theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Mrs Sharon Hodgson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on the number of (a) arrests and (b) prosecutions in relation to cases of violence against women and girls on trains in the last five years. \p Simon Lightwood: The British Transport Police (BTP) are responsible for policing the rail network in England, Scotland and Wales. The force has provided the following information on arrests and prosecutions against female victims for Violence, Sex and Public Order (Serious) offences in the previous 5 calendar years.

Arrests

Year*

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Number of victims

819

930

1156

1132

1222

Prosecutions

Year*

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Number of victims

956

1031

1207

1197

856

*To note 1) passenger numbers were reduced in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in reduced numbers of crimes and arrests; 2) Arrest and any subsequent prosecution may not occur in the same calendar year.
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John Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much her Department has spent on external public relations since 5 July 2024; and which firms that funding went to. \p Jo Stevens: Nothing. The Wales Office has not spent any money on external public relations since 5 July 2024.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the hon. Member for Warrington North, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what assessment the Committee has made of the effectiveness of the technology platform used to (a) process and (b) administer hon. Members' business costs. \p Charlotte Nichols: The Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority annually scrutinises IPSA’s main estimate and business plan. This has included regular consideration of the effectiveness of IPSA Online, the system used in the processing and administration of MPs’ business costs, and plans for its improvement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Jen Craft:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps (a) her Department and (b) its public bodies are taking to (i) develop and (ii) use artificial intelligence approaches to British Sign Language. \p Dan Tomlinson: Across government, there are opportunities to use AI to accelerate the creation of accessible content across public services. If public bodies trial the use of AI in approaches to BSL (British Sign Language), they would be required to conform with both WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and the Service Standard, and must conduct research with disabled people, including deaf users and where appropriate to the service provision, those who use sign language or a sign language interpreter to interact with the service.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Sarah Pochin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish a list of businesses that have been required to repay fraudulently claimed furlough money. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner Tom Hayhoe’s final report to Parliament found many schemes were rolled out with huge fraud risks and no early safeguards – costing the taxpayer millions.

This government has already recouped almost £400m of Covid support cash.

The government has already actioned many of the Commissioner’s early proposals. These include:

HMRC has a “Publishing Details of Deliberate Tax Defaulters” programme which publishes details of deliberate tax defaulters on Gov.uk, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Eat Out to Help Out.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Sarah Pochin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been recovered by HM Revenue and Customs from furlough fraud to date. \p Dan Tomlinson: HMRC’s latest fully assured figures, covering up to the end of March 2025, have been published in the HMRC Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmrc-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025

Across the three HMRC-administered COVID-19 support schemes Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) and Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO), up to the end of March 2025, HMRC’s compliance effort on the COVID-19 schemes has prevented the payment of or recovered the overpayment of over £1.7 billion worth of grants, which is made up of £430 million prevented from being paid out and £1.3 billion recovered from overpayments.

Of the overall £1.3 billion recovered from overpayments, £920 million relates to CJRS.

HMRC identifies claims for compliance checks where the amount of the claim is out of step with other information. The risk that the claim is incorrect may be due to a range of reasons from an honest mistake through to fraud, therefore our data does not distinguish between error and fraud.

HMRC also introduced dedicated voluntary disclosure portals where claimants can voluntarily repay a COVID-19 support scheme grant, either because they have identified an overpayment of a grant or if they no longer require it. These repayment facilities have so far resulted in unprompted disclosures and voluntary repayments of over £1 billion for CJRS, £51 million for SEISS, and £2 million for EOHO.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Sarah Pochin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much HM Revenue and Customs expects to recover from outstanding furlough fraud investigations. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner Tom Hayhoe’s final report to Parliament found many schemes were rolled out with huge fraud risks and no early safeguards – costing the taxpayer millions.

This government has already recouped almost £400m of Covid support cash.

The government has already actioned many of the Commissioner’s early proposals. These include:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Sarah Pochin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of revenue lost to furlough fraud committed during the pandemic. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner Tom Hayhoe’s final report to Parliament found many schemes - including Bounce Back Loans - were rolled out with huge fraud risks and no early safeguards – costing the taxpayer millions.

