Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she make it her policy to introduce a new business rates system before the 2026-27 financial year.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered providing Income Tax relief for party political donations.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to respond to the Technical consultation - Inheritance Tax on pensions: liability, reporting and payment which closed on 22 January 2025.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, from 6 April 2027 most unused pension funds and death benefits will be included within the value of a person’s estate for inheritance tax purposes.

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure the full amount of Gift Aid claimed by online fundraising platforms reaches charities.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential role of chartered accountants in the use of disguised remuneration tax avoidance schemes.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential role of recruitment companies in the use of disguised remuneration tax avoidance schemes.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason people who have settled have been excluded from the review into Loan Charge settlements.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason she has ruled out scheme promoters paying a proportion of Loan Charge liabilities.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an estimate of the potential impact of the increase in employer National Insurance contributions on the average cost of operation of pub chains.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.

The Government decided to protect the smallest businesses from these changes by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that this year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, and more than half of all employers will either gain or will see no change. It means employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage without paying employer NICs.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the increase in employer National Insurance contributions on pubs.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.

The Government decided to protect the smallest businesses from these changes by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that this year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, and more than half of all employers will either gain or will see no change. It means employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage without paying employer NICs.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of making the (a) marketing and (b) operation of disguised remuneration schemes a criminal offence.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of conducting a review into the adequacy of the system of (a) oversight and (b) accountability of HMRC.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal support is available to (a) churches and (b) faith-based charities facing (i) increased energy costs and (ii) a decline in donations.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the increase in employer National Insurance contributions on independent businesses in rural constituencies.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer National Insurance contributions (NICs). The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.

The Government decided to protect the smallest businesses from these changes by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that this year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, and more than half of all employers will either gain or will see no change. It means employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage without paying employer NICs.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to improve connections between the Greater Manchester City Region and (a) Yorkshire, (b) the Liverpool City Region and (c) North Wales.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

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

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the Infrastructure Strategy will support infrastructure enhancements in the North West.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support the Northern Arc infrastructure project.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

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

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the Infrastructure Strategy will support infrastructure enhancements in Lincolnshire.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

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

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of farmers who will be impacted by changes to (a) Agriculture Property Relief and (b) Business Property Relief.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

These reforms are expected to result in up to 520 estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 46726 on Treasury: Information Officers, what the total annual cost is for the 40.9 full-time equivalent Government Communication Service professionals.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury’s communications pay budget for the last financial year was £2,775,204.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the decision of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16, what discussions they have had with the Financial Conduct Authority regarding possible changes to the UK Listing Rules Sourcebook with regard to UKLR 6.6.6R(9) to (11), UKLR 6.6.14 and UKLR 6 Annex 1R.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

As the independent financial services regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority is responsible for the UK Listings Rules.

The Government regularly discusses a range of issues with the FCA.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Timpson on 13 May (HL Deb col 2055), how much of the extra £1 billion for policing will be allocated to Northern Ireland.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

As set out in the 2025-26 final police funding settlement, overall funding for the policing system in England and Wales will be up to £19.6 billion, an increase of up to £1.1 billion when compared to the 2024-25 funding settlement

This funding is for England and Wales. Policing is devolved in Northern Ireland and so the Barnett formula was applied in the normal way to the Home Office DEL budget, providing Barnett consequentials to the Northern Ireland Executive.

The Northern Ireland Executive's Phase 1 Spending Review settlement is the largest in real terms of any settlement since devolution, at £18.2 billion in 2025-26, including an additional £1.5 billion through the operation of the Barnett formula.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding by the Financial Conduct Authority that one in ten people have no savings, and what assessment they have made of the implications for national financial security.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to supporting people of all income levels and at all stages of life to save. We know that financially resilient households are better placed to weather income shocks and manage variable incomes.

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

The Government has also committed to publishing a financial inclusion strategy later this year. Savings are part of the terms of reference of the new Financial Inclusion Committee which is supporting the development of the strategy, and the Committee has agreed to focus on emergency savings as a priority.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of international investors in the UK.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The ONS is responsible for collecting and publishing official statistics related to the economy, population, and society at national, regional and local levels.

The ONS publish annual statistics on inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which are available on their website. The ONS do not publish figures on the number of international investors in the UK.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing the level of taxation on online gambling.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is currently consulting on proposals to simplify the gambling tax system by merging the three current taxes that cover remote (including online) gambling into one.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of taxing high-polluting corporations to help support net zero initiatives.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to maintaining an ambitious carbon pricing scheme to ensure that polluters continue to pay for their emissions. The UK’s main carbon pricing scheme is the Emissions Trading Scheme, which covers emissions from power generation, energy intensive industries and aviation (domestic, UK-EEA and UK-Gibraltar flights). The ETS is one of the most cost-effective tools for promoting decarbonisation and plays a key role in helping the UK achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050.

