Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made a recent assessment of the international competitiveness of air passenger duty.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Air Passenger Duty (APD) applies to airlines and is the principal tax on the aviation sector. It is expected to raise £4.2 billion in 2024-25.
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced Air Passenger Duty (APD) rates for 2026-27, including a partial adjustment to help compensate for two recent years of inflation that was higher than expected. APD rates are set in advance using forecasts of inflation, and so with actual inflation being significantly greater than forecast in 2022 and 2023, APD rates fell in real terms.
The Government is clear that APD is an appropriate tax that ensures airlines make a fair contribution to the public finances, particularly given that tickets are VAT free and aviation fuel incurs no duty. Other countries also have different forms of aviation taxes.
The Government keeps all taxes under review.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to reform Air Passenger Duty to prevent passengers travelling in a Premium Economy cabin from paying the same rate as passengers travelling in a First Class and Business Class cabin.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Air Passenger Duty (APD) applies to airlines, not individual passengers, and is the principal tax on the aviation sector. It is expected to raise £4.2 billion in 2024-25 and it aims to ensure that airlines make a fair contribution to the public finances, particularly given that tickets are VAT free and aviation fuel incurs no duty. The distance-based band structure ensures that those who travel furthest, and in the greatest comfort, incur a greater tax liability.
There are three rates of duty for each destination band depending on the class of travel. The reduced rate applies to all travel in the lowest class of travel available on the plane for seat pitches less than 1.016 metres. The standard rate applies to travel in any non-economy class of travel or where the seat pitch is more than 1.016 metres (40 inches). This includes premium economy, as well as first class and business class.
When making changes to taxes the Government has to consider a wide range of factors, including administrative burdens and complexity. The Government keeps all taxes under review.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he is considering retaliatory tariffs in response to US tariffs on UK car imports.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK automotive sector is integral to our economy, and we are disappointed by the US decision to impose 25% tariffs on automotive imports and know this will be extremely concerning for the sector. We will always support our automotive industry
The government has launched a request for input from businesses to help inform our response to US tariffs
We remain committed to discussions with the US on a wider economic deal that works for both the UK and the US. But nothing is off the table; this government will do everything necessary to defend the UK’s national interest.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support car manufacturers in the UK in the context of US tariffs.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
We're disappointed by the decision to impose global tariffs of 25% on auto imports and know this will be extremely concerning for our automotive sector. We will always support our automotive industry, and in the first instance we will continue to pursue a deal that works for both us and the US. We will also use our Industrial Strategy to strengthen UK automotive competitiveness and have backed the auto sector with £2 billion to support the transition of domestic manufacturing and £300 million announced in the Budget to drive uptake of electric vehicles.
This government is clear that we will always do everything necessary to defend the UK's national interest. This is why the government has launched a request for input from businesses to help shape our response to US tariffs.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with his US counterparts on tariffs.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK automotive sector is integral to our economy, and we are disappointed by the US decision to impose 25% tariffs on automotive imports and know this will be extremely concerning for the sector. We will always support our automotive industry
The government has launched a request for input from businesses to help inform our response to US tariffs
We remain committed to discussions with the US on a wider economic deal that works for both the UK and the US. But nothing is off the table; this government will do everything necessary to defend the UK’s national interest.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much and what proportion of official development assistance to Afghanistan is being spent on programmes supporting Afghan women and girls.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to prioritising gender equality and rights in Afghanistan. The needs and priorities of women and girls are at the core of the government's humanitarian response. In the Financial Year of 2023-24 (the most recent period for which we have verified data), we can confirm that of those reached by our £113.5 million aid budget to Afghanistan, at least 50% were women and girls, supporting at least 1.3 million Afghan women with humanitarian assistance. We have met this target since Financial Year 2021-22 and expect to continue to meet this target in 2024-25. Our aid is subject to strict monitoring and we have robust third-party monitoring for all our Official Development Assistance funded programmes.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed reduction of the proportion of gross national income spent on official development assistance on women and girls in Afghanistan.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review based on various factors including impact assessments.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to ringfence official development assistance for women and girls in Afghanistan.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review based on various factors including impact assessments.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2025, to Question 33995, on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Internet what proportion of spending on the First Draft podcast was allocated to its (a) production and (b) promotion.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
I refer the Hon Member to my answer to PQ 33995.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the armed forces on deploying troops to Ukraine.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Secretary of State is supported and advised by the Chief of the Defence Staff on Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and how we can continue to best support Ukraine going forward.
The UK is ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary.
I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand that I cannot go into any further details at this stage but can say that our focus is on ensuring Ukraine is in as strong a position as possible. When, how and on what terms this war comes to an end can only be decided by negotiations with Ukraine at the heart of them.