Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 75166 on Crown Estate: Wales, whether (a) the recruitment campaign has begun for a Crown Estate Commissioner with special responsibility for Wales and (b) a specific date for the appointment of that Commissioner has been decided upon.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The recruitment campaign started on 16 October and will progress in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. This is also a Crown appointment and as such the Prime Minister will make a recommendation to His Majesty The King and a Royal Warrant issued.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 75165 on Crown Estate: Wales, if he will publish the full minutes of the meeting between the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, the Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning on 10 September 2025.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

It would not be appropriate to share the minutes of this meeting as it would inhibit open and frank discussion in the development of government policy.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an estimate of the annual (a) employees and (b) employers National Insurance contributions collected from people working in the UK with indefinite leave to remain immigration status.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not hold data on the immigration status of taxpayers.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an estimate of the annual income tax collected from people working in the UK with indefinite leave to remain immigration status.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not hold data on the immigration status of taxpayers.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the official statistics entitled 2025 HMRC statistics announcements, published on 8 October 2025, what assessment he has made of the reasons for HMRC’s error in recording VAT cash receipts outturn.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC corrected the error in their VAT cash receipts which impacted provisional figures from April 2025 to August 2025. The impact of the correction was an upward revision of VAT cash receipts by £2.4 billion (approximately 3% of year-to-date VAT receipts). There was no impact on earlier years. The revision was published in an exceptional release on 8 October 2025. This revision also means the ONS published revised borrowing figures, which for 2025/26 reduced by £2.0 billion.

I have been given assurance from HMRC that the revision does not affect any interactions with taxpayers and that HMRC will be conducting a robust review to prevent it happening again.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department checks that National Insurance numbers associated with visa-holders cease being associated with tax payments at the expiry of work visas.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The National Insurance (NI) number is a reference number for the administration of National Insurance and social security, and is used more widely in tax administration. The NI number does not expire or cease being associated with an individual if their visa expires.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the value for money of Motability’s VAT and Insurance Premium Tax reliefs.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government keeps all taxes under review, and the Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to increase fuel duty; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of any such increase on the (a) cost of living and (b) business transport costs.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government carefully considers the impact of fuel duty on households and businesses and the public finances, with decisions on rates made at fiscal events.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to introduce or extend VAT to private hire vehicle journeys; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of such a measure on (a) fares for passengers and (b) small operators.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Private hire vehicle services provided by VAT-registered businesses are, and always have been, subject to VAT.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to extend the temporary five pence fuel duty reduction.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government carefully considers the impact of fuel duty on households and businesses and the public finances, with decisions on rates made at fiscal events.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changing from a motive or purpose test to an outcome test as outlined in the draft Finance Bill 2025–26 on the volume of charity donations.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The new charity rules in the Finance Bill 2025-26 for legacy giving will ensure a charity uses tax relieved income for its charitable purposes. They will not require charities to spend gifts from wills within a set timeframe.

The new rules will replace the current purpose test with an outcome test. This will better prevent the abuse of tax reliefs through arrangements designed to give financial advantages to donors in return for their donation.

Updated guidance will support charities and donors, giving clarity and reassurance around the rules and making it clear that the honest majority of donors and charities will remain unaffected by these reforms.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposal to require charities to spend gifts from wills within a set timeframe in the draft Finance Bill 2025-26 on legacy giving.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The new charity rules in the Finance Bill 2025-26 for legacy giving will ensure a charity uses tax relieved income for its charitable purposes. They will not require charities to spend gifts from wills within a set timeframe.

The new rules will replace the current purpose test with an outcome test. This will better prevent the abuse of tax reliefs through arrangements designed to give financial advantages to donors in return for their donation.

Updated guidance will support charities and donors, giving clarity and reassurance around the rules and making it clear that the honest majority of donors and charities will remain unaffected by these reforms.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many new general practice premises projects are awaiting a valuation by the district valuer; and what the average time taken is to complete such valuations.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

For context, the Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA) District Valuer Services (DVS) provide property advice to NHS bodies in England, including Current Market Rent (CMR) assessments for GP practice premises, under the NHS (General Medical Services - Premises Costs) Directions.

DVS is instructed in accordance with the Directions, to assess the financial value for money aspect of proposed new lease terms including rent for both existing premises and for third-party development schemes. DVS then provide advice to the Integrated Care Board (ICB) who will utilise our advice to consider their wider Value for Money approval including affordability. The length of time taken to complete a case varies depending on case type and complexity, and negotiations with GPs and their advisors.

Instructions of this nature vary considerably. DVS may be asked to provide advice on the CMR based on initial project proposals or alternatively may be asked to review the scheme, seek further details of the proposal and enter into discussions with the parties prior to providing an opinion of CMR. Therefore, the time taken to provide the valuation will vary. As projects progress and are subject to amendment DVS may provide a number of valuations during the instruction period and instructions may be paused at the request of the ICB, depending on wider circumstances.

Instructions are commenced within a short period from date of receipt and progressed in line with client requirements.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help ensure fair council tax valuations in areas with new residential developments.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

For Council Tax purposes all homes are assessed to reflect their open market value at a valuation date set in law, which in England is 1 April 1991. This is so all properties, even new ones, are valued on a fair and consistent basis. To band a property, the Valuation Office Agency considers the property details and looks for sales of similar properties (in terms of age, location, size and character) which took place on or around 1 April 1991. Further information about how Council Tax bands are assessed can be found here:

www.gov.uk/guidance/understand-how-council-tax-bands-are-assessed.

The Valuation Office Agency has published a blog article specific to the assessment of new properties here: How we value new properties for Council Tax – Valuation Office Agency

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her plans for business rates reform on grassroots music venues.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RVs) below £500,000, including grassroots music venues, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to sustainably fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with RVs of £500,000 and above.

When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

In the interim period, for 2025-26, we have prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40% up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business.

The Transforming Business Rates: Interim Report, published on 11 September, brings together extensive feedback from a broad range of stakeholders and outlines the Government’s next steps to deliver a fairer business rates system that supports investment and is fit for the 21st century.

The Government will provide a further update at the Budget. Transforming the business rates system is a multi-year process. The Government will consider reforms beyond Budget 2025, and any reforms taken forward will be phased over the course of the Parliament.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of new general practice premises projects have appealed the valuation by the district valuer service; and how many of those appeals were upheld.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

For context, the Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA) District Valuer Services (DVS) provide property advice to NHS bodies in England, including Current Market Rent (CMR) assessments for GP practice premises, under the NHS (General Medical Services - Premises Costs) Directions.

DVS is instructed in accordance with the Directions, to assess the financial value for money aspect of proposed new lease terms including rent for both existing premises and for third-party development schemes. DVS then provide advice to the Integrated Care Board (ICB).

The ICB is responsible for the decision on approval of the project reflecting all Value for Money considerations including the DVS advice and their own budgetary targets. The VOA are not aware of any appeals to NHS Resolution in relation to an ICB Value for Money decision relating to new premises development.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her policy is on reforming stamp duty; and what representations she has received on introducing an annual tax on the capital value of primary residences.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

SDLT continues to be an important source of government revenue, raising around £12 billion each year to help pay for the essential services the government provides. Any changes to taxes such as SDLT would therefore have to be carefully considered given the potential effect on public finances.

The government keeps all taxes under review as part of the usual tax policy making process.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 22 September 2025 to Question HL10544 on Digital Technology: Taxation, what discussions she has had with her international counterparts on the development of an international approach to taxing digital services.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to publish the Loan Charge Review.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government commissioned an independent review of the loan charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers. The Government will respond by Autumn Budget 2025.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of safeguards in the Research and Development (R&D) tax relief scheme to prevent misuse by third-party claims agents; and whether she is taking steps to ensure that R&D tax incentives are (a) directed towards genuine innovation and (b) not subject to potential abuse.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC has implemented a number of policy and operational changes to the R&D reliefs in recent years to improve overall levels of compliance. This includes mandating digital claims and requiring additional information, which has transformed the ability to risk assess claims, as well as identify and address patterns of non-compliance.

The use of nominations and assignments for R&D tax credit payments have also been restricted, reducing the incentive for agents to submit spurious claims, providing customers with greater visibility over claims made on their behalf and ensuring claimants receive payments directly.

HMRC also investigate and take action against agents who encourage ineligible R&D claims, including issuing penalties, suspending their ability to make claims on behalf of clients and refusing to deal with an agent. This includes criminal action which can lead to arrests being made for R&D tax fraud, as was seen in September 2024.

The latest error and fraud estimates, published in HMRC's Annual Report and Accounts 2024 to 2025, show that the policy and operational changes are proving effective in driving down non-compliance. The estimates show a drop in the error and fraud rates to 9.9% (£759 million) for 2022 to 2023 compared to 17.6% (£1.34 billion) for 2021 to 2022. Illustrative estimates for 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025 show error and fraud is expected to have fallen further to 6.5% (£497 million) and then to 5.9% (£481 million).

HMRC remains committed to tackling error and fraud, whilst also ensuring the claims process is straightforward for genuine claimants and supports the UK’s most innovative businesses.

HMRC has consulted on widening the use of advance clearances for R&D tax relief claims and has recently recruited an R&D Expert Advisory Panel. The Panel will work with HMRC to increase clarity of guidance for claimants and enhance HMRC’s understanding of innovation and developments across key growth sectors.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what metrics her Department will use to measure the success of HMRC’s transformation programme.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC will use the metrics published in Annex A of HMRC’s Transformation Roadmap to measure the success of HMRC’s transformation programme. This is available online here: Annex A: HMRC's Transformation Roadmap metrics - GOV.UK

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to introduce a new valuation method for the business rates of grassroots music venues.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Please see the response to UIN 22711 here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-01-08/22711

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will introduce tax reliefs for small businesses undertaking works to improve their properties’ Energy Performance Certificate ratings to a minimum of an EPC rating of C.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government keeps all tax reliefs under review, in order to ensure they strike the right balance between keeping taxes simple to administer, well-targeted and effective. When considering any new tax reliefs, HM Treasury must ensure that a relief is the most effective and fair lever by which to provide that support. Any new tax, or tax relief, would require a comprehensive evaluation of a variety of factors including (but not limited to) fairness and simplicity for the taxpayer, as well as the government’s fiscal position.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of reducing business rates for hospitality venues on high street regeneration in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with ratable values (RVs) below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure they benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

Ahead of these changes being made, the Government recognises that businesses will need support in 2025/26. As such, the Government has prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and frozen the small business multiplier.

The final design, including the rates, for the new business rates multipliers will be announced at Budget 2025, so that the Government can factor the revaluation outcomes, as well as the broader economic and fiscal context into decision-making. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of reducing business rates for hospitality venues on high street regeneration.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with ratable values (RVs) below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure they benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

Ahead of these changes being made, the Government recognises that businesses will need support in 2025/26. As such, the Government has prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and frozen the small business multiplier.

The final design, including the rates, for the new business rates multipliers will be announced at Budget 2025, so that the Government can factor the revaluation outcomes, as well as the broader economic and fiscal context into decision-making. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress she has made on channelling pensions capital into the UK to support IS-8 sectors.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Pension Schemes Bill was introduced on 5 June and will implement the reforms outlined in the first phase of the landmark Pensions Review,

The Bill sets out a vision for a pensions market with fewer, larger schemes which can use the benefits of scale to invest in productive assets – including investing in the eight sectors identified in the Industrial Strategy – as well as deliver better outcomes for savers.

These reforms support the Mansion House Accord, an industry-led pledge to invest at least 10 per cent of defined contribution default funds into private markets by 2030, of which at least half is in the UK.

Furthermore, last year the British Business Bank announced the establishment of the British Growth Partnership, designed to crowd in investment from UK pension funds for our most innovative, fastest-growing companies.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to introduce a new valuation method for the business rates of grassroots music venues above the £500,000 rateable venue that (a) have restricted opening hours and (b) cannot make commercial use of their whole space.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Please see the response to UIN 22711 here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-01-08/22711

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to maintain the UK’s Digital Services Tax until an international agreement on the taxation of multinational digital companies delivers at least an equivalent revenue outcome for the UK.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Digital Services Tax is an interim solution to widely held concerns with the international corporate tax framework, and the UK remains committed to remove it once a global solution on the reallocation of taxing rights is in place.

As the Chancellor has previously said, we will continue to make sure that businesses pay their fair share of tax, including businesses in the digital sector.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has considered making the Digital Services Tax a permanent measure.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Digital Services Tax is an interim solution to widely held concerns with the international corporate tax framework, and the UK remains committed to removing it once a global solution on the reallocation of taxing rights is in place.

As the Chancellor has previously said, we will continue to make sure that businesses pay their fair share of tax, including businesses in the digital sector.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the ceremonies undertaken during the state visit by President Trump on economic growth.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

During the state visit, we announced a record-breaking £150 billion of inward investment from US firms into the UK economy – supporting 7,600 jobs in all areas of the UK which will drive economic growth and create real opportunities for working people.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the British Retail Consortium's analysis entitled 400 of Britain's largest shops at risk, published on 12 September 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of those findings.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

From April 2026, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that eligible RHL properties benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so the Government is introducing a higher rate on the most valuable properties in 2026/27 - those with RVs of £500,000 and above.

The Government recognises that, ahead of the new multipliers being introduced, RHL businesses need support in 2025-26. So, the Government has prevented RHL relief from ending by extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business and frozen the small business multiplier.

The final design, including the rates, for the new business rates multipliers will be announced at Budget 2025, so that the revaluation outcomes and broader economic and fiscal context can be factored into decision-making. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the press report by the British Retail Consortium entitled 400 of Britain's largest shops at risk, published on12 September 2025, on the potential impact of business rates on large-format stores.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

From April 2026, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that eligible RHL properties benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so the Government is introducing a higher rate on the most valuable properties in 2026/27 - those with RVs of £500,000 and above. The Government recognises that, ahead of the new multipliers being introduced, RHL businesses need support in 2025-26. So, the Government has prevented RHL relief from ending by extending it for one year at 40 per centup to a cash cap of £110,000 per business and frozen the small business multiplier.

