theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) developing and (b) approving a single mandatory consumer code for all housebuilders. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to improving upon existing means of redress for new build homebuyers for when things go wrong. The government responded to the CMA Housebuilding Study in October 2024 and committed to implementing recommendation 2.1, namely a single mandatory consumer code for housebuilders.
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James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department is taking steps to (a) identify and t(b) rack the ownership of long-term empty properties. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to the Question UIN HL3269 on 20 December 2024. The statistics in question are published annually and include a breakdown of vacant dwellings by local authority district. They can be found on gov.uk here.
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Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many hectares of the Best and Most Versatile agricultural land are (a) protected, (b) under consideration for development and (c) approved for consent in each (i) local authority area and (ii) constituency. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 17576 11 December 2024.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans not to commence provisions of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. \p Matthew Pennycook: Following Royal Assent of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act (LURA) in October 2023, a small number of provisions were commenced by the previous government, for example relating to pavement licensing, planning enforcement and certain reforms to the compulsory purchase process.

Building on these measures, in September last year, a power enabling local authorities to bring forward affordable housing, national health or educational facilities through the use of compulsory purchase without paying ‘hope value’ compensation was fully commenced.

We have also made clear that we intend to commence powers contained in the LURA to improve the transparency of build out rates for residential development, including the introduction of commencement notices and progress reports. This was announced alongside the government’s response to the National Planning Policy Framework consultation, published on 12 December.

We do not intend to commence provisions from the LURA that would cut across our commitments to streamline the planning process and unlock development, such as the Infrastructure Levy.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of new dwellings built in (a) England and (b) London were flats in the last year for which figures are available. \p Matthew Pennycook: Annual estimates of the proportion of building control reported new build purpose-built flats in England and London are shown in Live Table 254, which can be found on gov.uk here.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release on building, published on 5 December 2024, what the mechanism is by which she plans to meet the target of 150 infrastructure decisions to be decided; and whether this target relates to (a) national infrastructure planning and (b) major developments under the Town and Country Planning Act. \p Matthew Pennycook: As part of its Plan for Change, the government has pledged to make decisions on at least 150 major infrastructure projects within this parliament. This target is aimed at projects of a certain type and over a certain size as set out under the Planning Act 2008, which are considered by government to be of national importance and therefore should be consented at a national level through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 December 2024, Official Report, HCWS308, whether local authorities with existing Local Plans produced under the previous standard method will now be required to update their Local Plans (a) as a consequence of the new housing need requirements and (b) in order to deliver the extra year’s worth of homes in their five year housing pipeline. \p Matthew Pennycook: Having an effective up-to-date plan in place is essential to planning for, and meeting, development needs.

Whether a local authority is required to update their Local Plan as a consequence of the new housing need requirement will depend on the stage a draft plan has reached. This is set out in Annex 1 of the NPPF, particularly paragraphs 234-237.

Authorities that do not have an emerging plan at an advanced stage will need to use the revised NPPF and new housing requirement when preparing their next plan.

The 5-year housing land supply policy is a crucial mechanism in the planning system that ensures local authorities maintain a pipeline of sites for housing. The requirement introduced in para 78 c) in the NPPF means some LPAs will have to add a 20% buffer to their five-year housing land supply requirement. It does not necessitate LPAs producing a plan update.
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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to implement the recommendations of the Competition and Markets Authority Housebuilding Market Study on private estate management. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s Planning Newsletter issued to local authorities on 13 December 2024, what steps local planning authorities will need to take as part of the requirement to update their Local Development Scheme within 12 weeks of the publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework; and whether this will require amendments to an existing Local Plan. \p Matthew Pennycook: Local Planning Authorities have a statutory obligation to produce a Local Development Scheme and to keep it up-to-date and publicly available. As the Secretary of State set out in her letter of 12 December 2024, we are asking all Local Planning Authorities to review and update their Local Development Scheme in light of the revised National Planning Policy Framework and transitional arrangements by no later than 6 March 2025.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, (a) when and (b) how her Department became aware of the new planning application for the proposed new Chinese Embassy near the Tower of London. \p Matthew Pennycook: Decisions on whether to call in a planning application routinely arise following a representation or notification from a third party. In this instance, the Department were notified of the new planning application by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2024 to Question 14870 on National Landscapes and with reference to section 245 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, for what reason that Answer states that local authorities should have regard to rather than seek to further the purposes of national landscapes. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer, as corrected, given to Question UIN 14870 on 26 November 2024.
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Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for introducing a new private parking code of practice. \p Alex Norris: The Government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector.