Weak accountability, bad quality data and poor contracting were identified as the primary causes of the £10.9 billion pound losses – which were enough to fund daily free school meals for the UK’s 2.7 million eligible children for eight years.

This government has already recouped almost £400m of Covid support cash.

The government has already actioned many of the Commissioner’s early proposals. These include:

Estimates of error and fraud for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) are published at: Error and fraud in the COVID-19 schemes: methodology and approach (an update for 2023) - GOV.UK
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Rebecca Paul:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of safeguards in the online application process for the Breathing Space debt respite scheme in preventing fraudulent or duplicate applications by the same individuals. \p Lucy Rigby: The Breathing Space Scheme gives debtors the space to engage with professional debt advice, or to receive crisis treatment for a mental health condition.

A standard breathing space provides people in problem debt with protections from creditor enforcement action for a period of 60 days. It can only be started if a regulated debt adviser assesses the individual to be eligible and that a breathing space would be appropriate for them. This includes ensuring the individual has not been in a standard breathing space in the last 12 months.

In recognition of the link between mental health and problem debt, eligible individuals receiving mental health crisis treatment can access a mental health crisis breathing space (MHCBS) which provides the same protections from creditor enforcement for the duration of the individual’s crisis treatment. A MHCBS can only be started if an Approved Mental Health Professional confirms that the individual is receiving mental health crisis treatment. The debt adviser must also seek confirmation from a nominated point of contact every 30 days that the individual is still receiving eligible mental health crisis treatment in order for the individual to continue to receive the moratorium’s protections.

HM Treasury does not issue guidance to police forces on the handling of alleged abuse or fraudulent use of the Breathing Space scheme. However, HM Treasury does provide guidance for creditors. This outlines that where a creditor considers that an individual or a specific debt does not qualify for a breathing space, or that the debtor has enough funds to repay their debts, they can ask the debt advice provider to conduct a review within 20 days of the breathing space starting. Creditors also have the right to apply to a court at any time for permission to take enforcement action in relation to a debt included in a breathing space.

The Government keeps the scheme under review to ensure it is operating as intended.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Gareth Thomas:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to improve access to affordable credit. \p Lucy Rigby: The Government recognises that affordable and responsible credit can help households manage unexpected costs and cash flow.

In November, we published the Financial Inclusion Strategy, developed with consumer groups and industry. The Strategy includes a pilot scheme for small sum lending and measures to strengthen the community finance sector, including encouraging partnerships with mainstream financial firms.

We will continue to work closely with stakeholders to implement the Strategy and improve access to affordable credit.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an estimate of the number and demographic profile of savers impacted by the reduction in the annual cash ISA allowance; and whether she plans to introduce alternative saving and investment incentives. \p Lucy Rigby: ISAs incentivise saving and investment by providing generous tax advantages to individual taxpayers. Individuals can save up to £20,000 into an ISA each year, and any savings income received within an ISA is tax free. In addition, due to the Personal Savings Allowance and the Starting Rate for Savings, in 2025-26 around 85 per cent of people with savings income will pay no tax on that income.

This policy will affect those aged under 65 from April 2027, but the overall Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) limit will remain at £20,000 for all savers when the annual Cash ISA limit is set at £12,000. Savers can still use stocks and shares ISAs beyond the £12,000 up to £20,000. It will not affect existing cash ISA savings.

A policy costing note for the package of measures was published alongside the Budget, including the changes to the ISA regime. Following a technical consultation, new ISA regulations will be laid, and a Tax Impact and Information Note will be published in the spring.

