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
Tulip Siddiq (Lab - Hampstead and Highgate)
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
James Murray (LAB - Ealing North)
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Emma Reynolds (Lab - Wycombe)
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
There are no upcoming events identified
Debates
Thursday 19th December 2024
National Insurance: GDP
Lords Chamber
Select Committee Docs
Tuesday 17th December 2024
10:12
AOC0498 - Acceptance of Cash
Written Evidence
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
Monday 23rd December 2024
Treasury: Media
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much their Department spent on (a) media and (b) voice training for …
Secondary Legislation
Tuesday 17th December 2024
Banking Act 2009 (Wholesale Cash Oversight Fees) Regulations 2024
These Regulations approve a scale of fees in relation to which the Bank of England may charge fees to certain …
Bills
Wednesday 13th November 2024
National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill 2024-26
A Bill to make provision about secondary Class 1 contributions.
Dept. Publications
Monday 23rd December 2024
13:21

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.


Bills currently before Parliament

HM Treasury does not have Bills currently before Parliament


Acts of Parliament created in the 2024 Parliament

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

These Regulations approve a scale of fees in relation to which the Bank of England may charge fees to certain persons recognised by order of the Treasury (“recognised persons”) for the purposes of Part 5A of the Banking Act 2009 (“the Act”). As at the date of laying of these Regulations, no such order has yet been made, but these Regulations are made in anticipation of that occurring.
This Order amends sections 150(1), 155(1B)(b), and 161(b) of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (c. 1) (“the Act”).
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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Petitions with most signatures
Petition Open
142,698 Signatures
(785 in the last 7 days)
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1,421 Signatures
(510 in the last 7 days)
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1,279 Signatures
(58 in the last 7 days)
HM Treasury has not participated in any petition debates
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: 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

16th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much their Department spent on (a) media and (b) voice training for Ministers since 5 July 2024.

Since 5 July 2024, the Department has spent £9.7k on media training for members of the Ministerial team. No costs on voice training for Ministers have been incurred since the 5th July 2024.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
12th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what changes have been made to the valuation of airports for business rates in the last 24 months; and what representations her Department has received on that issue in that period.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) conducts analysis of changes in rateable value to prepare for regular revaluations. The VOA is currently working on a revaluation of all non-domestic properties, which will come into effect on 1 April 2026. The revaluation is not yet complete, and the VOA expect to publish draft valuations by the end of 2025. For the upcoming 2026 revaluation, as with other revaluations, the VOA is receiving ongoing representations from the airport sector.

As set out at Budget, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above.

The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context.

Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions. Nevertheless, when the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025, the Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
12th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment (a) her Department and (b) the Valuation Office Agency has been of the potential impact on airports of the (a) surcharge on business hereditaments above £500,000 Rateable Value from 2026-27 and (b) 2026 rates revaluation.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) conducts analysis of changes in rateable value to prepare for regular revaluations. The VOA is currently working on a revaluation of all non-domestic properties, which will come into effect on 1 April 2026. The revaluation is not yet complete, and the VOA expect to publish draft valuations by the end of 2025. For the upcoming 2026 revaluation, as with other revaluations, the VOA is receiving ongoing representations from the airport sector.

As set out at Budget, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above.

The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context.

Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions. Nevertheless, when the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025, the Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people were (a) added and (b) removed from PAYE each day in 2024.

HMRC does not hold the data requested relating to people added to and removed from PAYE. The PAYE population is made up of around 35 million individuals, and precise numbers change frequently as customers take up their first PAYE employment or pension, start new employments or pensions, and leave old ones. Increasing numbers of customers also take up secondary or additional employments or pensions, and have other income sources which may or may not be taxed through PAYE.

HMRC does not hold the data requested relating specifically to sole traders registering for Self Assessment. There are around 12.1 million taxpayers who are expected to submit Self Assessment tax returns by 31 January 2025. That population includes sole traders, some of whom will have commenced or ceased trading during the 2023/24 tax year.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many sole traders (a) registered and (b) deregistered each day in 2024.

HMRC does not hold the data requested relating to people added to and removed from PAYE. The PAYE population is made up of around 35 million individuals, and precise numbers change frequently as customers take up their first PAYE employment or pension, start new employments or pensions, and leave old ones. Increasing numbers of customers also take up secondary or additional employments or pensions, and have other income sources which may or may not be taxed through PAYE.

