theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Mims Davies:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of an independent review of inheritance tax changes for family farms. \p Dan Tomlinson: Ministers and officials from multiple Government departments have had several meetings with organisations on this matter since Autumn Budget 2024. After listening, the Government believes the approach set out is an appropriate one.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

The reforms are expected to result in up to 520 estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.

The reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief are forecast to raise a combined £520 million in 2029-30. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility certified this costing at Autumn Budget 2024 and it does not expect the reforms to have a significant macroeconomic impact.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) pubs, (b) hotels and (c) restaurants in England have a Rateable Value over £500,000. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Valuation Office Agency published this information, as at 31 March 2025, in its latest 'Non-domestic rating: stock of properties' release here: Non-domestic rating: stock of properties, 2025 - GOV.UK
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Mims Davies:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed inheritance tax changes to family farms on (a) rural communities and (b) East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

Information from claims is not recorded to enable regional or national breakdowns of the number of estates expected to be affected. However, the Government has set out the reforms are expected to result in up to 520 estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.

The reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief are forecast to raise a combined £520 million in 2029-30. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility certified this costing at Autumn Budget 2024 and it does not expect the reforms to have a significant macroeconomic impact.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to increase the tax threshold to accommodate future increases in state pension. \p Dan Tomlinson: This Government remains committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement.

Through our commitment to protect the Triple Lock, over 12 million pensioners benefitted from a 4.1% increase to their basic or new State Pension in April 2025. Over the course of this Parliament, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is expected to increase by around £1,900 based on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest forecast.

The Personal Allowance - the amount an individual can earn before paying tax - will continue to exceed the basic and full new State Pension in 2025/26. This means pensioners whose sole income is the full new State Pension or basic State Pension without any increments will not pay any income tax.

The previous Government made the decision to freeze the income tax Personal Allowance at its current level of £12,570 until April 2028. The current Government is committed to keeping people’s taxes as low as possible while ensuring fiscal responsibility and so, at our first Budget, we decided not to extend the freeze on personal tax thresholds.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question 64507 on Business Rates, if she will publish the written responses. \p Dan Tomlinson: The interim report will provide a summary of responses to the Transforming Business Rates discussion paper.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) wealth taxes and (b) taxes on high-value residential property. \p Dan Tomlinson: 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.  These and other decisions announced at the Budget will help repair the public finances and fund public services such as the NHS and education.

The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the tax policy making process. Any tax changes are generally announced at Budget where decisions are taken in the round.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will take (a) fiscal and (b) legislative steps to help prevent repeat offenders in the illicit tobacco market operating through high street retailers. \p Dan Tomlinson: HMRC has a robust strategy to tackle the illicit tobacco trade.

In July 2023, HMRC introduced a strengthened sanctions regime for breaches of the UK Tobacco Track and Trace System to combat illicit tobacco sales, particularly targeting repeat offenders operating through high street retailers.

Powers introduced under the Finance Act 2022 enable HMRC to apply an escalating sanctions model based on both the frequency and severity of offences. Penalties include fines of up to £10,000, seizure of illicit products, and exclusion from the UK Tobacco Track and Trace system.

New powers were also given to Trading Standards to make referrals to HMRC where they find evidence of high street retailers selling tobacco products that do not comply with the UK Tobacco Track and Trace System. HMRC is then able to apply the sanctions model as appropriate to tackle the non-compliance.
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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential fiscal impact of exempting the state pension from income tax. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government is committed to making sure older people can live with the dignity and respect they deserve in retirement. The State Pension is the foundation of the support available to them. Over the course of this Parliament, the yearly amount of the full new State Pension is currently projected to go up by around £1,900 based on the Office for Budget Responsibility's latest forecast.

The Government is also committed to keeping people’s taxes as low as possible while ensuring fiscal responsibility, and so, at our first Budget, we decided not to extend the freeze on personal tax thresholds.
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Richard Foord:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment on (a) small business owners and (b) unrepresented taxpayers; and if she will consider delaying implementation until issues associated with the (i) cost, (ii) software availability, (iii) administrative burden and (iv) digital exclusion have been addressed. \p Dan Tomlinson: HMRC are on track to implement Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax for those with income over £50,000 from April 2026, with a wide range of customers already testing the service in live running.

