Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reforming the Lifetime ISA, rather than replacing it with a new product.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
At Autumn Budget 25 the government announced that it will publish a consultation in early 2026 on the implementation of a new, simpler ISA product to support first time buyers to buy a home. Once available, this new product will be offered in place of the Lifetime ISA.
The LISA was designed to help people save for both their first home and later life. The Treasury Select Committee‘s 2025 LISA inquiry concluded that this dual purpose has made it unnecessarily complex and that ‘the Lifetime ISA may not be the most efficient use of taxpayers’ money to achieve those disparate objectives’. The upfront bonus that requires a withdrawal charge for non-compliant withdrawals was highlighted as a specific concern.
The new design will include the government bonus being paid at the point the individual makes a withdrawal for a house purchase. This removes the need for a withdrawal charge and means a saver can withdraw funds, should their circumstances change, without penalty.
It will remain possible to open a Lifetime ISA until the new product becomes available and for account holders to continue to save into their Lifetime ISA in line with the existing rules indefinitely.
Asked by: Lord Hintze (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications for the UK economy of people employed in the (1) medical, and (2) financial, sectors migrating out of the UK.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government recognises the importance of international talent to key growth sectors and is therefore sending a clear and confident signal: that we welcome the world’s best minds to help us drive our Industrial Strategy and wider growth mission, and that they will find the environment, support and opportunities they need to thrive here.
The government will publish an NHS 10 Year Workforce Plan in the Spring. This will set out plans to ensure there is a sustainable medical workforce, as well how we will act on retention, productivity, training and attrition with the ambition to reduce international recruitment to less than 10% by 2035.
The government also set out its plans to attract the right talent and develop the right skills for the financial services sector as part of the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, published in July 2025 at Mansion House.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to review the structure of Vehicle Excise Duty.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), sometimes known as 'road tax' or 'car tax', is a tax on vehicles used or kept on public roads. Different rates apply to cars, vans, and motorcycles, and the rate for each vehicle is calculated according to a range of factors, such as its date of first registration, weight, or CO2 emissions. The government has no current plans to review this structure.
At Autumn Budget 2025, the government announced the introduction of Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED), a new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, which will come into effect from April 2028. Drivers will pay for their mileage alongside their existing Vehicle Excise Duty (VED).
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will set out the criteria used by the Valuation Office Agency to determine whether a gastro-pub is assigned a special category code of a pub or restaurant.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
There are a broad range of considerations when determining if a property is a restaurant or a pub including. All valuations are carried out by experienced professionals in accordance with industry best practice and legal requirements.
From April, every pub and live music venue will get 15% off its new business rates bill on top of the support announced at Budget, and then bills will be frozen in real terms for a further two years.
This relief will be awarded to pubs and live music venues at the discretion of Local Authorities, who will determine eligibility using guidance published by the Government and based on existing definitions.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total business rate support package available to snooker and clubs is in (a) 2026, (b) 2027 and (c) 2028.
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, 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.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the Valuation Office Agency's publication entitled Non-domestic rating: change in rateable value of rating lists, England and Wales, 2026 Revaluation (draft list), published on 26 November 2025, for what reason average rateable values across the hotels, guest and boarding, self category sub-sector have increased by 78 per cent.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
We recognise that hotels have expressed concerns about how they are valued for business rates. Hotels valuations are undertaken in a different way to some other sectors. The methodology used is well established, but, as with pubs, the government has announced it will review the way hotels are valued to ensure it accurately reflects the rental value for these sectors.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2025 to Question 89444 on Property: Valuation, whether the discussion between the Valuation Office Agency and the Scottish Assessors Association on the model assisted valuation model included discussion of its use in a council tax revaluation in Scotland.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
There has been no discussion with Scottish Assessors Association on the use of the automated valuation model in a Council Tax revaluation in Scotland.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the implementation of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on 1 January, what steps they are taking to mitigate the £200 million annual cost to Northern Ireland and risk to 1,100 jobs estimated in Energy UK’s report Borderline confusion - Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms in Northern Ireland, published in January 2025.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Energy UK report referred to assumes that the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) would apply in Northern Ireland. The EU CBAM does not apply in Northern Ireland. From 1 January 2027, the UK CBAM will apply across the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland.
To reduce barriers to trade, the UK and EU are also negotiating a deal to link respective emissions trading schemes, which will create the conditions for mutual CBAM exemptions. Those talks have begun and the Government is working to negotiate a good deal in line with UK interests as quickly as is feasible.
The Government also welcomes the European Commission’s proposed amendments, published December 2025, which would mean electricity exports from the UK will not face an EU CBAM charge.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2025 to Question 94190 on Hospitality Industry: Taxation, how much is the mean increase in rateable values for the hotel sector following the 2026 revaluation.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Official statistics comparing the 2023 non-domestic rating lists and 2026 draft non-domestic rating lists for England and Wales, including a breakdown by special category code, (which includes the hotel sector), are published here.
We recognise that hotels have expressed concerns about how they are valued for business rates. Hotels valuations are undertaken in a different way to some other sectors. The methodology used is well established, but, as with pubs, the government has announced it will review the way hotels are valued to ensure it accurately reflects the rental value for these sectors.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government correspondence entitled 4/2025: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) Multipliers, published on 17 November 2025, if she will publish the Valuation Office Agency's business rates revaluation communication pack provided to local authorities.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The VOA does not routinely publish its communications with local authorities.