Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed reforms in the Consultation on Reform of Landfill Tax in England and Northern Ireland, published on 28 April 2025 on costs to the average UK infrastructure project.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government consulted on proposals for reform of Landfill Tax on 28 April following a call for evidence in 2021. The consultation closed on 28 July, and the government is currently considering responses.
As part of the consultation, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the construction sector. Reducing the amount of waste material sent to landfill remains a key environmental objective, supporting the transition to a circular economy. The government recently published a 10-year infrastructure strategy that set out the government’s long-term plan for economic, housing and social infrastructure to drive growth.
The Government will continue to work across government and engage with stakeholders, including the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, to assess the potential impacts on infrastructure projects. This approach will ensure that infrastructure delivery is supported while advancing circular economy objectives.
The government will respond to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed abolition of the lower rate of Landfill Tax, included in the Consultation on Reform of Landfill Tax in England and Northern Ireland, published on 28 April 2025 on costs to (a) households and (b) the construction industry.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government consulted on proposals for reform of Landfill Tax on 28 April following a call for evidence in 2021. The consultation closed on 28 July, and the government is currently considering responses.
As part of the consultation, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the construction sector. Reducing the amount of waste material sent to landfill remains a key environmental objective, supporting the transition to a circular economy. The government recently published a 10-year infrastructure strategy that set out the government’s long-term plan for economic, housing and social infrastructure to drive growth.
The Government will continue to work across government and engage with stakeholders, including the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, to assess the potential impacts on infrastructure projects. This approach will ensure that infrastructure delivery is supported while advancing circular economy objectives.
The government will respond to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed reforms in the Consultation on Reform of Landfill Tax in England and Northern Ireland, published on 28 April 2025 on UK infrastructure projects.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government consulted on proposals for reform of Landfill Tax on 28 April following a call for evidence in 2021. The consultation closed on 28 July, and the government is currently considering responses.
As part of the consultation, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the construction sector. Reducing the amount of waste material sent to landfill remains a key environmental objective, supporting the transition to a circular economy. The government recently published a 10-year infrastructure strategy that set out the government’s long-term plan for economic, housing and social infrastructure to drive growth.
The Government will continue to work across government and engage with stakeholders, including the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, to assess the potential impacts on infrastructure projects. This approach will ensure that infrastructure delivery is supported while advancing circular economy objectives.
The government will respond to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed reforms in the Consultation on Reform of Landfill Tax in England and Northern Ireland, published on 28 April 2025 on the Government’s housebuilding target.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government consulted on proposals for reform of Landfill Tax on 28 April following a call for evidence in 2021. The consultation closed on 28 July, and the government is currently considering responses.
The government is committed to delivering 1.5 million homes over 5 years as set out in the Plan for Change. The government are working with the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government to assess these impacts and is considering the potential impacts of proposed Landfill Tax reforms on housing delivery and government targets.
The government will respond to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of her proposal for a remote betting and gaming duty on (a) rugby league, (b) snooker and (c) darts.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government consultation on proposals to simplify the current gambling tax system by merging the three current taxes that cover remote (including online) gambling into one closed on 21 July 2025. Responses are now being analysed and a response to the consultation will be published at Autumn Budget 2025.
If any changes are made to gambling duties at a future Budget following the consultation, they will be accompanied by a Tax Information and Impact Note which will set out the expected impacts.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her oral statement of 8 July on Road and Rail Projects, Official Report, column 815-817, what the benefit-cost ratio is for each project.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Business case documents, costs and benefit cost ratios for major schemes, including for the Strategic Road Network and for relevant schemes in the Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline are published on gov.uk.
For the set of 50 schemes referenced in the Secretary of State’s statement on 8 July 2025, detailed Green Book analyses, costs, and benefit cost ratios for each scheme have not been published as a single package.
As each scheme progresses, further documentation is released and made available on gov.uk as appropriate. The Government is committed to transparency and will continue to make business case documents available in line with Green Book and Treasury guidance as schemes move forward.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) implementation of guidance entitled Loot boxes in video games: update on improvements to industry-led protections, published on 18 July 2023.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is committed to ensuring that video games are enjoyed safely and responsibly by everyone and that, where they contain loot boxes, guidance is followed so that appropriate protections are in place for players of all ages.
Following the implementation period of the industry-led protections, DCMS commissioned independent academic research into their effectiveness. The research is in its final stages and a report will be published in due course.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to approve the Ely Area Capacity Enhancements scheme.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Secretary of State updated Parliament on the 7th of July regarding which rail and road infrastructure projects will progress following the completion of the 2025 Spending Review. The Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) was not among those projects funded at this time.
We are focused on prioritising the schemes that will make the greatest difference for passengers and freight and support economic growth as quickly as possible. The previous government had committed to a number of infrastructure projects that were unfunded, this includes the EACE scheme.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the benefit-cost ratio of the Ely Area Capacity Enhancements scheme.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Secretary of State updated Parliament on the 7th of July regarding which rail and road infrastructure projects will progress following the completion of the 2025 Spending Review. The Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) was not among those projects funded at this time.
We are focused on prioritising the schemes that will make the greatest difference for passengers and support economic growth as quickly as possible. The previous government had committed to a number of infrastructure projects that were unfunded, this includes the EACE scheme.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to introduce a provisional registration scheme for trained international dentists to practice (a) under supervision and (b) with training support in the UK.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise that there is a considerable waiting list for candidates to sit the General Dental Council’s (GDC) Overseas Registration Exam (ORE). I have asked the GDC to urgently develop an action plan of concrete measures to reduce the ORE waiting list, and will be regularly meeting with them to monitor progress.
I have welcomed the additional sittings of both parts of the ORE that the GDC has put in place, and their ongoing procurement of new ORE provider contracts. I will continue to discuss the new arrangements with the GDC, with a focus on understanding how they will further increase the availability of the ORE exam in the short and longer term.
We will not be providing the GDC with any additional legislative powers for international registration at this time. Having considered the options for a provisional registration scheme, the Government’s view is that other, more cost-effective and efficient routes to registration should be the immediate priority.
Meanwhile, we expect the GDC to make full use of the flexibility afforded by the international registration reforms introduced in 2023 to ensure that those who have the right skills and experience are able to join its registers as quickly and efficiently as possible.