theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of foreign political donations made through membership of the Scottish electoral roll. \p Rushanara Ali: Electoral law ensures that only those with legitimate ties to the UK can donate. This includes people of varying nationalities, who are entitled to vote at a UK election. The Scottish Government has responsibility for the franchise for elections to the Scottish Parliament and local elections.

In line with our manifesto commitment, we are focused on addressing the risk of foreign interference coming from actors with no such legitimate links. Details of these proposals will be brought forward in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding her Department is providing to (a) Bedford Borough Council and (b) Central Bedfordshire Council to cover the increased cost of employers’ National Insurance. \p Jim McMahon: The government has announced an additional £515 million of support for local government in England specifically to manage the impact of changes to employer NICs announced at the Autumn Budget.

Final allocations to local authorities will be published alongside final positions on methodology as part of the final Local Government Finance Settlement in early February 2025.
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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 3d of her Department's policy paper entitled Joint plan to accelerate developer-led remediation and improve resident experience, published on 02 December 2024, when her Department will begin publishing developer performance against audits; and if the Department will report retrospectively on audits carried out since the commencement of the Developer Remediation Contract in April 2023. \p Alex Norris: I refer the hon Member to the answer give to Question UIN 20246 on 20 December 2024.
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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2h of her Department's policy paper entitled Joint plan to accelerate developer-led remediation and improve resident experience, published on 2 December 2024, what the target date is for the draft guidance on Alternative Dispute Resolution to be published in final form, and whether it will be optional for developers and building owners to participate in ADR. \p Alex Norris: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 20707 on 20 December 2024.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question 22379 on Local Government Finance: Devolution, and with reference to her Department's High Street Rental Auctions fund: prospectus, updated on 17 January 2025, for what reason the High Streets Rental Auctions fund is operating on a bidding scheme basis; and whether the fund is ringfenced. \p Alex Norris: The government has made over £1 million available to support all local authorities in England to deliver High Street Rental Auctions (HSRA), a crucial part of how we will address persistent vacancies on high streets.

The non-ringfenced grant funding is designed to fund the cost of setting up a register of vacant properties and the refurbishment of vacant properties subject to a rental auction. These costs will vary depending on the nature of the property and other factors, so to ensure value for money, the government is asking local authorities to specify how much funding they require and to demonstrate their application meets certain limited criteria. For example, funding for refurbishments is limited to areas with higher vacancy rates. Provided it meets that criteria, and funding remains, it will be agreed.

New Burdens funding is also available to meet the administrative costs of implementing the new powers.
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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of raising the Cornish language from Part II to Part III of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. \p Alex Norris: The Government has received a request from Cornwall Council to extend the protection of the Cornish language from Part II to Part III of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages. The request is currently being considered and a formal response will be issued in due course.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question 22321 on Mo Baines, if she will publish a copy of Mo Baines’ declaration of political activity (a) submitted when she applied for the role of Lead Non-Executive Director and (b) any revised versions. \p Alex Norris: As noted in the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question 22321, Non-Executive Board Members’ relevant interests are updated and published bi-annually as part of an established process as set out on the following gov.uk page: Non-Executive Board Member declaration of interests process - GOV.UK.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish internal analysis produced by her Department on the impact of asylum accommodation in hotels on violent disorder in summer 2024. \p Alex Norris: The Government is committed to understanding the factors which influenced the violent disorder in the summer, and its harmful impact on many communities. This is a priority, which is why the Deputy Prime Minister stood up a cross-government Communities and Recovery Steering Group to oversee this work.

Officials from my department have carried out extensive engagement with the places affected by the violence. The insights from this ongoing work are informing the Government’s long-term, strategic approach to building social cohesion, and ensuring communities across the country are safe, resilient and united.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question 22338 on Antisemitism and Islamophobia, whether her Department uses the phrase anti-Muslim hatred; and what her Department's definition of Islamophobic activity is. \p Alex Norris: All forms of racial and religious discrimination are completely unacceptable and have no place in our communities. This government is committed to tackling such hatred in all its forms. More information will be set out in due course.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the performance of the planning inspectorate. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to the efficient handling of planning casework, including by means of ensuring there is sufficient resourcing in the Planning Inspectorate to support such activity. The Inspectorate regularly publishes updates on its performance.
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Sojan Joseph:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with local authorities on the implications of developers failing to meet their commitments in planning agreements under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is clear that developers must deliver on their planning obligations. Section 106 planning obligations are legal agreements, and a local planning authority may take enforcement action in respect of any breach of the obligations contained within them. Enforcement is at the discretion of the local planning authority, and therefore it is for the local planning authority to decide whether enforcement action is appropriate in each case.