The UK ETS raised approximately £3.5bn in revenue in 2024/25.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of people who claimed the remittance basis and will use the temporary repatriation facility in the last year.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The numbers of non-domiciled taxpayers taxed on the remittance basis are published in Table 5 of the latest Non Domicile Taxpayer Statistics accessible for download here. The latest available year for numbers taxed on the remittance basis is tax year ending 2022.

The Temporary Repatriation facility began in 2025/26 so no data is held for the past year.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will meet with the hon. Member for Christchurch to discuss the Bank of England (Inflation Targets) Bill.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

I would be happy to meet with the Honourable Member for Christchurch to discuss the private members bill he introduced on Bank of England (Inflation Targets) as the Chancellor’s parliamentary deputy on economic issues.

My office will contact the Honourable Member in due course to arrange a meeting.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39391 on Cars: Credit, whether she has had discussions with stakeholders on the future sustainability of the motor finance market.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government recognises the critical role the motor finance market plays in allowing people to own their own vehicle.

The government is engaging with a broad range of stakeholders to monitor issues in the motor finance market.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people claimed the remittance basis in each of the last five tax years.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The numbers of non-domiciled taxpayers taxed on the remittance basis are published in Table 5 of the latest Non Domicile Taxpayer Statistics accessible for download here. The latest available year for numbers taxed on the remittance basis is tax year ending 2022.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many referrals has HMRC received from local enforcement authorities in relation to the penalty regime introduced through the Tobacco Products (Traceability and Security Features) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has received 312 referrals from local enforcement authorities in relation to the penalty regime introduced through the Tobacco Products (Traceability and Security Features) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.

These regulations extended powers to enable Trading Standards to tackle non-compliance with the UK’s Tobacco Track and Trace system, which regulates tobacco at all stages of the supply chain, from manufacture through to retail. Trading Standards can make referrals to HMRC on potential breaches of the law, for HMRC to impose penalties.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) creditors and (b) debt collection agencies (i) respond to customer enquiries and (ii) amend credit files in a timely manner.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Consumer credit lenders and debt collection agencies are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and must comply with its rules. Under the FCA’s Consumer Duty, providing effective customer support is a key requirement. Regulated firms must provide customer support that is prompt, accessible, and easy to understand. The FCA also expects firms to regularly review and improve their customer support processes.

In accordance with data protection laws, a person’s credit file must accurately reflect their credit history. If a consumer thinks their credit record is inaccurate, then they should first contact their lender or the relevant reference agency (CRA) and ask them to update their details. If a consumer believes these organisations have not corrected the inaccurate information they have reported, they can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The ICO enforces data protection laws and may take action if it finds the CRA has failed to make necessary corrections.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason HM Treasury did not meet (a) 81 and (b) 77 per cent of its target response times to correspondence from MPs and Peers in (i) Q3 and (ii) Q4 of 2024.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Since July 2024, Treasury ministers have received over 7,000 pieces of correspondence from Members. That is significantly more than usual, creating a significant backlog.

Officials and Private Offices are working hard to reduce the backlog and clear outstanding cases as quickly as possible.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 38924 on Chelsea Football Club: Sales, what progress the Financial Sanctions Implementation Office has made on ensuring that the frozen proceeds from the sale of Chelsea FC are sent to humanitarian causes in Ukraine.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion.

We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far.

While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this matter through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine receive the benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which tobacco industry pricing strategies undermine the objectives of the minimum excise tax and tobacco excise tax to reduce smoking prevalence.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Like most businesses across the economy, tobacco producers and retailers are free to set prices for their products. Evidence suggests that close to 100% of tax increases, and in many cases more, is passed through to consumers through prices. How this is distributed across products is a matter for the individual firms.

The UK has some of the highest tobacco taxes in the world which have helped reduce smoking prevalence to 11.9%.

In order to protect the public health objectives of tobacco taxation the Minimum Excise Tax sets a minimum amount of duty collected on a pack of cigarettes. This discourages manufacturers from selling cheap cigarettes as it reduces the profitability of cigarettes sold at or below the trigger price of £13.59 for a pack of 20 cigarettes.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make a comparative assessment of the outturn and forecast data for public sector net (a) borrowing, (b) debt, excluding Bank of England debt, and (c) financial liabilities for each financial year from 2024-25 until 2029-30 (i) before and (ii) after 29 July 2024.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The information requested is publicly available. Forecast data is published on the OBR’s website https://obr.uk/publications/. Outturn public finances data is published on the ONS website https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/governmentpublicsectorandtaxes/publicsectorfinance.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the government put the public finances on a sustainable path by strengthening the fiscal framework, including announcing new fiscal rules, and taking difficult decisions on tax, welfare and spending.

