theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of recognising Artificial Intelligence tools as eligible assistive software under the Access to Work scheme. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Access to Work has not been substantially changed since its introduction in 1994. There is a strong case for updating the role it plays in making work accessible for disabled people.

In the Pathways to Work Green Paper, we consulted on the future of the Access to Work scheme. We also considered the role of employers in creating accessible and inclusive workplaces as well as how we can shape the market for aids, appliances and assistive technology, to reduce their cost and spread their adoption.

We will be reviewing all aspects of the Scheme now that the consultation has closed. We are continuing to work closely with stakeholders, and in particular disabled people and their representatives, on all aspects of our proposals.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that more customers can access pension pot consolidation more quickly. \p Torsten Bell: The Government is committed to the consolidation of small workplace pension pots, when in the best interests of savers. The Pension Schemes Bill 2025 was introduced into Parliament on the 5 June. This includes measures to address the growing issue of deferred small pots, which normally arises when individuals change jobs and accumulate multiple pots over their working lives.

This will ensure workplace pension pots, initially worth £1,000 or less are automatically consolidated, unless members choose to opt-out. This will address the 13m stock of deferred small pots, and any future small pots that are created. As announced in our recent publication, ‘Workplace pensions: a Roadmap’ The report can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/workplace-pensions-a-roadmap/workplace-pensions-a-roadmap#roadmap.

However, savers do not need to wait for legislation to benefit from consolidation. Currently, individuals can transfer and consolidate their pension pots themselves through a member-initiated transfer.

This will also soon be aided by the introduction of pensions dashboards. Once launched, pensions dashboards will allow people to find and view their pensions, including State Pension, securely and in one place online. This will help people to reconnect with each of their pension pots and better plan for retirement.
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Mark Garnier:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of extending pensions automatic enrolment to jobholders under the age of 22 on those people. \p Torsten Bell: We are committed to ensuring people achieve financial security in later life.

That is why we prioritised the Pensions Investment Review and reforms in the Pension Schemes Bill – so that we can be confident savers automatically enrolled into workplace pension schemes can rightly enjoy the best possible outcomes.

Our assessment of the pensions system is that the job is only half finished. In August we published a detailed report with our analysis, including on Automatic Enrolment and those groups not benefitting from pensions or undersaving. Furthermore, we have revived the Pensions Commission to address these very matters of adequacy, fairness and sustainability, especially for lower earners.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department last estimated the number of women born in the 1950s affected by State Pension age changes in West Dorset constituency. \p Torsten Bell: All women born since 6 April 1950 have been affected by changes to State Pension age. No specific estimate has been made for the number of women born in the 1950s in West Dorset constituency. However, estimates can be made with 2021 census data.

ONS population estimates indicate that in 2021 there were approximately 8,500 females born in the 1950s resident in the West Dorset constituency in that year.
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Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of plans to consolidate smaller DWP offices into larger sites on staff; and what steps she is taking to help ensure that staff are adequately protected. \p Andrew Western: Where customers do not need to be seen face-to-face for the delivery of services, the Department’s location strategy is to move away from a higher number of smaller sites to fewer, larger sites that can accommodate over 300 colleagues. By investing in the sites that are retained, this will help create a more sustainable, cost-effective estate with improved operational resilience and efficiency.

The Department carefully considers the impact on staff when making these decisions. It completes an Equality Assessment to inform decision making. Any colleague affected by office closures receives support through a one-to-one discussion with their line manager to understand the personal impact and address concerns. DWP's priority is to retain, retrain and redeploy as many colleagues as possible, either within the Department, or with other government departments locally.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support is available for women born in the 1950s impacted by State Pension age changes in West Dorset constituency. \p Torsten Bell: We are absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement.

The State Pension is the foundation of state support for older people. In 2025-26 we will spend £174.9 billion on benefits for pensioners in Great Britain, 5.8% of GDP. This includes spending on the State Pension which is forecast to be £145.6 billion in 2025-26

Through our commitment to protect the Triple Lock both the basic and new State Pensions increased by 4.1% in April, benefitting over 12 million pensioners by up to £470. That’s up to £275 more than if pensions had been uprated by inflation.

