Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she had with representatives of the hospitality sector ahead of the Autumn Budget 2025.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Ahead of the Budget Government Ministers and Senior Officials met with businesses and business representation organisations from a range of sectors, including those from the hospitality sector. These meetings provided an opportunity for the Government to hear the views of the business community to aid in the formation of policy, including fiscal policy. Such engagements are ongoing and will continue to be so.

I, and the rest of HM Treasury, am deeply committed to engaging with the business community across the country. We believe that maintaining a regular and open dialogue with the business community is essential for understanding levels of business confidence and for shaping government policy to support growth and investment.

These engagements are central to the Government’s ambition to foster a pro-growth, pro-investment environment throughout the UK. By listening directly to businesses, the Government is better able to respond to emerging challenges, seize new opportunities, and deliver policies that help businesses to thrive.

Further information on meetings held by HM Treasury Ministers can be found on the gov.uk website via this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the OBR's fiscal forecasts included the costs of the Erasmus scheme.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

As usual, any changes since the last forecasts will be included in a future forecast.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to betting and gaming levies on illegal gambling operations in the UK.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment HMRC has made of the number of individuals and companies that are liable for tax but are not currently being actively pursued for payment.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC is committed to closing the tax gap further and tackling non-compliant behaviours such as tax evasion, tax avoidance, criminal attacks, error, failure to take reasonable care, hidden economy activity, legal interpretation issues, and non-payment.

In 2024 to 2025, HMRC’s compliance work contributed to record tax revenues of £875.9 billion, collecting and protecting £48 billion of tax that would have gone unpaid if HMRC hadn’t stepped in – up from £41.8 billion the previous year.

At the Autumn Budget 2025, the government announced a package of measures that will raise a further £2.4 billion in additional tax revenues in 2029 to 2030. This builds on announcements at Autumn Budget 2024 (£6.5 billion), and Spring Statement 2025 (over £1 billion) and brings the total revenue from closing the tax gap announced this Parliament to £10 billion in 2029 to 2030.

HMRC pursues unpaid tax liabilities through a number of routes. Those who have not paid will be subject to initial telephone and letter campaigns to encourage swift payment. HMRC also uses private sector debt collection agencies to pursue outstanding amounts. Cases will move between these different stages of the debt collection process as part of being worked.

Where payments remain outstanding, HMRC has a range of enforcement powers to address the small minority of taxpayers who deliberately refuse to pay or engage, such as taking control of goods, recovering debt through county court proceedings, and applying to make a company or person insolvent.

HMRC also publishes its Annual Report and Accounts on GOV.UK, which reports on its annual tax losses and sets out the limited circumstances in which a debt may no longer be pursued.

HMRC records its debt cases by tax regime, rather than customer type, and does not organise cases by specifically which stage of the debt collection process it is at.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much tax revenue is currently outstanding from taxpayers known to be liable but not under active enforcement action by HMRC.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC is committed to closing the tax gap further and tackling non-compliant behaviours such as tax evasion, tax avoidance, criminal attacks, error, failure to take reasonable care, hidden economy activity, legal interpretation issues, and non-payment.

In 2024 to 2025, HMRC’s compliance work contributed to record tax revenues of £875.9 billion, collecting and protecting £48 billion of tax that would have gone unpaid if HMRC hadn’t stepped in – up from £41.8 billion the previous year.

At the Autumn Budget 2025, the government announced a package of measures that will raise a further £2.4 billion in additional tax revenues in 2029 to 2030. This builds on announcements at Autumn Budget 2024 (£6.5 billion), and Spring Statement 2025 (over £1 billion) and brings the total revenue from closing the tax gap announced this Parliament to £10 billion in 2029 to 2030.

HMRC pursues unpaid tax liabilities through a number of routes. Those who have not paid will be subject to initial telephone and letter campaigns to encourage swift payment. HMRC also uses private sector debt collection agencies to pursue outstanding amounts. Cases will move between these different stages of the debt collection process as part of being worked.

Where payments remain outstanding, HMRC has a range of enforcement powers to address the small minority of taxpayers who deliberately refuse to pay or engage, such as taking control of goods, recovering debt through county court proceedings, and applying to make a company or person insolvent.

HMRC also publishes its Annual Report and Accounts on GOV.UK, which reports on its annual tax losses and sets out the limited circumstances in which a debt may no longer be pursued.

HMRC records its debt cases by tax regime, rather than customer type, and does not organise cases by specifically which stage of the debt collection process it is at.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the viability over the next five years of existing banking hubs.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Banking is changing, with many customers benefitting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, the Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and is committed to ensuring sufficient access for customers. The Government recognises the role that banking hubs play in supporting communities’ access to cash and basic banking services. In addition to traditional bank branches, the financial services industry is committed to rolling out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament.

Banking hubs were developed by the financial services sector in the context of legislation to protect access to cash under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023. Banking hubs are delivered and funded by industry through Cash Access UK (CAUK), which oversees the rollout and operation of hubs. LINK, as the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network, assesses local access needs following a branch closure or a community request, and where additional services are required, CAUK provides a suitable shared solution, such as a deposit service or banking hub, for cash users in that community. The future viability of banking hubs depends on ongoing commercial agreements between participating banks and on consumer demand for in-person banking services.

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 gives the Financial Conduct Authority powers to ensure reasonable access to cash, and the Government continues to work closely with industry and regulators to monitor delivery.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with his USA counterpart under the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future on mutual recognition of UK and US cryptoasset firms, aligned disclosure standards, and ensuring that decentralised protocols are not regulated as financial infrastructure.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future was established by HM Treasury and the US Treasury on 22 September.

Its purpose is to bring the world’s leading financial centres together to develop concrete policy options and recommendations on further financial market innovation, with a particular focus on digital assets and capital markets. Innovation in these industries will be central to the government’s mission for economic growth.

Further details can be found here: Boosting collaboration between UK and US financial systems to drive innovation and growth in global markets - GOV.UK

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to use the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future to deepen engagement with United States’ regulators following the finalisation of the GENIUS Act, to support regulatory alignment on cross border stablecoins.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future was established by HM Treasury and the US Treasury on 22 September.

Its purpose is to bring the world’s leading financial centres together to develop concrete policy options and recommendations on further financial market innovation, with a particular focus on digital assets and capital markets. Innovation in these industries will be central to the government’s mission for economic growth.

Further details can be found here: Boosting collaboration between UK and US financial systems to drive innovation and growth in global markets - GOV.UK

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future is being used to develop a joint UK-US approach to tokenisation, including cross-border access to tokenised securities and aligned rules for capital, disclosure and decentralised wallets.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future was established by HM Treasury and the US Treasury on 22 September.

Its purpose is to bring the world’s leading financial centres together to develop concrete policy options and recommendations on further financial market innovation, with a particular focus on digital assets and capital markets. Innovation in these industries will be central to the government’s mission for economic growth.

Further details can be found here: Boosting collaboration between UK and US financial systems to drive innovation and growth in global markets - GOV.UK

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of unpaid tax liabilities is written off each year; and according to what criteria HMRC determines when a tax debt will no longer be pursued.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC is committed to closing the tax gap further and tackling non-compliant behaviours such as tax evasion, tax avoidance, criminal attacks, error, failure to take reasonable care, hidden economy activity, legal interpretation issues, and non-payment.

In 2024 to 2025, HMRC’s compliance work contributed to record tax revenues of £875.9 billion, collecting and protecting £48 billion of tax that would have gone unpaid if HMRC hadn’t stepped in – up from £41.8 billion the previous year.

At the Autumn Budget 2025, the government announced a package of measures that will raise a further £2.4 billion in additional tax revenues in 2029 to 2030. This builds on announcements at Autumn Budget 2024 (£6.5 billion), and Spring Statement 2025 (over £1 billion) and brings the total revenue from closing the tax gap announced this Parliament to £10 billion in 2029 to 2030.

HMRC pursues unpaid tax liabilities through a number of routes. Those who have not paid will be subject to initial telephone and letter campaigns to encourage swift payment. HMRC also uses private sector debt collection agencies to pursue outstanding amounts. Cases will move between these different stages of the debt collection process as part of being worked.

Where payments remain outstanding, HMRC has a range of enforcement powers to address the small minority of taxpayers who deliberately refuse to pay or engage, such as taking control of goods, recovering debt through county court proceedings, and applying to make a company or person insolvent.

HMRC also publishes its Annual Report and Accounts on GOV.UK, which reports on its annual tax losses and sets out the limited circumstances in which a debt may no longer be pursued.

HMRC records its debt cases by tax regime, rather than customer type, and does not organise cases by specifically which stage of the debt collection process it is at.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what measures HMRC has in place to prevent deliberate non-payment of tax by those who are liable but expect not to be pursued.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC is committed to closing the tax gap further and tackling non-compliant behaviours such as tax evasion, tax avoidance, criminal attacks, error, failure to take reasonable care, hidden economy activity, legal interpretation issues, and non-payment.

In 2024 to 2025, HMRC’s compliance work contributed to record tax revenues of £875.9 billion, collecting and protecting £48 billion of tax that would have gone unpaid if HMRC hadn’t stepped in – up from £41.8 billion the previous year.

At the Autumn Budget 2025, the government announced a package of measures that will raise a further £2.4 billion in additional tax revenues in 2029 to 2030. This builds on announcements at Autumn Budget 2024 (£6.5 billion), and Spring Statement 2025 (over £1 billion) and brings the total revenue from closing the tax gap announced this Parliament to £10 billion in 2029 to 2030.

