Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Valuation Office Agency considers (a) the level of taxes and (b) other changes to fiscal policy when determining the valuation of a (i) pub and (ii) other hereditament.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) assesses non-domestic properties in line with legislation. This will be based on a set date, called the Antecedent Valuation Date (AVD). For the current rating list, this is 1 April 2021.
The VOA’s valuations are based on the level of rent the property could earn at the AVD. Should the level of taxation and fiscal policy affect rents paid in the open market at that specific point in time, they will be reflected in any rental evidence that is used.
Any change in the level of taxation or fiscal policy that occurs after the AVD, or would not have been known at the AVD, would not be considered until a subsequent non-domestic revaluation.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on when the Valuation Office Agency plans to publish the draft Rateable Values for all hereditaments in England as part of the 2026 business rates revaluation.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
In line with Section 41 of The Local Government Finance Act 1988, the VOA will publish the 2026 rating lists in draft on Gov.uk by 31 December 2025.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress her Department's joint working group with HMRC has made on clarifying the tax treatment of payments received under the Biodiversity Net Gain scheme.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has established the joint HMT/HMRC working group with industry representatives to identify solutions that provide clarity on the tax treatment of ecosystem service markets, including the Biodiversity Net Gain scheme. The work of the group is currently ongoing.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to provide interim guidance on the tax treatment of payments received under the Biodiversity Net Gain scheme.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has established the joint HMT/HMRC working group with industry representatives to identify solutions that provide clarity on the tax treatment of ecosystem service markets, including the Biodiversity Net Gain scheme. The work of the group is currently ongoing.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has plans to issue guidance on the tax treatment of payments received under the Biodiversity Net Gain scheme.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has established the joint HMT/HMRC working group with industry representatives to identify solutions that provide clarity on the tax treatment of ecosystem service markets, including the Biodiversity Net Gain scheme. The work of the group is currently ongoing.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential financial impact of the classification of wholesale premises as online retail warehouses on the food and drink wholesale sector; and what steps she is taking to reduce this impact.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including those on the high street, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above.
The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context.
Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions. Nevertheless, when the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025 – to take effect in the 2026-27 billing year – HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the abolition of the £110,000 relief cap on (a) the level of retail, hospitality and leisure rate relief under the new 2026-27 multiplier system and (b) (i) SME and (ii) chain firms.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including those on the high street, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above.
The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context.
Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions. Nevertheless, when the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025 – to take effect in the 2026-27 billing year – HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the impact of the higher multiplier on properties with a rateable value of £500,000 and above on the costs incurred by retail, hospitality and leisure businesses (RHL) businesses.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including those on the high street, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above.
The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context.
Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions. Nevertheless, when the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025 – to take effect in the 2026-27 billing year – HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.
Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to business rates on high street retailers.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including those on the high street, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above.
The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context.
Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions. Nevertheless, when the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025 – to take effect in the 2026-27 billing year – HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much was claimed for trade union subscriptions under section 344 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 in each of the last five years.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The requested information is not available. Claims for Professional Membership Fees and Annual Subscriptions, (under s343 and s344 ITEPA 2003) are reported on HMRC returns under the ‘Fees and Subscriptions’ category and cannot therefore be separately identified.