Lee Barron

The department’s home to school travel policy aims to make sure that no child is prevented from accessing education by a lack of transport. Local authorities must arrange free home to school travel for children of compulsory school age, between 5 to 16, who attend their nearest school and would not be able to walk there because of the distance, their special educational needs, disability or mobility problem, or because the nature of the route means it would be unsafe for them to do so. There are extended rights to free travel for children from low income families.

Local authorities may not charge a fee for transport for eligible children. Some authorities choose to arrange transport for children who are not eligible, but they are not required to do so. They may also charge for such transport, but this is a matter for the local authority.

The department is keen to understand how well home to school transport supports children to access educational opportunities and will be working with our officials on this.

The UK maintains high standards on the information provided on food labels and packaging so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy.

Country of origin information is required for fresh and frozen meat of beef, sheep, goat, pigs and poultry, as well as uncut fresh fruit and vegetables, honey, olive oil, wine and some fish products. The fundamental principles of our food labelling rules are that information provided to the consumer must not mislead and must enable consumers to make informed decisions. Under existing food labelling rules, food that is not of UK origin cannot be labelled in a way, such as with pictures or words, that states or suggests it is of UK origin. This includes the way in which foods are arranged and the setting in which they are displayed.

If processed food products made in the UK provide that origin information to the consumer, the information must also make clear if the primary ingredient is not from the UK e.g. label with 'British cheese made with milk from Ireland’. Shops will often voluntarily label their British cheese, hams and bacon when they are made from British milk and meat, helping shoppers easily identify and buy great British produce.

The Environment Agency (EA) is responsible for assessing environmental permit applications for new incinerators to operate in England and has a duty to assess any application it receives against the requirements of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations (EPR) 2016.

The EA must follow the guidance on determining permit applications which is set out in Section 7 of the EPR Core Guidance and in the EPR Part A Guidance, including for incinerators in residential areas. The guidance documents can be found at the following links:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-permitting-guidance-core-guidance--2
• https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7b8e02e5274a7318b8f6b3/pb13898-epr-guidance-part-a-130222.pdf

As set out in the guidance, in England all large incinerators must comply with strict emission limits and the Best Available Techniques (BAT) conclusions for waste incineration. If impacts from an incinerator could cause an Air Quality Limit or Standard to be exceeded for the local area (as set out in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010), a lower limit for the relevant pollutant could be specified in the permit, or the permit may be refused. The EA will only grant a permit if it is satisfied that the proposal would not give rise to any significant pollution of the environment or harm to human health.

Other than in cases of people nearing the end of life, all claims to either Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are subject to the qualifying period. The qualifying period, together with a prospective test, ensures that the health condition or disability is of a long-term nature. Where the qualifying period has been satisfied, in whole or in part, at the point of claim then entitlement to the benefit can begin from the date of claim or the date the remaining qualifying period is met.

Special considerations apply to claimants who are nearing the end of life, and our arrangements recognise the difficulties faced by people who only have a short time to live with claims being fast tracked. DLA and PIP claimants are regarded as nearing the end of life if they “suffer from a progressive disease, and the person’s death in consequence of that disease can reasonably be expected within 12 months.” These claimants are guaranteed the highest rate of the Care Component of DLA or the enhanced rate of the Daily Living Component of PIP, both currently paid at £108.55 a week.

For Carer’s Allowance (CA), there is no qualifying period, and it is not dependent on the specific illness or disability of the disabled person but instead on the disability benefit being in payment at the appropriate rate. If required, CA can be backdated to the point in which the qualifying benefit for the disability benefit goes into payment.

We have no plans to change these arrangements.

The Department has engaged with a range of stakeholders on the advertising restrictions for less healthy food or drink, also known as products high in fat, salt or sugar, on television and online. The Department will continue to engage with stakeholders as we progress the implementation of the policy.

Under the UK’s Low Value Imports Regime, consignments valued below £135 can be imported into the UK without incurring customs duty. This is a common provision in customs regimes around the world designed to avoid disproportionate burdens on low value trade. All overseas retailers that sell goods from abroad to UK consumers are subject to VAT at the same rates as domestic businesses. We keep the operation and impact of our policies relating to imports under review. The Government is committed to working in partnership with businesses to deliver sustained economic growth.

In August 2023 the Government introduced reforms to alcohol duty so that products are taxed in proportion to their alcoholic strength, not volume. The reforms aimed to modernise and simplify the system, to prioritise public health and incentivise consumption of lower strength products.

To help the wine industry adapt to the new duty system, the current, temporary duty easement was introduced as a transitional measure, which was intended to allow time for wine producers to adapt to calculating duty based on alcohol by volume.

By the planned end-date of 31 January 2025, the wine industry will have had over two years to adapt to the new strength-based system.

The Government publishes tax information and impact notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes. The summary of impacts from the changes to alcohol duty announced at Spring Budget 2023, including the wine easement, can be found here: Reform of Alcohol Duty Rates and Reliefs - GOV.UK

In August 2023 the Government introduced reforms to alcohol duty so that products are taxed in proportion to their alcoholic strength, not volume. The reforms aimed to modernise and simplify the system, to prioritise public health and incentivise consumption of lower strength products.

To help the wine industry adapt to the new duty system, the current, temporary duty easement was introduced as a transitional measure, which was intended to allow time for wine producers to adapt to calculating duty based on alcohol by volume.

By the planned end-date of 31 January 2025, the wine industry will have had over two years to adapt to the new strength-based system.

The Government publishes tax information and impact notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes. The summary of impacts from the changes to alcohol duty announced at Spring Budget 2023, including the wine easement, can be found here: Reform of Alcohol Duty Rates and Reliefs - GOV.UK