HMRC pursues unpaid tax liabilities through a number of routes. Those who have not paid will be subject to initial telephone and letter campaigns to encourage swift payment. HMRC also uses private sector debt collection agencies to pursue outstanding amounts. Cases will move between these different stages of the debt collection process as part of being worked.

Where payments remain outstanding, HMRC has a range of enforcement powers to address the small minority of taxpayers who deliberately refuse to pay or engage, such as taking control of goods, recovering debt through county court proceedings, and applying to make a company or person insolvent.

HMRC also publishes its Annual Report and Accounts on GOV.UK, which reports on its annual tax losses and sets out the limited circumstances in which a debt may no longer be pursued.

HMRC records its debt cases by tax regime, rather than customer type, and does not organise cases by specifically which stage of the debt collection process it is at.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what additional support HM Revenue and Customs can provide to visually impaired people using the Self Assessment system.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC’s online services are designed to work with screen readers and other assistive technologies. Guidance and help text are built into the online tax return and customers can access support through webchat or textphone if they need it.

HMRC also offers a range of support to help visually impaired customers complete their Self Assessment. Customers can request their correspondence and tax return information in Braille, large print or audio formats. These requests are handled by HMRC’s dedicated Visually Impaired Media Unit (VIMU), which ensures that future communications are automatically produced in the customer’s preferred format. In 2024/5, VIMU provided over 59,500 customers with correspondence in an alternative format.

HMRC also has an Extra Support Team that provides tailored assistance for people who need additional help, including those with visual impairments. This team can arrange phone or video appointments and guide customers through the Self Assessment process.

Anyone who needs extra help can contact the Self Assessment helpline or find information on GOV.UK. The service has grown, with the Extra Support team expanding by around 28% in 2024-25. During that time, it supported more than 150,000 customers in vulnerable circumstances.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Whitehaven and Workington.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Na-h Eileanan an Iar.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Kensington and Bayswater.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Camborne and Redruth.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North East.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether child benefit will be included in the proposals regarding public funds in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, and Restoring Order and Control, published on 20 November.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Child Benefit is listed as a public fund in Section 115 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and paragraph 6 of the Immigration rules.

The Fairer Pathway to Settlement consultation on earned settlement seeks views on whether the qualifying period for settlement should be increased by five or ten years if the applicant has claimed public funds and whether the law should be changed so that it would be possible to make settlement subject to a “no recourse to public funds” condition.

The consultation is open to anyone who wishes to share their views, including individuals, organisations, and other stakeholders who may be affected by or have an interest in the proposed changes.

As set out in the Restoring Order and Control statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, published on 21 November 2025, access to taxpayer funded benefits will be prioritised for those making an economic contribution. A consultation is planned for this year.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what the timeframe is for the Chief Secretary to the Treasury’s review of value for money as announced in the Budget, and whether the terms of reference for this review will be published.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Budget confirmed that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury will lead a review of value for money across government spending. This work will build evidence and outline potential solutions for consideration at the next spending review.

The government is currently considering what further information it would be appropriate to publish and will provide an update in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what the timeframe is for reviewing the public sector asset portfolio as announced in the Budget; who will be conducting the review; and whether the terms of reference for this review will be published.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

A Strategic Asset Review led by the Treasury, working closely with government departments, will be conducted ahead of the next spending review. As set out at Budget, it will cover opportunities to monetise assets and address barriers to disposal and commercialisation.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Milton Keynes Central.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Eltham and Chislehurst.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Edinburgh South West.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Leigh and Atherton.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Blyth and Ashington.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Llanelli.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Mansfield.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Banbury.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Bournemouth East.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Leeds South West.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Luton North.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96081, if she will publish the representation made by the hon. Member for Bassetlaw.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not publish individual representations on behalf of respondents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the total funding made available by The Crown Estate’s Supply Chain Accelerator programme was allocated to each of the successful organisations, as announced on 11 December.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The total funding made available in the second round of the Supply Chain Accelerator programme is £13,223,663. The proportion of that total allocated to each successful organisation is set out in the table below, including an aggregated figure for multi-project awards to the same organisation and an individual project breakdown.

All Supply Chain Accelerator awards are “up to” the amounts specified and are paid in arrears, subject to evidenced milestone delivery and costs incurred as projects progress.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of unclaimed adult-owned HMRC-allocated child trust funds where the beneficiaries are unaware of their existence and HMRC has access to all the account providers.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The information received from Child Trust Fund (CTF) providers does not identify whether an account was initially opened by HMRC.

The Government is committed to reuniting all young adults with their CTFs. HMRC works with CTF providers, industry representatives, and others to enable account owners to be aware of and trace their accounts. Regular HMRC press releases and messages are supplemented by targeted activities likely to appeal to the demographic, with particular emphasis on young people from low income households.

HMRC also provides a free tracing tool on Gov.uk to help people find their CTF provider (www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds/find-a-child-trust-fund) and has experienced a significant increase in its use this year.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to promote long-term fiscal devolution; and what assessment they have made of the potential of greater fiscal devolution to address regional inequalities and growth rates.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The United Kingdom Government regularly considers how fiscal devolution arrangements are working in practice, taking into account the views of a range of stakeholders.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to consider the learnings on fiscal devolution of each nation and region in Council of the Nations and Regions.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The United Kingdom Government regularly considers how fiscal devolution arrangements are working in practice, taking into account the views of a range of stakeholders.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether Switzerland’s regulatory and supervisory framework offers protections equivalent to UK standards, particularly regarding (1) market integrity, (2) financial stability, and (3) consumer protection, so that UK markets are not exposed to additional or undue risk under the Berne Financial Services Agreement.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Berne Financial Services Agreement is an outcomes-based mutual recognition agreement. The Agreement will enhance cross-border trade in wholesale financial services between the UK and Switzerland. Specifically, the BFSA provides new cross-border market access for investment services from Switzerland into the UK and for (re)insurance from the UK into Switzerland.

The Agreement is underpinned by assessments, with the UK and Switzerland each assessing each other’s regulatory and supervisory regimes. The Treasury, Financial Conduct Authority, Bank of England, and Prudential Regulation Authority undertook an assessment of the Swiss regime between 2022 and 2023. Recognition was given on the basis that both regimes achieved equivalent outcomes in terms of consumer protection, market integrity and financial stability.

The Agreement is also supported by a Memorandum of Understanding between the Financial Conduct Authority, Bank of England, Prudential Regulation Authority, and Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority signed on 22 September 2025, which sets out arrangements for supervisory cooperation and information sharing. These arrangements will facilitate ongoing dialogue, support the functioning of the Agreement, and ensure both sides can address risks or supervisory developments promptly.

Lastly, the Agreement provides safeguards for the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority to manage any residual risk as a result of new market access under the Agreement with regards to protecting financial stability, consumer protection, market integrity and compliance with the Agreement. The Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority have been provided these powers through the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Mutual Recognition Agreement) Switzerland Regulations 2025.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether Northern Ireland will be included in the changes to rules on a fixed customs duty on small parcels entering the European Union.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

We are aware of the action being taken by our trading partners on small parcels. The facilitations under the Windsor Framework remain in place for goods entering Northern Ireland. We will continue to engage with the EU to give certainty over future arrangements and ensure businesses are informed ahead of any changes. At the Autumn Budget on 26 November 2025, the Chancellor announced the removal of the £135 customs duty relief, making low value imports subject to customs duty, with a consultation currently underway considering a new set of customs arrangements for these goods. The government will collaborate with its trading partners to ensure its new low value import customs arrangements work effectively with other regimes while meeting its objectives.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to consider the learnings on fiscal devolution of each nation and region in the British–Irish Council.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The United Kingdom Government regularly considers how fiscal devolution arrangements are working in practice, taking into account the views of a range of stakeholders.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate has been made of the annual income tax and National Insurance contributions generated by employment directly and indirectly supported by the Hemsby tourism economy.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Revenue and Customs has not made estimate of total annual tax receipts generated by economic, employment or tourism related activity in Hemsby, Norfolk.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate has been made of the annual VAT revenue generated by tourism-related activity in Hemsby, including holiday accommodation, food and drink and local services.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Revenue and Customs has not made estimate of total annual tax receipts generated by economic, employment or tourism related activity in Hemsby, Norfolk.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate HM Treasury has made of total annual tax receipts generated by economic activity in Hemsby, Norfolk, including (a) income tax, (b) National Insurance contributions, (c) VAT, and (d) business rates.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Revenue and Customs has not made estimate of total annual tax receipts generated by economic, employment or tourism related activity in Hemsby, Norfolk.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the benefits of introducing additional taxation on large SUVs.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Vehicles used or kept on public roads pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). Cars registered on or after 1 April 2017 pay a variable first year VED rate according to the emissions of the vehicle, before moving to a standard annual rate after the first year.

For certain vehicle classifications, such as heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), VED liability is calculated in accordance with the vehicle's weight in order to reflect in part the road damage caused by heavier vehicles. However, this is not the case for cars, due in part to their relatively lower impact on road damage compared to heavier vehicles.

When making changes to the tax system, the Government considers a range of trade-offs, such as complexity in the tax system and administrative burdens.

The Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs to ensure that they are appropriate and reflect the current state of the economy. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the public finances.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to introduce VAT exemptions for counsellors and psychotherapists, in line with those for art and dance therapy practitioners.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Many services provided directly or supervised by registered health professionals are exempt from VAT, meaning no VAT is charged to the final consumer. This does not apply to professionals who do not have statutory registers, such as counsellors and psychotherapists.

The UK’s approach of linking VAT exemption to statutory registration provides a clear and objective criterion for defining ‘health professionals’ for VAT purposes, ensuring that VAT reliefs are tightly targeted. While the Government keeps all taxes under review, there are no current plans to introduce VAT exemptions for counsellors and psychotherapists without statutory registration.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to Employee Car Ownership Schemes on the supply of nearly-new vehicles to the second-hand car market.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

At Budget 2025, the government announced that, to allow more time for the sector to prepare for and adapt to the proposed changes in treatment to Employee Car Ownership Schemes (ECOS), its implementation will be delayed to 6 April 2030, with transitional arrangements until April 2032.

The government has published a tax impact and information note, which can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-employee-car-ownership-schemes-for-income-tax/changes-to-employee-car-ownership-schemes-ecos

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the planned increase in vehicle tax from April 2026 will be based on (a) emissions from vehicles based on factory information when new and (b) MOT results annually.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), sometimes known as 'road tax' or 'vehicle tax', is a tax on vehicles used or kept on public roads. Different rates apply to cars, vans, and motorcycles, and the rate for each vehicle is calculated according to a range of factors, such as its date of first registration, weight, or CO2 emissions.

As announced by the government at Budget, from 1 April 2026, VED rates for cars, vans, motorcycles and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) will be uprated in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI) in 2026-27.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department has made an estimate of of the behavioural impact of the 3 percent Benefit-in-Kind rate for zero-emission company cars, including (a) the number of additional EVs purchased by fleets and (b) the fiscal implications of those behavioural effects.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government publishes annual statistics on HMRC’s taxable benefits in kind for company cars and company car fuel. These reports document the number of benefit in kind recipients, the CO2 emissions of company cars and their total taxable value. The latest statistics for the tax year 2023-24 were published in June 2025, and are accessible here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefits-in-kind-statistics-june-2025/benefit-in-kind-statistics-commentary-june-2025

Additionally, at Budget 2024 the Government announced new Company Car Tax rates for the years 2028-29 and 2029-30, which increase for both electric vehicles (EVs) and petrol/diesel vehicles, while still maintaining generous incentives to support EV take-up. The Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) published alongside Budget set out the expected economic, equalities and other impacts, and highlighted that overall the measure was expected to encourage the take-up of zero emission vehicles.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Financial Conduct Authority’s proposed Motor Finance Consumer Redress Scheme on the future affordability of motor finance for consumers.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

It is vital that consumers have access to motor finance to enable them to spread the cost of a vehicle in a way that is manageable and affordable. The Government wants to see this issue resolved in an efficient and orderly way that provides certainty for consumers and firms.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as independent regulator, has set out its proposals for a motor finance redress scheme. In its consultation, the FCA has set out how it expects consumers to be appropriately redressed. The FCA also sets out proposals on how firms should support vulnerable consumers, and address any gaps in their records, and what controls should be in place to ensure they operate the scheme in a fair and transparent way.

Throughout the consultation period which closed on December 12, the government has encouraged all stakeholders to fully engage with the process so that their views can be considered by the FCA. The FCA has indicated it will finalise the rules of the scheme in February or March 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the potential impact of the proposed Motor Finance Consumer Redress Scheme on future motor finance costs for consumers.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

It is vital that consumers have access to motor finance to enable them to spread the cost of a vehicle in a way that is manageable and affordable. The Government wants to see this issue resolved in an efficient and orderly way that provides certainty for consumers and firms.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as independent regulator, has set out its proposals for a motor finance redress scheme. In its consultation, the FCA has set out how it expects consumers to be appropriately redressed. The FCA also sets out proposals on how firms should support vulnerable consumers, and address any gaps in their records, and what controls should be in place to ensure they operate the scheme in a fair and transparent way.

Throughout the consultation period which closed on December 12, the government has encouraged all stakeholders to fully engage with the process so that their views can be considered by the FCA. The FCA has indicated it will finalise the rules of the scheme in February or March 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the July 2019 implementation date of the Contingent Reimbursement Model Code on victims of authorised push payment scams that occurred before that date; and whether she plans to review redress mechanisms to ensure consistent treatment of victims regardless of when losses occurred.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government takes the issue of fraud very seriously and is dedicated to protecting the public from this appalling crime. To protect consumers, under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has introduced a mandatory reimbursement regime for Authorised Push Payment (APP) scams taking place over the Faster Payment system. This came into force on 7 October 2024. The details of the APP reimbursement regime are a matter for the independent PSR.

Transactions that occurred before 7 October 2024, may be governed by the Contingent Reimbursement Model (CRM), a voluntary code signed by the UK’s largest banks and building societies that came into force in May 2019. However, it is important to note that not all banks or building societies are party to the CRM code. The CRM code is overseen by the Lending Standards Board and more information can be found on their website.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many full-time equivalent staff in her Department have been employed for the purpose of making social media content in each of the past three years.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Due to the difficulty of disaggregating the number of staff who are employed to produce social media content from staff who are employed to work on broader digital communications, it is not possible to report exact figures in response to this question.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the new valuations by the Valuation Office Agency on grassroots music venues.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

At the Budget, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. Music venues are valued in the same way as any other class of non-domestic property, through applying the statutory and common law principles that apply across non-domestic rating.

Some properties, including in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, have seen their rateable values increased. This is in part because the last revaluation updated rateable values to align with market values at 1 April 2021 – during the COVID pandemic. This meant rateable values were lower due to the atypical economic situation the pandemic created. This latest revaluation reflects a post Covid world, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties.

To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. Government support also means that most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the net zero targets are for (a) their Department and (b) its arm’s-length bodies; and whether guidance has been issued on adopting net zero targets earlier than 2050.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The net zero target in the Climate Change Act 2008, is a target for the whole of the UK, not individual departments or arms-length bodies.

Greening Government Commitments are the central framework setting out the actions UK government departments and their agencies will take to reduce their impacts on the environment, including setting targets to reduce emissions, during the framework period.

The previous framework and emission reduction targets covered the period 2021 - 2025. Under this framework HM Treasury had a target to reduce its overall emissions by 69% and direct emissions by 25%, against a 2017-2018 baseline.

Defra are reviewing the Greening Government Commitments to ensure that they remain aligned with government priorities.

Information regarding the Treasury’s targets and performance on operational activity relating to climate adaptation, sustainability, and the environment (CASE-Ops) can be found in ANNEX B: Sustainability in the 2024-25 Annual Report and Accounts on pages 223 to 229 at : www.gov.uk/government/publications/hm-treasury-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the adoption of agentic AI systems by banks is aligned with existing financial services consumer protections and regulatory standards.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is working closely with industry and regulators to ensure that the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems by banks is aligned with existing financial services consumer protections and regulatory standards.

The treatment of customers by UK banks and building societies is governed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the independent regulator of the UK’s financial services sector. The FCA’s Principles for Businesses require firms to deliver a prompt, efficient, and fair service to all customers. In addition, the FCA’s Consumer Duty requires firms to act in good faith, avoid foreseeable harm, and act in consumers’ best interests.

The use of AI, including agentic AI, does not absolve firms from their regulatory responsibilities or the need to comply with relevant laws and regulations.

In April 2024, the FCA published an update to its regulatory approach to AI, making clear that where firms use AI as part of their business operations, they remain responsible for ensuring compliance with FCA rules.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the answer of 16 December 2025 to Question 98338, whether she has reviewed the Bank Confidential report; and if she will establish a judge-led inquiry into its findings.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Treasury is aware of the Bank Confidential report about former misconduct in SME banking by the NatWest Group. The Government also recognises the serious impact that historical issues of misconduct have had on small businesses, and we acknowledge the significant distress and hardship this has caused to many business owners.

Successive Governments, as well as the Financial Conduct Authority, working with lenders, have taken steps that aimed to address these issues. This included helping to establish and support a range of compensation and redress schemes to enable those affected to seek appropriate compensation, with redress over interest rate hedging rate disputes alone paying out more than £2bn to affected customers.

As I set out in my previous response, the Government keeps the financial services regulatory framework under ongoing review, working closely with the Financial Conduct Authority.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what additional funding they provided to the Scottish Government through the Barnett Formula when they announced the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee policy on 4 December 2024.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Funding for the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee announced on 4 December is being met from within the Home Office settlement agreed at Spending Review 2025. At Spending Reviews, the Barnett formula is applied to the overall change in UKG departments DEL budget. Because the formula is not applied to individual programmes, the consequentials associated with these individual programmes cannot be identified.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps she has taken to seize frozen Russian assets and use them to resource Ukraine.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government remains determined to ensure Russia is held accountable for the damage it has caused, and continues to cause, in Ukraine.

We will continue work and coordinate with G7 and EU partners to ensure that Ukraine gets the funding it needs, ensuring any options developed by the Government are in line with international law.

