HM Treasury

HM Treasury is the government’s economic and finance ministry, maintaining control over public spending, setting the direction of the UK’s economic policy and working to achieve strong and sustainable economic growth.



Secretary of State

 Portrait

Rachel Reeves
Chancellor of the Exchequer

Shadow Ministers / Spokeperson
Liberal Democrat
Baroness Kramer (LD - Life peer)
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
Daisy Cooper (LD - St Albans)
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Treasury)

Conservative
Mel Stride (Con - Central Devon)
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer

Green Party
Adrian Ramsay (Green - Waveney Valley)
Green Spokesperson (Treasury)

Liberal Democrat
Charlie Maynard (LD - Witney)
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Chief Secretary to the Treasury)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Lord Altrincham (Con - Excepted Hereditary)
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
Richard Fuller (Con - North Bedfordshire)
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con - Life peer)
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
James Wild (Con - North West Norfolk)
Shadow Exchequer Secretary (Treasury)
Mark Garnier (Con - Wyre Forest)
Shadow Economic Secretary (Treasury)
Ministers of State
Lord Livermore (Lab - Life peer)
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
James Murray (LAB - Ealing North)
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Lord Stockwood (Lab - Life peer)
Minister of State (HM Treasury)
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
Torsten Bell (Lab - Swansea West)
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Dan Tomlinson (Lab - Chipping Barnet)
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Lucy Rigby (Lab - Northampton North)
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
There are no upcoming events identified
Debates
Thursday 26th February 2026
Select Committee Inquiry
Tuesday 31st January 2023
Quantitative tightening

This inquiry will examine quantitative tightening, including its impact on the economy and its fiscal costs. It will also investigate …

Written Answers
Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Office for Budget Responsibility
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasting schedule agreed …
Secondary Legislation
Thursday 26th February 2026
Excise Duties (Surcharges or Rebates) (Hydrocarbon Oils etc.) (Temporary Continuation of 2022 Order and Adjustments) Order 2026
This Order, which comes into force on 23rd March 2026, makes temporary adjustments to the liabilities to excise duty (and, …
Bills
Thursday 4th December 2025
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill 2024-26
A Bill to Make provision to amend section 4 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, and section …
Dept. Publications
Tuesday 3rd March 2026
13:08

HM Treasury Commons Appearances

Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs

Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:
  • Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
  • Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
  • Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.

Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue

Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.

Most Recent Commons Appearances by Category
View All HM Treasury Commons Contibutions

Bills currently before Parliament

HM Treasury does not have Bills currently before Parliament


Acts of Parliament created in the 2024 Parliament

Introduced: 25th June 2025

A Bill to Authorise the use of resources for the year ending with 31 March 2026; to authorise both the issue of sums out of the Consolidated Fund and the application of income for that year; and to appropriate the supply authorised for that year by this Act and by the Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act 2025.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 21st July 2025 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 13th November 2024

A Bill to make provision about secondary Class 1 contributions.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 3rd April 2025 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 6th November 2024

A Bill to make provision about finance.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 20th March 2025 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 25th July 2024

A Bill to amend the Crown Estate Act 1961.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 11th March 2025 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 5th March 2025

A Bill to Authorise the use of resources for the years ending with 31 March 2024, 31 March 2025 and 31 March 2026; to authorise the issue of sums out of the Consolidated Fund for those years; and to appropriate the supply authorised by this Act for the years ending with 31 March 2024 and 31 March 2025.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 11th March 2025 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 6th November 2024

A Bill to make provision for loans or other financial assistance to be provided to, or for the benefit of, the government of Ukraine.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 16th January 2025 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 18th July 2024

A Bill to impose duties on the Treasury and the Office for Budget Responsibility in respect of the announcement of fiscally significant measures.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 10th September 2024 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 24th July 2024

A Bill to authorise the use of resources for the year ending with 31 March 2025; to authorise both the issue of sums out of the Consolidated Fund and the application of income for that year; and to appropriate the supply authorised for that year by this Act and by the Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act 2024.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 30th July 2024 and was enacted into law.

