representations we receive. The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. The deadline for responses is 15 January and after this the Secretary of State will decide whether to make an Order to change the year of council elections and the House will be updated.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, if his Department will reject requests to cancel May 2026 elections if the relevant councils have already made significant progress on local government reorganisation.

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

Local government reorganisation is complex and we have listened to councils telling us about the constraints they are operating within, and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges. On 18 December I invited councils undergoing local government reorganisation with local elections in May 2026 to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

Councils are in the best position to judge the impact of potential postponements on their area and in the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders, this government will listen to them. They have been asked to make any request for a postponement explicit, as this will of course be relevant in deciding whether postponement is necessary for a particular council. If a Council does not make an explicit request or provide clear views and evidence in respect of their judgment on capacity, then the Secretary of State will take that into account and consider relevant evidence – but it will clearly make the decision making process more difficult and the Secretary of State will be less likely to decide to delay, given the locally-led approach taken. The Secretary of State is only minded to make an Order to postpone elections for one year for those councils who raise capacity concerns. It is ultimately up to councils how or whether they respond.

We have been transparent about this process and will consider all the representations we receive. The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. The deadline for responses is 15 January and after this the Secretary of State will decide whether to make an Order to change the year of council elections and the House will be updated.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, which councils have expressed anxiety about their capacity to deliver a transition to new councils.

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

Local government reorganisation is complex and we have listened to councils telling us about the constraints they are operating within, and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges. On 18 December I invited councils undergoing local government reorganisation with local elections in May 2026 to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

Councils are in the best position to judge the impact of potential postponements on their area and in the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders, this government will listen to them. They have been asked to make any request for a postponement explicit, as this will of course be relevant in deciding whether postponement is necessary for a particular council. If a Council does not make an explicit request or provide clear views and evidence in respect of their judgment on capacity, then the Secretary of State will take that into account and consider relevant evidence – but it will clearly make the decision making process more difficult and the Secretary of State will be less likely to decide to delay, given the locally-led approach taken. The Secretary of State is only minded to make an Order to postpone elections for one year for those councils who raise capacity concerns. It is ultimately up to councils how or whether they respond.

We have been transparent about this process and will consider all the representations we receive. The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. The deadline for responses is 15 January and after this the Secretary of State will decide whether to make an Order to change the year of council elections and the House will be updated.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, what safeguards his Department has in place to ensure that councils cannot request election cancellations due to perceived partisan benefit.

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

Local government reorganisation is complex and we have listened to councils telling us about the constraints they are operating within, and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges. On 18 December I invited councils undergoing local government reorganisation with local elections in May 2026 to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

Councils are in the best position to judge the impact of potential postponements on their area and in the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders, this government will listen to them. They have been asked to make any request for a postponement explicit, as this will of course be relevant in deciding whether postponement is necessary for a particular council. If a Council does not make an explicit request or provide clear views and evidence in respect of their judgment on capacity, then the Secretary of State will take that into account and consider relevant evidence – but it will clearly make the decision making process more difficult and the Secretary of State will be less likely to decide to delay, given the locally-led approach taken. The Secretary of State is only minded to make an Order to postpone elections for one year for those councils who raise capacity concerns. It is ultimately up to councils how or whether they respond.

We have been transparent about this process and will consider all the representations we receive. The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. The deadline for responses is 15 January and after this the Secretary of State will decide whether to make an Order to change the year of council elections and the House will be updated.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, what safeguards his Department has in place to verify that requests for cancellations of elections are due to resourcing issues.

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

Local government reorganisation is complex and we have listened to councils telling us about the constraints they are operating within, and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges. On 18 December I invited councils undergoing local government reorganisation with local elections in May 2026 to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

Councils are in the best position to judge the impact of potential postponements on their area and in the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders, this government will listen to them. They have been asked to make any request for a postponement explicit, as this will of course be relevant in deciding whether postponement is necessary for a particular council. If a Council does not make an explicit request or provide clear views and evidence in respect of their judgment on capacity, then the Secretary of State will take that into account and consider relevant evidence – but it will clearly make the decision making process more difficult and the Secretary of State will be less likely to decide to delay, given the locally-led approach taken. The Secretary of State is only minded to make an Order to postpone elections for one year for those councils who raise capacity concerns. It is ultimately up to councils how or whether they respond.

We have been transparent about this process and will consider all the representations we receive. The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. The deadline for responses is 15 January and after this the Secretary of State will decide whether to make an Order to change the year of council elections and the House will be updated.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, which councils have queried the value for taxpayers of spending on elections to bodies that will not exist for much longer.

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

Local government reorganisation is complex and we have listened to councils telling us about the constraints they are operating within, and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges. On 18 December I invited councils undergoing local government reorganisation with local elections in May 2026 to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

Councils are in the best position to judge the impact of potential postponements on their area and in the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders, this government will listen to them. They have been asked to make any request for a postponement explicit, as this will of course be relevant in deciding whether postponement is necessary for a particular council. If a Council does not make an explicit request or provide clear views and evidence in respect of their judgment on capacity, then the Secretary of State will take that into account and consider relevant evidence – but it will clearly make the decision making process more difficult and the Secretary of State will be less likely to decide to delay, given the locally-led approach taken. The Secretary of State is only minded to make an Order to postpone elections for one year for those councils who raise capacity concerns. It is ultimately up to councils how or whether they respond.

We have been transparent about this process and will consider all the representations we receive. The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. The deadline for responses is 15 January and after this the Secretary of State will decide whether to make an Order to change the year of council elections and the House will be updated.

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 his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, whether he plans to cancel May 2026 elections where council leaders have not responded to his Department's letter.

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

Local government reorganisation is complex and we have listened to councils telling us about the constraints they are operating within, and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges. On 18 December I invited councils undergoing local government reorganisation with local elections in May 2026 to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

Councils are in the best position to judge the impact of potential postponements on their area and in the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders, this government will listen to them. They have been asked to make any request for a postponement explicit, as this will of course be relevant in deciding whether postponement is necessary for a particular council. If a Council does not make an explicit request or provide clear views and evidence in respect of their judgment on capacity, then the Secretary of State will take that into account and consider relevant evidence – but it will clearly make the decision making process more difficult and the Secretary of State will be less likely to decide to delay, given the locally-led approach taken. The Secretary of State is only minded to make an Order to postpone elections for one year for those councils who raise capacity concerns. It is ultimately up to councils how or whether they respond.

We have been transparent about this process and will consider all the representations we receive. The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. The deadline for responses is 15 January and after this the Secretary of State will decide whether to make an Order to change the year of council elections and the House will be updated.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the annual cost to local authorities of servicing Private Finance Initiative contracts.

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

The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) collect the Unitary Payment information for all PFI Contracts held by Local Authorities annually as part of the HM Treasury PFI Data collection exercise. This is shared with relevant Sponsoring Government Departments on a project-by-project basis, the data is not aggregated by Authority but shown per contract.

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 his Department's press release entitled Councils offered flexibility to complete reorganisation, published on 18 December 2025, what discussions he has had with local government bodies in Essex on the expected change in the number of councillors following local government reorganisation.

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

No decisions have yet been taken on reorganisation in Essex, Southend on Sea and Thurrock and as such the Secretary of State has not had discussions on any expected change in the number of councillors.

On 5 February 2025, the Government invited two-tier authorities and their neighbouring small unitary councils to develop proposals for unitary local government. In those proposals, areas were asked to include details of the expected number of councillors for any new unitary council. The four proposals submitted by councils in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock each included councillor numbers. Consultation on these proposals closed on 11 January 2026. The Secretary of State will now consider the proposals, alongside consultation responses and other available evidence, before deciding which, if any, to implement.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the financial sustainability of local authorities with significant Private Finance Initiative liabilities.

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

Local authorities are responsible for their own capital strategies and financial management, including borrowing and investment decisions. They must, however, comply with statutory duties and guidance to ensure that all decisions are prudent, affordable and sustainable and consistent with their Best Value duty.

The PFI Programme team attend regular intelligence sharing forums with other teams in the Department who are responsible for overseeing local authority financial stability. The Department provides PFI grant funding to its local authority PFI contracts funding the capital elements of the projects, this ranges 50-70% of the annual Unitary Charge. Local authorities are contractually obliged to pay the annual Unitary Charge under the terms of their PFI Contract. The PFI Grant paid by the Department was awarded by HM Treasury at the Financial Close of the Project Procurement and is paid for the whole of the PFI Contract term to support the Unitary Charge payment.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, what proportion of people employed by councils in Greater Essex does his Department expect will be required for the new council structure.

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

We anticipate the vast majority of local council workers will transfer to roles in the relevant new unitary council and all workers will be protected by the relevant employment laws.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how national housing targets are balanced against local transport constraints in rural areas.

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

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that planning policies and decisions should be responsive to local circumstances in rural areas.

To promote sustainable development, housing should be located where it will support and enhance the vitality of rural communities, especially where this will support local services.

The Framework is also clear that significant development should be focused on locations which are, or can be made, sustainable, through limiting the need to travel and offering a genuine choice of transport modes. It also notes that opportunities to maximise sustainable transport solutions will vary between urban and rural areas, and this should be taken into account in both plan-making and decision-making.

The Framework sets out that development should only be prevented or refused on highways grounds if there would be an unacceptable impact on highway safety, or the residual cumulative impacts on the road network, following mitigation, would be severe, taking into account all reasonable future scenarios.

The government is currently consulting on a new NPPF that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation includes policies on housing and sustainable transport.

The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance is issued to local planning authorities on approving housing developments in areas where existing rural road infrastructure cannot be expanded.

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

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that planning policies and decisions should be responsive to local circumstances in rural areas.

To promote sustainable development, housing should be located where it will support and enhance the vitality of rural communities, especially where this will support local services.

The Framework is also clear that significant development should be focused on locations which are, or can be made, sustainable, through limiting the need to travel and offering a genuine choice of transport modes. It also notes that opportunities to maximise sustainable transport solutions will vary between urban and rural areas, and this should be taken into account in both plan-making and decision-making.

The Framework sets out that development should only be prevented or refused on highways grounds if there would be an unacceptable impact on highway safety, or the residual cumulative impacts on the road network, following mitigation, would be severe, taking into account all reasonable future scenarios.

The government is currently consulting on a new NPPF that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation includes policies on housing and sustainable transport.

The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, whether he expects election officials to be made redundant if elections are cancelled in May 2026.

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

The majority of 2026 council elections are unaffected by local government reorganisation and are going ahead. While staffing decisions are for individual councils who employ electoral services staff, if the Government decides to postpone any elections it does not expect election officials to be made redundant as a result. These officials have responsibilities beyond running elections, including maintaining the electoral register and supporting other council related duties throughout the year.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, if he will publish any financial analysis his Department holds demonstrating that single-tier authorities are more (a) efficient and (b) effective than two-tier authorities.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77631 on 13 October 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, what analysis his Department has conducted on the viability of restructured Essex councils who are inheriting significant debts.

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

Councils were invited to submit proposals for unitary local government and for those proposals to include estimated costs and benefits. Exact costs and savings will vary, depending on proposals received and which proposals are implemented. The Government has consulted on four proposals from councils in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock. Decisions on the most appropriate option for each area will be judgements in the round, having regard to the guidance and the available evidence, including the responses to the consultation. As such, we will analyse and assess proposals against the criteria we have set out, which includes sustainability and withstanding financial shocks.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, what analysis his Department has carried out regarding the potential savings to Greater Essex residents from merging local councils.

