HM Treasury

HM Treasury is the government’s economic and finance ministry, maintaining control over public spending, setting the direction of the UK’s economic policy and working to achieve strong and sustainable economic growth.



Secretary of State

 Portrait

Rachel Reeves
Chancellor of the Exchequer

Shadow Ministers / Spokeperson
Liberal Democrat
Baroness Kramer (LD - Life peer)
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
Daisy Cooper (LD - St Albans)
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Treasury)

Conservative
Mel Stride (Con - Central Devon)
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer

Green Party
Adrian Ramsay (Green - Waveney Valley)
Green Spokesperson (Treasury)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Lord Altrincham (Con - Excepted Hereditary)
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
Richard Fuller (Con - North Bedfordshire)
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Gareth Davies (Con - Grantham and Bourne)
Shadow Financial Secretary (Treasury)
Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con - Life peer)
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
James Wild (Con - North West Norfolk)
Shadow Exchequer Secretary (Treasury)
Mark Garnier (Con - Wyre Forest)
Shadow Economic Secretary (Treasury)
Ministers of State
Lord Livermore (Lab - Life peer)
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Baroness Gustafsson (Lab - Life peer)
Minister of State (HM Treasury)
James Murray (LAB - Ealing North)
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
Torsten Bell (Lab - Swansea West)
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Dan Tomlinson (Lab - Chipping Barnet)
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
There are no upcoming events identified
Debates
Wednesday 3rd September 2025
Select Committee Docs
Wednesday 3rd September 2025
15:06
Select Committee Inquiry
Tuesday 31st January 2023
Quantitative tightening

This inquiry will examine quantitative tightening, including its impact on the economy and its fiscal costs. It will also investigate …

Written Answers
Friday 5th September 2025
National Insurance Contributions: Tax Yields
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much additional income was raised from the (a) increase in the National …
Secondary Legislation
Wednesday 6th August 2025
Alcoholic Products (Repayment Interest Rate) (Alcohol Duty) Regulations 2025
These Regulations specify the rate of interest that has effect for the purposes of Parts 2 and 3 of Schedule …
Bills
Wednesday 25th June 2025
Supply and Appropriation (Main Estimates) Act 2025
A Bill to Authorise the use of resources for the year ending with 31 March 2026; to authorise both the …
Dept. Publications
Thursday 4th September 2025
16:20

Transparency

HM Treasury Commons Appearances

Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs

Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:
  • Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
  • Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
  • Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.

Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue

Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.

Most Recent Commons Appearances by Category
Jul. 01
Oral Questions
Sep. 03
Written Statements
Sep. 03
Westminster Hall
Jun. 19
Adjournment Debate
View All HM Treasury Commons Contibutions

Bills currently before Parliament

HM Treasury does not have Bills currently before Parliament


Acts of Parliament created in the 2024 Parliament

Introduced: 25th June 2025

A Bill to Authorise the use of resources for the year ending with 31 March 2026; to authorise both the issue of sums out of the Consolidated Fund and the application of income for that year; and to appropriate the supply authorised for that year by this Act and by the Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act 2025.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 21st July 2025 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 13th November 2024

A Bill to make provision about secondary Class 1 contributions.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 3rd April 2025 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 6th November 2024

A Bill to make provision about finance.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 20th March 2025 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 25th July 2024

A Bill to amend the Crown Estate Act 1961.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 11th March 2025 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 5th March 2025

A Bill to Authorise the use of resources for the years ending with 31 March 2024, 31 March 2025 and 31 March 2026; to authorise the issue of sums out of the Consolidated Fund for those years; and to appropriate the supply authorised by this Act for the years ending with 31 March 2024 and 31 March 2025.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 11th March 2025 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 6th November 2024

A Bill to make provision for loans or other financial assistance to be provided to, or for the benefit of, the government of Ukraine.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 16th January 2025 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 18th July 2024

A Bill to impose duties on the Treasury and the Office for Budget Responsibility in respect of the announcement of fiscally significant measures.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 10th September 2024 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 24th July 2024

A Bill to authorise the use of resources for the year ending with 31 March 2025; to authorise both the issue of sums out of the Consolidated Fund and the application of income for that year; and to appropriate the supply authorised for that year by this Act and by the Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act 2024.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 30th July 2024 and was enacted into law.

HM Treasury - Secondary Legislation

These Regulations specify the rate of interest that has effect for the purposes of Parts 2 and 3 of Schedule 3 to the Finance Act 2001 (c. 9), which deals with interest on amounts payable by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”), for the purposes of alcohol duty (the “repayment interest rate”).
These Regulations set out the Treasury’s equivalence determination in respect of the regulatory framework in Switzerland that applies to risk mitigation techniques for OTC derivative contracts not cleared by a CCP and the regulatory framework that applies to CCPs that are established in Switzerland.
View All HM Treasury Secondary Legislation

Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Trending Petitions
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12,447 Signatures
(4,060 in the last 7 days)
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642 Signatures
(108 in the last 7 days)
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171 Signatures
(73 in the last 7 days)
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99 Signatures
(67 in the last 7 days)
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4,558 Signatures
(65 in the last 7 days)
Petitions with most signatures
Petition Open
12,447 Signatures
(4,060 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
7,308 Signatures
(8 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
6,360 Signatures
(40 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
4,558 Signatures
(65 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
4,304 Signatures
(3 in the last 7 days)
Petition Debates Contributed

Raise the income tax personal allowance from £12570 to £20000. We think this would help low earners to get off benefits and allow pensioners a decent income.

154,009
Petition Closed
13 May 2025
closed 3 months, 3 weeks ago

We think that changing inheritance tax relief for agricultural land will devastate farms nationwide, forcing families to sell land and assets just to stay on their property. We urge the government to keep the current exemptions for working farms.

Prevent independent schools from having to pay VAT on fees and incurring business rates as a result of new legislation.

View All HM Treasury Petitions

Departmental Select Committee

Treasury Committee

Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.

At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.

Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.


