Written questions by Morton.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer to question 99517 when will her Department be able to update the house of the proposed new approach to dual use packaging as referred to by the Minister.

Defra is working closely with stakeholders to assess all options to amend the household packaging definition (regulation 8) in the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) regulations. This includes both sector-based interim measures, as well as a long-term solution that addresses all affected sectors. We understand that this is a high priority issue for stakeholders and will provide an update as soon as possible.

Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance has been issued to the Environment Agency on distinguishing between household and non-household packaging, particularly where products are primarily used in the on-trade.

Under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024, the regulators, including the Environment Agency, have a statutory duty to issue guidance for producers about the evidence which may be used to demonstrate that the household packaging conditions are met. Defra officials work closely with the regulators to ensure that we are aware of any issues and challenges, including where any future amendments to the pEPR regulations might be needed.

Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department oversees Enforcement action taken by the Environment Agency in relations Extended Producer Responsibility.

Defra officials are working closely with the Devolved Governments and the national regulators, including the Environment Agency (EA), to ensure that robust plans are in place to scrutinise the accuracy of submissions and to bring into compliance those producers that have not yet registered or reported data. This is supported by more than doubling the number of EA compliance officers working on pEPR. Since the 1 October 2025 submission deadline, the EA and other regulators tracked down and brought more than 2,000 businesses into compliance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government will make time for a substantive debate and vote in both Houses during the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 period for the UK-EU Agreement in respect of Gibraltar, in light of the revised implementation date of 15 July 2026.

We welcome the EU's announcement confirming agreement on the Gibraltar Treaty by the Committee of Permanent Representatives, which is an important milestone for the people and businesses of Gibraltar on the journey to full ratification.As soon as possible after the EU has concluded its other internal processes, the final version of the Treaty will be laid in Parliament for scrutiny in accordance with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.As I have stated in my previous answers to the Hon Member, I look forward to going over the detail of the treaty with her when the final text is brought before the House.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the 21 sitting day scrutiny period for the UK-EU Treaty in respect of Gibraltar.

We welcome the EU's announcement confirming agreement on the Gibraltar Treaty by the Committee of Permanent Representatives, which is an important milestone for the people and businesses of Gibraltar on the journey to full ratification.As soon as possible after the EU has concluded its other internal processes, the final version of the Treaty will be laid in Parliament for scrutiny in accordance with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.As I have stated in my previous answers to the Hon Member, I look forward to going over the detail of the treaty with her when the final text is brought before the House.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government intends to provisionally apply any provisions of the UK-EU Agreement in respect of Gibraltar prior to completion of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 process.

We welcome the EU's announcement confirming agreement on the Gibraltar Treaty by the Committee of Permanent Representatives, which is an important milestone for the people and businesses of Gibraltar on the journey to full ratification.As soon as possible after the EU has concluded its other internal processes, the final version of the Treaty will be laid in Parliament for scrutiny in accordance with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.As I have stated in my previous answers to the Hon Member, I look forward to going over the detail of the treaty with her when the final text is brought before the House.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what revised timetable the Government has set for (a) signature, (b) laying before Parliament, and (c) ratification of the UK-EU Agreement in respect of Gibraltar, in light of the stated implementation date of 15 July 2026.

We welcome the EU's announcement confirming agreement on the Gibraltar Treaty by the Committee of Permanent Representatives, which is an important milestone for the people and businesses of Gibraltar on the journey to full ratification.As soon as possible after the EU has concluded its other internal processes, the final version of the Treaty will be laid in Parliament for scrutiny in accordance with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.As I have stated in my previous answers to the Hon Member, I look forward to going over the detail of the treaty with her when the final text is brought before the House.

With reference to the statement of 25 February 2026 on the Government Response to the Green Paper on the Future of the Post Office, what proportion of the planned £180 million network subsidy funding over the next three financial years represents new funding rather than the continuation or repurposing of existing subsidy arrangements; how that funding will be allocated across the network; and what conditions will be attached to the use of that subsidy by the Post Office.

