On 1 April 2017 vehicle tax rates changed.

New rates were introduced for all cars and some motorhomes first registered on or after 1 April.

If you’re thinking of changing your car, you’ll need to find out if these rates affect you. You can check the vehicle tax rate to make sure you know what you need to pay.

The rates explained

The first vehicle tax rate is based on CO2 emissions.

When the first vehicle tax period has ended (this is either after 12 months or if the vehicle is sold or transferred within the first 12 months), the amount of tax that needs to be paid depends on the type of vehicle. The rates are:

• £140 a year for petrol or diesel vehicles
• £130 a year for alternative fuel vehicles (hybrids, bioethanol and LPG)
• £0 a year for vehicles with zero CO2 emissions

Vehicles with an original list price of more than £40,000

If a vehicle has an original list price (the published price before any discounts) of more than £40,000, the rate of tax is based on CO2 for the first time it is taxed.

When the first vehicle tax period has ended (this is after 12 months or if the vehicle is sold or transferred), the rate that needs to be paid depends on the type of vehicle (petrol, diesel, alternative fuel or zero emissions) plus an additional rate of £310 a year for the next 5 years.

After those 5 years, the vehicle will then be taxed at one of the standard rates (£140, £130, or £0, depending on vehicle type). These rates apply even if the vehicle changes hands within the 5 year period.

Check your vehicle tax rate now.

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Launching the report ‘Setting the Standard’ at a horizon scanning event, Lord Bew said:

In 2016-17, we considered issues across public life from regulatory bodies to referendums, and party funding to induction for new MPs, to reinforce the importance of the Nolan Principles and emphasise their relevance in fast-changing times.

In September we launched our report on regulators, Striking the Balance – Upholding the Seven Principles of Public Life in Regulation. In 2017-18 we will publish the findings of our current review on ‘reasonable limits’ for MPs’ outside interests, and work with a wide range of audiences to address other standards issues.

The new Parliament provides an opportunity for everyone in public life to reflect on their standards of conduct, both what they do well and what can be improved. As the process of negotiating and scrutinising the UK’s departure from the EU begins, honesty and integrity in political discourse has never been more important. We call on all public office holders to consider how they can incorporate the Seven Principles into their daily work to promote public trust and confidence as we face the challenges ahead.

The travel industry is providing training for staff working in the UK and overseas to help keep holidaymakers safe this summer.

Over 23,000 employees have attended sessions, which include advice on how to spot suspicious items and activity, as well as what to do in the event of a major incident.

The programme is being run in partnership with the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) which has created a short presentation offering travel companies an easy to deliver counter terrorism awareness product.

This covers the core CT guidance needed by staff working in a Crowded Place at home or abroad. The product – funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office – includes three new films which show staff what to expect and how to respond in the safest way to the terrorist threat:

Identify and Respond to Suspicious Behaviour

Identify and Respond to Suspicious Behaviour

Identify and Deal with Suspicious Items

Identify and Deal with Suspicious Items

How to React to Firearms or Weapons Attacks

How to React to Firearms or Weapons Attacks

The presentation is accompanied by a helpful leaflet (PDF, 178KB, 2 pages) which can be printed and distributed as an aide memoire for staff and refers to the ACT: Action Counters Terrorism guidelines for reporting any suspicious behaviour or items.

In addition to the industry training, holidaymakers travelling abroad this summer are also being urged to watch a new video designed to help keep them safe in the event of a terrorist attack.

New Run Hide Tell video

This film is four minutes long and outlines key actions to take if terrorists strike.

While there is no specific intelligence that British holidaymakers will be targeted this summer the launch of the film, and supporting information, is part of a general campaign to raise awareness among the public. It highlights the steps people can take to minimise the impact of an attack – including knowing the local emergency services number.

The central message is Run, Hide, Tell, which was first launched by UK police in December 2015 after attacks in Paris. It was recently re-issued to the public by officers during London’s Borough Market incident.

The original film to launch Run, Hide, Tell was based in an office block setting but the new travel-related videos show an event taking place in a hotel.

In June 2015, 30 British travellers were among 38 killed by terrorists at a resort in Tunisia. UK police were determined to work with the travel industry to do everything possible to learn from the tragedy.

Detective chief superintendent Scott Wilson, National Coordinator for Protect and Prepare, says:

The chances of being caught up in a terrorist incident are still low, but sadly we have seen atrocities take place in the UK and abroad. So it is important everyone – staff and customers – stays alert and knows what to do if the worst was to happen.

Understandably people want to go on holiday to relax and enjoy themselves, but we need to remain vigilant at all times.

We want people to think of this in the same way they do the safety film airlines show before take-off. They don’t expect anything bad to happen but it is a sensible safety precaution to show people what to do.