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

Councils were invited to submit proposals for unitary local government and for those proposals to include estimated costs and benefits. Exact costs and savings will vary, depending on proposals received and which proposals are implemented. The Government has consulted on four proposals from councils in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock. Decisions on the most appropriate option for each area will be judgements in the round, having regard to the guidance and the available evidence, including the responses to the consultation. As such, we will analyse and assess proposals against the criteria we have set out, which includes sustainability and withstanding financial shocks.

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 letter from the Minister for Local Government and Homelessness to Leaders of councils with elections in May 2026 where proposals for reorganisation have been submitted and decisions not yet taken, dated 18 December 2025, whether a request from council leaders to postpone their local election can be nullified by (a) a vote at a full council, or (b) a letter signed by a majority of councillors.

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

We have been clear that how local councils respond is up to them to decide locally with a view to their local processes and governance. The Secretary of State will consider all views provided, together with any other representations received, before final decisions are made.

Where an election is postponed for one year, provision to extend existing councillors’ terms of office would be made. The Government has no plans to amend governance requirements for these councils.

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 letter from the Minister for Local Government and Homelessness to Leaders of councils with elections in May 2026 where proposals for reorganisation have been submitted and decisions not yet taken, dated 18 December 2025, for what reason only council leaders have been invited to comment without first requiring a vote to be held at a full council meeting.

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

We have been clear that how local councils respond is up to them to decide locally with a view to their local processes and governance. The Secretary of State will consider all views provided, together with any other representations received, before final decisions are made.

Where an election is postponed for one year, provision to extend existing councillors’ terms of office would be made. The Government has no plans to amend governance requirements for these councils.

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 his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, whether his Department plans to require councils whose elections will be cancelled in May 2026 to include opposition councillors in their administration.

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

We have been clear that how local councils respond is up to them to decide locally with a view to their local processes and governance. The Secretary of State will consider all views provided, together with any other representations received, before final decisions are made.

Where an election is postponed for one year, provision to extend existing councillors’ terms of office would be made. The Government has no plans to amend governance requirements for these councils.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1132, what information his Department holds on a council’s effectiveness of SEND provision in reorganised council areas compared to before they were reorganised.

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

We invited councils to develop proposals for unitary local government that prioritised the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens and for those proposals to set out the impacts on crucial public services, such as SEND.

We will take final decisions on which proposal, if any, to implement having regard to all the criteria, including delivery of high quality public services, as well as any relevant evidence.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, what information his Department provided to local councils undergoing local government reorganisation regarding improving the effectiveness of public services.

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

We invited councils to develop proposals for unitary local government that prioritised the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens and for those proposals to set out the impacts on crucial public services, such as SEND.

We will take final decisions on which proposal, if any, to implement having regard to all the criteria, including delivery of high quality public services, as well as any relevant evidence.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have missed the 31 January self assessment filing deadline in each of the last three tax years.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Around 12 million people file a Self Assessment return each year. HMRC aims to help customers get their tax right. Last year, over 90% of customers filed on time.

Filing deadlines are essential for the efficient operation of the tax system. The number of customers who missed the 31 January deadline over the past three years was as follows:

• 31 January 2023: 1.2 million customers
• 31 January 2024: 1.2 million customers
• 31 January 2025: 1.1 million customers

HMRC supports customers to file their return online with reminders and annual communications campaigns. A wide range of online help and support is available on GOV.UK, including instructions on how to notify HMRC if a return is no longer required.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps her Department has taken to discourage drug exports from Venezuela in the last 12 months.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the responses provided in the Urgent Question debate on 3 December.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of current enforcement measures against the illegal use of e-scooters.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Tackling anti-social behaviour and the harm it causes is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.

The police have a suite of powers available to them to tackle the illegal use of e-scooters, including in residential areas, and we expect police to deploy them appropriately.

The Crime and Policing Bill will give police greater powers to clamp down on anti-social behaviour involving vehicles including e-scooters, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before they are able to seize a vehicle. This will allow police to put an immediate stop to offending.

The Government also recently consulted on proposals to allow the police to dispose of seized vehicles more quickly, including e-bikes and privately owned e-scooters, which have been used anti-socially or illegally.

These combined measures will help tackle the scourge of e-bikes and e-scooters ridden anti-socially or illegally and will send a clear message to would-be offenders and local communities that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support police forces to tackle the illegal use of e-scooters in residential areas.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Tackling anti-social behaviour and the harm it causes is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.

The police have a suite of powers available to them to tackle the illegal use of e-scooters, including in residential areas, and we expect police to deploy them appropriately.

The Crime and Policing Bill will give police greater powers to clamp down on anti-social behaviour involving vehicles including e-scooters, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before they are able to seize a vehicle. This will allow police to put an immediate stop to offending.

The Government also recently consulted on proposals to allow the police to dispose of seized vehicles more quickly, including e-bikes and privately owned e-scooters, which have been used anti-socially or illegally.

These combined measures will help tackle the scourge of e-bikes and e-scooters ridden anti-socially or illegally and will send a clear message to would-be offenders and local communities that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that schools and academy trusts comply with guidance requiring equal treatment of parents with parental responsibility.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Guidance relating to parental responsibility requires all parents to be treated equally, unless a court order limits a parent’s ability to make educational decisions, participate in school life or receive information about their child. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dealing-with-issues-relating-to-parental-responsibility/understanding-and-dealing-with-issues-relating-to-parental-responsibility.

The guidance referred to is non-statutory but does set out some of the duties on schools that must be complied with. Failure to comply with a duty should first be referred to the school via its complaint procedure. Once the school’s complaint procedure is completed in full, if the parent is dissatisfied with the school’s handling of their complaint, they can contact the department via the customer complaint portal, which can be accessed at: https://customerhelpportal.education.gov.uk/.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure parents with parental responsibility are consistently included in school communications and decision-making.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Anyone who is a parent, as recognised under education law, can participate in their child’s education and there is a general principle that pupils are to be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents. Section 9 of the Education Act 1996 can be accessed here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/56/section/9.

Schools commonly communicate with the resident parent, but if a non-resident parent requests to receive communications separately, the school should provide it to that parent direct, after satisfying itself that the individual is the child’s parent. If a parent is unhappy with a school’s actions, they can complain to the school.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of US military action in Venezuela on UK national security.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House on 5 January, and her responses to questions raised in that debate.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to update the guidance entitled Parental responsibility: guide for schools and local authorities, updated on 24 August 2023.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The non-statutory guidance, ‘Understanding and dealing with issues relating to parental responsibility’, is currently being updated to reflect changes that came into effect under the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024. The updated version will be published later this year.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of US military action in Venezuela on regional stability in Latin America.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House on 5 January, and her responses to questions raised in that debate.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to the US on military operations conducted in Venezuela.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House on 5 January, and her responses to questions raised in that debate.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of staff sickness levels within East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust; and what support is being provided to reduce sickness absence.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As of July 2025, East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) had an average annual sickness absence rate of 7.6%. This has remained at the same rate as the average for the 12 months to July 2024. The EEAST average annual sickness absence rate is 0.9 percentage points higher than the average annual sickness absence rate for all ambulance trusts in England, which is 6.7%. This difference has been consistent across the past five years.

NHS England publishes monthly information on the sickness absence rates of staff in National Health Service bodies, which is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-sickness-absence-rates

The primary cause for sickness absence amongst professionally qualified ambulance staff remains, anxiety, depression and mental health conditions.

The EEAST recognises that its sickness levels remain high and is committed to reducing these while ensuring its staff are properly supported.

The EEAST continues to work with system partners on effective measures to ensure its staff can handover patients safely as soon as possible and has taken actions to address its sickness levels. These include training for line managers on how to best support staff, a wide-ranging health and wellbeing offer, and temporary and permanent redeployment.

Local employers across the NHS have in place arrangements for supporting staff including occupational health provision, employee support programmes and a focus on healthy working environments.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will roll out staff treatment hubs to ensure all staff have access to high quality occupational health support, including for mental health and musculoskeletal conditions, the two main causes of sickness absence in the NHS.

To further support this ambition, we are working with the Social Partnership Forum to introduce a new set of staff standards for modern employment, covering issues such as access to healthy meals, support to work healthily and flexibly, and tackling violence, racism and sexual harassment in the workplace.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, what discussions his Department have had with Basildon Council regarding the financial viability of the 5 council model where Basildon and Thurrock would merge.

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

Thurrock Commissioners were involved in the development of reorganisation proposals and my officials met with them in the course of those and other responsibilities.

The Department met with councils following the submission of proposals on 26 September, and officers from Basildon attended the meeting on the five unitary authority proposal meeting in November.

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage visited Basildon on 12 December, where local government reorganisation was raised.

On the wider question of Thurrock’s debt and the general handling of council debt, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77936 on 13 October 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, what recent discussions his Department has had regarding financial support for whichever restructured council area inherits the debts of Thurrock, Basildon, and Essex Councils.

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

Thurrock Commissioners were involved in the development of reorganisation proposals and my officials met with them in the course of those and other responsibilities.

The Department met with councils following the submission of proposals on 26 September, and officers from Basildon attended the meeting on the five unitary authority proposal meeting in November.

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage visited Basildon on 12 December, where local government reorganisation was raised.

On the wider question of Thurrock’s debt and the general handling of council debt, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77936 on 13 October 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, what discussions his Department have had with the commissioners at Thurrock Council on the preferred option for which councils Thurrock should merge with.

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

Thurrock Commissioners were involved in the development of reorganisation proposals and my officials met with them in the course of those and other responsibilities.

The Department met with councils following the submission of proposals on 26 September, and officers from Basildon attended the meeting on the five unitary authority proposal meeting in November.

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage visited Basildon on 12 December, where local government reorganisation was raised.

On the wider question of Thurrock’s debt and the general handling of council debt, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77936 on 13 October 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that road user charges for the Lower Thames Crossing are proportionate for local residents.

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

The charging regime for the Lower Thames Crossing has not yet been set. Many crossings in England, including the Dartford Crossing, already have a charge, and this will also apply to the Lower Thames Crossing. Charges are necessary to cover the costs of providing the infrastructure, whether funded publicly or privately. Under the Government's preferred financing option, the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model, it is envisaged that there would continue to be a discount for local residents once the transfer to the regulated private entity has completed.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the relationship between levels of pension financial literacy and vulnerability to pension fraud.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

In 2023, the Behavioural Insights Team within the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) conducted a scams evidence review which found that victims of pension fraud do not fall into easily defined demographic groups and that anyone can be targeted. To mitigate this, a range of measures are in place to raise awareness and reduce risk. These include the Financial Conduct Authority’s ScamSmart tool which highlights areas of potential risk, and the detailed guidance provided by MaPS through MoneyHelper, which offers practical steps to identify and avoid pension scams. Additional safeguards are provided by the pension transfer regulations which empower trustees to pause or refuse a transfer where there are indicators of potential scam activity.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of levels of financial literacy in relation to pensions among the UK population.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to supporting people to build their financial literacy.

As part of the Financial Inclusion Strategy, the Government announced plans to make financial education compulsory in primary schools in England through a new statutory requirement to teach citizenship, alongside a renewed focus on the subject in secondary schools in the subjects of mathematics and citizenship. The Department for Education will be engaging with sector experts and young people to determine how best to reflect this in the updated curriculum, including appropriate content on pensions and long-term saving. There will be a period of public consultation in 2026 before it is finalised.