In March 2025, the Office for Budget Responsibility confirmed that the government is on track to meet its fiscal rules.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2025 to Question 47820 on Office for Value for Money: Aviation, if she will make it her policy to instruct the Office for Value for Money to undertake an assessment into the value for money of Ministers’ use of non-scheduled flights.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor tasked the Office for Value for Money with supporting Value for Money (VfM) decisions as part of the spending review, including supporting departments to develop efficiency targets underpinned by credible delivery plans, scrutinising investment proposals and conducting studies into cross-cutting issues where there is a high-risk of poor VfM. The OVfM will also recommend reforms to the spending framework. The OVfM’s remit has not changed.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 46841 on Personal Care Services: Licensing, how many hairdresser and barber businesses has HMRC investigated following evidence suggesting that they may have misclassified individuals for tax purposes in the last five years.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC is committed to ensuring the tax system operates fairly and efficiently, creating a level playing field for all compliant businesses.

Businesses providing personal care services, including hairdressers and barbers often operate using the ‘rent-a-chair’ business model. This unique but legitimate business model, unless applied correctly, can result in individuals being wrongly classed as self-employed for employment purposes.

HMRC are committed to tackling false self-employment and will investigate evidence that suggests businesses have misclassified individuals for tax purposes.

HMRC have worked with trade bodies for this sector to develop new educational material including a YouTube video and have published guidance on GOV.UK to better explain the employment status and tax implications of different business models, including the ‘rent-a-chair’ model. Details can be found at: https://youtu.be/5o3au6PyXG8 & https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-employment-status-if-you-work-in-hair-and-beauty.

HMRC does not segment its data on businesses who have been investigated for misclassification of individuals for tax purposes by sector.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the oral contribution by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury of 3 March 2025, Official Report, column 40WH, on what evidential basis she estimated that 100 additional private schools would close over three years.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government published the following Policy Paper Private school fees — VAT measure - GOV.UK . The basis for the estimate of school closures is set out in this paper under the heading ‘Impact on business including civil society organisations’.

Further explanation of the methodology behind the estimate of the demand reduction referred to in the above Paper is set out in the Annex to the Government_Response_to_the_Technical_Note_on_Applying_VAT_to_Private_School_Fees_and_Removing_the_Business_Rates_Charitable_Rate_Relief.pdf, under the heading ‘Demand’. This was also published at the Autumn Budget.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48452 on Housing: Valuation, where the Valuation Office Agency obtains scaled (a) plans and (b) maps to determine plot size.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

In addition to plans derived from the direct measurement of the property, the VOA uses plans and maps from online digital mapping platforms, ONS surveys, planning portals, property developers, estate agents and other data within the public domain.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48449 on Financial Services: Environment Protection, which municipal green investment (a) bonds and (b) loans being offered by local authorities in England are regulated by the (i) Financial Conduct Authority, (ii) Prudential Regulation Authority, (iii) Financial Ombudsman Service and (iv) Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 establishes a framework whereby any person, whether an individual or firm, can only carry out a regulated activity by way of business if they are authorised by the appropriate regulator or are exempt from the authorisation requirement. Under this framework, the government determines which activities are regulated activities, by specifying them in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 (RAO).

Where local authorities are the issuers of bonds, or borrowers under loans, they themselves would not require authorisation from a financial services regulator to act in that capacity, and would not be subject to regulation by the financial services regulators.

Financial services firms facilitating access to such funding by local authorities may, depending on the circumstances, be subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority, and investors may be eligible to refer disputes with the regulated firm to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Depending on the precise circumstances of any products offered, compensation in the case of default may be available under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, but this may not always be the case.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to launch a call for evidence as part of the Loan Charge review.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has 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 does not think it is right for people affected by the Loan Charge to have to wait years for any progress on bringing this matter to a close for them and has therefore ensured that the review has a focused remit, allowing it to report by this summer. The Government will respond by Autumn Budget 2025.

The terms of reference make clear that it will be for the reviewer to decide what arrangements are needed to engage with stakeholders during the review.

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with HMRC on the effectiveness of using mediation in tax disputes.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service can help in cases where there is a dispute. An HMRC mediator will work with the customer, their agent and the HMRC caseworker to explore points that might have been misunderstood and try and reach agreement on a way forward.

If a case is accepted into HMRC’s ADR process, it will typically incur no cost to the customer, unless they choose to be represented by an agent, or hire a mediator of their own choice to co-mediate. A mediator will aim to conclude the process within 4 months.

In 2024-25, of the cases accepted into the ADR process, 88.7% of these were resolved. This illustrates the benefit of ADR in appropriate cases in resolving and clarifying points to ensure both parties come to an agreement and prevent unnecessary litigation.