The final design, including the rates, for the new business rates multipliers will be announced at Budget 2025, so that the revaluation outcomes and broader economic and fiscal context can be factored into decision-making. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the British Retail Consortium press notice entitled 400 of Britain’s largest shops at risk, published on 12 September 2025.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

From April 2026, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that eligible RHL properties benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so the Government is introducing a higher rate on the most valuable properties in 2026/27 - those with RVs of £500,000 and above. The Government recognises that, ahead of the new multipliers being introduced, RHL businesses need support in 2025-26. So, the Government has prevented RHL relief from ending by extending it for one year at 40 per centup to a cash cap of £110,000 per business and frozen the small business multiplier.

The final design, including the rates, for the new business rates multipliers will be announced at Budget 2025, so that the revaluation outcomes and broader economic and fiscal context can be factored into decision-making. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps she is taking to support hospitality businesses with energy costs.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

By building a diverse low carbon energy system, the government is taking the long term decisions that will make the most of our abundant natural resources to protect businesses from future price shocks. To support businesses now, the government is offering free carbon foot printing and energy-saving support to 615 small and medium-sized hospitality businesses as part of a 12-month trial.

More broadly, we are determined to support retail businesses to succeed against a difficult economic backdrop. We will introduce a permanently lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000 from 2026-27. Ahead of this being introduced, we extended the RHL relief for 2025-26 at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business and froze the small business multiplier.

In addition, we:

• increased the Employment Allowance to £10,500; shielding the smallest retail businesses the from the impact of the increase to employer National Insurance;
• established the Licensing Taskforce and issued a call for evidence on a National Licensing Policy Framework which will set out national direction for licensing authorities to consider economic growth and cultural value;
• introduced the English Devolution Bill, which will protect hospitality businesses from upward only rent clauses, and;
• are introducing a strong new ‘Community Right to Buy’ to help communities safeguard valued community assets – such as pubs.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure industries on the level of business rates relief which would help to drive (a) investment and (b) local employment.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with ratable values (RVs) below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure they benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

The rates for new multipliers will be set at Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the revaluation outcomes as well, as the economic and fiscal context.

The Government has engaged with a broad range of stakeholders on business rates. The Transforming Business Rates: Interim Report, published on 11 September, brings together extensive feedback from stakeholders and outlines the Government’s next steps to deliver a fairer business rates system, that supports investment and is fit for the 21st century: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-business-rates-interim-report/transforming-business-rates-interim-report.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Pensions (Abolition of Lifetime Allowance Charge etc) (No. 3) Regulations 2024 on people with enhance protection; and whether she has considered bringing forward further legislative proposals to ensure that their scheme-specific lump sum calculations are maintained relative to the position before 6 April 2024.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

We are aware that recent changes made to the scheme-specific lump sum calculation are not operating as intended for those with certain forms of transitional protection, including those with enhanced protection. The result is that in some cases, entitlement to tax-free lump sums is smaller than prior to April 2024.

HMRC intends to bring forward legislation to address this issue by April 2026. Regulations will have effect from April 2024. This will ensure the calculation for scheme-specific lump sums is similar to the position at April 2024.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has assessed the potential merits of replacing the High Income Child Benefit Charge with a child benefit system based on total household income.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government understands the concerns that have been raised about basing the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) on individual rather than household incomes. However, basing the charge on household rather than individual incomes would come at a significant fiscal cost if we were to ensure that no families lose out.

By withdrawing Child Benefit from high-income parents where the higher earner earns £60,000 or more, the HICBC helps to ensure the sustainability of the public finances and protect our vital public services.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take any steps to replace the high income child benefit charge with a system based on total household income.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government understands the concerns that have been raised about basing the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) on individual rather than household incomes. However, basing the charge on household rather than individual incomes would come at a significant fiscal cost if we were to ensure that no families lose out.

By withdrawing Child Benefit from high-income parents where the higher earner earns £60,000 or more, the HICBC helps to ensure the sustainability of the public finances and protect our vital public services.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to increase Air Passenger Duty on domestic or international flights; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of any such increase on (a) regional connectivity and (b) aviation sector competitiveness.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Air Passenger Duty (APD) applies to airlines and is the principal tax on the aviation sector. It is expected to raise £4.7 billion in 2025-26 and it aims to ensure that airlines make a fair contribution to the public finances, particularly given that tickets are VAT free and aviation fuel incurs no duty.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced increases to APD rates for 2026-27, which partially make up for a real-terms fall in rates following a period of high inflation. The increase equates to £1 per economy class passenger more for those taking domestic flights, and for those travelling short-haul in economy class, this will be an increase of £2 per passenger per flight.

A higher rate currently applies to larger private jets, and this will rise by an additional 50 per cent on top of the general increase made to all APD rates. The Government also published a consultation on the extension of the higher rate to cover all private jets already within scope of the APD regime. At present, the higher rate only applies to larger private jets, and so many private jet passengers pay the same rates as commercial airline passengers. The consultation closed on 22 January and the Government will respond in due course.

The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of public finances. The Government publishes Tax Information and Impact Notices (TIINs) alongside tax policy changes.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to appoint an independent commissioner who would be responsible for outstanding losses from the Equitable Life scandal.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Under plans put in place by the Liberal Democrat and Conservative coalition Government, the Equitable Life Payment Scheme was fully wound down and closed in 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.

There are no plans to reopen any decisions relating to the Payment Scheme. Further guidance on the status of the Payment Scheme after closure is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equitable-life-payment-scheme#closure-of-the-scheme.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress she has made on expanding the mandate of the National Wealth Fund to support growth.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

On 19 March the Chancellor published a Statement of Strategic Priorities, directing the National Wealth Fund to support growth and the delivery of the wider Industrial Strategy, including in defense, life sciences, and creative industries. This includes prioritising specific growth-driving sectors, investing in city regions and high potential clusters, and crowding-in private capital for vital projects that would otherwise not have taken place.

The National Wealth Fund has made significant progress towards achieving its mandate to support growth. Since July 2024, the National Wealth Fund has invested approximately £3.77bn, which has unlocked £5.4bn in private investment and created 12,000 jobs across the UK.

To enable the National Wealth Fund to deliver on its growth objective, the National Wealth Fund has deepened engagement with Mayoral Strategic Authorities and City Region Joint Committees, including establishing Strategic Partnerships with West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, and Glasgow City Region.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 42 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of using the National Wealth Fund to provide funding for dual-use graphene technology created by Paragraf in Huntingdon constituency.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The National Wealth Fund invests in capital intensive projects, businesses, and assets by offering financing in the form of debt, equity and guarantees.

The Government published the National Wealth Fund’s Statement of Strategic Priorities on 19 March which directed the National Wealth Fund to consider investments in dual-use technologies across its priority sectors of clean energy, digital and technologies, advanced manufacturing, and transport to better support the UK’s defence and security.

The National Wealth Fund is operationally independent and has delegated authority to make investment decisions, subject to those investments meeting certain conditions agreed with HM Treasury. An investment made by the National Wealth Fund would need to have satisfied its investment principles and internal approval processes.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether local authorities are able to utilise the expertise of the (a) Office for Investment, (b) National Wealth Fund and (c) British Business Bank.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK's public investment bodies, including the Office for Investment, National Wealth Fund, and British Business Bank, are committed to working with each other, local government and the private sector to support regional growth.

a) The Office for Investment actively pursues investment projects that support national growth missions and infrastructure strategies across the UK. It will work closely with local and regional partners, including local authorities, to support this. This includes helping key places to identify, develop, and showcase investment opportunities with global investors that are aligned with the UK's Industrial Strategy.

c) The British Business Bank works closely with local and regional stakeholders to improve access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises, including through its Nations and Regions Investment Funds and upcoming cluster champion activity, supporting local economic priorities through targeted funding and investment readiness support.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 42 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, by when she expects the British Business Bank to (a) introduce tailored market approaches and (b) offer the £40 to £60 million to strategically important, capital-intensive businesses.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The British Business Bank will be able to deploy the funding it was allocated at Spending Review, and which was outlined in the Defence Industrial Strategy, from the beginning of the next financial year. As a commercially independent organisation the BBB will select its own investments, in line with the Mandate set by government.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her speech to the Labour Party Conference of 29 September 2025, what estimate her Department has made of the number of people who will be supported under the Youth Jobs Guarantee.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

In September, the Chancellor announced that the government will offer a guaranteed job to all young people on Universal Credit, who are unemployed for over 18 months. This will guarantee an opportunity for young people to gain essential skills and experience and prevent the damaging effects of long-term unemployment. This will help aid the government's long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate.

As the Chancellor has already set out, further details on the design of work placements and delivery of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, will be set out at the Budget.

The jobs guarantee will be funded from within existing budgets and will be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

DWP are engaging with employers and employer representative bodies on the details of the jobs guarantee. Participating employers will be agreed in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 46 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published in June 2025, CP 1338, what progress she has made on reducing the cost of finance for defence companies.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when her Department plans to (a) conclude its review of salary sacrifice schemes in the public sector and (b) make decisions on their future.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Public sector employers should consider the use of salary sacrifice schemes carefully. HM Treasury approval is generally required before new schemes are established, and we will consider carefully all requests which are made for scheme expansion.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of providing additional funding for the Tropical Forests Forever Facility on economic growth.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the importance of protecting tropical forests and welcomes Brazil’s leadership in developing the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) ahead of COP30. The UK has supported the development of the TFFF through technical assistance but has not provided a direct financial contribution to the Facility.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 71213 on Public Sector: Pay, how many applications made through the senior pay process (a) were rejected since 4 July 2024 and (b) were approved since the new guidance was issued in July 2025; and if he will publish the number of approvals made through that process since 4 July 2024, broken down by (i) Department and (ii) public body.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Since July 2024, of the senior pay cases submitted to HM Treasury for approval, three were outright rejected. A further 28 cases were modified or partially approved. Since the issuance of new guidance in July 2025, 21 cases have been approved. Pay of senior public sector employees is published in organisation’s annual reports and accounts.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 42 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published in June 2025, CP 1338, what progress she has made on supporting priority sectors through a new National Wealth Fund investment for defence companies.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The National Wealth Fund was directed in its Statement of Strategic Priorities to consider the role it can play in supporting the delivery of the wider Industrial Strategy, including in the defence sector. It was also directed to consider investments in dual-use technologies across its priority sectors, to better support the UK’s defence and security.

The National Wealth Fund is just one of many levers to support the defence sector. The National Security Strategy 2025 included a historic commitment to spend 5% of GDP on national security by 2035.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of defined benefit pension schemes for public sector workers on the public purse; and whether she plans to review the balance between defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes across the (a) public and (b) private sectors.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

In line with the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission’s report in 2011, the Government’s central measure of the affordability of public service pensions is long-term public service pension spending as a share of GDP. In its Fiscal Risk and Sustainability Report 2024, the OBR projects that this measure will fall from 1.9% in 2023-24 to 1.4% in 2073-74.

The Government has established a new Pensions Commission, to support a strong, sustainable and fair pension system that secures a financially secure retirement for millions of private sector pensioners into the middle of this century.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential impact of district valuer assessments on the opening of new GP surgeries.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Chancellor has regular conversations with the Health Secretary on range of issues.

The Spending Review 2025 announced the largest ever health capital budget, with a £2.3 billion real terms increase in capital spending over the SR period.

The £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund announced earlier this year will upgrade more than a thousand GP surgeries across England, which will create space to deliver more appointments and improve access for patients.

With respect to the opening of new GP surgeries, this is a matter for the Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS, who may consult the district valuer when the value for money of premises development proposals is assessed.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 42 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, by when she expects the British Business Bank Industrial Strategy Growth Capital to provide the additional £4 billion.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The British Business Bank’s Industrial Strategy Growth Capital provides an additional £4 billion across the 8 Industrial Strategy sectors and is expected to be deployed over a four-year period. This funding will be committed through existing investment vehicles and is anticipated to be allocated by the end of the 2029–30 financial year, with some follow on funding for companies beyond 2030.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her speech to the Labour Party Conference of 29 September 2025, whether placements available through the Youth Jobs Guarantee will be in the (a) public, (b) private and (c) voluntary sectors.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

In September, the Chancellor announced that the government will offer a guaranteed job to all young people on Universal Credit, who are unemployed for over 18 months. This will guarantee an opportunity for young people to gain essential skills and experience and prevent the damaging effects of long-term unemployment. This will help aid the government's long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate.

As the Chancellor has already set out, further details on the design of work placements and delivery of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, will be set out at the Budget.

The jobs guarantee will be funded from within existing budgets and will be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

DWP are engaging with employers and employer representative bodies on the details of the jobs guarantee. Participating employers will be agreed in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her speech to the Labour Party Conference of 29 September 2025, what estimate her Department has made of the number of placements that will be available under the Youth Jobs Guarantee.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

In September, the Chancellor announced that the government will offer a guaranteed job to all young people on Universal Credit, who are unemployed for over 18 months. This will guarantee an opportunity for young people to gain essential skills and experience and prevent the damaging effects of long-term unemployment. This will help aid the government's long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate.

As the Chancellor has already set out, further details on the design of work placements and delivery of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, will be set out at the Budget.

The jobs guarantee will be funded from within existing budgets and will be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

DWP are engaging with employers and employer representative bodies on the details of the jobs guarantee. Participating employers will be agreed in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her speech to the Labour Party Conference of 29 September 2025, what estimate her Department has made of the average cost of a Youth Jobs Guarantee placement.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

In September, the Chancellor announced that the government will offer a guaranteed job to all young people on Universal Credit, who are unemployed for over 18 months. This will guarantee an opportunity for young people to gain essential skills and experience and prevent the damaging effects of long-term unemployment. This will help aid the government's long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate.