The Financial Conduct Authority’s nationally representative Financial Lives Survey gathers insights into the financial behaviour, attitudes and experiences of adults aged 18 and over in the UK. It covers a wide range of topics, including financial capability and detailed information on how people engage with their pensions – such as their awareness, decision-making and approach to saving for retirement. Taken together, these findings provide an indication of financial literacy in the pensions context, although this is not measured as a standalone metric.

Building on these insights, the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), an arm’s length body of Government, provides free, impartial financial guidance for consumers to support them at every stage of their financial lives. Its MoneyHelper services – available online, via webchat and over the phone – offers information on a wide range of financial topics, including pensions, along with easy-to-use tools and calculators to support people in managing their finances.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help people understand the risks associated with pension transfers.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Pension transfer regulations require trustees and scheme managers to carry out due diligence before processing a transfer request. Where a potential risk of a scam is identified, the transfer may be stopped. In cases where there are risk indicators but the transfer could still be genuine, the member must receive mandatory guidance from MoneyHelper before the transfer can proceed. In these cases, members must attend an appointment with the Money and Pensions Service, which helps them recognise scams, assess risks, and make an informed decision before proceeding. Additional resources are available through the Financial Conduct Authority’s ScamSmart tool and its Pension Scams Consumer Guide, offering practical advice on spotting warning signs, verifying investments, and reporting suspected scams.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the British Embassy in Brussels' press release entitled Diplomat for a Day 2026 in Brussels: enter our competition' published on 9 January 2026, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to UK taxpayers of this initiative.

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

The work experience competition referred to by the Hon Member is in its fourth year in Belgium, run by the UK embassy alongside their counterparts from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the Netherlands, and not only provides an outstanding opportunity for the young women selected to take part, but an important means for the embassies involved to engage with high schools across their host country, and cement our strong relationships in that country for the future. The competition is delivered at minimal cost, shared across the four embassies, and while the Hon Member may take a different view, we believe in increasing the opportunities available to young women all over the world to play their full part in public life.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all pregnant women are offered the whooping cough vaccine at the optimal time in pregnancy.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

All pregnant women are offered the whooping cough vaccination in every pregnancy, around the time of the mid-pregnancy scan, usually 20 weeks, and ideally before 32 weeks, via midwifery in the community or their general practice.

The Department is working with NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency to encourage high uptake of all immunisations, including in underserved communities and in groups with historically lower vaccination rates.

Significant efforts have been made to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination to protect babies against whooping cough, also known as pertussis. These include targeted campaigns using social media, digital screen graphics, and community outreach. The National Health Service actively promotes vaccination for pregnant women to protect their newborns, and efforts are underway to enhance the recording and monitoring of vaccinations, ensuring accurate data collection to assess the programme’s effectiveness.

Recent data shows maternal pertussis vaccination coverage from July to September 2025 was 71.9%, which was 7.5% higher than the equivalent period in 2025. However, there is more to do to stabilise and improve uptake, and that is why we have set out actions to improve uptake in our 10-Year Health Plan for England. Putting our plans into action, we have recently launched a campaign to promote awareness and confidence in vaccination, including for pregnant women, which will run throughout the year.

To improve accessibility, community pharmacies in areas of high deprivation and low uptake are now also commissioned to offer some vaccinations, making it more convenient for individuals to get vaccinated.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many British citizens born (a) in the UK and (b) abroad have had their British citizenship revoked in each of the last 5 years.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The British Nationality Act 1981 provides the Secretary of State with the power to deprive an individual of their British citizenship where:

• The Secretary of State is satisfied that it would be conducive to the public good;

• The person acquired citizenship as a result of fraud, false representations or concealment of a material fact

The Government considers that deprivation on ‘conducive grounds’ is an appropriate response to activities such as those involving:

• National security, including espionage and acts of terrorism directed at this country or an allied power;

• Unacceptable behaviour of the kind mentioned in the then Home Secretary’s statement of 24 August 2005 (‘glorification’ of terrorism etc);

• War crimes; and

• Serious organised crime.

The Home Office publishes data relating to those deprived of British Citizenship on ‘conducive to the public good’ grounds. These are published in the Government Transparency Report: Disruptive and Investigatory Powers. Reports have been published up to 2024.

The figures from the previous five years, of individuals who have been deprived of their British citizenship for this reason, are below:

In the interest of safeguarding national security, we do not break down these figures into sub-categories.

This report also references s66 of the Immigration Act 2014, which allows the Secretary of State to deprive a person of their British citizenship on the ground it is conducive to the public good even if it would leave them stateless. To date, this power has not been used.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the removal of advance ticket discounts on affordability on the c2c rail line.

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

c2c serves a mostly short distance turn up and go market, with around 95 per cent of all daily ticket sales made within a week of the date of travel. Affordability is therefore primarily determined by walk-up fares.

c2c reduced its single fares in December 2023 to always be half the equivalent of a return fare, a change made in readiness for the roll out of contactless Pay As You Go (PAYG) ticketing.

c2c is the first TOC in Britain to offer contactless PAYG ticketing on its whole network and advises that it has the lowest walk-up fares per mile of any train company in the southeast.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to tailor the National Year of Reading to engage with (a) teenage boys, (b) early years children and (c) families from disadvantaged communities.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department, in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, is leading the National Year of Reading 2026 to tackle declining reading enjoyment. This UK-wide campaign combines a marketing initiative with events in schools, libraries and communities, prioritising boys aged 10 to 16, early years children and families from disadvantaged communities.

Grounded in evidence, the campaign uses the “Go All In” branding to help make reading appealing and relevant, particularly for the priority audiences. The campaign’s message, “If you’re into it, read into it”, encourages individuals to explore reading through their passions, whether music, sport, baking, family time, films, sci-fi, or anything else.

Activities will take place across the year and includes national events, alongside resources for schools and early years, and library engagement through initiatives such as the Summer Reading Challenge. The campaign aims for lasting impact by engaging new audiences, making reading relevant, transforming practice, and building infrastructure. An independent evaluation in 2027 will assess its impact and sustainability beyond the campaign year and will assess its influence on reading behaviours and wider impact on the literacy sector.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that the National Year of Reading leads to improvements in reading enjoyment beyond the campaign period.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department, in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, is leading the National Year of Reading 2026 to tackle declining reading enjoyment. This UK-wide campaign combines a marketing initiative with events in schools, libraries and communities, prioritising boys aged 10 to 16, early years children and families from disadvantaged communities.

Grounded in evidence, the campaign uses the “Go All In” branding to help make reading appealing and relevant, particularly for the priority audiences. The campaign’s message, “If you’re into it, read into it”, encourages individuals to explore reading through their passions, whether music, sport, baking, family time, films, sci-fi, or anything else.

Activities will take place across the year and includes national events, alongside resources for schools and early years, and library engagement through initiatives such as the Summer Reading Challenge. The campaign aims for lasting impact by engaging new audiences, making reading relevant, transforming practice, and building infrastructure. An independent evaluation in 2027 will assess its impact and sustainability beyond the campaign year and will assess its influence on reading behaviours and wider impact on the literacy sector.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking with (a) libraries, (b) charities and (c) the wider literacy sector to deliver the National Year of Reading.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department, in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, is leading the National Year of Reading 2026 to tackle declining reading enjoyment. This UK-wide campaign combines a marketing initiative with events in schools, libraries and communities, prioritising boys aged 10 to 16, early years children and families from disadvantaged communities.

Grounded in evidence, the campaign uses the “Go All In” branding to help make reading appealing and relevant, particularly for the priority audiences. The campaign’s message, “If you’re into it, read into it”, encourages individuals to explore reading through their passions, whether music, sport, baking, family time, films, sci-fi, or anything else.

Activities will take place across the year and includes national events, alongside resources for schools and early years, and library engagement through initiatives such as the Summer Reading Challenge. The campaign aims for lasting impact by engaging new audiences, making reading relevant, transforming practice, and building infrastructure. An independent evaluation in 2027 will assess its impact and sustainability beyond the campaign year and will assess its influence on reading behaviours and wider impact on the literacy sector.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to address regional disparities in whooping cough vaccination uptake among pregnant women.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The latest published data for September 2025 shows that prenatal pertussis vaccination coverage has improved in all seven NHS England regions when compared to September 2024.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) report shows monthly prenatal pertussis vaccination coverage followed an increasing trend since April 2024. The report is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pertussis-immunisation-in-pregnancy-vaccine-coverage-estimates-in-england-october-2013-to-march-2014/prenatal-pertussis-vaccination-coverage-in-england-from-january-to-march-2025-and-annual-coverage-for-2024-to-2025

To support continued improvements, NHS England has developed and implemented a vaccination in pregnancy improvement plan. Actions delivered to date include:

- system level oversight and leadership of programme commissioning and delivery, to strengthen the offer process and tackle factors contributing to low vaccine uptake;

- ensuring commissioned providers are aware of their responsibilities within the vaccination in pregnancy programmes and are working to strengthen the vaccination offer and ensure consistency in delivery approach;

- commissioning community pharmacy providers in areas of low uptake and high deprivation to deliver National Health Service pertussis vaccinations to pregnant women opportunistically or on request;

- revised governance arrangements for vaccination in pregnancy programmes, with regional and national colleagues meeting regularly to share learning and good practice from local systems; and

- improved vaccination recording and accurate data collection to monitor programme effectiveness, allowing regional teams and their partner integrated care boards to access timely NHS operational data. This informs targeted action to increase uptake and reduce inequalities.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the proportion of pregnant women who are not offered the whooping cough vaccine by 20 weeks’ gestation; and what steps are being taken to improve timely access.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

All pregnant women in England should be offered the pertussis vaccination in every pregnancy, around the time of the mid-pregnancy scan, usually 20 weeks, and ideally before 32 weeks.

Recent data shows maternal pertussis vaccination coverage from July to September 2025 was 71.9%, which was 7.5% higher than the equivalent period in 2025. The data is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pertussis-immunisation-in-pregnancy-vaccine-coverage-estimates-in-england-october-2013-to-march-2014/prenatal-pertussis-vaccination-coverage-in-england-from-july-to-september-2025

NHS England has implemented a range of measures to ensure timely access to the pertussis vaccination programme, including NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency having developed a joint maternal vaccines toolkit and campaign to promote timely uptake of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough, and flu vaccines during pregnancy, highlighting the protection provided to newborns.

NHS England has commissioned community pharmacies in the North West, Midlands, London, and the East of England to deliver pertussis and RSV vaccines, increasing convenience and capacity, particularly in areas of high deprivation and low uptake.

A maternal vaccination postcard has been translated into seven additional languages and distributed to 200 practices with lower uptake. Tailored communications are shared through community and faith-based channels, including radio, podcasts, and local publications.

NHS England regularly shares vaccination information with pregnancy and parenting organisations such as Tommy’s and the NCT, as well as community and faith groups, for use on their websites, newsletters, and social media.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of consumer redress available to homeowners where installers of loft spray foam insulation have ceased trading.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

For installations under DESNZ schemes, consumers are entitled to remediation where work has not been up to standard even when an installer has ceased trading. Homeowners should claim through their guarantee where this is the case. However, we understand most spray foam loft insulation has been installed outside of our schemes where the protection available depends on what was agreed at the time between the homeowner and the installer.

Poor-quality installations are the result of years of a failed system, and this government is committed to introducing new reforms to drive up quality and protect consumers through the Warm Homes Plan.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of access to sports and physical activity facilities in areas of South Basildon and East Thurrock with higher levels of deprivation.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.