The government is committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.
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Chris Coghlan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring sheltered accommodation and social housing for the elderly are built in a community based setting. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government recognises that well-designed, suitable housing can help improve the quality of life, health and wellbeing of older people.

A range of highly regarded sector-led expert guidance on best practice in the development and design of housing for older people is already available, including the Housing our Ageing Population Innovation Panel (HAPPI) design principles and the Lifetime Homes Standard.

This year, the government will publish a long-term housing strategy which will set out our vision for a housing market that works for all age groups, including older people.
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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure housing associations provide clear and consistent communication during tenancy transitions; and what steps she is taking to support tenants facing (a) rent increases and (b) upfront payment requirements. \p Matthew Pennycook: Under the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard set by the independent Regulator of Social Housing, registered providers must ensure that communication with and information for tenants is clear, accessible, relevant, timely and appropriate to the diverse needs of tenants.

Under the new consumer regulation regime, the Regulator proactively seeks evidence that providers are delivering the outcomes set by the standards.

In terms of support with rent increases: if eligible, tenants of housing associations can receive Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit to help pay their rent. Support is also available through Discretionary Housing Payments, which are delivered via local authorities.

The government recently consulted on a future long-term rent settlement, inviting views on a range of issues relating to social housing rent policy.

The Renters’ Rights Bill will prohibit private registered providers, as well as private landlords, from requiring or accepting any payment of rent before an assured tenancy has been entered into.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how she plans to roll out additional funding for social homes announced in the Autumn Budget 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: At the Budget on 30 October 2024, the Chancellor announced a one year top up of £500 million to the Affordable Homes Programme.

Bidding is already open to local authorities and other social landlords through Homes England and the Greater London Authority.

In addition, at the multi-year Spending Review, the government will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.
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Sarah Owen:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether it remains her policy for Homes England to acquire Ministry of Defence land through the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to meet the government's housebuilding commitments. \p Matthew Pennycook: Homes England works closely with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, the Ministry of Defence and other landowning Departments, providing targeted and expert support to help prepare land for sale, tackling issues that have previously delayed or prevented land release.

Homes England can acquire public sector sites where this offers the best option – and value for money – to accelerate the remediation and release of a site and its build out for housing.
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Michael Payne:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 5.149 of the Autumn Budget, whether receipts from right to buy sales (a) are ringfenced for new council housing or (b) can be used for general spending by local authorities. \p Matthew Pennycook: At the Budget on 30 October 2024, the Chancellor confirmed that local authorities can now retain 100% of their receipts from Right to Buy sales.

Approximately 65% of these receipts are conditionally retained by councils on the basis that they will be used for replacement social housing and approximately 35% may be used for any capital purpose, including for replacement housing.

In our recent Reforming the Right to Buy consultation, we sought views from local authorities and other stakeholders on simplifying the rules governing the use of Right to Buy receipts. We are analysing responses to that consultation and will set out next steps in due course.
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Barry Gardiner:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to help increase the uptake of leasehold with a share of freehold on new flatted developments. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to reinvigorating commonhold and making it the default tenure.

Our forthcoming White Paper on reforms to commonhold will outline proposed reforms to the model and our plans to introduce a comprehensive new legal framework.

The government has also made clear it intends to publish draft legislation on leasehold and commonhold reform in this session so that it may be subject to broad consultation and additional parliamentary scrutiny.