A key component of successful ADR is the collaboration of both parties to the dispute working towards an agreed outcome within the parameters of ensuring the correct tax at the correct time.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of central government departments and their arm’s-length bodies submitted their financial accounts to the National Audit Office by the statutory deadline in each of the past 10 financial years.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government does not hold or monitor data on when departments and their arm’s-length bodies submit their accounts to the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG).

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the decision of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16, whether they plan to issue guidance to the Financial Conduct Authority to ensure that biological sex is used in pay gap analysis reports.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government will review and update its general policy and guidance wherever necessary to ensure it complies with the latest legal requirements.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the contribution of the Sikh population to the UK tax intake.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) does not hold information on tax intake from the Sikh population.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help ensure access to cash in Ashfield constituency.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Its rules require the reasonable provision of free cash withdrawal and deposit facilities for personal current accounts.  Data from LINK (the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network) identifies 66 ATMs in Ashfield, including 47 free-to-use ATMs. The UK’s largest banks and building societies are required to assess the impact of a closure or material alteration of a relevant cash withdrawal or deposit facility and put in place a new service if necessary.

Assessments are undertaken by LINK, the industry designated coordinating body responsible for conducting cash access assessments. LINK take into account a number of factors including those unique to each location, such as the size and vulnerability of the population and whether it is reasonable for people to travel to nearby facilities, factoring in geographic barriers such as hills, rivers and major roads.

Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. Further information about submitting a cash access request can be found on LINK’s website.

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to expand the scope of the Loan Charge review to include (a) contractors and (b) other parties responsible for promoting the scheme.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has 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 does not think it is right for people affected by the Loan Charge to have to wait years for any progress on bringing this matter to a close for them and has therefore ensured that the review has a focused remit, allowing it to report by this summer. The Government will respond by Autumn Budget 2025.

The terms of reference make clear that it will be for the reviewer to decide what arrangements are needed to engage with stakeholders during the review.

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

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending business rates relief for small businesses.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Currently, Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) is available to businesses with a single property below a set rateable value. Eligible properties under £12,000 will receive 100 per cent relief, which means over a third of businesses in England (more than 700,000) pay no business rates at all. There is also tapered support available to properties valued between £12,000 and £15,000, which an additional c.60,000 businesses benefit from.

The Government is committed to retaining SBRR, which is a permanent relief set down in legislation. As highlighted in the Transforming Business Rates Discussion Paper published at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government is interested in hearing stakeholders’ views on the extent to which the current system acts as a barrier to investment and specifically, whether the current eligibility criteria for SBRR impacts businesses' incentives to invest and expand into a second property.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the contribution of the Sikh population to GDP.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Office for National Statistics is responsible for producing estimates of Gross Domestic Product. However, GDP data do not allow conclusions to be drawn on the impact of specific religious or ethnic demographics, and it is not therefore possible to observe the contribution of the Sikh population to GDP from this data.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what financial contributions they will make to the EU as a result of the UK–EU reset agreement, and when those contributions will commence.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

There will be implementation costs associated with the UK-EU reset agreement, which will be confirmed in due course once we have negotiated the details of the agreement. This will include proportionate contributions in specific and limited areas, such as where access to specific IT systems will help to remove trade barriers for UK firms or manage biosecurity risks. The UK will also negotiate fair financial contributions to the Erasmus+ programme which will reflect the benefits of participation. We will not be making general contributions to the EU budget.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government, whether they will publish the model used to calculate (1) price elasticities, and (2) income elasticities, for tobacco, as referenced in Tobacco duties: forecast methodology, published by the Office for Budgetary Responsibility on 7 March.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) publishes details of their tobacco tax receipt forecast in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO) publication and forecast methodology page. [1] The OBR provides further information on their analysis on request.

[1] https://obr.uk/forecasts-in-depth/tax-by-tax-spend-by-spend/tobacco-duties/

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much they expect to contribute to the European Union under the trade agreement reached on 19 May.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

There will be implementation costs associated with the UK-EU reset agreement, which will be confirmed in due course once we have negotiated the details of the agreement. This will include proportionate contributions in specific and limited areas, such as where access to specific IT systems will help to remove trade barriers for UK firms or manage biosecurity risks. The UK will also negotiate fair financial contributions to the Erasmus+ programme which will reflect the benefits of participation. We will not be making general contributions to the EU budget.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the loan charge on the mental health of loan charge users.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

In January, the Government launched an independent review of the Loan Charge. The Government believes the most important outcome of the review must be to bring the Loan Charge to a close for those people who still owe substantial amounts of money but can see no way to resolve their debts.

The Government recognises the impact that large tax bills can have on taxpayers, especially those who are in vulnerable circumstances.