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the Government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.

At this time the Government is not able to share any further details but please be assured we will announce our plans for the new Code in due course.
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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the evidential basis is for the expectation that reformed local authorities should generally have a population of 500,000 or more. \p Jim McMahon: The overall case for local government reorganisation is set out the English Devolution White Paper. New unitary councils must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks. For most areas this will mean creating councils with a population of 500,000 or more, but there may be exceptions to ensure new structures make sense for an area, including for devolution, and decisions will be on a case-by-case basis.
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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on research projects undertaken by the Institute of Fiscal Studies on behalf of her Department on labour market returns by degree subject in each year since 2022. \p Janet Daby: Since 2022, the department has commissioned one research project, undertaken by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), that includes evidence about labour market returns to undergraduate degrees by degree subject. This is described below.

In 2023, the department put out to open tender a research project called, ‘Developing an earnings metric to assess the quality of higher education (HE) provision’. The IFS bid for and were awarded this project. This project included modelling of graduate earnings by degree subject and HE provider. Its purpose was to produce a report advising on options for how graduate earnings could be used by the Office for Students as part of their regulatory activity. This work began in November 2023 and the report was delivered to the department in September 2024. The report has not yet been published but will be in the future.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of officials in her Department were hired via positive action schemes in the last financial year. \p Janet Daby: All Civil Service departments work within the Recruitment Principles, as regulated by the Civil Service Commission, to recruit using a fair and open process and appoint on merit.

Departments will only limit a campaign to a specific group as a form of positive action as a proportionate response to achieve a legitimate aim as defined in section 159 of the Equality Act 2010.

The Civil Service is committed to a diverse workforce and culture of openness and inclusivity, not as ends in themselves but as means of delivering better outcomes to the citizens we serve.

The Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022 to 2025 promoting fairness and performance, published in February 2022, is positioned as an essential lever to deliver a modern Civil Service, where our values are to serve with integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality; driving our vision to be a skilled, innovative and ambitious Civil Service equipped for the future. This strategy sets out a broader definition of diversity, to include geographical, social and career backgrounds alongside the protected groups. This strategy can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy-2022-to-2025.

As set out in the Civil Service People Plan 2024 to 2027, we are committed to ensuring we attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds, to create a modern Civil Service, now and for the future. This plan can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-people-plan-2024-2027/civil-service-people-plan-2024-2027-html#recruitment-retention--talent.
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Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will take steps to ensure that additional funding for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in mainstream schools is equitably distributed in rural areas. \p Catherine McKinnell: Local authorities are responsible for allocating additional funding from their high needs budgets to mainstream schools for their pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The department is providing an increase of almost £1 billion for high needs budgets in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex SEND to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Gloucestershire County Council is being allocated a provisional funding amount of over £104.8 million in the 2025/26 financial year through the high needs national funding formula (NFF), which is an 8.3% increase per head of their 2 to 18 year old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 financial year NFF allocation.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to improve the teaching of financial literacy through (a) enhanced teacher training programmes, (b) increased funding for financial education (i) resources and (ii) initiatives and (c) other steps. \p Catherine McKinnell: In general, decisions relating to teachers’ professional development rightly rests with schools, headteachers, and teachers themselves, as they are in the best position to judge their own requirements. The government has committed to introducing a Teacher Training Entitlement which would support teachers to access more high quality continuing professional development across a range of topics.

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) has a statutory duty to coordinate the UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing 2020. In 2022, MaPS launched a grant-funded programme totalling £1.1 million to test approaches to supporting teachers and practitioners working with children and young people in vulnerable circumstances and to deliver financial education. The evaluation of this programme can be found here: https://maps.org.uk/en/publications/research/2024/evaluating-grants-improving-financial-education-for-vulnerable-young-people.

The department will work with MaPS to use the findings to promote consistent and evidence-informed practice. MaPS has also published financial education guidance for schools, which can be found here: https://maps.org.uk/en/work-with-us/financial-education-in-schools.

