theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) patients and (b) terminally ill patients have been (i) prosecuted under the 1999 Health Act, (ii) fined and (iii) investigated for fraudulently claiming prescription charge exemptions. \p Karin Smyth: The Department has made no assessment of the cost to the public purse of the requirement for patients, including terminally ill patients and patients with type 1 diabetes, to renew their medical exemption certificate every five years.

Between 1 June 2024 and 1 July 2025, 50,330 people received a Penalty Charge Notice after claiming a medical exemption certificate on a National Health Service prescription.

There has been one prosecution in relation to non-payment of NHS prescription charges, which was in 2019.

Data that specifically identifies patients with a terminal illness in relation to prosecutions, fines, or investigations under the 1999 Health Act for fraudulent prescription charge exemptions is not held. Data is recorded based on a qualifying medical condition which entitles someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish (a) transparent and (b) clearly reported data on hospital admissions and presentations to minor injury clinics due to dog bites, by healthcare trust in Great Britain. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England currently publishes data on hospital admissions, including those due to dog bites. This data can be found at the following link:

digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-admitted-patient-care-activity/2023-24

In 2023/24, in England, there were 10,678 finished admission episodes with an external cause of being bitten or struck by a dog. This data is available nationally and not disaggregated by individual National Health Service trusts or minor injury unit. There are no current plans to change this approach.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Sarah Bool:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 57938 on Investment: Fraud, whether her Department has considered establishing a centralised redress mechanism for victims of investment fraud that fall outside the scope of the Faster Payments System or the PSR reimbursement regime. \p Emma Reynolds: In October 2024, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) introduced a mandatory reimbursement regime for authorised push payment (APP) scams which take place over the Faster Payments system, as required by the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) 2023. The PSR’s regime requires payment service providers to reimburse victims for losses up to £85,000. FSMA 2023 also gave the PSR powers to take action to require reimbursement for other payment systems which have been designated by HMT.

The details of the reimbursement regime and its enforcement are a matter for the independent PSR, but it has committed to carry out an independent evaluation of the reimbursement requirement after the rules have been in place for 12 months, including considering the maximum level of reimbursement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of whether the National Wealth Fund is operating on an equitable basis throughout the UK. \p James Murray: The National Wealth Fund (NWF) identifies investment opportunities across the UK and has dedicated directors in each of the four nations to support its view of markets across the country. 80% of the NWF's portfolio is outside of London and the South-East.

The NWF's success is assessed across a range of measures, including that it should have a good geographical spread of its activity across the nations and regions of the UK
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Andrew Cooper:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending the VAT relief for medical supplies afforded by VAT Notice 701/57 to include automated external defibrillators supplied for community use. \p James Murray: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

The Government currently provides VAT reliefs to aid the purchase of defibrillators. For example, when an Automated External Defibrillator is purchased with funds provided by a charity and then donated to an eligible body, no VAT is charged. Furthermore, all state schools in England have been fitted with AEDs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Dame Chi Onwurah:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in employer National Insurance contributions on levels of youth employment in the North East. \p James Murray: A detailed assessment of the policy has been published by HMRC in their Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN). The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) also publishes Economic and Fiscal Outlooks (EFOs), which set out a detailed forecast of the economy and public finances. With all policies considered, the OBR's March 2025 EFO forecasts the employment level to increase from 33.6 million in 2024 to 34.8 million in 2029.

This Government is committed to providing young people with the best start to their working lives. We have committed to deliver a Youth Guarantee so that all 18 to 21-year-olds in England have access to education, training or help to find a job or an apprenticeship. The Government is also expanding Sector-based Work Academy Programmes to provide 100,000 places in 2025/26, providing a work placement, training and a guaranteed interview that can kickstart a new career and support young people into work.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Sarah Coombes:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Financial Conduct Authority's powers to seek redress for the victims of financial fraud. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government takes the issue of fraud very seriously and is dedicated to protecting the public from this devastating crime.

In October 2024, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) introduced a mandatory reimbursement regime for authorised push payment (APP) scams which take place over the Faster Payments system, as required by the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) 2023. The PSR’s regime requires payment service providers to reimburse victims for losses up to £85,000 for scams which took place after 7 October 2024.