11 Members of the Treasury Committee
Meg Hillier Portrait
Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Treasury Committee Member since 9th September 2024
Yuan Yang Portrait
Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Treasury Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Jeevun Sandher Portrait
Jeevun Sandher (Labour - Loughborough)
Treasury Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Lola McEvoy Portrait
Lola McEvoy (Labour - Darlington)
Treasury Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Siobhain McDonagh Portrait
Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Treasury Committee Member since 21st October 2024
John Glen Portrait
John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Treasury Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Rachel Blake Portrait
Rachel Blake (Labour (Co-op) - Cities of London and Westminster)
Treasury Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Harriett Baldwin Portrait
Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Treasury Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Bobby Dean Portrait
Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Treasury Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Chris Coghlan Portrait
Chris Coghlan (Liberal Democrat - Dorking and Horley)
Treasury Committee Member since 28th October 2024
John Grady Portrait
John Grady (Labour - Glasgow East)
Treasury Committee Member since 9th December 2024
Treasury Committee: Upcoming Events
Treasury Committee - Oral evidence
Work of the Financial Conduct Authority
9 Sep 2025, 9 a.m.
At 9:15am: Oral evidence
Nikhil Rathi - Chief Executive at Financial Conduct Authority
Ashley Alder - Chair at Financial Conduct Authority
Stephen Braviner Roman - General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer at Financial Conduct Authority
Sheree Howard - Executive Director, Authorisations at Financial Conduct Authority