Oak National Academy (Oak) is a non-departmental public body which provides free, optional, and adaptable high quality digital curriculum and lesson resources. Oak has completed its initial curriculum resources in mathematics and will produce additional lessons on financial education and applying mathematics in real life contexts across key stages 1 to 4, which is expected from spring 2025. Lessons on finance and the economy also feature in Oak’s new citizenship curriculum, which was launched earlier this academic year, with lessons to be released by autumn 2025. Oak’s resources are available here: https://www.thenational.academy/.

The department continues to work closely with MaPS, and in partnership with others, to monitor the evidence for financial education and assess school support needs.
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Satvir Kaur:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what additional (a) funding and (b) support is being provided to help schools improve library facilities. \p Catherine McKinnell: School libraries complement public libraries in giving pupils access to a range of books and other kinds of texts, both in and out of school.

It is for individual schools to decide how best to provide and maintain a library service for their pupils, including whether to employ a qualified librarian, and we give headteachers autonomy to decide how best to spend the core schools funding that is allocated to them by the department. The Autumn Budget announced an additional £2.3 billion for schools for the 2025/26 financial year, compared to 2024/25, bringing the total core schools budget to almost £63.9 billion in 2025/26.

​The government’s reading framework offers non-statutory guidance for teachers and school leaders, including helpful guidance for schools on how to organise their school library, book corner or book stock to make reading accessible and attractive to readers.
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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will list each open sponsored academy with (a) its date of conversion to sponsored status, (b) its Unique Reference Number, and (c) the Unique Reference Number of its predecessor school. \p Catherine McKinnell: As of 1 November 2024, there are 2,753 open sponsored academies. Their names, unique reference numbers, open dates and unique reference numbers of predecessor schools, where applicable, is detailed in the attached spreadsheet.

Sponsored academies with date opened and URNs (xlsx, 143.1KB)
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in the devolved Administrations on encouraging participation in the OECD’s next PISA financial literacy assessment, scheduled for 2025. \p Janet Daby: Financial literacy is not an option offered by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation (OECD) in the current (2025) cycle of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) as it has been replaced for this cycle with a foreign-language assessment, so a decision on participation is not imminent.

Departmental officials engage with the devolved governments on a range of areas, including on PISA. We have had initial discussions about the timeline for a decision on participation in future PISA financial literacy assessments and will continue to actively engage with them on this topic as more information is provided by the OECD.
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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to reply to the consultation on Guidance for Schools and Colleges: Gender Questioning Children. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department is currently reviewing the draft non-statutory guidance for schools and colleges on gender questioning children, in addition to draft guidance on relationships and sex education and health education.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has been clear that children’s wellbeing must be at the heart of this guidance and, as such, the government is looking carefully at the consultation responses, discussing with stakeholders and considering the relevant evidence, including the Cass Review which has since been published, before setting out next steps.

We expect the results of the consultation and our response to be published on GOV.UK in 2025.
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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to continue funding for apprentices undertaking a Level 7 apprenticeship. \p Janet Daby: The government is committed to spreading opportunities and economic growth with the support of a strong skills system.

This government had a dire fiscal inheritance which has made tough choices necessary to fix the foundations of our economy and prioritise in order to generate opportunities for young people that enable them to make a start in good, fulfilling careers. The department will therefore be asking more employers to step forward and fund Level 7 apprenticeships, outside of the levy-funded growth and skills offer.

The department will take advice from Skills England, who have been engaging with employers on this, and expects to make a final decision on affected apprenticeships in the new year.

Learners who have started these apprenticeships will be funded through to completion.
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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will list each open converter academy with its (a) date of conversion to academy status, (b) Unique Reference Number, and (c) previous Unique Reference Number where different. \p Catherine McKinnell: As of 1 November 2024, there are 7,671 open converter academies. Their names, unique reference numbers, open dates and unique reference numbers of predecessor schools, where applicable, is detailed in the attached spreadsheet.

Converter academies with conversion date and URNs (xlsx, 343.6KB)
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Ian Byrne:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of updating school food standards to promote (a) healthier and (b) more sustainable diets. \p Stephen Morgan: The department is committed to raising the healthiest generation ever. The school food standards regulate the food and drink provided throughout the school day. They aim to ensure that the right foods are available for children. For example, one or more portions of vegetables as an accompaniment and one or more portions of fruit must be provided every day. The standards also restrict foods high in fat, salt and sugar, as well as low quality reformed or reconstituted foods, and ensures that pupils always have healthy options.

