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
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
Darren Jones (Lab - Bristol North West)
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Lord Livermore (Lab - Life peer)
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Baroness Gustafsson (Lab - Life peer)
Minister of State (HM Treasury)
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
James Murray (LAB - Ealing North)
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Emma Reynolds (Lab - Wycombe)
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Torsten Bell (Lab - Swansea West)
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
There are no upcoming events identified
Debates
Tuesday 20th May 2025
Oral Answers to Questions
Oral Questions
Select Committee Docs
Wednesday 21st May 2025
15:15
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
Wednesday 28th May 2025
Railways: Greater Manchester
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to improve …
Secondary Legislation
Monday 19th May 2025
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities etc.) (Amendment) Order 2025
This Order provides for certain “buy-now-pay-later” agreements which are currently exempt agreements within article 60F(2) of the Financial Services and …
Bills
Wednesday 5th March 2025
Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act 2025
A Bill to Authorise the use of resources for the years ending with 31 March 2024, 31 March 2025 and …
Dept. Publications
Thursday 29th May 2025
09:30

Research

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
May. 20
Oral Questions
Jan. 09
Urgent Questions
May. 19
Written Statements
May. 12
Westminster Hall
Feb. 24
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: 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

This Order provides for certain “buy-now-pay-later” agreements which are currently exempt agreements within article 60F(2) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/544) (“the Regulated Activities Order”) to become regulated credit agreements within the meaning of article 60B(3) of that Order. These agreements are referred to as “regulated deferred payment credit agreements” in this note. As a result, the regulated activities specified for the purposes of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c.8) (“FSMA”) by article 60B(1) (entering a regulated credit agreement) and (2) (exercise of lenders’ rights and duties under a regulated credit agreement) of the Regulated Activities Order will include those activities as they relate to regulated deferred payment credit agreements.
These Regulations provide for the testing of the efficiency and effectiveness of a new kind of share-trading system, the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System, or PISCES. The PISCES sandbox is a financial markets infrastructure (“FMI”) sandbox provided for at sections 13 to 17 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (c. 29). FMI sandboxes provide for the testing of new or developing technologies or practices in FMI activities, and for the testing of whether or how relevant enactments should apply to the operation of a those new technologies or practices.
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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(1,895 in the last 7 days)
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(632 in the last 7 days)
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129 Signatures
(118 in the last 7 days)
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626 Signatures
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Petitions with most signatures
Petition Open
6,702 Signatures
(632 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
6,277 Signatures
(1,895 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
4,014 Signatures
(84 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.

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
Bank of England Monetary Policy Reports
3 Jun 2025, 9:45 a.m.
At 10:15am: Oral evidence
Andrew Bailey - Governor at Bank of England
Sarah Breeden - Deputy Governor for Financial Stability at Bank of England
Dr Catherine L. Mann - External Member at Monetary Policy Committee, Bank of England
Dr Swati Dhingra - External Member at Monetary Policy Committee, Bank of England

View calendar - Save to Calendar
Treasury Committee - Oral evidence
Work of HM Revenue and Customs
4 Jun 2025, 2 p.m.
At 2:15pm: Oral evidence
John Paul (JP) Marks - First Permanent Secretary and CEO at HMRC
Angela MacDonald - Second Permanent Secretary and Deputy CEO at HMRC
Jonathan Athow - Director General, Customer Strategy and Tax Design at HMRC
Penny Ciniewicz - Director General, Customer Compliance Group at HMRC

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

19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 14 of the policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit: Common Understanding, published on 19 May 2025, what is the estimated change in financial payments from the UK to the EU and its agencies in each of the next four years.

We have agreed to work towards the association of the UK to the EU Erasmus+ programme. The specific terms of this association, including mutually agreed financial terms, should be determined as part of that process in order to ensure a fair balance as regards the contributions of and benefits to the United Kingdom.

The government has been clear that the UK will only associate to Erasmus+ on significantly improved financial terms which take into account the UK’s financial contribution and the number of UK participants who receive funding from the programme.