We continue to pledge that Russia's sovereign assets will remain immobilised until they cease the war and pay compensation to Ukraine.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the likelihood of the £100m contingency from within the £1.5bn allocated for compensating Equitable Life policyholders being needed to make payments to eligible With-Profits Annuitants.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Equitable Life Payment Scheme has been fully wound down and closed since 2016. The only remaining part of the Payment Scheme in operation is the annual payments made to eligible With-Profit-Annuitants and the Scheme is on track to distribute the remainder of the £1.5 billion as planned.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick on 22 September (HL10373), when they will publish an updated plan for the delivery of a single trade window.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to minimising administrative burdens and frictions experienced by businesses trading internationally and is engaging with key stakeholders to better understand their needs for the future operation of the UK border.

The Government does not have a definitive timeframe for the implementation of the Single Trade Window, though traders are able to submit import and export documentations electronically via the Customs Declaration Service.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they consulted representatives of the hospitality and pub sectors before finalising the changes to business-rates multipliers and reliefs contained in the 2025 Budget; and what plans they have to engage with industry bodies on this subject.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government carried out engagement with a range of stakeholders on business rates ahead of the budget and continues to do so.

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This support also means that most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by introducing permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

Without Government support, pubs would have faced a 45% increase in the total bills they pay next year. However, because of the support the Government has put in place, this has fallen to just 4%.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of analysis conducted by UKHospitality indicating that, over the next three years, the average pub will pay an additional £12,900 in business rates.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government carried out engagement with a range of stakeholders on business rates ahead of the budget and continues to do so.

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This support also means that most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by introducing permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

Without Government support, pubs would have faced a 45% increase in the total bills they pay next year. However, because of the support the Government has put in place, this has fallen to just 4%.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Chancellor’s letter of 14 November 2024 on the remit and recommendations for the Financial Policy Committee, what assessment they have made of the extent to which the Financial Conduct Authority has implemented its requirement to ‘have regard’ to reinforcing financial inclusion.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Ensuring everyone has access to the financial services and products they need is a key priority for the Government. This is why we recently published the Financial Inclusion Strategy setting out a range of measures to improve financial inclusion and resilience for underserved groups across the UK.

The Chancellor recognised the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) role in reinforcing financial inclusion in the most recent remit letter, which asks them to have regard to the Government’s priorities in relation to this. The FCA is required to respond annually to the remit letter and in its most recent response, published in July 2025, Nikhil Rathi (FCA CEO) emphasised the FCA’s support for the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy which was developed with input from a committee of consumer and industry representatives, including the FCA given their key role in the sector.
The FCA has a range of powers which it is using to promote financial inclusion and resilience and will play a key role in the delivery of several interventions within the strategy. We continue to engage closely with the FCA on this and the successful implementation of the strategy more broadly.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government which of the "lower business rates multipliers" for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a rateable value of less than £500,000 will be applied in (1) Wales, (2) Scotland, and (3) Northern Ireland; and what discussions they have held with devolved administrations on this matter.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Business rates is a devolved policy area. Therefore, the new retail hospitality and leisure multipliers will apply in England only.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent economic analysis concerning the UK’s inflation outlook and associated risks to economic growth; and how this is being factored into fiscal and economic planning.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Forecasting the UK economy, including the outlook for inflation and economic growth, is the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The government set out how the economic outlook is factored into fiscal and economic planning it its autumn budget published on 26 November. Key points include:

- According to the OBR, inflation is past its peak and measures taken by the government will reduce inflation by 0.4 percentage points in 2026-27, including by lowering energy bills by around £150 from next April for the average household, and freezing regulated rail fares and prescription charges.

- The Chancellor has reaffirmed the Bank of England’s 2% Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) inflation target.

- While the Bank has overall responsibility for returning inflation to target, the government is also fully committed to tackling inflation. The most effective lever to achieve this is through responsible fiscal strategy.

- Stable prices give businesses the confidence to invest and supports the independent BoE Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), who have cut Bank Rate six times since the election.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to replace the current system of business rates.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto.

The Government is doing this by introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

The Call for Evidence, published at the Budget in November 2025, focuses on how reform of the business rates system can be used to incentivise and secure more investment by Britain’s businesses. This Call for Evidence builds on the findings of the Transforming Business Rates: Discussion Paper and asks stakeholders for more detailed evidence on how the business rates system influences investment decisions.

Any reforms taken forward will be phased over the course of the Parliament.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to develop metrics to evaluate the (1) implementation, and (2) impact, of the Financial Inclusion Strategy.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

In early November, the Government published its Financial Inclusion Strategy, setting out an ambitious programme of measures to improve financial inclusion and resilience for underserved groups across the UK. This includes interventions by both Government and industry to address barriers individuals and households face in accessing financial products, such as supporting people to open a bank account, build a savings habit, and access affordable credit

As part of developing the strategy, the Government has engaged with Financial Inclusion Committee members and other organisations on how best to measure its implementation and impact. The strategy is expected to have a positive impact on a range of outputs including, for example the proportion of UK adults who are unbanked

The strategy’s implementation will be reviewed in two years’ time, providing an update on delivery of the interventions and on relevant outcomes‑based metrics, which will reflect the progress made across the sector

The Government recognises that improving financial inclusion requires a joined‑up approach and will continue to work closely with industry, the Financial Conduct Authority and wider stakeholders as we implement the strategy.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the average percentage increase in business rates payable by hospitality properties from April 2026 onwards, set out in Budget 2025, published on 28 November.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. Some properties, including in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, have seen their rateable values increased. This is in part because the last revaluation updated rateable values to align with market values on 1 April 2021 – during the CVOID pandemic. This meant rateable values were lower due to the atypical economic situation the pandemic created. This latest revaluation reflects a post Covid world, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties.

To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. Government support also means that most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by introducing permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, while ensuring that warehouses used by online giants will pay more. The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid.

Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the gendered impact of the changes to salary sacrifice pension arrangements announced in the Budget 2025, particularly in relation to women who experience career interruptions due to maternity leave or caring responsibilities.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to pensions salary sacrifice. The TIIN sets out the impact on employees and employers and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/salary-sacrifice-reform-for-pension-contributions-effective-from-6-april-2029/salary-sacrifice-reform-for-pension-contributions

As set out in the TIIN, men are more likely to be using pensions salary sacrifice than women – 59% of pensions salary sacrifice users are men.

The cap protects 65% of women using salary sacrifice for their pensions contributions, compared to 50% of men.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what analysis they have undertaken of the extent to which the £2,000 cap on national insurance-free salary sacrifice contributions will exacerbate the existing disparity in pension accrual experienced by mothers.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to pensions salary sacrifice. The TIIN sets out the impact on employees and employers and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/salary-sacrifice-reform-for-pension-contributions-effective-from-6-april-2029/salary-sacrifice-reform-for-pension-contributions

As set out in the TIIN, men are more likely to be using pensions salary sacrifice than women – 59% of pensions salary sacrifice users are men.

The cap protects 65% of women using salary sacrifice for their pensions contributions, compared to 50% of men.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the impact of salary sacrifice reform on the gender pension gap.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to pensions salary sacrifice. The TIIN sets out the impact on employees and employers and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/salary-sacrifice-reform-for-pension-contributions-effective-from-6-april-2029/salary-sacrifice-reform-for-pension-contributions

As set out in the TIIN, men are more likely to be using pensions salary sacrifice than women – 59% of pensions salary sacrifice users are men.

The cap protects 65% of women using salary sacrifice for their pensions contributions, compared to 50% of men.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of increased business rates on grassroots music venues; and what steps they intend to take in response to the open letter sent to the Prime Minister by the Music Venue Trust on 10 December.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

At the Budget, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. Music venues are valued in the same way as any other class of non-domestic property, through applying the statutory and common law principles that apply across non-domestic rating.

Some properties, including in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, have seen their rateable values increased. This is in part because the last revaluation updated rateable values to align with market values at 1 April 2021 – during the COVID pandemic. This meant rateable values were lower due to the atypical economic situation the pandemic created. This latest revaluation reflects a post Covid world, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties.

To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. Government support also means that most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Valuation Office Agency about valuations of grassroots music venues.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

At the Budget, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. Music venues are valued in the same way as any other class of non-domestic property, through applying the statutory and common law principles that apply across non-domestic rating.

Some properties, including in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, have seen their rateable values increased. This is in part because the last revaluation updated rateable values to align with market values at 1 April 2021 – during the COVID pandemic. This meant rateable values were lower due to the atypical economic situation the pandemic created. This latest revaluation reflects a post Covid world, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties.

To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. Government support also means that most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations she has had from (a) pubs and licensed premises, (b) leisure arenas, (c) community sports clubs and (d) music venues on business rates increases in the next financial year.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has engaged with a range of stakeholders on business rates in advance of the Budget and continues to do so.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the list of energy-saving materials eligible for VAT relief beyond heat pumps, including heat batteries.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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 list of qualifying ESMs, which includes but is not limited to heat pumps, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-on-energy-saving-materials-and-heating-equipment-notice-7086.

The Government assesses whether to add ESMs to this relief by evaluating them against the following tests: the primary purpose of the technology must be to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions; relieving the technology of VAT must be a cost effective lever for encouraging installations; and it must be practical for business to operate and for HMRC to administer.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Budget 2025 on the number of businesses starting up in the UK.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK is a great place to start a business, with the third largest venture capital market after the US and China, generous tax reliefs for investors in early-stage companies and the lowest corporation tax rate in the G7. Over the last financial year, 800,000 new businesses incorporated.