HMRC does not hold the data requested relating specifically to sole traders registering for Self Assessment. There are around 12.1 million taxpayers who are expected to submit Self Assessment tax returns by 31 January 2025. That population includes sole traders, some of whom will have commenced or ceased trading during the 2023/24 tax year.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to provide (a) grants and (b) compensation payments to mitigate the impact of proposed changes to employer National Insurance contributions to (i) public sector workers and (ii) (A) drivers and (B) passenger assistants who provide transportation for school children with special educational needs.

The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs. This funding will be allocated to departments, with the Barnett formula applying in the usual way. This is in line with the approach taken under the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy. Details of the funding set aside for 2025-26, including its allocation, will be published in due course.

Local authorities are responsible for arranging home to school transport for children with special educational needs, and deliver this through both in-house services and a range of external providers. As such, the Government does not hold central estimates of the impact that the increase in Employer National Insurance Contributions may have on the cost of home to school travel to local authorities. Officials engage regularly with local authorities to understand the challenges they face across the services they deliver.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to maintain small business rate relief from 2026-27.

Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) provides 100% rate relief for eligible properties with rateable values below £12,000 with tapered relief available for eligible properties with rateable values between £12,000 and £15,000. Further details can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-business-rate-relief/small-business-rate-relief

The government has no plans to withdraw SBRR. The discussion paper on business rates, published at Autumn Budget 2024, invites views on how it might best create a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

The discussion paper invites views on incentivising investment and growth and specifically invites views on potential ways in which SBRR might be improved. The discussion paper is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/675197b95692dd4c0c8d1dac/Transforming_Business_Rates__2_.pdf

Any decisions on future tax policy will be announced by the Chancellor at a fiscal event.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the higher business rate surcharge on hereditaments above £500,000 Rateable Value will apply to film studios; and how this change will interact with film studio rate relief.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that it intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties, including film studios, with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above.

The Government has announced that it is proceeding with 40 per cent relief for eligible film studios in England on their gross business rates bills until March 2034. The costing was published at Spring Budget 2024 - .

Business rates bills are calculated by applying the relevant multiplier first and so film studios will receive 40 per cent relief on their total liability.

The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
12th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans she has to continue the 2024 to 2034 film studio business rate relief announced in March 2024 at the rate announced at that time.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that it intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties, including film studios, with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above.

The Government has announced that it is proceeding with 40 per cent relief for eligible film studios in England on their gross business rates bills until March 2034. The costing was published at Spring Budget 2024 - .

Business rates bills are calculated by applying the relevant multiplier first and so film studios will receive 40 per cent relief on their total liability.

The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
12th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the forecast gross cost is of film studio business rate relief in (a) 2024-25, (b) 2025-26 and (c) 2026-27.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that it intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties, including film studios, with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above.

The Government has announced that it is proceeding with 40 per cent relief for eligible film studios in England on their gross business rates bills until March 2034. The costing was published at Spring Budget 2024 - .

Business rates bills are calculated by applying the relevant multiplier first and so film studios will receive 40 per cent relief on their total liability.

The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the highest possible marginal tax rate is.

For individuals with income between £100,000-£125,140, the income tax Personal Allowance is tapered by £1 for every £2 earned above this limit, until it has been completely withdrawn at £125,140. Taxpayers with incomes within the taper band face a higher effective marginal tax rate of 60%, compared to 40% below £100,000 and 45% above £125, 140. Income tax rates and thresholds are devolved in Scotland, so marginal rates within the taper band will vary based on the registered address of the taxpayer.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people were subject to a marginal tax rate (a) at and (b) above 100% in the last financial year.

For individuals with income between £100,000-£125,140, the income tax Personal Allowance is tapered by £1 for every £2 earned above this limit, until it has been completely withdrawn at £125,140. Taxpayers with incomes within the taper band face a higher effective marginal tax rate of 60%, compared to 40% below £100,000 and 45% above £125, 140. Income tax rates and thresholds are devolved in Scotland, so marginal rates within the taper band will vary based on the registered address of the taxpayer.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason it is her policy to exclude accessible taxi vehicles from the VAT exemption for disability-adapted motor vehicles.

Wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) are subject to a zero rate of VAT when purchased by a disabled person for their personal use, or by a charity that will make the vehicle available to disabled people.

Although taxis provide transportation services to disabled customers, they are not charities and not all their customers are wheelchair users. Therefore, this VAT relief does to extend to taxis that are WAVs.

However, if a taxi driver is VAT registered, they are eligible to reclaim the VAT paid on their vehicle.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 5.76 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, when the next bi-annual fiscal forum with the Oil and Gas sector will take place; where that forum will take place; and who will attend on behalf of the Government.

The government is committed to maintaining an open and constructive dialogue with the oil and gas sector to support our energy security and ensure the sector plays its role in our clean energy ambitions.

In line with this I will chair the next Oil and Gas Fiscal Forum in the first quarter of next year. The date and location of the forum has not yet been confirmed.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 16139, on Hospitality Industry and Leisure: Business Rates, and to the Answer of 10 December 2024, to Question 17139, on Business Rates, on what basis and using what methods her Department has determined that the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants, will be subject to the higher multiplier which her Department plans to apply to properties which have a Rateable Value above £500,000.

To deliver our manifesto pledge, from 2026-27, the Government intends to protect the high street by introducing permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with Rateable Values below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL properties benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so the Government intends to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties from 2026-27, that is, those with a Rateable Value of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but include the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants.

The Valuation Office Agency publishes a breakdown of the Non-domestic Rating Stock of Properties by Sector, Sub-Sector and Special Category (SCat). This includes a ‘large distribution warehouses’ category, which is SCat 151.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information she holds on the number of people who have taken advantage of the ability to remove £500 from their pension scheme to pay for financial advice in each of the last five financial years.

We do not hold the information requested. Neither schemes nor individuals are required to provide HMRC with this information.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to extend deemed reseller rules to cover UK-established sellers to help mitigate potential risks of unfair competition from overseas sellers.

Since 1 January 2021 overseas sellers, or online marketplaces where they facilitate the sale, are required to be registered and account for VAT for supplies of low value imports of £135 or less. Where an overseas seller sells goods located in the UK at the point of sale via an online marketplace, the online marketplace is liable for the VAT for goods of any value.

The changes were introduced to ensure a level playing field for UK high street and online retailers, ensure the continued flow of goods at the border and improve compliance.

Certified analysis by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimates the changes will raise £1.8 billion per annum by 2026-27.

The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy making process.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
12th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of applying a working farm test which would exempt estates actively being used for farming from changes to Inheritance Tax rules at the Autumn Budget 2024.

The longstanding rules already mean agricultural property relief is currently only available if the property includes agricultural land that is occupied for agricultural purposes. It may be occupied by the owners of the land or others, such as a tenant farmer. More information on the qualifying uses of land can be found at www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/inheritance-tax-manual/ihtm24061.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will review the Sovereign Grant annually on audited and published Crown Estate profits.

The rules governing the Sovereign Grant are set out in the Sovereign Grant Act 2011. This Act requires a review following every five-year period to ensure the percentage of Crown Estate profits used in the calculation of the Grant remains appropriate.

In addition, any unspent surplus from the Sovereign Grant goes into a reserve fund. If this reserve fund goes above 50 per cent of annual expenditure, the level of the Sovereign Grant can be reduced, requiring the Household to draw down this reserve rather than receive excessive additional funding.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
13th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to (a) agricultural property relief and (b) business property relief on farm business productivity.

The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.

It is expected that up to around 2,000 estates will be affected by the changes to APR and BPR in 2026-27, with around half of those being claims that involve AIM shares. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief (or those claiming agricultural property relief and business property relief together) are expected to be unaffected by these reforms.

In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of maintaining the personal tax allowance on (a) pensioners and (b) low-income households in each of the next three years.

This Government is committed to keeping taxes as low as possible for working people and pensioners while ensuring fiscal responsibility, which is why it is not extending the freeze on personal tax thresholds that was implemented by the previous Government and is instead allowing them to rise with inflation from April 2028.

