Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make a comparative estimate of the average cost of (a) VAT, (b) employers' National Insurance contributions, (c) contributions to the Teachers' Pensions Scheme and (d) business rates for independent schools that are (i) liable for business rates for the first time and (ii) already liable for business rates (A) before and (B) after the Autumn Budget 2024.

The government publishes Tax Information and Impact Notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes when the policy is final or near final. TIINs give a clear explanation of the policy objective together with comprehensive assessment of the impacts on individuals and families, businesses and the wider economy, equalities impacts, and any other specific area of impact. TIINs look at the impacts of changes to the tax system separately for each measure.

A TIIN assessing the impacts of applying VAT to private school fees has been published online and can be found here: Private school fees — VAT measure - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Details of the changes to business rates charitable rate relief and changes to employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) were outlined at Budget. Notes on the general impacts of these measures will be published in due course alongside the respective legislation when it is introduced to Parliament.