In England, the Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sports through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding in areas of greatest need to tackle inactivity levels through community-led solutions. Sport England works closely with local partners, including Active Essex, to support community-led interventions to improve access to sport and physical activity. The constituency of South Basildon and East Thurrock received a total of £17,600 of Sport England funding in 2024/2025.

In June, following the Spending Review we committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK over the next four years. We will ensure that this funding promotes health and wellbeing, and helps to remove the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups. We are working with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need, before setting out further plans on how future funding will be allocated across the UK.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent guidance HMRC has provided to taxpayers on steps to protect themselves from fake or fraudulent messages when submitting the self assessment tax return.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC app users can choose to enable ‘push notifications’ to receive a variety of updates, including payment notifications. At present, this feature operates on an ‘all or nothing’ basis, meaning users cannot select only payment notifications. Since the app launched, over 5.3 million users have opted to enable push notifications, although some may have subsequently chosen to disable them.

HMRC regularly shares guidance and updates to help taxpayers stay safe online and protect themselves from scams and fraudulent messages, particularly during the Self Assessment period.

They include practical advice and links to relevant materials in their Self Assessment emails, social media content, radio broadcasts, press releases, GOV.UK guidance and through other communication products.

For example, the following press releases regarding Self Assessment scams were published in August and December 2025 respectively:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scams-warning-as-self-assessment-customers-targeted

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/4800-self-assessment-scams-reported

HMRC’s guidance on phishing and scams can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-phishing-and-scams-detailed-information

Alongside communications regarding avoiding scams, HMRC also uses a range of communication activity to support customers to file their Self Assessment return on time. This starts with the notice to file issued to all relevant customers in April and with reminders issued directly to customer’s Personal Tax Accounts (PTA) and HMRC app or by letter, email and text. HMRC also encourages customers to file on time through their annual multi channel communications campaign.

A wide range of online help and support is available on GOV.UK. This includes guidance notes and help sheets, as well as online webinars and recorded videos on YouTube covering various Self Assessment scenarios.

In addition, there is information on GOV.UK on how a customer can ask for the requirement to file a Self Assessment tax return to be withdrawn if they no longer meet the Self Assessment criteria. This can be done through HMRC’s digital services, via their PTA or by calling HMRC.

Customers are also able to use the services of an agent to file their returns. In 2024/25, 59% of the Self Assessment population was represented. HMRC works closely with agent representative bodies to encourage the early filing of returns.

HMRC monitors the effectiveness of their communications. Last year, over 90% of customers filed their Self Assessment return on time. The Self Assessment campaign tracking report 2024 to 2025 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-2024-to-2025-report/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-report-2024-to-2025

Late filing penalties incentivise good filing behaviours. They are an important feature of tax administration to encourage taxpayers to meet their obligations and to provide sanctions for those who do not.

All customers have the right to appeal against late filing penalties within 30 days of the date of the penalty notice. HMRC will cancel penalties where a customer can demonstrate that they had a reasonable excuse for the failure to file their return on time and the failure was remedied shortly after the reasonable excuse ceased. HMRC will also cancel any late filing penalties when a return is not required, such as where a customer has ceased self-employment or no longer meets the Self Assessment criteria.

Penalty notices are issued automatically and therefore all customers who miss the filing deadline will receive a filing penalty.

The tables below set out the number of fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing, the daily penalties issued for late filing and the values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020.

Table 1: Fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing

Table 2: Daily penalties issued for late filing

The figures in tables 1 and 2 are rounded to the nearest 10,000, and are correct as of December 2025.

Table 3 – Values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020

The figures in table 3 are rounded to the nearest £1m and are correct as of December 2025.

Notes for tables 1 – 3:

1. Tax year relates to the year associated with the return, not the year the penalty was issued, e.g. if someone submits their Self Assessment return for the year 2019/20 in 2021, the penalty would be associated with the 2019/20 tax year in the data above.
2. Figures are not final as penalties continue to be charged and collected for previous years.
3. Caution should be applied when comparing across years, as the sum of penalties collected will continue to rise as returns come in and the population grows.
4. It is possible for an individual to receive multiple sets of penalties.
5. Penalties in the tables above include penalties for individuals and for partnerships.
6. Penalty data for the tax year 2024/25 is not yet available as the online return deadline for that tax year is 31 January 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HMRC plans to take to encourage people who have yet to file to submit their self-assessment tax return on time.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC app users can choose to enable ‘push notifications’ to receive a variety of updates, including payment notifications. At present, this feature operates on an ‘all or nothing’ basis, meaning users cannot select only payment notifications. Since the app launched, over 5.3 million users have opted to enable push notifications, although some may have subsequently chosen to disable them.

HMRC regularly shares guidance and updates to help taxpayers stay safe online and protect themselves from scams and fraudulent messages, particularly during the Self Assessment period.

They include practical advice and links to relevant materials in their Self Assessment emails, social media content, radio broadcasts, press releases, GOV.UK guidance and through other communication products.

For example, the following press releases regarding Self Assessment scams were published in August and December 2025 respectively:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scams-warning-as-self-assessment-customers-targeted

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/4800-self-assessment-scams-reported

HMRC’s guidance on phishing and scams can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-phishing-and-scams-detailed-information

Alongside communications regarding avoiding scams, HMRC also uses a range of communication activity to support customers to file their Self Assessment return on time. This starts with the notice to file issued to all relevant customers in April and with reminders issued directly to customer’s Personal Tax Accounts (PTA) and HMRC app or by letter, email and text. HMRC also encourages customers to file on time through their annual multi channel communications campaign.

A wide range of online help and support is available on GOV.UK. This includes guidance notes and help sheets, as well as online webinars and recorded videos on YouTube covering various Self Assessment scenarios.

In addition, there is information on GOV.UK on how a customer can ask for the requirement to file a Self Assessment tax return to be withdrawn if they no longer meet the Self Assessment criteria. This can be done through HMRC’s digital services, via their PTA or by calling HMRC.

Customers are also able to use the services of an agent to file their returns. In 2024/25, 59% of the Self Assessment population was represented. HMRC works closely with agent representative bodies to encourage the early filing of returns.

HMRC monitors the effectiveness of their communications. Last year, over 90% of customers filed their Self Assessment return on time. The Self Assessment campaign tracking report 2024 to 2025 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-2024-to-2025-report/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-report-2024-to-2025

Late filing penalties incentivise good filing behaviours. They are an important feature of tax administration to encourage taxpayers to meet their obligations and to provide sanctions for those who do not.

All customers have the right to appeal against late filing penalties within 30 days of the date of the penalty notice. HMRC will cancel penalties where a customer can demonstrate that they had a reasonable excuse for the failure to file their return on time and the failure was remedied shortly after the reasonable excuse ceased. HMRC will also cancel any late filing penalties when a return is not required, such as where a customer has ceased self-employment or no longer meets the Self Assessment criteria.

Penalty notices are issued automatically and therefore all customers who miss the filing deadline will receive a filing penalty.

The tables below set out the number of fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing, the daily penalties issued for late filing and the values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020.

Table 1: Fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing

Table 2: Daily penalties issued for late filing

The figures in tables 1 and 2 are rounded to the nearest 10,000, and are correct as of December 2025.

Table 3 – Values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020

The figures in table 3 are rounded to the nearest £1m and are correct as of December 2025.

Notes for tables 1 – 3:

1. Tax year relates to the year associated with the return, not the year the penalty was issued, e.g. if someone submits their Self Assessment return for the year 2019/20 in 2021, the penalty would be associated with the 2019/20 tax year in the data above.
2. Figures are not final as penalties continue to be charged and collected for previous years.
3. Caution should be applied when comparing across years, as the sum of penalties collected will continue to rise as returns come in and the population grows.
4. It is possible for an individual to receive multiple sets of penalties.
5. Penalties in the tables above include penalties for individuals and for partnerships.
6. Penalty data for the tax year 2024/25 is not yet available as the online return deadline for that tax year is 31 January 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many additional daily penalties were issued for failing to submit a self-assessment tax return on time in each year since 2020.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC app users can choose to enable ‘push notifications’ to receive a variety of updates, including payment notifications. At present, this feature operates on an ‘all or nothing’ basis, meaning users cannot select only payment notifications. Since the app launched, over 5.3 million users have opted to enable push notifications, although some may have subsequently chosen to disable them.

HMRC regularly shares guidance and updates to help taxpayers stay safe online and protect themselves from scams and fraudulent messages, particularly during the Self Assessment period.

They include practical advice and links to relevant materials in their Self Assessment emails, social media content, radio broadcasts, press releases, GOV.UK guidance and through other communication products.

For example, the following press releases regarding Self Assessment scams were published in August and December 2025 respectively:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scams-warning-as-self-assessment-customers-targeted

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/4800-self-assessment-scams-reported

HMRC’s guidance on phishing and scams can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-phishing-and-scams-detailed-information

Alongside communications regarding avoiding scams, HMRC also uses a range of communication activity to support customers to file their Self Assessment return on time. This starts with the notice to file issued to all relevant customers in April and with reminders issued directly to customer’s Personal Tax Accounts (PTA) and HMRC app or by letter, email and text. HMRC also encourages customers to file on time through their annual multi channel communications campaign.

A wide range of online help and support is available on GOV.UK. This includes guidance notes and help sheets, as well as online webinars and recorded videos on YouTube covering various Self Assessment scenarios.

In addition, there is information on GOV.UK on how a customer can ask for the requirement to file a Self Assessment tax return to be withdrawn if they no longer meet the Self Assessment criteria. This can be done through HMRC’s digital services, via their PTA or by calling HMRC.

Customers are also able to use the services of an agent to file their returns. In 2024/25, 59% of the Self Assessment population was represented. HMRC works closely with agent representative bodies to encourage the early filing of returns.

HMRC monitors the effectiveness of their communications. Last year, over 90% of customers filed their Self Assessment return on time. The Self Assessment campaign tracking report 2024 to 2025 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-2024-to-2025-report/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-report-2024-to-2025

Late filing penalties incentivise good filing behaviours. They are an important feature of tax administration to encourage taxpayers to meet their obligations and to provide sanctions for those who do not.

All customers have the right to appeal against late filing penalties within 30 days of the date of the penalty notice. HMRC will cancel penalties where a customer can demonstrate that they had a reasonable excuse for the failure to file their return on time and the failure was remedied shortly after the reasonable excuse ceased. HMRC will also cancel any late filing penalties when a return is not required, such as where a customer has ceased self-employment or no longer meets the Self Assessment criteria.

Penalty notices are issued automatically and therefore all customers who miss the filing deadline will receive a filing penalty.

The tables below set out the number of fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing, the daily penalties issued for late filing and the values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020.

Table 1: Fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing

Table 2: Daily penalties issued for late filing

The figures in tables 1 and 2 are rounded to the nearest 10,000, and are correct as of December 2025.

Table 3 – Values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020

The figures in table 3 are rounded to the nearest £1m and are correct as of December 2025.

Notes for tables 1 – 3:

1. Tax year relates to the year associated with the return, not the year the penalty was issued, e.g. if someone submits their Self Assessment return for the year 2019/20 in 2021, the penalty would be associated with the 2019/20 tax year in the data above.
2. Figures are not final as penalties continue to be charged and collected for previous years.
3. Caution should be applied when comparing across years, as the sum of penalties collected will continue to rise as returns come in and the population grows.
4. It is possible for an individual to receive multiple sets of penalties.
5. Penalties in the tables above include penalties for individuals and for partnerships.
6. Penalty data for the tax year 2024/25 is not yet available as the online return deadline for that tax year is 31 January 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many fixed penalties have been issued for failure to complete a self-assessment tax return on time in each year since 2020.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC app users can choose to enable ‘push notifications’ to receive a variety of updates, including payment notifications. At present, this feature operates on an ‘all or nothing’ basis, meaning users cannot select only payment notifications. Since the app launched, over 5.3 million users have opted to enable push notifications, although some may have subsequently chosen to disable them.