The Government provides additional support for both pensioners and low-income households. At the Autumn Budget, the Government announced that the basic and new State Pension will increase by 4.1% from April 2025. This means those on a full new State Pension will be getting an additional £470 a year. The Government also announced a 6.7% increase to the National Living Wage (NLW) from April 2025. This represents an increase of £1,400 to the annual earnings of a full-time worker on the NLW and is expected to benefit over 3 million low-paid workers.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many hereditaments were classified per individual special category codes within the shops sub-sector special category code grouping by the Valuation Office Agency in each of the last ten years for which figures are held.

As part of its official statistics, the Valuation Office Agency publishes the number of hereditaments by special category code under the shops sub-sector for England and Wales for the past 10 years. This can be found under the stock of non-domestic properties collection here: www.gov.uk/government/collections/non-domestic-rating-stock-of-properties-collection

For each year from 2019 onwards, the table ‘Stock Scat’ shows the data as at 31 March each year. Prior to 2019, the data is shown within the ‘NDR Stock of Properties’ tables.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief on the profitability of farming businesses.

The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.

It is expected that up to around 2,000 estates will be affected by the changes to APR and BPR in 2026-27, with around half of those being claims that involve AIM shares. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief (or those claiming agricultural property relief and business property relief together) are expected to be unaffected by these reforms.

In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason the Government has increased vehicle excise duty for (a) electric and (b) low emission vehicles; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of this on trends in the level of consumers switching from (i) petrol and (ii) diesel vehicles to electric vehicles.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is a tax on car ownership from which electric vehicles are currently exempt. As announced by the previous Government at Autumn Statement 2022, from April 2025, electric and hybrid cars, vans and motorcycles will begin to pay VED alongside petrol and diesel vehicles.

The Policy Costings document published alongside Autumn Statement 2022 when the change was announced estimates the impact on electric vehicle take-up to be “negligible”.

The Government is committed to supporting the transition to Zero Emission Vehicles and announced a number of measures at Budget to support EV take-up. VED First Year Rates are changing from 2025-26, with higher rates for polluting hybrid, petrol and diesel vehicles. In addition the Government maintained incentives for the purchase of EVs within the Company Car Tax and Salary Sacrifice regimes, and extended the 100% First Year Allowances for businesses purchasing zero emission cars and installing chargepoint infrastructure.

Revenue from motoring taxes helps ensure we can continue to fund the vital public services and infrastructure that people and families across the UK expect.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help prevent people from fraudulently claiming child benefit.

HMRC estimated the 2023-24 Child Benefit Error and Fraud (E&F) rate to be 1.6% (£200m) of total Child Benefit expenditure.

Child Benefit has strong pre-award controls. The emphasis of HMRC’s compliance strategy remains on unreported changes in circumstance including improving detection through further data acquisition.

As part of this strategy the government announced in Autumn Statement 2024 that it is investing in 180 new counter-fraud staff to increase HMRC’s capabilities to better tackle fraud and error in Child Benefit and Tax-Free Childcare. This is expected to deliver a net saving of £355 million from 2025-26 to 2029-30.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to review the Overseas Scale Rates.

As with all taxes and allowances, the Government keeps flat rate expenses, including Overseas Scale Rates, under review.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she has taken to support people who have experienced long-term (a) financial difficulties and (b) mental health challenges as a result of not qualifying for financial support schemes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government is working to support people and improve living standards for everyone across the country. As part of this, the Government committed to making no increase in employee National Insurance, Income Tax or VAT as we want to keep taxes as low as possible for working people. The Government has also put growth as its number one mission, which will help families by boosting wages and putting more money in people’s pockets.

The Budget announced a £240 million Get Britain Working package to help people into work which will help to tackle the root causes of economic inactivity and to get those who can work, off benefits and into good employment. Further details have been set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper, published on 26 November 2024.

On 1 April 2025, the new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates will come into force, expecting to benefit over 3 million eligible workers. For a full-time worker on NLW, the 6.7% increase of the rate to £12.21 per hour will provide a £1,400 increase to their annual earnings. These increases will ensure that the lowest-paid workers are supported and marks a step towards the government delivering a genuine living wage for all adults.