A few minutes of your time spent watching the video before you go on holiday could save you and your loved ones. And find out in advance the local emergency number. For EU counties it is 112. Other numbers can be found on the foreign and commonwealth Office website.

Nikki White, Director of Destinations and Sustainability from ABTA adds:

We recognise the importance of raising awareness and providing clear guidance for our Members and their employees. We know that customers would look to those staff working in their hotels and resorts to take the lead and respond quickly to an emerging situation.

Representatives of the travel industry, taking part in the training, have responded positively.

We will continue to work closely with the police to make sure we are doing all we can to help raise awareness of these messages.

The key advice is:

Welcoming Prime Minister Abadi’s statement on Mosul, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:

• 225kg of illicit drugs recovered from prisons in 2016
• over 20,000 mobile phones and sim cards recovered
• criminals using drones to smuggle phones and drugs into prisons jailed for a combined total of over 40 years

A huge haul of drugs and mobile phones has been recovered since the introduction of new detection measures to crackdown on prison contraband, Prisons Minister Sam Gyimah revealed today.

A £2 million investment has seen every prison across the estate fitted out with hand-held mobile phone detectors and portable detection poles to step up the detection of illegal phones on the landings.

In addition, 300 specialist prison dogs have been trained in drugs detection to help stem the flow of illicit substances into our prisons, allowing officers to focus their efforts on reforming and turning the lives around of offenders.

The measures are part of a much wider strategy to tackle the most pressing threats to security in prisons and backed by a strengthening of the frontline with 2,500 additional prison officers by 2018.

New statistics show that in 2016, hardworking prison staff recovered 225kg of illicit drugs – the equivalent weight of 2 washing machines – across the prison estate.

And in the same year, over 13,000 mobile phones and 7,000 sim cards were recovered from prisons – helping to thwart the attempts of criminals to continue committing crime behind bars.

Prisons Minister Sam Gyimah said:

I have been clear that the current levels of violence, drugs and mobile phones in our prisons is unacceptable. We have put in place a number of measures to help disrupt this illegal activity as it is an issue I am absolutely determined to resolve.

These figures highlight the determination of prison staff to disrupt this behaviour, whilst at the same time sending a clear message that we will push to prosecute anyone who involves themselves in this kind of activity.

The issues within our prisons will not be resolved overnight, but we must make progress in tackling these problems. Bringing in more frontline staff is an integral part of that. The number of prison officers in post is on the rise, meaning we are on track to achieving the recruitment of 2,500 officers by 2018.

The government has introduced strict measures to prevent drugs in prisons including introducing legislation which makes the possession of psychoactive substances a criminal offence,

Meanwhile, a specialist squad of prison and police officers has been formed to tackle the threat drones pose to prison security.

The team of investigators will work closely with national law enforcement agencies and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to inspect drones that have been recovered from prisons in a bid to identify and track down those involved in attempts to smuggle in contraband.

Figures show that to date, there has been a total of 35 arrests and 11 convictions of criminals involved in drone activity – resulting in those convicted serving a total of more than 40 years in jail.

This includes:

• the longest sentence of this type which was handed down in May, where Tomas Natalevicius and accomplice Dalius Zilinskas were jailed for over a decade collectively

• in December, Dean Rawley-Bell, 21, was jailed for 4 years and 8 months after he used a drone in attempts to smuggle drugs and mobile phones into HMP Manchester

• in October, drug dealer Renelle Carlisle, 23, was jailed for 3 years and 4 months after he was caught outside HMP Risley in Warrington with a drone in his bag, trying to smuggle drugs inside

• in July, 37-year-old Daniel Kelly was locked up for 14 months for trying to supply offenders at HMP Elmley and Swaleside in Sheppey, HMP Wandsworth in London and HMP the Mount in Hemel Hempstead with contraband

Notes to editors

Progress made on making prisons safer and more secure includes:

• rolling out new tests since September for psychoactive substances across the estate, including supporting governors to use drug testing on entry and exit from prison as part of a more extensive testing programme

• 300 dogs across the estate to detect new psychoactive substances with positive feedback from prison staff

• making the supply of psychoactive substances into prisons, and possession of them, criminal offences

• introducing legislation so we can now apply for Telecommunications Restriction Orders at Court to block specific mobile phones being used in prisons. Since the legislation was introduced in August, we have had more than 150 mobile phones cut off

• establishing a £3 million intelligence hub to tackle gang crime behind bars

• making it a criminal offence to bring a mobile phone into prison, or transmit sounds or images from within a prison using a mobile phone. These offences carry a maximum penalty of 2 years in prison

• working with the mobile network operators to do more, including developing new technological solutions, so we can block mobile phones’ signals in prisons