Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support entrepreneurs in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government took steps at Budget 2025 to support founders and high-growth companies across the UK, as set out in the Entrepreneurship Prospectus, including on tax incentives, the procurement regime, R&D funding and expanding the role of the British Business Bank (BBB).
This follows the BBB’s work to date supporting SMEs with its Start Up Loans programme. Between the scheme’s inception in 2012 and June 2025, 105 businesses in Surrey Heath have received loans, totaling £1,249,215 of funding.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Budget 2025 on (a) investment and (b) hiring decisions by small and medium-sized enterprises.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
We are cutting borrowing and debt, and supporting the Bank of England by tackling the persistent high inflation that dampens investment in the UK and slows economic growth. The Government set out its overall approach for supporting SMEs in the Small Business Strategy published in July 2025 and built on this with targeted reforms to support small businesses at Autumn Budget 2025. We are supporting employment and skills by changing the rules to fully fund SME apprenticeships training costs for eligible people under the age of 25. At the Budget we announced an Entrepreneurship which includes the largest ever injection of capital into the British Business Bank. Over the next five years, the British Business Bank will enable up to an additional £10 billion in small business lending through guarantees. We are also doubling the eligibility of our enterprise tax incentives to boost scale-ups and consulting on plans to reduce business energy prices.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on future VCT fundraising by reducing upfront VCT Income Tax relief from 30% to 20% from April 2026; and when her Department will publish that impact assessment.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
At Budget, the government announced a comprehensive package of entrepreneurship tax measures designed to provide substantially enhanced support for scaling businesses across the UK. This includes doubling the maximum amount that a company can raise through the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and the Venture Capital Trust (VCT) scheme. These increases will lead to around £100 million per year of extra investment into the most successful scaling companies, supporting their further growth and development.
The Government recognises that there may be other ways we could support companies to scale in the UK. We have therefore launched a Call for Evidence on tax policy support for investment in high-growth UK companies to gather views and evidence from founders, entrepreneurs, scaling companies and investors. This will assess the impact, accessibility, and generosity of existing schemes, and explore potential policy options to go-further.
A Tax Information and Impact Note published at Budget outlines the policy rationale and impacts of these measures. It can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/enterprise-investment-scheme-eis-and-venture-capital-trusts-vct-changes/venture-capital-trusts-enterprise-investment-scheme-investment-limit-increase-and-restructure
The Policy Costings document contains further information on the costing methodology. This can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692872fd2a37784b16ecf676/Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) name, (b) job title, (c) annual remuneration, (d) time commitment and (e) expected end date is for each direct ministerial appointment in her Department.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Treasury makes information on its direct ministerial appointments available in line with Cabinet Office guidance on transparency. This information is available on GOV.UK and kept under review to ensure it is up to date.
The arrangements for each appointment are outlined in their terms of reference published on GOV.UK.
NAME | JOB TITLE | PRESS RELEASE |
John Van Reenen | Adviser on Economic Growth | |
Alex Depledge | Entrepreneurship Adviser | First ever Entrepreneurship Advisor appointed to the Treasury - GOV.UK |
Anna Valero | Industrial Strategy Adviser | |
Catherine Howard | Infrastructure and Planning Adviser | Chancellor appoints infrastructure and planning adviser to clear path for new investments - GOV.UK |
Mark Austin | Chair, Dematerialisation Market Action Taskforce (DEMAT) | |
Geoffrey Spence | External expertise on project finance to HMT | |
David Sturrock | Member of the Council of Economic Advisers | The Chancellor has appointed David Sturrock to the Council of Economic Advisors - GOV.UK |
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage long-term, high-value entrepreneurship through foreign direct investment.
Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)
The Government is taking decisive steps to foster long-term, high-value entrepreneurship through foreign direct investment. Reforms to procurement, generous R&D tax reliefs, and targeted programmes such as BridgeAI, Growth Catalyst (£130 million) and Enterprise Fellowships will unlock capital, markets and talent. Major investment in AI and semiconductors, alongside a three-year stamp duty holiday for UK-listed firms, gives global investors confidence to back UK innovators and drive sustained growth.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to review tax and residency rules, following reports of UK technology founders relocating overseas.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK uses the Statutory Residence Test (SRT) to determine UK residency for tax purposes. UK tax residents normally pay tax on their worldwide income and gains, while non-UK residents only pay UK tax on their UK income and gains.
The Government’s priority is improving the UK’s competitiveness internationally and securing economic growth.
The Government is backing entrepreneurs and fostering a pro-business environment by ensuring the tax system is designed to support innovation and economic growth. That is why we have announced a package of measures to back entrepreneurship at Autumn Budget 2025.
The Government keeps tax and residency rules under review to ensure they remain competitive and responsive to the needs of innovative sectors, including technology.
Asked by: Julia Lopez (Conservative - Hornchurch and Upminster)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reforming the (a) Enterprise Investment Scheme and (b) Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme to improve support for firms in the post-start-up phase.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is focused on making the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business, and understands the key role of a competitive investment environment in achieving economic growth.
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government committed to creating a positive environment for entrepreneurship and business investment. We are working with leading entrepreneurs and venture capital firms on how policy supports that, including the role of the Enterprise Investment Scheme and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme.
Asked by: Julia Lopez (Conservative - Hornchurch and Upminster)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to expand the (a) Enterprise Investment Scheme and (b) Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme scheme to support older companies seeking increased investment.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is focused on making the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business, and understands the key role of a competitive investment environment in achieving economic growth.
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government committed to creating a positive environment for entrepreneurship and business investment. We are working with leading entrepreneurs and venture capital firms on how policy supports that, including the role of the Enterprise Investment Scheme and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help support young people into (a) employment, (b) education and (c) training in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department is committed to ensuring young people have access to the support they need to move into sustainable employment. DWP currently provides young people aged 16-24 with labour market support through an extensive range of interventions at a national and local level. This includes flexible provision driven by local need, nationwide employment programmes and support delivered by work coaches based in our Jobcentres and in local communities, working alongside partners such as the Kings Trust, Local Authorities, National Careers Service/Career Wales, local colleges and Youth Trusts.
In Newcastle-under-Lyme we are working closely with stakeholders through the Newcastle Employment and Skills Group – including Aspire Housing and Keele University – to connect young people with job opportunities and tailored support. Programmes such as Positive Directions and We Mean Business are providing fully funded five-week courses for 16–24-year-olds not in education, employment or training covering areas such as fitness instruction, customer service, and entrepreneurship.
Also, Newcastle College is expanding its offer to include ESOL, functional skills, and employability courses, while Keele University is piloting new pathways to widen participation in higher education. Local initiatives are also delivering training in digital marketing, cyber security, and mental health first aid.
In addition, Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) and collaboration with care leaver schemes are helping young people with complex barriers into sustained employment.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to introduce (a) subsidised costs for (i) medical oversight and (ii) job support schemes and (b) other financial assistance for non-medical aesthetic practitioners.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to taking action to address longstanding concerns about the safety of the cosmetics sector and has been exploring options for further regulation in this area. In doing so, the Government recognises the contribution the cosmetics industry makes to the economy, the entrepreneurship it fosters, and the employment opportunities it provides. Ministers recognise that Government action in this space must be proportionate if it is to protect the public from harm, whilst not unnecessarily restricting the activities of legitimate businesses. Any future changes to the regulation of the sector would be subject to public consultation, impact assessments, and the parliamentary procedure.
We will set out the details of our approach in our response to the consultation on the licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England, which we will publish at the earliest opportunity.