In addition, the Government is also supporting those on low incomes through continuing the Household Support Fund, increasing the Carers’ Allowance weekly earnings limit by nearly 30% from April 2025, and creating a new Fair Repayment Rate ensuring 1.2 million households claiming Universal Credit are on average better off by £420 per year, by capping the amount of debt deductions at 15% of the standard allowance.

On mental health, the Government has continued to expand access to mental health support to address the high levels of demand since the pandemic ended. This has included increasing the mental health workforce, treating more people through NHS Talking Therapies and improving urgent and emergency mental health care though new crisis houses and alternatives to A&E as well as making support available to those experiencing a crisis through the new ‘mental health option’ on 111.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax-payers were paying capital gains tax on crypto-assets in each of the last five financial years; what the size of the gains made was; and how much revenue the Exchequer has received from capital gains tax levied on the sale of crypto-assets.

Income and gains in relation to cryptoassets are currently reported in the same sections with other incomes and gains on the Self-Assessment return pages, and therefore those amounts are not separately identifiable from the data collected via Self-Assessment.

From the tax year ending 2025, changes will be introduced to the Capital Gains pages of the Self-Assessment forms requiring amounts in respect of cryptoassets to be identified separately.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to exempt emergency service providers from business rates.

Certain properties are exempt from business rates. Details on exemptions can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-business-rate-relief/exempt-properties.

Any decisions on future tax policy will be announced by the Chancellor at a fiscal event.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
12th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2024 to Question 17780 on Employers' Contributions, if she will make an estimate of the (a) median and (b) mean average number of people employed by the employers that she expects will pay (i) the same and (ii) less in employer National Insurance contributions.

A Tax Information and Impact Note that covers the employer NICs changes was published by HMRC on 13 November.

Around 250,000 employers will see their Secondary Class 1 NICs liability decrease and around 820,000 employers will see no change.
James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what account she took of (a) numbers of claimants of Business Property Relief and (b) reasons for Business Property Relief claims in the introduction of a £1m threshold to (a) Agricultural and (b) Business Property Relief.

The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.

It is expected that up to around 2,000 estates will be affected by the changes to APR and BPR in 2026-27, with around half of those being claims that involve AIM shares. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief (or those claiming agricultural property relief and business property relief together) are expected to be unaffected by these reforms.

In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department is taking steps to help secure free access to cash withdrawals and deposit facilities in Aldershot 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 most recent data from the Financial Conduct Authority shows that 97 per cent of people in urban areas live within 1 mile of a free-to-use cash access point offering deposits. In rural areas, 98 percent of people live within 3 miles of a free-to-use cash access point offering deposits.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has recently assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash, and its rules came into effect on 18 September 2024. These rules require the UK’s largest banks and building societies to assess the impact of a closure of a relevant cash withdrawal or deposit facility and put in place a new service if necessary. Where a branch closure is announced and it is deemed that this closure will impact free access to cash, the branch cannot close until a replacement service is operational and any gap in provision has been filled.

Where a consumer, or anyone with a strong connection to a local area, feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. Further information about submitting a cash access request can be found at the following link: https://www.link.co.uk/helping-you-access-cash/request-access-to-cash

Tulip Siddiq
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of VAT on Steiner School kindergartens.

The Government ran a technical consultation on the VAT policy for seven weeks from 29 July to 15 September. During the consultation period, my officials and I also held a series of meetings with stakeholders to complement written responses. This included written submissions from Steiner Schools.

Following that consultation the Government made changes to the treatment of nursery classes, so that those attached to private schools will continue to be exempt from VAT as long as they are wholly (or almost wholly), rather than completely, composed of children under compulsory school age who wouldn’t be expected to turn compulsory school age that year.

Classes where the vast majority of children are below compulsory school age will remain exempt from VAT. Where mixed classes have a high proportion of children over compulsory school age the Government believes it is fair to treat these classes the same way entire classes of children over compulsory school age are treated. This means that classes like “kindergarten classes” in Steiner schools will be within scope of this policy.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will hold discussions with the (a) Duchy of Lancaster and (b) Duchy of Cornwall on creating a shared costs formula for local authorities within those Duchy areas when a Royal visit takes place.

The Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster are private estates, and neither Duchy manages public money. The government has a limited number of functions in relation to their administration, prescribed by Acts of Parliament.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2024 to Question 9057, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in her Department between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024; and on what items this was spent.