Darren Jones
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the Infrastructure Strategy will support infrastructure enhancements in the North West.

The 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy will reduce uncertainty by bringing together a long-term plan for the social, economic and housing infrastructure across the UK, including the North West


Alongside considering the UK’s economic and social infrastructure needs, the strategy will set out how we are reforming institutions and changing the way we make decisions and deliver infrastructure, maximising the benefits of our strong fiscal and spending frameworks, breaking down regulatory and planning barriers, and resetting our relationship with the private sector.

Darren Jones
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support the Northern Arc infrastructure project.

The Government has already demonstrated its commitment to improving Northern transport infrastructure. At and since the Budget last Autumn, further commitment and funding has been provided for key transport programmes in the North, including the Transpennine Route Upgrade, an £11 billion programme that will transform rail connectivity from Manchester through to York.

Future investment priorities for Northern transport infrastructure will be considered in the round as part of the Spending Review.

Darren Jones
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to improve connections between the Greater Manchester City Region and (a) Yorkshire, (b) the Liverpool City Region and (c) North Wales.

The Government has already demonstrated its commitment to improving Northern transport infrastructure. At and since the Budget last Autumn, further commitment and funding has been provided for key transport programmes in the North, including the Transpennine Route Upgrade, an £11 billion programme that will transform rail connectivity from Manchester through to York.

Through City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) Round 1 (2022/23–2026/27), the Government has also provided Greater Manchester Combined Authority with £1 billion to invest in local transport priorities.

Future investment priorities for Northern transport infrastructure will be considered in the round as part of the Spending Review.

Darren Jones
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal support is available to (a) churches and (b) faith-based charities facing (i) increased energy costs and (ii) a decline in donations.

The Government recognises the importance of supporting churches and other listed places of worship.

Through the National Lottery Heritage fund, churches have access to grants ranging from £10,000 to £10million to support repair work for listed buildings and address issues around workforce and volunteer capability to manage heritage. Alongside this, the Government has extended the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, with a budget of £23m until 31 March 2026, and this provides churches and other listed places of worship with grants of up to £25,000. This scheme will continue to enable religious organisations to claim grants covering eligible VAT costs paid towards repairs and renovations.

On support for increased energy costs, in the short-term, the Government wants to provide businesses with better protection from being locked into unfair and expensive energy contracts, and more redress when they have a complaint. Last year, the Government launched a consultation on introducing regulation of Third-Party Intermediaries (TPIs), such as energy brokers. This is aimed at enhancing consumer protections, particularly for non-domestic consumers. The consultation has now closed, and a Government response will follow in due course once all feedback has been reviewed.

From 19 December 2024 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 50 employees can now access free support to resolve issues with their energy supplier through the Energy Ombudsman. This means that 99% of British businesses can now access this service with outcomes ranging up to £20,000 in financial awards

Charities may also, depending on their status, be able to benefit from buying their energy through Crown Commercial Service. Crown Commercial Service are a trading fund of Cabinet Office and their frameworks allow charities to benefit from the collective purchasing power of the UK public sector.

More broadly, within the tax system, we provide support to charities through a range of reliefs and exemptions, including reliefs for charitable giving, with more than £6 billion in charitable reliefs provided to charities, CASCs and their donors in 2023 to 2024.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to review the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rates for employees who use their own vehicles for work purposes, in the context of trends in the level of (a) fuel and (b) maintenance costs.

Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee’s expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle.

The rates for cars are 45 pence per mile for the first 10,000 miles and 25 pence per mile thereafter. These rates are arrived at after considering a range of factors including:
• the costs of motoring per business mile for a range of cars and mileages;
• the transport needs of business;
• the cost to the Exchequer of changing the rate; and
• the overall fiscal position


The AMAP rates are not mandatory, and employers can choose to pay more or less than the AMAP rate. It is therefore ultimately up to employers to determine the rate at which they reimburse their employees.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure the full amount of Gift Aid claimed by online fundraising platforms reaches charities.