The Department plans to provide up to £180 million of funding through a new network subsidy to Post Office over the next three financial years. The entirety of this funding is new, with the specific allocation of funding across the network being an operational matter for the Post Office. This funding will support with the operational costs of delivering government policy, which requires Post Office to deliver essential services across specific access criteria. This includes the requirement to ensure that 99% of the UK population is within 3 miles of their nearest post office outlet. The Framework Document between the Department and POL sets out that network subsidy is ringfenced for the purposes of delivering government policy via the branch network.

In reference to the statement of 25 February 2026 on the Government Response to the Green Paper on the Future of the Post Office, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that future IT systems used by the Post Office avoid the operational and governance failures associated with the Horizon system; what procurement processes are being used to select replacement providers; and whether Fujitsu will have any future role in Post Office IT systems or services.

Post Office Limited is using the competitive flexible process (pursuant to the Procurement Act 2023) in order to select suppliers. Post Office expect by Summer 2026 to award a contract for a new supplier to replace Fujitsu and all parties remain committed to seeing that happen as soon as possible. The Government acknowledges the necessity for maintained oversight and is taking appropriate action to ensure that POL can successfully transition to a new IT system which is robust and fit-for-purpose. Fujitsu has announced that it will not bid for further Government business unless specifically asked to do so by Government. Such requests are made only where Fujitsu’s involvement is necessary to maintain critical public services.

In reference to the statement of 25 February 2026 on the Government Response to the Green Paper on the Future of the Post Office, what assessment his Department has made of whether the existing Access Criteria remain sufficient to ensure equitable access to Post Office services in rural, coastal and deprived urban areas; whether changes to those criteria are under consideration; and how the Government will monitor compliance with those requirements at a regional and local level.

The Government’s Green Paper consultation confirmed that the public, especially rural communities and small businesses, rely on their local Post Office for essential services. We are therefore committed to retaining the 11,500‑branch minimum network and existing access criteria to ensure nationwide access to essential services. In the Green Paper consultation response, the Government explicitly confirms that all six Access Criteria will remain in place, and performance will be monitored by the Government through regular reporting and Post Office’s published annual Network Report.

With reference to the Written Statement of 20 June 2025 on Government Response to the Green Paper on the Future of the Post Office, HCWS1360, which government services the cross-government group referenced in the Statement is considering improving through the Post Office network; what his planned timetable is for the development of those proposals; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of this change on Post Office footfall and revenue.

The cross-government group referenced is considering options for a common physical front-end for government services to ensure there is a ‘go to’ place for a range of government services, expanded assisted digital support, an enhanced role in identity verification and exploring new propositions such as prescription collection. Further updates on government services in post offices will be provided in due course.

What assessment her Department has made of accident rates at high-risk urban junctions in England; what funding streams are available to local authorities to improve junction safety through measures such as traffic signal redesign, new crossings, and improved signage; and whether the Government plans to expand dedicated road safety funding for local authorities seeking to address collision hotspots.

Data on reported road collisions, including location and whether at a junction, is collected by police forces via the system known as STATS19 and is published annually on gov.uk, which would allow this analysis to be carried out, but it is not analysed at that level of detail centrally.On 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. The Strategy sets out the Department’s intention to establish a data-led road safety investigation branch to learn lessons from road incidents, by taking a strategic, thematic approach, focusing on patterns of collisions, injury trends, and systemic safety issues. It will adopt a test-and-learn approach, using real-world evidence to inform targeted safety interventions, data-driven policies, and proactive prevention and enforcement strategies. The Department provides significant funding for road infrastructure in England, both to local authorities and to National Highways. Road Safety is a crucial consideration in how that money is spent. The government will provide £24 billion of capital funding between 2026-27 and 2029-30 to maintain and improve motorways and local roads across the country. This future funding builds upon the record investment of £1.6 billion in local road maintenance for 2025 to 2026, representing a £500 million increase compared to last year. New funding arrangements for Mayors and Combined Authorities means less ring-fencing of funds by central Government. We know that many Mayors have ambitious road safety plans and strategies and we look forward to working in partnership with them. The traffic authority has the responsibility of making decisions about the roads under its care, based on its knowledge of the area and taking into account local needs and considerations.