The Department spent c.£56.5k on new furniture, fittings, and other refurbishments between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024. This expenditure includes costs for new office furniture, the maintenance of antique furniture and fittings.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people aged under 21 have opened lifetime ISAs in the last 12 months.

Information on Lifetime ISAs can be found in HMRC’s Annual Savings Statistics, available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/annual-savings-statistics

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of inheritance tax changes on the long-term sustainability of family farms in (a) South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency and (b) Essex.

I refer the Honourable Member to the PQ referenced 12250 published on 11th November 2024 at: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-11-01/12250.

The Chancellor also recently wrote to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee on this issue, and her letter may be of interest: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/45691/documents/226235/default/

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
12th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will publish an impact assessment for a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on UK exporters.

The aim of the UK CBAM is to ensure imported products are subject to a carbon price comparable to that incurred by UK production, mitigating the risk of carbon leakage. By its very nature, a CBAM can only apply to imported goods, so it cannot mitigate any risk of carbon leakage in export markets.

The government will continue to consider whether there is a role for existing or future carbon leakage policies to address the risk associated with exports. Any policies applied to exported products would need to be compliant with the UK’s WTO obligations and our commitment to free and open trade.

A more detailed assessment of CBAM impacts on the economy and carbon leakage will be provided before legislation is introduced.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
12th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information other than address and rateable value the Valuation Office Agency holds on pubs for business rate purposes.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) holds information about pubs to assess them for non-domestic rating purposes, one of the VOA’s statutory duties.

The vast majority of the information held is sent by occupiers of pubs following a statutory request for information. The form sets out the information requested and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vo-6010-request-for-rental-information-public-houses.

In some cases, the VOA may hold other records relating to the property, including the age, area, and information about heating, car parking and any modernisation carried out.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
12th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Valuation Office Agency holds data on the average rateable value of municipal swimming pools.

The Valuation Office Agency publishes this data as part of its official statistics on the stock of non-domestic properties:

www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-domestic-rating-stock-of-properties-2024.

The mean rateable value for municipal swimming pools in England and Wales are published on rows 229 and 238 under column E in the Stock Scat, 2024 spreadsheet.

Please note, figures show the mean rateable value in thousands of pounds.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many alcohol industry representatives Ministers in her Department have met since July 2024.

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 here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the number of bank branch closures in (a) Aldershot constituency and (b) Hampshire in each year since 2010.

The Government does not hold bank branch closure data. However, according to consumer website Which?, Aldershot constituency lost just under 60% of its branch network between January 2015 and November 2024, and has eight branches remaining.

Guidance from the FCA sets out its expectation of firms when they are deciding to reduce their physical branches or the number of free-to-use ATMs. Firms are expected to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs, and put in place alternatives, where this is reasonable.

The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets in Aldershot and across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with banks to roll out 350 banking hubs, which will provide individuals and businesses up and down the country with critical cash and banking services.

Tulip Siddiq
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of bank closures on people in Aldershot constituency.

The Government does not hold bank branch closure data. However, according to consumer website Which?, Aldershot constituency lost just under 60% of its branch network between January 2015 and November 2024, and has eight branches remaining.

Guidance from the FCA sets out its expectation of firms when they are deciding to reduce their physical branches or the number of free-to-use ATMs. Firms are expected to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs, and put in place alternatives, where this is reasonable.

The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets in Aldershot and across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with banks to roll out 350 banking hubs, which will provide individuals and businesses up and down the country with critical cash and banking services.

Tulip Siddiq
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will make an estimate of the number of mortgage defaults in Aldershot constituency in each of the next twelve months.

The Government closely monitors levels of mortgage arrears, which remain low by historical standards. UK Finance has predicted mortgage arrears will fall in 2025.

There are significant measures in place to protect vulnerable mortgage borrowers. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules require lenders to engage individually with their customers who are struggling or who are worried about their payments, and the Mortgage Charter also remains in place providing additional flexibilities to help customers manage their mortgage payments over a short period.

Tulip Siddiq
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of households in arrears with mortgage payments in Aldershot constituency in the last (a) six and (b) 12 months.