View calendar - Save to Calendar
Treasury Committee: Previous Inquiries
The Financial Conduct Authority’s Regulation of London Capital & Finance plc Budget 2021 Work of National Savings and Investments Lessons from Greensill Capital Appointment of Carolyn Wilkins to the Financial Policy Committee Appointment of Tanya Castell to the Prudential Regulatory Committee The work of the Prudential Regulation Authority Reappointment of Jill May and Julia Black to the Prudential Regulation Committee Committee on COP26: climate change and finance Spring Budget 2020 Appointment of Sarah Breeden to the Financial Policy Committee Appointment of Catherine Mann to the Monetary Policy Committee Reappointment of Jonathan Haskel to the Monetary Policy Committee Bank of England July Financial Stability Report and August Monetary Policy Report Economic Crime Regional Imbalances in the UK economy The Work of the Debt Management Office Appointment of Richard Hughes as Chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility Reappointment of Professor Silvana Tenreyro to the Monetary Policy Committee Reappointment of Andy Haldane to the Monetary Policy Committee Appointment of Jonathan Hall to the Financial Policy Committee Appointment of Nikhil Rathi as Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority Maxwellisation inquiry The work of National Savings and Investments inquiry Retail Banking Market Review inquiry HMRC Executive Chair and Chief Executive Financial stability one-off hearing Appointment of the CEO of Financial Conduct Authority Bank of England Financial Stability Report Hearings 2016-17 UK's future economic relationship with the EU inquiry Appointment of Deputy Governor for Prudential Regulation EU Insurance Regulation inquiry HM Treasury: Report and Accounts 2015 – 2016 Appointment of Michael Saunders to the Monetary Policy Committee Appointment of Anil Kashyap to the Financial Policy Committee Tax credits, fraud and error inquiry The work of the Chancellor of the Exchequer inquiry Bank of England Inflation Report Hearing August 2016 Prudential Regulation Authority inquiry Sir Charles Bean appointment to Budget Responsibility Committee UK tax policy and the tax base inquiry Government Internal Audit Agency inquiry HM Treasury Annual Report and Accounts 2014-15 inquiry Valuation Office Agency inquiry Independent review of report into failure of HBOS inquiry Review of the Office for National Statistics inquiry Appointment of Angela Knight as Chair of the Office for Tax Simplification Appointment of Tim Parkes as Chair of Regulatory Decisions Committee Budget 2016 inquiry Financial Policy Committee re-appointment hearings Bank of England Inflation Report Hearing May 2016 Work of the Court of the Bank of England inquiry Bank of England Inflation Report Hearing February 2017 Appointment of the Deputy Governor for Markets and Banking Budget 2017 inquiry Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster inquiry Capital inquiry Work of the Payment Systems Regulator inquiry Effectiveness and impact of post-2008 UK monetary policy Access to basic retail financial services inquiry Financial Conduct Authority inquiry Bank of England Inflation Report Hearing November 2016 UK Financial Investments annual reports and accounts 2015-16 Housing Policy inquiry Autumn Statement 2016 Household finances: income, saving and debt inquiry Bank of England Inflation Reports inquiry Budget Autumn 2017 inquiry Student Loans inquiry The UK's economic relationship with the European Union inquiry The work of the Bank of England inquiry The work of the Financial Conduct Authority The work of the National Infrastructure Commission inquiry Women in finance inquiry Appointment of Professor Silvana Tenreyro to the Monetary Policy Committee Appointment of Sir Dave Ramsden as Deputy Governor for Markets and Banking, Bank of England The work of the Chancellor of the Exchequer EU Insurance Regulation inquiry HMRC Annual Report and Accounts inquiry Re-appointment of Professor Anil Kashyap to the Financial Policy Committee inquiry Re-appointment of Ben Broadbent as Deputy Governor for Monetary Policy, Bank of England inquiry The effectiveness of gender pay gap reporting inquiry Decarbonisation of the UK Economy and Green Finance inquiry Regional Imbalances in the UK Economy inquiry Work of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme inquiry Spending Round 2019 inquiry Access to Cash Review inquiry Appointment of Kathryn Cearns as Chair of the Office of Tax Simplification inquiry The future of the UK’s financial services inquiry The impact of Business Rates on business inquiry Spring Statement 2019 inquiry The work of the Adjudicator’s Office inquiry The work of the Debt Management Office inquiry Independent Review of the Co-Operative Bank inquiry Work of the Court of the Bank of England inquiry Tax enquiries and resolution of tax disputes inquiry IT failures in the financial services sector inquiry Work of the Banking Standards Board inquiry Independent Review of the Financial Ombudsman Service Appointment of Bradley Fried as Chair of Court, Bank of England Appointment of Professor Jonathan Haskel to the Monetary Policy Committee Andy King, Nominated Member of the Budget Responsibility Committee Re-appointment of Dr Gertjan Vlieghe to the Monetary Policy Committee Maxwellisation inquiry Work of the Valuation Office Agency inquiry Appointment of Julia Black as external member of the Prudential Regulation Committee Appointment of Jill May as an external member of the Prudential Regulation Committee Consumers’ Access to Financial Services inquiry The re-appointment of Sir Jon Cunliffe as Deputy Governor for Financial Stability at the Bank of England inquiry Budget 2018 inquiry The Work of the Treasury inquiry Service Disruption at TSB inquiry Economic Crime inquiry Re-appointment of Alex Brazier to the Financial Policy Committee Re-appointment of Donald Kohn to the Financial Policy Committee Re-appointment of Martin Taylor to the Financial Policy Committee VAT inquiry Spring Statement 2018 Digital Currencies inquiry Appointment of Charles Randell as Chair of the Financial Conduct Authority SME Finance inquiry Appointment of Elisabeth Stheeman to the Bank of England Financial Policy Committee The work of the Prudential Regulation Authority inquiry Bank of England Financial Stability Reports RBS's Global Restructuring Group and its treatment of SMEs inquiry Childcare inquiry The work of the Payment Systems Regulator inquiry HM Treasury Annual Report and Accounts inquiry Women in the City Crown Estate Cheques, the end of? Mortgage Arrears and Access to Mortgage Finance: Follow up Financial Institutions - Too Important To Fail? Budget 2010 Credit Searches European Macro and Micro Prudential Financial Regulation Presbyterian Mutual Society Pre-Budget Report 2009 Budget 2009 Pre-Budget Report 2008 Budget 2008 Pre-Budget Report 2007 Mortgage Arrears and Access to Mortgage Finance Evaluating the Efficiency Programme Administration and expenditure of the Chancellor’s Departments, 2008-09 Banking Crisis Banking Crisis: International Dimensions Banking Reform Run on the Rock Budget June 2010 Competition and choice in the banking sector Office for Budget Responsibility Financial Regulation Spending Review 2010 Administration and effectiveness of HMRC The principles of tax policy Retail Distribution Review European financial regulation Autumn forecast 2010 Accountability of the Bank of England Private Finance Initiative Budget 2011 Future of Cheques Independent Commission on Banking: Interim Report Closing the tax gap: HMRC's record at ensuring tax compliance Budget Measures and Low-income Households Financial Conduct Authority Inherited Estates Counting the population Administration and expenditure of the Chancellor's Departments, 2006-07 Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 Administration and expenditure of the Chancellor's Departments, 2007-08 Independent Commission on Banking: Final Report Global Imbalances Autumn Statement 2011 Budget 2012 Corporate governance and remuneration Money Advice Service LIBOR FSA's report into HBOS Spending Round 2013 Project Verde Macroprudential tools Disposal of Government Stakes in RBS and Lloyds Credit Rating Agencies Autumn Statement 2012 Appointment of Dr Mark Carney as Governor of the Bank of England Budget 2013 Quantitative easing Private Finance 2 Autumn Statement 2013 Bank of England Financial Stability Report hearings: Session 2014-15 Appointment hearings, Session 2013-14 Bank of England Inflation Report Hearings: Session 2013-14 EU Financial Regulation Monetary Policy: Forward Guidance UK Financial Investments Ltd 2013 The economics of HS2 SME Lending Financial Conduct Authority hearings The costing of pre-election policy proposals Performance of the Royal Mint Budget 2014 The economics of currency unions OBR: July 2013 Fiscal Sustainability Report Banks' Lending Practices: Treatment of Businesses in Distress RBS Independent Lending Review Prudential Regulation Authority Hearings: Session 2014-15 HM Treasury Annual Report and Accounts 2013-14 Treatment of Financial Services Consumers Bank of England Inflation Report Hearings: Session 2014-15 HMRC Business Plan 2014-16 Manipulation of Benchmarks Appointment hearings, Session 2014-15 Co-op Governance Review Cost effectiveness of economic and financial sanctions Bank of England Financial Stability Report Hearings 2015-16 Bank of England Inflation Report Hearings 2015-16 Summer Budget 2015 inquiry UK Financial Investments Ltd Annual Report and Accounts 14-15 Review of scope and performance of Office for Budget Responsibility Bank of England Bill inquiry Chair of Office for Budget Responsibility reappointment hearing HMRC Annual Report and Accounts 2014-15 inquiry Prudential Regulation Authority inquiry Comprehensive Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015 inquiry Review of CMA work on Retail Banking Market one-off session Financial Conduct Authority Practitioner Panels one-off session Appointment of Gertjan Vlieghe to the Monetary Policy Committee hearing Reappointment of Ian McCafferty to the Monetary Policy Committee hearing Financial Conduct Authority Economic and financial costs and benefits of UK's EU membership Crown Estate Annual Report and Accounts 2013/14 Bank of England Foreign Exchange Market Investigation HM Revenue and Customs and HSBC Budget 2015 The UK's EU Budget Contributions Press briefing of information in the Financial Conduct Authority’s 2014/15 Business Plan Fair and Effective Markets Review The Payment Systems Regulator Implementing the recommendations on the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards Autumn Statement 2014 Work of the Tax Assurance Commissioner UK Financial Investments Ltd Proposals for further Fiscal and Economic Devolution to Scotland Debt Management Office Annual Report and Accounts 2013-14 UK Customs Policy Infrastructure The cost of living The venture capital market The crypto-asset industry Tax Reliefs September 2022 Fiscal Event The Financial Services and Markets Bill The mortgage market The Edinburgh Reforms Quantitative tightening Retail Banks Appointment of Andrew Bailey as Governor of the Bank of England Work of Government Actuary’s Department Work of the Financial Ombudsman Service Work of HM Treasury Future of Financial Services Spending Review 2020 HMRC Annual Report and Accounts Bank of England Financial Stability Reports The appointment of John Taylor to the Prudential Regulation Committee UK’s economic and trading relationship with the EU The appointment of Antony Jenkins to the Prudential Regulation Committee Access to Cash Review Bank of England Financial Stability Reports Bank of England Inflation Reports Consumers’ Access to Financial Services Decarbonisation of the UK Economy and Green Finance Economic Crime The effectiveness of gender pay gap reporting HMRC Annual Report and Accounts inquiry Tax enquiries and resolution of tax disputes IT failures in the financial services sector Appointment of Dame Colette Bowe to the Financial Policy Committee Re-appointment of Professor Anil Kashyap to the Financial Policy Committee Work of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme Spending Round 2019 The impact of Business Rates on business Work of the Court of the Bank of England Independent Review of the Co-Operative Bank Regional Imbalances in the UK Economy Re-appointment of Michael Saunders to the Monetary Policy Committee Re-appointment of Ben Broadbent as Deputy Governor for Monetary Policy, Bank of England Maxwellisation RBS's Global Restructuring Group and its treatment of SMEs SME Finance Spring Statement 2019 The future of the UK’s financial services HM Treasury Annual Report and Accounts Service Disruption at TSB The UK's economic relationship with the European Union VAT The work of the Bank of England The work of the Chancellor of the Exchequer The work of the Financial Conduct Authority The Work of the Treasury The work of the Prudential Regulation Authority

