Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the review into the hospital building programme will include hospitals not placed on the original list but still in urgent need of (a) investment and (b) repair.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are reviewing the New Hospital Programme (NHP) in order to put it on a sustainable footing, including a realistic timetable for delivery, and clarity on the funding required.

The scope of the review is limited to those schemes already within the NHP. However, we recognise the importance of strategic, value for money investments in capital projects, such as new healthcare facilities, significant upgrades, and other targeted capital investments. The Department is currently reviewing capital requirements in line with the Government’s Missions. Any further support for National Health Service trusts seeking new hospital infrastructure will be considered as part of the forthcoming Spending Review.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the proposed removal of the VAT exemption for private school fees will include tuition centres that provide (a) only after school and weekend services and (b) full time services.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools.

All institutions that meet the definition of a private school set out in the draft legislation are within scope of this policy. The draft legislation can be found online here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66a7a1f8a3c2a28abb50d8c1/Private_Schools_Draft_Legislation_-_DIGITAL.pdf

This definition includes music schools, dance schools, Centres for Advanced Training, and tuition centres where they charge fees for full-time education for pupils of compulsory school age. Institutions that charge fees for full-time education suitable for people over compulsory school age but under 19 (such as sixth forms) are also within scope of this policy.

All education services, vocational training, and boarding services provided by institutions that meet this definition of a private school will be subject to VAT, including extracurricular classes. The VAT treatment of Special Educational Needs therapies will depend on the type of therapy and who it is provided by. If the therapy is a means of supporting the education delivered to and is provided by the private school, it will likely be subject to VAT. If it is a type of therapy that qualifies for the health and social care VAT exemptions (for instance, occupational therapy), it will remain exempt from VAT. This policy does not affect the VAT treatment of services provided by an unconnected third-party who carries out their services on a private school’s premises.

The full fees of pupils in receipt of funding through the Music and Dance Scheme will be subject to VAT. The right time to consider any changes to schemes such as the Music and Dance Scheme is at the Spending Review.

The Government does not expect fees to go up by 20% as a result of this policy change, and the Government expects private schools to take steps to minimise fee increases.

Further details on this policy can be found in the technical note published alongside the legislation. The technical note can be found online here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66a7a1bdce1fd0da7b592eb6/Technical_Note_-_DIGITAL.pdf

HMRC will also be publishing bespoke guidance for schools, and holding support sessions to help them understand their liabilities as a VAT-registered business.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the proposed train station in Cheadle will continue.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The proposed train station in Cheadle forms part of the £13.9 million Cheadle Town Deal agreed by the previous government. All Town Deal business cases have been approved and all funding is fully committed, with the expectation that funding recipients will have invested the entirety of their allocation by March 2026. The Chancellor has set out a path to confirming plans for this year and next at the forthcoming Budget on October 30th. We understand that this will have caused uncertainty about the status of some projects and the challenge that it presents locally; however, this Government must be sure to make responsible decisions on public spending. During this time my officials will continue to work with local authorities and across government to help resolve any delivery issues that may arise, including with the Stockport Council and the Department for Transport (DfT).

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