HMRC regularly shares guidance and updates to help taxpayers stay safe online and protect themselves from scams and fraudulent messages, particularly during the Self Assessment period.

They include practical advice and links to relevant materials in their Self Assessment emails, social media content, radio broadcasts, press releases, GOV.UK guidance and through other communication products.

For example, the following press releases regarding Self Assessment scams were published in August and December 2025 respectively:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scams-warning-as-self-assessment-customers-targeted

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/4800-self-assessment-scams-reported

HMRC’s guidance on phishing and scams can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-phishing-and-scams-detailed-information

Alongside communications regarding avoiding scams, HMRC also uses a range of communication activity to support customers to file their Self Assessment return on time. This starts with the notice to file issued to all relevant customers in April and with reminders issued directly to customer’s Personal Tax Accounts (PTA) and HMRC app or by letter, email and text. HMRC also encourages customers to file on time through their annual multi channel communications campaign.

A wide range of online help and support is available on GOV.UK. This includes guidance notes and help sheets, as well as online webinars and recorded videos on YouTube covering various Self Assessment scenarios.

In addition, there is information on GOV.UK on how a customer can ask for the requirement to file a Self Assessment tax return to be withdrawn if they no longer meet the Self Assessment criteria. This can be done through HMRC’s digital services, via their PTA or by calling HMRC.

Customers are also able to use the services of an agent to file their returns. In 2024/25, 59% of the Self Assessment population was represented. HMRC works closely with agent representative bodies to encourage the early filing of returns.

HMRC monitors the effectiveness of their communications. Last year, over 90% of customers filed their Self Assessment return on time. The Self Assessment campaign tracking report 2024 to 2025 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-2024-to-2025-report/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-report-2024-to-2025

Late filing penalties incentivise good filing behaviours. They are an important feature of tax administration to encourage taxpayers to meet their obligations and to provide sanctions for those who do not.

All customers have the right to appeal against late filing penalties within 30 days of the date of the penalty notice. HMRC will cancel penalties where a customer can demonstrate that they had a reasonable excuse for the failure to file their return on time and the failure was remedied shortly after the reasonable excuse ceased. HMRC will also cancel any late filing penalties when a return is not required, such as where a customer has ceased self-employment or no longer meets the Self Assessment criteria.

Penalty notices are issued automatically and therefore all customers who miss the filing deadline will receive a filing penalty.

The tables below set out the number of fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing, the daily penalties issued for late filing and the values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020.

Table 1: Fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing

Table 2: Daily penalties issued for late filing

The figures in tables 1 and 2 are rounded to the nearest 10,000, and are correct as of December 2025.

Table 3 – Values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020

The figures in table 3 are rounded to the nearest £1m and are correct as of December 2025.

Notes for tables 1 – 3:

1. Tax year relates to the year associated with the return, not the year the penalty was issued, e.g. if someone submits their Self Assessment return for the year 2019/20 in 2021, the penalty would be associated with the 2019/20 tax year in the data above.
2. Figures are not final as penalties continue to be charged and collected for previous years.
3. Caution should be applied when comparing across years, as the sum of penalties collected will continue to rise as returns come in and the population grows.
4. It is possible for an individual to receive multiple sets of penalties.
5. Penalties in the tables above include penalties for individuals and for partnerships.
6. Penalty data for the tax year 2024/25 is not yet available as the online return deadline for that tax year is 31 January 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue HMRC has collected from self assessment late filing penalties in each tax year since 2020.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC app users can choose to enable ‘push notifications’ to receive a variety of updates, including payment notifications. At present, this feature operates on an ‘all or nothing’ basis, meaning users cannot select only payment notifications. Since the app launched, over 5.3 million users have opted to enable push notifications, although some may have subsequently chosen to disable them.

HMRC regularly shares guidance and updates to help taxpayers stay safe online and protect themselves from scams and fraudulent messages, particularly during the Self Assessment period.

They include practical advice and links to relevant materials in their Self Assessment emails, social media content, radio broadcasts, press releases, GOV.UK guidance and through other communication products.

For example, the following press releases regarding Self Assessment scams were published in August and December 2025 respectively:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scams-warning-as-self-assessment-customers-targeted

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/4800-self-assessment-scams-reported

HMRC’s guidance on phishing and scams can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-phishing-and-scams-detailed-information

Alongside communications regarding avoiding scams, HMRC also uses a range of communication activity to support customers to file their Self Assessment return on time. This starts with the notice to file issued to all relevant customers in April and with reminders issued directly to customer’s Personal Tax Accounts (PTA) and HMRC app or by letter, email and text. HMRC also encourages customers to file on time through their annual multi channel communications campaign.

A wide range of online help and support is available on GOV.UK. This includes guidance notes and help sheets, as well as online webinars and recorded videos on YouTube covering various Self Assessment scenarios.

In addition, there is information on GOV.UK on how a customer can ask for the requirement to file a Self Assessment tax return to be withdrawn if they no longer meet the Self Assessment criteria. This can be done through HMRC’s digital services, via their PTA or by calling HMRC.

Customers are also able to use the services of an agent to file their returns. In 2024/25, 59% of the Self Assessment population was represented. HMRC works closely with agent representative bodies to encourage the early filing of returns.

HMRC monitors the effectiveness of their communications. Last year, over 90% of customers filed their Self Assessment return on time. The Self Assessment campaign tracking report 2024 to 2025 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-2024-to-2025-report/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-report-2024-to-2025

Late filing penalties incentivise good filing behaviours. They are an important feature of tax administration to encourage taxpayers to meet their obligations and to provide sanctions for those who do not.

All customers have the right to appeal against late filing penalties within 30 days of the date of the penalty notice. HMRC will cancel penalties where a customer can demonstrate that they had a reasonable excuse for the failure to file their return on time and the failure was remedied shortly after the reasonable excuse ceased. HMRC will also cancel any late filing penalties when a return is not required, such as where a customer has ceased self-employment or no longer meets the Self Assessment criteria.

Penalty notices are issued automatically and therefore all customers who miss the filing deadline will receive a filing penalty.

The tables below set out the number of fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing, the daily penalties issued for late filing and the values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020.

Table 1: Fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing

Table 2: Daily penalties issued for late filing

The figures in tables 1 and 2 are rounded to the nearest 10,000, and are correct as of December 2025.

Table 3 – Values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020

The figures in table 3 are rounded to the nearest £1m and are correct as of December 2025.

Notes for tables 1 – 3:

1. Tax year relates to the year associated with the return, not the year the penalty was issued, e.g. if someone submits their Self Assessment return for the year 2019/20 in 2021, the penalty would be associated with the 2019/20 tax year in the data above.
2. Figures are not final as penalties continue to be charged and collected for previous years.
3. Caution should be applied when comparing across years, as the sum of penalties collected will continue to rise as returns come in and the population grows.
4. It is possible for an individual to receive multiple sets of penalties.
5. Penalties in the tables above include penalties for individuals and for partnerships.
6. Penalty data for the tax year 2024/25 is not yet available as the online return deadline for that tax year is 31 January 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have accessed the HMRC app to set up payment notifications.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC app users can choose to enable ‘push notifications’ to receive a variety of updates, including payment notifications. At present, this feature operates on an ‘all or nothing’ basis, meaning users cannot select only payment notifications. Since the app launched, over 5.3 million users have opted to enable push notifications, although some may have subsequently chosen to disable them.

HMRC regularly shares guidance and updates to help taxpayers stay safe online and protect themselves from scams and fraudulent messages, particularly during the Self Assessment period.

They include practical advice and links to relevant materials in their Self Assessment emails, social media content, radio broadcasts, press releases, GOV.UK guidance and through other communication products.

For example, the following press releases regarding Self Assessment scams were published in August and December 2025 respectively:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scams-warning-as-self-assessment-customers-targeted

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/4800-self-assessment-scams-reported

HMRC’s guidance on phishing and scams can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-phishing-and-scams-detailed-information

Alongside communications regarding avoiding scams, HMRC also uses a range of communication activity to support customers to file their Self Assessment return on time. This starts with the notice to file issued to all relevant customers in April and with reminders issued directly to customer’s Personal Tax Accounts (PTA) and HMRC app or by letter, email and text. HMRC also encourages customers to file on time through their annual multi channel communications campaign.

A wide range of online help and support is available on GOV.UK. This includes guidance notes and help sheets, as well as online webinars and recorded videos on YouTube covering various Self Assessment scenarios.

In addition, there is information on GOV.UK on how a customer can ask for the requirement to file a Self Assessment tax return to be withdrawn if they no longer meet the Self Assessment criteria. This can be done through HMRC’s digital services, via their PTA or by calling HMRC.

Customers are also able to use the services of an agent to file their returns. In 2024/25, 59% of the Self Assessment population was represented. HMRC works closely with agent representative bodies to encourage the early filing of returns.

HMRC monitors the effectiveness of their communications. Last year, over 90% of customers filed their Self Assessment return on time. The Self Assessment campaign tracking report 2024 to 2025 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-2024-to-2025-report/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-report-2024-to-2025

Late filing penalties incentivise good filing behaviours. They are an important feature of tax administration to encourage taxpayers to meet their obligations and to provide sanctions for those who do not.

All customers have the right to appeal against late filing penalties within 30 days of the date of the penalty notice. HMRC will cancel penalties where a customer can demonstrate that they had a reasonable excuse for the failure to file their return on time and the failure was remedied shortly after the reasonable excuse ceased. HMRC will also cancel any late filing penalties when a return is not required, such as where a customer has ceased self-employment or no longer meets the Self Assessment criteria.

Penalty notices are issued automatically and therefore all customers who miss the filing deadline will receive a filing penalty.

The tables below set out the number of fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing, the daily penalties issued for late filing and the values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020.

Table 1: Fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing

Table 2: Daily penalties issued for late filing

The figures in tables 1 and 2 are rounded to the nearest 10,000, and are correct as of December 2025.

Table 3 – Values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020

The figures in table 3 are rounded to the nearest £1m and are correct as of December 2025.

Notes for tables 1 – 3:

1. Tax year relates to the year associated with the return, not the year the penalty was issued, e.g. if someone submits their Self Assessment return for the year 2019/20 in 2021, the penalty would be associated with the 2019/20 tax year in the data above.
2. Figures are not final as penalties continue to be charged and collected for previous years.
3. Caution should be applied when comparing across years, as the sum of penalties collected will continue to rise as returns come in and the population grows.
4. It is possible for an individual to receive multiple sets of penalties.
5. Penalties in the tables above include penalties for individuals and for partnerships.
6. Penalty data for the tax year 2024/25 is not yet available as the online return deadline for that tax year is 31 January 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of late filers.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC app users can choose to enable ‘push notifications’ to receive a variety of updates, including payment notifications. At present, this feature operates on an ‘all or nothing’ basis, meaning users cannot select only payment notifications. Since the app launched, over 5.3 million users have opted to enable push notifications, although some may have subsequently chosen to disable them.