In cases where consumers have been impacted by financial fraud and are not covered by these rules, they should contact their bank in the first instance. Victims may have access to recourse through the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), which can consider individual complaints between consumers and financial firms. This includes on fraud providing the activity is within the FOS’s jurisdiction, which is set by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FOS can consider whether or not the firm has acted fairly, however, any criminal investigation would be a matter for the police.

HM Treasury is working with colleagues in the Home Office as they develop a new, expanded Fraud Strategy. This will be published in due course as part of the Government’s Plan for Change and in line with our manifesto commitments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2025 to Question 60486 on Chinese Embassy, whether her discussions with the Chinese during her visit included that of the proposed Chinese Embassy in London. \p Emma Reynolds: As stated in my Answer of 25 June, the Chancellor discussed a range of economic and financial issues during her visit to China for the 2025 UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue. The Chancellor published a written ministerial statement about her visit on the morning of Monday 13 January (found here) and delivered an oral statement to the House of Commons on Tuesday 14 January (found here).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Callum Anderson:To ask the Chancellor for the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the discussions on transition credits at the 10th UK-Singapore Financial Dialogue with Strengthened Collaboration in Digital Finance & Innovation and Sustainable Finance, which took place on 2 July 2025, on the UK’s regulatory approach to voluntary carbon markets. \p Emma Reynolds: The UK-Singapore Financial Dialogue took place on 2 July 2025. Both the UK and Singapore recognised the importance of collaborating to promote high-integrity carbon markets. The use of transition credits to support emissions reductions in hard-to-abate sectors was discussed between both countries.

As co-chair of the Powering Past Coal Alliance, the UK supports the work of the France-Indonesia co-led Coal Transition Commission that recognises the potential of transition credits to accelerate coal plant closures as part of a possible solution set. If designed and executed properly, transition credit methodologies could help bridge the financial gap that often hinders early retirement of coal plants in emerging markets and developing economies, while supporting a just transition for affected communities.

A consultation on steps Government could take to raise integrity and scale in voluntary carbon markets closed on July 10. It sought views on how the UK’s Principles for Carbon and Nature Market Integrity, announced by the Chancellor last year, could be put into practice.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Cameron Thomas:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps her Department is taking to help support (a) rural and (b) independent businesses. \p James Murray: The Government provided support for small businesses at Autumn Budget by:

At the Spending Review, we have increased the financial capacity of the British Business Bank to £25.6bn, which will enable a two-thirds increase in support for SMEs across the UK.

This Government is supporting rural businesses with substantial investment in farming, nature, transport and digital connectivity. The Government will invest more than £2.7 billion a year in sustainable farming and nature recovery from 2026-27 until 2028-29. The Government has confirmed investment of £1.9 billion over four years into digital connectivity, and £2.3 billion of Local Transport Grant funding for smaller cities, towns and rural areas.   The Government has protected smaller family businesses from BPR changes, providing a very significant level of relief with the first £1 million of business assets continuing to receive 100% relief and then 50% thereafter.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Jim Allister:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money HMRC has taken in (a) duties and (b) tariffs for the EU on goods moving from Great Britain to the EU at (i) Belfast, (ii) Larne, (iii) Warrenpoint and (iv) Foyle in 2025; and what is the value of any (A) duties and (B) tariffs outstanding. \p James Murray: HMRC is responsible for collecting customs duties on behalf of the UK Government, not the European Union.

Under the Windsor Framework, where goods are moving from Great Britain to the EU via Northern Ireland, HMRC will charge the EU rate of duty. This duty is paid to HMRC and not remitted to the EU.

HMRC publishes data on customs duties collected on an annual and monthly basis. However, this is provided on a national level and is not broken down into movements via specific ports. The information can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmrc-tax-and-nics-receipts-for-the-uk.

