Asked by: Lord Mackinlay of Richborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether each of the Met Office's network of weather stations is (1) appropriately sited, (2) adequately maintained, and (3) able to provide consistently reliable meteorological data.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Met Office’s weather station network currently consists of 405 sites across the United Kingdom (UK). This includes manual and automatic weather stations. The exact postal address of each site is not publicly available due to national security, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and land ownership reasons. The Met Office website provides a map of the UK station network.
The Met Office is ISO 9001 accredited and has a rigorous, internationally recognised quality-control process that includes calibration, inspection, and verification against World Meteorological Organization (WMO) standards. The Government utilises a range of evidence, including information from the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessments and Met Office modelling and observations, ensuring climate policies are grounded in the latest scientific data.
Observation sites are chosen using strict criteria to ensure representative measurements and minimise external influences, as appropriate to the intended data use. The location of weather stations is vital to ensure consistency and continuity of measurements. When selecting station location the Met Office balances the operational need for coverage, whilst adhering to set standards. Regular physical inspections and maintenance of observation sites are carried out and all instruments undergo regular calibration, against externally recognised standards, to maintain measurement accuracy.
Asked by: Lord Mackinlay of Richborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had in respect of the integrity of the data provided by the Met Office’s network of weather stations in the UK and the role that data has in shaping the Government’s policies to influence climate change.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Met Office’s weather station network currently consists of 405 sites across the United Kingdom (UK). This includes manual and automatic weather stations. The exact postal address of each site is not publicly available due to national security, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and land ownership reasons. The Met Office website provides a map of the UK station network.
The Met Office is ISO 9001 accredited and has a rigorous, internationally recognised quality-control process that includes calibration, inspection, and verification against World Meteorological Organization (WMO) standards. The Government utilises a range of evidence, including information from the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessments and Met Office modelling and observations, ensuring climate policies are grounded in the latest scientific data.
Observation sites are chosen using strict criteria to ensure representative measurements and minimise external influences, as appropriate to the intended data use. The location of weather stations is vital to ensure consistency and continuity of measurements. When selecting station location the Met Office balances the operational need for coverage, whilst adhering to set standards. Regular physical inspections and maintenance of observation sites are carried out and all instruments undergo regular calibration, against externally recognised standards, to maintain measurement accuracy.
Asked by: Lord Mackinlay of Richborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many weather stations exist within the Met Office’s network of weather stations in the UK reportedly supplying meteorological data and what are each of their postal addresses.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Met Office’s weather station network currently consists of 405 sites across the United Kingdom (UK). This includes manual and automatic weather stations. The exact postal address of each site is not publicly available due to national security, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and land ownership reasons. The Met Office website provides a map of the UK station network.
The Met Office is ISO 9001 accredited and has a rigorous, internationally recognised quality-control process that includes calibration, inspection, and verification against World Meteorological Organization (WMO) standards. The Government utilises a range of evidence, including information from the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessments and Met Office modelling and observations, ensuring climate policies are grounded in the latest scientific data.
Observation sites are chosen using strict criteria to ensure representative measurements and minimise external influences, as appropriate to the intended data use. The location of weather stations is vital to ensure consistency and continuity of measurements. When selecting station location the Met Office balances the operational need for coverage, whilst adhering to set standards. Regular physical inspections and maintenance of observation sites are carried out and all instruments undergo regular calibration, against externally recognised standards, to maintain measurement accuracy.
Asked by: Lord Mackinlay of Richborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the processing time of inheritance tax queries, and what steps they are taking to reduce that waiting time to ensure that inheritance tax can be paid on time.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is consistently exceeding its service standards of processing over 80% of inheritance tax returns for estates within 15 working days. Once these returns have been processed, most customers will be able to pay any inheritance tax due on time and proceed to apply for probate.
The inheritance tax helpline is also meeting HMRC’s telephony service levels by handling over 85% of customer calls to advisers.
HMRC has also increased numbers deployed to wider inheritance tax work to meet the service standard.
The government announced at Autumn Budget 2024 that it is investing in digitalising the inheritance tax service from 2027-28 to provide a modern, easy-to-use system, making returns and paying tax simpler and quicker.