In the Budget, the Chancellor built on these strengths by expanding our enterprise tax reliefs to incentivise investment in scaling firms and support them to attract top talent, by targeting British Business Bank investment towards these companies, and by committing to public procurement reforms to make the UK government a better customer to innovative businesses.

HM Treasury will continue to monitor the implementation of Budget measures and analyse their impact on the wider economy to inform future policy development.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the planned imposition of customs duties on low value imports from March 2029 on the logistics industry.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Following an estimated tripling of low value import volumes between 2021 and 2024, with the rapid rise in cross-border e-commerce, the Chancellor has reviewed the existing customs arrangements for low value imports to determine whether they are fit for purpose. The rapid growth in low value imports is hurting our high streets and retailers. The government is taking action to address the difference in treatment between low value imports and goods shipped by high street retailers, and ensure these goods are adequately controlled.

At Budget 2025, the government announced that it is removing the customs duty relief on goods imported into the UK worth up to £135, making them subject to customs duty, and consulting on a new set of customs arrangements for these goods. The consultation covers the design and implementation of the new low value import customs arrangements, including what data could be collected, how customs duty should be applied, and whether to apply an additional fee to fund administration activity.

The government recognises that these proposals will require changes and is inviting stakeholders, including the logistics industry, to provide input on how the new arrangements can be implemented to ensure changes are delivered as smoothly as possible, ensure goods are appropriately controlled, and address the tariff treatment between online retailers who ship directly to the UK and high street retailers who import goods in bulk.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HMRC is taking to improve the responsiveness and consistency of its telephone customer service.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Improving day-to-day performance is a key priority for HMRC.

HMRC are investing in new technology to improve their telephony services. Last year, they launched procurement for a new Contact Centre as a Service (CCaaS) platform which will significantly enhance the customer experience.

They are also expanding their digital services. HMRC online services and the HMRC app are convenient to access and receive high customer satisfaction ratings.

As more people use HMRC digital services, HMRC’s customer service advisers are freed up to support those who are digitally excluded, have complex tax affairs, or find themselves in vulnerable circumstances.

HMRC’s Transformation Roadmap sets out further steps to improve the customer experience for taxpayers, agents, and businesses. The Roadmap can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmrc-transformation-roadmap

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how Politically Exposed Persons and their families can complain about unreasonable withdrawal of services by companies which are not financial services institutions and not regulated by the Financial Services Ombudsman.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

A wide range of business activities, not limited to financial services, are regulated under the Money Laundering Regulations. Relevant businesses must identify and carry out enhanced due diligence on Politically Exposed Persons and their close relatives or business associates. Guidance for different sectors makes clear that these checks should be proportionate to the risks posed on a case-by-case basis.

Individual businesses will be subject to various regulatory and accountability arrangements depending on the nature of the services they provide. Consumers are normally encouraged to direct any complaints first to a business’s own complaints department before escalating if necessary to the relevant ombudsman or equivalent organisation which is empowered to consider complaints.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2025 to Question 92033 on Ministers: Second Homes, whether her official ministerial residence is classified as a second home.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Chancellor of the Exchequer pays full council tax on the flat above 10 Downing Street as her primary residence.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Ministerial residence is registered with Westminster City council as a primary residence.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Chancellor of the Exchequer pays full council tax on the flat above 10 Downing Street as her primary residence.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2025, to question 95176 on Ministers: Official Residences, whether tax is payable on residences owned by the State.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS) will be paid by property owners, and official residences operate through a range of different ownership structures, including leases and trusts. The details of the HVCTS are to be consulted upon shortly.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Valuation Office Agency on the application of business rates to pubs and breweries.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I have regular discussions with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), who are responsible for independently valuing properties.  

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much the treasury spends on external videography services annually.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

In 24/25 HMT spent £16,831 on external videography services. In 25/26, HMT have spent £11,160 as at 30 November 2025 on external videography services. These figures are inclusive of the use of external videography services to make training videos for the organisation.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the cost of cyber attacks on UK-based businesses in the last 12 months.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

An increasingly hostile cyber threat poses a risk to the UK economy and public finances. According to the Office for National Statistics, the decline in the manufacture of motor vehicles, observed in the wake of the cyber attack on Jaguar Land Rover, reduced September’s GDP by 0.17%. In the 2022 Fiscal Risks and Sustainability report, the Office for Budget Responsibility estimated that a cyber-attack on critical national infrastructure could temporarily increase borrowing by around £30 billion – equivalent to 1.1% of GDP.

Cyber-attacks have significant costs for UK businesses. Recent KPMG modelling for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology suggests the average cost of a significant cyber-attack for an individual business in the UK is around £194,729. KPMG estimate this could represent a total yearly cost to businesses in the UK of £14.7 billion, representing 0.5% of the UK’s annual GDP.

The government is committed to strengthening cyber security across the UK. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) provides a range of tools, guidance and support to businesses to improve their cyber security. At last year's Spending Review, the government increased the Single Intelligence Account's budget by £1 billion over the SR period, which funds the critical cybersecurity work conducted by NCSC.

The UK’s cyber resilience relies on all businesses playing their part. The Chancellor of the Exchequer; Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology; Secretary of State for Business and Trade; Minister for Security; CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre and Director General of the National Crime Agency wrote to chief executives and chairs of FTSE 350 companies in October 2025 year asking them to make cyber security a top priority.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2025, to Question 88660, on Elections: Proof of Identity, what is the policy of Government Social Research on using the terms (a) sex and (b) gender.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government Social Research Profession is a professional membership body for social researchers working across government. It supports professional social researchers employed directly by departments through providing opportunities for learning, development, career support and technical development.

The Government Social Research Profession is part of the Government Analysis Function, which sets expectations for analysis, as set out in the Government Functional Standard. In using the terms ‘sex’ and ‘gender’, government analysts should have regard to relevant data harmonisation standards published by the Office for National Statistics and the Government Statistical Service.

The Office for National Statistics and the Government Statistical Service are currently partway through a review of their harmonised standards. That review is focused on developing updated and new harmonised standards for Sex, Gender Identity, Disability and Ethnicity

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has any plans to restrict UK insurance companies providing cover to vessels which ship Russian oil.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK already restricts UK firms from insuring Russian oil. The UK implements the G7+ Oil Price Cap (OPC) which prohibits G7+ companies from shipping, insuring or otherwise servicing Russian oil sold above a set price to put downward pressure on Russian revenues. The UK lowered the OPC for Russian seaborne crude in July: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-tightens-oil-price-cap-in-blow-to-putins-war-machine

Additionally, the UK has sanctioned 520 vessels so far for carrying Russian oil. These sanctions include the prohibition of insurance provision to these vessels.

The UK and our partners continue to consider strengthening sanctions on Russian energy exports, should Russia refuse to engage meaningfully in peace negotiations, building on the existing OPC and sanctions on all Russian oil majors.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Budget 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed scrapping of the Energy Company Obligation scheme on the level of energy sector tax revenue.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Energy Company Obligation is a regulated obligation on suppliers and is not a tax measure. However, as VAT is placed on the total cost of energy, lowering energy bills through ending this scheme will reduce the tax base for VAT on domestic energy. This measure, alongside the Government funding 75% of the legacy Renewables Obligation, will save households an average of £150 off their energy bills.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish the Freedom of Information Act disclosure released by the Government Actuary’s Department on 4 August 2025 with reference Internal Review response to FOI252626.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government Actuary’s Department released information on 4 August 2025 in relation to a Freedom of Information request. The content of that response is provided alongside this PQ response.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate her Department has made of the cost of cyber attacks to the economy.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

An increasingly hostile cyber threat poses a risk to the UK economy and public finances. According to the Office for National Statistics, the decline in the manufacture of motor vehicles, observed in the wake of the cyber attack on Jaguar Land Rover, reduced September’s GDP by 0.17%. In the 2022 Fiscal Risks and Sustainability report, the Office for Budget Responsibility estimated that a cyber-attack on critical national infrastructure could temporarily increase borrowing by around £30 billion – equivalent to 1.1% of GDP.

Cyber-attacks have significant costs for UK businesses. Recent KPMG modelling for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology suggests the average cost of a significant cyber-attack for an individual business in the UK is around £194,729. KPMG estimate this could represent a total yearly cost to businesses in the UK of £14.7 billion, representing 0.5% of the UK’s annual GDP.

The government is committed to strengthening cyber security across the UK. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) provides a range of tools, guidance and support to businesses to improve their cyber security. At last year's Spending Review, the government increased the Single Intelligence Account's budget by £1 billion over the SR period, which funds the critical cybersecurity work conducted by NCSC.

The UK’s cyber resilience relies on all businesses playing their part. The Chancellor of the Exchequer; Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology; Secretary of State for Business and Trade; Minister for Security; CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre and Director General of the National Crime Agency wrote to chief executives and chairs of FTSE 350 companies in October 2025 year asking them to make cyber security a top priority.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will work with the Financial Conduct Authority to issue guidance to insurers on the resolution of Covid-19 Business Interruption claims not resolved when the limitation deadline is reached.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the independent regulator for financial services, sets the conduct standards required of insurance firms. This includes rules requiring insurers to handle claims fairly and promptly.

With respect to business interruption claims linked to Covid-19, the Supreme Court published its final judgment in the FCA test case in January 2021. At the time of the judgment, the FCA set out its expectation that insurers should communicate to all impacted policyholders what the judgment meant for their claim and that insurers should move quickly to resolve claims as determined by the judgment, making interim payments wherever possible. It is important to note that the FCA court case did not cover all potential issues with business interruption policies but aimed to provide certainty to as many policyholders as possible.

