Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government for what reason the Valuation Office Agency published official statistics for the combination of Rateable Values in special category codes broken down by local authority for the 2023 Rating List, but has not published combined statistics for the 2026 Rating List; and whether the Head of Profession for Statistics has been consulted on the discrepancy, in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics, Edition 3.0, published in October 2025.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Valuation Office Agency published a Special Category code and local authority breakdown as part of the annual `Non-domestic rating: stock of properties, 2025` official statistics.
HMRC will publish a Special Category code and local authority breakdown for the end of the 2023 list position (31 March 2026) on 14 May 2026 in the annual `NDR: Stock of Properties` publication. In the following year, HMRC will publish the first `NDR: Stock of Properties` publication which will include a Special Category code and local authority breakdown for the 2026 list. This is consistent with the data that has previously been published in official statistics by the Valuation Office Agency. The departmental Head of Profession for Statistics was regularly consulted and aware of VOA statistical publications.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what meetings (a) she, (b) Ministers, (c) special advisers and (d) officials in her Department have had with the organisers of the Forest City 1 campaign.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Treasury Ministers have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at the link below.
HM Treasury: ministerial overseas travel and meetings - GOV.UK
Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of a reduced rate of VAT for businesses in Northern Ireland on economic growth and competitiveness; and whether her Department has considered piloting such a measure in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
VAT operates on a UK-wide basis and is a broad-based tax on consumption with the 20 per cent standard rate applying to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26.
Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of using defence bonds as a way to finance capital-intensive commitments in the Strategic Defence Review.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The majority of government borrowing is financed through the issuance of UK government bonds (known as gilts) by the UK Debt Management Office (DMO). In addition, some of the government’s financing is raised in the retail savings market through products offered by National Savings and Investments (NS&I). Finance raised via gilts or NS&I products is generally not tied to specific areas of government spending, in order to offer the best value-for-money for taxpayers.
The government keeps the introduction of new debt financing instruments under regular review.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the potential Barnett consequences arising from the proposed expansion of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme is being delivered in England, Wales and Scotland.
Responsibility for energy policy in Northern Ireland sits with the Northern Ireland Executive. However, the UK Government will provide funding for the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver comparable support in the usual way.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Certificates of Origin were granted to UK businesses for goods destined for the EU in 2025.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC does not hold information on how many Certificates of Origin were granted to UK businesses for goods destined for the EU in 2025.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the average cost to businesses for securing Certificate of Origin documentation.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC does not hold information about the average cost to businesses of securing origin documentation.
Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland regarding the potential impact of an increase in fuel costs on the agricultural sector in Northern Ireland; and whether she is considering targeted support measures for farmers.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Government is actively monitoring the increase in fuel costs across the whole of the UK, including in Northern Ireland, and any impacts on our food and farming sectors.
The Government has already announced that the 5p fuel duty cut will be extended until September.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of issuing retail bonds to support increased defence investment.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The majority of government borrowing is financed through the issuance of UK government bonds (known as gilts) by the UK Debt Management Office (DMO). In addition, some of the government’s financing is raised in the retail savings market through products offered by National Savings and Investments (NS&I). Finance raised via gilts or NS&I products is generally not tied to specific areas of government spending, in order to offer the best value-for-money for taxpayers.
The government keeps the introduction of new debt financing instruments under regular review.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to section 5 of the Government Efficiency Framework, published on 24 November 2025, if she will publish the most recent quarterly efficiencies report provided to her department by each government department and public body in scope of the reporting requirements.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Departments are required to report their efficiency savings within the performance section of their Annual Reports and Accounts (ARAs) from 2026-27.