As the Chancellor has already set out, further details on the design of work placements and delivery of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, will be set out at the Budget.

The jobs guarantee will be funded from within existing budgets and will be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

DWP are engaging with employers and employer representative bodies on the details of the jobs guarantee. Participating employers will be agreed in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her speech to the Labour Party Conference of 29 September 2025, whether the cost of the placements through the Youth Jobs Guarantee will be funded by the public purse.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

In September, the Chancellor announced that the government will offer a guaranteed job to all young people on Universal Credit, who are unemployed for over 18 months. This will guarantee an opportunity for young people to gain essential skills and experience and prevent the damaging effects of long-term unemployment. This will help aid the government's long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate.

As the Chancellor has already set out, further details on the design of work placements and delivery of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, will be set out at the Budget.

The jobs guarantee will be funded from within existing budgets and will be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

DWP are engaging with employers and employer representative bodies on the details of the jobs guarantee. Participating employers will be agreed in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her speech to the Labour Party Conference of 29 September 2025, which employers have agreed to offer placements as part of the Youth Jobs Guarantee.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

In September, the Chancellor announced that the government will offer a guaranteed job to all young people on Universal Credit, who are unemployed for over 18 months. This will guarantee an opportunity for young people to gain essential skills and experience and prevent the damaging effects of long-term unemployment. This will help aid the government's long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate.

As the Chancellor has already set out, further details on the design of work placements and delivery of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, will be set out at the Budget.

The jobs guarantee will be funded from within existing budgets and will be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

DWP are engaging with employers and employer representative bodies on the details of the jobs guarantee. Participating employers will be agreed in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her speech to the Labour Party Conference of 29 September 2025, with which employers her Department held discussions on the Youth Jobs Guarantee.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

In September, the Chancellor announced that the government will offer a guaranteed job to all young people on Universal Credit, who are unemployed for over 18 months. This will guarantee an opportunity for young people to gain essential skills and experience and prevent the damaging effects of long-term unemployment. This will help aid the government's long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate.

As the Chancellor has already set out, further details on the design of work placements and delivery of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, will be set out at the Budget.

The jobs guarantee will be funded from within existing budgets and will be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

DWP are engaging with employers and employer representative bodies on the details of the jobs guarantee. Participating employers will be agreed in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on encouraging inclusive growth in coalfield communities in Wales.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

HM Treasury ministers regularly engage with Welsh Government counterparts, including through forums such as the Finance: Interministerial Standing Committee (F:ISC), to discuss a range of issues affecting Wales, including economic growth. The most recent F:ISC was on 17 October.

The Welsh Government receives funding through the Barnett formula which it can spend across its devolved responsibilities as it sees fit to promote inclusive growth in Wales, including in coalfield communities. The Welsh Government are accountable to the Senedd for these decisions.

Wales continues to receive targeted funding from UK Government designed to boost growth and opportunity, such as through the City and Growth deals covering all of Wales which the UK Government and the Welsh Government work in partnership to deliver. At the Spending Review in 2025, the UK Government announced a further investment of £143 million new spend over four years into a joint programme of work with the Welsh Government to maintain the safety of disused coal tips and drive local economic growth.

The UK Government will continue to work in partnership with Welsh Government to ensure communities, including those with disused coal tips, are empowered to fulfil their economic potential and help spread prosperity across all parts of the UK.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help support economic growth in coalfield communities in Wales.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

HM Treasury ministers regularly engage with Welsh Government counterparts, including through forums such as the Finance: Interministerial Standing Committee (F:ISC), to discuss a range of issues affecting Wales, including economic growth. The most recent F:ISC was on 17 October.

The Welsh Government receives funding through the Barnett formula which it can spend across its devolved responsibilities as it sees fit to promote inclusive growth in Wales, including in coalfield communities. The Welsh Government are accountable to the Senedd for these decisions.

Wales continues to receive targeted funding from UK Government designed to boost growth and opportunity, such as through the City and Growth deals covering all of Wales which the UK Government and the Welsh Government work in partnership to deliver. At the Spending Review in 2025, the UK Government announced a further investment of £143 million new spend over four years into a joint programme of work with the Welsh Government to maintain the safety of disused coal tips and drive local economic growth.

The UK Government will continue to work in partnership with Welsh Government to ensure communities, including those with disused coal tips, are empowered to fulfil their economic potential and help spread prosperity across all parts of the UK.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 53 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, how many meetings of the Defence Growth Board she has chaired in 2025 to date.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Chancellor has chaired one meeting of the Defence Growth Board in 2025 to date. The Defence Industrial Strategy, published on 8 September 2025, details how this government is making Defence an engine for growth, and the Chancellor and Defence Secretary are working closely to turn the strategy into action.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 42 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published in June 2025, CP 1338, what progress she has made on scaling up the National Security Strategic Investment Fund.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The government’s recent Spending Review included the scaling of the National Security Strategic Investment Fund – further funding will therefore be provided from the next financial year. Officials from relevant government departments are currently working together to optimise the fund’s operations to ensure the National Security and Defence community and start-ups across the country benefit from its expansion.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to take steps to enable an increase in the Official Development Assistance budget.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting times were for district valuer assessments of GP premises proposals in the most recent 12-month period for which data are available.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

For context, the Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA) District Valuer Services (DVS) provide property advice to NHS bodies in England, including Current Market Rent (CMR) assessments for GP practice premises, under the NHS (General Medical Services - Premises Costs) Directions.

DVS is instructed in accordance with the Directions, to assess the financial value for money aspect of proposed new lease terms including rent for both existing premises and for third-party development schemes. DVS then provide advice to the Integrated Care Board (ICB) who will utilise our advice to consider their wider Value for Money approval including affordability. The length of time taken to complete a case varies depending on case type and complexity, and negotiations with GPs and their advisors.

Instructions of this nature vary considerably. DVS may be asked to provide advice on the CMR based on initial project proposals or alternatively may be asked to review the scheme, seek further details of the proposal and enter into discussions with the parties prior to providing an opinion of CMR. Therefore, the time taken to provide the valuation will vary. As projects progress and are subject to amendment, DVS may provide a number of valuations during the instruction period and instructions may be paused at the request of the ICB, depending on wider circumstances.

For the above reasons it is not possible to provide average and longest waiting times for DV assessments of GP proposals.

Instructions are commenced within a short period from date of receipt and progressed in line with client requirements.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how her Department will allocate the £1 billion additional funding for HMRC across tax gap initiatives.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC will allocate the additional funding at Autumn Budget 2024 and Spring Statement 2025 to close the tax gap predominately to frontline staff and digital services, including:

• 5,500 additional frontline compliance officers
• 2,400 additional debt management staff
• investment in debt case management systems
• placing additional tax debts with private debt collection agencies
• delivering Making Tax Digital for income tax self-assessment
• digitalising the Inheritance Tax service to provide a modern, easy-to-use system, that makes submitting returns and paying tax simpler and quicker

As well as these investments, we introduced measures to:

• Increase the interest rate on unpaid tax
• Change the tax rules on liquidations of Limited Liability Partnerships
• Prevent non-compliance from the transfer overseas of UK tax-relieved pension funds
• Modernise and mandate registration of tax practitioners interacting with HMRC

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to increase the rate of Insurance Premium Tax; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of any such increase on (a) household and (b) business insurance costs.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) is a broad-based tax which raises important revenue to fund essential public services including the NHS, defence, and education. The rate of IPT has been unchanged since 2017.

The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances. At Autumn Budget 2024 and Spring Statement 2025, the Government took a number of difficult but necessary decisions on tax, welfare, and spending to fix the public finances, fund public services, and restore economic stability.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to close chat-mediated services that facilitate the purchasing of Russian crypto assets in Britain.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Since 2020 UK cryptoasset firms have been subject to the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Regulations, requiring strict supervision, customer checks and suspicious activity reporting. Since 2023, these firms have also been required to collect, verify and share information about the sender and receiver of transfers.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (2023) gave law enforcement new powers to seize criminal cryptoassets. These powers, alongside the 475 new financial investigators funded by the Economic Crime Levy, new crypto track-and-trace technologies, and public-private working, empower law enforcement to tackle crypto crime, including peer-to-peer transactions between self-hosted wallets.

In addition, Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) works alongside other government agencies to tackle the threats posed to sanctions by illicit cryptoasset activity. OFSI’s recent Cryptoassets Threat Assessment informs how UK cryptoasset firms can combat breaches. OFSI is fully prepared to pursue any sanctions offences, and continues to scale up its enforcement capacity.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to prevent Russian crypto assets being purchased in Britain.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Since 2020 UK cryptoasset firms have been subject to the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Regulations, requiring strict supervision, customer checks and suspicious activity reporting. Since 2023, these firms have also been required to collect, verify and share information about the sender and receiver of transfers.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (2023) gave law enforcement new powers to seize criminal cryptoassets. These powers, alongside the 475 new financial investigators funded by the Economic Crime Levy, new crypto track-and-trace technologies, and public-private working, empower law enforcement to tackle crypto crime, including peer-to-peer transactions between self-hosted wallets.

In addition, Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) works alongside other government agencies to tackle the threats posed to sanctions by illicit cryptoasset activity. OFSI’s recent Cryptoassets Threat Assessment informs how UK cryptoasset firms can combat breaches. OFSI is fully prepared to pursue any sanctions offences, and continues to scale up its enforcement capacity.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what arrangements were made following the introduction of sanctions on the owners of Sutton Place to (a) maintain the property and (b) pay any outstanding liabilities.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

OFSI does not generally comment on specific cases. For further information about how OFSI takes licensing decisions, please see the OFSI’s general guidance here, and OFSI’s supplemental licensing guidance here.

The asset freeze imposed on designated persons prohibits them from dealing with or benefiting from their UK assets, including real estate.

Where appropriate, OFSI may issue either a general or specific licence on behalf of HM Treasury to permit activity that would otherwise be prohibited by an asset freeze. This includes to enable payments for pre-existing obligations and for the routine holding and maintenance of properties owned by designated persons.

However, while a licence permits such payments, it does not compel the designated person to undertake the work. Therefore, even if OFSI issues a licence, maintenance or repairs will only take place if the designated person is willing to carry them out.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 42 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what legislative proposals she plans to bring forward to enable the expansion of the National Wealth Fund’s investment scope to (a) capital-intensive projects, (b) businesses and (c) assets.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government will bring forward primary legislation, when parliamentary time allows, to expand the NWF’s mandate beyond infrastructure, enabling it to invest into a wider range of capital-intensive projects, businesses and assets that support growth.

Until then, the National Wealth Fund will continue to invest to support the delivery of the wider Industrial Strategy, including in defense. Its priority sectors, such as advanced manufacturing or digital and technology, have significant synergies with the defense sector.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps she is taking to help support businesses affected by food inflation.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government prioritises sound public finances, which are essential to economic and financial stability, and delivering economic growth. We are living within our means, reducing our levels of borrowing in the years ahead and supporting the Bank of England to get inflation down. We have already made progress towards this, with five interest rate cuts delivered this since the election.

The Chancellor has asked departments to prioritise reducing inflation when developing policies for the Autumn Budget, ensuring decisions continue to support stability and long-term growth.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much in remittances by country of destination has been sent from the UK in each year since 2020.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Treasury does not collect or report data on the flow of remittances out of the UK and has not under previous governments. The UK imposes taxes based on individual’s residence status. Individuals who are resident in the UK are taxable on their income and gains that arise worldwide. Remitting funds outside of the UK is not generally considered to be a chargeable event for individuals. It should also be noted that funds being remitted will often have been subject to UK tax, such as income tax, if funded from earnings.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a tax on remittance flows.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Treasury does not collect or report data on the flow of remittances out of the UK and has not under previous governments. The UK imposes taxes based on individual’s residence status. Individuals who are resident in the UK are taxable on their income and gains that arise worldwide. Remitting funds outside of the UK is not generally considered to be a chargeable event for individuals. It should also be noted that funds being remitted will often have been subject to UK tax, such as income tax, if funded from earnings.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the potential economic impact of extreme weather events related to climate change on the level of economic growth since 1 January 2020; and what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help reduce those costs through (a) adaptation and (b) resilience measures.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

The Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest Fiscal Risks and Sustainability report estimates the potential fiscal costs to the UK from climate damage across a range of warming scenarios. Their analysis includes both direct costs in response to physical damages and indirect costs arising from additional demands on public services. Estimates show that without action, physical damages from climate change could lower GDP by around 5% by the early 2070s under a below 3°C scenario. The UK’s Third Climate Change Risk Assessment also provides an evaluation of the climate risks facing the UK, with impacts across infrastructure, health and the economy.

As set out at Phase 2 of the Spending Review, the Government is investing in climate adaptation to protect the economy from the impacts of climate change, confirming investment of £4.2 billion over three years (2026-27 to 2028-29) to improve flood resilience.

The Government is committed to strengthening the nation’s resilience. A 10 Year Strategy, published on 19 June 2025, set out its plan to review existing resilience standards across critical national infrastructure sectors by the end of 2026, and then to update these standards where existing standards do not provide the coverage necessary to ensure resilience and underpin growth. The Government is also exploring how stronger adaptation objectives can be set to improve preparedness for the impacts of climate change. This will inform the fourth National Adaptation Programme, due in 2028.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the pension remediation work under the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 will be completed.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The McCloud remedy under the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 took effect from October 2023 and will deliver a full remedy to all affected public service pension scheme members. As part of this, all affected members are receiving a remediable service statement setting out the details of their pension entitlements. Pensioner members can make their remedy choice on receipt of this statement, while active and deferred members will make their choice at the point at which they retire. Schemes are currently working hard to ensure the remedy is delivered to all affected members as quickly as possible.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what the projects are that have been removed from the Government Major Products Portfolio since the 2023-24 financial year.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The projects which have been removed from the Government Major Projects Portfolio since the 2023-24 financial year are included in the 2023-24 IPA Annual Report, and the 2024-25 NISTA Annual Report.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of corporation tax rises on small and medium-sized hospitality businesses.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Businesses in our retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are foundational to our economy and our high streets, and we are supporting them to succeed.