The FCA, as the independent regulator, has robust powers to take action where firms do not appear to be meeting their expectations and treating their customers fairly.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the March 2026 limitation deadline on unresolved Covid-19 Business Interruption claims.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the independent regulator for financial services, sets the conduct standards required of insurance firms. This includes rules requiring insurers to handle claims fairly and promptly.

With respect to business interruption claims linked to Covid-19, the Supreme Court published its final judgment in the FCA test case in January 2021. At the time of the judgment, the FCA set out its expectation that insurers should communicate to all impacted policyholders what the judgment meant for their claim and that insurers should move quickly to resolve claims as determined by the judgment, making interim payments wherever possible. It is important to note that the FCA court case did not cover all potential issues with business interruption policies but aimed to provide certainty to as many policyholders as possible.

The FCA, as the independent regulator, has robust powers to take action where firms do not appear to be meeting their expectations and treating their customers fairly.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure insurers do not use litigation to prevent small business policyholders from making claims.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the independent regulator for financial services, sets the conduct standards required of insurance firms. This includes rules requiring insurers to handle claims fairly and promptly.

With respect to business interruption claims linked to Covid-19, the Supreme Court published its final judgment in the FCA test case in January 2021. At the time of the judgment, the FCA set out its expectation that insurers should communicate to all impacted policyholders what the judgment meant for their claim and that insurers should move quickly to resolve claims as determined by the judgment, making interim payments wherever possible. It is important to note that the FCA court case did not cover all potential issues with business interruption policies but aimed to provide certainty to as many policyholders as possible.

The FCA, as the independent regulator, has robust powers to take action where firms do not appear to be meeting their expectations and treating their customers fairly.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has with Mansion House Accord signatories on publishing firm-by-firm assessments of commitments made versus capital deployed.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The organising bodies of the Accord have committed to working with government and regulators to ensure that data demonstrating progress against the Accord will be tracked.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of taxation of salary sacrifice pension contributions on levels of pensions saving.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to pensions salary sacrifice.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) set out in their November 2025 Economic and Fiscal Outlook that they do not expect a material impact on savings behaviour as a result of Budget 2025 tax changes.

The government supports all individuals to save into pensions through a generous system of income tax and NICs reliefs worth over £70 billion a year.  Employers must also meet their automatic enrolment obligations.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to encourage UK pension funds to invest in domestic scale-up companies.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

In May 2025, 17 of the largest workplace pension providers signed the Mansion House Accord and voluntarily committed to invest at least 10 per cent of their defined contribution default funds in private markets by 2030, with at least half of that invested in the UK. This is expected to unlock £25 billion of pension fund investment in the UK, including into high growth companies.

The British Business Bank has a key role in helping smaller businesses get the finance they need to start, scale and stay in the UK. The government has given the British Business Bank a new objective to mobilise institutional capital, including domestic pension capital. The BBB has already created one entry point through the British Growth Partnership. This is an investment vehicle designed specifically to encourage more UK pension fund and other institutional investment into the UK’s fastest growing, most innovative companies.

Found: His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT), the FCDO and the BBC should agree by 31 March 2026 a three- year floor

Found: HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE

Found: departments to report overall levels of digital spending, broken down by the main areas of spend to HMT

Found: The eligibility of different SIC codes were determined by HMT in early 2023 and reflected the lack of

Found: HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Ruth Jones MP Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee

Found: on the company where the money would have been returned to the Consolidated Fund operated by HM Treasury

Found: HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Tonia Antoniazzi MP Chair of the Northern

Found: Accounts, Value for money from legal aid, Thirty-Third Report of Session 2023-24, HC 481, 24 May 2024. 6 HMT

Found: respect of digital finance, inconsistency can be reduced by aligning FCA, Bank of England and HM Treasury

Found: Officer and Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary and Conrad Smewing, Director General Public Spending HM Treasury

Found: HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP Chair of the

Found: The Committee sought advice from HM Treasury on both.

Found: reported to the House for publication: Adult Social Care Reform: the cost of inaction ASC0147 HM Treasury

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria her Department uses when deciding whether a major transport project should be added to the Government’s Major Projects Portfolio.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP), including which projects and programmes are included, is managed by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA). The criteria for GMPP projects are typically those where approval is required from HM Treasury (HMT), either because the budget exceeds the department’s delegated authority level and/or because the project is novel, complex, contentious, or requires primary legislation. The department engages with NISTA on a monthly basis to ensure that the correct projects and programmes are added to the GMPP.

NISTA is currently undergoing a review of the Government Major Projects Portfolio, which currently comprises over 200 projects, programmes and portfolios. It is expected that it will significantly reduce the number of major projects that the centre of government actively supports.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2025 to Question 94814, what his timetable is for deciding whether the NHS Health Accelerator model will be expanded beyond the three currently funded Integrated Care Boards.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The 2025 Spending Review was published on 11 June 2025 by HM Treasury and sets out departmental budgets for day‑to‑day spending until 2028/29, and until 2029/30 for capital investment. The 2025 Spending Review is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spending-review-2025-document

The Department has a financial planning exercise to allocate budgets within those financial years underway. Spending plans will be set out in the Main Supply Estimates when published in due course by HM Treasury.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the total lifetime cost is of Private Finance Initiative contracts relating to school and college buildings in (a) Essex, and (b) the UK.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The department directly manages the PF2 contracts for the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP) projects that were entered into by the Secretary of State for Education. All other schools’ PFI contracts were entered into by the relevant contracting counterparty, which is the relevant local authority.

The cost information requested on PFI projects in Essex and England is published annually by HMT at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pfi-and-pf2-projects-2024-summary-data.

Please note that, with the exception of the department’s PF2 projects, all information on PFI contracts is collated from local authorities and the department is unable to guarantee the accuracy of this information. Further details are available from the local authorities.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on co-ordination of the UK emissions trading scheme maritime expansion with the delivery of grid infrastructure needed for maritime decarbonisation.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The UK ETS Authority is made up of the UK Government and the devolved governments. Within the UK Government, my department, the Department for Transport and HM Treasury all work jointly to develop and implement the inclusion of maritime emissions in the UK ETS. This expansion will strengthen the scheme’s ability to deliver cost-effective emissions reductions, supporting the UK’s statutory carbon budgets and Net Zero target.

Investing in the grid is a key Government priority. The Government supports Ofgem in developing a price control that enable necessary investment in the electricity network for the clean energy and growth missions, including maritime transport electrification. The next distribution price control, ED3 covering 2028 to 2033, will be informed by Regional Energy Strategic Plans to support strategic network investments.

We understand the significance of getting sufficient grid capacity to electrify ports, for cruise and ferries to use shore power and policy options to accelerate connection dates for strategic demand customers, such as critical port sites. This is informed by the Department for Transport’s call for evidence on Net Zero Ports, published in March 2025, which posed questions on managing future energy demand at ports.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of how her Department's proposed funding reforms will impact coastal communities with high proportions of (a) small businesses, (b) seasonal tourism employment, and (c) non-standard housing such as holiday chalets.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

On 14 October 2025, following consultation, the Government announced major changes to its flood and coastal erosion funding policy. The reforms will make it quicker and easier to deliver flood defences by simplifying our funding rules, and optimising funding between building new flood projects and maintaining existing defences.

Under the new rules, projects will be prioritised by their benefit-to-cost ratios to drive value for money. Projects are developed in line with HM Treasury Green Book guidance and FCERM Appraisal Guidance and capture a wide range of benefits including those related to private properties (including holiday chalets with a fixed address), businesses, heritage, environment, recreation, and tourism. All schemes must achieve a benefit cost ratio of greater than one to receive Defra grant in aid.

The new rules give equal weighting to different types of benefits, which will help coastal areas where under the old rules, benefits such as those from recreation attracted lower weightings.

The list of projects to receive Government funding will be agreed in the usual way, on an annual basis, through the Environment Agency’s annual refresh process, with local representation.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to assess the potential impact of new flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes on (a) primary residences, (b) second homes, (c) holiday chalets and (d) small businesses.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

On 14 October 2025, following consultation, the Government announced major changes to its flood and coastal erosion funding policy. The reforms will make it quicker and easier to deliver flood defences by simplifying our funding rules, and optimising funding between building new flood projects and maintaining existing defences.

Under the new rules, projects will be prioritised by their benefit-to-cost ratios to drive value for money. Projects are developed in line with HM Treasury Green Book guidance and FCERM Appraisal Guidance and capture a wide range of benefits including those related to private properties (including holiday chalets with a fixed address), businesses, heritage, environment, recreation, and tourism. All schemes must achieve a benefit cost ratio of greater than one to receive Defra grant in aid.

The new rules give equal weighting to different types of benefits, which will help coastal areas where under the old rules, benefits such as those from recreation attracted lower weightings.

The list of projects to receive Government funding will be agreed in the usual way, on an annual basis, through the Environment Agency’s annual refresh process, with local representation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the policy papers entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 30 June 2025, and Budget 2025, published on 28 November 2025, what their Department’s capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be in each year of the Spending Review period; how much capital funding has been allocated to each of their Department’s programmes; and how much and what proportion of the capital DEL allocation remains unallocated in each year.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Spending Review 2025, published on 30 June 2025 sets out the Home Office settlement from HM Treasury. This includes the Home Office’s Capital Departmental Expenditure Limits (CDEL), which are detailed in Table 5.4: Capital Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL)(1) within Section 5. Departmental Settlements of the document Spending Review 2025 (HTML) - GOV.UK.