From the end of this Parliament, spending on the State Pension as a result of our commitment to protect the Triple Lock is forecast to be around £31 billion more a year, compared with 2024/25. This will see pensioners’ yearly incomes rising by up to £1,900.

Pension Credit provides vital financial support for pensioners, with 66% of those receiving support being women. It tops up state and private pensions to a guaranteed weekly minimum - the Standard Minimum Guarantee. This also increased by 4.1% in April and is now £227.10 pw for a single person and £346.60 pw for couples. Additional amounts can be paid in respect of disability, caring responsibilities and certain housing costs.

The Government wants all pensioners to get the support to which they are rightly entitled. That is why we ran the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign, which included adverts on television, radio, social media, on YouTube, on advertising screens in post offices and GP surgeries as well as in the press. The next stage of the campaign starts this month and will run through to the end of the financial year.

The Government offers further direct financial help to low-income pensioners through the Warm Home Discount, providing eligible households across Great Britain with £150 off their winter energy bill. We have also extended the Household Support Fund for an additional year until 31 March 2026.

For those people who are unable to work but who are not yet eligible for pensioner benefits because of their age, financial support is available through the welfare system.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the treatment of SSIP funds as savings rather than pensions by local authorities. \p Torsten Bell: DWP does not take into account the value of a pension fund (such as a SIPP) that someone and/or their employer has paid into, this protects investments for retirement. Monies drawn from a pension fund, either as a lump-sum, a pension/annuity or both will be taken into account in means-tested benefits in the usual way. This includes where someone reaches the age for state pension credit and has chosen to continue to defer their private/occupational or state pension, in which case this may be taken into account as notional income.

How SIPPs are treated by local authorities is a matter for them and MHCLG.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what impact the Pension Commission will have for residents in (a) Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard constituency and (b) Bedfordshire. \p Torsten Bell: This government is committed to enabling tomorrow’s pensioners to have security in retirement. The Pensions Investment Review and the Pension Schemes Bill currently going through Parliament both focus on ensuring the pension pots of savers in Bedfordshire and throughout the UK are working as hard as they can – for average earners saving in a DC workplace pension over their career this could mean up to £29,000 more in retirement pots. The Pensions Commission has been revived to consider what is required in the long term to deliver financial security in retirement through a pensions framework that is stronger, fairer and more sustainable for people up and down the country.
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Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people under 16 are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance where the primary medical condition is a neurodevelopmental disorder; and how many people in that category subsequently (a) make claims for and (b) are awarded PIP following reassessment. \p Sir Stephen Timms: As of February 2025, 703,120 claimants with a neurodevelopmental condition are receiving Disability Living Allowance for children (DLAc), in England and Wales.

It is not possible to determine how many of these claimants will go on to claim, and receive, PIP until they reach age 16. However, from April to October 2024, there were 33,760 DLAc claimants reaching age 16 with a neurodevelopmental condition as their primary condition. Of these claimants, 31,370 applied to PIP, and 26,190 were awarded PIP.

Points to note:

- Figures are for England and Wales only.

- Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

- Number of claims that are awarded PIP is calculated based on the latest PIP reassessment outcome, after taking account of mandatory reconsiderations and appeals. The most recent data used is for October 2024 to allow sufficient time for the outcome of appeals to be known, although there may be some still outstanding.

- Neurodevelopmental disorder includes the following medical conditions:

o Learning Disability

o Speech and Language Disorders

o Autism

o Asperger’s Syndrome

o Dyspraxia

o Hyperkinetic disorder

o ADHD/ADD

o Psychiatric disorders of childhood – other / type not known. This category could also contain conditions that do not fall under neurodevelopmental disorder.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that advice services can meet increased demand. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions provides a range of support to customers claiming Universal Credit. This includes a dedicated Universal Credit helpline, information on gov.uk, face to face support in Jobcentres as well as support from the Help to Claim service.

Help to Claim is delivered independently by Citizens Advice, in partnership with Citizens Advice Scotland, to provide practical tailored support to enable individuals to make a new claim to Universal Credit or move from legacy benefits. Help to Claim is available to anyone making a claim to Universal Credit and is focussed on providing help that meets an individual’s needs at any time until the first full payment of Universal Credit is made.

The Department for Work and Pensions forecasts demand as part of its Grant Funding Agreement with Citizens Advice to ensure they have the resources required to deliver Help to Claim. Since April 2019, Help to Claim has supported over 1.1 million people, with 9 in 10 people rating their overall experience as good or very good and would recommend it to friends and family.
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Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2025 to Question 21111 on Local Housing Allowance, what the overall increase in rental prices was in the period under consideration. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The rental data referenced in the previous question was a combination of the ONS Price Index of Private Rents, which was an increase of 8.4% as of September 2024, as well as rental data supplied by the Valuation Office Agency, Rent Officers Scotland, and Rent Officers Wales, which showed that the 30th percentile had on average increased by 8.6%, (comparing rental data 12 months to September 2023 with 12 months to September 2024).

Latest ONS Price Index of Private Rents official statistic: Private rent and house prices, UK - Office for National Statistics

Valuation Office Agency list of rents publication, which contains all rental market data collected for LHA in England: Local Housing Allowance List of Rents - GOV.UK
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Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2025 to Question 21111 on Local Housing Allowance, if she will publish the analysis of the range of factors considered in the decision not to increase local housing allowance rates. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The impacts referenced in the previous answer were determined using a wide variety of metrics, data and analysis. These included:

At Autumn Budget the Government prioritised a downpayment on poverty, by introducing a Fair Payment Rate for Universal Credit (UC) customers with deductions to retain more of their benefit award. We also invested £1bn in extending the Household Support Fund and maintaining Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) at current levels (including Barnett impacts) for 2025/26. Additionally, from 1 April 2026, we are introducing a new Crisis and Resilience Fund, incorporating Discretionary Housing Payments and funding to ensure the poorest children do not go hungry outside of term time. This will provide £842 million per year (£1 billion including Barnett consequential) to reform how crisis support is delivered locally.

This support can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs.

DWP forecast data is regularly published and can be found in our benefit expenditure tables: Benefit expenditure and caseload tables - GOV.UK

The Rent Officers Order 2025 Explanatory Memorandum includes considerations for reviewing LHA rates for 2025/26: The Rent Officers (Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Functions) (Modification) Order 2025

In addition, the department regularly publishes Universal Credit and Housing Benefit data via Official Statistics. The data can be obtained via Stat-Xplore:

Stat-Xplore - Log in
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure adequate (a) training and (b) guidance for PIP assessors on (i) arthritis and (ii) other chronic, fluctuating health conditions. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment evaluates how an individual’s condition affects their ability to live independently, rather than focusing solely on the nature or severity of their condition. The assessment considers whether a person can carry out specific activities safely, reliably, repeatedly, and within a reasonable time frame. The process does not assess individuals based on their ‘best days’; instead, it considers the overall impact of a condition over time, specifically considering functional limitations that occur on more than 50% of days within a given period.

All health professionals (HPs) are fully qualified in their health discipline and have passed strict recruitment and experience criteria. They are also required to be registered with the appropriate regulatory body. The department authorises HPs to conduct assessments only after suppliers demonstrate that the HP has successfully completed a department approved training and appraisal programme. This process confirms that HPs possess a sound understanding of the clinical aspects and likely functional effects of a broad range of health conditions.

As of September 2024, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) took over responsibility for the Core Training and Guidance Material (CTGM) used within the Health Assessment Advisory Service (HAAS). This material is provided by DWP to HAAS assessment suppliers, who are required to incorporate all relevant CTGM content related to specific conditions and assessment policies into their final training products.

DWP has provided suppliers with specific CTGM on rheumatoid arthritis, alongside a broader suite of training materials covering a range of long-term, fluctuating health conditions. These contain clinical and functional information relevant to the condition and is quality assured to ensure its accuracy from both a clinical and policy perspective.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many successful mandatory reconsiderations there have been since 2020, broken down by (a) year, (b) value, and (c) benefit type. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Information for Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance can be found on Stat Xplore.

Successful Personal Independence Payment (PIP) mandatory reconsiderations (MRs) can be found on the ‘PIP MR Clearances’ dataset. Use the ‘Geography’ and ‘National – Regional – LA – OAs’ filter to select ‘DWP policy ownership’. The ‘MR Decision’ filter can be used to select ‘New Decision – Award Changed’ and the ‘Month’ filter can be used to select the years you are interested in.

For Employment Support Allowance Work Capability Assessment (ESA WCA) successful MRs, use the ‘Mandatory Reconsiderations – Clearances’ dataset. Use the ‘Geography’ and ‘National – Regional – LA – Ward’ filter to select ‘Great Britain’ and then ‘England’ and ‘Wales’. The ‘Decision’ filter can be used to select ‘Revised – allowed’ and the ‘Date of Decision’ filter can be used to select the time period needed.

You can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest user and, if needed, you can access guidance on how to extract the information required.

Universal Credit (UC) MRs can be found in Table 1 below.

Table 1: volume of successful UC MRs by financial year

2019_20

2020_21

2021_22

2022_23

2023_24

2024_25

Volume of successful MRs

50,000

47,000

61,000

100,000

107,000

110,000

Notes:

Information on other benefit MRs as well as their value is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
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Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to incentivise single parents to re-enter the workforce who are receiving Universal Credit childcare costs. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Government is committed to reducing child poverty. Evidence suggests that if parents work, including second earners and lone parents, this substantially reduces the risk of child poverty; and that growing up in poverty is a strong predictor of children’s education and future earnings.

Parents claiming Universal Credit have support from Work Coaches, who provide individual, tailored help to all customers across the country. This includes supporting the development of skills needed to look for and obtain sustained employment and advice to parents on childcare support. There is also funding available through the Flexible Support Fund to remove immediate barriers to employment, including support for upfront childcare costs, travel costs, work wear, tools and equipment.

The number of hours a parent who has childcare responsibilities is expected to work or search for work can be reduced to allow the parent to combine work and care.

We are also considering how we can improve our support to help parents into work as part of our Child Poverty Strategy.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what purposes their Department has used artificial intelligence in the last year. \p Andrew Western: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is included in the Government’s plan to support economic growth, change public service delivery, and influence living standards for people across the country.

In the last year the Department for Work and Pensions have utilised AI to support them in delivering better outcomes for customers. This includes the use of AI to increase colleague productivity, improve back-office operations and processes, and to tackle fraud and error.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure compliance with benefit eligibility rules by foreign nationals. \p Andrew Western: The Department applies strict compliance and benefit eligibility checks to all claimants regardless of their nationality. In addition to verifying a claimant’s identity, DWP checks that claimants are habitually resident here before they can receive public funds benefits including Universal Credit. DWP also applies strict past presence requirements to ensure that claimants of disability and carer benefits have a substantial and recent connection to this country before they can claim. In addition, DWP always checks a person’s immigration status before paying them benefits if they are a foreign national. We verify this information with the Home Office, including through automatic system-to-system checks.

This Government takes all cases of fraud seriously and has introduced the biggest package of measures in recent history to reduce welfare fraud, error and debt, which includes new legislation, the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill. This contains new powers to modernise our defences and is currently progressing through Parliament.
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James Naish:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average time taken was for an IHT30 certificate to be issued in the latest period for which data is available; and how many cases were waiting for an IHT30 certificate to be issued on 1 August 2025. \p Dan Tomlinson: HMRC do not measure the average time taken for an IHT30 certificate to be issued. HMRC have a service standard to process 80% of IHT30 certificates within 15 working days.

HMRC have prioritised the processing of IHT400 forms to minimise any delays for customers applying for probate through HM Courts & Tribunals Service. Customers do not need an IHT30 certificate to distribute assets to beneficiaries.

HMRC have trained and deployed additional staff to work on inheritance tax, and are investing £52m to digitalise the Inheritance Tax service from 2027-28 to provide a modern, easy-to-use system, making returns and paying tax simpler and quicker.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employees paid National Insurance in June 2025. \p Dan Tomlinson: The ONS and HMRC publish monthly data on Earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information (PAYE RTI): Earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information, UK - Office for National Statistics

The table below sets out the number of Employees from March 2025 to June 2025 (inclusive) who have made Class 1 Employee National Insurance Contributions (NICs) in that month.

March 2025

April 2025

May 2025

June 2025

Number of Employees with Class 1 Employee NICs

24,512,000

24,465,000

24,522,000

24,658,000

Notes:
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Siân Berry:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2025 to Question 68002 on Business Rates: Tax Allowances, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the communication with affected businesses of the change to reliefs in April 2025; and whether he has held discussions with stakeholders on that communication and the extent to which it allowed businesses to plan for the changes. \p Dan Tomlinson: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief has been extended year-by-year by previous Governments since the pandemic, creating uncertainty for businesses and an unsustainable fiscal pressure for Government.

Without any Government intervention, RHL relief would have ended entirely in April 2025, creating a cliff-edge for businesses. Instead, the Government extended the relief at 40 per cent in 2025-26, up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, ahead of our intended introduction of permanently lower rates for RHL properties from 2026-27.

As is typical with fiscal announcements, the Government announced this decision at Autumn Budget 2024, ahead of it coming into force in April 2025. On 19 November 2024, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) communicated the Budget measures to Local Authorities via a Business Rates Information Letter. On 16 January 2025, MHCLG published final scheme guidance to help local authorities implement the relief.

The Government also carried out extensive engagement with stakeholders following Autumn Budget 2024 on business rates.
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Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to review Business Rates. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government is committed to creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

At Autumn Budget 2024, we took the first step with the announcement of permanently lower tax rates for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties that make up the backbone of our high streets, from 2026-27.

The Budget announcements reflected the Government’s first steps to support the high street. We wanted to go further to modernise the system, and so, we published a Discussion Paper, setting out priority areas for reform and inviting industry to co-design a fairer system.

The Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Autumn Budget 2025.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the tax-free childcare system on levels of administration for early years providers. \p James Murray: HMRC continually assesses the administrative impact of Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) on childcare providers, including those focused on early years provision, via customer feedback and internal system reviews. For many providers, once they have registered for TFC they will receive TFC payments made by parents directly into their bank account, just as they would when receiving non-TFC payments.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Spring Statement 2025: Policy Costings, updated on 2 April 2025, for what reason that document uses both (a) RPI and (b) CPI inflation. \p James Murray: The Government confirms tax rates and thresholds annually. In some cases, to make sure that they reflect the current economy, they are uprated to account for inflation. The policy paper entitled Spring Statement 2025: Policy Costings sets out the indexation assumed in the public finances forecast baseline, which underpin the costings set out in the document.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS), regulated by the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA), produces a range of inflation statistics. The most widely used estimates of inflation, both by Government and the private sector, are the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) and the Retail Prices Index (RPI)

The Government agrees with UKSA that RPI is a flawed measure of inflation, which at times overstates and at times understates changes in prices. RPI’s shortcomings are well-documented. In 2013, as a result of flaws in the way it is measured, RPI lost its status as a National Statistic. Since 2010 the Government has been reducing its use of RPI and has committed to not introduce any new uses of RPI.
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Graham Leadbitter:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the number of homeowners whose property is above the free home care threshold but below the £1 million Inheritance Tax Allowance; and whether her Department plans to take steps to change the incentive for these homeowners to leave their property empty. \p James Murray: Adult social care is a devolved policy area. In England, whether a person qualifies for any financial support towards their care costs depends on the results of a financial assessment. Where an individual is receiving care in a setting that is not a care home, such as where they receive care at home, the value of their main or only home must be disregarded during this financial assessment.
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to FOI2024/01172, if HMRC will now extend 85% discounts to individual taxpayers affected by the Loan Charge. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government 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 will respond by Autumn Budget 2025.