50 most recent Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department

29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) digitising and (b) streamlining the HMRC process for issuing (i) VAT registration numbers and (ii) corporation tax authentication codes.

As part of the Government’s commitment to improve customer experience through reform and modernisation of tax and customs administration, HMRC recently published the Transformation Roadmap. As part of this plan, HMRC will continue to explore opportunities to digitise their services where it is right to do so. This includes the development of a secure and GDPR compliant digital method to communicate VAT registration details with customers. Until this is developed, VAT registration numbers are sent by physical post which minimises the risk of fraud by preventing the interception of VAT numbers by fraudsters.

Similarly, the activation code for a customer to add corporation tax (CT) services to their business tax account must be delivered by a secure process. HMRC are investing in their legacy corporation tax system in order to provide the foundation for future improvements and will work with customers to ensure that they meet the needs of the diverse CT population.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the digital tax system on small businesses.

Making Tax Digital (MTD) modernises the tax system and will help businesses and landlords keep on top of their tax affairs. It places small businesses on a more digital footing, with digital tools helping to reduce errors and making annual tax returns easier.

Through a diverse market of accessible, intuitive software, MTD encourages businesses to embrace digital solutions boosting productivity, streamlining operations, and supporting sustainable growth.

The latest published assessment of MTD for Income Tax impacts is available at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/extension-of-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax-self-assessment-to-sole-traders-and-landlords

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of staff in her Department did not meet the minimum office attendance target in the latest period for which data is available; and what sanctions her Department issues to staff who do not meet this target.

The department collects data via an access control system to allow monitoring of office attendance. This system does not provide this data at individual level.

Managers are required to ensure employees meet the minimum office attendance targets and they have a number of management tools at their disposal to ensure compliance including both our formal and informal disciplinary procedures. We do not hold central records on the usage of such procedures.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the eligibility rules for child benefit on high earning single parents.

The Government understands the concerns that have been raised about the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC), including its potential impact on high earning single parents. However, introducing a threshold for single parents, or basing the charge on household rather than individual incomes, would come at a significant fiscal cost if we were to ensure that no families lose out. By withdrawing Child Benefit from high-income parents where the higher earner earns £60,000 or more, the HICBC helps to ensure the sustainability of the public finances and protect our vital public services.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring equitable taxation of (a) income derived from assets and (b) other passive income.

The Government is committed to making sure the wealthiest in our society pay their fair share of tax. That is why the Chancellor announced a series of reforms at Autumn Budget 2024 to help fix the public finances in as fair a way as possible.  These and other decisions announced at the Budget will help repair the public finances and fund public services such as the NHS and education.

The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the tax policy making process. Any tax changes are generally announced at Budget where decisions are taken in the round.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make a comparative assessment of the average processing times for (a) VAT and (b) Corporation Tax registration by (i) HMRC and (ii) other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

HMRC is not able to provide a comparative assessment of the average processing times for (a) VAT and (b) Corporation Tax registration by (i) HMRC and (ii) other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The OECD do not publish information of this nature.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much additional income was raised from the (a) increase in the National Insurance rate in April 2025 and (b) lowering of the National Insurance threshold.

Estimates for the additional static revenue expected to be raised from the employer NICs changes, announced at Autumn Budget 2024 and which came into force in April 2025, can be found in the OBR Supplementary forecast information on static costing of changes to Employer National Insurance Contributions.

Further information, including on behavioural impacts can be found in Chapter 3.8 of the OBR Economic and fiscal outlook – October 2024.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of staff in her Department have flexible working arrangements; and how many of those work compressed hours.

HMT is committed to enhancing the working lives of all employees by supporting a healthy balance between professional responsibilities and personal commitments. To support this, HMT offers a Flexible Working Hours Scheme (FWHS), which allows employees to vary their start and finish times across the working week to achieve a balance between the demands of their jobs and personal commitments.

As at the end of financial quarter 1 for 2025/26 (30th June 2025), there were 160 active staff at HMT working full-time compressed hours.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the press release entitled Senior business leaders bolster Treasury board of 13 August 2025, whether the three new Board members had declarable political activity.

Appointments to the HMT Board are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Sir Charlie Mayfield, Edward Twiddy and Jenny Scott have not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had recent discussions with her international counterparts on establishing a UN Tax Framework Convention.

The UK is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure inclusive and effective international tax cooperation, and has been actively engaging in negotiations at the UN over a future Framework Convention, including the recent informal sessions for the technical workstreams.

The UK believes that a UN Tax Framework Convention has the potential to further advance international tax cooperation, but to be successful, it needs to be clear in its aims, avoid duplicating initiatives, and seek to secure the broad support and participation of members.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department provides an annual allowance for works on the Chancellor’s flat in Downing Street.

HMT does not provide an annual allowance for works to be undertaken on the Chancellor’s flat in Downing Street.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to reduce the time taken for council tax re-bandings by the Valuations Board.

The VOA is working as quickly as possible to clear cases, and moving staff to where there is the greatest customer demand. The VOA is focusing on the oldest cases first, and where customers are facing financial hardship.

The VOA is replacing IT systems with modern cloud-based platforms that will deliver significant efficiencies. It is also upskilling its workforce to ensure there is flexibility in managing a wide range of cases and improving its digital services to make it easier for customers to self-serve.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent comparative assessment her Department has made on the levels of VAT charged to (a) small hospitality businesses, (b) supermarkets, (c) national chains and (d) delivery platforms.