MTD modernises the tax system and will help self-employed individuals and landlords keep on top of their tax affairs, making their annual tax returns easier.

While many users will incur some cost in moving to MTD for Income Tax, many will also experience wider productivity gains through time savings and greater accuracy. We continually monitor the impacts of MTD and the latest published assessment is available at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/extension-of-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax-self-assessment-to-sole-traders-and-landlords

The government has worked with the software industry to ensure there are free and low-cost software options available to support taxpayers, both represented and unrepresented, alongside a wider range of software choices to suit varying needs and budgets. HMRC's software choices page can be found here:  www.gov.uk/guidance/find-software-thats-compatible-with-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax#software-available-now

The government recognises that not everyone is able to interact with HMRC digitally. Taxpayers who are digitally excluded will be able to apply for an exemption from MTD. HMRC will provide further information about the exemption process in due course.
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Helen Whately:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department plans to take to (a) recruit and (b) reallocate staff to deliver the Winter Fuel Payment in 2025-26. \p Dan Tomlinson: 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.

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, the tax will be automatically recovered through PAYE, or through their Self-Assessment return if they pay tax that way.

For the majority of individuals, tax recovery will be made through PAYE automatically, meaning pensioners will not need to take any further action. For those in Self Assessment, HMRC will pre-populate their tax return with the amount of the payment, using data provided by Department for Work and Pensions, or Social Security Scotland for payments made in Scotland. Pensioners do not need to register for Self-Assessment just to declare their Winter Fuel Payment.

The Government will publish further details of the operational impacts, including staffing and IT delivery costs of HM Revenue and Customs 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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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employees in her Department earn (a) £100,000 and (b) £166,000 or more per year. \p Dan Tomlinson: This information is available through the quarterly senior organogram published by the department on gov.uk
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David Taylor:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to provide exemptions to Developing Countries Trading Scheme countries for Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms. \p Dan Tomlinson: The UK has no current plans for an exemption from the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) for least developed countries (LDCs). UK imports from LDCs make up a very small proportion of total CBAM imports, approximately 0.03% (HMRC origin data 2023). Using a range of sources the Government estimates that, on average, less than 1% of LDCs’ total exports of goods from CBAM sectors are exported to the UK.

The UK will continue to engage with its trade partners, including LDCs, ahead of the introduction of the CBAM.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of increasing draft duty relief for (a) consumers, (b) pubs and (c) breweries in Hazel Grove constituency. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Chancellor’s draught rate cut at Autumn Budget 2024 applied to approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This took a penny of duty off a typical strength pint.

Draught beer and cider now pay 13.9% less in duty than their packaged equivalents – an increase of over 50% on the previous draught discount of 9.2%.

The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events. The Government welcomes representations from the beer and pub sectors in advance of the Budget.
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Jim Allister:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of EU tariffs collected at the Irish Sea border were paid to the EU in the latest period for which figures are available. \p Dan Tomlinson: HMRC is the department responsible for collecting customs duties on behalf of the UK Government. No duties are remitted to the EU in respect of any movement of goods into Northern Ireland.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of charging VAT on carbon offset donations on levels of public engagement with climate action. \p Dan Tomlinson: Payments that are freely given without the expectation of receiving something in return are not in the scope of VAT. This is a fundamental principle of how VAT operates. Donations made to carbon projects are outside the scope of VAT. This means that VAT should not be charged on carbon offset donations. There are no plans to change this position.
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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the guidance entitled Get VAT relief on certain goods if you have a disability, updated on 22 January 2019, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of permitting (a) sports clubs and (b) other charitable groups to purchase (i) wheelchairs and (ii) other medical appliances such at zero rate in (A) instances when those appliances will not solely be for the use of one person and (B) other instances. \p Dan Tomlinson: Charities providing care, medical or surgical treatment for handicapped persons, rescue or first-aid services can already benefit from a VAT zero-rate when purchasing relevant goods. The supply of a wheelchair designed solely for the use of a disabled person can be zero-rated where it is supplied to a disabled person for their personal or domestic use or when supplied to a charity which will make the wheelchair available to a disabled person for their personal or domestic use. Sports clubs can register either as a community amateur sports club (CASC) or as a charity where the relevant conditions are met. However, where a sports club is registered as a CASC, they will not qualify for VAT reliefs which are only available to charities.