HMRC does not disclose the value of outstanding customs duties as this data may be commercially sensitive. HMRC has well established processes to collect duties that are due, such as duty deferment accounts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Andrew Griffith:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2024 to Question 65664 on Taxation: Overseas Residence, whether the Government has conducted such hypothetical tax change costings for an exit tax payable upon person ending their residency in the United Kingdom. \p James Murray: HMRC publishes estimates of the direct impacts of illustrative tax changes in its Direct effects of illustrative tax changes publication. The Government does not routinely publish costings for hypothetical tax changes outside of this.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the wealthiest in society pay their fair share of tax. The reforms announced at Autumn Budget 2024 were designed to help repair the public finances in a fair and balanced way.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of removing the £250 fee for making claims to the Financial Ombudsman Service. \p Emma Reynolds: The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) provides a free service for consumers and small businesses to resolve disputes with their financial services providers.

The FOS is independent from the government and is funded entirely through a combination of levies and case fees paid by financial services firms within the FOS’s jurisdiction and by professional representatives. Financial services firms are charged a fee of £650 per case. As of 1 April 2025, professional representatives who bring a case to the FOS on behalf of complainants may bring 10 cases a year for free, after which they are charged a fee of £250 per case and receive a £175 refund if the case is found in favour of the consumer they represent. No fee is charged to the consumer.

The FOS is responsible for determining exactly who it charges and the level of any fees, within its legislative framework which is set by Parliament. The FOS consults annually on its proposed Plans and Budget for the following year, including the level of its case fees.

On 25 November 2024, Parliament approved a Statutory Instrument allowing the FOS to charge fees to professional representatives bringing complaints on behalf of consumers. The government considers that introducing a fee for professional representatives when they bring cases to the FOS will help to ensure that the FOS can focus on promptly resolving consumer complaints and reduce the impact of spurious complaints on financial services firms. The new charges were introduced by the FOS following extensive consultation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will introduce a three month extension to the transition period for capital allowance rules for Double Cab Pick Ups. \p James Murray: Following recent case law from 2020, Double Cab Pick Ups with a payload of one tonne or more must be treated as cars for capital allowances purposes, in line with the Court of Appeal's judgement on the primary suitability of such vehicles.

The government recognised that this change will affect businesses, who need certainty and predictability. Which is why HMRC has put in place substantial transitional arrangements. These ensure that current owners, and those who purchased Double Cab Pick Ups before 1 April 2025 (for Corporation Tax) and 6 April 2025 for (Income Tax), and incur expenditure before 1 October 2025, are not impacted.

The purpose of the transition period was to provide certainty and allows businesses time to adapt. The government gave just under a year’s notice of the October 2025 deadline.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Ben Lake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2024 to Question 4409 on Taxation: International Cooperation, what recent steps she has taken to support the implementation of UN General Assembly resolution A /RES/78/230 on the Promotion of inclusive and effective international tax cooperation at the United Nations adopted on 22 December 2023. \p James Murray: The UK is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure inclusive and effective international tax cooperation, and has been engaging in discussions at the UN over a future Framework Convention, including the recent informal sessions for the technical workstreams.

The UK believes that a UN Tax Framework Convention has the potential to further advance international tax cooperation, but to be successful, it needs to be clear in its aims, avoid duplicating initiatives, and seek to secure the broad support and participation of members.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Preet Kaur Gill:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing specific (a) Sikh and (b) Jewish options for a person’s ethnic group in data collection conducted by her Department. \p James Murray: HM Treasury follows guidance from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Government Statistical Service (GSS) on data collection using harmonised standards to ensure comparability across government. The current ethnicity standard is based on 2011 Census questions, which were reviewed and updated for the 2021 Census. The GSS has been conducting a comprehensive review of the ethnicity standard since March 2022, considering a range of user needs.

HM Treasury also collects staff data on ethnic group, national identity and religion, which helps capture fuller cultural identity beyond ethnicity alone. The ONS recognises that ethnic group membership is self-defined and subjectively meaningful to individuals, and there is no universal consensus on what constitutes an ethnic group.

The religion harmonised standard includes Sikh and Jewish response options, and any changes to data collection categories, including ethnicity, would follow the updated GSS harmonised standard once their review concludes. We continue to monitor this review closely and will implement any revised standards that emerge from the GSS process.

The timing for any changes will depend on when the GSS completes its review and issues updated guidance to departments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions on employment levels in the hospitality sector in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire. \p James Murray: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer National Insurance contributions (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, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.