HMRC regularly shares guidance and updates to help taxpayers stay safe online and protect themselves from scams and fraudulent messages, particularly during the Self Assessment period.

They include practical advice and links to relevant materials in their Self Assessment emails, social media content, radio broadcasts, press releases, GOV.UK guidance and through other communication products.

For example, the following press releases regarding Self Assessment scams were published in August and December 2025 respectively:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scams-warning-as-self-assessment-customers-targeted

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/4800-self-assessment-scams-reported

HMRC’s guidance on phishing and scams can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-phishing-and-scams-detailed-information

Alongside communications regarding avoiding scams, HMRC also uses a range of communication activity to support customers to file their Self Assessment return on time. This starts with the notice to file issued to all relevant customers in April and with reminders issued directly to customer’s Personal Tax Accounts (PTA) and HMRC app or by letter, email and text. HMRC also encourages customers to file on time through their annual multi channel communications campaign.

A wide range of online help and support is available on GOV.UK. This includes guidance notes and help sheets, as well as online webinars and recorded videos on YouTube covering various Self Assessment scenarios.

In addition, there is information on GOV.UK on how a customer can ask for the requirement to file a Self Assessment tax return to be withdrawn if they no longer meet the Self Assessment criteria. This can be done through HMRC’s digital services, via their PTA or by calling HMRC.

Customers are also able to use the services of an agent to file their returns. In 2024/25, 59% of the Self Assessment population was represented. HMRC works closely with agent representative bodies to encourage the early filing of returns.

HMRC monitors the effectiveness of their communications. Last year, over 90% of customers filed their Self Assessment return on time. The Self Assessment campaign tracking report 2024 to 2025 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-2024-to-2025-report/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-report-2024-to-2025

Late filing penalties incentivise good filing behaviours. They are an important feature of tax administration to encourage taxpayers to meet their obligations and to provide sanctions for those who do not.

All customers have the right to appeal against late filing penalties within 30 days of the date of the penalty notice. HMRC will cancel penalties where a customer can demonstrate that they had a reasonable excuse for the failure to file their return on time and the failure was remedied shortly after the reasonable excuse ceased. HMRC will also cancel any late filing penalties when a return is not required, such as where a customer has ceased self-employment or no longer meets the Self Assessment criteria.

Penalty notices are issued automatically and therefore all customers who miss the filing deadline will receive a filing penalty.

The tables below set out the number of fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing, the daily penalties issued for late filing and the values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020.

Table 1: Fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing

Table 2: Daily penalties issued for late filing

The figures in tables 1 and 2 are rounded to the nearest 10,000, and are correct as of December 2025.

Table 3 – Values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020

The figures in table 3 are rounded to the nearest £1m and are correct as of December 2025.

Notes for tables 1 – 3:

1. Tax year relates to the year associated with the return, not the year the penalty was issued, e.g. if someone submits their Self Assessment return for the year 2019/20 in 2021, the penalty would be associated with the 2019/20 tax year in the data above.
2. Figures are not final as penalties continue to be charged and collected for previous years.
3. Caution should be applied when comparing across years, as the sum of penalties collected will continue to rise as returns come in and the population grows.
4. It is possible for an individual to receive multiple sets of penalties.
5. Penalties in the tables above include penalties for individuals and for partnerships.
6. Penalty data for the tax year 2024/25 is not yet available as the online return deadline for that tax year is 31 January 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HMRC is taking to support people in meeting the Self Assessment deadline.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC app users can choose to enable ‘push notifications’ to receive a variety of updates, including payment notifications. At present, this feature operates on an ‘all or nothing’ basis, meaning users cannot select only payment notifications. Since the app launched, over 5.3 million users have opted to enable push notifications, although some may have subsequently chosen to disable them.

HMRC regularly shares guidance and updates to help taxpayers stay safe online and protect themselves from scams and fraudulent messages, particularly during the Self Assessment period.

They include practical advice and links to relevant materials in their Self Assessment emails, social media content, radio broadcasts, press releases, GOV.UK guidance and through other communication products.

For example, the following press releases regarding Self Assessment scams were published in August and December 2025 respectively:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scams-warning-as-self-assessment-customers-targeted

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/4800-self-assessment-scams-reported

HMRC’s guidance on phishing and scams can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-phishing-and-scams-detailed-information

Alongside communications regarding avoiding scams, HMRC also uses a range of communication activity to support customers to file their Self Assessment return on time. This starts with the notice to file issued to all relevant customers in April and with reminders issued directly to customer’s Personal Tax Accounts (PTA) and HMRC app or by letter, email and text. HMRC also encourages customers to file on time through their annual multi channel communications campaign.

A wide range of online help and support is available on GOV.UK. This includes guidance notes and help sheets, as well as online webinars and recorded videos on YouTube covering various Self Assessment scenarios.

In addition, there is information on GOV.UK on how a customer can ask for the requirement to file a Self Assessment tax return to be withdrawn if they no longer meet the Self Assessment criteria. This can be done through HMRC’s digital services, via their PTA or by calling HMRC.

Customers are also able to use the services of an agent to file their returns. In 2024/25, 59% of the Self Assessment population was represented. HMRC works closely with agent representative bodies to encourage the early filing of returns.

HMRC monitors the effectiveness of their communications. Last year, over 90% of customers filed their Self Assessment return on time. The Self Assessment campaign tracking report 2024 to 2025 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-2024-to-2025-report/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-report-2024-to-2025

Late filing penalties incentivise good filing behaviours. They are an important feature of tax administration to encourage taxpayers to meet their obligations and to provide sanctions for those who do not.

All customers have the right to appeal against late filing penalties within 30 days of the date of the penalty notice. HMRC will cancel penalties where a customer can demonstrate that they had a reasonable excuse for the failure to file their return on time and the failure was remedied shortly after the reasonable excuse ceased. HMRC will also cancel any late filing penalties when a return is not required, such as where a customer has ceased self-employment or no longer meets the Self Assessment criteria.

Penalty notices are issued automatically and therefore all customers who miss the filing deadline will receive a filing penalty.

The tables below set out the number of fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing, the daily penalties issued for late filing and the values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020.

Table 1: Fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing

Table 2: Daily penalties issued for late filing

The figures in tables 1 and 2 are rounded to the nearest 10,000, and are correct as of December 2025.

Table 3 – Values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020

The figures in table 3 are rounded to the nearest £1m and are correct as of December 2025.

Notes for tables 1 – 3:

1. Tax year relates to the year associated with the return, not the year the penalty was issued, e.g. if someone submits their Self Assessment return for the year 2019/20 in 2021, the penalty would be associated with the 2019/20 tax year in the data above.
2. Figures are not final as penalties continue to be charged and collected for previous years.
3. Caution should be applied when comparing across years, as the sum of penalties collected will continue to rise as returns come in and the population grows.
4. It is possible for an individual to receive multiple sets of penalties.
5. Penalties in the tables above include penalties for individuals and for partnerships.
6. Penalty data for the tax year 2024/25 is not yet available as the online return deadline for that tax year is 31 January 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of people who missed the self-assessment deadline were not subjected to penalties in each of the last three years.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC app users can choose to enable ‘push notifications’ to receive a variety of updates, including payment notifications. At present, this feature operates on an ‘all or nothing’ basis, meaning users cannot select only payment notifications. Since the app launched, over 5.3 million users have opted to enable push notifications, although some may have subsequently chosen to disable them.

HMRC regularly shares guidance and updates to help taxpayers stay safe online and protect themselves from scams and fraudulent messages, particularly during the Self Assessment period.

They include practical advice and links to relevant materials in their Self Assessment emails, social media content, radio broadcasts, press releases, GOV.UK guidance and through other communication products.

For example, the following press releases regarding Self Assessment scams were published in August and December 2025 respectively:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scams-warning-as-self-assessment-customers-targeted

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/4800-self-assessment-scams-reported

HMRC’s guidance on phishing and scams can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-phishing-and-scams-detailed-information

Alongside communications regarding avoiding scams, HMRC also uses a range of communication activity to support customers to file their Self Assessment return on time. This starts with the notice to file issued to all relevant customers in April and with reminders issued directly to customer’s Personal Tax Accounts (PTA) and HMRC app or by letter, email and text. HMRC also encourages customers to file on time through their annual multi channel communications campaign.

A wide range of online help and support is available on GOV.UK. This includes guidance notes and help sheets, as well as online webinars and recorded videos on YouTube covering various Self Assessment scenarios.

In addition, there is information on GOV.UK on how a customer can ask for the requirement to file a Self Assessment tax return to be withdrawn if they no longer meet the Self Assessment criteria. This can be done through HMRC’s digital services, via their PTA or by calling HMRC.

Customers are also able to use the services of an agent to file their returns. In 2024/25, 59% of the Self Assessment population was represented. HMRC works closely with agent representative bodies to encourage the early filing of returns.

HMRC monitors the effectiveness of their communications. Last year, over 90% of customers filed their Self Assessment return on time. The Self Assessment campaign tracking report 2024 to 2025 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-2024-to-2025-report/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-report-2024-to-2025

Late filing penalties incentivise good filing behaviours. They are an important feature of tax administration to encourage taxpayers to meet their obligations and to provide sanctions for those who do not.

All customers have the right to appeal against late filing penalties within 30 days of the date of the penalty notice. HMRC will cancel penalties where a customer can demonstrate that they had a reasonable excuse for the failure to file their return on time and the failure was remedied shortly after the reasonable excuse ceased. HMRC will also cancel any late filing penalties when a return is not required, such as where a customer has ceased self-employment or no longer meets the Self Assessment criteria.

Penalty notices are issued automatically and therefore all customers who miss the filing deadline will receive a filing penalty.

The tables below set out the number of fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing, the daily penalties issued for late filing and the values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020.

Table 1: Fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing

Table 2: Daily penalties issued for late filing

The figures in tables 1 and 2 are rounded to the nearest 10,000, and are correct as of December 2025.

Table 3 – Values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020

The figures in table 3 are rounded to the nearest £1m and are correct as of December 2025.

Notes for tables 1 – 3:

1. Tax year relates to the year associated with the return, not the year the penalty was issued, e.g. if someone submits their Self Assessment return for the year 2019/20 in 2021, the penalty would be associated with the 2019/20 tax year in the data above.
2. Figures are not final as penalties continue to be charged and collected for previous years.
3. Caution should be applied when comparing across years, as the sum of penalties collected will continue to rise as returns come in and the population grows.
4. It is possible for an individual to receive multiple sets of penalties.
5. Penalties in the tables above include penalties for individuals and for partnerships.
6. Penalty data for the tax year 2024/25 is not yet available as the online return deadline for that tax year is 31 January 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of HMRC’s reminders, app notifications and communications in reducing the level of last-minute self assessment tax return filings.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC app users can choose to enable ‘push notifications’ to receive a variety of updates, including payment notifications. At present, this feature operates on an ‘all or nothing’ basis, meaning users cannot select only payment notifications. Since the app launched, over 5.3 million users have opted to enable push notifications, although some may have subsequently chosen to disable them.

HMRC regularly shares guidance and updates to help taxpayers stay safe online and protect themselves from scams and fraudulent messages, particularly during the Self Assessment period.

They include practical advice and links to relevant materials in their Self Assessment emails, social media content, radio broadcasts, press releases, GOV.UK guidance and through other communication products.

