Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a fixed 4% stamp duty on the purchase of properties.

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is charged using a rate structure which rises as properties get more valuable. This means that lower-value properties benefit more from the nil rate band, with the first £125,000 of any property not being charged SDLT at all. This ensures that those who can afford to pay more do so.

SDLT continues to be an important source of Government revenue, raising around £14 billion each year to help pay for the essential services the Government provides.