The Office for Budget Responsibility also publishes Economic and Fiscal Outlooks (EFOs), which set out a detailed forecast of the economy and public finances.

With all policies considered, the OBR's March 2025 EFO forecasts the employment level to increase from 33.6 million in 2024 to 34.8 million in 2029

The Government decided to protect the smallest businesses from the changes to employer NICs by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that this year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, and more than half of all employers will either gain or will see no change.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing an independent watchdog to monitor the effectiveness of HMRC Customer Compliance Group. \p James Murray: HMRC and its Customer Compliance Group (CCG), is subject to a wide range of independent oversight and actively engages with a range of independent assurance, both internal and external.

Internally, HMRC maintains robust governance structures, including oversight by its Executive Committee and HMRC Board, alongside newly established subcommittees of the Board such as the Closing the Tax Gap Committee chaired by non-executive director Bill Dodwell – with a significant focus on the work of Customer Compliance Group.

Externally, HMRC is held to account by Parliamentary authorities, including the Committee of Public Accounts (PAC), the Treasury Select Committee (TSC), and the National Audit Office (NAO) who regularly undertake both financial and value for money scrutiny of HMRC and its Customer Compliance Group. Recent reports include those into tax evasion in the retail sector, managing compliance work since the pandemic and collecting the right tax from wealthy individuals – all of which primarily focused upon the work of HMRC’s Customer Compliance Group.

HMRC Customer Compliance Group welcomes Parliamentary scrutiny and has accepted 93.5% of recommendations of these bodies in the last 24 months aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of the Department. HMRC is working to implement the recommendations by the deadlines agreed with the respective bodies.

Customers can also ask the independent Adjudicator’s Office to review complaints after they have been investigated, if they are dissatisfied with how they have been handled by the Department.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Jim Allister:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what procedures HMRC (a) has and (b) plans to put in place for validating goods from Great Britain presented on the red lane at (i) Belfast, (ii) Larne, (iii) Warrenpoint and (iv) Foyle for release into the EU Single Market; how many (A) HMRC members of staff and (B) other government employees will be employed at the four ports to discharge these procedures from August 2025; what port infrastructure (1) has been (2) is being built at (a) Belfast, (b) Larne, (c) Warrenpoint and (d) Foyle to facilitate the discharging of these procedures; what the cost to the public purse has been of the construction of that infrastructure; and whether that infrastructure is (A) completed, (B) operational and (C) under construction. \p James Murray: Goods moving from Great Britain to the EU via Northern Ireland will complete a full customs declaration and pay the applicable rate of duty, subject to any waivers or reliefs, as an international goods movement. These customs declarations are validated electronically by HMRC’s Customs Declaration Service (CDS).

There are no HMRC employed staff at ports in Northern Ireland, and HMRC does not have, and is not building, any port infrastructure at ports in Northern Ireland.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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John McDonnell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Nine million pensioners to receive Winter Fuel Payments this winter, published on 9 June 2025, what assessment she has made of the resources HMRC will require to (a) undertake the recovery of payments and (b) respond to (i) queries and (ii) complaints relating to the recovery of winter fuel payments; and whether additional funding will be made available for this work. \p James Murray: The Government announced in June 2025 that the Winter Fuel Payment will be made universal in England and Wales from winter 2025. Subsequently, the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive have confirmed that they will mirror the approach for England and Wales.

Winter Fuel Payments of £200 will be made for a household with someone of State Pension age and £300 for a household with someone aged 80 or over. They will be paid automatically to anyone who has not opted out of getting a payment.

Individuals who are of State Pension age and have total income over £35,000 will have their Winter Fuel Payment recovered through the tax system. The amount recovered will be equal to the full value of the Winter Fuel Payment.

If a pensioner’s total income is above the income threshold, it will be automatically recovered through PAYE, or through their Self-Assessment return if they pay tax that way.