The department has committed to supporting schools to drive up their sustainable practices on food. Schools can voluntarily follow the government buying standards, which includes advice around sustainable sourcing.

As with all policies, the department will keep its approach to school food under continued review.
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Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of waiting times for the commissioning of educational psychologists; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing assessments by educational psychologists arranged and paid for by parents to be used. \p Catherine McKinnell: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life, breaking down the barriers to opportunity.

Educational psychologists play a critical role in the support available to children and young people, providing statutory input into education, health and care (EHC) assessments and advising the school workforce on how to support children and young people with SEND.

As set out in the SEND Code of Practice, when carrying out an EHC needs assessment, local authorities are required to seek psychological advice and information from an educational psychologist, who should normally be employed or commissioned by the local authority.

As the employers of educational psychology services, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that their services are adequately staffed. The department does not hold data on waiting times for the commissioning of educational psychologists.

However, the department is taking measures to support local authorities by investing in building the pipeline. We are investing over £21 million to train 400 more educational psychologists from 2024. This is in addition to the £10 million currently being invested in the training of over 200 educational psychologists who began their training in September 2023.

To support retention, following graduation, trainees who have had their training funded by the department are required to remain in local authority employment for a minimum period. For trainees beginning their course in September 2024, this requirement has increased to three years.
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Valerie Vaz:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the 2008 National Year of Reading, if she will make it her policy to organise a Year of Reading in 2026. \p Catherine McKinnell: Excellent foundations in reading and writing are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life.

​We know that reading for pleasure is hugely important and brings a significant range of benefits. As well as strong links with attainment, wide recreational reading expands pupils’ knowledge about the world and about language, as well as their understanding of subject-specific academic and technical vocabulary. Pupils who read regularly also report heightened levels of social and emotional wellbeing. Reading allows readers to adopt new perspectives, develop empathy and become more socially conscious.

In recognition of this, the department has implemented a range of measures to support reading for pleasure. The English Hubs programme supports the teaching of phonics, early language development and reading for pleasure, with a further £23 million committed for the 2024/25 academic year to support this work. Furthermore, the government’s reading framework provides guidance on improving the teaching of reading, to ensure that every child is not only able to read proficiently but also develops a genuine love of reading.
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Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to increase the uptake of free school meals by eligible children. \p Stephen Morgan: The department recognises the vital role played by free school meals (FSM) and encourages all eligible families to take their entitlement up. There are currently around 2.1 million pupils eligible for and claiming FSM.

The department provides the Eligibility Checking System, allowing local authorities to quickly verify eligibility for FSM and ensure FSM are easily received.

The department is aware of a range of measures aimed at maximising take up of FSM, including through approaches being trialled by local authorities. We are supportive of local authorities taking action to ensure government support reaches families, subject to them meeting legal and data protection requirements.

The government is committed to delivering an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty by tackling the root causes and giving every child the best start at life. To support this, a new ministerial taskforce has been set up to develop a Child Poverty Strategy, which will be published in spring 2025. The taskforce will consider a range of policies, assessing what will have the greatest impact in driving down rates of child poverty.

As with all government programmes, the department will keep its approach to FSM under continued review.
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Laura Trott:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on the future of the Latin Excellence Programme. \p Catherine McKinnell: The government is delivering on its commitment to put education back at the forefront of national life and break down barriers to opportunity for all children and young people.

This government inherited a £22 billion blackhole in our country’s finances and is taking the difficult decisions necessary to fix the foundations and get our economy back on track. This means prioritisation on how money is spent right across the public sector to ensure we deliver on our priorities, including protecting core funding for schools.

Given this, the department has made the difficult decision not to extend the Latin Excellence Programme beyond the end of the three year contract, which will end on 28 February 2025. The department is grateful for the excellent work of the Centre for Latin Excellence and that of the schools who have participated in the programme.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department’s publication entitled The Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt's schedule of taxable sources of income and gains, published on 9 February 2024, whether she plans to publish her tax return for 2023-24. \p James Murray: There is an established process in place for the declaration and management of interests held by ministers. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any actual or perceived conflicts of interest.