The Government published its Corporate Tax Roadmap at Autumn Budget 2024, which commits to maintaining a competitive and sustainable main rate by capping corporation tax at 25 per cent for the duration of this Parliament. The Roadmap also confirms that the small profits rate will be maintained, so companies with profits of £50,000 or less will continue to pay 19 per cent.

The marginal relief for companies with profits of between £50,000 and £250,000 means only around 6 per cent of actively trading companies pay the full main rate. This structure means that most small and medium-sized businesses, including those in the hospitality sector, do not pay the full rate.

In addition, the Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with ratable values below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure they benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

Ahead of these new multipliers being introduced, the Government prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. We have also frozen the small business multiplier.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what the projects are that have been added to the Government Major Products Portfolio since the 2023-24 financial year.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The projects which have joined the Government Major Projects Portfolio since the 2023-24 financial year are included in the 2023-24 IPA Annual Report, and the 2024-25 NISTA Annual Report.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department undertakes checks on whether holders of work visas are paying (a) Income Tax and (b) National Insurance.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC have interpreted ‘checks’ in this instance as ‘compliance checks’ on taxpayers with tax and National Insurance owed in the UK.

HMRC takes a risk-based approach to compliance and focuses its resources where tax is most at risk of not being paid. This approach may result in compliance checks on holders of work visas.

Decisions on which taxpayers should be subject to a compliance check are based on HMRC’s understanding of compliance risk in the tax system, which is supported by data and intelligence sources including banking data and credit card sales, business databases, international exchanges of information and reported wrongdoing, as well as assessments of the tax gap, economic and social trends, operational insight and risk monitoring.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress the Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner has made in recovering public money lost through pandemic-related (a) fraud and (b) non-delivered contracts.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The government is leaving no stone unturned to investigate and recover public funds lost to fraud and error during the pandemic. The Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner will report to Parliament by the end of his term in December 2025.

In his first phase, the Commissioner focused on £1.4 billion of disputed personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts. This revealed that that c.16% of pandemic era PPE contracts failed. Recovery action has resulted in some PPE suppliers being referred to the National Crime Agency for suspected fraud.

The second phase of the Commissioner’s work focused on government-wide recovery activities. In response to his recommendation, Government launched a Voluntary Repayment Scheme and Covid fraud reporting website in September 2025. Claimants who have yet to respond to the voluntary repayment scheme risk court. New powers for the government will make detection easier and allow the government to levy civil penalties, which will ensure that those who have defrauded the taxpayer face the consequences.

The Commissioner is currently preparing his final report, which will include his assessment of further opportunities for action and recommendations to strengthen government procurement, fraud prevention, and recovery in future crises.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether (a) projects and (b) programmes have been added to the Government Major Projects Portfolio since 5 July 2024.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Projects and programmes joining after 5th July 2024 and before end of March 2025 are included in the annual report 24/25. Any projects and programmes joining after March 2025 will be published in Summer 2026 in the annual report 25/26.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish the methodology and assumptions behind HMRC’s 2024 forecast that Motability’s VAT reliefs will have cost £1.21 billion in 2024-25.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC publishes estimates of the costs of tax reliefs in its annual Non-structural tax relief statistics publication.

The last publication on 5 December 2024 showed an estimate and forecast for the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25 of £1,210m for the relief “Vehicles and other supplies to disabled people (vehicles only)”. This includes the cost of VAT reliefs for supplies of vehicles to disabled people, including but not limited to Motability.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will release the methodology and assumptions behind HMRC’s estimate that Motability’s VAT reliefs cost £1.21 billion in 2023-24.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC publishes estimates of the costs of tax reliefs in its annual Non-structural tax relief statistics publication.

The last publication on 5 December 2024 showed an estimate and forecast for the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25 of £1,210m for the relief “Vehicles and other supplies to disabled people (vehicles only)”. This includes the cost of VAT reliefs for supplies of vehicles to disabled people, including but not limited to Motability.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether there have been any changes to the methodology HMRC use to estimate the cost of Motability’s VAT reliefs since 2019-20.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC publishes estimates of the costs of tax reliefs in its annual Non-structural tax relief statistics publication.

The last publication on 5 December 2024 showed an estimate and forecast for the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25 of £1,210m for the relief “Vehicles and other supplies to disabled people (vehicles only)”. This includes the cost of VAT reliefs for supplies of vehicles to disabled people, including but not limited to Motability.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will ask HMRC to release a separate estimate of the cost of Motability’s Insurance Premium Tax exemption.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC publishes estimates of the costs of tax reliefs in its annual Non-structural tax relief statistics publication.

The last publication on 5 December 2024 showed an estimate and forecast for the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25 of £1,210m for the relief “Vehicles and other supplies to disabled people (vehicles only)”. This includes the cost of VAT reliefs for supplies of vehicles to disabled people, including but not limited to Motability.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help mitigate the potential impact of moving the Valuation Office Agency into HMRC on the timely processing of cases.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The VOA is meeting the majority of its performance targets. In the areas where it isn’t, it has robust service recovery plans in place. These include moving staff to where there is the greatest customer demand and upskilling its workforce in a wider range of casework, to ensure greater flexibility. It continues to prioritise any cases where a customer is facing financial hardship.

The VOA proactively contacts customers, through direct email or automated updates sent as cases progress through a service.

The VOA reports monthly on performance to the HMRC Executive Committee and Board. The decision to move the VOA’s functions into HMRC next year will strengthen direct accountability to ministers.

Integration is being carefully managed by a joint HMRC and VOA team, with detailed transition plans in place and appropriate oversight from my department.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help people track the progress of cases pending with the Valuation Office Agency.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The VOA is meeting the majority of its performance targets. In the areas where it isn’t, it has robust service recovery plans in place. These include moving staff to where there is the greatest customer demand and upskilling its workforce in a wider range of casework, to ensure greater flexibility. It continues to prioritise any cases where a customer is facing financial hardship.

The VOA proactively contacts customers, through direct email or automated updates sent as cases progress through a service.

The VOA reports monthly on performance to the HMRC Executive Committee and Board. The decision to move the VOA’s functions into HMRC next year will strengthen direct accountability to ministers.

Integration is being carefully managed by a joint HMRC and VOA team, with detailed transition plans in place and appropriate oversight from my department.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the Valuation Office Agency processes cases in a timely manner.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The VOA is meeting the majority of its performance targets. In the areas where it isn’t, it has robust service recovery plans in place. These include moving staff to where there is the greatest customer demand and upskilling its workforce in a wider range of casework, to ensure greater flexibility. It continues to prioritise any cases where a customer is facing financial hardship.

The VOA proactively contacts customers, through direct email or automated updates sent as cases progress through a service.

The VOA reports monthly on performance to the HMRC Executive Committee and Board. The decision to move the VOA’s functions into HMRC next year will strengthen direct accountability to ministers.

Integration is being carefully managed by a joint HMRC and VOA team, with detailed transition plans in place and appropriate oversight from my department.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment has she made of the volume of cases waiting to be considered by the Valuation Office Agency.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The VOA is meeting the majority of its performance targets. In the areas where it isn’t, it has robust service recovery plans in place. These include moving staff to where there is the greatest customer demand and upskilling its workforce in a wider range of casework, to ensure greater flexibility. It continues to prioritise any cases where a customer is facing financial hardship.

The VOA proactively contacts customers, through direct email or automated updates sent as cases progress through a service.

The VOA reports monthly on performance to the HMRC Executive Committee and Board. The decision to move the VOA’s functions into HMRC next year will strengthen direct accountability to ministers.

Integration is being carefully managed by a joint HMRC and VOA team, with detailed transition plans in place and appropriate oversight from my department.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of removing the ABV limit of 8.5% from Small Producer Relief on businesses.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Following public consultation, a new strength-based duty structure for alcohol products was introduced in August 2023.

As part of these reforms, Small Producer Relief (SPR) replaced and extended the previous Small Brewers Relief. SPR supports SMEs and new entrants by permitting smaller producers who make 4,500 hectolitres or less of alcohol per year to pay reduced duty rates on all products below 8.5 per cent ABV.

The design of SPR balances the needs of businesses against the Government’s public health objectives. The 8.5% ABV limit aligns with the duty thresholds set within the wider duty system and ensures that the Government does not provide a lower rate of duty on higher strength alcohol products, even if they are produced by small producers.

This issue was considered in detail as part of the Alcohol Duty Review consultation, the response to which is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-new-alcohol-duty-system-consultation

HMRC plans to evaluate the new rates and structures three years after the changes took effect on 1 August 2023.  This will allow time for HMRC to gather a broad range of data. The Government welcomes evidence on the impact of the changes so far.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether (a) the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, (b) UK Financial Investments and (c) other Ministers were involved in the disposal of RBS Sempra Commodities to JP Morgan in the 2009-10 financial year.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Public records of HM Treasury ministerial meetings are available from May 2010 onwards. HM Treasury has also conducted a proportionate search of its archives for the relevant period and has found no evidence of correspondence or meetings between Jeffrey Epstein and Treasury ministers, or any Treasury officials, in relation to this sale, or on any other matter.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a windfall tax on the profits of (a) banks and (b) other financial institutions.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will provide the Financial Ombudsman Service with additional powers to monitor the use of personal guarantees by financial services companies for lending to small and medium sized businesses.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) was set up to resolve complaints between consumers and small businesses, and their financial services providers. While the Treasury sets the legal framework in which the FOS operates, the rules on how the FOS should handle complaints, including the jurisdiction of the FOS and what complaints it can deal with, are determined by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and set out in the FCA Handbook.

As set out in the government’s small business strategy, which my Honourable Friend contributed so much to, we are committed to working with lenders on the appropriate use of personal guarantees. This includes a mandatory Code of Conduct for accredited lenders that use the British Business Bank’s Growth Guarantee Scheme to ensure the use of personal guarantees under the Scheme is fair and transparent.

Recognising the necessary role that personal guarantees play in business lending, the government will work with UK Finance to build on their existing lender commitments to use personal guarantees responsibly, and with the business finance community as a whole to build businesses’ understanding of how to access the right finance on the right terms to meet their needs and to help businesses better understand the role of personal guarantees.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on whether Jeffrey Epstein helped set up meetings between her Department and JP Morgan on the sale of Sempra Commodities.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Public records of HM Treasury ministerial meetings are available from May 2010 onwards. HM Treasury has also conducted a proportionate search of its archives for the relevant period and has found no evidence of correspondence or meetings between Jeffrey Epstein and Treasury ministers, or any Treasury officials, in relation to this sale, or on any other matter.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department holds correspondence between Jeffrey Epstein and former Ministers in her Department on the sale of Sempra Commodities.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Public records of HM Treasury ministerial meetings are available from May 2010 onwards. HM Treasury has also conducted a proportionate search of its archives for the relevant period and has found no evidence of correspondence or meetings between Jeffrey Epstein and Treasury ministers, or any Treasury officials, in relation to this sale, or on any other matter.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on meetings between Jeffrey Epstein and former Ministers from her Department.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Public records of HM Treasury ministerial meetings are available from May 2010 onwards. HM Treasury has also conducted a proportionate search of its archives for the relevant period and has found no evidence of correspondence or meetings between Jeffrey Epstein and Treasury ministers, or any Treasury officials, in relation to this sale, or on any other matter.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the House of Lords Select Committee on Financial Exclusion's report entitled Tackling financial exclusion: A country that works for everyone?, published on 25 March 2017, Session 2016-17, HL Paper 132, what progress she has made on implementing the (a) recommendations on (i) older and (ii) vulnerable consumers and (b) other recommendations.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has committed to publish a National Financial Inclusion Strategy later this year to tackle a range of barriers individuals and households face in accessing the financial products and services they need. The strategy will consider what more Government and industry can do to address key issues, including a focus on: (i) digital inclusion and access to banking; (ii) savings; (iii) insurance; (iv) affordable credit; (v) problem debt; and (vi) financial education and capability.

Across these areas, the themes of accessibility, mental health, and economic abuse have also been considered in recognition of the particular challenges individuals can face in relation to these issues.

More widely, the Government works closely with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the independent regulator of the UK’s financial services sector, to ensure customers get the right support with their financial products and services. The FCA’s Vulnerability Guidance requires firms to consider the needs of vulnerable customers appropriately.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 65148 on Bank Notes, whether (a) her Department or (b) the Bank of England has an equality, diversity and inclusion policy on the (i) design of and (ii) selection of characters to appear on banknotes.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Bank of England is responsible for all aspects of banknote design and character selection, as set out in the Currency and Bank Notes Act 1954 and the 2025 Memorandum of Understanding between HM Treasury and the Bank of England, which can be found online here: Financial relationship between HM Treasury and the Bank of England Memorandum of Understanding.

As a result, HM Treasury is not involved in decisions on banknote designs or character selections.

Recently, the Bank of England announced that they will be launching a new series of banknotes and over the summer concluded a public consultation on possible themes to be featured on the new series:

Help us design our next series of banknotes | Bank of England

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help businesses mitigate increases in levels of food inflation.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government prioritises sound public finances, which are essential to economic and financial stability, and delivering economic growth. We are living within our means, reducing our levels of borrowing in the years ahead and supporting the Bank of England to get inflation down. We have already made progress towards this, with five interest rate cuts delivered this since the election.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure that people without access to digital payment options (a) can to pay for goods and services in their local communities in cash and (b) are supported to get online when they need to.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

While the ongoing trend in payments in the UK has been away from cash and towards card and digital payment methods, the Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Its rules ensure cash continues to be a viable method of payment for the millions of people who depend on it by providing reasonable access to cash withdrawal and deposit facilities for personal accounts.

