theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to prevent motor insurers from raising premiums for vehicle theft victims making non-fault claims in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted, (b) Hertfordshire, and (c) the rest of England. \p Emma Reynolds: Insurers make commercial decisions about pricing and the terms of cover they offer based on their assessment on the likelihood of a claim being made and the cost of those claims. The Government does not set the terms, conditions, or prices for insurance policies. Motor insurance premiums have been affected by specific economic factors that increased the costs of claims, such as the rising cost of replacement car parts.

Last year, the Government launched a cross-Government taskforce on motor insurance. This Taskforce has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums, while maintaining appropriate levels of cover. The taskforce most recently met in April and the Government will provide further updates in due course.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the independent regulator, is a member of the Taskforce. Last October, the FCA launched a package of work on the motor insurance market, including a market study on premium finance. The FCA requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value (i.e. if the price a consumer pays for a product or service is reasonable compared to the overall benefits they can expect to receive) and has powers to take action against firms that don’t meet its requirements.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Financial Conduct Authority plans to review the methods used by car insurers to determine vehicle valuations in write-off settlements. \p Emma Reynolds: How insurers value vehicles in write-off settlements are a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority who is operationally independent from the Government. The Financial Conduct Authority published its findings of a multi-firm review into insurers’ claims handling processes for valuing vehicles which have been stolen or written off in March 2024.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with banking sector representatives on the future of face-to-face banking services for (a) older people, (b) people with limited digital access and (c) other people. \p Emma Reynolds: Banking has changed significantly in recent years with many customers benefitting from the ease and convenience of remote banking. The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority.

The Government also recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Under its rules, the UK’s largest banks and building societies are required to assess the impact of a closure or material alteration of a relevant cash withdrawal or deposit facility and put in place a new service if necessary.

The FCA is required by law to keep its access to cash rules under review and is monitoring the impact of these rules on an ongoing basis to ensure they deliver the right outcomes for businesses and consumers.

The FCA also requires firms to provide a prompt, efficient, and fair service to all of their customers. This includes special considerations for vulnerable customers, such as the elderly and disabled. Additionally, under the Equality Act 2010, banks must make reasonable adjustments to ensure their services are accessible to all.

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

Furthermore, the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. Banking hubs offer everyday counter services provided by Post Office staff, allowing people and businesses to withdraw and deposit cash, deposit cheques, pay bills and make balance enquiries. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out wider banking services. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 220 hubs have been announced so far, and over 160 are already open.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on the extent of the liability for consumer credit debt on car purchases that major banks are exposed to. \p Emma Reynolds: The government engages with a broad range of stakeholders such as financial regulators, industry, debt advice charities and consumer groups to monitor trends in consumer debt.

In the 12 months to September 2024, consumers used regulated motor finance to purchase over 2 million vehicles, borrowing a total of £37.7bn.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2025 to Question 30578 on Individual Savings Accounts, what steps her Department plans to take to inform Cash ISA holders of the potential merits of participating in capital markets for the long-term financial security and returns that investing can provide. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government recognises the important role that cash savings, including those held in Cash ISAs, play in helping households build a financial buffer for a rainy day.

The Government wants to see more people benefit from the returns and long-term financial resilience that investing can provide. To support this, the Government is working closely with the Financial Conduct Authority on the Advice Guidance Boundary Review to deliver a system of Targeted Support to give people the confidence to invest.
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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on whether there were irregular trading activities in UK-listed defence sector stocks on 2 June 2025. \p Emma Reynolds: The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the UK’s markets regulator and the lead agency responsible for monitoring UK markets, and investigating and taking any enforcement action related to market abuse.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she plans to take to roll out banking hubs beyond the lifetime of the existing programme. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government recognises the importance of face-to-face banking to communities, businesses and high streets in East Londonderry and across the UK. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament.

Over 220 hubs have been announced so far, and over 160 are already open.

Banking hubs offer everyday counter services provided by Post Office staff, allowing people and businesses to withdraw and deposit cash, deposit cheques, pay bills and make balance enquiries. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out wider banking services.

The banking hub initiative does not have a set end date. Where a branch closure is announced or a community has submitted a cash access assessment request, LINK, the independent industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments, assesses a community’s access to cash needs, and will recommend appropriate solutions where it considers that a community requires additional cash services, such as a banking hub or deposit service.

Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the introduction of the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System on SME listings on UK capital markets. \p Emma Reynolds: The Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System (PISCES) seeks to complement the government’s wide ranging and ongoing reforms to boost the UK as a listing destination.

PISCES aims to make private secondary markets more transparent and efficient, while also supporting private companies prepare for an IPO in the UK.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 51130 on Chinese Embassy, whether the Bank of England has made representations to her Department on the potential cyber-security implications of the Chinese Embassy development. \p Emma Reynolds: It is not the role of the Bank of England to consider the cyber-security implications of the Chinese Embassy development. However, national security is the first duty of Government and has been HMG’s core priority throughout this process. A final decision on the application for the new Chinese embassy in Tower Hamlets will be made in due course by ministers in the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a flat-rate 20% inheritance levy on unused pension funds. \p James Murray: Most unused pension funds and death benefits will be included within the value of a person’s estate for inheritance tax purposes from 6 April 2027. This removes distortions resulting from changes that have been made to pensions tax policy over the last decade, which have led to pensions being openly used and marketed as a tax planning vehicle to transfer wealth, rather than as a way to fund retirement. These reforms also remove inconsistencies in the inheritance tax treatment of different types of pensions.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what GDP per capita was on (a) 5 July 2024 and (b) 1 May 2025. \p Emma Reynolds: The Office for National Statistics produces estimates for GDP per capita and Real Household Disposable Income (RHDI) per capita. These estimates are produced on a quarterly basis as part of the Quarterly National Accounts. Aggregate GDP is also estimated on a monthly basis but not in per-capita terms.

The nearest complete quarter to the 5th July is Q2 2024 (ending June 30).

According to the most recent ONS estimates for Q2 2024, in 2022 prices:

The nearest complete quarterly for 1 May 2025 is Q2 2025 (June 30). However, estimates of Q2 2025 GDP and RHDI per capita have not yet been released. These are due to be released respectively on 14th August and 30th September 2025.

The most recent quarter for which estimates are available, in 2022 prices:

The RHDI figures above refer to Households and non-profit institutions, as per the definition of living standards using the Programme for Change milestones.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of capital markets reform on fintech firms. \p Emma Reynolds: The government is committed to reinvigorating our capital markets to deliver growth across the UK and is pursuing ambitious reforms to make our markets even more competitive. These reforms, including the FCA’s new UK Listings Rules and the government’s prospectus reforms, will benefit all firms including fintech firms.

The government is committed to an approach to financial services regulation which strikes the right balance between driving UK economic growth and providing robust safeguards for investors. The FCA has a primary objective to protect consumers, and a secondary objective to facilitate international competitiveness and growth.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to protect people living in Fylde constituency from cryptocurrency scams. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government takes the issue of fraud very seriously and is developing a new and expanded fraud strategy to further protect the public and businesses from this appalling crime.

Relevant cryptoasset firms are already subject to UK financial promotions requirements, and required to register with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for money laundering supervision.

Building on this, the Government is introducing a comprehensive financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets this year. The new regime will provide further protections for UK consumers, by requiring firms offering them services to be authorised and regulated by the FCA.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help increase collaboration between UK and Qatari financial institutions in (a) capital markets, (b) sustainable finance and (c) financial technology, in the context of the Memorandum of Understanding on financial services. \p Emma Reynolds: The UK and Qatar share a strong trade and investment partnership, with a total trade volume of over £5.6 billion in 2024, contributing to economic growth, diversification, innovation and job creation.

To reflect the important role that the financial services sector plays in achieving both the UK Government’s economic growth mission and Qatar’s National Vision 2030, the Chancellor and Qatar’s Finance Minister signed a Financial Services Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between HM Treasury and the Qatar Ministry of Finance in December 2024. The MoU identifies capital markets, sustainable finance, and fintech as priority areas of interest. Work is underway to identify opportunities for collaboration within these subsectors, and the first annual UK-Qatar Financial Services Working Group will be held later this year.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that banks support innovation in relation to  (a) digital assets and (b) other areas. \p Emma Reynolds: The government recognises the transformative potential of new technologies in the financial services sector and has made innovation and technology one of the key pillars of its Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy. The government is committed to enabling and supporting increased digital adoption, as well as other new technologies, that have the potential to increase productivity and open up new products and services. The government will publish this strategy at Mansion House on the 15th July.