We will also engage with stakeholders on the process for converting existing flats to commonhold and consult on the proposed ban on new leasehold flats. We will set out further details in due course.
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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take if local authorities do not meet their local housing targets. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 19892 on 17 December 2024.
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Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to launch a further consultation on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework to reduce the cost and complexity for community-led housing providers aiming to build small numbers of affordable homes in rural communities. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government recognises that community-led housing delivers a wide range of benefits, including additional housing supply, empowering communities, achieving high quality design and strengthening the co-operative economy. We are committed to making it easier for community-led developers to develop new affordable homes and to improving the quality of life for people living and working in rural areas.

I am committed to working with representatives of the community-led housing sector to consider how the government may support the growth of community led housing over the long term and I recently met with the Chief Executive of the Community Land Trust Network and other stakeholders to that end.

Our revised National Planning Policy Framework, published on 12 December, strengthened provisions to support community-led housing, providing extra clarity and flexibility on the groups that may bring forward community-led housing and on the size of community-led exception sites.

We intend to give further consideration to how policy can better promote rural affordable housing as part of our work to produce a set of national policies for decision making in 2025.
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Phil Brickell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2025 to Question 22789 on Fraud: Coronavirus, how many (a) civil and (b) criminal compliance actions HMRC has taken on covid-related fraud since January 2020. \p James Murray: The COVID-19 business support schemes that were administered by HMRC were the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) and Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO).

HMRC remain committed to COVID-19 scheme compliance activity and will continue to prioritise and pursue the most serious cases of abuse.

As with HMRC’s approach to non-compliance in the tax system, HMRC address the majority of COVID-19 scheme error and fraud cases through cost-effective civil investigation procedures. Where appropriate, HMRC will conduct criminal investigations and seek criminal prosecutions if it is in the public interest, particularly where the behaviour is very serious or where a criminal prosecution will act as a strong deterrent.

HMRC are committed to working with the COVID-19 Counter Fraud commissioner.
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Stuart Andrew:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to amend Gift Aid legislation to ensure that charities who rely on a membership subscription model can continue to claim Gift Aid while complying with the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. \p James Murray: The government is pleased to confirm its plans to legislate to amend the rules concerning Gift Aid due to implications of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. This Act introduces new protections for consumers who take out subscription contracts. The government will amend existing Gift Aid legislation so that charities can continue to claim Gift Aid while complying with these new consumer protections when they come into force.

In relation to the other general question related to Gift Aid reform, the government keeps all rules under review and will continue to work closely with the sector with a view to improving processes.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Office for Value for Money will assess the proposed Chagos settlement. \p Darren Jones: The Chagos agreement, as an international treaty, falls outside the remit of the OVfM, which is focused on removing inefficiency, scrutinising investment proposals and provide advice on system reforms.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of introducing VAT exemptions for (a) gyms and (b) other providers of fitness services on the number of people using these services. \p James Murray: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government took a number of difficult but necessary decisions on tax, welfare, and spending to fix the public finances, fund public services, and restore economic stability. This stability is critical to boosting investment and growth, and to making people across the UK better off.

One of the key considerations for any potential new VAT relief is whether the cost saving is likely to be passed on to consumers. Evidence suggests that businesses only partially pass on any savings from lower VAT rates, meaning that cutting VAT may not be an effective way to reduce prices for consumers.
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Wera Hobhouse:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has carried out analysis of the potential impact of Heathrow expansion since October 2017. \p Darren Jones: The Government supports and is inviting proposals for a third runway, to be brought forward by the summer.

We will then take forward a full assessment of these proposals through the Airport National Policy Statement. This will ensure that the project delivers value for money and that it is delivered in line with legal, environmental and climate obligations.
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Susan Murray:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help support small and medium sized enterprises with the cost of import charges. \p James Murray: Small and medium sized businesses make a vital contribution to the UK economy. There are various arrangements in place that enable businesses to access reduced or zero import charges.

With regards to customs duty, the UK has a number of free trade agreements which enable businesses to benefit from paying reduced or zero customs duty. The UK also has several customs procedures which allow businesses to pay a reduced amount of duty on their imports, depending on what they are and what they do with them – for example, if they are importing them temporarily or repairing them.

