Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will take steps to ensure that HMRC case workers dealing with (a) Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme and (b) Enterprise Investment Scheme applications process them in a (i) timely and (ii) effective manner.

The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme and Enterprise Investment Scheme are administered by a dedicated specialist team in HMRC.

This team works to HMRC's overall customer service targets, aiming to reply to 80% of EIS compliance statements and advance assurance applications within 15 working days and 95% within 40 working days. They are currently exceeding this target.

The majority of applications receive approval without the need for further action. A small minority of applications may take longer to process where there has been insufficient information provided to reach a decision or where the company fails to meet the qualifying requirements of the schemes.

Companies authorised by HMRC raised £2,114 million investment in 22/23 under these 2 schemes.