The department is considering how the settlement will be allocated and further detail on allocation by spending areas for 2026-27 will be published during Q1 of 2026-27 as part of the Home Office Main Estimates memorandum.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by when her Department expects to complete its ongoing work to to provide a remedy for those members of the Police Pension Scheme who opted out of, and are now left unable to opt back into, the 1987 pension scheme.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government recognises concerns that the current legislation does not fully deliver the intended remedy for a small cohort of members who opted out of the police pension scheme and are now unable to return to their original scheme.

This is a complex issue and officials in the Home Office and HM Treasury are exploring solutions through the existing McCloud remedy compensation framework and amendments to scheme regulations. The aim is to provide a remedy for the small number of affected members as soon as possible once a suitable solution has been identified.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund on fishing exports from (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

At the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that shares of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) should be devolved and administered by Devolved Governments.

On the 20 October 2025, it was announced that the FCGF would be devolved and delivered by Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs confirmed allocations, using the Barnett formula in line with HM Treasury guidance for devolved policy areas such as fisheries, with Scotland expected to receive £28 million. The Government has no plans to review this level of funding.

This funding is in addition to the wider Spending Review settlements, which provide devolved governments with at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending.

Each administration has full discretion to target its share in line with local priorities, including seafood promotion and exports, and is responsible for engaging with its own industry. The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs continues to meet stakeholders across the UK and supports collaboration to maximise benefits for fishing and coastal communities.

The FCGF is being developed to support coastal communities. As part of this, officials are exploring how the fund might align with broader place-based approaches, including principles similar to those used in the Pride in Place programme.

We are working to finalise the necessary arrangements for the allocation of the FCGF and will provide an update on this to all Devolved Governments as soon as we are able to.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Scotland's allocation of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

At the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that shares of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) should be devolved and administered by Devolved Governments.

On the 20 October 2025, it was announced that the FCGF would be devolved and delivered by Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs confirmed allocations, using the Barnett formula in line with HM Treasury guidance for devolved policy areas such as fisheries, with Scotland expected to receive £28 million. The Government has no plans to review this level of funding.

This funding is in addition to the wider Spending Review settlements, which provide devolved governments with at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending.

Each administration has full discretion to target its share in line with local priorities, including seafood promotion and exports, and is responsible for engaging with its own industry. The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs continues to meet stakeholders across the UK and supports collaboration to maximise benefits for fishing and coastal communities.

The FCGF is being developed to support coastal communities. As part of this, officials are exploring how the fund might align with broader place-based approaches, including principles similar to those used in the Pride in Place programme.

We are working to finalise the necessary arrangements for the allocation of the FCGF and will provide an update on this to all Devolved Governments as soon as we are able to.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government (1) what the Civil Service headcount was in (a) 2023–24 and (b) 2024–2025; and; (2) what is the expected headcount for (a) 2025–26, (b) 2026–27, (c) 2027–28, (d) 2028–29, and (e) 2029–2030.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Please see the table below for 2024, 2025 and latest available figures on Civil Service employment sourced from ONS Public Sector Employment Statistics.

*latest available

Each department will take a decision on its future size and shape as per the financial settlements that were agreed with HM Treasury in the Spending Review. These plans will take a whole workforce approach based on the cost of civil servants, Contingent Labour, Consultancy and Managed Services, and will be finalised through the business planning process that is currently underway.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of redundancy plans for civil servants working at grades (a) AA/AO, (b) EO, (c) HEO/SEO, (d) G6/G7 and (e) SCS in each Government department.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Each department will take a decision on its individual size and shape as per the financial settlements that have now been agreed with HMT in the Spending Review.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the contribution by the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs of 23 October 2025, col 1111, on the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, whether her statement on promoting and supporting the seafood sector so that it can export across the world referred to the promotion of Scottish seafood by the Government.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

At the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that shares of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) should be devolved and administered by Devolved Governments.

On the 20 October 2025, it was announced that the FCGF would be devolved and delivered by Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs confirmed allocations, using the Barnett formula in line with HM Treasury guidance for devolved policy areas such as fisheries, with Scotland expected to receive £28 million. The Government has no plans to review this level of funding.

This funding is in addition to the wider Spending Review settlements, which provide devolved governments with at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending.

Each administration has full discretion to target its share in line with local priorities, including seafood promotion and exports, and is responsible for engaging with its own industry. The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs continues to meet stakeholders across the UK and supports collaboration to maximise benefits for fishing and coastal communities.

The FCGF is being developed to support coastal communities. As part of this, officials are exploring how the fund might align with broader place-based approaches, including principles similar to those used in the Pride in Place programme.

We are working to finalise the necessary arrangements for the allocation of the FCGF and will provide an update on this to all Devolved Governments as soon as we are able to.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the contribution by the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs of 23 October 2025, col 1111, on the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, whether the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund allocation for England will be used to promote the (a) UK or (b) English seafood sector.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

At the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that shares of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) should be devolved and administered by Devolved Governments.

On the 20 October 2025, it was announced that the FCGF would be devolved and delivered by Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs confirmed allocations, using the Barnett formula in line with HM Treasury guidance for devolved policy areas such as fisheries, with Scotland expected to receive £28 million. The Government has no plans to review this level of funding.

This funding is in addition to the wider Spending Review settlements, which provide devolved governments with at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending.

Each administration has full discretion to target its share in line with local priorities, including seafood promotion and exports, and is responsible for engaging with its own industry. The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs continues to meet stakeholders across the UK and supports collaboration to maximise benefits for fishing and coastal communities.

The FCGF is being developed to support coastal communities. As part of this, officials are exploring how the fund might align with broader place-based approaches, including principles similar to those used in the Pride in Place programme.

We are working to finalise the necessary arrangements for the allocation of the FCGF and will provide an update on this to all Devolved Governments as soon as we are able to.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the contribution by the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs of 23 October 2025, col 1111, on the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, which stakeholders informed the decision to devolve that funding; and what proportion of those were based in devolved countries.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

At the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that shares of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) should be devolved and administered by Devolved Governments.

On the 20 October 2025, it was announced that the FCGF would be devolved and delivered by Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs confirmed allocations, using the Barnett formula in line with HM Treasury guidance for devolved policy areas such as fisheries, with Scotland expected to receive £28 million. The Government has no plans to review this level of funding.

This funding is in addition to the wider Spending Review settlements, which provide devolved governments with at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending.

Each administration has full discretion to target its share in line with local priorities, including seafood promotion and exports, and is responsible for engaging with its own industry. The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs continues to meet stakeholders across the UK and supports collaboration to maximise benefits for fishing and coastal communities.

The FCGF is being developed to support coastal communities. As part of this, officials are exploring how the fund might align with broader place-based approaches, including principles similar to those used in the Pride in Place programme.

We are working to finalise the necessary arrangements for the allocation of the FCGF and will provide an update on this to all Devolved Governments as soon as we are able to.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she had with the Scottish (a) fishing and (b) seafood sector prior to the announcement of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund on 20 October 2025.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

At the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that shares of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) should be devolved and administered by Devolved Governments.

On the 20 October 2025, it was announced that the FCGF would be devolved and delivered by Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs confirmed allocations, using the Barnett formula in line with HM Treasury guidance for devolved policy areas such as fisheries, with Scotland expected to receive £28 million. The Government has no plans to review this level of funding.

This funding is in addition to the wider Spending Review settlements, which provide devolved governments with at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending.

Each administration has full discretion to target its share in line with local priorities, including seafood promotion and exports, and is responsible for engaging with its own industry. The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs continues to meet stakeholders across the UK and supports collaboration to maximise benefits for fishing and coastal communities.

The FCGF is being developed to support coastal communities. As part of this, officials are exploring how the fund might align with broader place-based approaches, including principles similar to those used in the Pride in Place programme.

We are working to finalise the necessary arrangements for the allocation of the FCGF and will provide an update on this to all Devolved Governments as soon as we are able to.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been allocated to Scotland through the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

At the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that shares of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) should be devolved and administered by Devolved Governments.

On the 20 October 2025, it was announced that the FCGF would be devolved and delivered by Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs confirmed allocations, using the Barnett formula in line with HM Treasury guidance for devolved policy areas such as fisheries, with Scotland expected to receive £28 million. The Government has no plans to review this level of funding.

This funding is in addition to the wider Spending Review settlements, which provide devolved governments with at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending.

Each administration has full discretion to target its share in line with local priorities, including seafood promotion and exports, and is responsible for engaging with its own industry. The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs continues to meet stakeholders across the UK and supports collaboration to maximise benefits for fishing and coastal communities.

The FCGF is being developed to support coastal communities. As part of this, officials are exploring how the fund might align with broader place-based approaches, including principles similar to those used in the Pride in Place programme.

We are working to finalise the necessary arrangements for the allocation of the FCGF and will provide an update on this to all Devolved Governments as soon as we are able to.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the contribution by the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs of 23 October 2025, col 1111, on the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, whether her intention to apply Pride in Place principles to the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund in the future will result in the allocation of additional funding to Scotland.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

At the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that shares of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) should be devolved and administered by Devolved Governments.