After around 800,000 savers aged 65 and above are carved-out, these changes will affect around 16% of Cash ISA subscribers, and around 12% of all ISA subscribers. This means around 1.3 million people are impacted by these changes.
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Sarah Pochin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of unregistered money service businesses currently operating in the United Kingdom. \p Lucy Rigby: The latest National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, published in July 2025, confirms that Money Service Businesses (MSBs) remain high risk for both money laundering and terrorist financing, unchanged from the 2020 rating. The report can be found here:

National risk assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing 2025 - GOV.UK

The Government recognises the importance of targeting anti-money laundering (AML) activity at the highest-risk sectors as part of a risk-based approach. That is why the latest amendments to the Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs), due to be laid in 2026, will make the MLRs more proportionate and effective by ensuring that so-called ‘Know Your Customer’ requirements on regulated businesses such as MSBs are clearer and more targeted at high-risk activity.

HMRC is the AML supervisor for MSBs. While we cannot comment on individual cases, HMRC provides HM Treasury with data on the number and risk profile of MSBs operating in the UK, as well as information on how it assesses and responds to MSB-related risks. This information is published in HM Treasury’s annual anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing supervision report, the latest version of which is available here:

Anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism: Supervision Report 2023-24 - GOV.UK

HMRC also publishes details of penalties it has issued to businesses for non-compliance with the MLRs. The information for the 2024-25 financial year can be found here:

Businesses that have not complied with the money laundering regulations (2024 to 2025) - GOV.UK

According to this data, in 2024-25 16 MSBs were fined a total of £50,276 for failures in: the provision of registration information; notifying HMRC of material change; having the correct policies, controls and procedures; conducting due diligence; record keeping; and providing requested information or documents. HMRC also applies a range of non-financial penalties, including preventing businesses from trading through suspension or cancellation of their supervisory registration, to address risks in its supervised sectors.
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Gareth Thomas:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to increase levels of household savings. \p Lucy Rigby: Everyone should have access to affordable and appropriate products for their financial wellbeing. The government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and ensuring individuals and households have greater financial security.

This is why the government offers several ways to help people save and increase their financial resilience. The overall ISA allowance of £20,000 ensures that savers can put significant sums away in a tax-free savings account. For those who save outside of an ISA, the Personal Savings Allowance provides up to £1,000 of tax-free savings interest for basic rate taxpayers, and £500 for higher rate taxpayers.

The Help to Save scheme supports financial resilience for working people on low incomes by encouraging consistent, long-term saving and helping them build a financial buffer to plan and prepare for the future. The scheme is currently available to working individuals in receipt of Universal Credit, ensuring it remains targeted at its intended population.

As announced at Autumn Budget 2025, the government will make the Help to Save scheme permanent and, from April 2028, will expand eligibility to include all Universal Credit claimants who receive the child element, the caring element or both.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year. \p Lucy Rigby: In financial year 2024/25, HM Treasury spent £16,103.50 on a LinkedIn contract as part of the department’s advertisements of external job vacancies. There was no other HM Treasury spend on other LinkedIn fees or subscriptions.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she has make an assessment of the potential impact of reforming business rates on small pubs and breweries. \p Dan Tomlinson: In April 2026, the Government will introduce permanently lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that eligible properties, including pubs, benefit from much-needed certainty and support. Breweries that are wholly or mainly open to visiting members of the public (for instance, mainly used as a bar or for providing tours to the public) will also benefit from the lower multipliers.

The final design, including the rates, for the new business rates multipliers will be announced at Budget 2025, so that the Government can factor the revaluation outcomes, as well as the broader economic and fiscal context, into decision-making. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

Ahead of the new multipliers being introduced, the Government prevented RHL business rates relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. Under the previous Government, RHL relief was due to end entirely in April 2025, and so by extending it, the Government has saved the average pub, with a ratable value of £16,800, over £3,300.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to extend the child Air Passenger Duty exemption to Premium Economy cabins. \p Dan Tomlinson: Air Passenger Duty (APD) applies to airlines, not individual passengers, and is the principal tax on the aviation sector. It is expected to raise £4.7 billion in 2025-26 and it aims to ensure that airlines make a fair contribution to the public finances, particularly given that tickets are VAT free and aviation fuel incurs no duty. The distance-based band structure ensures that those who travel furthest, and in the greatest comfort, incur a greater tax liability.