The level of the charge depends on the good or service being supplied. VAT only needs to be accounted for by VAT-registered businesses, and at £90,000, the UK has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU country and the joint highest in the OECD. This keeps the majority of businesses out of the VAT regime altogether.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of freezing the personal allowance on pensioners whose sole income is the state pension.

This Government remains committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement.

The commitment to protect the Triple Lock saw over 12 million pensioners benefit from a 4.1% increase to their basic or new State Pension in April 2025. Over the course of this Parliament, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is expected to increase by around £1,900 based on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest forecast.

The Personal Allowance will continue to exceed the basic and full new State Pension in 2025/26. This means pensioners whose sole income is the full new State Pension or basic State Pension without any increments will not pay any income tax.

The previous Government made the decision to freeze the income tax Personal Allowance at its current level of £12,570 until April 2028. The current Government is committed to keeping people’s taxes as low as possible while ensuring fiscal responsibility and so decided not to extend the freeze on personal tax thresholds at Budget 2025.

From this winter pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from Winter Fuel Payments from this winter. This threshold is broadly in line with average earnings. It ensures the vast majority of pensioners – over three quarters, and around 9 million individuals in England and Wales - will receive support. It also ensures the means testing of Winter Fuel Payments has no effect on pensioner poverty. The relevant impact assessments are available on gov.uk:

Equality Impact Assessments produced for targeting Winter Fuel Payment - GOV.UK

Winter Fuel Payments eligibility change - internal modelling on pensioner poverty levels - GOV.UK.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on exempting the state pension from income tax.

This Government remains committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement.

The commitment to protect the Triple Lock saw over 12 million pensioners benefit from a 4.1% increase to their basic or new State Pension in April 2025. Over the course of this Parliament, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is expected to increase by around £1,900 based on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest forecast.

The Personal Allowance will continue to exceed the basic and full new State Pension in 2025/26. This means pensioners whose sole income is the full new State Pension or basic State Pension without any increments will not pay any income tax.

The previous Government made the decision to freeze the income tax Personal Allowance at its current level of £12,570 until April 2028. The current Government is committed to keeping people’s taxes as low as possible while ensuring fiscal responsibility and so decided not to extend the freeze on personal tax thresholds at Budget 2025.

From this winter pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from Winter Fuel Payments from this winter. This threshold is broadly in line with average earnings. It ensures the vast majority of pensioners – over three quarters, and around 9 million individuals in England and Wales - will receive support. It also ensures the means testing of Winter Fuel Payments has no effect on pensioner poverty. The relevant impact assessments are available on gov.uk:

Equality Impact Assessments produced for targeting Winter Fuel Payment - GOV.UK

Winter Fuel Payments eligibility change - internal modelling on pensioner poverty levels - GOV.UK.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of pensioners brought into paying income tax in the next financial year as a result of the state pension exceeding the personal allowance.

This Government remains committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement.

The commitment to protect the Triple Lock saw over 12 million pensioners benefit from a 4.1% increase to their basic or new State Pension in April 2025. Over the course of this Parliament, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is expected to increase by around £1,900 based on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest forecast.

The Personal Allowance will continue to exceed the basic and full new State Pension in 2025/26. This means pensioners whose sole income is the full new State Pension or basic State Pension without any increments will not pay any income tax.

The previous Government made the decision to freeze the income tax Personal Allowance at its current level of £12,570 until April 2028. The current Government is committed to keeping people’s taxes as low as possible while ensuring fiscal responsibility and so decided not to extend the freeze on personal tax thresholds at Budget 2025.

From this winter pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from Winter Fuel Payments from this winter. This threshold is broadly in line with average earnings. It ensures the vast majority of pensioners – over three quarters, and around 9 million individuals in England and Wales - will receive support. It also ensures the means testing of Winter Fuel Payments has no effect on pensioner poverty. The relevant impact assessments are available on gov.uk:

Equality Impact Assessments produced for targeting Winter Fuel Payment - GOV.UK

Winter Fuel Payments eligibility change - internal modelling on pensioner poverty levels - GOV.UK.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) the withdrawal of winter fuel payments, (b) frozen tax thresholds and (c) state pension taxation on pensioner households.

This Government remains committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement.

The commitment to protect the Triple Lock saw over 12 million pensioners benefit from a 4.1% increase to their basic or new State Pension in April 2025. Over the course of this Parliament, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is expected to increase by around £1,900 based on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest forecast.

The Personal Allowance will continue to exceed the basic and full new State Pension in 2025/26. This means pensioners whose sole income is the full new State Pension or basic State Pension without any increments will not pay any income tax.

The previous Government made the decision to freeze the income tax Personal Allowance at its current level of £12,570 until April 2028. The current Government is committed to keeping people’s taxes as low as possible while ensuring fiscal responsibility and so decided not to extend the freeze on personal tax thresholds at Budget 2025.

From this winter pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from Winter Fuel Payments from this winter. This threshold is broadly in line with average earnings. It ensures the vast majority of pensioners – over three quarters, and around 9 million individuals in England and Wales - will receive support. It also ensures the means testing of Winter Fuel Payments has no effect on pensioner poverty. The relevant impact assessments are available on gov.uk:

Equality Impact Assessments produced for targeting Winter Fuel Payment - GOV.UK

Winter Fuel Payments eligibility change - internal modelling on pensioner poverty levels - GOV.UK.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the additional annual revenue received from taxing state pensions from April 2026.

This Government remains committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement.

The commitment to protect the Triple Lock saw over 12 million pensioners benefit from a 4.1% increase to their basic or new State Pension in April 2025. Over the course of this Parliament, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is expected to increase by around £1,900 based on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest forecast.

The Personal Allowance will continue to exceed the basic and full new State Pension in 2025/26. This means pensioners whose sole income is the full new State Pension or basic State Pension without any increments will not pay any income tax.

The previous Government made the decision to freeze the income tax Personal Allowance at its current level of £12,570 until April 2028. The current Government is committed to keeping people’s taxes as low as possible while ensuring fiscal responsibility and so decided not to extend the freeze on personal tax thresholds at Budget 2025.