The Government recognises the vital role played by the charity sector and the generosity of the British public. We support charitable giving with over £1.6billion in Gift Aid each year.

Charities have the flexibility to decide on their own strategy for fundraising and are free to partner with other organisations to process their Gift Aid claims. It will ultimately be a commercial decision on the part of a charity to work with a fundraising platform. If they do, any fee paid to the platform for processing gift aid claims may be calculated by reference to the amount claimed but is not itself gift aid.

Fundraising platforms do not receive financial support from the government and their profits are taxable.

Many of the fundraising platforms are voluntarily registered with the Fundraising Regulator which is the independent, non-statutory regulator of charitable fundraising in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Fundraising Regulator can act if it believes standards have been breached.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to respond to the Technical consultation - Inheritance Tax on pensions: liability, reporting and payment which closed on 22 January 2025.

As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, 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.

The Government is considering the responses to the technical consultation on the liability for reporting and paying any inheritance tax on pensions, which closed on 22 January.

The government will publish a response document and draft legislation later this year in the normal way.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she make it her policy to introduce a new business rates system before the 2026-27 financial year.

Transforming the business rates system is a multi-year process, and reforms taken forward will be phased over the course of the Parliament to provide certainty for businesses and local government finance.

Through these reforms, we will create a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

In summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Autumn Budget 2025.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered providing Income Tax relief for party political donations.

The Government is not considering an income tax relief for party political donations.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of conducting a review into the adequacy of the system of (a) oversight and (b) accountability of HMRC.

I have overall ministerial responsibility for HMRC and have chaired its Board since September 2024. HMRC is headed by a body of Commissioners, appointed by the Crown, who are required to publish a Charter of Standards of behaviours and values for how they will deal with taxpayers and report on performance against these standards annually. Taxpayers can challenge HMRC’s decisions in the specialist tax tribunal or through the civil courts. Senior HMRC officials are also accountable to parliament and regularly give evidence to the Treasury and Public Accounts committees.

I have set priorities for HMRC to close the tax gap, improve day to day performance and the overall customer experience, and reform and modernise the UK tax and customs system. These are hardwired into the Department’s business plan, and we will be setting out more detail about how we will transform to deliver these priorities in a Transformation Roadmap.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of making the (a) marketing and (b) operation of disguised remuneration schemes a criminal offence.

The promotion or operation of mass marketed tax avoidance schemes is not, in or of itself, a criminal offence, unless the promoter is acting in breach of an HM Revenue and Customs Stop Notice.

The Government is committed to tackling tax avoidance and is consulting on a package of measures, including potential new criminal powers, to facilitate swifter and stronger action against those who own or control promoter organisations.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an estimate of the potential impact of the increase in employer National Insurance contributions on the average cost of operation of pub chains.

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.

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. It means employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage without paying employer NICs.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the increase in employer National Insurance contributions on pubs.

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.

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. It means employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage without paying employer NICs.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason people who have settled have been excluded from the review into Loan Charge settlements.

The Government believes the review must bring the Loan Charge to a close for those people who still owe substantial amounts of money but can see no way to resolve their debts


The Government is committed to tackling promoters of tax avoidance and is currently consulting on a package of measures, powers and sanctions to facilitate swifter and stronger action against those who own or control promoter organisations. Further options are under consultation targeting those tax advisors and legal professionals behind avoidance schemes.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason she has ruled out scheme promoters paying a proportion of Loan Charge liabilities.

The Government believes the review must bring the Loan Charge to a close for those people who still owe substantial amounts of money but can see no way to resolve their debts


The Government is committed to tackling promoters of tax avoidance and is currently consulting on a package of measures, powers and sanctions to facilitate swifter and stronger action against those who own or control promoter organisations. Further options are under consultation targeting those tax advisors and legal professionals behind avoidance schemes.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential role of recruitment companies in the use of disguised remuneration tax avoidance schemes.