HMRC continues to provide support for those affected, with agreed manageable payment plans and a well-established Extra Support Service. It has guidance and training in place for all customer advisors or settlement teams on identifying taxpayers who need extra support and providing reasonable adjustments to meet their needs.

Where appropriate, HMRC will signpost taxpayers to voluntary and community organisations and where needed, to a dedicated Samaritans helpline for specialist emotional help, where taxpayers can talk through their concerns and worries.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason HMRC Policy did not meet (a) 100 and (b) 87 per cent of her Department's target response times to correspondence from MPs and Peers in (i) Q3 and (ii) Q4 of 2024.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the honourable member to the answer to question UIN 54166.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 53009 on Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands, for what reason her Department does not hold this information.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Every individual in the UK has a Personal Allowance which they can set against their own income, for Income Tax purposes. The Personal Allowance is the amount of income a person can get before they pay tax. The Personal Allowance threshold was set at £12,570 is for the 2024 to 2025 tax year.

HMRC does not hold the information on the number of taxpayers with earnings below the Personal Allowance for 2024 to 2025 because the Self Assessment filing deadline of 31 January 2026 has not yet been reached and it has not yet received complete end of year reconciliation information for individuals in PAYE.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government why the section on "Best Practice Disclosures—Diversity and Inclusion" of The Government Financial Reporting Manual 2024–25 contains no reference to the mandatory disclosure of external equality, diversity and inclusion spending set out in the Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance published by the Cabinet Office on 14 May 2024; and whether they will revise the Financial Reporting Manual to ensure that departments are aware that they are required to report such expenditure in their annual reports and accounts.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Expenditure Guidance was issued by the Conservative government in May 2024 without due consideration of the standard procedure for incorporating requirements into annual reports and accounts. These requirements were not included in the Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM).

After the publication of the guidance, it was decided that the FReM would not be revised to include mandatory disclosure of external EDI expenditure as such disclosures are unlikely to be financially material.

In line with the current policy, the Cabinet Office intends to publish 2024-25 external EDI spend at the end of the reporting cycle. The Government will keep the FReM under review and will consider any future updates to reporting requirements in light of evolving guidance and policy.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason her Department will not review the decision to provide full compensation to victims of the Equitable Life.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Equitable Life Payment Scheme has been fully wound down and closed since 2016 and there are no plans to reopen any decisions relating to the Payment Scheme or review the £1.5 billion funding allocation previously made to it. 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.

Found: The Return of Industrial Policy in Data, January 2024 37 Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury

Found: Cost to HM Treasury : NONE (Staff restructuring costs funded through reduction in overall salary budget

Found: Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the HM Treasury relating to the follow up on the oral evidence

Found: been managed within tolerances set by the Home Office’s Investment Committee, Cabinet Office, and HMT

Found: See also: The Crown Estate, Our history (accessed 6 May 2025); HM Treasury and The Crown Estate, The

Found: Approval This memorandum has been prepared according to the requirements and guidance set out by HM Treasury

Found: It is essential that the costs are calculated using the HM Treasury Green Book, as this provides recognised

Found: Approval This memorandum has been prepared according to the requirements and guidance set out by HM Treasury

Found: Caxton House Tothill Street LONDON SW1H 9DA ministers@dwp.gov.uk HM Treasury

Found: 20 7219 6232 Social: @CommonsHCLG Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP Chancellor of the Exchequer HM Treasury

Found: Under HMT consolidated budgeting guidance, the commercial net borrowing of public corporations scores

Found: address the twin challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change whilst building the economy. 1 HM Treasury

Found: The CMA has committed to deliver Admin savings over the SR period to meet the HMT ask on back-office

Found: coordinator across government to deliver this investment effectively, working in partnership with HMT

Found: maximising the return on public investment in research which is a core objective across DSIT, UKRI and HMT

Found: Approval This memorandum has been prepared according to the requirements and guidance set out by HM Treasury

Found: In line with the HM Treasury approach to reduce future Reserve access, any requirement to be drawn will

Found: Estimate (HC 777), with the exception of the capital amount which was reduced in agreement with HM Treasury

Found: This figure is also inclusive of initial funding provided by HM Treasury’s (HMT) Reserve for the net

Found: Work continues with HM Treasury on the impact of this upon the Estimate, and DFE has obtained a derogation

Found: More information from HM Treasury on IFRS 16 is available here.

Found: Interest on Scheme Liabilities: the interest rate set by HMT has increased to 5.15% (2024-25: 5.10%)

Found: , benefits, licence renewal, business registration Transparency, multi-agency trust Moderate HMT

Found: the effect of reducing operational capacity down to a level whereby discussions are underway with HMT

Found: Cross-Departmental International Technology Task Force, including representatives from FCDO, MoD, DBT, DSIT, HMT

Found: The key question is whether HM Treasury is adequately resourcing these needs.