Children under 16 years old on the date of the flight, and in the lowest class of travel, are exempt from APD. This means that no APD will be paid on that passenger by the airline to the UK government. If children under 16 years old are travelling in any other class (such as premium economy) or in business jets, they are not exempt. Children under 2 years old without a seat are exempt from Air Passenger Duty for all classes of travel.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the impact of the pay per mile tax on electric vehicle usage in the Fylde constituency. \p Dan Tomlinson: As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028, a new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, recognising that EVs contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty.

When eVED takes effect in April 2028, eVED rates will be set at 3p per mile for electric vehicles, which is half the equivalent fuel duty rate paid by the average petrol/diesel driver, ensuring that driving an electric vehicle continues to be an attractive choice for consumers. The rate will be set at 1.5p per mile for plug-in hybrids, recognising that they will continue to pay fuel duty on miles driven in petrol mode. An average EV driver driving 8,000 miles per year will pay around £240 per year or £20 per month.

As set out by the OBR, the estimated net impact of eVED and other Budget measures, including the ECG and ECS, is 120,000 fewer new EV sales across the forecast period. This is against a baseline which assumes EV sales more than triple from 2025-26 levels by 2030-31, which means the net impact of eVED represents only 2% of total new EV sales in the period.

The Government has set out expected impacts from eVED and other Budget measures in the Budget 2025 Policy Costings document at GOV.UK: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692872fd2a37784b16ecf676/Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf
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Jo Platt:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she will consider extending the proposed alignment of the personal allowance for pensioners with the new State Pension rate. \p Torsten Bell: As announced at the Budget, the government will ease the administrative burden for pensioners whose sole income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments so that they do not have to pay small amounts of tax via Simple Assessment from 2027-28.
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Alex Easton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of duty-free sales arrangements under the Windsor Framework on Northern Ireland’s airports; and whether she has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on enabling passengers travelling from Northern Ireland airports to (a) Great Britain and (b) third countries to access duty-free sales on the same basis as passengers travelling from other UK airports. \p Dan Tomlinson: Excise duty is due on excise goods due to be consumed in the UK. There are no plans to allow individuals moving from one part of the UK to another to purchase duty free goods.

Passengers travelling from Northern Ireland to a place outside the UK and the EU are entitled to purchase duty free goods in the same way as passengers travelling from Great Britain to a place outside the UK. Duty free shopping between Northern Ireland and the EU would require the application of personal allowances, to prevent the uncontrolled flow of tax-free goods into either Northern Ireland or the EU. The enforcement controls required for this would run counter to the shared ambitions of the UK and the EU set out in the Windsor Framework and the principle of the frictionless movement of people and goods between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
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Sammy Wilson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate she has made of the contribution of fuel duty to inflation and the cost of living; and whether she will review current rates in the context of wider price pressures. \p Dan Tomlinson: Pump prices are at their lowest levels since 2021, before Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine led to soaring prices and the introduction of a temporary 5p cut in fuel duty. At Budget 2025, the Government therefore announced continued support for people and businesses by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut until the end of August 2026. Rates will then gradually return to early 2022 levels. The planned increase in line with inflation for 2026-27 will not take place, with the government uprating fuel duty rates by RPI from April 2027. This will save the average car driver £49 next year compared to previous plans.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) set out the impact of policy measures on inflation in its Autumn Budget 2025 forecast, including fuel duty policy. The OBR forecast the fuel duty freeze extension will reduce CPI inflation by 0.13 percentage points in 2026/27.

The Chancellor asked departments to prioritise reducing inflation when developing policies for the Budget, ensuring decisions support stability and long-term growth. Considering all policies, including the impact of the fuel duty decision, the OBR expect Budget measures to reduce CPI inflation by 0.4 percentage points in 2026/27.