The Government is committed to tackling tax avoidance and is consulting on a package of measures, including potential new criminal sanctions, to facilitate swifter and stronger action against those who own or control promoter organisations.

The Government also announced action at 2024 Autumn Budget to tackle tax avoidance by umbrella companies. Legislation, effective from April 2026, will be introduced to make recruitment agencies using umbrella companies legally responsible for accounting for PAYE on workers’ pay. Where there is no agency in the supply chain, this responsibility will fall to the end client. This along with the measures on promoters will help prevent disguised remuneration in the future.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential role of chartered accountants in the use of disguised remuneration tax avoidance schemes.

The Government is committed to tackling tax avoidance and is consulting on a package of measures, including potential new criminal sanctions, to facilitate swifter and stronger action against those who own or control promoter organisations.

The Government also announced action at 2024 Autumn Budget to tackle tax avoidance by umbrella companies. Legislation, effective from April 2026, will be introduced to make recruitment agencies using umbrella companies legally responsible for accounting for PAYE on workers’ pay. Where there is no agency in the supply chain, this responsibility will fall to the end client. This along with the measures on promoters will help prevent disguised remuneration in the future.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on the level of profits earned by social fundraising platforms from charging commission on Gift Aid in the last 12 months.

The Government recognises the vital role played by the charity sector and the generosity of the British public. That is why we support charitable giving with over £1.6billion in Gift Aid each year.

Charities have the flexibility to decide on their own strategy for fundraising and are free to partner with other organisations to process their Gift Aid claims. It will ultimately be a commercial decision on the part of a charity to work with a fundraising platform and whether it is appropriate to pay a fee for any services provided.

The Government does not provide financial support or subsidies to social fundraising platforms


Organisations that process Gift Aid and charge commission must report their annual income to HMRC. However, HMRC do not specifically request them to separately report how much income is earned from commission. Therefore, HMRC does not hold the information you have requested.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many enquiries have hon. Members made to HMRC on errors that led to constituents being overcharged tax in each of the last five years; and what proportion of those enquiries resulted in HMRC repaying overcharged tax in each of the last five years.

HMRC receives enquiries from hon. Members through a variety of channels, including calls, emails and letters, covering a wide range of topics. HMRC does not systematically record which of these enquires specifically relate to instances of overcharged tax, nor whether they resulted in a repayment.

Obtaining this information would require a detailed analysis of every enquiry raised by hon. Members. The level of resource needed to conduct such an in-depth review would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold for written parliamentary questions.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to delay the implementation of changes to Inheritance Tax for farmers by 12 months.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

These reforms were announced in October 2024 and will take effect in April 2026.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to improve access to financial advice for people with little to no savings.

The Government is committed to supporting people of all income levels and all stages of life to save, and recognises the importance of accessible, high-quality financial advice and guidance - particularly for those with little or no savings.

To help achieve this, the Government sponsors the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), which provides free and impartial money and pensions guidance to the public online and by telephone. MaPS also offers a range of practical tools and resources to help individuals build savings, including a free Budget Planner and guides to help people manage their money, track spending, and identify opportunities to save.

At the Autumn Budget last year we extended the Help to Save scheme, which encourages low-income workers to save regularly. This Government also extended the eligibility criteria to include all Universal Credit claimants in work, not just those earning above a certain threshold

In addition, the Government is taking forward a Financial Inclusion Strategy to ensure that everyone has access to appropriate and affordable financial products and services. As part of this strategy, we are considering what more can be done to support people to build savings and strengthen their financial resilience.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
14th May 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Welsh Government concerning the transfer of responsibility for the Crown Estate in Wales to the Welsh Government.

The UK Government has regular discussions with the Welsh Government at official and ministerial level. I met with Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, on 27th February, where we discussed the Welsh Government’s request that the UK Government considers devolution of the management of The Crown Estate in Wales.

Lord Livermore
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
13th May 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of the recently announced Mansion House Accord on economic growth.