VAT is due on all imports of goods into the UK at the same rate as domestic transactions. This ensures imports cannot undercut UK businesses and does not represent an additional charge for businesses buying imports. VAT registered businesses are able to reclaim VAT paid upon import, in the same way as for domestic purchases, as well as making use of VAT accounting schemes to smooth cash flow.
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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has undertaken consultation with large family-owned businesses with more than 100 employees on the proposed changes to business property relief. \p James Murray: The Government published information about the reforms to business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.

The Government will publish a technical consultation in early 2025. This will focus on the detailed application of the allowance to lifetime transfers into trusts and charges on trust property. This will inform the legislation to be included in a future Finance Bill.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how business ratepayers with multiple qualifying hereditaments across different local authorities will have retail, hospitality and leisure business rate relief capped. \p James Murray: To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including those on the high street, from 2026-27.

Ahead of these changes being made, the Government recognises that businesses will need support in 2025-26. As such, we have prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business.

Local authorities determine eligibility for relief in line with central government guidance.
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Greg Smith:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what meetings (a) she and (b) Ministers have had with Doug Gurr since 4 July 2024. \p Emma Reynolds: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery

Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available on GOV.UK.
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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2024 to Question 24423 on Employers' Contributions, if she will provide disaggregated cost figures for the retail sector for the same period. \p James Murray: As is the case with all tax policies, the Government has published a detailed assessment of the policy in the Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN). This includes impacts on the exchequer, the economy, individuals, households and families, equalities, businesses including civil society organisations, and details on monitoring and evaluation. The TIIN can be found below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-the-class-1-national-insurance-contributions-secondary-threshold-the-secondary-class-1-national-insurance-contributions-rate-and-the-empl

The Tax Information and Impact Note sets out that around 250,000 employers will see their Secondary Class 1 NICs liability decrease and around 940,000 will see it increase. Around 820,000 employers will see no change. Information on employers listed is not available as we do not hold the breakdown requested by employer size.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to convene the next Oil and Gas Fiscal Forum. \p James Murray: The government is committed to maintaining an open and constructive dialogue with the oil and gas sector to support our energy security and ensure the sector plays its role in our clean energy ambitions.

In line with this I will chair the next Oil and Gas Fiscal Forum in the first quarter of this year.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with Aberdeenshire Council on increases in Employers National Insurance contributions in the Autumn Budget. \p James Murray: The Government takes into account all representations made ahead of the Budget, and meets with stakeholders on a regular basis, including officials and ministers from the Scottish Government.

Funding for local authorities in Scotland, including support for additional employer National Insurance Contribution (NICs) costs falls under the devolved responsibilities of the Scottish Government.

At Autumn Budget 2024, we set aside funding for public sector employers for additional NICs costs. This includes funding for the Scottish Government through the usual application of the Barnett formula.

Funding resulting from the employer NICs policy change will be in addition to the £47.7 billion the Scottish Government is receiving in 2025-26, which already includes an additional £3.4 billion through the operation of the Barnett formula. This settlement is the largest in real terms since devolution.

Decisions on devolved priorities, including local authority funding, are a matter for the Scottish Government. It is for the Scottish Government to determine how to allocate its budget across devolved areas and it is accountable to Scottish Parliament for these decisions.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether mitie will be compensated through higher payments for the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions. \p James Murray: The Chancellor made an announcement at the Autumn Budget setting out that the rate of employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) will increase from 13.8% to 15% from 6 April 2025. Raising revenue to fund public services and restore fiscal stability requires difficult decisions on tax, which is why the Government is asking employers to contribute more. HM Treasury has not provided additional funding to departments to compensate private companies holding public contracts. This is in line with the precedent from the last increase to employer NICs: the Health and Social Care Levy.
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Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the National Insurance measures in the Autumn Budget 2024 on businesses in (a) Epping Forest and (b) England. \p James Murray: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.

Estimates of the impact on businesses in Epping Forest from changes to Employer NICs announced at Autumn Budget 2024 are not available.
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Phil Brickell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2025 to Question 22789 on Fraud: Coronavirus, what the total number of staff is who work on recovering overpayments on business support schemes in each year since 2020-21. \p James Murray: The COVID-19 business support schemes that were administered by HMRC were the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) and Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO).

