Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of trends in the level of tax (a) evasion and (b) avoidance linked to candy retail stores.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
As my rt. hon Friend the Prime Minister said, the Government recently launched a major crackdown against criminals using high street businesses to launder money at almost 400 properties, which involved securing freezing orders over bank accounts totaling more than £1 million and arresting 35 individuals.
HMRC is leading a cross-Government risk assessment to establish a shared understanding of the key risks and their underlying drivers. The findings of this assessment will inform a revitalised and more ambitious coordinated cross-government approach to addressing the harms associated with these retail models.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the level of change in business rates on local newspapers in 2025-26.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government does not hold data on the business rates paid by the local newspaper sector.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussion he has had with the Mineral Products Association on landfill tax reforms.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government consulted on proposals for reform of landfill tax on 28 April following a call for evidence in 2021. The consultation closed on 28 July, and the government is currently considering responses.
The Government recognises the significant economic value of the aggregates sector, particularly in operating quarries and providing construction materials to support the governments ambitious housebuilding and infrastructure construction targets. We have engaged with representatives of the aggregates sector, including the Mineral Products Association, to understand the impact of any tax changes, which will be carefully considered as part of the consultation process.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of the new Mortgage Guarantee Scheme on the number of (a) repossessions and (b) households entering negative equity.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises the difficulties some prospective first-time buyers face in buying a home and is committed to helping them get on the housing ladder.
The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme is designed to support and sustain the availability of low deposit mortgage products for credit-worthy borrowers. Participating lenders must be satisfied that prospective borrowers can afford their mortgage repayments and will be assessed as part of an individual lender’s affordability assessment, as with any other mortgage product.