There are currently no plans to widen the scope of current VAT reliefs as targeting these reliefs to disabled users ensures they are not open to distortion or abuse. The Government takes steps elsewhere in the tax system to take account of charities' unique status and invaluable contribution.
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Lizzi Collinge:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to speed up the revaluation process for business rates when commercial units are subdivided into smaller premises. \p Dan Tomlinson: The VOA is focused on speeding up its service by upskilling its workforce so they can handle multiple types of cases, improving its digital services to make it easier for customers to self-serve, recruiting new people and moving existing staff to better meet customer demand. It is also replacing its IT systems with cloud-based platforms that will deliver significant efficiencies across its work.

In addition, it has published guidance to improve awareness and understanding of the process and information required when seeking a split of a non-domestic property. This is published on GOV.uk: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/confirm-your-property-details#what-to-include-in-your-check-case.

The decision to move the VOA’s functions into HMRC from 1 April 2026 will help to improve the experience of taxpayers and businesses and support the delivery of the government's commitments to reform business rates and modernise the tax system.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the new surcharge on hereditaments with Rateable Values above £500,000 from 2026-27 will be revenue-neutral in relation to the cost of the new Retail, Hospitality and Leisure rate multiplier from the 2026-27 financial year onwards; and whether the business rates regime will have a (a) positive or (b) negative cost to the public purse in the 2025-26 financial year. \p Dan Tomlinson: To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with Rateable Values (RVs) below £500,000 from 2026-27.

This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to apply a higher rate from 2026-27 on the most valuable properties - those with RVs of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but cover the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants.

The rates for these new business rates multipliers will be set at Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the upcoming revaluation outcomes as well as the economic and fiscal context. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the expected effects of the new multiplier arrangements.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 64077 on Film: Business Rates, if she will make it her policy to increase the level of film studio business rate relief to compensate for new business rates surcharge from 2026-27. \p Dan Tomlinson: At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced an intention to introduce a higher business rates multiplier on the most valuable properties – those with Rateable Values (RVs) of £500,000 and above – from April 2026 to fund permanently lower multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with RVs below £500,000.

Eligible film studios receive 40 per cent relief on gross business rates bills until March 2034. Business rates bills are calculated by applying the relevant multiplier first and so film studios will receive 40 per cent relief on their total liability. As set out in supporting guidance, the Government may review the level of relief in the event of significant changes in RVs at future revaluations.
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Robin Swann:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who directed the ICS2 system to go live in August 2025. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is the new safety and security system for certain goods moving by air, maritime, road or rail into Northern Ireland. It is already in use for air and bulk maritime movements into Northern Ireland, replacing the existing Import Control System Northern Ireland (ICSNI).

The ICS2 system has been available for road movements since 1 April 2025, with operators initially having until 1 September 2025 to onboard to the new system. This has subsequently been extended to 31 December 2025 to give businesses more time to prepare to onboard to ICS2.
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Sir Julian Smith:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for his policies of representations received by his Department on its proposed reforms to inheritance tax on farms. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

Ministers and officials from multiple Government departments have had several meetings with organisations on this matter since Autumn Budget 2024. After listening, the Government believes the approach set out is an appropriate one.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what purposes their Department has used artificial intelligence in the last year. \p Emma Reynolds: The tools available in HM Treasury include two secure Large Language Models (LLMs) which can be interacted with as you would a chatbot. There are a wide range of possible uses for these tools, including drafting, summarising and rewording text. The other available tool is a RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) tool, which retrieves information from a set of documents given to it.

Clear guidance is given to staff that these tools are designed to assist with work, not to replace colleagues in decision making processes. The goal of these tools is to make work and processes more efficient.

Further information about algorithmic tools that might be used to aid decisions can be found on the Algorithmic Transparency Reporting Standards page on gov.uk.
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Alex Brewer:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to protect vulnerable consumers from disproportionate online insurance price increases. \p Emma Reynolds: Insurers make commercial decisions about the terms on which they will offer cover following an assessment of the relevant risks. This is usually informed by the insurer’s claims experience and other industry-wide statistics. The government does not usually intervene in these decisions.

