Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the potential impact of proposed reforms to Business Property Relief and Agricultural Property Relief on the housebuilding sector in Wales.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK Government has discussions with the Welsh Government on a range of issues and I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given to UIN 75735.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made a comparative assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of a nuclear power station at Wylfa and large-scale solar developments on (a) food security, (b) job creation and (c) long-term sustainability in (i) Anglesey, (ii) Wales and (iii) the UK.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In the recently published Solar Roadmap, we set out our expectation that the solar industry could support up to 35,000 UK jobs in 2030. No estimates were made for Anglesey or Wales. Our assessment is that solar will not pose a threat to food security, whilst any Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project development will be required to undergo detailed environmental and other statutory impact assessment
A new nuclear project at any location would help create skilled, high-value jobs although no decisions have yet been taken on any nuclear project to be deployed at the Wylfa site.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) allegations of non-fatal strangulation have been made that were not proceeded against and (b) cases for that offence were dropped due to evidence deficiencies since 29 April 2021.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office collects information on the number of investigative outcomes for offences recorded by the police in England and Wales.
From 1st of June 2022, the subcodes ‘008/78 Racially or religiously aggravated non-fatal strangulation or suffocation’ and ‘008/77 non-fatal strangulation or suffocation’ were introduced.
The below table shows the number of these offences and their investigative outcomes.
Table – number of non-fatal strangulation offences2 recorded by the police in England and Wales1 (excluding Humberside police), 1st June 2022 to year ending March 2025, by outcome
Charged/Summonsed | 14,016 |
Out-of-court (formal) | 1,191 |
Out-of-court (informal) | 723 |
Evidential difficulties (suspect identified; victim supports action) | 20,712 |
Evidential difficulties (victim does not support action) | 51,628 |
Prosecution prevented or not in the public interest | 1,258 |
Investigation complete - no suspect identified | 2,912 |
Further action undertaken by another body/agency | 1,932 |
Further investigation resulting from the crime report that could provide evidence sufficient to support formal action being taken against the suspect is not in the public interest - police decision | 450 |
Diversionary, educational or intervention activity, resulting from the crime report, has been undertaken and it is not in the public interest to take any further action | 498 |
Not yet assigned outcome | 5,629 |
Grand Total | 100,949 |
Notes
The Home Office does not hold information on the number of allegations of non-fatal strangulation.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had with representatives of family-run construction companies on the potential workforce and skills implications of proposed reforms to business property relief and agricultural property relief.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has received representations, including from the construction and plant hire sector, about the reforms to both agricultural property relief and business property relief.
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, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. 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.
Information from claims is not recorded to enable regional or national breakdowns of the number of estates expected to be affected. However, the Government has set out that the reforms are expected to result in up to 520 estates across the UK claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.
The Government has also set out that around 1,500 estates across the UK only claiming business property relief are expected to pay more inheritance tax in 2026-27, with around 1,000 of these expected to only hold shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges, such as the Alternative Investment Market. The remaining 500 estates will include business assets from sectors across the economy that are eligible for business property relief. These reforms mean that around three-quarters of estates claiming business property relief in 2026-27 (excluding those estates only holding shares designated as “not listed”) will not pay any more inheritance tax in 2026-27.
The reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief are forecast to raise a combined £520 million in 2029-30. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility certified this costing at Autumn Budget 2024 and it does not expect the reforms to have a significant macroeconomic impact.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of business property relief and agricultural property relief reforms on local investment levels among small and medium-sized construction firms that form part of local supply chains.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has received representations, including from the construction and plant hire sector, about the reforms to both agricultural property relief and business property relief.
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, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. 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.
Information from claims is not recorded to enable regional or national breakdowns of the number of estates expected to be affected. However, the Government has set out that the reforms are expected to result in up to 520 estates across the UK claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.
