Written questions by Robertson.

What assessment he has made of Activity Management Plans issued by NHS Integrated Care Boards and their impact on the NHS’ adherence with its constitutional access standards and patient choice rules.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) have existing contractual powers to manage activity by providers, which were enhanced in 2025/26 with central support for setting and managing activity. The NHS Standard Contract includes the ability to set Indicative Activity Plans (IAPs) to help providers and commissioners plan demand, capacity, and expenditure. While not binding, if activity exceeds the agreed plan, and therefore the funding agreed, an Activity Management Plan (AMP) can be agreed to bring activity back in line.The provision and use of IAPs and AMPs is designed to deliver the activity levels required to achieve the goal of at least 65% of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks for treatment by March 2026 whilst also living within financial budgets set for 2025/26.Any planning assumptions based on waiting times need to support commissioners’ overall duties to the populations they serve and our waiting time targets, including our commitment to return to the 18-week standard. AMPs allow commissioners and providers to work together to manage elective activity within agreed performance and financial targets, all whilst working towards improving patient waiting times overall. Patients have a legal right to choose where they go for their first appointment when referred to consultant-led care as an outpatient. ICBs are responsible for ensuring that their processes comply with the legal right to choose. Since the publication of the Partnership Agreement in January 2025, the independent sector has delivered approximately 200,000 additional treatments compared to the same period last year.

What assessment he has made of the impact of Activity Management Plans issued by NHS Integrated Care Boards on the commitment made in the NHS/Independent Sector Partnership Agreement signed in January 2025 to enable increased independent sector elective activity to reduce waiting times.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) have existing contractual powers to manage activity by providers, which were enhanced in 2025/26 with central support for setting and managing activity. The NHS Standard Contract includes the ability to set Indicative Activity Plans (IAPs) to help providers and commissioners plan demand, capacity, and expenditure. While not binding, if activity exceeds the agreed plan, and therefore the funding agreed, an Activity Management Plan (AMP) can be agreed to bring activity back in line.The provision and use of IAPs and AMPs is designed to deliver the activity levels required to achieve the goal of at least 65% of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks for treatment by March 2026 whilst also living within financial budgets set for 2025/26.Any planning assumptions based on waiting times need to support commissioners’ overall duties to the populations they serve and our waiting time targets, including our commitment to return to the 18-week standard. AMPs allow commissioners and providers to work together to manage elective activity within agreed performance and financial targets, all whilst working towards improving patient waiting times overall. Patients have a legal right to choose where they go for their first appointment when referred to consultant-led care as an outpatient. ICBs are responsible for ensuring that their processes comply with the legal right to choose. Since the publication of the Partnership Agreement in January 2025, the independent sector has delivered approximately 200,000 additional treatments compared to the same period last year.

How many NICE positive recommendations in each year since 2023 were issued as optimised decisions; and what proportion of the eligible patient population was able to access those medicines on the NHS.

The following table shows the number of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations since 2023 that have been issued as optimised decisions:YearNumberPercentage of all publications excluding terminations2023/243748%2024/253343%2025/262144%Source: NICENotes:the data for 2025/26 is for the year so far; anddata includes all Cancer Drugs Fund and Innovative Medicines Fund recommendations.The Government does not hold data on the proportion of the eligible patient population able to access those medicines on the National Health Service. Some data may be available via the innovation scorecard and estimates report, available at the following link:https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiOWVkZmY1MDEtOWQzMS00YzU1LWJkZmYtMTc2NGQ2MTZkYjc2IiwidCI6ImNmNmQwNDgyLTg2YjEtNGY4OC04YzBjLTNiNGRlNGNiNDAyYyJ9This is a publication which reports on the use of medicines and medicine groupings in the NHS in England which have been positively appraised by NICE, including some NICE optimised decisions.

What proportion of unpaid tax liabilities is written off each year; and according to what criteria HMRC determines when a tax debt will no longer be pursued.