There is no legal requirement for businesses to accept specific forms of payment, and the Government has no plans to mandate cash acceptance. It is for each business to decide on the forms of payment it chooses to accept, based on a variety of factors, including cost and customer preferences. However, the FCA’s access to cash regime will ensure that businesses have reasonable access to cash deposit facilities, which supports their ability to accept cash.

More widely, the Government has committed to publish a National Financial Inclusion Strategy later this year to tackle a range of barriers individuals face in accessing the financial products they need, including a focus on access to banking and digital inclusion.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to establish a sector council for financial services.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Treasury is committed to continuing to work closely with industry as we drive forward our programme to grow our world-leading financial services sector, ensuring that it delivers for UK businesses and consumers.

Treasury ministers regularly meet with a wide range of stakeholders from across the financial services sector. Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at the following 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, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 65150 on Royal Mint: Committees, whether the (a) Royal Mint Advisory Committee and (b) Sub-Committee on the Selection of Themes have a policy on equality, diversity and inclusion in coin designs.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Royal Mint Advisory Committee advises the Chancellor of the Exchequer (in her capacity as Master of the Mint) on the themes and designs of new coins.

While there is no formal written policy on equality, diversity and inclusion in coin designs or themes, the Committee actively encourages that the themes and designs it recommends reflect diversity in age, race, gender and other characteristics.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of UK financial markets infrastructure to support further issuances of Islamic financial instruments.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK is the leading Western destination for Islamic finance businesses. The Islamic finance sector also has a role in the overall UK financial ecosystem by providing sharia-compliant products for the UK’s Muslim population as well as its contribution to the UK’s competitiveness as an Islamic finance hub.

The Government aims to build the right environment to allow businesses to capitalise on growth opportunities in the UK and also promotes the UK’s capabilities and expertise overseas. For example, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia in February 2025 and attended the UK-Saudi Arabia GREAT FUTURES Leadership Summit in September 2025.

The Government is considering opportunities to support the Islamic finance sector through UK trade agreements with partners which have significant domestic markets for shariah-compliant finance, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The UK's two sovereign sukuk issuances have been successful in providing a platform for and helping to maintain the UK’s position as the leading western hub for Islamic finance while also supporting the UK’s Islamic banks. Given the development of the sector in the last decade and the relatively high cost of issuing sukuk, the Government is not at this time planning to issue another Sukuk after the current Sukuk matures in summer 2026.

Officials continue to engage with industry and international partners to explore opportunities for synergies between Islamic finance and the sustainability agenda.

Islamic financial instruments are covered under the same legislative and regulatory framework as their conventional equivalents, and the Government works to address any unintended differences that may arise.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to promote UK-based Islamic finance capabilities in international markets.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK is the leading Western destination for Islamic finance businesses. The Islamic finance sector also has a role in the overall UK financial ecosystem by providing sharia-compliant products for the UK’s Muslim population as well as its contribution to the UK’s competitiveness as an Islamic finance hub.

The Government aims to build the right environment to allow businesses to capitalise on growth opportunities in the UK and also promotes the UK’s capabilities and expertise overseas. For example, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia in February 2025 and attended the UK-Saudi Arabia GREAT FUTURES Leadership Summit in September 2025.

The Government is considering opportunities to support the Islamic finance sector through UK trade agreements with partners which have significant domestic markets for shariah-compliant finance, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The UK's two sovereign sukuk issuances have been successful in providing a platform for and helping to maintain the UK’s position as the leading western hub for Islamic finance while also supporting the UK’s Islamic banks. Given the development of the sector in the last decade and the relatively high cost of issuing sukuk, the Government is not at this time planning to issue another Sukuk after the current Sukuk matures in summer 2026.

Officials continue to engage with industry and international partners to explore opportunities for synergies between Islamic finance and the sustainability agenda.

Islamic financial instruments are covered under the same legislative and regulatory framework as their conventional equivalents, and the Government works to address any unintended differences that may arise.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with Santander UK plc on its introduction of £120 annual charge for small business accounts.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government regularly engages with a wide range of stakeholders across the financial services sector including Santander.

While the Government recognises the concerns of long-standing customers who signed up to different business accounts, decisions regarding the products offered and any associated charges are commercial matters for individual firms. The Government does not intervene in these commercial decisions but continues to monitor wider access to bank account provision.

The Government also recognises the importance of transparency in business bank account fees, enabling businesses to make informed choices when selecting banking services. Encouraging competition in financial services helps stimulate a strong and diverse market for SMEs, improves access to finance, and ensures that businesses benefit from competitive pricing and improved choice.

The Government is committed to ensuring that SMEs are treated fairly by banks and have access to the financial services they need. That is why the Financial Ombudsman Service has jurisdiction over 99% of business banking disputes, providing a wide safety-net for businesses and an important avenue for redress where SMEs feel they have been misled or unfairly charged.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the barriers faced by young people in accessing the Lifetime ISA.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Lifetime ISA encourages younger people to save towards later life at the same time as being able to save for their first home. The Lifetime ISA is open to all UK residents of the UK aged 18 or over and is offered by a range of providers.

As of 2023/24, there were over 1.3 million LISA accounts open and, since its introduction in 2017, the LISA has helped 227,600 people purchase their first property.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 47195 on Environment Protection: Finance, what is the policy of the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosure in relation to investment in (a) defence and (b) nuclear weapons.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK government formally endorsed the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework in 2021 and has mandated TCFD-aligned disclosure for large entities in the private sector since 2022. The FCA also refers to the TCFD framework in its listing rules and has required TCFD aligned reports since 2021 for listed companies.

The new International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Standards, so called S1 and S2, are designed to replace the TCFD framework. These draft standards, which will be known as UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS) were published for consultation in June 2025, closing in September 2025.

Both UK SRS, and the TCFD framework that they will replace, are disclosure standards that ask firms to disclose financially material climate related risks to their business. The objective of these is to provide investors with consistent, comparable and reliable information about companies' sustainability-related risks and opportunities. These standards are designed to enhance transparency and do not dictate how a company should invest. They do not prevent or impose restrictions on investment in specific sectors, including defence or nuclear weapons.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the average value of a redeemed child trust fund since (a) July 2023 and (b) July 2024.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The average market value of Child Trust Fund accounts that have matured and have been claimed or transferred to an ISA can be found in the Child Trust Fund tables of the Annual Savings Statistics.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/annual-savings-statistics-2025

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK’s Islamic finance sector on the Government’s objective of strengthening the UK’s position as a leading global financial centre.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK is the leading Western destination for Islamic finance businesses. The Islamic finance sector also has a role in the overall UK financial ecosystem by providing sharia-compliant products for the UK’s Muslim population as well as its contribution to the UK’s competitiveness as an Islamic finance hub.

The Government aims to build the right environment to allow businesses to capitalise on growth opportunities in the UK and also promotes the UK’s capabilities and expertise overseas. For example, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia in February 2025 and attended the UK-Saudi Arabia GREAT FUTURES Leadership Summit in September 2025.

The Government is considering opportunities to support the Islamic finance sector through UK trade agreements with partners which have significant domestic markets for shariah-compliant finance, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The UK's two sovereign sukuk issuances have been successful in providing a platform for and helping to maintain the UK’s position as the leading western hub for Islamic finance while also supporting the UK’s Islamic banks. Given the development of the sector in the last decade and the relatively high cost of issuing sukuk, the Government is not at this time planning to issue another Sukuk after the current Sukuk matures in summer 2026.

Officials continue to engage with industry and international partners to explore opportunities for synergies between Islamic finance and the sustainability agenda.

Islamic financial instruments are covered under the same legislative and regulatory framework as their conventional equivalents, and the Government works to address any unintended differences that may arise.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential contribution of Islamic finance to achieving the Government’s green finance and sustainability objectives.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK is the leading Western destination for Islamic finance businesses. The Islamic finance sector also has a role in the overall UK financial ecosystem by providing sharia-compliant products for the UK’s Muslim population as well as its contribution to the UK’s competitiveness as an Islamic finance hub.

The Government aims to build the right environment to allow businesses to capitalise on growth opportunities in the UK and also promotes the UK’s capabilities and expertise overseas. For example, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia in February 2025 and attended the UK-Saudi Arabia GREAT FUTURES Leadership Summit in September 2025.

The Government is considering opportunities to support the Islamic finance sector through UK trade agreements with partners which have significant domestic markets for shariah-compliant finance, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The UK's two sovereign sukuk issuances have been successful in providing a platform for and helping to maintain the UK’s position as the leading western hub for Islamic finance while also supporting the UK’s Islamic banks. Given the development of the sector in the last decade and the relatively high cost of issuing sukuk, the Government is not at this time planning to issue another Sukuk after the current Sukuk matures in summer 2026.

Officials continue to engage with industry and international partners to explore opportunities for synergies between Islamic finance and the sustainability agenda.

Islamic financial instruments are covered under the same legislative and regulatory framework as their conventional equivalents, and the Government works to address any unintended differences that may arise.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the UK’s sovereign sukuk programme.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK is the leading Western destination for Islamic finance businesses. The Islamic finance sector also has a role in the overall UK financial ecosystem by providing sharia-compliant products for the UK’s Muslim population as well as its contribution to the UK’s competitiveness as an Islamic finance hub.

The Government aims to build the right environment to allow businesses to capitalise on growth opportunities in the UK and also promotes the UK’s capabilities and expertise overseas. For example, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia in February 2025 and attended the UK-Saudi Arabia GREAT FUTURES Leadership Summit in September 2025.

The Government is considering opportunities to support the Islamic finance sector through UK trade agreements with partners which have significant domestic markets for shariah-compliant finance, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The UK's two sovereign sukuk issuances have been successful in providing a platform for and helping to maintain the UK’s position as the leading western hub for Islamic finance while also supporting the UK’s Islamic banks. Given the development of the sector in the last decade and the relatively high cost of issuing sukuk, the Government is not at this time planning to issue another Sukuk after the current Sukuk matures in summer 2026.

Officials continue to engage with industry and international partners to explore opportunities for synergies between Islamic finance and the sustainability agenda.

Islamic financial instruments are covered under the same legislative and regulatory framework as their conventional equivalents, and the Government works to address any unintended differences that may arise.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much additional funding has been allocated to (a) central government departments and (b) local authorities due to the cost of higher National Insurance rates for employers in 2025-26.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

At Autumn Budget 2024 the Government set aside funding to support the public sector with the additional cost of employer National Insurance Contributions. The Government published allocations by department for 2025-26 alongside Main Estimates. This included support for local authorities through the Local Government allocation.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to allocate funding for rainwater management strategies in the Autumn Budget 2025.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Chancellor will set out any new policy at the Autumn Budget in the usual way.

The Government is already investing a record £10.5bn to build new flood defences and repair existing defences. This is the largest flood programme in history and will protect nearly 900,000 properties from the devastation of flooding.

Found: but may be genuine error.”101 Mrs Bourne told us that there are four pillars of reform in 96 HM Treasury

Found: When we asked John Kavanagh, Programme Director at Business LDN, whether HM Treasury was receptive to

Found: Dan Tomlinson MP Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury HM Treasury

Found: We believe therefore that HM Treasury should develop plans for a more tax efficient use of equity release

Found: A similar requirement for HM Treasury or the Office for Budget Responsibility to publish a UK Intergenerational

Found: Cost to HM Treasury : None (See outline financial modelling on last page)BACKGROUND Being able to rent

Found: training and health (issueswhich cut across departments’ areas of focus including DWP, DBT, DfE, DHSC and HMT

Found: There may also be opportunities, even with current fiscal constraints in HM Treasury, for improvements

Found: We understand that the income generated by such fines and fees usually goes to HM Treasury.

Found: risk of making the UK less competitive in the international legal market, and severely impacting HM Treasury

Found: legal aid: Towards a sustainable future, consultation response’ CP 1333 – Chapter 3, Part 2. 50 HM Treasury

Found: One solution is contained in proposals by HM Treasury in their 2020 review of ‘VAT and the Public Sector

Found: fall to £4.21 billion and continue to decline to £2.3 billion (0.1% of GDP) by 2029–30.140 133 HM Treasury

Found: There may also be opportunities, even with current fiscal constraints in HM Treasury, for improvements

Found: We understand that the income generated by such fines and fees usually goes to HM Treasury.

Found: risk of making the UK less competitive in the international legal market, and severely impacting HM Treasury

Found: legal aid: Towards a sustainable future, consultation response’ CP 1333 – Chapter 3, Part 2. 50 HM Treasury

Found: One solution is contained in proposals by HM Treasury in their 2020 review of ‘VAT and the Public Sector

Found: National Audit Office, ‘Government’s management of legal aid’ (2023) HC 514 – recommendation b. 13 HM Treasury

Found: George, Director, National Audit Office, and David Fairbrother, Treasury Officer of Accounts, HM Treasury

Found: agreement comes into operation, rising to 85% by year 10 of operation of the agreement. 3 2.3 HMT

Found: recognise the value of treatments where benefits accrue over a lifetime and to bring it in line with HM Treasury

Found: Firstly, like others, we do not agree that the data used by HM Treasury is the appropriate basis to

Found: Independent Fiscal Commission in its May 2022 report.5 Recommending the need for an agreement with HM Treasury

Found: that deliver long-term benefits and would bring NICE’s processes into closer alignment with the HM Treasury

Found: spending review on VAWG and other Mission pillars.7 The Cluster approach, led by Cabinet and the HM Treasury

Found: Written evidence submitted by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and HM Treasury

Found: Analysis with input from former OBR economists and HM Treasury policymakers for the BSA shows that a

Found: additional barriers these groups face in achieving home ownership.20 On the launch of the LISA in 2017, HM Treasury

Found: Cost to HM Treasury : None (See outline financial modelling on last page)BACKGROUND Being able to rent

Found: Q119 58 Correspondence from the Minister for Investment, Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury

Found: Q119 58 Correspondence from the Minister for Investment, Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury

Found: The commission from HM Treasury for Phase 2 of SR25 was received on 16 December 2024.