From this winter pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from Winter Fuel Payments from this winter. This threshold is broadly in line with average earnings. It ensures the vast majority of pensioners – over three quarters, and around 9 million individuals in England and Wales - will receive support. It also ensures the means testing of Winter Fuel Payments has no effect on pensioner poverty. The relevant impact assessments are available on gov.uk:

Equality Impact Assessments produced for targeting Winter Fuel Payment - GOV.UK

Winter Fuel Payments eligibility change - internal modelling on pensioner poverty levels - GOV.UK.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a separate personal allowance for pensioners.

This Government remains committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement.

The commitment to protect the Triple Lock saw over 12 million pensioners benefit from a 4.1% increase to their basic or new State Pension in April 2025. Over the course of this Parliament, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is expected to increase by around £1,900 based on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest forecast.

The Personal Allowance will continue to exceed the basic and full new State Pension in 2025/26. This means pensioners whose sole income is the full new State Pension or basic State Pension without any increments will not pay any income tax.

The previous Government made the decision to freeze the income tax Personal Allowance at its current level of £12,570 until April 2028. The current Government is committed to keeping people’s taxes as low as possible while ensuring fiscal responsibility and so decided not to extend the freeze on personal tax thresholds at Budget 2025.

From this winter pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from Winter Fuel Payments from this winter. This threshold is broadly in line with average earnings. It ensures the vast majority of pensioners – over three quarters, and around 9 million individuals in England and Wales - will receive support. It also ensures the means testing of Winter Fuel Payments has no effect on pensioner poverty. The relevant impact assessments are available on gov.uk:

Equality Impact Assessments produced for targeting Winter Fuel Payment - GOV.UK

Winter Fuel Payments eligibility change - internal modelling on pensioner poverty levels - GOV.UK.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on ensuring that pensioners with no other income do not pay income tax on the state pension.

This Government remains committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement.

The commitment to protect the Triple Lock saw over 12 million pensioners benefit from a 4.1% increase to their basic or new State Pension in April 2025. Over the course of this Parliament, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is expected to increase by around £1,900 based on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest forecast.

The Personal Allowance will continue to exceed the basic and full new State Pension in 2025/26. This means pensioners whose sole income is the full new State Pension or basic State Pension without any increments will not pay any income tax.

The previous Government made the decision to freeze the income tax Personal Allowance at its current level of £12,570 until April 2028. The current Government is committed to keeping people’s taxes as low as possible while ensuring fiscal responsibility and so decided not to extend the freeze on personal tax thresholds at Budget 2025.

From this winter pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from Winter Fuel Payments from this winter. This threshold is broadly in line with average earnings. It ensures the vast majority of pensioners – over three quarters, and around 9 million individuals in England and Wales - will receive support. It also ensures the means testing of Winter Fuel Payments has no effect on pensioner poverty. The relevant impact assessments are available on gov.uk:

Equality Impact Assessments produced for targeting Winter Fuel Payment - GOV.UK

Winter Fuel Payments eligibility change - internal modelling on pensioner poverty levels - GOV.UK.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of exempting infected blood scandal compensation payments from Inheritance Tax when such payments are transferred to the next of kin of deceased victims.

Infected Blood compensation payments are relieved from inheritance tax under Schedule 15 of the Finance Act 2020. This is applied to the estate of the recipient of the compensation payment. Where these payments are subsequently inherited, they become part of the beneficiary’s estate and are subject to standard inheritance tax rules, in line with normal practice for compensation schemes.

This ensures victims receive full compensation without tax burdens whilst maintaining fairness in the tax system and protecting the public finances.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to (a) Business Property Relief and (b) Agricultural Property Relief on the level of resources required at HMRC.

On 21 July 2025 HMRC published a policy paper on the agricultural property relief and business property relief reforms for Inheritance Tax. The summary of impacts includes an estimate of HMRC’s costs to deliver the measure. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reforms-to-agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to tackle landfill tax fraud in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England.

In recent years, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has deployed additional resources to tackle landfill tax fraud and support the Joint Unit of Waste Crime (JUWC) and other agencies to identify and tackle wider waste crime. HMRC created a team to monitor high risk waste producers to deter misdescription at source and reduce non-compliance across the sector. It has increased compliance activity with landfill site operators to ensure they are complying with legislative requirements.

The government set out in the Consultation on the reform of Landfill Tax that as part of its Landfill Tax Review it would consider options for structural changes to the tax and the potential impacts on Landfill Tax fraud. This is alongside wider environmental regulatory reforms designed to improve compliance and tackle waste crime.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will remove the tax-exempt heritage assets scheme from landowners.

The conditional exemption tax incentive scheme was introduced to preserve and protect the national heritage for the benefit of the public. The Government keeps all tax policy under review, and any changes are set out at fiscal events.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reducing wine duty to 14 per cent on British wine producers.

The wine industry makes a vital contribution to our economy and society. We also know the sector has found economic conditions challenging over the past few years, in part due to the pandemic, energy costs, and the cost-of-living crisis.

As you know, a cut, or even a freeze, to alcohol duty represents a cost to the Exchequer. The baseline assumption is that alcohol duty will be increased annually, so that it does not fall in real terms. As with all taxes, the Government welcomes representations from stakeholders to inform policy development.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what comparative assessment she has made of the effectiveness of IT systems used by (a) Companies House and (b) HMRC.

No comparative assessment has been completed of the IT systems. HMRC and Companies House have a joint commitment on sharing data and analytics to tackle corporate fraud relating to accounting and registration services.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Stamp Duty on serving armed forces personnel who are required to maintain a second property owing to service postings.

The higher rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) apply to the purchases of additional residential property, including second homes and buy-to-let investments. A refund of the additional 5% rate may be claimed if the previous main residence is sold within three years of acquiring the new one. In some circumstances, for example, armed forces personnel may not meet the higher rates refund criteria if renting out their home whilst living in service family accommodation or where they are posted away or deployed overseas for long periods.