However, the government is committed to ensuring that insurers treat their customers fairly and insurance companies are required to do so under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules. The FCA requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value (i.e. if the price a consumer pays for a product or service is reasonable compared to the overall benefits they can expect to receive). The FCA monitors firms to make sure they provide products that are fair value, and, where necessary, it will take action.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether guidance has been issued to (a) banks and (b) financial services firms on (i) detecting and (ii) reporting transactions linked to sanctioned people smuggling networks. \p Emma Reynolds: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has designated 25 individuals and entities under the new Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons Sanctions Regulations 2025, and previously published statutory guidance.

The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), responsible for implementing and enforcing financial sanctions, has produced an extensive suite of guidance to provide industry with further clarity and support to comply with financial sanctions, such as the OFSI general guidance, threat assessment reports and FAQs.

For further information view OFSI’s general guidance here, and its full suite of guidance here.
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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the transparency of business bank account fees. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government recognises the importance of transparency in business bank account fees, enabling businesses to make informed choices when selecting banking services. It is important that businesses shop around for their banking needs as this drives competition, improves choice and helps keep prices competitive.

There are a number of policies that help facilitate this: small businesses with fewer than 50 employees and an annual turnover of less than £6.5m are able to use the current account switch service – designed to make it easier to shop around for their business current account.

The Financial Conduct Authority, as the independent regulator, sets requirements for banks to ensure that fees and charges are communicated clearly and fairly to customers, where such activity falls within its regulatory remit.
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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that SMEs (a) are not misled by banks (b) are not unfairly charged and (c) can access the financial services they need. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government recognises the vital role that financial services play in supporting millions of SMEs across the UK. We are committed to ensuring that SMEs are treated fairly by banks and have access to the financial services they need.

The provision of business banking services is largely a commercial matter, but there are certain regulatory and statutory protections afforded to SMEs. Notably, Consumer Credit Act protections apply to certain small businesses (sole traders, unincorporated bodies and two or three person partnerships). The FCA is able to investigate issues where this falls within their regulatory remit and the application of the Consumer Duty to micro-enterprises.

In addition, the Financial Ombudsman Service has jurisdiction over 99% of business banking disputes, providing a wide safety-net for businesses and an important avenue for redress if SMEs feel they have been misled, unfairly charged or mistreated.

Earlier this year, the Government also legislated to strengthen customer protection standards in cases where banks and other payment service providers close accounts or terminate services. As a result, under the new requirements, both personal and business customers will be given more notice of closures and will be entitled to a sufficient explanation for their provider’s actions.

More widely, the Government is committed to encouraging competition in financial services to help stimulate a strong and diverse market for SMEs and improve access to finance. While we continue to monitor issues relating to accessing financial services, service provision and charging models remain commercial matters for individual firms.
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Llinos Medi:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will provide funding to the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service in the Autumn Budget 2025 to enable it to expand its operations in key hotspots. \p James Murray: The National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) is a national policing unit which provides dedicated specialist intelligence and enforcement on vehicle crime. NaVCIS is funded by industry, including finance and leasing companies, insurers and hauliers. In the financial year 2024-25, Home Office provided one-off funding of £250,000 to help support work at the ports to prevent stolen vehicles and vehicle parts being shipped abroad, including providing additional staff and specialist equipment.

This Government is committed to tackling vehicle crime. In the Crime and Policing Bill, we have banned electronic devices used to steal vehicles, empowering the police and courts to target the criminals using, manufacturing, importing and supplying them.
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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reducing the annual Cash ISA allowance on older savers. \p Emma Reynolds: ISAs incentivise saving and investment for future goals by providing tax advantages to individual taxpayers. The Government recognises the important role that cash savings play in helping households build a financial buffer for a rainy day. The Government continues to consider reforms to ISAs and savings to achieve the right balance between cash savings and investment and ensure better outcomes for both savers and the UK economy.
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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the scope of the Financial Ombudsman to permit investigation of complaints about motor insurance companies where the claimant is not a direct customer but has accepted an offer to proceed with Third Party Capture. \p Emma Reynolds: The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) was set up to resolve complaints between consumers and their own financial services providers. It cannot consider disputes between insurers and third parties as the third party is not the policyholder.

The rules on how the FOS should handle complaints, including the jurisdiction of the FOS and what complaints it can deal with, are determined by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and set out in the FCA Handbook. Whether a complaint is eligible or not is a matter for the FOS to consider.