As set out in the List of Ministers' Interests (November 2024), as part of the ministers' interests process, Ministers are asked to confirm that their tax affairs are up to date and that the arrangement of their affairs is consistent with their overarching duty to comply with the law. The List of Ministers' Interests is available on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-ministers-interests.
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James Wild:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the rules on the taxation of double cab pickup trucks on (a) consumers and (b) rural communities. \p James Murray: Double Cab Pick Up vehicles (DCPUs) are currently treated as goods vehicles for tax purposes, rather than cars, meaning they benefit from more generous tax treatment. A Court of Appeal judgement in 2020 determined that they must be treated as cars for capital allowances and Benefit in Kind treatment under the existing legislation.

The government will apply this judgement, as legislating to reclassify DCPUs as goods vehicles would be a significant tax break costing hundreds of millions per year for these generally higher CO2-emitting vehicles.

The transitional arrangements mean that this will not affect the capital allowances treatment of any business that already owns a DCPU, or that purchases one before April 2025; and businesses that purchase a DCPU after this date will still be able to deduct the cost from their taxable profits at 18% or 6% per year. Under the transitional arrangements for Benefit-in-Kind, anyone who has accessed a DCPU as a company car before April 2025 will not be impacted until the sooner of disposal of the vehicle, April 2029 or when their lease expires.

In addition, there are alternatives to DCPUs (such as Single Cab Pick Ups) that still benefit from the generous treatment as goods vehicles.
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John Glen:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the new business rate multiplier on Rateable Values over £500,000 will apply to (a) railway, (b) communications and (c) utility hereditaments on the Central Rating List. \p James Murray: At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced an intention to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties with Rateable Values below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that high street RHL properties benefit from much-needed certainty and support. This tax cut must be funded sustainably and so the Government intends to introduce a higher multiplier on all properties that have a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above.

The multiplier rates will be confirmed at Autumn Budget 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-07)

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John Glen:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's equality (a) impact assessment and (b) screening in relation to the changes to employers' National Insurance contributions in the Autumn Budget 2024. \p James Murray: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer; the economic impacts of the policy; and the impacts on individuals, businesses, civil society organisations and an overview of the equality impacts.

The Office for Budget Responsibility also published the Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO), which sets out a detailed forecast of the economy and public finances
wrans/answers2025-01-07 conversation_98
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-07 conversation_98

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of officials in her Department were hired via positive action schemes in the last financial year. \p James Murray: There have been no job opportunities restricted to certain groups through positive action schemes based around race, sex or other characteristics in the last financial year. HM Treasury works within the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, as regulated by the Civil Service Commission, to recruit using a fair and open process and appoint on merit.
wrans/answers2025-01-07 conversation_99
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-07 conversation_99

John Glen:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of first-time buyers paying stamp duty in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26; and what the average amount of stamp duty a first time buyer will pay in each year is. \p James Murray: An estimate of the number of first-time buyers paying Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) and average amount of SDLT paid by first-time buyers is not available because there is limited information on first-time buyers. HMRC can only identify First Time Buyers that are claiming First Time Buyers’ Relief in the SDLT return.

First Time Buyers purchasing a property for less than £250,000 do not need to claim First Time Buyers’ Relief under current SDLT rates and those purchasing a property for more than £625,000 are not eligible to claim the relief.
wrans/answers2025-01-07 conversation_100
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-07 conversation_100

Mr Paul Kohler:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the reduction in business rate relief for grassroots music venues on (a) the number of jobs in the music industry and (b) early-career musicians. \p James Murray: At the Autumn Budget, the Government announced that retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties will receive 40% relief (up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business) for 2025-26.

The Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee’s report on grassroots music venues recommended that RHL relief should not be wholly withdrawn in April 2025. The Committee’s report also highlighted the sector's desire for certainty and long-term stability. That is why the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for RHL properties with rateable values below £500,000 from 2026-27.

The Government’s full response to the CMS Committee’s report was published on 14 November 2024 and is available online: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/8227/grassroots-music-venues/publications/.
wrans/answers2025-01-07 conversation_101
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-07 conversation_101

James McMurdock:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of HMRC's policies on supporting victims of fraud. \p James Murray: Where taxpayers may have been victims of fraud, HMRC considers the correct response for each taxpayer’s case based on the unique set of circumstances they present. Where HMRC finds evidence of fraud, they work closely with the relevant authorities such as the police and the Serious Fraud Office and will share information to support their investigations.

HMRC has a range of options to support those who require extra help, including victims of fraud, and has guidance and training in place for all advisors on how to identify customers who need extra help.