Found: 1 HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Simon Hoare MP Chair, Public Administration

Found: government, other departments and agencies may be invited on a case-by-case basis, including HM Treasury

Found: Simon Hoare MP The Lord Livermore Financial Secretary to the Treasury HM Treasury

Found: Recommendation 12: The Ministry and HM Treasury must work together to align accountability over decisions

Found: existing funding models, and how they intend to mitigate AI risks and drive growth, which DSIT, with HMT

Found: Letter from the Permanent Secretary of HM Treasury relating to the UK Asset Resolution’s Annual Report

Found: Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, HM Treasury, and DSIT Oral Evidence

Found: , will strengthen, continuing the UK’s doom loop of low investment and stagnation favoured by HM Treasury

Found: HM Treasury, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Ministry of Justice, HM Treasury, and HM Treasury Oral

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department undertook a value-for-money assessment under HM Treasury Green Book guidance before announcing its support for the expansion of Heathrow Airport.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

A Treasury Green Book Value for Money assessment is a process and judgement about the optimal use of public resources to achieve the stated objectives of a project. We have been clear throughout that any expansion of Heathrow Airport should be funded entirely by the private sector.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the build-out guarantees that will be required to secure National Housing Bank funding.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

On 17 June, the government announced that it would establish a new National Housing Bank, a subsidiary of Homes England which will be publicly owned and backed with £16 billion of financial capacity to accelerate housebuilding in England.

My Department is currently working with Homes England and HM Treasury to establish the Bank, including developing its investment strategy and further details will be announced in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to prevent the closure of mechanical recycling sites.

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

The Collection and Packaging Reforms – Simpler Recycling, Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) and a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) – will help stimulate investment in recycling services across the UK.

Defra is working with HMT on Plastic Packaging Tax reform, to further incentivise producers to use recycled plastic, stimulating demand.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases are currently being processed under the Eastwood Park Compensation Scheme; and what the average waiting time is for cases under the scheme.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Eastwood Park Detention Centre Settlement Scheme commenced on 14 January 2025. To date, 659 claims have been received including 264 claims settled with damages paid. There are 6 further claims where settlement has been agreed, and payments will be made shortly.

Of the 264 claims settled to date, the average payment is £3,114.

Since the commencement of the scheme in January, the average length of time taken to settle claims is 136 days (at 30 September 2025). This figure should not be taken as a benchmark expectation for any outstanding or future claims. The amount of time taken to settle a claim will vary in each case based on a variety of factors such as incomplete information provided when the claim is lodged. All claims are subject to appropriate scrutiny and HM Treasury approval.

The Prison Service successfully defends two-thirds of cases brought by prisoners. Any debts owed by offenders to their victims and the courts are deducted before a payment is made.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of claims under the Eastwood Park Compensation Scheme have resulted in payouts; and what the average amount paid out for those claims is.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Eastwood Park Detention Centre Settlement Scheme commenced on 14 January 2025. To date, 659 claims have been received including 264 claims settled with damages paid. There are 6 further claims where settlement has been agreed, and payments will be made shortly.

Of the 264 claims settled to date, the average payment is £3,114.

Since the commencement of the scheme in January, the average length of time taken to settle claims is 136 days (at 30 September 2025). This figure should not be taken as a benchmark expectation for any outstanding or future claims. The amount of time taken to settle a claim will vary in each case based on a variety of factors such as incomplete information provided when the claim is lodged. All claims are subject to appropriate scrutiny and HM Treasury approval.

The Prison Service successfully defends two-thirds of cases brought by prisoners. Any debts owed by offenders to their victims and the courts are deducted before a payment is made.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department required any private commercial suppliers or delivery partners previously contracted to work on the New Hospital Programme to be excluded from working on the New Hospital Programme Review.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The review of the New Hospital Programme (NHP) was led by a Director from the NHP Sponsor team in the Department. They were supported by a number of officials from the NHP Sponsor team in the Department along with officials from NHS England, with input from the NHP’s interim commercial and delivery partners and officials in HM Treasury. The NHP developed the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis tool with support from its interim commercial and delivery partners.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, which (a) large sites have been descoped and (b) medium-sized sites have been brought into scope following the rescaling of the Asylum Accommodation Programme.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Asylum Accommodation Programme (AAP) was initially set up as one of a range of responses in the Home Office to tackle a growing demand of asylum accommodation to reduce reliance on costly contingency options such as hotels, looking specifically at large sites and vessels. To date the Programme has delivered two sites (Wethersfield and the Bibby Stockholm) and continues to progress a pipeline of additional sites.

The Asylum Accommodation Programme has now captured over 1,000 lessons from sites delivered, as well as those that never made it through to delivery.   As lessons have been learned, the Programme undertook a strategic refresh in Spring 2024 and is aiming to deliver a more flexible estate, working closely with local authorities and statutory partners and in collaboration with other government departments. We will ensure that lessons are continually learned and applied. These lessons identified are implemented and applied to future sites via a detailed ‘Stage Gate’ process, ensuring the correct due diligence and decision-making is carried out before investment decisions are made.

Decisions made by the programme relating to targets are decided based on various assessments, outlined in the business case, which is approved both internally and externally, such as by HMT.

A number of proposals from local authorities expressing interest in working on the pilots have been shortlisted, however further progression will be subject to ongoing due diligence, funding and collaboration and no contractual agreements will be set up until a final shortlist is agreed. We continue to engage with LAs across the UK and are focused on delivering mutual benefits regarding a more locally led model, increasing overall supply of temporary accommodation suitable for multiple cohorts and delivering additional community benefits, to be designed in partnership with individual LAs.

The Home Office is working with a range of strategic partners to deliver accommodation plans, including collaboration with other government departments, such as MHCLG, MoD and DHSC. We are also engaging with Local Authorities through ongoing Full Dispersal and accommodation pilot plans, promoting community cohesion and joint initiatives.

The government is investing £500 million to develop this accommodation model, developed in consultation with LAs. This funding will be delivered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in partnership with the Home Office and local councils, in order to deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers. This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels.

Community cohesion is fully considered in site selection. We are prioritising models that give control back to communities, reduce pressure on local services, and deliver fairer distribution across the country.

We are unable to provide commentary on individual sites in the scope of the programme. Decisions on the use of alternative asylum accommodation sites will be made on a site-by-site basis, and we will continue to work closely with stakeholders and in compliance with published policy.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what the three pilot projects are that she plans to launch with local authorities and other partners under the Asylum Accommodation Programme; and who the other key partners are.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Asylum Accommodation Programme (AAP) was initially set up as one of a range of responses in the Home Office to tackle a growing demand of asylum accommodation to reduce reliance on costly contingency options such as hotels, looking specifically at large sites and vessels. To date the Programme has delivered two sites (Wethersfield and the Bibby Stockholm) and continues to progress a pipeline of additional sites.

The Asylum Accommodation Programme has now captured over 1,000 lessons from sites delivered, as well as those that never made it through to delivery.   As lessons have been learned, the Programme undertook a strategic refresh in Spring 2024 and is aiming to deliver a more flexible estate, working closely with local authorities and statutory partners and in collaboration with other government departments. We will ensure that lessons are continually learned and applied. These lessons identified are implemented and applied to future sites via a detailed ‘Stage Gate’ process, ensuring the correct due diligence and decision-making is carried out before investment decisions are made.

Decisions made by the programme relating to targets are decided based on various assessments, outlined in the business case, which is approved both internally and externally, such as by HMT.

A number of proposals from local authorities expressing interest in working on the pilots have been shortlisted, however further progression will be subject to ongoing due diligence, funding and collaboration and no contractual agreements will be set up until a final shortlist is agreed. We continue to engage with LAs across the UK and are focused on delivering mutual benefits regarding a more locally led model, increasing overall supply of temporary accommodation suitable for multiple cohorts and delivering additional community benefits, to be designed in partnership with individual LAs.

The Home Office is working with a range of strategic partners to deliver accommodation plans, including collaboration with other government departments, such as MHCLG, MoD and DHSC. We are also engaging with Local Authorities through ongoing Full Dispersal and accommodation pilot plans, promoting community cohesion and joint initiatives.

The government is investing £500 million to develop this accommodation model, developed in consultation with LAs. This funding will be delivered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in partnership with the Home Office and local councils, in order to deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers. This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels.

Community cohesion is fully considered in site selection. We are prioritising models that give control back to communities, reduce pressure on local services, and deliver fairer distribution across the country.

We are unable to provide commentary on individual sites in the scope of the programme. Decisions on the use of alternative asylum accommodation sites will be made on a site-by-site basis, and we will continue to work closely with stakeholders and in compliance with published policy.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which sites are in scope as accommodation pilots for the Asylum Accommodation Programme.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Asylum Accommodation Programme (AAP) was initially set up as one of a range of responses in the Home Office to tackle a growing demand of asylum accommodation to reduce reliance on costly contingency options such as hotels, looking specifically at large sites and vessels. To date the Programme has delivered two sites (Wethersfield and the Bibby Stockholm) and continues to progress a pipeline of additional sites.

The Asylum Accommodation Programme has now captured over 1,000 lessons from sites delivered, as well as those that never made it through to delivery.   As lessons have been learned, the Programme undertook a strategic refresh in Spring 2024 and is aiming to deliver a more flexible estate, working closely with local authorities and statutory partners and in collaboration with other government departments. We will ensure that lessons are continually learned and applied. These lessons identified are implemented and applied to future sites via a detailed ‘Stage Gate’ process, ensuring the correct due diligence and decision-making is carried out before investment decisions are made.

Decisions made by the programme relating to targets are decided based on various assessments, outlined in the business case, which is approved both internally and externally, such as by HMT.

A number of proposals from local authorities expressing interest in working on the pilots have been shortlisted, however further progression will be subject to ongoing due diligence, funding and collaboration and no contractual agreements will be set up until a final shortlist is agreed. We continue to engage with LAs across the UK and are focused on delivering mutual benefits regarding a more locally led model, increasing overall supply of temporary accommodation suitable for multiple cohorts and delivering additional community benefits, to be designed in partnership with individual LAs.

The Home Office is working with a range of strategic partners to deliver accommodation plans, including collaboration with other government departments, such as MHCLG, MoD and DHSC. We are also engaging with Local Authorities through ongoing Full Dispersal and accommodation pilot plans, promoting community cohesion and joint initiatives.

The government is investing £500 million to develop this accommodation model, developed in consultation with LAs. This funding will be delivered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in partnership with the Home Office and local councils, in order to deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers. This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels.

Community cohesion is fully considered in site selection. We are prioritising models that give control back to communities, reduce pressure on local services, and deliver fairer distribution across the country.

We are unable to provide commentary on individual sites in the scope of the programme. Decisions on the use of alternative asylum accommodation sites will be made on a site-by-site basis, and we will continue to work closely with stakeholders and in compliance with published policy.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what the different operating models being tested at each site are through the locally-led delivery model under the Asylum Accommodation Programme.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Asylum Accommodation Programme (AAP) was initially set up as one of a range of responses in the Home Office to tackle a growing demand of asylum accommodation to reduce reliance on costly contingency options such as hotels, looking specifically at large sites and vessels. To date the Programme has delivered two sites (Wethersfield and the Bibby Stockholm) and continues to progress a pipeline of additional sites.

The Asylum Accommodation Programme has now captured over 1,000 lessons from sites delivered, as well as those that never made it through to delivery.   As lessons have been learned, the Programme undertook a strategic refresh in Spring 2024 and is aiming to deliver a more flexible estate, working closely with local authorities and statutory partners and in collaboration with other government departments. We will ensure that lessons are continually learned and applied. These lessons identified are implemented and applied to future sites via a detailed ‘Stage Gate’ process, ensuring the correct due diligence and decision-making is carried out before investment decisions are made.

Decisions made by the programme relating to targets are decided based on various assessments, outlined in the business case, which is approved both internally and externally, such as by HMT.

A number of proposals from local authorities expressing interest in working on the pilots have been shortlisted, however further progression will be subject to ongoing due diligence, funding and collaboration and no contractual agreements will be set up until a final shortlist is agreed. We continue to engage with LAs across the UK and are focused on delivering mutual benefits regarding a more locally led model, increasing overall supply of temporary accommodation suitable for multiple cohorts and delivering additional community benefits, to be designed in partnership with individual LAs.

The Home Office is working with a range of strategic partners to deliver accommodation plans, including collaboration with other government departments, such as MHCLG, MoD and DHSC. We are also engaging with Local Authorities through ongoing Full Dispersal and accommodation pilot plans, promoting community cohesion and joint initiatives.

The government is investing £500 million to develop this accommodation model, developed in consultation with LAs. This funding will be delivered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in partnership with the Home Office and local councils, in order to deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers. This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels.

Community cohesion is fully considered in site selection. We are prioritising models that give control back to communities, reduce pressure on local services, and deliver fairer distribution across the country.

We are unable to provide commentary on individual sites in the scope of the programme. Decisions on the use of alternative asylum accommodation sites will be made on a site-by-site basis, and we will continue to work closely with stakeholders and in compliance with published policy.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, for what reason it was decided to reduce the number of bed spaces delivered by the Asylum Accommodation Programme prior to its approval.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Asylum Accommodation Programme (AAP) was initially set up as one of a range of responses in the Home Office to tackle a growing demand of asylum accommodation to reduce reliance on costly contingency options such as hotels, looking specifically at large sites and vessels. To date the Programme has delivered two sites (Wethersfield and the Bibby Stockholm) and continues to progress a pipeline of additional sites.

