Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has been allocated a Ministerial residence.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
The Chancellor has been allocated the No.10 flat and Dorneywood.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to make changes to the level of the council tax surcharge.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government has set out plans to introduce the High Value Council Tax Surcharge, which will increase fairness within the system. The thresholds for the surcharge are set out here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-value-council-tax-surcharge/high-value-council-tax-surcharge
The Government keeps all taxes under review. It would not be appropriate to speculate on any potential changes to tax policy.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reducing VAT on heating oil and liquefied petroleum gas for households not connected to the gas grid, in the context of the Government’s planned reduction in VAT on domestic electricity.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government has announced a cut in VAT on electricity bills to give millions of households breathing space on the cost of living. Around 29 million households in the UK are expected to benefit from this change.
The Government has also announced over £50 million for low-income families who heat their homes with oil to help tackle surging prices.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the HMRC policy paper, Taxation of stablecoins, of 13 July 2026, whether Tether will be an eligible stablecoin.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The proposed definition of an ‘eligible stablecoin’ is broad so as to include a range of different models. After the proposed stablecoin legislation is enacted, HMRC will look to assist taxpayers by setting out in guidance its view of whether the largest stablecoins currently in use are 'eligible stablecoins'.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend the deadline for payment of inheritance tax from six to 12 months.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government does not intend to change the existing, longstanding deadline of inheritance tax being due at the end of the sixth month after the date of death.
The Government recognises the general difficulties that some personal representatives may face in paying the inheritance tax due and HMRC already offers several payment options to help.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 8 January 2026 to Question 101771 on Ministers: Official Residences, whether the council tax paid on the Chancellor’s official ministerial residence is (a) 100% or (b) 200% of the Band H rate.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
As set out in the answer to Question 101771, the Chancellor pays full council tax on the flat above 10 Downing Street as her primary residence.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the answer of 2 March 2026 to Question 113785 on Self-employed: Statistics, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the Government collecting statistics on self-employment income.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
HMRC collects information on self-employment income through tax returns submitted by self-employed individuals. Statistics relating to self-employment income are published and can be found as part of HMRC’s Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI), which is one of the Government’s principal sources of information on personal incomes and Income Tax liabilities. Statistics on self-employment income are presented in Tables 3.9 and 3.10 of the latest SPI publication. The latest published SPI statistics are linked below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-incomes-statistics-for-the-tax-year-2023-to-2024
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2026, to Question 2120, on Cryptocurrencies, and further to the HMT press release, "UK cracks down on backdoor Russian sanctions evasion with tough new measures", of 26 May 2026, what assessment has (a) HMT and (b) the Financial Conduct Authority, made of whether the Tether cryptocurrency is connected with (i) money-laundering and (ii) sanctions evasion.
Answered by Rachel Blake
HMT has assessed that cryptocurrencies, including USD Tether, are increasingly involved in sanctions evasion activity.
OFSI’s Cryptoasset Threat Assessment was published in July 2025 and highlighted the use of USD Tether by designated Russian cryptoasset exchanges, including Garantex and Grinex, and Russian money laundering groups. The assessment highlighted the exploitation of stablecoins, including USD Tether, by DPRK (North Korean) IT workers. The assessment also highlighted that, since 2022, Iran has increased its usage of cryptoassets as payment in foreign trade, including through the prevalent use of USD Tether.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans she has to levy a penalty on holding cash in a Stocks and Shares ISA.
Answered by Rachel Blake
From April 2027, the Cash ISA annual limit will be reduced to £12,000 while the limit for Stocks and Shares and Innovative Finance ISA (non-Cash ISAs) will remain at £20,000. The Cash ISA limit for those aged 65 and over will remain at £20,000.
To support this change, a number of rules will be introduced to ensure the policy achieves its objective of encouraging retail investment and supporting better returns for savers. The new rules will minimise the opportunity for the lower Cash ISA limit to be circumvented, while preserving the flexibility needed for legitimate investment activity within non-Cash ISAs. A flat rate charge of 22% will apply from April 2027 to any interest or alternative finance return paid on cash held within a non-Cash ISA to discourage long-term cash holdings. Further details of the changes are in the ISA reform 2027 published factsheet:
ISA reform 2027: anti-circumvention rules factsheet - GOV.UK
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance has (a) HM Treasury and (b) the FCA given to financial institutions on removing an individual from being treated as a Political Exposed Person from their records once they cease to meet the definition of a PEP under FCA guidance.
Answered by Rachel Blake
The FCA publishes guidance on the requirements of the Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs) with regard to politically exposed persons (PEPs). The guidance is clear that financial institutions must treat PEPs as a PEP for at least 12 months after they leave office, and should apply enhanced due diligence (EDD) measures beyond that only in higher risk circumstances. The guidance is also clear that family members of PEPs should cease to be subject to EDD measures as soon as the person is no longer a PEP, absent any other higher risk factors.