Seventeen of the largest workplace pension providers in the UK have signed the Mansion House Accord, a voluntary commitment which will see signatories allocating at least 10 per cent to private markets across all main defined contribution (DC) default funds by 2030, with at least half (5 per cent) of the total invested in the UK.

The Government welcomes the Accord which, via more diverse portfolios, can improve outcomes for savers and boost growth for Britain with greater investment in the likes of infrastructure and fast-growing businesses across the country.

Lord Livermore
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
13th May 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to commission an independent review of both the economic and non-economic benefits and disbenefits resulting from Brexit.

The Government is focused on looking forward, building the UK’s relationship with the EU and finding practical solutions that deliver for the British people. As such, the Prime Minister hosted EU leaders at the first ever UK-EU summit on 19 May, during which we agreed a new Strategic Partnership and reaffirmed our shared values and commitment to deeper cooperation against the backdrop of an evolving global geopolitical landscape.

Lord Livermore
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the outcome of the UK-EU Summit on 19 May 2025.

We estimate that the Emission Trading System and food and agriculture elements of the agreement alone will boost the economy by nearly £9 billion by 2040.

Implementation costs will be confirmed in due course when we have negotiated the details of these arrangements. This will include proportionate contributions in specific and limited areas, such as where access to specific IT systems will help to remove trade barriers for UK firms or help us to manage biosecurity risks. We will not be making general contributions to the EU budget.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
15th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the potential economic impact of (a) extreme weather events, (b) food inflation, (c) flood recovery and (d) other climate-related impacts on (i) public services and (ii) households.

The Government recognises that preparing for the future means adapting to the effects of climate change. Without action, flooding, coastal erosion and other climate hazards will pose greater risks to lives, livelihoods and people’s wellbeing


The Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest Fiscal Risks and Sustainability report estimates the potential fiscal costs to the UK from climate damage across a range of warming scenarios. Their analysis includes both direct costs in response to physical damages and indirect costs arising from additional demands on public services. The UK’s Third Climate Change Risk Assessment also provides an evaluation of the climate risks facing the UK, with impacts across infrastructure, health and the economy.

As set out at the Autumn Budget, the Government is investing in climate adaptation to protect the economy from climate change, confirming investment of £2.4 billion over two years to support flood resilience and over £400 million for tree planting and peatland restoration, which will further support resilience.

The development of the Fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment will also support the Government in continuing to improve its assessment of the risks and opportunities from climate change.

Darren Jones
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employers were prosecuted for not paying employees the National Living Wage in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.

HMRC’s priority is to ensure that workers receive the money they are owed as quickly as possible. It is for this reason, in the vast majority of cases, HMRC pursue civil enforcement. In 2023/24 civil enforcement resulted in HMRC issuing 767 Notices of Underpayment to employers. 2024/25 figures are not yet available.

However, for the most egregious breaches of National Minimum Wage law, where employers are persistently non-compliant, or refuse to cooperate with HMRC, criminal prosecution may take place.

The number of employers prosecuted specifically for breaching Section 31(1) “Employer refuses or wilfully neglects to pay NMW” in (a) 2023/24 was 1 and (b) 2024/25 was 1.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
14th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with recruitment agencies on compliance with their new responsibilities in relation to umbrella company legislation by April 2026.

The government is introducing legislation to close the tax gap and make the tax system fairer by making recruitment agencies using umbrella companies legally responsible for accounting for PAYE on workers’ pay. As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, this is expected to protect around £2.8 billion from being lost to umbrella company non-compliance across the scorecard period to 2029-30.

Officials have engaged extensively with representatives of the recruitment industry in relation to this measure and will continue to do so.

The government will set out full details of how this measure will operate, alongside draft legislation, later this year. The government will engage with stakeholders to ensure that they have the opportunity to provide feedback before legislation is introduced into Parliament.

The government is committed to supporting businesses to prepare for the implementation of this measure and, to this end, will publish technical guidance for businesses that will be affected by it.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether an assessment has been made of the potential impact of betting duty harmonisation on the level of advertising of online gaming products.

