Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the press notice entitled Prime Minister unveils game changing investment to tackle national security threat from people smuggling gangs, published on 4 November 2024, whether the £75m funding announced for Border Security Command is in addition to the funding allocations set out in the Autumn Budget 2024.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Border Security Command is funded from within the Home Office’s Spending Review settlement, as announced at the Budget.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of imposing VAT on private school fees on the UK’s relations with European and international allies.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
On 30th October, at Budget, the Government confirmed that, as of 1 January 2025, all education, boarding, and vocational training provided for a charge by a private school in the UK will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent.
International schools make an important contribution to the connections between the UK and its international partners, which the Government remains committed to strengthening and deepening further. While they can be subsidised by foreign governments, depending on their funding structure, many international schools still charge fees comparable to that of a lot of British private schools, many of which do not necessarily follow the UK curriculum, nor teach exclusively in English. It would therefore be unfair to carve international schools out of policy changes whilst comparable independent schools remain within scope.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of imposing VAT on private school fees on the UK’s global reputation.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
On 30th October, at Budget, the Government confirmed that, as of 1 January 2025, all education, boarding, and vocational training provided for a charge by a private school in the UK will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent.
International schools make an important contribution to the connections between the UK and its international partners, which the Government remains committed to strengthening and deepening further. While they can be subsidised by foreign governments, depending on their funding structure, many international schools still charge fees comparable to that of a lot of British private schools, many of which do not necessarily follow the UK curriculum, nor teach exclusively in English. It would therefore be unfair to carve international schools out of policy changes whilst comparable independent schools remain within scope.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies on National Insurance Contributions for employees of paragraph 4 of the report by the Office for Budget Responsibility entitled The economic effects of policy measures, published in October 2021.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
In the October 2021 Economic and Fiscal Outlook the OBR set out “a central forecast to 2026-27 taking account of recent data and Government policies announced up to and including the October 2021 Budget and Spending Review”. The Government does not speculate on tax changes outside of fiscal events.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate she has made of whether the rollout of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax will be completed by April 2026.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Making Tax Digital (MTD) is an ambitious reform that will support modernisation of the tax system.
The government is working collaboratively with HMRC and external stakeholders to bring the first businesses and landlords into MTD for Income Tax.
Reflecting its status within the Government Major Projects Portfolio, the MTD programme is subject to strong governance and independent assurance by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help support small businesses to comply with the Making Tax Digital for Income Tax regulations.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC have worked closely with stakeholders in the business and tax communities on the design and scope of MTD for Income Tax to make sure it is fit for purpose. This has led to practical design changes and improvements that will benefit users.
HMRC is currently testing the IT functionality, customer support model and customer experience for MTD for Income Tax.
HMRC will continue to provide guidance and communications to help small businesses, landlords and their agents prepare for this change.
Ahead of rollout, HMRC will also introduce a comprehensive communications campaign, based on customer insight, to further increase awareness.