Oral Answers to Questions

Sarah Dyke Excerpts

Tuesday 4th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[David Smith (North Northumberland) (Lab)]

1. What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the report by CenTax entitled, “The Impact of Changes to Inheritance Tax on Farm Estates” published on 14 August 2025.

[Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)]

10. If she will hold discussions with farming representatives on the potential impact of changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief on farmers.

[Ben Maguire (North Cornwall) (LD)]

20. If she will hold discussions with farming representatives on the potential impact of changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief on farmers.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dan Tomlinson]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question—he is a strong advocate in this place for his constituency and for farming communities. Just last week, he made the point to me that our farmers and farming communities are crucial to economic and social and cultural life. Along with other Labour colleagues from rural constituencies, he has been working hard to raise the points that matter to farmers, and this Government are doing all we can to support our farming industry.

On the specific point about CenTax’s proposals on minimum share, I do not need to direct officials to look at them, because I have read the proposals. It is worth noting that the number of losers from the proposed policy would be more than double the number of people affected by the changes that this Government are making. Over 1,000 estates would be affected by the proposals put forward by CenTax.

[Sarah Dyke]

A Liberal Democrat freedom of information request revealed that the Treasury recently had plans to review the family farm tax. Farmers across the country are fed up with bickering and infighting from a Government who just do not understand them, but there is still time to act and end months of confusion and misery. Will the Chancellor and her Ministers meet farmers from Glastonbury and Somerton, and me, to provide some clarity and reveal the full extent of the Government’s discussions on revoking this damaging family farm tax?

[Dan Tomlinson]

Just a few weeks ago, I met farmers to discuss this and other important issues. The Government believe that even though this tax is a difficult change—I do not shy away from that fact—it is the right change to make, because it is a method of raising revenue in a fair way that helps contribute to restoring the public finances.