This is in addition to measures the government has already taken to ensure that banks support innovation, such as the commitment set out in the National Payments Vision to establish a Long-Term Regulatory Framework for Open Banking. This framework will provide the clarity and certainty needed to facilitate further innovation and investment.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of VAT (a) registration and (b) compliance on small businesses. \p James Murray: At £90,000, the UK has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU country and the joint highest in the OECD. This means the majority of UK businesses are kept out of the VAT system.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2025 to Question 50855 on Revenue and Customs and Valuation Office Agency, how many of those (a) HMRC and (b) VOA offices will be closed as a consequence of the abolition of the VOA as a standalone agency. \p James Murray: HMRC and VOA are working closely together on plans to bring VOA into HMRC by April 2026 which will deliver 5 to 10% of additional savings in VOA’s total administrative costs by 2028-29.

HMRC and VOA regularly review their locations planning to identify opportunities to deliver savings. VOA are already co-located with HMRC in 13 locations.
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Lizzi Collinge:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate for sole traders; and whether she plans to review the rate. \p James Murray: Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee’s expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. These rates are also used by self-employed drivers to claim tax relief on business mileage (simplified motoring expenses).

In considering potential changes to the AMAP/simplified motoring expenses rates, the Government would need to balance support for individuals with the responsible management of public finances which fund our essential public services.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of tax relief to mitigate the impact of tariffs introduced within the same tax year in Fylde constituency. \p James Murray: The Government recently announced the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal, which is a major milestone for our special relationship

The agreement of 8 May is the first step towards a legally binding Economic Prosperity Deal with the US which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries, and improving supply chains.
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Jack Rankin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposals on the harmonisation of gambling duties outlined in the consultation entitled The Tax Treatment of Remote Gambling, last updated on 6 May 2025, on the British horseracing industry. \p James Murray: The Government is consulting on proposals to simplify the current gambling tax system by merging the three current taxes that cover remote (including online) gambling into one – reducing complexity. The Government is committed to engaging with all stakeholders, including representatives of the horseracing industry, as part of the consultation process.

The Government recognises the significant cultural and economic value of British horseracing, both as a major sporting tradition and as an important contributor to rural economies across the country.

The Government encourages all interested parties to participate in the consultation to ensure the interests of British horseracing industry are fully considered.
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Gregor Poynton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of e-invoicing for improving tax administration and collection. \p James Murray: Following the Chancellor’s announcement at Budget 24, HMRC and DBT have run a joint consultation on promoting e-invoicing among UK businesses and the private sector. This consultation closed on 7 May and the government will publish a summary of responses and update on the next steps following this consultation in due course. As part of HMRC’s work on e-invoicing the department will consider the potential merits of e-invoicing for improving tax administration and collection.
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Anna Dixon:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has considered the potential merits of offering (a) enhanced and (b) conditional Agricultural Property Relief on (i) land farmed with certified organic production standards and (ii) farms making the transition to certified organic standards. \p James Murray: There are no plans to change the qualifying conditions for agricultural property relief to distinguish between conventional and organic farming.

The Government is supporting organic farming, along with other environmentally friendly farming techniques, through Environmental Land Management schemes that are paying thousands of farmers for pesticide free farming and natural soil management methods such as the use of companion crops. This support helps ensure farmers can produce the food the country needs while also protecting nature.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make a comparative assessment of (a) HMRC tobacco duty receipts with (b) ONS smoking prevalence data in (i) 2023-2024 and (ii) 2024-2025 \p James Murray: In 2023/24, tobacco duty receipts totalled £8,804 million. In 2024/25, tobacco duty receipts fell 10% to £7,926 million.

ONS smoking prevalence data has been published up to the calendar year 2023. In that year, approximately 12% of over 18s in the UK were current smokers.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Council Tax banding appeals process conducted by the Valuation Office Agency. \p James Murray: The Council Tax banding appeals process is governed by the statutory requirements set out in the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and secondary legislation. In England, primarily the Council Tax (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2009 and the Valuation Tribunal for England (Council Tax and Rating Appeals) (Procedure) Regulations 2009. In Wales, primarily the Council Tax (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) Regulations 1993 and the Valuation Tribunal for Wales Regulations 2010.