The Asylum Accommodation Programme has now captured over 1,000 lessons from sites delivered, as well as those that never made it through to delivery.   As lessons have been learned, the Programme undertook a strategic refresh in Spring 2024 and is aiming to deliver a more flexible estate, working closely with local authorities and statutory partners and in collaboration with other government departments. We will ensure that lessons are continually learned and applied. These lessons identified are implemented and applied to future sites via a detailed ‘Stage Gate’ process, ensuring the correct due diligence and decision-making is carried out before investment decisions are made.

Decisions made by the programme relating to targets are decided based on various assessments, outlined in the business case, which is approved both internally and externally, such as by HMT.

A number of proposals from local authorities expressing interest in working on the pilots have been shortlisted, however further progression will be subject to ongoing due diligence, funding and collaboration and no contractual agreements will be set up until a final shortlist is agreed. We continue to engage with LAs across the UK and are focused on delivering mutual benefits regarding a more locally led model, increasing overall supply of temporary accommodation suitable for multiple cohorts and delivering additional community benefits, to be designed in partnership with individual LAs.

The Home Office is working with a range of strategic partners to deliver accommodation plans, including collaboration with other government departments, such as MHCLG, MoD and DHSC. We are also engaging with Local Authorities through ongoing Full Dispersal and accommodation pilot plans, promoting community cohesion and joint initiatives.

The government is investing £500 million to develop this accommodation model, developed in consultation with LAs. This funding will be delivered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in partnership with the Home Office and local councils, in order to deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers. This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels.

Community cohesion is fully considered in site selection. We are prioritising models that give control back to communities, reduce pressure on local services, and deliver fairer distribution across the country.

We are unable to provide commentary on individual sites in the scope of the programme. Decisions on the use of alternative asylum accommodation sites will be made on a site-by-site basis, and we will continue to work closely with stakeholders and in compliance with published policy.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the target for bed spaces by the end of 2026 through the Asylum Accommodation Programme.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Asylum Accommodation Programme (AAP) was initially set up as one of a range of responses in the Home Office to tackle a growing demand of asylum accommodation to reduce reliance on costly contingency options such as hotels, looking specifically at large sites and vessels. To date the Programme has delivered two sites (Wethersfield and the Bibby Stockholm) and continues to progress a pipeline of additional sites.

The Asylum Accommodation Programme has now captured over 1,000 lessons from sites delivered, as well as those that never made it through to delivery.   As lessons have been learned, the Programme undertook a strategic refresh in Spring 2024 and is aiming to deliver a more flexible estate, working closely with local authorities and statutory partners and in collaboration with other government departments. We will ensure that lessons are continually learned and applied. These lessons identified are implemented and applied to future sites via a detailed ‘Stage Gate’ process, ensuring the correct due diligence and decision-making is carried out before investment decisions are made.

Decisions made by the programme relating to targets are decided based on various assessments, outlined in the business case, which is approved both internally and externally, such as by HMT.

A number of proposals from local authorities expressing interest in working on the pilots have been shortlisted, however further progression will be subject to ongoing due diligence, funding and collaboration and no contractual agreements will be set up until a final shortlist is agreed. We continue to engage with LAs across the UK and are focused on delivering mutual benefits regarding a more locally led model, increasing overall supply of temporary accommodation suitable for multiple cohorts and delivering additional community benefits, to be designed in partnership with individual LAs.

The Home Office is working with a range of strategic partners to deliver accommodation plans, including collaboration with other government departments, such as MHCLG, MoD and DHSC. We are also engaging with Local Authorities through ongoing Full Dispersal and accommodation pilot plans, promoting community cohesion and joint initiatives.

The government is investing £500 million to develop this accommodation model, developed in consultation with LAs. This funding will be delivered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in partnership with the Home Office and local councils, in order to deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers. This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels.

Community cohesion is fully considered in site selection. We are prioritising models that give control back to communities, reduce pressure on local services, and deliver fairer distribution across the country.

We are unable to provide commentary on individual sites in the scope of the programme. Decisions on the use of alternative asylum accommodation sites will be made on a site-by-site basis, and we will continue to work closely with stakeholders and in compliance with published policy.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, which smaller to medium sites are being progressed under the Asylum Accommodation Programme.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Asylum Accommodation Programme (AAP) was initially set up as one of a range of responses in the Home Office to tackle a growing demand of asylum accommodation to reduce reliance on costly contingency options such as hotels, looking specifically at large sites and vessels. To date the Programme has delivered two sites (Wethersfield and the Bibby Stockholm) and continues to progress a pipeline of additional sites.

The Asylum Accommodation Programme has now captured over 1,000 lessons from sites delivered, as well as those that never made it through to delivery.   As lessons have been learned, the Programme undertook a strategic refresh in Spring 2024 and is aiming to deliver a more flexible estate, working closely with local authorities and statutory partners and in collaboration with other government departments. We will ensure that lessons are continually learned and applied. These lessons identified are implemented and applied to future sites via a detailed ‘Stage Gate’ process, ensuring the correct due diligence and decision-making is carried out before investment decisions are made.

Decisions made by the programme relating to targets are decided based on various assessments, outlined in the business case, which is approved both internally and externally, such as by HMT.

A number of proposals from local authorities expressing interest in working on the pilots have been shortlisted, however further progression will be subject to ongoing due diligence, funding and collaboration and no contractual agreements will be set up until a final shortlist is agreed. We continue to engage with LAs across the UK and are focused on delivering mutual benefits regarding a more locally led model, increasing overall supply of temporary accommodation suitable for multiple cohorts and delivering additional community benefits, to be designed in partnership with individual LAs.

The Home Office is working with a range of strategic partners to deliver accommodation plans, including collaboration with other government departments, such as MHCLG, MoD and DHSC. We are also engaging with Local Authorities through ongoing Full Dispersal and accommodation pilot plans, promoting community cohesion and joint initiatives.

The government is investing £500 million to develop this accommodation model, developed in consultation with LAs. This funding will be delivered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in partnership with the Home Office and local councils, in order to deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers. This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels.

Community cohesion is fully considered in site selection. We are prioritising models that give control back to communities, reduce pressure on local services, and deliver fairer distribution across the country.

We are unable to provide commentary on individual sites in the scope of the programme. Decisions on the use of alternative asylum accommodation sites will be made on a site-by-site basis, and we will continue to work closely with stakeholders and in compliance with published policy.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, with which (a) local authorities, (b) statutory partners and (c) other Departments she is working with on the Asylum Accommodation Programme.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Asylum Accommodation Programme (AAP) was initially set up as one of a range of responses in the Home Office to tackle a growing demand of asylum accommodation to reduce reliance on costly contingency options such as hotels, looking specifically at large sites and vessels. To date the Programme has delivered two sites (Wethersfield and the Bibby Stockholm) and continues to progress a pipeline of additional sites.

The Asylum Accommodation Programme has now captured over 1,000 lessons from sites delivered, as well as those that never made it through to delivery.   As lessons have been learned, the Programme undertook a strategic refresh in Spring 2024 and is aiming to deliver a more flexible estate, working closely with local authorities and statutory partners and in collaboration with other government departments. We will ensure that lessons are continually learned and applied. These lessons identified are implemented and applied to future sites via a detailed ‘Stage Gate’ process, ensuring the correct due diligence and decision-making is carried out before investment decisions are made.

Decisions made by the programme relating to targets are decided based on various assessments, outlined in the business case, which is approved both internally and externally, such as by HMT.

A number of proposals from local authorities expressing interest in working on the pilots have been shortlisted, however further progression will be subject to ongoing due diligence, funding and collaboration and no contractual agreements will be set up until a final shortlist is agreed. We continue to engage with LAs across the UK and are focused on delivering mutual benefits regarding a more locally led model, increasing overall supply of temporary accommodation suitable for multiple cohorts and delivering additional community benefits, to be designed in partnership with individual LAs.

The Home Office is working with a range of strategic partners to deliver accommodation plans, including collaboration with other government departments, such as MHCLG, MoD and DHSC. We are also engaging with Local Authorities through ongoing Full Dispersal and accommodation pilot plans, promoting community cohesion and joint initiatives.

The government is investing £500 million to develop this accommodation model, developed in consultation with LAs. This funding will be delivered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in partnership with the Home Office and local councils, in order to deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers. This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels.

Community cohesion is fully considered in site selection. We are prioritising models that give control back to communities, reduce pressure on local services, and deliver fairer distribution across the country.

We are unable to provide commentary on individual sites in the scope of the programme. Decisions on the use of alternative asylum accommodation sites will be made on a site-by-site basis, and we will continue to work closely with stakeholders and in compliance with published policy.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the Stage Gate status is of each site in the Asylum Accommodation Programme.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Asylum Accommodation Programme (AAP) was initially set up as one of a range of responses in the Home Office to tackle a growing demand of asylum accommodation to reduce reliance on costly contingency options such as hotels, looking specifically at large sites and vessels. To date the Programme has delivered two sites (Wethersfield and the Bibby Stockholm) and continues to progress a pipeline of additional sites.

The Asylum Accommodation Programme has now captured over 1,000 lessons from sites delivered, as well as those that never made it through to delivery.   As lessons have been learned, the Programme undertook a strategic refresh in Spring 2024 and is aiming to deliver a more flexible estate, working closely with local authorities and statutory partners and in collaboration with other government departments. We will ensure that lessons are continually learned and applied. These lessons identified are implemented and applied to future sites via a detailed ‘Stage Gate’ process, ensuring the correct due diligence and decision-making is carried out before investment decisions are made.

Decisions made by the programme relating to targets are decided based on various assessments, outlined in the business case, which is approved both internally and externally, such as by HMT.

A number of proposals from local authorities expressing interest in working on the pilots have been shortlisted, however further progression will be subject to ongoing due diligence, funding and collaboration and no contractual agreements will be set up until a final shortlist is agreed. We continue to engage with LAs across the UK and are focused on delivering mutual benefits regarding a more locally led model, increasing overall supply of temporary accommodation suitable for multiple cohorts and delivering additional community benefits, to be designed in partnership with individual LAs.

The Home Office is working with a range of strategic partners to deliver accommodation plans, including collaboration with other government departments, such as MHCLG, MoD and DHSC. We are also engaging with Local Authorities through ongoing Full Dispersal and accommodation pilot plans, promoting community cohesion and joint initiatives.

The government is investing £500 million to develop this accommodation model, developed in consultation with LAs. This funding will be delivered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in partnership with the Home Office and local councils, in order to deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers. This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels.

Community cohesion is fully considered in site selection. We are prioritising models that give control back to communities, reduce pressure on local services, and deliver fairer distribution across the country.

We are unable to provide commentary on individual sites in the scope of the programme. Decisions on the use of alternative asylum accommodation sites will be made on a site-by-site basis, and we will continue to work closely with stakeholders and in compliance with published policy.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what additional sites are included within the pipeline for the Asylum Accommodation Programme.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Asylum Accommodation Programme (AAP) was initially set up as one of a range of responses in the Home Office to tackle a growing demand of asylum accommodation to reduce reliance on costly contingency options such as hotels, looking specifically at large sites and vessels. To date the Programme has delivered two sites (Wethersfield and the Bibby Stockholm) and continues to progress a pipeline of additional sites.

The Asylum Accommodation Programme has now captured over 1,000 lessons from sites delivered, as well as those that never made it through to delivery.   As lessons have been learned, the Programme undertook a strategic refresh in Spring 2024 and is aiming to deliver a more flexible estate, working closely with local authorities and statutory partners and in collaboration with other government departments. We will ensure that lessons are continually learned and applied. These lessons identified are implemented and applied to future sites via a detailed ‘Stage Gate’ process, ensuring the correct due diligence and decision-making is carried out before investment decisions are made.

Decisions made by the programme relating to targets are decided based on various assessments, outlined in the business case, which is approved both internally and externally, such as by HMT.

A number of proposals from local authorities expressing interest in working on the pilots have been shortlisted, however further progression will be subject to ongoing due diligence, funding and collaboration and no contractual agreements will be set up until a final shortlist is agreed. We continue to engage with LAs across the UK and are focused on delivering mutual benefits regarding a more locally led model, increasing overall supply of temporary accommodation suitable for multiple cohorts and delivering additional community benefits, to be designed in partnership with individual LAs.

The Home Office is working with a range of strategic partners to deliver accommodation plans, including collaboration with other government departments, such as MHCLG, MoD and DHSC. We are also engaging with Local Authorities through ongoing Full Dispersal and accommodation pilot plans, promoting community cohesion and joint initiatives.

The government is investing £500 million to develop this accommodation model, developed in consultation with LAs. This funding will be delivered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in partnership with the Home Office and local councils, in order to deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers. This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels.

Community cohesion is fully considered in site selection. We are prioritising models that give control back to communities, reduce pressure on local services, and deliver fairer distribution across the country.

We are unable to provide commentary on individual sites in the scope of the programme. Decisions on the use of alternative asylum accommodation sites will be made on a site-by-site basis, and we will continue to work closely with stakeholders and in compliance with published policy.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, when the strategic refresh of the Asylum Accommodation Programme was undertaken.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Asylum Accommodation Programme (AAP) was initially set up as one of a range of responses in the Home Office to tackle a growing demand of asylum accommodation to reduce reliance on costly contingency options such as hotels, looking specifically at large sites and vessels. To date the Programme has delivered two sites (Wethersfield and the Bibby Stockholm) and continues to progress a pipeline of additional sites.

The Asylum Accommodation Programme has now captured over 1,000 lessons from sites delivered, as well as those that never made it through to delivery.   As lessons have been learned, the Programme undertook a strategic refresh in Spring 2024 and is aiming to deliver a more flexible estate, working closely with local authorities and statutory partners and in collaboration with other government departments. We will ensure that lessons are continually learned and applied. These lessons identified are implemented and applied to future sites via a detailed ‘Stage Gate’ process, ensuring the correct due diligence and decision-making is carried out before investment decisions are made.

