Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking with the Financial Conduct Authority to make mortgage advice and guidance available earlier in the journey towards homeownership.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to supporting homeownership and continues to work closely with the independent Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The FCA is currently undertaking a wide-ranging review of the mortgage market, including how mortgage regulation can better support first-time buyers and other underserved consumers, and expects to report back later this year.

The UK benefits from a competitive mortgage market and a large, well-established mortgage intermediary sector, through which prospective first-time buyers can already seek advice and guidance at an early stage. I would encourage anyone thinking about buying a home to contact a mortgage broker, who can help them understand their options and any steps they can take to become mortgage-ready.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has considered options for replacing Stamp Duty Land Tax with an alternative that creates fewer disincentives to move home.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and does not routinely comment on proposals.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reducing Stamp Duty Land Tax on residential property transactions on the economy.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and does not routinely comment on proposals.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will review the structure of Stamp Duty Land Tax to support mobility throughout the housing market.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and does not routinely comment on proposals.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of local authorities' capacity to deliver cross-pavement electric vehicle charging schemes.

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

The Government made up to £25 million available to local authorities in England to support thousands of residents without off-street parking to conveniently charge their vehicles at home.

Local authorities are supported through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Support Body, which provides technical, commercial and management expertise to help local authorities develop and deliver their electric vehicle infrastructure projects. Local authorities have also received capability funding to help secure dedicated in-house expertise to plan and deliver on local electric vehicle infrastructure strategies.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of local government reorganisation, including the creation of new unitary authorities and combined authorities, on the delivery of electric vehicle charging infrastructure schemes at local level.

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

The Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities to install at least 100,000 chargers. At Budget 2025, the Government announced £100 million further resource funding for local authorities to support delivery. Local Authorities in receipt of LEVI allocations update the Department for Transport on a quarterly basis, including progress and spend on electric vehicle infrastructure installations.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure funding allocated to combined authorities for infrastructure schemes, including electric vehicle charging, is passed on to and spent by constituent local authorities in a timely manner.

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

The Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities to install at least 100,000 chargers. At Budget 2025, the Government announced £100 million further resource funding for local authorities to support delivery. Local Authorities in receipt of LEVI allocations update the Department for Transport on a quarterly basis, including progress and spend on electric vehicle infrastructure installations.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to publish further guidance to local authorities on integrating cross-pavement charging into wider electric vehicle infrastructure strategies.

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

In December 2024, the Government published cross-pavement guidance to help local authorities understand what to consider for the rollout of cross-pavement solutions. The Electric Vehicle Pavement Channel Grant was also facilitated by a blueprint document with guidance on how to plan, procure and install a cross-pavement solution in line with local authorities’ wider electric vehicle strategies. It is available on an online portal which all local authorities have access to alongside a comprehensive range of guidance on all aspects of electric vehicle infrastructure and deployment. The need for further guidance is kept under review.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many local authorities declined to apply for the Electric Vehicle Pavement Channels Grant in the 2025–26 financial year, and what assessment her Department has made of the reasons for non-participation.

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

The Electric Vehicle Pavement Channel Grant was allocated to all Tier 1 local authorities in England. 83 local authorities applied for funding with 19 opting out. Local authorities were not asked to provide reasoning for not applying, but feedback has included misalignment with local strategies, a focus on active travel, and practical considerations such as maintenance.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of differing levels of local authority uptake of cross-pavement charging schemes on geographic differences in the affordability of home electric vehicle charging.

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

The Government is committed to accelerating the rollout of affordable and accessible charging infrastructure. The £25 million Electric Vehicle Pavement Channel Grant (EVPCG) was allocated to all local authorities across England and was taken up across all regions.

The EVPCG supports the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund which is expected to deliver another 100,000 public chargers close to people’s homes across England.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department has issued to local highway authorities on street works licensing and liability for cross-pavement electric vehicle charging channels.

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

In December 2024, the Government published cross-pavement guidance to help local authorities understand what to consider for the rollout of cross-pavement solutions. This includes relevant planning permissions, minimum existing standards, and responsibilities.

The Electric Vehicle Pavement Channel Grant was also facilitated by guidance on how to plan, procure and install cross-pavement solutions, as well as case studies from successful local authority installations. It is available to all local authorities on an online portal alongside a comprehensive range of guidance on all aspects of electric vehicle infrastructure deployment.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions officials in her Department have had with the Department for Transport on the future of the Electric Vehicle Pavement Channels Grant beyond the 2025–26 financial year.

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

The Electric Vehicle Pavement Channels Grant was a one-year allocation to all Tier 1 local authorities in England to support local authorities to adopt pavement channels as part of their local charging solutions. 83 local authorities were approved for funding. The Government continues to support local authorities to deliver their schemes and requires quarterly reporting where grant funding has been provided to support progress.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of funding for cross-pavement electric vehicle charging infrastructure in enabling households without off-street parking to access home charging.

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

Substantial funding has been made available to support cross-pavement electric vehicle charging. This includes £25 million allocated to English local authorities last financial year alongside capability funding to help those authorities plan and deliver on local electric vehicle infrastructure strategies. Residents with cross pavement solutions can also benefit from up to £500 towards a home charger through the Electric Vehicle Charge Point Grant for Households with On-street Parking.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of households without access to off-street parking, and in what way this factors into the Government's electric vehicle uptake targets under the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate.

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

The 2024 English Housing Survey notes that around a third of households in England do not have access to off-street parking. To support these households, the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities in England to work with industry and transform the availability of electric vehicle charging for drivers without off-street parking alongside substantial private investment. Charge point deployment is a key enabling measure to support the electric vehicle transition.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she intends to further the prevention agenda as set out by the ten-year health plan.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Member to the statement made to the House by my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State of Health and Social Care, on 9 September.

Knaresborough Puzzle Campaign

Saint Michael’s Hospice Sahara trek

19th International Day of Democracy

Harrogate Brigantes Rotary Nepal flood appeal

Knaresborough residents thanked by Volodymyr City Council

Harrogate Shotokan Karate Club World Championships

40th anniversary of Follifoot Park Disabled Riders Group

National Suicide Memorial Day for Health and Care Workers

World Suicide Prevention Day 2026

Support for hospices

Josh Kerr's mile world record

Employer National Insurance contributions

Fracking moratorium and onshore fossil fuel exploration

National strategy for fertility

Found: Conservative; Life peer) House of Commons Alex Sobel (Labour; Leeds Central and Headingley) (Chair) Tom Gordon

Found: Rook (Labour; Life peer) Lord Sewell of Sanderstead (Conservative; Life peer) House of Commons Tom Gordon