The FCA requires that insurers treat their customers, including third party claimants, fairly. The FCA actively monitors insurers and has robust powers to take action against firms that fail to comply with its rules.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the merger of the Payment Services Regulator in the Financial Conduct Authority will require (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation; and what her planned timetable is for completion of that merger. \p Emma Reynolds: The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has carried out important work to support the UK’s world leading payments sector. However, moving forward, the Government wishes to see a more streamlined regulatory environment with minimal overlap between regulators’ responsibilities. That is why the Government has announced its intentions to consolidate the PSR and its functions primarily within the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The Government will consult on the details of this measure shortly. The consolidation of the PSR into the FCA will require primary legislation, which will be brought forward as soon as parliamentary time allows. The PSR and FCA are already taking steps to realise the benefits of a more streamlined regulatory framework, including creating a new joint PSR/FCA payments executive director; updating the Memorandum of Understanding between the PSR, the FCA, the Bank of England and the PRA; jointly progressing Open Banking; and undertaking joint stakeholder engagement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-04 conversation_358

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2025 to Question 68763 on Alcoholic Drinks, for what reason domestic alcohol production is excluded from green bonds. \p Emma Reynolds: All eligible policies financed by the Green Financing Programme are drawn from policies agreed by HM Treasury and departments in the Spending Review. These policies are assessed based on their contribution to the government’s climate and environmental objectives.

The Framework excludes financing of the direct manufacture of alcoholic beverages, alongside other named exclusions, in line with international convention and investor expectations for green bond frameworks. This approach enables the UK’s green gilts to be accessible to the greatest possible pool of investors, improving value-for-money.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-04 conversation_359

Christine Jardine:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered introducing a minimum income guarantee. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government is committed to ensuring the welfare system supports those who need it most in a way that is fiscally sustainable. The current welfare system accounts for people’s circumstances and the additional needs and costs faced by some individuals in the way that a minimum income guarantee does not.

The Government believes in a tax and welfare system that ensures it always pays to work, with the welfare system acting as a safety net for those families that need extra help. The Government has uprated benefit rates for 2025/26 in line with inflation, with 5.7 million Universal Credit households forecast to gain by an average of £150 annually. In addition, we have introduced our Universal Credit bill which legislates to rebalance Universal Credit by bringing in, for the first time ever, a sustained above inflation increase to the UC standard allowance for all claimants.
wrans/answers2025-09-04 conversation_360
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-04 conversation_360

Wendy Chamberlain:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with LINK on the potential for widening the criteria for establishing additional banking hubs across the UK. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 230 hubs have been announced so far, and over 180 are already open.

Whilst the Government meets with LINK to discuss a variety of matters, any decisions on changes to LINK’s independent assessment criteria are a matter for LINK and the financial services sector.

The treatment of customers by UK banks is governed by the the Financial Conduct Authority, which requires firms to provide a prompt, efficient, and fair service to all of their customers. This includes special considerations for vulnerable customers. In addition, like all service providers, banks and building societies are bound under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments, where necessary, in the way they deliver their services.

Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-04 conversation_361

Ben Maguire:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to maintain the Financial Ombudsman Service’s remit when considering complaints. \p Emma Reynolds: The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) plays an important role in providing consumers with a cost-free and quick route to resolve disputes with financial services firms.

My recent review of the FOS concluded that the framework in which it operates has resulted in it acting as a quasi-regulator in a small but significant minority of cases. That is why, as part of the Leeds Reforms, the Chancellor announced the most significant package of reforms to the FOS since its inception.

The review concluded that the ‘fair and reasonable’ test should be retained and adapted, to align it with the overall regulatory approach for financial services and provide greater predictability and consistency to consumers and firms. The government is currently consulting on proposed legislation to adapt the ‘fair and reasonable’ test to make clear that, where conduct complained of is in scope of FCA rules, compliance with those rules will mean that a firm has acted fairly and reasonably. It also proposes a mechanism for the FOS to refer a case to the FCA where there is ambiguity about FCA rules, to request a view on how its rules are intended to be applied, to ensure consistent application of regulatory standards by the FOS.