HMRC is committed to closing the tax gap further and tackling non-compliant behaviours such as tax evasion, tax avoidance, criminal attacks, error, failure to take reasonable care, hidden economy activity, legal interpretation issues, and non-payment. In 2024 to 2025, HMRC’s compliance work contributed to record tax revenues of £875.9 billion, collecting and protecting £48 billion of tax that would have gone unpaid if HMRC hadn’t stepped in – up from £41.8 billion the previous year. At the Autumn Budget 2025, the government announced a package of measures that will raise a further £2.4 billion in additional tax revenues in 2029 to 2030. This builds on announcements at Autumn Budget 2024 (£6.5 billion), and Spring Statement 2025 (over £1 billion) and brings the total revenue from closing the tax gap announced this Parliament to £10 billion in 2029 to 2030. HMRC pursues unpaid tax liabilities through a number of routes. Those who have not paid will be subject to initial telephone and letter campaigns to encourage swift payment. HMRC also uses private sector debt collection agencies to pursue outstanding amounts. Cases will move between these different stages of the debt collection process as part of being worked. Where payments remain outstanding, HMRC has a range of enforcement powers to address the small minority of taxpayers who deliberately refuse to pay or engage, such as taking control of goods, recovering debt through county court proceedings, and applying to make a company or person insolvent. HMRC also publishes its Annual Report and Accounts on GOV.UK, which reports on its annual tax losses and sets out the limited circumstances in which a debt may no longer be pursued. HMRC records its debt cases by tax regime, rather than customer type, and does not organise cases by specifically which stage of the debt collection process it is at.

What measures HMRC has in place to prevent deliberate non-payment of tax by those who are liable but expect not to be pursued.

HMRC is committed to closing the tax gap further and tackling non-compliant behaviours such as tax evasion, tax avoidance, criminal attacks, error, failure to take reasonable care, hidden economy activity, legal interpretation issues, and non-payment. In 2024 to 2025, HMRC’s compliance work contributed to record tax revenues of £875.9 billion, collecting and protecting £48 billion of tax that would have gone unpaid if HMRC hadn’t stepped in – up from £41.8 billion the previous year. At the Autumn Budget 2025, the government announced a package of measures that will raise a further £2.4 billion in additional tax revenues in 2029 to 2030. This builds on announcements at Autumn Budget 2024 (£6.5 billion), and Spring Statement 2025 (over £1 billion) and brings the total revenue from closing the tax gap announced this Parliament to £10 billion in 2029 to 2030. HMRC pursues unpaid tax liabilities through a number of routes. Those who have not paid will be subject to initial telephone and letter campaigns to encourage swift payment. HMRC also uses private sector debt collection agencies to pursue outstanding amounts. Cases will move between these different stages of the debt collection process as part of being worked. Where payments remain outstanding, HMRC has a range of enforcement powers to address the small minority of taxpayers who deliberately refuse to pay or engage, such as taking control of goods, recovering debt through county court proceedings, and applying to make a company or person insolvent. HMRC also publishes its Annual Report and Accounts on GOV.UK, which reports on its annual tax losses and sets out the limited circumstances in which a debt may no longer be pursued. HMRC records its debt cases by tax regime, rather than customer type, and does not organise cases by specifically which stage of the debt collection process it is at.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that regional domestic ferry operators are supported to meet the goals of the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy.

The Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy sets out a pathway to zero emissions by 2050, and interim goals in 2030 and 2040. To support the sector transition to zero, and near-zero, emission fuels, the Strategy sets out a number of key policies including; expanding the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime, the introduction of fuel regulations, taking action to reduce emissions at berth, taking proportionate measures to reduce emissions from smaller vessels and increasing the efficiency of maritime operations. Support is available to the maritime sector for decarbonisation through our UK SHORE Research and Development programme. Over 300 projects across the UK have been supported to date, including those that support the decarbonisation of domestic ferries. In September, I announced a further £448 million of funding for innovation through this programme, including additional rounds of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competitions, and a second round of the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure competition. We aim to launch the first two of these competitions in Spring 2026 and they will run until 2030.

How much tax revenue is currently outstanding from taxpayers known to be liable but not under active enforcement action by HMRC.

HMRC is committed to closing the tax gap further and tackling non-compliant behaviours such as tax evasion, tax avoidance, criminal attacks, error, failure to take reasonable care, hidden economy activity, legal interpretation issues, and non-payment. In 2024 to 2025, HMRC’s compliance work contributed to record tax revenues of £875.9 billion, collecting and protecting £48 billion of tax that would have gone unpaid if HMRC hadn’t stepped in – up from £41.8 billion the previous year. At the Autumn Budget 2025, the government announced a package of measures that will raise a further £2.4 billion in additional tax revenues in 2029 to 2030. This builds on announcements at Autumn Budget 2024 (£6.5 billion), and Spring Statement 2025 (over £1 billion) and brings the total revenue from closing the tax gap announced this Parliament to £10 billion in 2029 to 2030. HMRC pursues unpaid tax liabilities through a number of routes. Those who have not paid will be subject to initial telephone and letter campaigns to encourage swift payment. HMRC also uses private sector debt collection agencies to pursue outstanding amounts. Cases will move between these different stages of the debt collection process as part of being worked. Where payments remain outstanding, HMRC has a range of enforcement powers to address the small minority of taxpayers who deliberately refuse to pay or engage, such as taking control of goods, recovering debt through county court proceedings, and applying to make a company or person insolvent. HMRC also publishes its Annual Report and Accounts on GOV.UK, which reports on its annual tax losses and sets out the limited circumstances in which a debt may no longer be pursued. HMRC records its debt cases by tax regime, rather than customer type, and does not organise cases by specifically which stage of the debt collection process it is at.