Asked by: Lord Mackinlay of Richborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the GOV.UK One Login digital app lost its certification under the Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework, what is its current certification status and whether it will be ready to manage the Companies House identity verification requirements that come into force on 18 November
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
In April 2025, GOV.UK One Login’s Trust Framework certification was suspended due to a supply chain issue where one third party allowed their certification to lapse. This was not due to any change in GOV.UK One Login’s product, approach, or security. GOV.UK One Login is working to recertify as a priority.
Companies House onboarded to GOV.UK One Login in March 2025. We have been supporting Companies House users since then, and are fully prepared to support the mandatory Companies House requirements that take effect on November 18th. Certification to the Trust Framework is not a necessary condition for this.
Asked by: Lord Mackinlay of Richborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they envisage that the new Companies House identity verification requirements can be satisfied for individuals who are persons with significant control who, because of infirmities or other difficulties, are incapable of using digital apps or visiting a post office or may not possess government-issued photo identity documents of any type.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Companies House has been listening to feedback from users during the voluntary identity verification period about accessibility and other issues. It is continuing to develop alternative options that will offer more support to individuals who are unable to verify their identities through the standard route. Further guidance will be issued but, in the meantime, Companies House is ensuring that staff are on hand to help users who require assistance via its helpline and by email.
Asked by: Lord Mackinlay of Richborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many individuals were involved in testing Making Tax Digital during the pilot in 2024–25, and how many tax returns they expect to be filed by April 2026.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Taxpayers within Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax will have one month from the end of each update period to submit their quarterly update. These updates are not the same as tax returns. They are simple, unadjusted summaries of income and expenditure, acting as a snapshot of quarterly trading activity. They will be populated automatically through software and can be submitted easily. This process has been designed to be simple for users and quick to complete.
Although MTD for Income Tax introduces changes to the reporting ofincome and expenditure with quarterly updates, it does not change the frequency or timing of tax payments.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published a suite of guidance including interactive guidance to help taxpayers understand if and when they need to use MTD for Income Tax. This will be supplemented by help provided through a taxpayer’s agent or software provider. HMRC is engaging taxpayers affected by the changes directly and through webinars, industry engagement and marketing activity.
HMRC has published guidance about software on its newly revised Software Choices pages, making it easier for taxpayers to choose the rightsoftware for both their budget and their needs. Free and low-cost software options are already listed. Further products will be added to these pages as they become available. Where a taxpayer needs to change software during the tax year, they will need to import their digital records into the new compatible software. HMRC’s Minimum Functionality Standards for MTD software requires developers to build functionality into their products to enable users to export their data.
The 2024/25 Private Beta testing phase of MTD for Income Tax runs to31 January 2026. 226 individuals signed up for the testing. This enabled HMRC to test a range of core user journeys, identify issues and implement improvements. Currently, there are around 3,500 taxpayers signed up for the public testing phase of MTD for Income Tax in the 2025/26 tax year.
Under the requirements specified in HMRC’s Minimum Functionality Standards for Making Tax Digital (MTD) software, using software that is compatible with MTD for Income Tax should enable users to completethe entirety of their obligations within Income Tax Self-Assessment.
Asked by: Lord Mackinlay of Richborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support, if any, will be available to taxpayers who are denied exemption from Making Tax Digital but who struggle to comply or be ready in time.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Taxpayers within Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax will have one month from the end of each update period to submit their quarterly update. These updates are not the same as tax returns. They are simple, unadjusted summaries of income and expenditure, acting as a snapshot of quarterly trading activity. They will be populated automatically through software and can be submitted easily. This process has been designed to be simple for users and quick to complete.
Although MTD for Income Tax introduces changes to the reporting ofincome and expenditure with quarterly updates, it does not change the frequency or timing of tax payments.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published a suite of guidance including interactive guidance to help taxpayers understand if and when they need to use MTD for Income Tax. This will be supplemented by help provided through a taxpayer’s agent or software provider. HMRC is engaging taxpayers affected by the changes directly and through webinars, industry engagement and marketing activity.
HMRC has published guidance about software on its newly revised Software Choices pages, making it easier for taxpayers to choose the rightsoftware for both their budget and their needs. Free and low-cost software options are already listed. Further products will be added to these pages as they become available. Where a taxpayer needs to change software during the tax year, they will need to import their digital records into the new compatible software. HMRC’s Minimum Functionality Standards for MTD software requires developers to build functionality into their products to enable users to export their data.