Responsibility for administering the appeals process sits with the Valuation Tribunal for England and the Valuation Tribunal for Wales.
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Rachael Maskell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will undertake a review of the broad rental market areas. \p James Murray: Currently there are no plans to carry out a fundamental review of all broad rental market areas (BRMAs).

The BRMA Review Protocol is published on GOV.UK here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/understanding-local-housing-allowances-rates-broad-rental-market-areas
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Gregor Poynton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to introduce e-invoicing in the UK. \p James Murray: Many businesses and public bodies already use e-invoicing in the UK. As announced at Budget 24, HMRC and DBT have run a joint consultation on promoting e-invoicing among UK businesses and the private sector. This consultation closed on 7 May and the government will publish a summary of responses and update on the next steps following this consultation in due course.
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Rachel Blake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the amount of revenue lost through tax avoidance in relation to illegal subletting of homes as short-term lets in each of the last five years. \p James Murray: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) estimates the size of the tax gap, which is the difference between the amount of tax that should, in theory, be paid to HMRC, and what is actually paid. The tax gap statistics and details of the estimate methodologies are published annually and are available at: Measuring tax gaps 2024 edition: tax gap estimates for 2022 to 2023 - GOV.UK.

The latest estimate of the tax gap arising from ‘moonlighters’ in the hidden economy is £0.9 billion for tax year 2022 to 2023. This figure includes an estimate of around £350 million from individuals in employment who have not paid tax on lettings. The lettings tax gap figure is not separately published due to methodological uncertainties and provides only a broad indicator of the tax gap.

HMRC does not separately estimate the tax gap due to tax avoidance in relation to illegal subletting of homes as short-term lets.
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Sammy Wilson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she considered including the (a) role and (b) conduct of HMRC within the remit of the Independent Review of the Loan Charge. \p James Murray: The Government has commissioned an independent review of the Loan Charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers.

The Government does not think it is right for people affected by the Loan Charge to have to wait years for any progress on bringing this matter to a close for them and has therefore ensured that the review has a focused remit, allowing it to report by this summer. The Government will respond by Autumn Budget 2025.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is planning to take to assist low-income families facing rising living costs in West Dorset constituency. \p James Murray: To support those most in need, the Government have introduced a Fair Repayment Rate, capping debt deductions made through Universal Credit, enabling 1.2 million families to keep more of their UC award each month and benefiting around 700,000 of the poorest families with children.

We also extended the Household Support Fund in England, as well as Discretionary Housing Payments in England and Wales, helping households facing the greatest hardship. Working age benefits increased fully by inflation in 2025-26 which will see around 5.7 million families on Universal Credit gain £150 on average this year.

The Government has set out the next steps in delivering our approach for regional growth, spreading growth across the country through investment and reform, including via devolution of funding and powers. This will benefit people across the country, including in the West Devon constituency.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the off-payroll working reforms on self-employed individuals. \p James Murray: I refer the Hon. Member to the written answer I gave to the Hon. Member for North Cornwall on 26 March 2025:

Self-employed and Small Businesses: Off-payroll Working
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Clive Jones:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether (a) she or (b) Treasury ministers have met with (a) the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and (b) other members of the automotive sector to discuss the taxation of the employee car ownership scheme. \p James Murray: At Autumn Budget 2024 the government announced plans to close loopholes in the legislation around employee car ownership schemes (ECOS) at a future fiscal event, to prevent them being used by employers to circumvent the employee’s Company Car Tax (CCT) liability and the Employer NICs liability.

Private use of a company car is a valuable benefit to an employee, and it is right that Company Car Tax is paid on it and ensures fairness with other taxpayers.