The Government closely monitors levels of mortgage arrears, which remain low by historical standards. UK Finance has predicted mortgage arrears will fall in 2025.

There are significant measures in place to protect vulnerable mortgage borrowers. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules require lenders to engage individually with their customers who are struggling or who are worried about their payments, and the Mortgage Charter also remains in place providing additional flexibilities to help customers manage their mortgage payments over a short period.

Tulip Siddiq
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure new banking hubs will be opened in communities affected by bank branch closures.

The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this parliament. 176 hubs have been announced so far, and 100 are already open.

The specific location of these hubs is determined independently by LINK, the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network. Criteria that LINK considers includes whether another bank branch remains nearby, the local population, the number of cash-accepting businesses and the financial vulnerability of the community.

Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.

Tulip Siddiq
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the cost of living on the numbers of (a) businesses at risk of insolvency and (b) people in debt in Aldershot constituency; and what fiscal steps she is taking to support those (i) businesses and (ii) people.

The Government recognises the significant impact the cost of living has had on personal finances, and particularly for those struggling with debt. We regularly engage with the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) to monitor personal finances and debt levels. The Money and Pensions Service conducts an annual survey of people in financial difficulty. The results of their latest survey were published on 29 February 2024.

Given cost-of-living pressures, the Government remains committed to helping people that are in problem debt and vulnerable circumstances. For this reason, the Government offers a variety of debt advice services through the Money and Pensions Service to support individuals facing debt issues in England, including both national and community-based debt advice provision.

The Government has also put in place several measures to support the households who face the greatest hardships, including the Fair Repayment Rate for debt deductions in Universal Credit, which means approximately 1.2 million families will keep more of their award each month. The Household Support Fund has also been extended to 2025-26, which will help households facing financial crisis by supporting them with the cost of essentials such as food, energy and water.

We’ve also increased the National Living Wage to £12.21 per hour, an increase of 6.7% which is worth up to £1,4000 for a full-time worker.

With respect to business debt, this is principally a commercial matter. However, the Government is strongly supportive of the work of the British Business Bank as a critical tool to help ensure finance reaches those parts of the economy that otherwise may struggle to obtain the capital they need.

This is why at Autumn Budget, to help support the Government’s mission to kickstart economic growth, the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) settlement will allow them to invest over £1 billion across 2024–25 and 2025–26 for the BBB to enhance access to finance for small businesses, including over £250 million each year for small business loans programmes, including Start Up Loans and the Growth Guarantee Scheme.

Tulip Siddiq
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of trends in the level of mortgage interest rates on the levels of household disposable income in (a) Aldershot constituency, (b) Hampshire and (c) England.

Average offered interest rates on 2-year and 5-year fixed rate mortgages have fallen from their peak in the Summer of 2023.

The pricing and availability of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. Mortgage interest rates are in part driven by Bank Rate, set by the independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England. The MPC continues to have the Government’s full support as it takes action to return inflation to target through its independent monetary policy decisions.

This government’s missions to deliver growth, restore stability, increase investment and reform the economy will support price stability and drive up prosperity and living standards across the UK.

In their October 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook, the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast real household disposable income (RHDI) per capita to grow by an annual average of 0.5% over this parliament. This is more than double the pace of RHDI per capita growth observed in the 2019-2024 parliament.

RHDI per capita is only reported at a national level, but to ensure growth is felt by everyone we are also monitoring GDP capita on a regional basis.

Tulip Siddiq
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on how many high-street branches of (a) banks and (b) building societies have closed in (i) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (ii) Lincolnshire in the last 10 years.

The Government does not hold bank branch closure data. However, according to consumer website Which?, South Holland and The Deepings constituency lost just over 60% of its branch network between January 2015 and November 2024, and has six branches remaining.

Guidance from the FCA sets out its expectation of firms when they are deciding to reduce their physical branches or the number of free-to-use ATMs. Firms are expected to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs, and put in place alternatives, where this is reasonable.

The Government is working closely with banks to roll out 350 banking hubs, which will provide individuals and businesses up and down the country with critical cash and banking services. The Government also recognises the value that building societies bring to local communities, including through their 28% share of the UK’s branch network.

Tulip Siddiq
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)