For example, the following press releases regarding Self Assessment scams were published in August and December 2025 respectively:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scams-warning-as-self-assessment-customers-targeted

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/4800-self-assessment-scams-reported

HMRC’s guidance on phishing and scams can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-phishing-and-scams-detailed-information

Alongside communications regarding avoiding scams, HMRC also uses a range of communication activity to support customers to file their Self Assessment return on time. This starts with the notice to file issued to all relevant customers in April and with reminders issued directly to customer’s Personal Tax Accounts (PTA) and HMRC app or by letter, email and text. HMRC also encourages customers to file on time through their annual multi channel communications campaign.

A wide range of online help and support is available on GOV.UK. This includes guidance notes and help sheets, as well as online webinars and recorded videos on YouTube covering various Self Assessment scenarios.

In addition, there is information on GOV.UK on how a customer can ask for the requirement to file a Self Assessment tax return to be withdrawn if they no longer meet the Self Assessment criteria. This can be done through HMRC’s digital services, via their PTA or by calling HMRC.

Customers are also able to use the services of an agent to file their returns. In 2024/25, 59% of the Self Assessment population was represented. HMRC works closely with agent representative bodies to encourage the early filing of returns.

HMRC monitors the effectiveness of their communications. Last year, over 90% of customers filed their Self Assessment return on time. The Self Assessment campaign tracking report 2024 to 2025 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-2024-to-2025-report/self-assessment-campaign-tracking-report-2024-to-2025

Late filing penalties incentivise good filing behaviours. They are an important feature of tax administration to encourage taxpayers to meet their obligations and to provide sanctions for those who do not.

All customers have the right to appeal against late filing penalties within 30 days of the date of the penalty notice. HMRC will cancel penalties where a customer can demonstrate that they had a reasonable excuse for the failure to file their return on time and the failure was remedied shortly after the reasonable excuse ceased. HMRC will also cancel any late filing penalties when a return is not required, such as where a customer has ceased self-employment or no longer meets the Self Assessment criteria.

Penalty notices are issued automatically and therefore all customers who miss the filing deadline will receive a filing penalty.

The tables below set out the number of fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing, the daily penalties issued for late filing and the values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020.

Table 1: Fixed £100 penalties raised for late filing

Table 2: Daily penalties issued for late filing

The figures in tables 1 and 2 are rounded to the nearest 10,000, and are correct as of December 2025.

Table 3 – Values of late filing penalties paid for each tax year since 2020

The figures in table 3 are rounded to the nearest £1m and are correct as of December 2025.

Notes for tables 1 – 3:

1. Tax year relates to the year associated with the return, not the year the penalty was issued, e.g. if someone submits their Self Assessment return for the year 2019/20 in 2021, the penalty would be associated with the 2019/20 tax year in the data above.
2. Figures are not final as penalties continue to be charged and collected for previous years.
3. Caution should be applied when comparing across years, as the sum of penalties collected will continue to rise as returns come in and the population grows.
4. It is possible for an individual to receive multiple sets of penalties.
5. Penalties in the tables above include penalties for individuals and for partnerships.
6. Penalty data for the tax year 2024/25 is not yet available as the online return deadline for that tax year is 31 January 2026.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the equitability of the current national funding formula for the Dedicated Schools Grant, in light of disparities in per-pupil funding between local authorities.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The schools national funding formula (NFF) distributes funding for mainstream schools based on schools’ and pupils’ characteristics.

The purpose of the schools NFF is not to give every school, or local authority area, the same level of per-pupil funding. It is right that schools with lots of pupils with additional needs, such as those indicated by measures of deprivation or low prior attainment, attract extra funding to help them meet the needs of all their pupils.

The formula also includes an area cost adjustment to reflect differences in labour market costs across the country. Staffing costs usually make up 70% to 80% of school expenditure, so it is important that schools’ funding takes into account that these costs vary.

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 homeowners who installed loft spray foam insulation during the period in which it was eligible under Government-backed energy efficiency schemes.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Schemes run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero do not have a list of eligible products but require that assessments are made and designs produced for properties individually, with the most appropriate measures installed to the required standard.

Official statistics of government schemes are collected by measure rather than product. Under the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme there were 6,217 pitched roof loft insulation measures installed. As of August 2025, ECO 4 had installed 1,698, and GBIS 130. Spray foam is not the only product used for this measure, so the precise number will be lower.

Official statistics for the schemes can be found here: GHG Vouchers: Green Homes Grant and Home Upgrade Grant statistics - GOV.UK

ECO: Household Energy Efficiency Statistics - GOV.UK

GBIS: Great British Insulation Scheme - GOV.UK

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps is he taking to ensure that homeowners are not financially disadvantaged by future changes in market practice following the installation of Government-supported energy efficiency measures.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government’s Warm Homes Plan, which will be published soon, represents the biggest ever public investment in home upgrades. This exceeds our manifesto commitment and is a major step forward in the Government’s plans to upgrade up to 5 million homes over this Parliament and cut energy bills for good.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to introduce national compensation for homeowners adversely affected by loft spray foam insulation.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

For installations under DESNZ schemes, consumers are entitled to remediation where work has not been up to standard even when an installer has ceased trading. Homeowners should claim through their guarantee where this is the case. However, we understand most spray foam loft insulation has been installed outside of our schemes where the protection available depends on what was agreed at the time between the homeowner and the installer.

Poor-quality installations are the result of years of a failed system, and this government is committed to introducing new reforms to drive up quality and protect consumers through the Warm Homes Plan.

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 his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, what analysis his Department has conducted on the suitability of establishing parish councils in areas undergoing local government reorganisation.

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

The government recognises that local authorities undergoing Local Government Reorganisation may wish to establish new town and parish councils through the separate Community Governance Review process. In doing so, they should show how these will contribute to reorganisation’s overall goal of creating simpler structures that deliver high quality and sustainable public services to citizens.

The government views the existing Community Governance Review process as suitable in ensuring that parishing arrangements reflect the needs and wishes of local communities.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1132, what measures will be in place to ensure that council areas undergoing reorganisation do not overspend due to their debts being inherited by a new council area.

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

On the management of debt, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77936 on 13 October 2025. It is the responsibility of councils to manage their budgets, and it is standard for councils to borrow and to hold debt, which they will do in the normal course of business. Local government reorganisation does not change this.

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 his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, whether his Department plans to change rules for the establishment and disestablishment of parish councils.

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

The government recognises that local authorities undergoing Local Government Reorganisation may wish to establish new town and parish councils through the separate Community Governance Review process. In doing so, they should show how these will contribute to reorganisation’s overall goal of creating simpler structures that deliver high quality and sustainable public services to citizens.

The government views the existing Community Governance Review process as suitable in ensuring that parishing arrangements reflect the needs and wishes of local communities.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report col 1130, whether his Department have any plans to set a per-capita upper limit for debt inheritance for reorganised councils in Essex.

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

On the management of debt, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77936 on 13 October 2025. It is the responsibility of councils to manage their budgets, and it is standard for councils to borrow and to hold debt, which they will do in the normal course of business. Local government reorganisation does not change this.

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 his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, whether he plans to abolish the system of elections by thirds.

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

The Government has no plans to abolish election by thirds.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the logistics sector of transitioning to zero-emission vehicles by 2035.

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

We have launched an open consultation on potential options for a future regulatory framework to decarbonise HGVs in the UK and support delivery of phase out dates for new non-zero emission HGVs. This consultation closes on 17 March 2026.   We will publish a cost benefit analysis alongside any proposals for future legislation, which will assess the costs and benefits of transitioning to zero emission HGVs.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people convicted of illegal entry since the commencement of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 have received the maximum sentence available for that offence; and what assessment she has made of the potential implications for his policies of that figure.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

There have been no prosecutions resulting in the maximum sentence for illegal entry.

Maximum sentences are in place to deal with the most serious and egregious offenders, and their usage is not expected to be a commonplace occurrence.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what impact on applications for refugee status in the UK transpires when an applicant's home country refuses to share criminal activity data with UK authorities.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office performs mandatory and case-by-case verification and security checks on individuals applying to enter or remain in the UK. To protect the integrity of the specific identity and security checking processes that are conducted, information about them is not disclosed publicly.

We will deny the benefits of refugee status to those who commit serious crimes and are a danger to the community or those who are a threat to national security. Article 1F of the Refugee Convention and Section 72 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 allow us to exclude individuals from protection status where there are serious reasons to show they have committed a particularly serious crime or pose a danger to the community.

In accordance with our obligations under the Refugee Convention and domestic law, we do not disclose information about an individual’s asylum claim to their home country or seek information in a way that could expose them, or any family who remain in that country, to serious risk.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which countries currently refuse to share criminal record data with UK immigration authorities as part of visa or refugee application processes.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office performs mandatory and case-by-case verification and security checks on individuals applying to enter or remain in the UK. To protect the integrity of the specific identity and security checking processes that are conducted, information about them is not disclosed publicly.

We will deny the benefits of refugee status to those who commit serious crimes and are a danger to the community or those who are a threat to national security. Article 1F of the Refugee Convention and Section 72 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 allow us to exclude individuals from protection status where there are serious reasons to show they have committed a particularly serious crime or pose a danger to the community.

In accordance with our obligations under the Refugee Convention and domestic law, we do not disclose information about an individual’s asylum claim to their home country or seek information in a way that could expose them, or any family who remain in that country, to serious risk.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions his Department have had with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on the process of public consultation on new boundary wards.

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

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is an independent body, accountable to Parliament, responsible for delivering fair electoral and boundary arrangements for English councils. As an independent body, decisions about the process of public consultation on new ward boundaries are a matter for the Commission in line with its statutory duties. The Department has had no recent discussions with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on this process.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of the ineligibility of further education colleges to reclaim VAT on purchases linked to education and training on costs to those colleges.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Further Education (FE) funding is vital to ensure people are being trained in the skills they need to thrive in the modern labour market. The 2025 Spending Review provided an additional £1.2 billion per year by 2028-29 for skills and £1.7 billion of capital funding to help colleges maintain the condition of their estate. In addition, the Government is providing £375 million of capital investment to support the FE system to accommodate increasing student numbers.

For their non-business activity, FE colleges are unable to reclaim VAT incurred. We operate several VAT refund schemes for schools and academies which are designed variously to ensure that VAT is not a burden on local taxation, and that academies are not disincentivised to leave LA control. FE colleges do not meet the criteria for either scheme.

In relation to business activity, FE colleges enjoy an exemption from VAT which means that they do not have to charge VAT to students, but cannot recover it either.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the judgment in R (on the application of PACCAR Inc and others) v Competition Appeal Tribunal and others [2023] UKSC 28 as of 26 July 2023, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the judgment on the UK’s position as a global centre for dispute resolution and on the wider legal services sector.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Government recognisessthat the PACCAR judgment introduced significant uncertainty about whether Litigation Funding Agreements remain valid and brought to light concerns about the regulatory regime that applies to them.

That is why, on 17 December 2025, we announced our intention to introduce legislation to mitigate the effects of the PACCAR judgment and bring in proportionate regulation of litigation funding agreements. Third-party litigation funding plays a critical role in access to justice and in maintaining the attractiveness of England and Wales as a jurisdiction and we are committed to ensuring it works fairly for all. We will outline next steps in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the judgment in R (on the application of PACCAR Inc and others) v Competition Appeal Tribunal and others [2023] UKSC 28 as of 26 July 2023, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the judgment on the stability and functioning of the litigation funding sector.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Government recognisessthat the PACCAR judgment introduced significant uncertainty about whether Litigation Funding Agreements remain valid and brought to light concerns about the regulatory regime that applies to them.