With reference to the statement of 25 February 2026 on the Government Response to the Green Paper on the Future of the Post Office, what increase in remuneration for postmasters is expected to result from the introduction of Banking Framework 4; what assessment his Department has made of the sustainability of Post Office banking services as bank branch closures continue; and what additional services are being considered to strengthen the Post Office’s role in providing access to cash and banking services.

Banking Framework 4 increases remuneration rates for cash services. Increases will vary by branch activity. Post Office has also committed to improving remuneration through its Transformation plan, which includes cost saving investments (such as automation) related to the implementation of the Banking Framework. Banking Framework 4 secures Post Office’s important role in providing free-to-access cash and banking services until December 2030. As set out in the Government response to the Green Paper, there was a constructive joint discussion between government, the Post Office and the banking sector in January 2026, where several areas of mutual interest were discussed including additional banking services.

What analysis her Department has undertaken of the most common contributory factors in fatal road collisions; what proportion of fatal collisions involve excessive or inappropriate speed; and what steps the Government is taking to address these risk factors.

Statistics on factors contributing to fatal collisions in Great Britain are summarised within the Department’s annual road casualty statistics published on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-annual-report-2024/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-annual-report-2024#factors-contributing-to-fatalitiesIn 2024, 59 per cent of fatal collisions had a speed-related factor assigned. On 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. The Strategy sets out the Department’s intention to establish a data-led road safety investigation branch to learn lessons from road incidents, by taking a strategic, thematic approach, focusing on patterns of collisions, injury trends, and systemic safety issues. It will adopt a test-and-learn approach, using real-world evidence to inform targeted safety interventions, data-driven policies, and proactive prevention and enforcement strategies.The Department has also committed to updating its guidance to local authorities on setting local speed limits and on the deployment of speed and red‑light cameras.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Local Government Finance Statement made on 23 February 2026, what the estimated annual operating cost of the proposed Local Audit Office will be; how it will be funded; how its powers and remit will differ from the existing audit framework; and what timetable has been set for clearing the backlog of outstanding local authority audits prior to its establishment in autumn 2026.

The Local Audit Office will take on a remit and powers currently fragmented across the existing system with its statutory objectives and functions detailed in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. We will confirm the estimated cost and funding mechanisms later in the year, ensuring that it provides greater value for money than the current failed system. Following the introduction of statutory local audit backstop dates in autumn 2024, the backlog of unaudited accounts has been cleared. The vast majority of opinions for financial years up to and including 2024/25 have been published. The government continues to engage with local bodies and audit firms to ensure that issues preventing the issuance of audit opinions are resolved, and that remaining opinions are published as soon as practicable.

What assessment her Department has made of the delivery risks associated with zero-emission bus programmes delivered in partnership with private bus operators; what steps her Department has taken to ensure that local transport authorities retain sufficient oversight of procurement and delivery decisions; and what lessons the Department has identified from projects where zero-emission bus funding allocations have been revised or returned.

The Department routinely monitors delivery of zero-emission bus (ZEB) programmes through engagement with Local Transport Authorities (LTAs). The main risks identified include: (i) securing timely grid connections and working with Distribution Network Operators; (ii) technical integration of charging infrastructure and depot upgrades; and (iii) programme governance and communications across partners.Oversight of projects by LTAs is retained and assurances given by operators through the use of a grant funding agreement (GFA) which sets out specific outputs in order for the operator to receive grant funding and that each project is completed as anticipated.The lessons learnt from each project will be provided by the monitoring and evaluation process once projects have concluded.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, with reference to the Restoration and Renewal Client Board’s proposals for a permanent Education Centre within the Palace of Westminster, what assessment the Commission has made of the likelihood of delivering a replacement Education Centre before the expiry of the current facility’s licence in 2030; what contingency plans are in place should a permanent facility not be operational by that date; and whether the Commission has made an assessment of the potential impact on parliamentary education and outreach if there is a gap in provision.