Ahead of publishing draft legislation, I and my officials have met with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and my officials have met their members, in line with normal practice
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2025 to Question 50853 on Valuation Office Agency: Staff, whether all Valuation Office Agency staff will be transferred into HMRC. \p James Murray: Yes, all Valuation Office Agency employees will be transferred to HMRC.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had on the potential impact of its forthcoming legislation on umbrella companies which engage temporary staff with the (a) NHS, (b) construction sector and (c) healthcare sector. \p James Murray: The government is introducing legislation to close the tax gap by making recruitment agencies that use umbrella companies legally responsible for accounting for PAYE on workers’ pay. This measure is expected to protect around £2.8 billion of tax revenue from being lost to umbrella company non-compliance across the scorecard period to 2029-30.

In relation to this measure, officials have engaged extensively with the representatives of the recruitment industry that provide temporary workers to these sectors and will continue to do so.

The government will set out full details of how this measure will operate, alongside draft legislation, later this year. As well as a consultation period, the government will support businesses as they prepare for the implementation of this measure by engaging with stakeholders before legislation is introduced into Parliament and publishing technical guidance for businesses that will be affected by it.
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Saqib Bhatti:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the the potential impact of changes in business rates on serviced office buildings. \p James Murray: It is the Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA) statutory duty to maintain up-to-date Rating Lists and they are required by law to review and correct assessments if supported by evidence.

Following developments in case law, the VOA have been reviewing their approach to valuing serviced offices for business rates, including seeking legal advice on a range of agreements between owners or operators and individual occupiers.

The VOA have concluded that, rather than each room within a serviced office being assessed separately, most serviced offices will need to be assessed as a single property, unless clear evidence demonstrates a need to split.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

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Caroline Voaden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the merits of putting transitional arrangements in place for changes to inheritance tax rules for family businesses. \p James Murray: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

These reforms were announced on 30 October 2024 and will take effect from 6 April 2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-09 conversation_529

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the PCS trade union press release entitled Valuation Office to move into HMRC, published on 28 April 2025, for what reason the trade unions were not consulted over the announcement of the closure of the Valuation Office Agency. \p James Murray: The government is conducting a full review of all arm’s-length bodies with a presumption that they will be closed, merged, or have functions brought into departments.

The decision to move the Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA) functions into its parent department (HMRC) was taken to provide greater ministerial oversight and accountability of an essential function of significant national importance.

The VOA has begun consultation with its trade unions, Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and Prospect. It will continue to work closely and consult with them throughout the transition period to ensure a successful outcome.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

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Mr James Frith:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Valuation Office Agency on the appropriate valuation of film and TV studios. \p James Murray: The Non-Domestic Rating Act 2023 and Local Government finance (Wales) Bill legislated for three yearly business rates revaluations in England and Wales from 2023. The date of completion for the next revaluation is 1 April 2026. This is to ensure that properties are assessed fairly and reflect changes in the property market over time.  The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) will publish the 2026 rating lists in draft on gov.uk by 31 December 2025.

The VOA keep HMT updated on the progress of discussions they are having with stakeholders in the film and TV industry whilst preparing the 2026 rating list, and expect these updates to continue.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-09 conversation_531

Edward Morello:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure (a) transparency and (b) accountability in property valuations conducted by the Valuation Office Agency. \p James Murray: The Valuation Office Agency has a statutory duty to maintain fair and accurate lists for Council Tax and business rates purposes. Both the lists, the VOA’s rating manuals, and other technical guidance, including its approach to valuing over 200 types of non-domestic property, are publicly available for transparency on GOV.UK. The VOA also publishes blogs explaining how they assess properties and why they might ask for information from taxpayers to perform their functions.

The Government’s business rates reforms will deliver greater transparency on valuations for ratepayers and greater accuracy. By 2026, most ratepayers will be able to access more tailored details about comparable properties and by 2029, more specific valuation information and rental evidence will also be available.

The VOA uses internationally recognised valuation methods. It has a robust three-stage assurance framework which maintains and improves the quality of valuations across all areas through assuring adherence to professional standards, legislative obligations and internal processes. It also has a performance target around valuation quality, which it reports on in its annual report and accounts, which are published on GOV.UK.

The recent decision to move the Valuation Office Agency’s functions into its parent department (HMRC) by 2026 was taken to increase efficiency, business experience and provide greater ministerial oversight and accountability around delivery.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-09 conversation_532

Ruth Cadbury:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she has taken to help support small businesses to understand the Making Tax Digital for Income Tax scheme. \p James Murray: Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax is designed to help businesses keep on top of their tax affairs and support their wider productivity.

