Written questions by Rosindell.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her Department’s policy to restructure the local government funding formula.

This Government is committed to reducing the financial uncertainty that councils face, and to improve the local government finance landscape in this Parliament. We will do this by providing multi-year funding settlements, ending competitive bidding and reforming the local audit system.Immediate future local authority funding decisions will be a matter for the next Spending Review and Local Government Finance Settlement. The department will work with Local Government leaders to ensure they are better able to fulfil their statutory duties.This Government recognises the vital work that local councils do for their communities, and we stand ready to speak to any council that is experiencing financial difficulties.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Atlas A400M for meeting the military transport requirements of the Royal Air Force.

The Atlas has proven very capable in the Air Transport role. With superior range, speed and load capacity, the Atlas Force can deliver a variety of military equipment and vital spare parts.The Atlas Force has also conducted rapid deployment of humanitarian aid relief to disaster hit regions and efficient evacuations of civilians from regions that had become unstable.

If she will abolish air passenger duty for domestic flights.

Air Passenger Duty (APD) applies to airlines and is the principal tax on aviation, since tickets are VAT-free and aviation fuel is untaxed. In April 2023, reforms to APD took effect, which included halving the rate of duty charged on domestic flights. The domestic rate of APD applies to flights between airports in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, excluding private jets. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of public finances.

Whether it is his policy to continue the development of the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm Wheeled Artillery Systems (RCH 155) with Germany.

Working with Germany through this landmark defence agreement to collaborate on the Boxer based Remote Controlled Howitzer 155mm Wheeled Artillery Systems (RCH 155), the Defence Secretary will build on existing cooperation, and develop this important programme to strengthen our respective artillery capabilities and promote shared national and European security objectives.