Regarding fraud, victims of fraud who wish to make a complaint about their financial services provider will continue to be able to bring complaints to the FOS, and the proposed changes to the legislative framework under which the FOS operates will not affect the FOS’s role in handling these complaints.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-04 conversation_362

Dame Caroline Dinenage:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to pages 134-5 of the OBR’s report entitled Fiscal risks and sustainability, published on 8 July 2025, what discussions she has had with the OBR on for what reason it categorised the rapid development and dissemination of artificial intelligence’s impact on productivity as uncertain. \p Emma Reynolds: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is required to prepare an analysis of the sustainability of the public finances annually, known as a Fiscal Risks and Sustainability Report (FRS), as set out in the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act (BRNAA) 2011.

In the OBR’s latest FRS, published on 8 July 2025, it noted that if productivity grows faster than expected it could significantly improve the outlook for the public finances.[1] The content of the FRS is determined independently by the OBR.

[ 1 ]Fiscal risks and sustainability report, Office for Budget Responsibility, July 2025, p. 134.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-04 conversation_363

Dame Caroline Dinenage:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the (a) development and (b) dissemination of artificial intelligence on the tax base. \p Emma Reynolds: HM Treasury conducts a wide range of analysis to inform policy development. This includes working closely with the Department for Science, Technology and Innovation to understand the transformative impacts Artificial Intelligence (AI) may have across the UK economy.

In addition, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), as the Government's official independent forecaster, is responsible for assessing the UK’s economic and fiscal outlook, which may include the potential estimates of the impacts of AI where sufficient evidence exists.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-04 conversation_364

Dame Caroline Dinenage:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she assumes increased productivity from AI adoption in her economic modelling. \p Emma Reynolds: The government is taking steps to consolidate the UK’s position at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI), such as funding to enable a twentyfold expansion of the UK’s AI Research Resource and creating AI Growth Zones to accelerate the construction of cutting-edge AI infrastructure. With a growing evidence base pointing to the potential productivity benefits of AI, the UK is well placed to harness its potential across both the public and private sectors.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for assessing the UK’s economic and fiscal outlook. In its July 25 Fiscal Risks and Sustainability (FRS) report, the OBR noted the rapid development and dissemination of artificial intelligence could be one driver of upside risk to future productivity growth, although the magnitude and timing of the possible boost to productivity remains highly uncertain.
wrans/answers2025-09-04 conversation_365
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-04 conversation_365

Dame Caroline Dinenage:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will she make it her policy to commission the OBR to produce an AI impact assessment. \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. As an independent body, the judgements underpinning these forecasts, including potential estimates of the impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI), are for the OBR and the OBR has discretion over the contents of its publications.

In the OBR’s latest Fiscal Risks and Sustainability Report, published on 8 July 2025, it was noted that if productivity grows faster than expected it could significantly improve the outlook for the public finances. The OBR also note that the “rapid development and dissemination of artificial intelligence could be one driver of upside risk to future productivity growth, although the magnitude and timing of the potential boost to productivity remains highly uncertain”.
wrans/answers2025-09-04 conversation_366
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-04 conversation_366

Dame Caroline Dinenage:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the fiscal outlook. \p Emma Reynolds: HM Treasury conducts a wide range of analysis to inform policy development. This includes working closely with the Department for Science, Technology and Innovation to understand the transformative impacts Artificial Intelligence (AI) may have across the UK economy.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is the Government's official independent forecaster, and in its latest Fiscal Risks and Sustainability Report, published on 8 July 2025, it noted that if productivity grows faster than expected it could significantly improve the outlook for the public finances. The OBR also note that the “rapid development and dissemination of artificial intelligence could be one driver of upside risk to future productivity growth, although the magnitude and timing of the potential boost to productivity remains highly uncertain”.
wrans/answers2025-09-04 conversation_367
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-04 conversation_367

Dame Caroline Dinenage:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with international partners on the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the fiscal outlook. \p Emma Reynolds: The Chancellor regularly discusses issues that impact the economic and fiscal outlook with international partners, including at the G7, G20, and other multilateral fora.

AI is set to be the most transformative technology of our time. The Government is taking decisive action to unlock its full potential across the economy, such as funding a twentyfold expansion of the UK’s AI Research Resource, establishing a new Sovereign AI Unit, and creating AI Growth Zones.

The Government will continue to work closely with international partners to realise our AI ambitions, including promoting interoperability across jurisdictions to more effectively harness AI’s growth and productivity potential.