The Government considers the impact of fuel duty on the economy, including households and businesses, with decisions on rates made at fiscal events.
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Mr Louie French:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the cumulative effect of (a) increasing betting duties on seaside arcades, (b) a nightly levy on hotel stays, (c) the abolition of Favoured Tax Regime for Furnished Holiday Lets, (d) changes to business rates relief, (e) the increase in Employer National Insurance Contributions and (f) the increase in the National Minium Wage for young people on businesses. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government has carefully assessed the cumulative impacts of measures announced over recent Budgets on businesses and households. Taken together, these measures raise revenue to support the public finances in a fair way, whilst providing targeted support. The Government recognises that recent policy changes will have combined effects on some businesses. Where changes are made, relevant assessments and impact notes are published to inform stakeholders. The Treasury continues to engage with affected sectors to understand the challenges they face and to ensure the UK remains a competitive place to do business. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep our policy approach under review, with future tax decisions taken at fiscal events under the normal process.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increased aviation taxes on levels of inbound tourism to the UK. \p Dan Tomlinson: The government is committed to securing the long-term future of the aviation sector in the UK and recognises the benefits of the connectivity it creates between the UK and the rest of the world.

At Budget 2025, the government announced it will uprate APD rates in line with RPI from 1 April 2027 and rounded to the nearest penny. This constitutes a real terms freeze meaning passengers will pay the same in today’s prices.

As set out in the OBR forecast in March, passenger numbers are expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels in the coming year, and are expected to be around 10% higher than 2024-25 once new APD rates are implemented in 2026-27.
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Sarah Pochin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she had with the former Chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility on his giving evidence to the Treasury Select Committee following the Budget before his resignation; and if she will publish all written correspondence between them on this issue. \p James Murray: Richard Hughes resigned as Chair of the OBR on 1 December and the Chancellor wrote to thank him for his dedicated public service and leadership of the OBR over the last 5 years.

These letters are published on the OBR website and on gov.uk, respectively.
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Sarah Pochin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish all correspondence between herself and the Chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility between 1 October and 1 December. \p James Murray: The Chancellor engages regularly with the OBR’s Budget Responsibility Committee (BRC), including its Chair, in preparation for fiscal events. The OBR publishes a log of its contact, including with the Chancellor, in the Foreword of the Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO).

On Wednesday 26 November, Richard Hughes wrote to the Chancellor to apologise for the early release of the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook and to announce an investigation into the incident.

Richard Hughes resigned as Chair of the OBR on 1 December and the Chancellor wrote to thank him for his dedicated public service and leadership of the OBR over the last 5 years.

These letters are published on the OBR website and on gov.uk, respectively.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Box 3.H, and Table 4.1 of the Autumn Budget 2025, HC 1492, 26 November 2025, and to the HMT document, Effects of the business rates retail, hospitality and leisure multipliers and high value multiplier of 26 November 2025, what estimate she has made of the total gross revenue to be raised from the high-value multiplier in 2026-27. \p Dan Tomlinson: The exchequer impact of the new high-value multiplier and RHL multipliers can be found on page 30 of the ‘Policy costings’ document, published at the Budget and found online at this address:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692872fd2a37784b16ecf676/Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf
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Mr Louie French:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue was generated in 2023/2024 from business rates on hereditaments that are being used for the provision of (a) sport, leisure and facilities to visiting members of the public and (b) casinos, gambling clubs and bingo halls; and how much the same venues are forecast to pay in 2025/26 and 2026/27. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government does not hold data on the amount of business rates revenue raised by different types of hereditaments.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her department has made of how many a) pubs b) hotels c) restaurants d) indoor leisure and e) night clubs are expected to see their business rates bill i) go up ii) stay the same or iii) decrease from April 2026 as a result of the measures announced in Budget 2025. \p Dan Tomlinson: The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties, including those in the hospitality and leisure sectors as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

For the pubs sector, the increase in rateable values will be 30%, which combined with the loss of the temporary RHL relief would lead to an increase in total bills paid by the sector of 45%. However, due to government intervention, the sector’s total bill will only increase by 4% next year.

More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto.

The Government is doing this by introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including pubs. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-10 conversation_25

Joe Robertson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the removal of business rates relief and the business rates revaluation on high street businesses. \p Dan Tomlinson: The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto.