What assessment HMRC has made of the number of individuals and companies that are liable for tax but are not currently being actively pursued for payment.

HMRC is committed to closing the tax gap further and tackling non-compliant behaviours such as tax evasion, tax avoidance, criminal attacks, error, failure to take reasonable care, hidden economy activity, legal interpretation issues, and non-payment. In 2024 to 2025, HMRC’s compliance work contributed to record tax revenues of £875.9 billion, collecting and protecting £48 billion of tax that would have gone unpaid if HMRC hadn’t stepped in – up from £41.8 billion the previous year. At the Autumn Budget 2025, the government announced a package of measures that will raise a further £2.4 billion in additional tax revenues in 2029 to 2030. This builds on announcements at Autumn Budget 2024 (£6.5 billion), and Spring Statement 2025 (over £1 billion) and brings the total revenue from closing the tax gap announced this Parliament to £10 billion in 2029 to 2030. HMRC pursues unpaid tax liabilities through a number of routes. Those who have not paid will be subject to initial telephone and letter campaigns to encourage swift payment. HMRC also uses private sector debt collection agencies to pursue outstanding amounts. Cases will move between these different stages of the debt collection process as part of being worked. Where payments remain outstanding, HMRC has a range of enforcement powers to address the small minority of taxpayers who deliberately refuse to pay or engage, such as taking control of goods, recovering debt through county court proceedings, and applying to make a company or person insolvent. HMRC also publishes its Annual Report and Accounts on GOV.UK, which reports on its annual tax losses and sets out the limited circumstances in which a debt may no longer be pursued. HMRC records its debt cases by tax regime, rather than customer type, and does not organise cases by specifically which stage of the debt collection process it is at.

What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and Ofgem on improving grid capacity at ports to enable ferry electrification.

Reforming the connections process and investing in the grid is a key Government priority. This includes reforms that are expected to deprioritise over half of the existing queue based on readiness and strategic alignment with our strategy as set out in Clean Power 2030.Department for Transport Ministers and officials meet regularly with their counterparts in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Ofgem. These include discussions on the significance of getting sufficient grid capacity to electrify ports, for cruise and ferries to use shore power and policy options to accelerate connection dates for strategic demand customers, such as critical port sites. This is informed by the Department for Transport call for evidence on Net Zero Ports, published in March 2025, which posed questions on managing future energy demand at ports.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on co-ordination of the UK emissions trading scheme maritime expansion with the delivery of grid infrastructure needed for maritime decarbonisation.

The UK ETS Authority is made up of the UK Government and the devolved governments. Within the UK Government, my department, the Department for Transport and HM Treasury all work jointly to develop and implement the inclusion of maritime emissions in the UK ETS. This expansion will strengthen the scheme’s ability to deliver cost-effective emissions reductions, supporting the UK’s statutory carbon budgets and Net Zero target. Investing in the grid is a key Government priority. The Government supports Ofgem in developing a price control that enable necessary investment in the electricity network for the clean energy and growth missions, including maritime transport electrification. The next distribution price control, ED3 covering 2028 to 2033, will be informed by Regional Energy Strategic Plans to support strategic network investments. We understand the significance of getting sufficient grid capacity to electrify ports, for cruise and ferries to use shore power and policy options to accelerate connection dates for strategic demand customers, such as critical port sites. This is informed by the Department for Transport’s call for evidence on Net Zero Ports, published in March 2025, which posed questions on managing future energy demand at ports.

How many Border Force queue samples exceeded published service standards in each month since July 2024, broken down by EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA passengers.

The number of sampled queues cleared within the respective EEA and non-EEA service standards are provided within the published transparency data:Migration transparency data - GOV.UKSpecific figures on how many queue samples fell outside of service standards for EEA and non-EEA are not available in an accessible format.

