Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of benefit claimants experiencing deductions.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Deductions from Universal Credit help support customers to manage debts by paying the creditor directly from their benefit, for instance paying rent arrears to ensure the customer does not face eviction. The most effective way to reduce reliance on deductions is to prevent arrears and debt in the first place, including by supporting people to increase their household income through work.
To support those with deductions, on 30 April 2025, the Fair Repayment Rate was implemented. This policy reduced the overall deductions cap from 25% to 15% of a customer’s Universal Credit (UC) standard allowance, enabling approximately 1.2 million UC households to retain more of their award, on average, £420 a year or £35 per month.
DWP is committed to supporting those who may be struggling with their repayment terms. Customers who feel they cannot afford the proposed repayment terms are encouraged to contact the DWP, so we can understand their circumstances and agree an affordable and sustainable repayment plan.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress has been made on the development of hydrogen infrastructure for industrial and domestic use.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government is delivering projects to kickstart the UK hydrogen economy, with contract signings for successful projects from the first Hydrogen Allocation Round, and £500m confirmed for a hydrogen transport and storage network.
The 10 Year Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan (2025) announced new investment to turbocharge growth in the sector and our renewed Hydrogen Strategy, which we plan to publish soon, will set out how we intend to work together with industry to continue to transform ambition into action.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 potential for battery storage technologies to enhance grid stability.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Battery storage technologies play an important role in ensuring grid stability through balancing the power system in real time and have the potential to support grid stability through grid-forming capabilities, depending on the type of technology used and their location on the network. The National Energy System Operator completed a trial of grid-forming batteries on the Stability Pathfinder programme and these technologies can now apply into the Stability Markets to provide these services through a transparent and competitive process.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many appeals against decisions to refuse exemption from Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment have been (a) submitted, (b) upheld and (c) rejected.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC has been accepting applications for exemption from Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax since September 2025.
Around 6,500 applications for exemption have been received to date. Decisions have been reached on around 60% of these cases, with approximately 75% of the determined applications granted exemptions based on the specific circumstances of each taxpayer.
Taxpayers may request a review or appeal decisions using established processes, with a very small number proceeding to appeal.
Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis, including factors such as age, disability, health conditions, religious beliefs or lack of internet access; HMRC does not produce a single estimate of the number of those who may qualify.
In January 2026 HMRC had 15 FTE focused on exemptions. This increased to 42 in June 2026.
HMRC provides guidance and communications directly to taxpayers and works with agents, charities and representative bodies to help raise awareness of exemptions. Taxpayers who cannot use digital services can meet their obligations through alternative channels, mitigating the risk of inappropriate penalties.
The Government keeps the operation of MTD under review, including exemptions. Decisions on publishing further statistics in relation to MTD will be considered alongside wider transparency arrangements.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the number of people who meet the eligibility criteria for exemption from Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC has been accepting applications for exemption from Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax since September 2025.
Around 6,500 applications for exemption have been received to date. Decisions have been reached on around 60% of these cases, with approximately 75% of the determined applications granted exemptions based on the specific circumstances of each taxpayer.
Taxpayers may request a review or appeal decisions using established processes, with a very small number proceeding to appeal.
Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis, including factors such as age, disability, health conditions, religious beliefs or lack of internet access; HMRC does not produce a single estimate of the number of those who may qualify.
In January 2026 HMRC had 15 FTE focused on exemptions. This increased to 42 in June 2026.
HMRC provides guidance and communications directly to taxpayers and works with agents, charities and representative bodies to help raise awareness of exemptions. Taxpayers who cannot use digital services can meet their obligations through alternative channels, mitigating the risk of inappropriate penalties.
The Government keeps the operation of MTD under review, including exemptions. Decisions on publishing further statistics in relation to MTD will be considered alongside wider transparency arrangements.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of applications for exemption from Making Tax Digital have (a) been granted, (b) been refused and (c) are pending decision.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC has been accepting applications for exemption from Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax since September 2025.
Around 6,500 applications for exemption have been received to date. Decisions have been reached on around 60% of these cases, with approximately 75% of the determined applications granted exemptions based on the specific circumstances of each taxpayer.
Taxpayers may request a review or appeal decisions using established processes, with a very small number proceeding to appeal.
Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis, including factors such as age, disability, health conditions, religious beliefs or lack of internet access; HMRC does not produce a single estimate of the number of those who may qualify.
In January 2026 HMRC had 15 FTE focused on exemptions. This increased to 42 in June 2026.
HMRC provides guidance and communications directly to taxpayers and works with agents, charities and representative bodies to help raise awareness of exemptions. Taxpayers who cannot use digital services can meet their obligations through alternative channels, mitigating the risk of inappropriate penalties.
The Government keeps the operation of MTD under review, including exemptions. Decisions on publishing further statistics in relation to MTD will be considered alongside wider transparency arrangements.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many HMRC staff are assigned to process Making Tax Digital exemption applications by (a) headcount and (b) full-time equivalent.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC has been accepting applications for exemption from Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax since September 2025.
Around 6,500 applications for exemption have been received to date. Decisions have been reached on around 60% of these cases, with approximately 75% of the determined applications granted exemptions based on the specific circumstances of each taxpayer.
Taxpayers may request a review or appeal decisions using established processes, with a very small number proceeding to appeal.
Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis, including factors such as age, disability, health conditions, religious beliefs or lack of internet access; HMRC does not produce a single estimate of the number of those who may qualify.
In January 2026 HMRC had 15 FTE focused on exemptions. This increased to 42 in June 2026.
HMRC provides guidance and communications directly to taxpayers and works with agents, charities and representative bodies to help raise awareness of exemptions. Taxpayers who cannot use digital services can meet their obligations through alternative channels, mitigating the risk of inappropriate penalties.
The Government keeps the operation of MTD under review, including exemptions. Decisions on publishing further statistics in relation to MTD will be considered alongside wider transparency arrangements.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the reduction in tariff-free import quotas and increase in safeguard tariffs from 1 July 2026 on the number of businesses reliant on imported specialist steel products relocating production overseas; and whether his Department has modelled the potential impact on UK manufacturing capacity and exports.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has held extensive consultations with industry to inform development of the new steel trade measure, including a Call for Evidence in July 2025, and will continue to engage with companies across the supply chain. The measure has been designed to strike a careful balance between supporting domestic steelmaking and maintaining secure, reliable supply so the UK can meet its defence and critical national infrastructure needs. We will continue to monitor the impact of the measure and review it after 12 months to ensure the balance is right between producers and downstream users.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of increases in court expenditure on (a) court efficiency and (b) case resolution times.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We are investing at record levels in the courts, including a landmark settlement of £2.78 billion for courts and tribunals in 2026/27.
We are also investing in uncapped Crown Court sitting days, court buildings and technology, and in legal professionals with a significant funding uplift in legal aid.
But the Independent Review of Criminal Courts is clear that investment alone, whilst important, is not enough. Only by pulling every lever we have – investment, efficiency and reform – can we reduce the backlog to acceptable levels and begin to deliver faster and fairer justice.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she is committed in principle to extending high-speed rail infrastructure beyond Birmingham in the future.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Northern Growth Strategy set out the Government’s intention to ultimately deliver a full North-South new line between Birmingham and Manchester. We will conduct feasibility work, working with local partners on what will be delivered, when, and to what specifications.