The Government will publish further details of the operational impacts on HM Revenue and Customs of making these changes in a Tax Information and Impact Note at Budget 2025, alongside draft Finance Bill legislation on the tax recovery of the Winter Fuel Payment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Callum Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the G7 side‑by‑side approach on the (a) effective tax rate and (b) competitiveness of UK‑headed multinationals. \p James Murray: The Chancellor, alongside her G7 counterparts, has reached an understanding on a proposed path forward for the global minimum tax, Pillar 2 of the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework project on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS).

The G7 published a statement on 28 June that set out our commitment to the core objectives of Pillar 2: tackling multinational tax avoidance and promoting a stable global tax environment that supports fair competition.

This understanding also included the removal of the retaliatory tax provision (Section 899) in the US’s legislative proposals, which would have imposed a significant additional tax burden on British firms, and which was causing significant concern and uncertainty.

Recent discussions informing this understanding have taken into account concerns raised by the US Treasury regarding the interaction of the Pillar 2 rules with the US minimum tax system, and have focused on developing a potential approach for the US and Pillar 2 system to sit ‘side-by-side’

The more than 140 members of the Inclusive Framework will now take forward the discussions on this potential side-by-side system, which will include ensuring that multinationals in scope of Pillar 2 and the US minimum tax systems are operating on a level playing field.

The UK has already implemented the Pillar 2 rules, including a domestic minimum tax that will ensure all in-scope groups are subject to a minimum 15% effective tax rate in the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Callum Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the UK's implementation of Pillar Two (a) remains compatible with the future side‑by‑side system agreed by G7 partners and (b) avoids creating additional compliance burdens for UK businesses. \p James Murray: The Chancellor, alongside her G7 counterparts, has reached an understanding on a proposed path forward for the global minimum tax, Pillar 2 of the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework project on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS).

The G7 published a statement on 28 June that set out our commitment to the core objectives of Pillar 2: tackling multinational tax avoidance and promoting a stable global tax environment that supports fair competition

This understanding also included the removal of the retaliatory tax provision (Section 899) in the US’s legislative proposals, which would have imposed a significant additional tax burden on British firms and which was causing significant concern and uncertainty.

Recent discussions informing this understanding have taken into account concerns raised by the US Treasury regarding the interaction of the Pillar 2 rules with the US minimum tax system, and have focused on developing a potential approach for the US and Pillar 2 system to sit ‘side-by-side’

The more than 140 members of the Inclusive Framework will now take forward the discussions on this potential side-by-side system, which will include ensuring that multinationals in scope of Pillar 2 and the US minimum tax systems are operating on a level playing field.

Work to develop a side-by-side system will be undertaken alongside material simplifications being delivered to the overall Pillar 2 administration and compliance framework. The government is committed to driving forward progress, for example on a permanent safe harbour to help deliver this simplification.

Where agreements are reached in the Inclusive Framework, the government will incorporate any updates into UK legislation. This is in line with the government’s commitment in the October 2024 Corporate Tax Roadmap to ensure that the UK reflects internationally agreed rules.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC has issued guidance that the (a) Customer Compliance Group and (b) Risk and Intelligence Service (Compliance, Operational Insight and Risking) Group should only investigate cases of alleged tax evasion where the estimated loss to the public purse has been more than £35,000 for five years or more. \p James Murray: HMRC Customer Compliance Group’s guidance specifically states that there is no de-minimis limit for suspected fraud referrals and does not contain any instructions that would limit investigation in relation to timespan of the tax at risk.

HMRC’s Risk and Intelligence Service deliver a wide range of cases, including where there is suspected evasion behaviour. CCG use a variety of indicators to identify the highest risk cases to address different compliance risks, but do not use an estimated loss of £35,000 for five years or more as a standard selection criteria.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Valuation Office Agency: May 2025 transparency data, published on 30 June 2025, what the spending on consultancy by (a) Eunoia Consulting Ltd and (b) Posterity Milestone Consortium was for. \p James Murray: Details of these contracts are available on Contracts Finder at the following links:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate the Valuation Office Agency has made of the (a) percentage and (b) cash terms monetary change in average private sector rents for dwellings in (i) London and (ii) England since July 2024. \p James Murray: The Office of National Statistics (ONS) publishes this information monthly, based on information collected by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). The latest publication was released on 18 June 2025 at: Private rent and house prices, UK - Office for National Statistics and includes the 12 months leading up to May 2025.