Information on the resources deployed on these schemes can be found in the HMRC Annual Report and Accounts 2022/23, where HMRC expected to deploy over 2,500 staff by September 2023 through the Taxpayer Protection Taskforce.

HMRC are committed to working with COVID-19 Counter Fraud Commissioner.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has received representations from TheCityUk on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme since June 2022. \p James Murray: Since June 2022, the government has received representations from various organisations on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, including TheCityUk.
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Phil Brickell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2025 to Question 22789 on Fraud: Coronavirus, how many (a) civil and (b) criminal compliance actions has HMRC taken relating to tax offences suspected of having been committed by those seeking and fulfilling government contracts relating to the procurement and onward supply of Personal Protective Equipment and similar products during the Covid-19 pandemic. \p James Murray: HMRC conducts thousands of civil and criminal compliance actions each year. A number of these relate to tax offences suspected of having been committed by those seeking and fulfilling government contracts relating to the procurement and onward supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and similar products during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Management Information systems are not currently able to extract data to quantify the total figure.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

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Christine Jardine:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 6 November 2024 to Question 11845 on Employers’ Contributions: Essex, whether she plans to (a) collect and (b) publish data on the number of (i) businesses and (ii) employers impacted by changes to employer National Insurance contributions at constituency level; and whether she has had discussions with local authorities on the regional impact of those changes. \p James Murray: HMRC monitors Employer National Insurance Contributions through receipts monitoring, and information collected from Real Time Information returns.

Receipts are published via the monthly HMRC tax and National Insurance receipts publication: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmrc-tax-and-nics-receipts-for-the-uk
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-30 conversation_165

James Cartlidge:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will estimate the revenue expected to be raised from applying business rates to independent schools in South Suffolk constituency in the next financial year. \p James Murray: At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government reconfirmed that it is removing private schools’ eligibility for charitable rate relief under business rates in England from April 2025. This intervention will raise around £140 million per year.

Business rates retention means that local authorities retain a proportion of all business rates revenue. As such, the increase in rates receipts due to the reduction in charitable rate relief for private schools will be shared between central and local government.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-30 conversation_166

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the amount of money lost annually through tax (a) avoidance and (b) evasion. \p James Murray: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) estimates the size of the tax gap, which is the difference between the amount of tax that should, in theory, be paid to HMRC, and what is actually paid. The tax gap statistics are published annually and are available at: Measuring tax gaps 2024 edition: tax gap estimates for 2022 to 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Table 7.1 of the online tables shows the illustrative tax gap time series by behaviour, including avoidance and evasion. The tax gap for avoidance was £1.8 billion and for evasion was £5.5 billion in tax year 2022 to 2023. The online tables are available at: Measuring tax gaps tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-30 conversation_167

Peter Fortune:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of HMRC's Consultation on changes to HMRC statistics publications 2025, published on 16 January 2025. \p James Murray: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) launched the consultation on changes to HMRC statistics publications on GOV.UK on 16 January 2025. The consultation will remain open until 10 April 2025 and the consultation response, setting out confirmed plans, will be published in summer 2025.

When publishing the consultation, HMRC have followed the Government Digital Service guidance on publishing accessible documents on GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/publishing-accessible-documents), including publishing the consultation document in HTML format, making it easier for users to find and navigate. Responses to this consultation are able to be submitted via email.

As well as publishing on GOV.UK, invitations to participate were sent directly to known users of HMRC statistics publications such as local authorities, business groups, academia and other government departments.

Users can find further information and advice in the accessibility statement for GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/help/accessibility-statement), as well as contact details should they wish to provide feedback on accessibility or request information in a different format.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-30 conversation_168

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to provide financial support to the lowest earners. \p James Murray: The Government has set out a Plan for Change, outlining our ambitious yet achievable milestones, including raising living standards in every part of the United Kingdom to ensure working people have more money in their pockets and delivering the highest sustained economic growth in the G7.

Specific actions already taken by the Government to support low paid workers include: increasing to the National Living Wage from April 2025; extension of the Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments in England and Wales in 2025-26; and introduction of a new Fair Repayment Rate from April 2025 to cap debt repayments made through Universal Credit.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-30 conversation_169

James Cartlidge:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the total revenue to be raised from applying VAT to independent schools in South Suffolk constituency in the next financial year. \p James Murray: The Government does not have an estimate of the revenue from this measure specifically from the South Suffolk constituency.