Found: these changes are: • £255.9 million for employer National Insurance Contribution changes from the HM Treasury

Found: The process to set the plan has been carefully coordinated between HMT, DSIT, DBT and DHSC, ensuring

Found: successful new product funded through publicly supported R&D should see a small royalty being paid to HMT

Found: 0AA eacom @parliament.uk +44 (0)20 7219 8890 Social: @commons EAC parliament.uk /eacom HM Treasury

Found: checking all the different departments that are involved—Defra, DESNZ, DBT, MHCLG, DFT and, of course, HMT

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

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the life sciences strategy.

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

The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology and their officials have been in regular engagement with the Chancellor, HM Treasury, and colleagues across government on the Life Sciences Strategy and the wider Industrial Strategy. Health and life sciences are key drivers of economic growth, productivity, and global competitiveness—making close collaboration with HM Treasury essential to ensuring the strategy aligns with the government’s broader Plan for Growth. The strategy sets out targeted action to strengthen world-class R&D, attract investment, and accelerate healthcare innovation—supporting high-growth businesses, improving health outcomes, and reinforcing the UK’s global leadership in life sciences.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 46749 on Cabinet Office: Zero Hours Contracts, which business units the 423 staff work for.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office uses zero hours contracts to selectively manage temporary demand. The Cabinet Office Pillars that the 423 contingent labour workers who can be classed as having zero hours contracts are as follows:

National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) – formerly known as the Infrastructure and Projects Authority – 255. Following a recent Machinery of Government change, NISTA is now part of HM Treasury, and these workers will be transferred over to HM Treasury over the summer of 2025. Workers are engaged in this area to assist with external Gateway Reviews, where expert advice is required to review programmes and projects. These external gateway reviewers are only engaged under these contracts when there is no availability within the pool of civil servant gateway reviewers.

Productive and Agile State – 155. Workers are engaged in this area to bring in commercial expertise to help run the GCF Assessment Development Centres, to assess Civil Servants’ commercial abilities for both contract management and wider commercial skills.

Propriety and Constitution – 13. Workers engaged under this Pillar are for the Covid-19 Inquiry, which engages expert witnesses whose services are only required on an ad hoc basis.

Contingent labour contracts should only be used in government where better value alternatives are not available. The Government is continuing to take steps to reduce the use of contingent labour.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 42350 on General Practitioners: Employers' Contributions, how much and what proportion of the £22.6 billion will be allocated to (a) frontline health services, (b) primary care and (c) other services.

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

The £22.6 billion funding increase announced in the 2024 Autumn Budget provided an above inflation increase for all health spending, with an average growth of 3.4% across 2024/25 and 2025/26.

The funding is not ringfenced and becomes part of the overall Department’s budget. It is therefore not possible to easily track how it has been deployed in a way that is distinct to how the overall budget is allocated. In primary care, we’ve made recent announcements to uplift the general practice and community pharmacy contracts, and on front line services we’ve provided an additional £1.8 billion in 2024/25 for elective care, which then rolls forward into 2025/26, which has helped the National Health Service to deliver two million additional operations, scans, and appointments in our first year of the Government.

The £22.6 billion does not include the additional funding that HM Treasury is providing to departments for employer National Insurance contributions.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the annual cost of Great British Energy.

Answered by Baroness Curran

Great British Energy has an estimated total expenditure of £184,403,000 for 2025-26 as set out in the Main Supply Estimates for 2025-26 published by HM Treasury on 15 May 2025.

This constitutes £34,403,000 for Resource Departmental Expenditure and £150,000,000 Capital Departmental Expenditure.

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 increases to betting levies on the horseracing industry.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government recognises the contribution made by horseracing to our regional economies and national cultural life. We are committed to bolstering and protecting this contribution and continue to engage with racing stakeholders on such matters to ensure a secure, sustainable future for the sport.

Future proposals on Gambling Levies are a matter for HMT, and we would encourage all interested parties to engage with ongoing consultations on the matter, which runs until the 21st of July. Should legislative changes come about following this consultation, 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 increases to betting levies on employment within the horseracing industry.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government recognises the contribution made by horseracing to our regional economies and national cultural life. We are committed to bolstering and protecting this contribution and continue to engage with racing stakeholders on such matters to ensure a secure, sustainable future for the sport.

Future proposals on Gambling Levies are a matter for HMT, and we would encourage all interested parties to engage with ongoing consultations on the matter, which runs until the 21st of July. Should legislative changes come about following this consultation, we expect them to be accompanied by tax and impact notes from HMT, as is standard practice.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what representations his Department has made to the Office for National Statistics on the economic classification assessment of British Steel.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

My department is currently working closely with both ONS and HMT to determine the classification of BSL. My department's current expectation is for BSL to be classified as a public corporation and that the situation will remain under review by ONS.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 52225, whether there is a (a) budget cap, (b) indicative range and (c) best estimate of the money allocated in this financial year's capital budget for the purchase of land near Junction 7 of the M3.

