Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to support banking hub customers who rely on cheque payments, in the context of Lloyds Banking group no longer allowing cheque deposits through Post Offices and banking hubs.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Banking is changing, with many customers benefiting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, the Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking services to communities and is committed to supporting sufficient access for customers across the country.
In addition to traditional bank branches, the financial services industry is committed to rolling out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. Over 270 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 210 are already open.
Banking hubs provide access to everyday counter services through Post Office staff, including cash withdrawals and deposits, balance enquiries and bill payments. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out other banking services.
The range of services available through Post Office counters in banking hubs, including whether cheque deposits are accepted and processed, is determined by the commercial arrangements between individual banks and the Post Office. A significant number of retail banks continue to offer cheque depositing services through Post Office counters.
Where cheque depositing is not available at a hub counter for particular banks, such as Lloyds Banking Group, customers continue to have alternative options to pay in cheques. These include paying in cheques at Lloyds Banking Group branches where available, or digitally via mobile banking apps using cheque imaging technology. In addition, customers unable to travel to a bank branch, or for whom digital banking is not suitable, may submit cheques by sending them in a stamped addressed envelope via any post box or by handing them in at their local Post Office for posting.
Banks may also provide postal options for customers who are unable to travel to a branch or for whom digital banking is not suitable. Lloyds Banking Group provides a freepost address service for vulnerable customers who previously used a Post Office counter to deposit cheques, as well as for customers who have only deposited cheques through a Post Office or banking hub.
The Government continues to engage with the banking industry to improve the consistency and functionality of services provided through banking hubs, including through recent discussions with banks, Cash Access UK and UK Finance.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help SMEs to increase employment opportunities.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
We are helping SMEs grow and employ more people through our largest ever injection of capital into the British Business Bank. Over the next five years, the British Business Bank will increase annual deployment by two-thirds, aiming to unlock around £26 billion of private capital alongside £13 billion in public funding, and enable up to an additional £10 billion in small business lending through guarantees.
The Government protected the smallest businesses from the changes to Employer National Insurance Contributions by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that this tax 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.
At Autumn Budget 2025, we announced that we are supporting SMEs by changing the rules to fully fund SME apprenticeships training costs for eligible people under the age of 25.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to reduce the number of civil servants working for HM Treasury.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The department’s Spending Review settlement of a 10% real terms reduction to admin by 2028-29 means it will need to get smaller.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential cumulative impact of (a) the proposed business rates revaluation in April 2026, (b) the removal of the 40 per cent relief for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector and (c) changes to the business rates calculation formula on small businesses during 2026 to 2029.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since the pandemic, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic.
To respond to those who are seeing large increases, the Government has already acted to limit increases in bills, announcing a support package worth £4.3 billion package at the Budget.
The Government is also introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £1 billion per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties.
The Government is also supporting businesses to grow. At Budget, the Government announced the extension of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) so that businesses opening second premises can retain their SBRR for three years, tripling the current allowance.
The Call for Evidence, published at Budget, focused on how reform of the business rates system can be used to incentivise and secure more investment by Britain’s businesses.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what modelling her Department has undertaken on the potential impact of proposed business rates changes on the level of small business closures and employment levels.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since the pandemic, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic.
To respond to those who are seeing large increases, the Government has already acted to limit increases in bills, announcing a support package worth £4.3 billion package at the Budget.
The Government is also introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £1 billion per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties.
The Government is also supporting businesses to grow. At Budget, the Government announced the extension of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) so that businesses opening second premises can retain their SBRR for three years, tripling the current allowance.
The Call for Evidence, published at Budget, focused on how reform of the business rates system can be used to incentivise and secure more investment by Britain’s businesses.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of business rates changes on the ability of small businesses to expand, invest and recruit staff.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since the pandemic, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic.
To respond to those who are seeing large increases, the Government has already acted to limit increases in bills, announcing a support package worth £4.3 billion package at the Budget.
The Government is also introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £1 billion per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties.
The Government is also supporting businesses to grow. At Budget, the Government announced the extension of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) so that businesses opening second premises can retain their SBRR for three years, tripling the current allowance.
The Call for Evidence, published at Budget, focused on how reform of the business rates system can be used to incentivise and secure more investment by Britain’s businesses.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what Valuation Office Agency guidance exists on the council tax offences of (a) refusing access to a valuation officer who has given notice as required of the exercise of the power of entry, (b) failing to give information about a house to a valuation who has served notice and (c) giving wrong or misleading information to a valuation officer who has served notice as required.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Guidance is set out in Section 1, Part 7 of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) Council Tax manual: Council Tax Manual - Section 1: introduction and essential background - Guidance - GOV.UK
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) ratings and (b) officers claimed Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction in each financial year between 2015-16 and 2024-25.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Seafarers are not required to report their grade as the Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction tax relief applies regardless.
Outturn data for the Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction claimants is available until 2023-24; HMRC does not publish an estimate of the number of claimants for 2024-25.
HMRC’s Tax Relief Statistics published on 22 January 2026 contain a forecast of the cost of relief for 2024-25. A forecast for 2025-26 will be produced for the 2026 Autumn publication and outturn cost in the following year.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Tax Relief Statistics published on 22 January 2026, if she will provide the claimant number for Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction in 2024-25.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Seafarers are not required to report their grade as the Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction tax relief applies regardless.
Outturn data for the Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction claimants is available until 2023-24; HMRC does not publish an estimate of the number of claimants for 2024-25.
HMRC’s Tax Relief Statistics published on 22 January 2026 contain a forecast of the cost of relief for 2024-25. A forecast for 2025-26 will be produced for the 2026 Autumn publication and outturn cost in the following year.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the cost figure for Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction from Income Tax for 2025-26 will be published.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Seafarers are not required to report their grade as the Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction tax relief applies regardless.
Outturn data for the Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction claimants is available until 2023-24; HMRC does not publish an estimate of the number of claimants for 2024-25.
HMRC’s Tax Relief Statistics published on 22 January 2026 contain a forecast of the cost of relief for 2024-25. A forecast for 2025-26 will be produced for the 2026 Autumn publication and outturn cost in the following year.