Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reducing VAT on the repair, maintenance and retrofit of existing buildings on (a) the viability of bringing older high-street and town-centre buildings back into use, (b) the reduction of embodied carbon in the construction sector and (c) the preservation of heritage of long-standing community assets.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services, this includes most construction work. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

The Government keeps all taxes under review and makes decisions at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances.