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Written Question
Agriculture and Business: Inheritance Tax
Thursday 24th July 2025

Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her Department's planned timetable is for publishing the (a) draft legislation and (b) impact assessment for its proposed changes to (i) Agricultural Property Relief and (ii) Business Property Relief.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The draft legislation and the tax information and impact note were published on 21 July 2025. These are available on the GOV.UK website.


Written Question
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Agricultural Shows
Wednesday 16th July 2025

Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 61476 on Agricultural Shows, which agricultural shows (a) he has and (b) his Ministers have attended since 5 July 2024.

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

Defra Ministers have attended the following:

  • Royal Cornwall Show
  • Groundswell
  • Great Yorkshire Show (in both 2024 and 2025)
  • Royal Highland Show
  • Royal Norfolk Show

Written Question
Agriculture: Inheritance Tax
Tuesday 15th July 2025

Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions her Department has had with representatives of the farming sector on the implications of the proposed changes to inheritance tax.

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.

Ministers from multiple Government departments have had several meetings with agricultural organisations on this matter since Autumn Budget 2024. As the Minister with responsibility for the UK tax system, I have had meetings with organisations including the National Farmers’ Union, the Tenant Farmers’ Association, the Country Land and Business Association, the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, the Ulster Farmers’ Union, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and the Farmers’ Union of Wales.


Written Question
Agriculture: Inheritance Tax
Tuesday 15th July 2025

Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to consult with (a) agricultural stakeholders, (b) farmers and (c) groups that represent farmers in the development of its proposed changes to inheritance tax policy.

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.

Ministers from multiple Government departments have had several meetings with agricultural organisations on this matter since Autumn Budget 2024. As the Minister with responsibility for the UK tax system, I have had meetings with organisations including the National Farmers’ Union, the Tenant Farmers’ Association, the Country Land and Business Association, the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, the Ulster Farmers’ Union, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and the Farmers’ Union of Wales.


Written Question
Agriculture: Inheritance Tax
Tuesday 15th July 2025

Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the farming sector on her Department's proposed changes to inheritance tax.

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.

Ministers from multiple Government departments have had several meetings with agricultural organisations on this matter since Autumn Budget 2024. As the Minister with responsibility for the UK tax system, I have had meetings with organisations including the National Farmers’ Union, the Tenant Farmers’ Association, the Country Land and Business Association, the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, the Ulster Farmers’ Union, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and the Farmers’ Union of Wales.


Written Question
Agriculture: Inheritance Tax
Tuesday 15th July 2025

Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to engage with (a) farmers and (b) other agricultural groups in the development of proposed changes to inheritance tax.

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.

Ministers from multiple Government departments have had several meetings with agricultural organisations on this matter since Autumn Budget 2024. As the Minister with responsibility for the UK tax system, I have had meetings with organisations including the National Farmers’ Union, the Tenant Farmers’ Association, the Country Land and Business Association, the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, the Ulster Farmers’ Union, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and the Farmers’ Union of Wales.


Written Question
Agriculture: Inheritance Tax
Tuesday 15th July 2025

Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which Minister has led engagement with the agricultural sector on the proposed changes to inheritance tax.

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.

Ministers from multiple Government departments have had several meetings with agricultural organisations on this matter since Autumn Budget 2024. As the Minister with responsibility for the UK tax system, I have had meetings with organisations including the National Farmers’ Union, the Tenant Farmers’ Association, the Country Land and Business Association, the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, the Ulster Farmers’ Union, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and the Farmers’ Union of Wales.


Written Question
Agriculture and Business: Inheritance Tax
Monday 14th July 2025

Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a clawback scheme in relation to inheritance tax reliefs previously applied to (a) agricultural and (b) business assets, in the context of her Department's planned changes to inheritance tax policy.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given to UIN 32918.


Written Question
Agriculture and Business: Inheritance Tax
Monday 14th July 2025

Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the merits of implementing a clawback mechanism as an alternative to the proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given to UIN 32918.


Written Question
Aviation: Crew
Friday 11th July 2025

Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Civil Aviation Authority's requirement that commercial pilots cease commercial air transport operations at the age of 65, regardless of (a) medical condition and (b) licence status, in the context of the State Pension age.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Pilot age limits ultimately derive from standards and recommended practices set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which sets age limits globally. Standards and recommended practices are kept under review and the CAA actively participates in these reviews.