At the Autumn Budget the Government published a detailed response to the consultation conducted between July and September. Annexed to this is the costing methodology used to calculate the total revenue generated by this policy. Included is a breakdown of the exchequer impact by year, including 2025/26. This was published online and can be found here: Government_Response_to_the_Technical_Note_on_Applying_VAT_to_Private_School_Fees_and_Removing_the_Business_Rates_Charitable_Rate_Relief.pdf
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-30 conversation_170

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of trends in the level of consumer credit debt relating to car purchases in the last five years. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government regularly engages with the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) to monitor personal finances and debt levels.

According to the FCA, 2 million cars were bought on finance in the 12 months to October 2024, with a total of £38.7 billion being borrowed. HMT does not hold data for the last 5 years.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-30 conversation_171

Jake Richards:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to the public purse would be to not claim back child benefit from parents who have lost a child in the year after the upfront payment. \p James Murray: I refer the hon member to the answer given on 24 January to UIN 25010 regarding estimated costs of not claiming back Child Benefit overpayments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-30 conversation_172

Jake Richards:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her Department's policy is on claiming back child benefit from parents who have lost a child in the year after the upfront payment. \p James Murray: I refer the hon member to the answer given on 23 January to UIN 25009 regarding the policy on Child Benefit overpayments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-30 conversation_173

Andrew Bowie:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the National Farmers Union of Scotland on changes to Agricultural Property Relief in the Autumn Budget 2024 since 30 October 2024. \p James Murray: The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.

The Government takes into account all representations, and HM Treasury officials and Ministers meet with stakeholders on a regular basis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-30 conversation_174

Melanie Onn:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing VAT exemptions for (a) small charities and (b) volunteer organisations. \p James Murray: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax forecast to raise £171 billion in 2024/25. Taxation is a vital source of revenue that helps to fund vital public services including schools and hospitals.

Charities can already benefit from a reduced (5%) or zero rate of tax when purchasing some goods and services. More information about VAT relief for charities can be found here: VAT for charities: What qualifies for VAT relief - GOV.UK.

The Government has no plans to change this approach, but takes steps elsewhere in the tax system to ensure that charities receive treatment that takes account of their unique status and invaluable contribution. Our tax regime for charities, including exemption from paying business rates, is among the most generous of anywhere in the world, with tax reliefs for charities and their donors worth just over £6 billion for the tax year to April 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-30 conversation_175

Andrew Bowie:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the impact of changes to Agricultural Property Relief on Scottish farms. \p James Murray: The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.

It is expected that up to around 2,000 estates will be affected by the changes to APR and BPR in 2026-27, with around half of those being claims that involve AIM shares. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief (or those claiming agricultural property relief and business property relief together) are expected to be unaffected by these reforms.

In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-30 conversation_176

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of wealthy taxpayers leaving the UK on levels of (a) economic growth and (b) tax receipts. \p James Murray: The Government is committed to making sure the wealthiest in our society pay their fair share of tax. That is why the Chancellor announced a series of reforms at Autumn Budget 2024 to help fix the public finances in as fair a way as possible.

As part of this, the Government is increasing the main rates of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to 18 and 24 per cent, while ensuring the UK tax system remains internationally competitive.

At the Budget, the Government also confirmed its plans to remove the outdated concept of domicile status from the tax system and to replace it with a new residence-based regime from 6 April 2025, which is internationally competitive and focused on attracting the best talent and investment to the UK. The OBR have certified that the package of non-dom reforms the Government is legislating will raise £33.8bn in total revenue over the five-year forecast period. These reforms will ensure that everyone who makes their home in the UK pays their taxes here.

These and other decisions announced at the Budget will help repair the public finances and fund public services such as the NHS and education.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-30 conversation_177

Mike Wood:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 21406 on BBC: Employers’ Contribution, whether the BBC will receive government support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs. \p James Murray: There are no plans to provide the BBC with government support for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions. Details of the funding set aside for 2025-26, including its allocation, will be published in due course.