Decisions made by the programme relating to targets are decided based on various assessments, outlined in the business case, which is approved both internally and externally, such as by HMT.

A number of proposals from local authorities expressing interest in working on the pilots have been shortlisted, however further progression will be subject to ongoing due diligence, funding and collaboration and no contractual agreements will be set up until a final shortlist is agreed. We continue to engage with LAs across the UK and are focused on delivering mutual benefits regarding a more locally led model, increasing overall supply of temporary accommodation suitable for multiple cohorts and delivering additional community benefits, to be designed in partnership with individual LAs.

The Home Office is working with a range of strategic partners to deliver accommodation plans, including collaboration with other government departments, such as MHCLG, MoD and DHSC. We are also engaging with Local Authorities through ongoing Full Dispersal and accommodation pilot plans, promoting community cohesion and joint initiatives.

The government is investing £500 million to develop this accommodation model, developed in consultation with LAs. This funding will be delivered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in partnership with the Home Office and local councils, in order to deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers. This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels.

Community cohesion is fully considered in site selection. We are prioritising models that give control back to communities, reduce pressure on local services, and deliver fairer distribution across the country.

We are unable to provide commentary on individual sites in the scope of the programme. Decisions on the use of alternative asylum accommodation sites will be made on a site-by-site basis, and we will continue to work closely with stakeholders and in compliance with published policy.

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 has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on reducing inflation of food and drink.

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

Over the past year, Defra Ministers have regularly engaged with HM Treasury Ministers on cost-of-living pressures, including the inflationary impacts on food and drink.

The Child Poverty Taskforce provides a helpful cross-Whitehall forum for ministers across departments, including HM Treasury, to discuss and align measures to reduce household costs and improve access to affordable essentials. In parallel, Defra’s food strategy is developing policies to ensure that individuals across the country have access to affordable, nutritious food.

As a Government, we have taken the decisions needed to stabilise the public finances, but we recognise there is more to do to ease cost-of-living, which continues to place pressure on working households.

That’s why we’ve raised the minimum wage, extended the £3 bus fare cap, expanded free school meals to over half a million more children, and are rolling out free breakfast clubs for every child in the country.

Our commitment to the Triple Lock means that 12 million pensioners will receive an increase of up to £470 a year, worth £1,900 over the Parliament.

Through our Plan for Change we’re going further and faster to put more money in people's pockets.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has had recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for the national semiconductor strategy.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Semiconductors have been confirmed by the UK government as one of six priority frontier technologies in the recently published Industrial Strategy Digital and Technologies sector plan. During the development of the Industrial Strategy, the Department met regularly with HM Treasury and the Department for Business and Trade to discuss how to best support the frontier technologies, including semiconductors.

This led to several announcements including £19 million for a new UK Semiconductor Centre to coordinate the sector and act as a “front door” for international cooperation, £35 million towards a UK-wide skills programme to grow the talent pipeline, and £25 million for two new “Innovation and Knowledge Centres” that will enable researchers to work with industry to commercialise research in emerging semiconductor technologies.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions his Department has had with HM Treasury on improving communication between his Department and HMRC on (a) cases involving voluntary National Insurance contributions paid while working abroad and (b) other matters.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

We work closely with HMRC on Voluntary National Insurance Contributions, sharing information where appropriate and proactively identifying ways we can improve our working practices. This includes Voluntary National Insurance Contribution related work.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increasing the 15% tax rate paid by bookmakers on racing to align with the 21% tax rate on online gaming on the number of jobs in the horse racing industry.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

There has been ministerial engagement between my Department and His Majesty’s Treasury to ensure that they are aware of the specific way British horseracing is funded and the potential implications of any changes to taxation.

Future proposals on Gambling Duties are a matter for HMT, should legislative changes come about, we expect them to be accompanied by tax and impact notes from HMT, as is standard practice.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of aligning the 15% tax rate paid by bookmakers on racing with the 21% tax rate on online gaming on the horse racing industry.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

There has been ministerial engagement between my Department and His Majesty’s Treasury to ensure that they are aware of the specific way British horseracing is funded and the potential implications of any changes to taxation.

Future proposals on Gambling Duties are a matter for HMT, should legislative changes come about, we expect them to be accompanied by tax and impact notes from HMT, as is standard practice.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of harmonising gambling tax rates on the horseracing industry.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

There has been ministerial engagement between my Department and His Majesty’s Treasury to ensure that they are aware of the specific way British horseracing is funded and the potential implications of any changes to taxation.

Future proposals on Gambling Duties are a matter for HMT, should legislative changes come about, we expect them to be accompanied by tax and impact notes from HMT, as is standard practice.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 69881 on Transport: Cost Benefit Analysis, whether her Department will make business case documents available for each scheme ahead of the Full Business Case stage.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

For the 50 schemes referenced in the Secretary of State’s statement on 8 July 2025, detailed Green Book analyses, costs, and benefit cost ratios for each scheme have not been published as a single package

The scheme-level business cases and economic assessments for projects in the Government Major Projects Portfolio are published as they are finalised and reach the appropriate stage in the investment process. Summary information on costs and benefit cost ratios for major transport schemes may also be found in the Department for Transport’s Major Projects Portfolio, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/major-projects-data

In the case of Major Road Network schemes, the business cases belong to the relevant local authorities. This information is therefore available directly from them, once a scheme is approved at the Full Business Case (FBC) stage. Whilst we encourage them to publish these, it is their decision whether to publish their business cases on their respective websites.

Detailed information on Strategic Road Network (SRN) schemes is available in the applications for planning consent, available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website. Decisions to select schemes were based on evidence assessed against a wide range of criteria, in line with the HM Treasury Green book and the Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance.

More information about rail enhancement schemes over the SR period is featured in the UK infrastructure pipeline published on 11 July, which government has committed to update regularly.

There are no plans to publish officials’ advice to Ministers regarding the schemes in question. As each scheme progresses, further documentation is released and made available on gov.uk as appropriate. The Government is committed to transparency and will continue to make business case documents available in line with Green Book and Treasury guidance as schemes move forward.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 69881 on Transport: Cost Benefit Analysis, whether detailed Green Book analyses, costs, and benefit cost ratios for each scheme (a) had been calculated at the point of selection and (b) have been calculated.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

For the 50 schemes referenced in the Secretary of State’s statement on 8 July 2025, detailed Green Book analyses, costs, and benefit cost ratios for each scheme have not been published as a single package

The scheme-level business cases and economic assessments for projects in the Government Major Projects Portfolio are published as they are finalised and reach the appropriate stage in the investment process. Summary information on costs and benefit cost ratios for major transport schemes may also be found in the Department for Transport’s Major Projects Portfolio, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/major-projects-data

In the case of Major Road Network schemes, the business cases belong to the relevant local authorities. This information is therefore available directly from them, once a scheme is approved at the Full Business Case (FBC) stage. Whilst we encourage them to publish these, it is their decision whether to publish their business cases on their respective websites.

Detailed information on Strategic Road Network (SRN) schemes is available in the applications for planning consent, available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website. Decisions to select schemes were based on evidence assessed against a wide range of criteria, in line with the HM Treasury Green book and the Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance.

More information about rail enhancement schemes over the SR period is featured in the UK infrastructure pipeline published on 11 July, which government has committed to update regularly.

There are no plans to publish officials’ advice to Ministers regarding the schemes in question. As each scheme progresses, further documentation is released and made available on gov.uk as appropriate. The Government is committed to transparency and will continue to make business case documents available in line with Green Book and Treasury guidance as schemes move forward.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 69881 on Transport: Cost Benefit Analysis, what criteria was used to select each project; and when she will publish details.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

For the 50 schemes referenced in the Secretary of State’s statement on 8 July 2025, detailed Green Book analyses, costs, and benefit cost ratios for each scheme have not been published as a single package

The scheme-level business cases and economic assessments for projects in the Government Major Projects Portfolio are published as they are finalised and reach the appropriate stage in the investment process. Summary information on costs and benefit cost ratios for major transport schemes may also be found in the Department for Transport’s Major Projects Portfolio, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/major-projects-data

In the case of Major Road Network schemes, the business cases belong to the relevant local authorities. This information is therefore available directly from them, once a scheme is approved at the Full Business Case (FBC) stage. Whilst we encourage them to publish these, it is their decision whether to publish their business cases on their respective websites.

Detailed information on Strategic Road Network (SRN) schemes is available in the applications for planning consent, available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website. Decisions to select schemes were based on evidence assessed against a wide range of criteria, in line with the HM Treasury Green book and the Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance.

More information about rail enhancement schemes over the SR period is featured in the UK infrastructure pipeline published on 11 July, which government has committed to update regularly.

There are no plans to publish officials’ advice to Ministers regarding the schemes in question. As each scheme progresses, further documentation is released and made available on gov.uk as appropriate. The Government is committed to transparency and will continue to make business case documents available in line with Green Book and Treasury guidance as schemes move forward.

Found: incomes above £150,000.34 31 NHS Business Service Authority, Resource Accounts 2025-2025 32 HM Treasury

Found: have a view of funding available for the programme SR4 Apr 2025: HMPPS’s SR bid submitted to HM Treasury

Found: from the following bodies to obtain their views on DWP’s approach to tackling overpayments: • HM Treasury

Found: sixth forms. 3 Figures are in real terms at 2024-25 prices using GDP defl ators at market prices (HM Treasury

Found: HM Treasury administered this funding in collaboration with the Evaluation Task Force (Cabinet Office

Found: in a timely manner. 2 During this pay round, you will receive evidence from my department, HM Treasury

Found: as those that had increased their staff headcount and sales turnover in the last 12 months. 3 HMT

Found: UKEF operates under an Exposure Management Framework (EMF) agreed with HM Treasury that is designed

Found: and you have undertaken the full due diligence, you should seek confirmation of c onsent from HM Treasury

Found: which has two primary objectives, two secondary objectives, then finally recommendations from HM Treasury

Found: In accordance with regulations on Managing Public Money3, HM Treasury dated May 2023, the Grant (and

Found: Padeswood outputs will directly support departmental outcomes across DESNZ, His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT

Found: Business Case, Full Business Case (FBC), or Programme Business Case within four months of receiving HM Treasury

Found: PPM, Procurement, Property and Construction, Strategy, Technical.Payroll staff CostsPlease refer to HMT

Found: Financial Conduct Authority and the Financial Ombudsman Service on modernising redress,19 and by HM Treasury

Found: severance payments: Form A When to use this form You should use Form A to seek prior approval from HM Treasury

Found: year, as measured by the milestones in our Business Plan, utilising fully (within 0.1% against an HMT

Found: The FSA is financed through the annual Supply Estimates process managed by HM Treasury (HMT).

Found: During the year, the CMA engaged with HM Treasury through the 2025 Spending Review Process (SR25), with

Found: during the year 90.2 11.8 90.2 11.8 Penalties payable to HM Treasury 14.4 0.2 14.4 0.2 Penalties

Found: In our interactions with the new ministers and in our engagement with colleagues at the DWP and HM Treasury

Found: , to achieve a significant environmental improvement.References242 References References (1) HM Treasury

Found: per year by 2028-29, supporting young people into priority sectors, including clean energy.31 31 HM Treasury

Found: HM Treasury administered this funding in collaboration with the Evaluation Task Force (Cabinet Office

Found: in a timely manner. 2 During this pay round, you will receive evidence from my department, HM Treasury

Found: as those that had increased their staff headcount and sales turnover in the last 12 months. 3 HMT

Found: which has two primary objectives, two secondary objectives, then finally recommendations from HM Treasury

Found: from related surrogate markets and econometric tech niques to estimate a value for a good or service (HMT

Found: observed outcomes tend to be best suited for the evaluation of complex, multi-faceted programmes (HMT

Found: Within 14 days of the end of the calendar month, the UK branch of the DP must send a report to HM Treasury

Found: Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation HM Treasury

Found: statement of accounts for each financial year in accordance with directions given by Ministers (or HM Treasury

Found: financial sanctions in the UK should be addressed to: Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation HM Treasury

Found: financial sanctions in the UK should be addressed to: Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation HM Treasury

Found: financial sanctions in the UK should be addressed to: Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation HM Treasury

Found: financial sanctions in the UK should be addressed to: Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation HM Treasury

Found: financial sanctions in the UK should be addressed to: Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation HM Treasury

Found: financial sanctions in the UK should be addressed to: Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation HM Treasury

Found: • Business case r efreshes for both programmes and regular touch points with HM Treasury to give

Found: • Business case r efreshes for both programmes and regular touch points with HM Treasury to give

Found: Today, HM Treasury and the Department of Business and Trade are publishing an update to the Plan, setting

Found: study set-up performance, how they are meeting the terms of research contracts outside the NHS HM Treasury

Found: Commons London SW1A 0AA 6 October 2025 Our Ref: MC2025/00979 Your Ref: 77218 Dear Max Wilkinson, HM Treasury

Found: Values in real terms were calculated by application of the HM Treasury Gross Domestic Product deflators

Found: Any correspondence between Kate Forbes and HM Treasury concerning debt limits, borrowing powers, or related

Found: Any correspondence between the first minister and HM Treasury concerning debt limits, borrowing powers

Found: 9 UN, The 17 Goals, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs - Sustainable Development 10 HM Treasury

Found: Government, Explanatory Memorandum, page 245 41 Finance Committee, RoP, 2 July 2025, paragraph 44 42 HM Treasury

Found: Senedd Commission, Supplementary Budget 2025-26: Explanatory Memorandum, May 2025, page 8 13 HM Treasury

Found: problematic in the Welsh context as currently revenue from fines imposed by the courts is returned to HM Treasury