The Government has also set out that around 1,500 estates across the UK only claiming business property relief are expected to pay more inheritance tax in 2026-27, with around 1,000 of these expected to only hold shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges, such as the Alternative Investment Market. The remaining 500 estates will include business assets from sectors across the economy that are eligible for business property relief. These reforms mean that around three-quarters of estates claiming business property relief in 2026-27 (excluding those estates only holding shares designated as “not listed”) will not pay any more inheritance tax in 2026-27.
The reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief are forecast to raise a combined £520 million in 2029-30. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility certified this costing at Autumn Budget 2024 and it does not expect the reforms to have a significant macroeconomic impact.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of proposed reforms to business property relief and agricultural property relief on the availability of full-time equivalent jobs in Wales.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has received representations, including from the construction and plant hire sector, about the reforms to both agricultural property relief and business property relief.
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, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. 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.
Information from claims is not recorded to enable regional or national breakdowns of the number of estates expected to be affected. However, the Government has set out that the reforms are expected to result in up to 520 estates across the UK claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.
The Government has also set out that around 1,500 estates across the UK only claiming business property relief are expected to pay more inheritance tax in 2026-27, with around 1,000 of these expected to only hold shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges, such as the Alternative Investment Market. The remaining 500 estates will include business assets from sectors across the economy that are eligible for business property relief. These reforms mean that around three-quarters of estates claiming business property relief in 2026-27 (excluding those estates only holding shares designated as “not listed”) will not pay any more inheritance tax in 2026-27.
The reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief are forecast to raise a combined £520 million in 2029-30. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility certified this costing at Autumn Budget 2024 and it does not expect the reforms to have a significant macroeconomic impact.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an estimate of the reduction in gross value added in Wales from proposed reforms to business property relief and agricultural property relief.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has received representations, including from the construction and plant hire sector, about the reforms to both agricultural property relief and business property relief.
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, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. 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.
Information from claims is not recorded to enable regional or national breakdowns of the number of estates expected to be affected. However, the Government has set out that the reforms are expected to result in up to 520 estates across the UK claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.
The Government has also set out that around 1,500 estates across the UK only claiming business property relief are expected to pay more inheritance tax in 2026-27, with around 1,000 of these expected to only hold shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges, such as the Alternative Investment Market. The remaining 500 estates will include business assets from sectors across the economy that are eligible for business property relief. These reforms mean that around three-quarters of estates claiming business property relief in 2026-27 (excluding those estates only holding shares designated as “not listed”) will not pay any more inheritance tax in 2026-27.
The reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief are forecast to raise a combined £520 million in 2029-30. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility certified this costing at Autumn Budget 2024 and it does not expect the reforms to have a significant macroeconomic impact.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on the appointment of a Crown Estate Commissioner with special responsibility for Wales, in the context of the Crown Estate Act 2025.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The UK Government has regular discussions with the Welsh Government at official and ministerial level. The Financial Secretary to the Treasury will next meet with Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning on 10 September. This will include discussion of the appointment of a Crown Estate Commissioner with special responsibility for Wales.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she expects the Crown Estate Commissioners with special responsibilities for (a) Wales, (b) England and (c) Northern Ireland to be appointed.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
These Crown Estate Commissioner appointments are governed by the Code for Public Appointments. The recruitment campaign for the Crown Estate Commissioner with special responsibility for Wales will launch this autumn, with a view to making an appointment by early 2026. The appointments of the Commissioners with special responsibility for Northern Ireland and England will follow later.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will provide funding to the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service in the Autumn Budget 2025 to enable it to expand its operations in key hotspots.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) is a national policing unit which provides dedicated specialist intelligence and enforcement on vehicle crime. NaVCIS is funded by industry, including finance and leasing companies, insurers and hauliers. In the financial year 2024-25, Home Office provided one-off funding of £250,000 to help support work at the ports to prevent stolen vehicles and vehicle parts being shipped abroad, including providing additional staff and specialist equipment.
This Government is committed to tackling vehicle crime. In the Crime and Policing Bill, we have banned electronic devices used to steal vehicles, empowering the police and courts to target the criminals using, manufacturing, importing and supplying them.