Where appropriate, HMRC will also signpost taxpayers to voluntary and community organisations.
wrans/answers2025-01-07 conversation_102
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-07 conversation_102

James Wild:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the press notice entitled New Great British Energy partnership launched to turbocharge energy independence, published on 25 July 2024, if her Department will publish the partnership agreement between GB Energy and The Crown Estate. \p James Murray: The partnership between The Crown Estate and Great British Energy is subject to the passing of The Great British Energy Bill. Once that Bill passes through its legislative stages, partnership will be subject to an agreement with Great British Energy. Although the partnership agreement itself will not be published, given it will be commercially sensitive, The Crown Estate have committed to publish information relating to the partnership as part of its existing annual report. This will include a report on the activities of the Commissioners under that partnership and any effects or benefits resulting from the activities of the Commissioners under that partnership.
wrans/answers2025-01-07 conversation_103
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-07 conversation_103

Laura Trott:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many applications for VAT numbers for private school fees her Department has (a) received and (b) granted since 5th July 2024. \p James Murray: HMRC publishes data on the VAT population by sector on an annual basis. The latest statistics can be found here: Value Added Tax (VAT) annual statistics - GOV.UK.

VAT will apply to private school and boarding fees for terms starting on or after 1 January 2025. However, this does not mean that every school needs to have registered for VAT by this date. The exact date a school needs to register for VAT depends on the value of school fee payments for terms starting on or after 1 January 2025, and the date the school receives those payments. A significant number of schools were already registered for VAT prior to the confirmation of this policy at Budget.

HMRC has taken action to support private schools through the change: providing detailed guidance; running webinars; and allocating additional resource to process VAT registration applications. HMRC continues to engage with private schools and the organisations that represent them.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-07 conversation_104

Stuart Andrew:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to (a) Business and (b) Agricultural Property Relief on the heritage sector. \p James Murray: The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.

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

In some circumstances, relief from inheritance tax and capital gains tax is also available for national heritage assets when they pass to a new owner either as a result of a death or as a gift. HMRC determines which assets qualify for exemption on the advice of the government’s heritage advisory agencies. No changes have been made to this relief at the Budget. Information about tax relief for national heritage assets can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tax-relief-for-national-heritage-assets.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-07 conversation_105

John Glen:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief on net carbon emissions. \p James Murray: The government is extending the existing scope of agricultural property relief from 6 April 2025 to land managed under certain environmental agreements. The expectation is that some individuals will now choose to enter into agreements who would not otherwise have done so and this will have a positive environmental impact.

The government has also announced it will reform agricultural property relief and business property relief further from 6 April 2026 as it is not fair or sustainable for a very small number of claimants each year to claim such a significant amount of relief. In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.

Defra has a farm support budget of £2.4 billion for the next financial year and support for Environmental Land Management schemes will rise to the highest funding levels ever by 2025-26. Through this investment, the government is helping to secure a healthy and resilient future for English farming and restore our natural landscapes for generations to come whilst continuing to support farmers and landowners in their low-carbon, nature friendly practices.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-07 conversation_106

Laura Trott:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of early years providers eligible for Employment Allowance when proposed changes to employer National Insurance contributions come into force. \p James Murray: Estimates of the number of early years providers eligible for Employment Allowance when proposed changes to employer National Insurance contributions come into force are not available.

The eligibility of a specific employer will depend on the nature of their work, which can be determined by the employer according to HMRC guidance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-07 conversation_107

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of the revenue (a) raised by changes to employee national insurance contributions and (b) announced for the NHS at Autumn Budget 2024 will be allocated to fund non employee national insurance contribution related NHS activity. \p James Murray: At Autumn Statement, the Chancellor outlined the Government’s commitment to ensuring the sustainability and productivity of the NHS. As part of this, HM Treasury have allocated £22.6 billion to the NHS to support productivity improvements, upgrade IT systems, enhance working conditions for staff, and address the maintenance backlog.

The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions cost, in line with the approach taken under the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy. The Government will update Parliament on allocations in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-07 conversation_108

Lee Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential financial impact of VAT on private swimming schools. \p James Murray: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for public services, and must represent value for money for the taxpayer.

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

One of the key considerations for any potential new VAT relief is whether the cost saving is likely to be passed on to consumers. Evidence suggests that businesses only partially pass on any savings from lower VAT rates.