What the average processing time was for driving licence applications in December 2025.

The tables below show the average number of working days taken to process driving licence applications made both online and not online for December 2025 up to 16 December for both group 1 (cars and motorcycle) and group 2 (lorry and bus) licences. Group 1 Group 2 DateOnline applications Non- online applications Online applicationsNon-online applications Dec-251.313.421.002.72

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the total capital and operational cost of transitioning its vehicle fleet to 100% Zero Tailpipe Emissions by 31 December 2027; and what assessment has been made of the difference in cost compared with retaining and maintaining a petrol and diesel fleet over the same timeframe.

The estimated cost to transition 309 vans from diesel to electric to achieve 100% Zero Tailpipe Emissions (under 3.5 tonnes) by 31 December 2027 is £10.1 million compared with a diesel equivalent of £12.2 million. These costs are based on “whole life costs” of five years and include electric maintenance costs forecast at 60% less than comparable diesel. Defra also operates a fleet of 4x4s (1,132 vehicles). The department applied to the Department for Transport for an exemption from the requirements of the Government Fleet Commitment, with the productive engagement with Office for Zero Emission Vehicles. This was granted on 28 May 2025.

What proportion of public electric vehicle charge points were out of service in (a) November 2025 and (b) each month since July 2024.

The Department does not hold this information.The Government is committed to ensuring public charging is reliable, and it is vital that consumers can charge hassle-free. From November 2024, the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 have required operators to achieve an average reliability of 99% across their network of chargepoints of 50 kW and above.

Whether Great British Railways has published (a) service performance standards, (b) routes for consolidation, and (c) a transition timetable in November 2025.

Great British Railways does not yet exist.

What the average queue time at passport control was at UK airports in (a) November 2025 and (b) each month since July 2024.

The specific data requested is not available in an accessible format but below are the relevant statistics taken from Border Force’s transparency data.Of the 897,695 queue samples measured across the UK in 2025, 97.9% of queues were within Border Force’s service standards above the 95% target. These service standards are 25 mins EU/EEA and 45 mins non-EU/EEA.For further transparency data, including 2024, please refer to the below GOV.UK link.Migration transparency data - GOV.UK

What the average processing time was for driving licence applications in (a) November 2025 and (b) each month since July 2024.

The tables below show the average number of working days taken to process driving licence applications made both online and not online for both group 1 (cars and motorcycle) and group 2 (lorry and bus) licences. Group 1 Group 2 DateOnline applications Non- online applications Online applicationsNon-online applications Jul 20241.165.341.002.91Aug 20241.225.501.002.16Sept 20241.225.451.011.88Oct 20241.204.841.061.71Nov 20241.194.111.001.69Dec 20241.212.871.051.80Jan 20251.213.511.002.39Feb 20251.214.081.001.64Mar 20251.204.181.001.56Apr 20251.184.091.041.71May 20251.204.751.002.67Jun 20251.275.771.012.82Jul 20251.235.261.002.30Aug 20251.235.061.002.93Sept 20251.234.781.003.37Oct 20251.365.281.002.58Nov 20251.344.241.002.26 Driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated before a licence can be issued can take longer as the DVLA is often reliant on information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued. The DVLA is currently rolling out a new casework system which is expected to deliver significant improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions. When fully implemented, this will provide improved turnaround times, increased capacity, increased automation, higher levels of digital functionality and increased digital communication. The DVLA is also planning to launch a new medical services platform which will enable more customers to transact online and will increase the use of email communication.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the removal of business rates relief and the business rates revaluation on high street businesses.

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base. At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest. More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including pubs. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties. The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

What estimate her department has made of how many a) pubs b) hotels c) restaurants d) indoor leisure and e) night clubs are expected to see their business rates bill i) go up ii) stay the same or iii) decrease from April 2026 as a result of the measures announced in Budget 2025.

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base. At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties, including those in the hospitality and leisure sectors as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest. For the pubs sector, the increase in rateable values will be 30%, which combined with the loss of the temporary RHL relief would lead to an increase in total bills paid by the sector of 45%. However, due to government intervention, the sector’s total bill will only increase by 4% next year. More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including pubs. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties. The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of rateable value increases and changes to business rates relief announced at Budget 2025 on a) vacancy rates on high streets, b) employment levels, c) businesses closures and d) price levels.

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base. At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest. More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including pubs. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties. The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit. The Call for Evidence published at Budget seeks further evidence on the role business rates and reliefs play in investment, including Empty Property Relief.