As of May 2025:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

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Sarah Coombes:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the performance of the Financial Conduct Authority in balancing its confidentiality obligations with the need to provide transparency and effective communication to individuals who report potential financial misconduct. \p Emma Reynolds: The government meets regularly with the FCA to discuss a range of topics. The government is content that the legislative framework, set by parliament, which gives the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) powers to supervise the financial services sector and enforce rules, is appropriate, and that the FCA has the correct tools available to enable it to investigate and act on evidence of malpractice and criminality.

The FCA is required by legislation to have regard to the principle that regulators should exercise their functions as transparently as possible. The FCA is also required not to disclose confidential information it receives in the course of carrying out its functions, with limited exceptions including where required to carry out its functions or otherwise required by law.

The government expects the FCA to act in accordance with high standards of transparency and operational efficiency, and will continue to hold the FCA to account for how it exercises its functions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_42

Dame Chi Onwurah:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will request that the Office for Budget Responsibility model an AI-accelerated productivity scenario alongside potential fiscal risks for (a) climate change, (b) demographic and (c) other trends. \p Emma Reynolds: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is the Government's official independent forecaster responsible for assessing the UK economic and fiscal outlook. All judgements underpinning these forecasts, including estimates of the impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI), are for the OBR and the OBR has discretion over the contents of its publications.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_43

Dame Chi Onwurah:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the levels of resilience in the UK tax system of a shift from labour-intensive to capital-intensive economic models. \p Emma Reynolds: It is vital the tax system supports our growth mission. The Government is focused on unleashing the potential of people across all nations and regions of the UK, with an ambition of an 80 per cent employment rate.

The Government continues to keep all elements of the tax system under review.
wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_44
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_44

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on the potential fiscal implications of ending Strategic Priorities Grant funding for journalism courses. \p Darren Jones: My department regularly discusses Strategic Priorities Grant funding and its fiscal implications with the Department for Education. As a result of the challenging fiscal context that we inherited, we are prioritising support for high-cost subjects that are essential to delivery of our industrial strategy – such as science, engineering and medicine – and core funding to support access to higher education for disadvantaged groups. It is important that the targeted funding allocated through the Strategic Priorities Grant supports provision of subjects that have higher costs of delivery and the key sectors set out in the Industrial Strategy.
wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_45
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_45

Anna Sabine:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department’s policies of cases of fraud involving the Seventy Ninth Group. \p Emma Reynolds: On 28 February 2025, the City of London Police announced that it was investigating allegations of fraud in relation to the 79th Group. It is understood that the 79th Group offered investment opportunities involving loan notes that were marketed as being secured against properties. The investigation remains in progress.

A number of entities in the 79th Group have been placed into administration. On 14 July 2025 the joint administrators published an update on the administration, which can be viewed on the Companies House website.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_46

Wendy Morton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a longer term settlement for children’s hospices beyond 2025-26. \p Darren Jones: The Government recognises the vital role hospices play in supporting people at the end of life alongside their families. We are determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, and hospices will have a big role to play in that shift.

We are investing £100 million to improve hospices facilities, and a further £26 million for children’s hospices this year, the biggest investment in hospices in a generation. Further information on funding for future years will be provided by the Department for Health and Social Care in due course.

The Spending Review published last month set multi-year departmental budgets, providing departments with greater budget certainty. NHS day-to-day spending will increase by £29 billion in real terms by 2028-29 compared to 2023-24. This is equivalent to a 3% average annual real terms growth rate over the SR period.

Ministers have regular discussions with a range of stakeholders, including key palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_47

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 60137 on Council tax and Police: Finance, what her Department's assumption is of the amount that will be raised in council tax from police precepts in England only in each year of the Spending Review period. \p Darren Jones: As set out in the Spending Review (SR) 2025 document, published 11 June 2025, the Phase 2 settlement provides an average 1.7% real terms increase per year in police spending power. Over the SR period, police spending power is projected to increase by an average 2.3% per year in real terms.

Police spending power includes projected spending from additional income, including estimated funding from the police council tax precept.