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

The New Hospital Programme (NHP) has confirmed the budget allocation for Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s land purchase in this financial year. This does include a budget cap which is based on an estimate of what is expected to be required to complete the land acquisition. The actual funding amount will only be confirmed once the short form business case is approved as per the business case process set out in HM Treasury Green Book.

The trust is currently in the process of developing their short form business case in relation to the purchase of land near Junction 7 of the M3 with support from the NHP.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to his Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 52225 on Hospitals: Basingstoke, what is the timescale for the short form business case for the purchase of land near Junction 7 of the M3.

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

The New Hospital Programme (NHP) has confirmed the budget allocation for Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s land purchase in this financial year. This does include a budget cap which is based on an estimate of what is expected to be required to complete the land acquisition. The actual funding amount will only be confirmed once the short form business case is approved as per the business case process set out in HM Treasury Green Book.

The trust is currently in the process of developing their short form business case in relation to the purchase of land near Junction 7 of the M3 with support from the NHP.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 52340 on Government Departments: Equality, in which departments have decisions on EDI spending controls been delegated to their Permanent Secretary.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The following Departments have formally informed the Cabinet Office that their Minister has delegated the decision to approve external Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) expenditure to the Permanent Secretary:

• Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

• HM Treasury

• Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government

• Department for Business and Trade

• Cabinet Office

• Home Office

• Department for Culture, Media and Sport

• Department for Transport

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2025 to Question 51501 on Sodium Valproate: Compensation, which Government departments he is having discussions with on developing a timetable for implementation of the recommendations of the Hughes Report.

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

The Government is carefully considering the valuable work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and the resulting Hughes Report, which set out options for financial and non-financial redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. Department officials are liaising with other parts of the Government, including the National Health Service, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Department for Business and Trade, HM Treasury, and the devolved administrations, on the needs of patients and on the recommendations. We will be providing an update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report at the earliest opportunity.

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 the proposed single Remote Betting and Gaming Duty on (a) gambling rates and (b) black market gambling rates.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The consultation on the tax treatment of remote gambling is a matter for HM Treasury. I would encourage all interested stakeholders to respond to this consultation, which runs until 21 July. The department continues to engage with His Majesty’s Treasury and if any legislative changes are made to gambling duty following the consultation, they will be accompanied by a tax information and impact note from HM Treasury, 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 proposed single Remote Betting and Gaming Duty.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The consultation on the tax treatment of remote gambling is a matter for HM Treasury. I would encourage all interested stakeholders to respond to this consultation, which runs until 21 July. The department continues to engage with His Majesty’s Treasury and if any legislative changes are made to gambling duty following the consultation, they will be accompanied by a tax information and impact note from HM Treasury, 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 steps she is taking to ensure that lived experience groups are included in the (a) research, (b) prevention and (c) treatment of gambling harms.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The government’s priority is to ensure funding is directed where it is needed most to deliver our objective to further understand and reduce gambling-related harms. DCMS and HMT Ministers have powers to decide how funding is divided between three key strands of work: research, prevention and treatment, and we are establishing robust governance structures to ensure the core aims of the levy are met within each of these strands.

Decisions on how levy funds are spent within research, prevention and treatment lie with commissioning leads. We want a range of expertise, including that of lived experience, to inform commissioning bodies’ efforts to deliver on the government’s objectives across research, prevention and treatment. Commissioning bodies are working at pace to develop spending plans and will update in due course.

Found: Government departments have been in negotiations with HM Treasury over their spending plans for the

Found: Uprated figures are calculated from HM Treasury GDP deflators at market prices, and money GDP March

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Found: Unused funds in employer service accounts expire after 24 months and are returned to HM Treasury, but

Found: Using this feedback, DWP and HMT launched a policy consultation ‘’Pensions Investment Review: Unlocking

Found: Department for Work and Pensions, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and HM Treasury

Found: form allows for terms and conditions specific to the organisation, subject to agreed derogations from HMT

Found: Board for England); • Cabinet Office; • the GIAA; • the IPA; • the Food Standards Agency; and • HM Treasury

Found: 2025 Topics: Money and tax, Programme delivery, Project and service delivery Departments: HM Treasury

Found: April-September 2024 the PSA supplied additional details requested by the Sponsoring Department and HMT

Found: April-September 2024 the PSA supplied additional details requested by the Sponsoring Department and HMT

Found: Cabinet Office: Ministers' Hospitality - April 2025 CSV, 869 Bytes View online HM Treasury