The Government is doing this by introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including pubs. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-10 conversation_26

Joe Robertson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of rateable value increases and changes to business rates relief announced at Budget 2025 on a) vacancy rates on high streets, b) employment levels, c) businesses closures and d) price levels. \p Dan Tomlinson: The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto.

The Government is doing this by introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including pubs. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

The Call for Evidence published at Budget seeks further evidence on the role business rates and reliefs play in investment, including Empty Property Relief.
wrans/answers2025-12-10 conversation_27
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-10 conversation_27

Sarah Olney:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of applying a) a 10p multiplier b) a 15p multiplier or c) the full 20p discount on high street and hospitality businesses; and if she will publish that assessment. \p Dan Tomlinson: The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by introducing permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since COVID. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

The new RHL tax rates will be 5p below the national tax rates. Making the RHL tax rates even lower would have led to a higher tax rate for high-value properties.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-10 conversation_28

Mr Louie French:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to hypothecate revenue raised from a Visitor Levy in London to support the visitor economy in London. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government has announced powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy, if they so choose.

We have published a consultation running until 18 February 2026, so that the public, businesses, and local government can shape the design of the power to introduce a levy that will be devolved to local leaders.

The precise design and scope of the power for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy is still under development and the Government welcomes engagement from the hospitality sector in developing this power through the consultation process.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-10 conversation_29

Mr Louie French:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of business or employment tax rises on (a) gyms, (b) swimming pools, and (c) leisure centres. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government recognises the important contribution that sport and physical activity make to health and wellbeing in the UK.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties, including those in the hospitality sector as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto.

The Government is doing this by introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including gyms, swimming pools, and leisure centres. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

Additionally, businesses and other organisations providing these services can continue to benefit from measures including the increase in the Employment Allowance to £10,500 and the Government remains committed to the small profits rate, under which companies with profits of £50,000 or less are subject to a 19 per cent rate. Marginal relief for companies with profits of between £50,000 and £250,000 means only around 10 per cent of actively trading companies pay the full main rate of 25 per cent. This means gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres whose companies meet these conditions will continue to face lower effective corporation tax rates.
wrans/answers2025-12-10 conversation_30
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-10 conversation_30

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of retail, hospitality and leisure businesses will be eligible to receive transitionary relief for business rates in 2026-27. \p Dan Tomlinson: At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic.

To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years. This includes a redesigned transitional relief scheme which caps bill increases, and is worth £3.2 billion over the next 3 years, and a supporting small business (SSB) scheme capping bill increases for the smallest businesses losing some or all of their small business rates relief or rural rate relief worth over £500 million. The Government has gone further, by expanding this to ratepayers losing RHL relief to offer further support worth an additional £1.3 billion as they transition to permanently lower tax rates.

As a result, over half of all ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto.

The Government is doing this by introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including pubs. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.
wrans/answers2025-12-10 conversation_31
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-10 conversation_31

Ben Lake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the Zone A rates for retail properties used to calculate the business rates due in (a) Aberystwyth, (b) Tregaron, (c) Aberaeron, (d) Lampeter, (e) Llandysul, (f) Cardigan, (g) St Dogmaels, (h) Crymych, (i) Fishguard, (j) Goodwick and k) Clunderwen. \p Dan Tomlinson: Retail Zone A rates are specific to individual properties, so there will be a range of Zone A values in each of the locations referred to.
wrans/answers2025-12-10 conversation_32
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-10 conversation_32

Wendy Morton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people will move into higher tax bands due to the freezing of income tax and National Insurance thresholds for three years; and estimate she has made of the revenue raised through these measures. \p Dan Tomlinson: The number of people forecast to pay tax by marginal rate can be found in Table 3.19 in the OBR’s November 2025 Economic and fiscal outlook – detailed forecast tables: receipts, linked below:

https://obr.uk/download/november-2025-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-detailed-forecast-tables-receipts/?tmstv=1764165511

The estimated revenue from maintaining the personal income tax and equivalent national insurance thresholds at current levels for a further three years until April 2031 can be found in Table 4.1, policy 46 in HMT’s Budget 2025 document, linked below:

Budget 2025 document - GOV.UK