During Oral Questions on 1 July 2025, the honourable member for Mid Buckinghamshire referred to comments made by an external stakeholder that were shared under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. HMRC Officials do not recognise the allegation that HMRC agreed deals with large employers allowing them to settle disguised remuneration liabilities for less than was legally due.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans she has to replace fuel duty. \p Dan Tomlinson: Fuel duty is projected to raise £24.4bn in 2025/26 and will continue to remain in place. At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced continued support for people and businesses by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut and cancelling the planned increase in line with inflation for 2025/26.
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Graham Leadbitter:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of inheritance tax rules on housing supply. \p Dan Tomlinson: The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) takes inheritance tax into account in its assessments of the housing market. Information can be found at https://obr.uk/forecasts-in-depth/the-economy-forecast/housing-market/.

The estates of all individuals benefit from a £325,000 nil-rate band for inheritance tax. The residence nil-rate band is a further £175,000 for those passing on a qualifying residence on death to their direct descendants, such as children or grandchildren, and there are rules in place to accommodate those wishing to downsize. Information is available at www.gov.uk/guidance/how-downsizing-selling-or-gifting-a-home-affects-the-additional-inheritance-tax-threshold.

The residence nil-rate band was introduced under the previous Government. The OBR’s assessment of its expected impact on the housing market was set out in its Economic and Fiscal Outlook published on 8 July 2015. This is available at https://obr.uk/efo/economic-fiscal-outlook-july-2015/.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_120

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department produced an impact assessment prior to the Supreme Court judgment in DELTA Merseyside Ltd v Uber Britannia Ltd on the application of VAT to private hire vehicle journeys. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government continues to take this complex issue very seriously and recognises businesses’ need for certainty.   The Government is carefully considering the wide range of views shared through last year's consultation on the VAT Treatment of Private Hire Vehicles and will publish a detailed response soon.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_121

Ayoub Khan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential cumulative impact of (a) proposed changes to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy thresholds, (b) the extended producer responsibility scheme and (c) the Deposit Return Scheme on the financial sustainability of the soft drink industry. \p Dan Tomlinson: Implementing the Collection and Packaging Reforms is a critical step in the transition to a circular economy that delivers sustainable growth and produces less waste, rubbish and litter.

The Government believes it is right that the costs of dealing with household packaging waste are moved away from taxpayers and onto the businesses that place packaging on the market.

The extended producer responsibility (pEPR) scheme is designed to incentivise businesses to redesign and use more sustainable packaging materials, resulting in lower pEPR fees.

An assessment of impacts – including economic impacts for businesses – has been conducted in relation to (i) the proposed changes to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, (ii) the extended producer responsibility scheme and (iii) the Deposit Return Scheme. These impact assessments are available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/strengthening-the-soft-drinks-industry-levy

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/1332/impacts

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2024/167/pdfs/ukia_20240167_en.pdf

If the Government decides to make changes to the Soft Drinks Industry levy, it will also publish a tax information and impact note (TIIN) to give account of the confirmed policy’s impacts.

Following the 'Strengthening the Soft Drinks Industry Levy' consultation, the government expects to confirm the final policy at Autumn Budget 2025'.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_122

Dan Carden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has conducted a comparative assessment of how much physical retailers will pay as a result of business rates changes with online-only retailers in 2026. \p Dan Tomlinson: We are creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with ratable values (RVs) below £500,000, including those on the high street, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that these properties 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 in 2026-27 - those with RVs of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but cover the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants.

Ahead of these changes being made, the Government recognises that businesses will need support in 2025-26. As such, we prevented RHL 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. We have also frozen the small business multiplier, taken together with small business rates relief, this will protect over a million properties from inflationary bill increases.

The Government will confirm the rates for any new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context.

When the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_123

Suella Braverman:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has plans to (a) simplify and (b) expand access to (i) business rates relief and (ii) tax support schemes for small hospitality venues in (A) coastal and (B) rural communities. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government is committed to creating a fairer business rates system that supports small businesses and protects the high street.  Over a third of properties (more than 700,000) already pay no business rates as they receive 100 per cent Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR), with an additional c.60,000 benefiting from reduced bills as this relief tapers.  To deliver our manifesto pledge to create a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century, from 2026-27, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000.