The 2024/25 Private Beta testing phase of MTD for Income Tax runs to31 January 2026. 226 individuals signed up for the testing. This enabled HMRC to test a range of core user journeys, identify issues and implement improvements. Currently, there are around 3,500 taxpayers signed up for the public testing phase of MTD for Income Tax in the 2025/26 tax year.
Under the requirements specified in HMRC’s Minimum Functionality Standards for Making Tax Digital (MTD) software, using software that is compatible with MTD for Income Tax should enable users to completethe entirety of their obligations within Income Tax Self-Assessment.
Asked by: Lord Mackinlay of Richborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the minimum functionality standards for Making Tax Digital software, and whether that software will be capable of filing (1) quarterly updates, and (2) tax returns.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Taxpayers within Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax will have one month from the end of each update period to submit their quarterly update. These updates are not the same as tax returns. They are simple, unadjusted summaries of income and expenditure, acting as a snapshot of quarterly trading activity. They will be populated automatically through software and can be submitted easily. This process has been designed to be simple for users and quick to complete.
Although MTD for Income Tax introduces changes to the reporting ofincome and expenditure with quarterly updates, it does not change the frequency or timing of tax payments.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published a suite of guidance including interactive guidance to help taxpayers understand if and when they need to use MTD for Income Tax. This will be supplemented by help provided through a taxpayer’s agent or software provider. HMRC is engaging taxpayers affected by the changes directly and through webinars, industry engagement and marketing activity.
HMRC has published guidance about software on its newly revised Software Choices pages, making it easier for taxpayers to choose the rightsoftware for both their budget and their needs. Free and low-cost software options are already listed. Further products will be added to these pages as they become available. Where a taxpayer needs to change software during the tax year, they will need to import their digital records into the new compatible software. HMRC’s Minimum Functionality Standards for MTD software requires developers to build functionality into their products to enable users to export their data.
The 2024/25 Private Beta testing phase of MTD for Income Tax runs to31 January 2026. 226 individuals signed up for the testing. This enabled HMRC to test a range of core user journeys, identify issues and implement improvements. Currently, there are around 3,500 taxpayers signed up for the public testing phase of MTD for Income Tax in the 2025/26 tax year.
Under the requirements specified in HMRC’s Minimum Functionality Standards for Making Tax Digital (MTD) software, using software that is compatible with MTD for Income Tax should enable users to completethe entirety of their obligations within Income Tax Self-Assessment.
Asked by: Lord Mackinlay of Richborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have plans for taxpayers to pay income tax on a quarterly basis in line with quarterly submissions of Making Tax Digital returns.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Taxpayers within Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax will have one month from the end of each update period to submit their quarterly update. These updates are not the same as tax returns. They are simple, unadjusted summaries of income and expenditure, acting as a snapshot of quarterly trading activity. They will be populated automatically through software and can be submitted easily. This process has been designed to be simple for users and quick to complete.
Although MTD for Income Tax introduces changes to the reporting ofincome and expenditure with quarterly updates, it does not change the frequency or timing of tax payments.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published a suite of guidance including interactive guidance to help taxpayers understand if and when they need to use MTD for Income Tax. This will be supplemented by help provided through a taxpayer’s agent or software provider. HMRC is engaging taxpayers affected by the changes directly and through webinars, industry engagement and marketing activity.
HMRC has published guidance about software on its newly revised Software Choices pages, making it easier for taxpayers to choose the rightsoftware for both their budget and their needs. Free and low-cost software options are already listed. Further products will be added to these pages as they become available. Where a taxpayer needs to change software during the tax year, they will need to import their digital records into the new compatible software. HMRC’s Minimum Functionality Standards for MTD software requires developers to build functionality into their products to enable users to export their data.
The 2024/25 Private Beta testing phase of MTD for Income Tax runs to31 January 2026. 226 individuals signed up for the testing. This enabled HMRC to test a range of core user journeys, identify issues and implement improvements. Currently, there are around 3,500 taxpayers signed up for the public testing phase of MTD for Income Tax in the 2025/26 tax year.
Under the requirements specified in HMRC’s Minimum Functionality Standards for Making Tax Digital (MTD) software, using software that is compatible with MTD for Income Tax should enable users to completethe entirety of their obligations within Income Tax Self-Assessment.