On the 20 October 2025, it was announced that the FCGF would be devolved and delivered by Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs confirmed allocations, using the Barnett formula in line with HM Treasury guidance for devolved policy areas such as fisheries, with Scotland expected to receive £28 million. The Government has no plans to review this level of funding.

This funding is in addition to the wider Spending Review settlements, which provide devolved governments with at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending.

Each administration has full discretion to target its share in line with local priorities, including seafood promotion and exports, and is responsible for engaging with its own industry. The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs continues to meet stakeholders across the UK and supports collaboration to maximise benefits for fishing and coastal communities.

The FCGF is being developed to support coastal communities. As part of this, officials are exploring how the fund might align with broader place-based approaches, including principles similar to those used in the Pride in Place programme.

We are working to finalise the necessary arrangements for the allocation of the FCGF and will provide an update on this to all Devolved Governments as soon as we are able to.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to review the level of funding allocated to Scotland through the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

At the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that shares of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) should be devolved and administered by Devolved Governments.

On the 20 October 2025, it was announced that the FCGF would be devolved and delivered by Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs confirmed allocations, using the Barnett formula in line with HM Treasury guidance for devolved policy areas such as fisheries, with Scotland expected to receive £28 million. The Government has no plans to review this level of funding.

This funding is in addition to the wider Spending Review settlements, which provide devolved governments with at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending.

Each administration has full discretion to target its share in line with local priorities, including seafood promotion and exports, and is responsible for engaging with its own industry. The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs continues to meet stakeholders across the UK and supports collaboration to maximise benefits for fishing and coastal communities.

The FCGF is being developed to support coastal communities. As part of this, officials are exploring how the fund might align with broader place-based approaches, including principles similar to those used in the Pride in Place programme.

We are working to finalise the necessary arrangements for the allocation of the FCGF and will provide an update on this to all Devolved Governments as soon as we are able to.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what evidential basis underpinned her decision to apply Barnett consequentials to the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

At the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that shares of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) should be devolved and administered by Devolved Governments.

On the 20 October 2025, it was announced that the FCGF would be devolved and delivered by Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs confirmed allocations, using the Barnett formula in line with HM Treasury guidance for devolved policy areas such as fisheries, with Scotland expected to receive £28 million. The Government has no plans to review this level of funding.

This funding is in addition to the wider Spending Review settlements, which provide devolved governments with at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending.

Each administration has full discretion to target its share in line with local priorities, including seafood promotion and exports, and is responsible for engaging with its own industry. The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs continues to meet stakeholders across the UK and supports collaboration to maximise benefits for fishing and coastal communities.

The FCGF is being developed to support coastal communities. As part of this, officials are exploring how the fund might align with broader place-based approaches, including principles similar to those used in the Pride in Place programme.

We are working to finalise the necessary arrangements for the allocation of the FCGF and will provide an update on this to all Devolved Governments as soon as we are able to.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when Scotland's allocation of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund will be made available to the Scottish Government.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

At the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that shares of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) should be devolved and administered by Devolved Governments.

On the 20 October 2025, it was announced that the FCGF would be devolved and delivered by Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs confirmed allocations, using the Barnett formula in line with HM Treasury guidance for devolved policy areas such as fisheries, with Scotland expected to receive £28 million. The Government has no plans to review this level of funding.

This funding is in addition to the wider Spending Review settlements, which provide devolved governments with at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending.

Each administration has full discretion to target its share in line with local priorities, including seafood promotion and exports, and is responsible for engaging with its own industry. The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs continues to meet stakeholders across the UK and supports collaboration to maximise benefits for fishing and coastal communities.

The FCGF is being developed to support coastal communities. As part of this, officials are exploring how the fund might align with broader place-based approaches, including principles similar to those used in the Pride in Place programme.

We are working to finalise the necessary arrangements for the allocation of the FCGF and will provide an update on this to all Devolved Governments as soon as we are able to.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason the decision to allocate Barnett funding to the devolved administrations for the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund was announced on 20 October 2025, in the context of the press notice entitled Government to launch £360m Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, published on 19 May 2025.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

At the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that shares of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) should be devolved and administered by Devolved Governments.

On the 20 October 2025, it was announced that the FCGF would be devolved and delivered by Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs confirmed allocations, using the Barnett formula in line with HM Treasury guidance for devolved policy areas such as fisheries, with Scotland expected to receive £28 million. The Government has no plans to review this level of funding.

This funding is in addition to the wider Spending Review settlements, which provide devolved governments with at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending.

Each administration has full discretion to target its share in line with local priorities, including seafood promotion and exports, and is responsible for engaging with its own industry. The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs continues to meet stakeholders across the UK and supports collaboration to maximise benefits for fishing and coastal communities.

The FCGF is being developed to support coastal communities. As part of this, officials are exploring how the fund might align with broader place-based approaches, including principles similar to those used in the Pride in Place programme.

We are working to finalise the necessary arrangements for the allocation of the FCGF and will provide an update on this to all Devolved Governments as soon as we are able to.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs of 23 October 2025 during the Urgent Question on Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, whether her engagement with the seafood sector included the Scottish seafood sector.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

At the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that shares of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) should be devolved and administered by Devolved Governments.

On the 20 October 2025, it was announced that the FCGF would be devolved and delivered by Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs confirmed allocations, using the Barnett formula in line with HM Treasury guidance for devolved policy areas such as fisheries, with Scotland expected to receive £28 million. The Government has no plans to review this level of funding.

This funding is in addition to the wider Spending Review settlements, which provide devolved governments with at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending.

Each administration has full discretion to target its share in line with local priorities, including seafood promotion and exports, and is responsible for engaging with its own industry. The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs continues to meet stakeholders across the UK and supports collaboration to maximise benefits for fishing and coastal communities.

The FCGF is being developed to support coastal communities. As part of this, officials are exploring how the fund might align with broader place-based approaches, including principles similar to those used in the Pride in Place programme.

We are working to finalise the necessary arrangements for the allocation of the FCGF and will provide an update on this to all Devolved Governments as soon as we are able to.

Found: Government, Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers: joint policy statement, April 2024 31 HM Treasury

Found: See also, Budget 2025, HC 1492, (PDF) November 2025 p92 (Table 4.1 – item 49-51); HMT, Budget 2025 Policy

Found: (HMT) and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Tax treatment of remote gambling – consultation ( PDF), April

Found: Hepworth Two Opposing Forms; Opposing Forms Deinstalled from CO and moved to His Majesty's Treasury (HMT

Found:

Found: employees of other central banks, financial institutions and finance ministries to undertake a work HM Treasury

Found: employees of other central banks, financial institutions and finance ministries to undertake a work HM Treasury

Found: on the Local Growth Fund The LGF programme is subject to full business case clearance by MHCLG and HMT

Found: Public sector pay policies and affordability HM Treasury public sector pay policy 2.15 The UK Government

Found: These have been submitted to HM Treasury retrospectively and HM Treasury’s view is awaited.

Found: HM Treasury has determined that PDC is not a financial instrument within the meaning of IAS 32.

Found: HM Treasury provides discount rates for general provision on a nominal rate basis.

Found: HM Treasury provides discount rates for general provision on a nominal rate basis.

Found: HM Treasury provides discount rates for general provision on a nominal rate basis.

Found: An adaptation of the relevant accounting standard by HM Treasury for the public sector means that for

Found: This rate is determined by HM Treasury annually for each calendar year.

Found: Science Innovation and Growth - DSIT - Space

Found: Agency 29/10/2025 R & D Internal Audit Services DSIT - Science, Innovation and Growth - DSIT - Space HM Treasury

Found: His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT): The company is funded by the state, and consequently liaise with HMT with

Found: The budget is prepared on value for money principles in accordance with the HM Treasury guidance ‘Managing

Found: For the purposes of the UK GDPR, HM Treasury (HMT) and the UK Debt Management Office (DMO) are joint

Found: Specification Background The Evaluation Task Force (ETF) is a joint Cabinet Office and HM Treasury

Found: Background   The Evaluation Task Force (ETF) is a joint Cabinet Office and HM Treasury unit which aims

Found: taskforce on motor insurance, co-chaired by the Department for Transport (DfT) and His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT

Found: ROMTHELORDWILSONOFSEDGEFIELDGOVERNMENTWHIPS’OFFICE GOVERNMENTWHIPDESNZ,HMT,MHCLG 02072196802HLOUSEOFLORDS

Found: FROMTHELORDWILSONOFSEDGEFIELDGOVERNMENTWHIPS’OFFICE GOVERNMENTWHIPDESNZ,HMT,MHCLG 02072196802HOUSEOFLORDS

Found: FROMTHELORDWILSONOFSEDGEFIELDGOVERNMENTWHIPS’OFFICE GOVERNMENTWHIPDESNZ,HMT,MHCLGHOUSEOFLORDS 02072196802ie

Found: unless there are exceptional reasons that render this inappropriate that have been agreed with HM Treasury

Found: National Wealth Fund: (not in Summit Pack), HMT advised SG officials and Devolved Governments on 10

Found: school from the beginning of the summer term on 12 April 2021. 3 Real terms analysis applies HM Treasury

Found: The assessment is undertaken in an accompanying excel workbook, based on HM Treasury Green Book principles

Found: Correspondence with HM Treasury or the Home Office relating to: • Funding allocations • Shortfalls in

Found: report provides details of final outturn against the lower-level controls operated and enforced by HM Treasury