As SDLT returns do not collect details of the employment status of purchasers we are unable to make a quantative assessment of the number of serving armed forces personnel who have incurred the higher rate of SDLT on the purchase of additional dwellings or of those able to successfully meet the refund criteria.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to review the £85,000 VAT registration threshold.

At £90,000, the UK has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU country and the joint highest in the OECD. This keeps the majority of businesses out of the VAT regime altogether.

Any change to the threshold would have potential impacts on small businesses, the economy as a whole, and tax revenues, which the Government would need to consider carefully. The Government keeps all taxes under review and any changes are announced at fiscal events.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of (a) business rates and (b) VAT on the financial sustainability of hotels in (i) rural areas and (ii) West Dorset constituency.

The Government recognises the significant contribution made by hospitality and tourism businesses, including those in rural areas, to economic growth and social life in the UK.

To deliver our manifesto pledge, from 2026/27, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including hotels, with rateable values below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

Ahead of these new multipliers being introduced, the Government recognises that businesses will need support in 2025/26. As such, we prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and we froze the small business multiplier.

When the new, permanently lower tax rates are set at Budget 2025, the Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. The UK’s VAT rate of 20 per cent is close to the OECD average of 19.3 per cent. The UK has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU country and the joint highest in the OECD, at £90,000. This keeps the majority of businesses out of the VAT regime altogether.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had with representatives of the British racing industry on the potential impact of her Department's remote gambling tax harmonisations proposals on the sport.

The Government consultation on proposals to simplify the current gambling tax system by merging the three current taxes that cover remote (including online) gambling into one closed on 21 July 2025. Responses are now being analysed and a response to the consultation will be published at Autumn Budget 2025.

The Government recognises the significant cultural and economic value of British horseracing, both as a major sporting tradition and as an important contributor to rural economies across the country and is engaging with representatives of the horseracing industry to understand the impact of any tax changes, which will be carefully considered as part of the consultation process.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent comparative assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of VAT differentials on the competitiveness of hospitality businesses in (a) Buckingham and Bletchley constituency and (b) their European counterparts.

The Government recognises the significant contribution made by hospitality and tourism businesses to economic growth and social life in the UK.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. The UK’s VAT rate of 20 per cent is close to the OECD average of 19.3 per cent. The UK has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU country and the joint highest in the OECD, at £90,000. This keeps the majority of businesses out of the VAT regime altogether.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the estimated cost of maintaining the freeze on fuel duty is in (a) 2024-2025 and (b) the five-year Parliamentary term.

At Autumn Budget 2024, fuel duty was frozen at the current rate of 52.95 pence per litre for 2025/26, at a projected cost of £3,015m in 2025/26. The OBR estimated in its March 2025 Economic and Fiscal Outlook that if the duty rate were to remain unchanged at its current level throughout the forecast period it would reduce receipts, on average, by £3.8 billion a year between 2026/27 and 2029/30.

Fuel duty was also frozen for 2024/25 by the previous government at Spring Budget 2024, at a projected cost of £3,090m in 2024/25.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will issue updated HMRC guidance on the definition of main residence for SDLT purposes for serving personnel living in Service Family Accommodation while retaining or purchasing a home elsewhere.

HMRC has published guidance on the definition of 'main residence' for Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) purposes which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/stamp-duty-land-tax-manual/sdltm09812. This guidance applies to all purchasers, including serving armed forces personnel living in Service Family Accommodation.

The guidance explains that a property can only be considered a replacement of a main residence if the previous home was both owned and occupied by the purchaser (or their spouse/civil partner) as their main residence. Where a purchaser previously lived in accommodation which they (or their spouse or civil partner) did not own – such as Service Family Accommodation – then moving out of this accommodation does not count as replacing their main residence for SDLT purposes. Determining a 'main residence' involves assessing all relevant facts and circumstances, including the purchaser’s intention at the time of acquisition.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason HMRC charge a fee to taxpayers who pay their tax liabilities using a debit or credit card; and whether she plans to remove this charge.

I can confirm that no fees are charged when payment is made using a personal debit card.

Fees only apply when using a corporate credit or corporate debit card, and these are in place to cover the processing costs charged by Visa/Mastercard, the Scheme Issuer and the Merchant Acquirer.

To avoid these charges, a range of alternative methods are available to customers including Direct Debit and all the bank transfer payment options.

Payments by personal credit cards are not accepted by HMRC as the associated processing costs for these cards are prohibitive.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of supporting access to second-hand battery electric vehicles through reduced benefit-in-kind taxation on used electric cars.

The Government is fully committed to the transition to electric vehicles and a strong second-hand market for EVs plays an important role in this.

The Company Car Tax regime helps support the used electric vehicle markets, where electric company cars are sold after the end of their lease.

The majority of cars are bought in the UK’s second hand markets. At Autumn Budget the Government announced new Company Car Tax rates for 2028-29 and 2029-30 which will maintain very generous incentives to support electric vehicle take-up, and therefore the entry of electric vehicles into the second-hand market.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many SDLT transactions by serving armed forces personnel have incurred the 5% higher rates for additional dwellings in each of the last five years.

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) returns do not collect details of the employment status of purchasers. For this reason, HM Revenue and Customs is unable to provide details of the number of serving armed forces personnel who have incurred the higher rate of SDLT on the purchase of additional dwellings.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of tapering the introduction of changes to unused pension funds and death benefits into scope of Inheritance Tax from 6 April 2027.

From 6 April 2027 most unused pension funds and death benefits will be included within the value of a person’s estate for Inheritance Tax purposes.

This change was announced on 30 October 2024 and will only impact those who die on or after 6 April 2027. There are no plans to change this commencement date. The government has published draft legislation in July 2025 for technical consultation and will publish full guidance ahead of these changes coming into effect.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information they hold on the number of workdays that were completed remotely in their Department in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025 to date.

The information requested is not available.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
22nd Jul 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with (a) HMRC and (b) stakeholders on the VAT treatment of voluntary payments made to international carbon offsetting projects.

HMRC engaged with stakeholders prior to clarifying the policy on the VAT treatment of voluntary carbon credits in 2024.