The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context.  Ahead of these changes being made, the Government recognises that businesses will need support in 2025-26. As such, we have prevented the current RHL 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. We have also frozen the small business multiplier, protecting over a million properties from inflationary bill increases.

Furthermore, Rural Rate Relief aims to ensure that key amenities are available, and community assets protected in rural areas. It provides 100% rate relief for properties that are based in eligible rural areas with populations below 3,000.

As highlighted in the Transforming Business Rates Discussion Paper published at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government was interested in hearing stakeholders’ views on the extent to which the current system acts as a barrier to investment and specifically, whether the current eligibility criteria for SBRR impacts businesses' incentives to invest and expand into a second property.  The Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Autumn Budget 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_124

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what meetings the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has had with business organisations arranged through the (a) Labour Infrastructure Forum and (b) Bradshaw Advisory since July 2024. \p Dan Tomlinson: Departments publish a quarterly register detailing Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations. These returns will be made available on GOV.UK in line with the usual publication schedule.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_125

Gareth Davies:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the consultation on Reform of Landfill Tax, whether she has considered the potential long-term inflationary impact of the proposed Landfill Tax changes on public infrastructure procurement. \p Dan Tomlinson: The government consulted on proposals for reform of landfill tax on 28 April following a call for evidence in 2021. The consultation closed on 28 July, and the government is currently considering responses.

As part of the consultation on Reform of Landfill Tax, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the construction sector. Reducing the amount of waste material sent to landfill remains a key environmental objective, supporting the transition to a circular economy. The government recently published a 10-year infrastructure strategy that set out the government’s long-term plan for economic, housing and social infrastructure to drive growth.

We will continue to work across government and engage with stakeholders, including the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, to assess the potential impacts on infrastructure projects. This approach will ensure that infrastructure delivery is supported while advancing circular economy objectives.

The government will respond to the consultation in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_126

Gareth Davies:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the consultation on Reform of Landfill Tax, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the potential impact of the proposed changes to Landfill Tax on the cost of housing. \p Dan Tomlinson: The government consulted on proposals for reform of landfill tax on 28 April following a call for evidence in 2021. The consultation closed on 28 July, and the government is currently considering responses.

The government is committed to delivering 1.5 million homes over 5 years as set out in the Plan for Change. The government is considering the potential impacts of proposed Landfill Tax reforms on housing delivery and government targets. We are working with the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government to assess these impacts and support the delivery of 1.5 million homes.

The government will respond to the consultation in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_127

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help increase the number of people employed by the Government Social Research Profession in Northern Ireland. \p Lucy Rigby: All Civil Servants employed as Government Social Researchers are directly employed by Departments, Devolved Administrations, and other UK Civil Service organisations. They are not centrally managed or centrally employed by HM Treasury.

HM Treasury has no specific plans to increase the number of Government Social Researchers employed by HM Treasury and located in Northern Ireland.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_128

Dave Doogan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the (a) Bank of England and (b) Financial Conduct Authority have a role in the (i) authorisation and (ii) regulation of bond sales (A) by and (B) on behalf of the Development Company for Israel in the UK. \p Lucy Rigby: The government does not comment on individual firms.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the independent non-governmental body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry. The FCA is responsible for authorising and supervising regulated firms, in line with their objectives, and for taking enforcement action where necessary.

This includes responsibility for the UK Prospectus Regime which sets out requirements firms must follow for the public issuance or admission of securities – including debt securities – on UK regulated markets.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_129

Dan Carden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will conduct an impact assessment on increasing financial pressures in the retail sector in (a) the UK and (b) Liverpool Walton constituency. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government is committed to supporting the retail sector across the UK and we are acutely aware of the challenges faced by businesses. We frequently engage with the retail sector to understand their concerns.

We are determined to support retail businesses to succeed against a difficult economic backdrop. We will introduce a permanently lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000 from 2026-27. Ahead of the new multipliers being introduced, we extended the RHL relief for 2025-26 at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business and froze the small business multiplier.

In addition, we have:

We will continue to work with the retail sector to help drive economic growth, regenerate our high streets, and support vibrant and healthy communities.