That is why, on 17 December 2025, we announced our intention to introduce legislation to mitigate the effects of the PACCAR judgment and bring in proportionate regulation of litigation funding agreements. Third-party litigation funding plays a critical role in access to justice and in maintaining the attractiveness of England and Wales as a jurisdiction and we are committed to ensuring it works fairly for all. We will outline next steps in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in what proportion of trials without a jury was a not guilty verdict given in each year since 2020.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on the volume and sentencing outcomes of cases heard at the magistrates’ court for triable either way offences and indictable offences (i.e., trials without a jury), in the Magistrates’ Court data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics quarterly - GOV.UK.

The volume and sentencing outcomes of cases heard at the Crown Court is available in the Crown Court data tool by offence type. This includes the number of cases which are convicted and acquitted.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in what proportion of trials juries reached a not guilty verdict in each year since 2020.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on the volume and sentencing outcomes of cases heard at the magistrates’ court for triable either way offences and indictable offences (i.e., trials without a jury), in the Magistrates’ Court data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics quarterly - GOV.UK.

The volume and sentencing outcomes of cases heard at the Crown Court is available in the Crown Court data tool by offence type. This includes the number of cases which are convicted and acquitted.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January to Question 102676, on Government Departments: Social Media, how much the Government has spent on targeted advertising on social media platforms since 2024.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

All government advertising on social media platforms is targeted.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 December 2025 to Question 99417 on Undocumented Migrants, what steps she is taking to strengthen (a) statutory and (b) operational powers to (i) relocate and (ii) detain illegal migrants.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

In our Restoring Order and Control statement, we set out a series of measures designed to increase the rate of removal of illegal migrants from the UK, focusing on five areas. First, scaling up removals of those whose claims have failed. Second, imposing sanctions on countries that refuse to take their citizens back. Third, reforming our appeals system. Fourth, pursuing legal reform, both nationally and internationally. Finally, tackling other barriers that are used today to block removals.

Immigration detention plays a key role in maintaining effective immigration controls and securing the UK’s borders. We have made significant reforms to detention over the past few years in line with external reports and recommendations including strengthening our powers to detain individuals who arrive unlawfully through the Border, Security and Asylum Act 2025, enabling detention from the point an individual is notified they are liable for removal. We also expanded the detention estate with the opening of IRC Campsfield in December 2025.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her Department's press release entitled Government modernises exam records with new app published on 8 January 2026, how her Department calculated the £30 million per year saving in administrative costs by utilising the Education Records app.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The £30 million saving is based on reducing administrative processes in further education and apprenticeships. Extensive user research with colleges identified activities that could be eliminated or streamlined, including photocopying documentation, manually matching emails with applications, and reducing data entry and correction through improved quality. Other efficiencies include removing support time for paperwork, eliminating manual searches for unique learner numbers, and reducing checks on prior attainment to simplify enrolment for mathematics and English. These changes will also reduce delays caused by missing documentation and cut follow-up activities linked to incomplete records.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her Department's press release entitled Government modernises exam records with new app published on 8 January 2026, what data her Department holds on the impact on further education enrolment in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands by those who utilised the Education Records app.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Further education (FE) providers and the Association of Colleges are supportive of the Education Record and expect this to reduce administrative burden and costs. Once MIS systems are able to read the app digitally and good uptake is reflected among Year 11 students, FE providers are expected to fully adopt the Education Record.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her Department's press release entitled Government modernises exam records with new app published on 8 January 2026, whether her Department has any plans to expand the Education Record app to include further and higher education-level qualifications.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The App includes qualifications data that the department receives from Awarding Bodies which form part of the Personal Learning Record. This includes general and vocational qualifications, such as QCF, A levels, GCSEs, BTEC, diplomas and Functional Skills. The department will review use of the app and look at future developments following the national pilot, which may include expanding the content of the App.

Plans for future content have not been developed or tested with Education sector stakeholders.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her Department's press release entitled Government modernises exam records with new app published on 8 January 2026, what estimate her Department has made of the ongoing costs of maintaining and hosting the Education Records app per year.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department estimates running costs of approximately £1 million per year, based on staff, systems used to store and manage data, and software licences.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her Department's press release entitled 'Government modernises exam records with new app' published on 8 January 2026, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of developing the Education Record app.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

£5.5 million has been spent over the last two years. Prior to this, this was part of a wider project looking at options to improve data sharing with the further education sector, looking at cost and burden. One of the options that came from this research was the Education Record.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of AI-generated transcripts in criminal proceedings; and how errors will be a) identified, b) challenged and c) corrected.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

HMCTS recognises the significant potential for AI transcription to drive productivity across the courts and tribunals. As such, HMCTS is piloting how automated transcription (using AI) could be used across all courts and tribunals, including criminal courts. This work is one of 15 AI Exemplar projects across Government.

At the start of 2025, HMCTS completed testing of how AI Transcription could be used to enhance efficiency in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber. This work evidenced strong accuracy, and potential efficiency gains achievable through AI-enabled transcription.

In line with HMCTS Responsible AI principles, any work to scale the provision of AI-generated transcripts across the courts and tribunals will establish robust processes for how errors will be a) identified, b) challenged and c) corrected.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the press release, published on 12 January 2026, entitled UK and Ecuador join forces to tackle cocaine trade at source, what the cost was of providing equipment to Ecuador to assist with preventing the export of drugs since 2020.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Home Office International Operations and UK law enforcement are stationed in Ecuador with officers providing training, equipment and support to enhance the capabilities of Ecuadorian law enforcement – better preventing cocaine from reaching British borders.

Funding for UK law enforcement activity and support in Ecuador is provided via the Integrated Security Fund, Home Office budgetary allocations and law enforcement agency budgets.

The Home Office does not comment on overseas operational deployments for security reasons.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the press release, published on 12 January 2026, entitled UK and Ecuador join forces to tackle cocaine trade at source, what equipment has been provided by the UK to Ecuador to assist with the prevention of drug exports.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Home Office International Operations and UK law enforcement are stationed in Ecuador with officers providing training, equipment and support to enhance the capabilities of Ecuadorian law enforcement – better preventing cocaine from reaching British borders.

Funding for UK law enforcement activity and support in Ecuador is provided via the Integrated Security Fund, Home Office budgetary allocations and law enforcement agency budgets.

The Home Office does not comment on overseas operational deployments for security reasons.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the press release, published on 12 January 2026, entitled UK and Ecuador join forces to tackle cocaine trade at source, how many UK police officers supported the training of Ecuadorian police in 2025.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Home Office International Operations and UK law enforcement are stationed in Ecuador with officers providing training, equipment and support to enhance the capabilities of Ecuadorian law enforcement – better preventing cocaine from reaching British borders.

Funding for UK law enforcement activity and support in Ecuador is provided via the Integrated Security Fund, Home Office budgetary allocations and law enforcement agency budgets.

The Home Office does not comment on overseas operational deployments for security reasons.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's press release published on 12 January 2026 entitled UK and Ecuador join forces to tackle cocaine trade at source, what recent assessment has she made of the potential impact of bilateral cooperation with Ecuador to reduce the export of drugs to the UK on the level of criminal activity in the UK.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Government is concerned by the impact that drug trafficking from South America, particularly cocaine trafficking, is having in the UK and its Overseas Territories. Tackling the supply of drugs remains a priority for this Government and will play a critical role in making our streets safer, including delivering our mission to halve knife crime over the next decade.

Ecuador is a key smuggling route for cocaine ending up on UK streets, making joint action essential as part of the UK’s end-to-end approach, including working with law enforcement partners internationally, and at the UK border to tackle the gangs responsible for drug trafficking. Home Office International Operations and UK law enforcement are stationed in Ecuador with officers providing training, equipment and support to enhance the capabilities of Ecuadorian law enforcement – better preventing cocaine from reaching British borders.

In 2024, in Ecuador alone, Home Office International supported the seizure of nearly 95 out of the 300 tonnes seized by police. In May 2025, the UK and Ecuador signed a memorandum of understanding, cementing both countries’ commitment to dismantling and disrupting violent criminal networks, which threaten the safety of communities in Britain and South America alike.

Funding for UK law enforcement activity and support in Ecuador is provided via the Integrated Security Fund, Home Office Drug Strategy funding and law enforcement agency budgets.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's press release published on 12 January 2026 entitled UK and Ecuador join forces to tackle cocaine trade at source, what estimate has she made of the cost to UK police forces and other law enforcement organisations of providing training to Ecuador to prevent the export of drugs.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Government is concerned by the impact that drug trafficking from South America, particularly cocaine trafficking, is having in the UK and its Overseas Territories. Tackling the supply of drugs remains a priority for this Government and will play a critical role in making our streets safer, including delivering our mission to halve knife crime over the next decade.

Ecuador is a key smuggling route for cocaine ending up on UK streets, making joint action essential as part of the UK’s end-to-end approach, including working with law enforcement partners internationally, and at the UK border to tackle the gangs responsible for drug trafficking. Home Office International Operations and UK law enforcement are stationed in Ecuador with officers providing training, equipment and support to enhance the capabilities of Ecuadorian law enforcement – better preventing cocaine from reaching British borders.

In 2024, in Ecuador alone, Home Office International supported the seizure of nearly 95 out of the 300 tonnes seized by police. In May 2025, the UK and Ecuador signed a memorandum of understanding, cementing both countries’ commitment to dismantling and disrupting violent criminal networks, which threaten the safety of communities in Britain and South America alike.

Funding for UK law enforcement activity and support in Ecuador is provided via the Integrated Security Fund, Home Office Drug Strategy funding and law enforcement agency budgets.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 102432 on Council Housing: Basildon and Thurrock, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Government support on the number of additional council houses that will be constructed in (a) Basildon and (b) Thurrock in the next five years.

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

My Department does not carry out assessments of the impact of government support on the potential number of additional council houses that might be delivered in each local area.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of excluding decapod crustaceans from the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 on the Government's approach to animal sentience.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 recognises decapod crustaceans as sentient beings. The Government remains committed to an evidence-based and proportionate approach to setting welfare standards for decapod crustaceans, both for those caught for human consumption and those used in scientific research.

The Home Office is carefully considering next steps, in collaboration with other relevant departments, on whether decapod crustaceans should be brought within the scope of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

The Government is committed to non-animal alternatives in science and has published a strategy to support their development, validation and adoption. The strategy is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/replacing-animals-in-science-strategy/replacing-animals-in-science-a-strategy-to-support-the-development-validation-and-uptake-of-alternative-methods

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of a) injuries and b) fatalities where road surface defects were identified as a contributory factor in the last decade.

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

Statistics on reported road injuries and fatalities where a reporting police officer has assigned ‘Poor or defective road surface or deposits on road’ as a contributing road safety factor are published on gov.uk:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68d3d602e65dc716bfb1dd00/ras0701.ods

No further assessment of the trends in these figures has been made.

The Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network, which is why the Government has announced a record of £7.3 billion investment for local highway maintenance over the next four years, bringing annual funding to over £2 billion annually by 2029/30. This investment to improve the condition of our roads will make journeys faster, smoother and safer. This builds on nearly £1.6 billion in capital funding that has been provided for local highways maintenance in England for the financial year 2025/26, a £500 million increase compared to the previous financial year.

Honour and gratitude for British armed forces

Treatment of fathers in family court

British forces on the front line in Afghanistan

Import of illegal meat

200 years of St Mark’s Parish Church, Portadown

Big Garden Bird Watch 2026

Darlington nurses tribunal decision

Peter Hill, visiting every pub in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2020

Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce research funding