The Government is consulting on proposals to simplify the current gambling tax system by merging the three current taxes that cover remote (including online) gambling into one. The Government is committed to engaging with all stakeholders, as part of the consultation process.

We encourage all stakeholders to engage with the consultation to help ensure that all views are properly considered.
James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
15th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of classifying thermal storage heaters as energy saving materials.

The Government is committed to improving the quality and sustainability of our housing stock. Installations of qualifying energy-saving materials (ESMs) in residential accommodation and buildings used solely for a charitable purpose benefit from a temporary VAT zero rate until March 2027, after which they will revert to the reduced rate of VAT at five per cent.

The Government assesses whether to add ESMs to this relief by evaluating them against the following principles: the primary purpose of the technology must be to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, and relieving the technology of VAT must be cost effective and align with broader VAT principles.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the aggregate market value of UK-quoted equities held by non-resident investors was in each quarter of the last five years for which data is available.

As part of their Balance of Payments release, the Office for National Statistics produce statistics on cross-border transactions and positions. This includes information on the aggregate market value of UK quoted equities held by non-resident investors, net inflows of portfolio and other investment from non-resident investors, as well as the total stock of UK corporate bonds held by non-resident investors.

The ONS published their most recent Balance of Payments release on 28 March 2025, which is available on their website at Balance of Payments, UK - Office for National Statistics. The statistics on inflows and stocks/market values can be found in Table J and in Table K respectively.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the net inflow of (a) portfolio and (b) other investment from non-resident investors to the UK was in each quarter since Q1 2019 for which data is available.

As part of their Balance of Payments release, the Office for National Statistics produce statistics on cross-border transactions and positions. This includes information on the aggregate market value of UK quoted equities held by non-resident investors, net inflows of portfolio and other investment from non-resident investors, as well as the total stock of UK corporate bonds held by non-resident investors.

The ONS published their most recent Balance of Payments release on 28 March 2025, which is available on their website at Balance of Payments, UK - Office for National Statistics. The statistics on inflows and stocks/market values can be found in Table J and in Table K respectively.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total stock of UK corporate bonds held by non-resident investors was in each quarter of the last five years for which figures are available.

As part of their Balance of Payments release, the Office for National Statistics produce statistics on cross-border transactions and positions. This includes information on the aggregate market value of UK quoted equities held by non-resident investors, net inflows of portfolio and other investment from non-resident investors, as well as the total stock of UK corporate bonds held by non-resident investors.

The ONS published their most recent Balance of Payments release on 28 March 2025, which is available on their website at Balance of Payments, UK - Office for National Statistics. The statistics on inflows and stocks/market values can be found in Table J and in Table K respectively.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the number of taxpayers in the 2025-25 financial year who (a) earned below the personal allowance threshold and (b) did not pay income tax in the 2024-25 financial year.

The information is not available.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to circulate to all Ministers holding economic portfolios the article published in The Times entitled Want to help the poor? Don’t chase out the rich, published on 16 May 2025.

Successful businesses and entrepreneurs who create jobs and wealth are the driving engine of the Government’s mission to increase economic growth. We will support them to succeed whilst making those with wealth pay their fair share toward the public finances.

That is why the Government is removing barriers to growth such as burdensome planning processes and unnecessary regulation, whilst also increasing the rates of capital gains taxation and restricting reliefs for inheritance tax that benefit some of the wealthiest estates. These and other decisions announced at Autumn Budget 2024 will help repair the public finances and fund public services such as the NHS and education.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
14th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the press release entitled Government steps in to back British business in changing world, published on 14 April 2025, whether any of the funding is additional to funding provided at the Spring Statement 2025.

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses as the world enters a new era of global trade. The government has increased the capacity of UK Export Finance (UKEF) to provide support for exporters by £20 billion and has expanded the British Business Bank (BBB) Growth Guarantee Scheme. UKEF operates at no net cost to the taxpayer and increasing its limits does not have a fiscal cost. BBB support is funded within the overall spending plans set out at Spring Statement 2025.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
14th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the number of SME owners that have left the UK since 5 July 2024.

