Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

The Government should reform business rates, so small and micro businesses are assessed based on actual profitability rather than property rental values. We believe this would create a fairer system that reflects modern trading conditions and supports financially vulnerable high-street businesses.

We call on the Government to increase the National Minimum Wage by 10% from April 2026 for those aged 21 and over because of raising council tax, water , electricity , gas etc.

Create a fund for every child from birth, giving them £5,000 (inflation-linked) in a government-backed Stocks & Shares ISA, invested in low-risk diversified funds with parental and post-18 top-ups allowed, to transition into a personal pension as they age and help reduce state dependence in old age.

We ask the Government to change the tax system so essential bills are paid before income tax is taken. People should cover unavoidable costs like mortgage or rent, council tax, gas, electricity and water first. This would reduce pressure on working households

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Question to the Home Office:

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

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

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

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

Question to the Home Office:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Question to the Cabinet Office:

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

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

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

*latest available

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

Question to the Cabinet Office:

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

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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