Officials are developing options for educational provision both for the period from 2029 (which takes into account the period required to demolish the current centre before the expiry of the current planning and license agreements in 2030) and in the longer term during the Restoration and Renewal (R&R) works. Proposals will be considered by domestic committees in both Houses in due course.

With reference to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook published in March 2026, what the projected levels of total public expenditure are expected to be in (a) 2026-2027, (b) 2027-2028, (c) 2028-2029, (d) 2029-2030 and (d) 2030-2031 financial years; which areas of public spending are expected to see the largest increases over the forecast period; and what steps her Department intends to take to manage spending pressures within departmental budgets.

The OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook – published on the OBR’s website - sets out in detail the projected levels of total public expenditure over the next five years. The government's public spending approach is fair, disciplined and controlled, helping to reduce borrowing and keep public finances on a sustainable path.

With reference to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook published in March 2026, what estimate she has made of the additional annual cost to the average UK motorist as a result of the planned staged increases in fuel duty between September 2026 and March 2027; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of those increases on household finances.

The Chancellor considers a wide range of impacts when taking decisions on tax policy. At Budget 2025, the Government announced that the 5p cut in fuel duty would be extended until the end of August 2026, with rates then gradually returning to March 2022 levels by March 2027. The planned increase in line with inflation for 2026/27 will also not take place, with RPI uprating resuming from 2027/28 onwards.Since Autumn Budget 2024, the Government's decisions to freeze fuel duty will save the average motorist over £90 – or 8-11 pence per litre.The Government has published Tax Impact and Information Notes (TIINs) assessing the impacts of the 2026/27 fuel duty rates, which can be found at GOV.UK:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuel-duty-rates-for-2026-to-2027/fuel-duty-rates-2026-to-2027The Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme provides a 5p reduction to motorists buying fuel in certain areas. The areas included in the scheme demonstrate certain characteristics such as: pump prices much higher than the UK average; remoteness leading to high fuel transport costs from refinery to filling station, and; relatively low sales meaning that retailers cannot benefit from bulk discounts.As the Chancellor has set out, a rapid de-escalation in the Middle East remains the best way to keep prices affordable at the pump. As with all taxes, the Government keeps fuel duty under review.

In reference to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook published in March 2026, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of planned fuel duty increases on households in rural and car-dependent areas; and what modelling the Treasury has undertaken on the additional commuting costs faced by motorists in those areas during a period of rising global fuel prices.

The Chancellor considers a wide range of impacts when taking decisions on tax policy. At Budget 2025, the Government announced that the 5p cut in fuel duty would be extended until the end of August 2026, with rates then gradually returning to March 2022 levels by March 2027. The planned increase in line with inflation for 2026/27 will also not take place, with RPI uprating resuming from 2027/28 onwards.Since Autumn Budget 2024, the Government's decisions to freeze fuel duty will save the average motorist over £90 – or 8-11 pence per litre.The Government has published Tax Impact and Information Notes (TIINs) assessing the impacts of the 2026/27 fuel duty rates, which can be found at GOV.UK:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuel-duty-rates-for-2026-to-2027/fuel-duty-rates-2026-to-2027The Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme provides a 5p reduction to motorists buying fuel in certain areas. The areas included in the scheme demonstrate certain characteristics such as: pump prices much higher than the UK average; remoteness leading to high fuel transport costs from refinery to filling station, and; relatively low sales meaning that retailers cannot benefit from bulk discounts.As the Chancellor has set out, a rapid de-escalation in the Middle East remains the best way to keep prices affordable at the pump. As with all taxes, the Government keeps fuel duty under review.