Business Population Estimates show trends in the number of businesses in the UK by size, alongside sectoral and regional distribution: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/business-population-estimates-2024/business-population-estimates-for-the-uk-and-regions-2024-statistical-release.

The ONS also publishes data on business demography, showing the annual change in the number of UK businesses (“birth” and “death” rates): https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/activitysizeandlocation/bulletins/businessdemography/latest.

At Autum Budget 2024, the Government announced generous tax reforms to support small businesses including: more than doubling the employment allowance to £10,500; commitments in the Corporate Tax Roadmap to maintain the Small Profits Rate and marginal relief at their current rates and thresholds; and freezing the small businesses multiplier for 2025/26.

The Government has also committed £250m in 25-26 for the British Business Bank’s small business loans programmes, including Start Up Loans and the Growth Guarantee Scheme.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that people who (a) rely on cash and (b) choose to use cash can access it in North East Somerset and Hanham constituency.

The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Its rules require the UK’s largest banks and building societies to assess the impact of a closure or material alteration of a relevant cash withdrawal or deposit facility and put in place a new service if necessary. Assessments are undertaken by LINK, the industry designated coordinating body responsible for conducting cash access assessments. LINK take into account a number of factors including those unique to each location, such as the size and vulnerability of the population and whether it is reasonable for people to travel to nearby facilities, factoring in geographic barriers such as hills, rivers and major roads.

The Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. These hubs will provide small businesses and individuals with critical cash and in-person banking services. Over 225 banking hubs have been recommended to date and over 150 are already open.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will meet with (a) the hon. Member for Farnham and Bordon and (b) farmers from that constituency to discuss reforms to (i) Agricultural Property Relief and (ii) Business Property Relief.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

As the Minister responsible for the UK tax system, I have received representations on this subject from a number of Hon Members and I have participated in several debates in this House since Autumn Budget 2024. I have also met with Hon Members and several agricultural organisations to listen to their views. The Government has been listening to the different views on this subject and continues to believe the approach we have set out is appropriate.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will ensure funding is made available to support economically inactive beneficiaries in Northern Ireland into employment after the end of UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund was extended at Autumn Budget 2024 at a level of £902m, providing support for local areas, including economic inactivity support in Northern Ireland. In 2025 – 2026, Northern Ireland was allocated £45.48 million under the UKSPF, of which £25.8m is expected to be spent on economic inactivity support. Further decisions on local growth funding are a matter for the Spending Review.

Wider employment support is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Darren Jones
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
15th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps her Department has taken to help tackle offshore tax non-compliance.

The government has announced significant additional resource for HMRC. This includes an increase of around 400 people over the next five years to tackle offshore non-compliance by wealthy people, estimated to bring in £500 million in additional compliance yield over the same period: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spring-statement-2025-document/spring-statement-2025-html

The government is also ensuring that HMRC has the international data it needs and is implementing the Cryptoasset Reporting Framework and amendments to the Common Reporting Standard:

Cryptoasset Reporting Framework, Common Reporting Standard amendments, and seeking views on extension to domestic reporting - summary of responses - GOV.UK

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposals in her Department’s consultation on the harmonisation of gambling duties on the British horseracing industry.

The Government is consulting on proposals to simplify the current gambling tax system by merging the three current taxes that cover remote (including online) gambling into one. The Government is committed to engaging with all stakeholders, including representatives of the horseracing industry, as part of the consultation process.

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.

The Government encourages all interested parties to participate in the consultation.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
14th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average time taken is for businesses to (a) apply for and (b) receive a UK Internal Market Scheme number.

The UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) was launched in June 2023, allowing businesses across the United Kingdom to apply, and HMRC has successfully encouraged over 10,000 traders to get authorised.