As of 1 September 2024, payments made to non-statutory carbon offsetting projects for the purchase of voluntary carbon credits are in the scope of VAT where the place of supply is the UK. Payments made to international carbon offsetting projects are outside the scope of UK VAT.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the cost of (a) quarterly tax returns and (b) mandatory use of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax software to small and medium enterprises.

Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax quarterly updates are not the same as tax returns. They are simple, unadjusted summaries of income and expenditure, populated automatically through software and easily submitted. The latest published assessment of MTD for Income Tax impacts is available at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/extension-of-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax-self-assessment-to-sole-traders-and-landlords

The government has worked with the software industry to ensure a wide range of software choices to suit varying needs and budgets including free and low-cost software options. HMRC's software choices page can be found here:

www.gov.uk/guidance/find-software-thats-compatible-with-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax#software-available-now

Quarterly updates will support taxpayers in getting get their tax right and allow customers to call-up estimates of their emerging liability on-demand throughout the tax year. This helps ensure everyone pays the right amount of tax at the right time

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to review the Trivial Benefit Allowance in advance of the Autumn Budget 2025.

There are a wide range of factors to take into consideration when introducing or widening a tax relief or exemption. These include how effective the exemption would be at achieving the policy intent, how targeted support would be and the cost.

The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy making process. The Chancellor will announce any changes to the tax system at fiscal events in the usual way.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of HMRC developing Making Tax Digital software without using third-party providers.

HMRC has always maintained that it would not offer its own software products for Making Tax Digital. This helps to ensure a competitive market which will better support taxpayers with a flexible and tailored range of software that integrates with other business management tools. This includes free and low-cost options, which would be undermined by an HMRC produced solution. Third party developers are also well placed to build the necessary help and support within their products that is particularly important for unrepresented customers or those who do not already use digital tools to manage their affairs.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of wealth taxes on national economies in countries where they exist.

The Government is committed to making sure the wealthiest in our society pay their fair share of tax. That is why the Chancellor announced a series of reforms at Autumn Budget 2024 to help fix the public finances in as fair a way as possible.  These and other decisions announced at the Budget will help repair the public finances and fund public services such as the NHS and education.

According to the latest OECD data, the UK raises more from taxing wealth both in revenue, and as a proportion of its tax base, than Spain, Switzerland, and Norway.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) changes to employer National Insurance contributions and (b) other recent fiscal measures on (i) employment, (ii) investment and (iii) business closures in hospitality; and what steps she is taking to support the hospitality sector.

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer National Insurance contributions (NICs). The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.

The Office for Budget Responsibility also published the Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO), which sets out a detailed forecast of the economy and public finances. With all policies considered, the OBR's March 2025 EFO forecasts the employment level to increase from 33.6 million in 2024 to 34.8 million in 2029.

The hospitality sector is predominately made up of smaller businesses. The Government decided to protect the smallest businesses from these changes by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that this year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, and more than half of all employers will either gain or will see no change.

From 2026-27, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower business rates multipliers for RHL properties with an RV below £500,000. Ahead of then, the Government has prevented RHL business rates relief from ending, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and frozen the small business multiplier.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has conducted an impact assessment of the potential impact of changes to inheritance tax relief for farmers on the Welsh language.

The Government is not under an obligation to carry out or publish a specific Welsh language impact assessment of tax policies. However, it is not expected there will be any material impact on the opportunities of individuals to use the Welsh language following these reforms.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to review the VAT rules that apply to the supply of medicines by (a) NHS and (b) private pharmacy services.

The supply of drugs is subject to VAT at the standard rate unless an exception applies. One of these exceptions is that the zero rate of VAT is applied when a drug is supplied to an individual for personal use on prescription and dispensed by a registered pharmacist. These supplies may be made by the NHS or private pharmacies.

In July 2025, the Government laid the draft Human Medicines (Authorisation by Pharmacists and Supervision by Pharmacy Technicians) Order 2025, which will enable pharmacists to authorise registered pharmacy technicians to carry out, or supervise others carrying out, the preparation, assembly, dispensing, and sale and supply of medicines. The Government intends to legislate to enable medicines dispensed by or under the supervision of a registered pharmacy technician to benefit from the zero rate of VAT.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
21st Jul 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of (a) business rates and (b) changes to employer national insurance contributions on the (i) hospitality sector and (ii) local pubs.

The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

From April 2026, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RVs) below £500,000.

This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties from April 2026 - those with RVs of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but cover the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants.

The new business rates multipliers will be set at Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the upcoming revaluation outcomes as well as the economic and fiscal context. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the expected effects of the new RHL and higher multiplier arrangements.

Regarding National Insurance contributions (NICs), a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the Exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the number of small businesses in (a) the UK and (b) Buckingham and Bletchley constituency that operate below the VAT registration threshold.

a) The total number of businesses in 2024 is estimated at 5.6 million (see Business population estimates 2024 - GOV.UK, detailed table 2). According to HMRC statistics, there were around 1.3 million business registered for VAT with turnover above the threshold in 2023-34 (see Value Added Tax (VAT) annual statistics - GOV.UK, Table T5). Thus the number of businesses with turnover below the threshold would be approximately the remainder of the 5.6 million, or 4.3 million. It should be noted that some businesses with turnover below the threshold are voluntarily registered for VAT; there were around 0.9 million such businesses in 2023-24.

b) No estimate has been made of the number of small businesses operating below the VAT registration threshold at the constituency level. Any estimate would be above cost grounds.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that the UK’s Carbon Border Adjustment reduces carbon leakage in relevant sectors.

The UK government is introducing a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) to address the risk of carbon leakage, which occurs when production and associated emissions shift from one country to another due to different levels of decarbonisation effort (for example through carbon pricing and climate regulation).

The UK CBAM will place a charge on the carbon emissions embodied in certain highly traded, carbon intensive goods imported to the UK from the aluminium, cement, fertiliser, hydrogen and iron & steel sectors. By placing a carbon price on imported goods, the UK aims to ensure that these goods face a carbon price that is comparable to that which the goods would have faced, if they had been produced in the UK.

Therefore, the UK CBAM will ensure highly traded, carbon intensive products from overseas face a comparable carbon price to those produced here so that UK decarbonisation efforts lead to a true reduction in global emissions rather than simply displacing carbon emissions overseas.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)