However, this remains subject to final decision on precept levels and individual police and crime commissioner decisions. The final police precept level and core government funding will be set out in the annual police funding settlement in the usual way.
wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_48
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_48

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 24563 on Farms: Domestic Visits, how many farm visits he has made since the previous Answer; and where those farms were located. \p Daniel Zeichner: We respect the privacy of those hosting visits to farms and so are unable to share this information.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_49

James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage farmers to farm sustainably. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government is backing British farming. We are prioritising investment that supports the Government’s Plan for Change and building on the Secretary of State’s work to reform Defra to drive growth while maintaining a steadfast commitment to farming, food security, and nature’s recovery.

We are providing farmers and land managers with the support needed to help restore nature, which is vital to safeguard our long-term food security and build resilience to climate change. There are currently record numbers of farmers taking part in farming schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive. As of April 2025, these schemes supported 885,000 hectares of arable land being farmed without insecticides; 330,000 hectares of low input grassland being managed sustainably; and 85,000 kilometres of hedgerows being protected and restored.

In the recent spending review, we committed to carrying on the transition towards paying to deliver public goods for the environment, with over £7 billion directed into nature’s recovery between 2026 and 2029. This includes environmental farming schemes (£5.9 billion), tree planting (£816 million) and peatland restoration (£85 million).
wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_50
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_50

Sadik Al-Hassan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to introduce a national animal welfare labelling scheme. \p Daniel Zeichner: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Rotheram, Sarah Champion, on 3 July 2025, PQ 62951.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_51

James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to the Sustainable Farming Incentive on (a) (i) hedgerow and (ii) soil restoration, (b) pollinating wildflowers and (c) tree planting. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra is working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. Further details about the reformed SFI offer will be announced in summer 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_52

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Rural Payments Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years. \p Daniel Zeichner: Rural Payments Agency employees can be reimbursed the cost of purchasing some equipment to help make sure they have the right equipment to work safely from home in line with the department’s working from home policy.

The Rural Payments Agency is unable to respond with how much has been spent specifically to facilitate home working as the information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Heads of departments have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_53

Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring intensive poultry units to hold private insurance to cover losses in excess of DEFRA’s statutory compensation for poultry culls. \p Daniel Zeichner: We would like to refer the honourable member for North Herefordshire to the response UIN 63221 published on 3 July 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_54

Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56079 on Agriculture: Land Use, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of commissioning commissioning independent research to assess the cumulative impact of solar farm development on (a) rural land use and (b) visual amenity. \p Mary Creagh: The Land Use Framework will provide a long-term view of land use change. Over the next 25 years, England’s landscapes will need to change to support climate change mitigation and adaptation, economic growth, housing delivery, food production, clean energy and meeting statutory targets for nature recovery

The Land Use Consultation published this year was underpinned by analysis of land use change for nature restoration and other objectives. This included analysis produced by Defra’s Land Use Analysis and Research Programme of potential spatial distributions of change through to 2050.

The evidence base for this consultation also underpins wider Government reform, including a Farming Roadmap, the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan and review of the Environmental Improvement Plan.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-17 conversation_55

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce a national policy on the (a) use and (b) sale of disposable barbecues in relation to increased wildfire risk. \p Mary Creagh: The Government has no plans to ban disposable barbeques. Local authorities already have powers to apply local bans on council or public land. It is a crime to litter a disposable barbecue for which councils have powers to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500 or prosecute.

Research published under the previous Government titled Sky Lanterns, Single-Use Barbecues and Helium Balloons - Risks and Mitigation Options - EV04104 considered the risks posed by disposable barbecues but failed to demonstrate a clear net benefit from a total ban.

National Landscapes and National Parks also have powers to regulate and prohibit fires on access land.

The public are encouraged to behave responsibly when using products which have a fire risk. We are working across government to increase wildfire messaging to the public. The Countryside Code advises visitors to only use barbecues where signs state they are allowed.

Voluntary guidelines by the British Retail Consortium encourage retailers to restrict the sale of disposable barbecues during extreme heat events, or when there are increased fire risks, or when asked to by local authorities.

Wildfires are not in Defra’s remit, but instead fall to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). If you would like further information on wildfires, please reach out to MHCLG.