Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the (a) staffing, (b) system, (c) compliance and (d) other costs of (i) implementing and (ii) administering the proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief; and if she will take steps to publish an estimate prior to the reforms taking effect in April 2026.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer to the answer given on 5 September 2025 at UIN 70546 :

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-08-29/70546

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of the firearms enquiry officers employed across police forces in England and Wales are warranted police officers.

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

The Government does not currently collect data regarding the staffing of firearms licensing departments in police forces. The level of staffing and use of warranted police officers in such departments is a matter for individual Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many firearms enquiry officers are employed across police forces in England and Wales.

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

The Government does not currently collect data regarding the staffing of firearms licensing departments in police forces. The level of staffing and use of warranted police officers in such departments is a matter for individual Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has set a timeframe for the completion of research to (a) update and (b) strengthen the evidence base on the (i) extent and (ii) impact of pavement parking.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to the 2020 pavement parking consultation and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them. We will announce the next steps and publish our formal response as soon as possible. The new research announced last week will not delay this; my officials are finalising its terms now. Findings will be published within 12 weeks of agreeing final outputs, per Government Social Research protocols.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to release the representative sample of local authorities it plans to consult on pavement parking research.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to the 2020 pavement parking consultation and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them. We will announce the next steps and publish our formal response as soon as possible. The new research announced last week will not delay this; my officials are finalising its terms now. Findings will be published within 12 weeks of agreeing final outputs, per Government Social Research protocols.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to FOI2024/01172, whether she plans to review payment agreements made with businesses.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

At Autumn Budget 2024, the government committed to 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 will respond by Autumn Budget 2025.

During Oral Questions on 1 July 2025, Greg Smith MP referred to comments made by an external stakeholder that were shared under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. HMRC Officials do not recognise the allegation that HMRC agreed deals with large employers allowing them to settle disguised remuneration liabilities for less than was legally due.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury's oral contribution of 1 July 2025, Official Report, column 137, for what reason her Department did not inform (a) Rt hon. and hon. Members and (b) those (i) contractors, (ii) freelance workers and (iii) small company directors who were (A) mis-sold disguised remuneration schemes and (B) subject to the Loan Charge of HMRC's Loan Charge settlement with multinational companies.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government 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 will respond by Autumn Budget 2025.

During Oral Questions on 1 July 2025, Greg Smith MP referred to comments made by an external stakeholder that were shared under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. HMRC Officials do not recognise the allegation that HMRC agreed deals with large employers allowing them to settle disguised remuneration liabilities for less than was legally due.

HMRC applies the law fairly and consistently in accordance with its published Litigation and Settlement Strategy (LSS). This ensures every taxpayer, no matter who they are, pays the tax due under the law. Central to the LSS is that HMRC will not settle a dispute by agreement for an amount which is less than it would reasonably expect to obtain from litigation.

HMRC’s Litigation and Settlement strategy can be found on gov.uk: www.gov.uk/government/publications/litigation-and-settlement-strategy-lss