Found: Developments in advice and guidance such as the targeted support proposals being developed by HMT and

Found: Incorporating HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office Commercial Function in this model offers the basis

Found: Assets Scheme enables businesses to voluntarily transfer dormant assets to Reclaim Fund Ltd (RFL), an HMT

Found: are set to increase the number of Megafunds from 10 to over 20 within the next decade. 32 HM Treasury

Found: From: HM Treasury, Department for Work and Pensions and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: HM. Treasury TREAS 3 1 0.333333333333333 0 0 10 4 0.4 0 0 12 6 0.5 2 0.166666666666667 7 2 0.285714285714286

Found: HM. Treasury TREAS 3 1 0.333333333333333 0 0.0 10 4 0.4 0 0.0 12 6 0.5 2 0.166666666666667 7 2 0.285714285714286

Found: , made up of members of the CCUS policy team at DESNZ and representatives from Innovate UK and HM Treasury

Found: infrastructure. 12 The impact of AI on jobs and training, DfE (2023) 13 Kalifa Review of UK Fintech, HMT

Found: payrolled employments by nationality, region, industry, age and sex, from July 2014 to December 2023, HMT

Found: Transition Jobs Tracker, Place Based Climate Action Network (2021) 49 Kalifa Review of UK Fintech, HMT

Found: This included substantial interventions by HM Treasury and HMRC, including the Coronavirus Job Retention

Found:  The HM Treasury Report: Build Back Better, Our Plan for Growth (2021) sets out the Government’s

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

Found: the limit will face increased business case scrutiny and require specific approval by DESNZ and/or HMT

Found: Transition Jobs Tracker, Place Based Climate Action Network (2021) 49 Kalifa Review of UK Fintech, HMT

Found: infrastructure. 12 The impact of AI on jobs and training, DfE (2023) 13 Kalifa Review of UK Fintech, HMT

Found: payrolled employments by nationality, region, industry, age and sex, from July 2014 to December 2023, HMT

Found: is Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) argues that the money does support skills budgets indirectly because they

Found: The guidance covers: 1) Background on monitoring and evaluation plans from the Magenta Book and HMT

Found: Recommendation intended for: HM Treasury, JCDU, Home Office, Local Authorities and devolved administrations

Found: From: HM Revenue & Customs and HM Treasury Published 28 May 2025 Get emails about this page

Found: All financial variables were rebased to 2020 to 2021 prices using the HM Treasury GDP Deflator.

Found: All financial variables were rebased to 2020 to 2021 prices using the HM Treasury GDP Deflator.

Found: progress for our 17 nuclear sites over the next three years, in line with the funding agreed with HM Treasury

Found: April-September 2024 the PSA supplied additional details requested by the Sponsoring Department and HMT

Found: April-September 2024 the PSA supplied additional details requested by the Sponsoring Department and HMT

Found: Continued engagement on reforms with HM Treasury, National Integrated Service for Transformation and

Found: and/or commercial relevance, such as the Office of the Prime Minister, HM Treasury

Found: the CMA does not benefit directly from the money raised through the levy, rather this goes to HM Treasury

Found: Survey shared (I understand) with HM Treasury with findings contributing to pension taxation changes

Found: Survey shared (I understand) with HM Treasury with findings contributing to pension taxation changes

Found: outcomes Increased depth and breadth of support Integrated partnership between Cabinet Office (CO) and HM Treasury

Found: you: comply with the terms and conditions attached to any research income from outside the NHS HM Treasury

Found: measures for the levy, such as the approval of the Regulator’s annual funding requirement by DCMS and HM Treasury

Found: for MTD was approved by HMRC’s Change Investment Design Committee (CIDC) in January 2025 and by HM Treasury

Found: Incorporating HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office Commercial Function in this model offers the basis

Found: Allies event ● Diwali event Cabinet Office £8,500 ● Cross-Civil Service Pride Funding HMT

Found: The Commission must also work closely with relevant other government departments, including HM Treasury

Found: Engagement Scottish Government officials have engaged with the following: • HM Revenue and Customs • HM Treasury

Found: early narrative while ensuring public trust.Ruth Curtice, previously Director of Fiscal Policy at HM Treasury

Found: Government (2024) Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) – Toolkit (accessed 20/11/2024). 25 HM Treasury

Found: AMM asked for confirmation on who will be the permanent board members from HMT and MHCLG.

Found: The HMT Green Book recommends using a discount rate of 3.5% to account for the social time preference

Found: schemes seeking investment from the IRCF programme and based on best practice set out in the HM Treasury

Found: This included attributing a monetary value to each cost and benefit, using the HMT Green Book methodology3

Found: (London: HM Treasury).

Found: HM Treasury reduced the SCAPE discount rate from 2.4% to 1.7%pa above CPI from 30 March 2023.