The government is undertaking a range of activities to ensure that those needing to use MTD for Income Tax understand the requirements and can do so successfully from April 2026. A communications campaign is underway, raising customer awareness of MTD for Income Tax and encouraging agents and customers to sign up for testing.

HMRC are supporting customers and agents with a suite of guidance products, direct communications, webinars, live events and social media activity to help them to prepare.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-09 conversation_533

Ruth Cadbury:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Making Tax Digital for Income Tax scheme on sole traders who are digitally excluded. \p James Murray: The government recognises that not everyone is able to interact with HMRC digitally. Customers that consider themselves digitally excluded will be able to apply for an exemption from Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. HMRC will provide further information about the exemption process later in 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-09 conversation_534

Saqib Bhatti:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the maximum additional business rate revenue that could be raised by the proposed new higher rate multiplier. \p James Murray: To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable vales below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

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

The exact rates for any new business rate multipliers will not be set until Autumn Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the revaluation outcomes as well as the economic and fiscal context. Costings for these policies will be certified by the Office for Budget Responsibility and published at the Budget.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-09 conversation_535

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with her US counterpart on (a) tax exemptions and (b) relief measures for UK-based SMEs that rely on Chinese manufacturing. \p James Murray: The Chancellor regularly speaks with her counterpart, the US Treasury Secretary.

This government will continue to act in Britain’s national interest – for workers, for businesses and for families.

The Chancellor welcomes areas of collaboration such as the recently announced UK-US economic deal of 8 May.

The agreement of 8 May is the first step towards a legally binding Economic Prosperity Deal with the US which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries, and improving supply chains.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-09 conversation_536

James McMurdock:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of tax disincentives that prevent pension property owners from letting units at reduced rates on (a) high street regeneration and (b) town centre vacancy rates. \p Torsten Bell: Pension schemes can rent out commercial property at below market value.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

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Steve Darling:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government plans to expand (a) financial support and (b) tax relief for small and medium-sized manufacturing firms. \p James Murray: Small businesses are vital to high streets, local communities, and economic growth. At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government recognised this by:

Despite the difficult fiscal inheritance, we have also been able to protect key business support programmes like Growth Hubs, while allocating £250 million to the British Business Bank's small business programmes in 2025/26.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-09 conversation_538

Claire Hanna:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total value is of contracts awarded to outside providers for the provision of the Making Tax Digital programme. \p James Murray: The MTD Programme’s current external supplier expenditure to date totals approximately £0.4 billion. MTD for VAT is expected to bring in over £4 billion in tax revenue by reducing error in VAT returns, whilst MTD for Income Tax is expected to bring in an additional £1.95 billion additional tax revenue by 2029 to 2030.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-09 conversation_539

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an estimate of the annual amount saved in National Insurance contributions by working people aged over 66. \p James Murray: Estimates of the amount saved by those over State Pension age not being liable to National Insurance contributions (NICs) are published as part of HMRC’s statistics publication ‘Tax Reliefs Statistics’ within the Structural tax reliefs section under the NICs tab:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6749e4196f60e77679723aee/structural_cost_estimates_december_2024.ods

Structural tax reliefs - GOV.UK
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-09 conversation_540

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what intra-month assessment she has made of the performance of the National Wealth Fund since its launch. \p James Murray: Formal assessment of the National Wealth Fund’s (NWF) performance occurs on an annual basis through assessment against their business plan. This will be published in the NWF’s annual report and accounts after the end of their first financial year.

The NWF reports monthly on financial returns, and HM Treasury attends quarterly shareholder meetings to ensure delivery is on target. The NWF also works with Government to agree key performance indicators that translate HMT’s strategic direction into performance targets.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

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Harriet Cross:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many farms in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland will become liable for inheritance tax based on current agricultural land values from April 2026. \p James Murray: I refer the Honourable Member to the PQ referenced UIN 32333 published on 3rd March 2025 at: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-02-21/32333.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-09 conversation_542

Harriet Cross:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to publish a response to the oil and gas price mechanism consultation, published on 5 March 2025. \p James Murray: The consultation was open for 12 weeks and closed on 28 May.

The government is now analysing stakeholder responses and will publish a summary of those responses in due course.