HMRC is required to take a decision regarding the outcome of a UKIMS application within 120 days days. Applications are typically processed much faster with an average turnaround time of 12 to 15 working days. HMRC must undertake a range of checks to verify eligibility for the scheme and, in certain cases, seek further information from businesses. We do not collect data on the time taken for traders to complete UKIMS applications.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
14th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the service standard level time is for businesses to receive a UK Internal Market Scheme number.

The UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) was launched in June 2023, allowing businesses across the United Kingdom to apply, and HMRC has successfully encouraged over 10,000 traders to get authorised.

HMRC is required to take a decision regarding the outcome of a UKIMS application within 120 days days. Applications are typically processed much faster with an average turnaround time of 12 to 15 working days. HMRC must undertake a range of checks to verify eligibility for the scheme and, in certain cases, seek further information from businesses. We do not collect data on the time taken for traders to complete UKIMS applications.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
14th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of total revenue generated by Air Passenger Duty from children aged under 16 years old who travelled in Premium Economy in each of the last three years.

Children under 16 years old on the date of the flight, and in the lowest class of travel, are exempt from Air Passenger Duty (APD). If children under 16 years old are travelling in any other class (such as premium economy) or in business jets, they are not exempt. Children under 2 years old without a seat are exempt from Air Passenger Duty for all classes of travel.

Airline operators declare the number of chargeable passengers by destination band and by rate. They do not break down chargeable passengers by age, and therefore this is not information that HMRC collects. The government has published annual statistics and analysis on airline passenger numbers and Air Passenger Duty (APD) receipts in the UK which are administered by HM Revenue and Customs. It is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/air-passenger-duty-bulletin.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
14th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Air Passenger Duty exemption for children under 16 years old to include those travelling in (a) Premium Economy and (b) any other cabin class.

Children under 16 years old on the date of the flight, and in the lowest class of travel, are exempt from Air Passenger Duty (APD). If children under 16 years old are travelling in any other class (such as premium economy) or in business jets, they are not exempt. Children under 2 years old without a seat are exempt from Air Passenger Duty for all classes of travel.

Airline operators declare the number of chargeable passengers by destination band and by rate. They do not break down chargeable passengers by age, and therefore this is not information that HMRC collects. The government has published annual statistics and analysis on airline passenger numbers and Air Passenger Duty (APD) receipts in the UK which are administered by HM Revenue and Customs. It is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/air-passenger-duty-bulletin.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
14th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the awareness of small businesses of the change in eligibility for Employment Allowance announced in the Autumn Budget 2024.

Since announcement at Autumn Budget 2024, HMRC have undertaken a wide range of stakeholder engagement and employer communications through a variety of channels in advance of the significant increase to the Employment Allowance to £10,500 and removal of the threshold which prevented some larger employers from claiming. This includes webinars highlighting important changes for the new tax year for employers, and written articles in numerous editions of HMRC’s Employer Bulletin, Agent Update and Stakeholder Digest.

In addition, HMRC has a range of channels to raise awareness of changes in tax policy. These include communications issued directly to stakeholders or published on gov.uk, and engagement with stakeholders through established forums such as the Employment and Payroll Group, which the Federation of Small Businesses attend.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
14th May 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what engagement she has had with the Federation of Small Businesses on small businesses awareness of the change in eligibility for employment allowance announced in the Autumn Budget 2024.

Since announcement at Autumn Budget 2024, HMRC have undertaken a wide range of stakeholder engagement and employer communications through a variety of channels in advance of the significant increase to the Employment Allowance to £10,500 and removal of the threshold which prevented some larger employers from claiming. This includes webinars highlighting important changes for the new tax year for employers, and written articles in numerous editions of HMRC’s Employer Bulletin, Agent Update and Stakeholder Digest.

In addition, HMRC has a range of channels to raise awareness of changes in tax policy. These include communications issued directly to stakeholders or published on gov.uk, and engagement with stakeholders through established forums such as the Employment and Payroll Group, which the Federation of Small Businesses attend.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)