HM Treasury - Secondary Legislation

This Order, which comes into force on 23rd March 2026, makes temporary adjustments to the liabilities to excise duty (and, where applicable, the rights to rebate in respect of such duty) in respect of liquid fuels that are chargeable by virtue of the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979 (c. 5) (“the Oil Act”). The adjustments made by this Order are all in the form of a deduction from the amount payable (or an addition to the amount of rebate allowable) of a specified percentage not exceeding 10 per cent.
This Order amends the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/1201) (“the Exemption Order”).
View All HM Treasury Secondary Legislation

Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Trending Petitions
Petition Open
13,506 Signatures
(935 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
2,901 Signatures
(336 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
3,911 Signatures
(154 in the last 7 days)
Petitions with most signatures
Petition Debates Contributed

Raise the income tax personal allowance from £12570 to £20000. We think this would help low earners to get off benefits and allow pensioners a decent income.

154,007
Petition Closed
13 May 2025
closed 9 months, 2 weeks ago

We think that changing inheritance tax relief for agricultural land will devastate farms nationwide, forcing families to sell land and assets just to stay on their property. We urge the government to keep the current exemptions for working farms.

Prevent independent schools from having to pay VAT on fees and incurring business rates as a result of new legislation.

View All HM Treasury Petitions

Departmental Select Committee

Treasury Committee

Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.

At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.

Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.


11 Members of the Treasury Committee
Meg Hillier Portrait
Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Treasury Committee Member since 9th September 2024
Yuan Yang Portrait
Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Treasury Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Siobhain McDonagh Portrait
Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Treasury Committee Member since 21st October 2024
John Glen Portrait
John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Treasury Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Harriett Baldwin Portrait
Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Treasury Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Bobby Dean Portrait
Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Treasury Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Chris Coghlan Portrait
Chris Coghlan (Liberal Democrat - Dorking and Horley)
Treasury Committee Member since 28th October 2024
John Grady Portrait
John Grady (Labour - Glasgow East)
Treasury Committee Member since 9th December 2024
Catherine West Portrait
Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Treasury Committee Member since 27th October 2025
Luke Murphy Portrait
Luke Murphy (Labour - Basingstoke)
Treasury Committee Member since 27th October 2025
Jim Dickson Portrait
Jim Dickson (Labour - Dartford)
Treasury Committee Member since 27th October 2025
Treasury Committee: Upcoming Events
Treasury Committee - Oral evidence
Financial Inclusion Strategy
4 Mar 2026, 2 p.m.
View calendar - Save to Calendar
Treasury Committee: Previous Inquiries
The Financial Conduct Authority’s Regulation of London Capital & Finance plc Budget 2021 Work of National Savings and Investments Lessons from Greensill Capital Appointment of Carolyn Wilkins to the Financial Policy Committee Appointment of Tanya Castell to the Prudential Regulatory Committee The work of the Prudential Regulation Authority Reappointment of Jill May and Julia Black to the Prudential Regulation Committee Committee on COP26: climate change and finance Spring Budget 2020 Appointment of Sarah Breeden to the Financial Policy Committee Appointment of Catherine Mann to the Monetary Policy Committee Reappointment of Jonathan Haskel to the Monetary Policy Committee Bank of England July Financial Stability Report and August Monetary Policy Report Economic Crime Regional Imbalances in the UK economy The Work of the Debt Management Office Appointment of Richard Hughes as Chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility Reappointment of Professor Silvana Tenreyro to the Monetary Policy Committee Reappointment of Andy Haldane to the Monetary Policy Committee Appointment of Jonathan Hall to the Financial Policy Committee Appointment of Nikhil Rathi as Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority Maxwellisation inquiry The work of National Savings and Investments inquiry Retail Banking Market Review inquiry HMRC Executive Chair and Chief Executive Financial stability one-off hearing Appointment of the CEO of Financial Conduct Authority Bank of England Financial Stability Report Hearings 2016-17 UK's future economic relationship with the EU inquiry Appointment of Deputy Governor for Prudential Regulation EU Insurance Regulation inquiry HM Treasury: Report and Accounts 2015 – 2016 Appointment of Michael Saunders to the Monetary Policy Committee Appointment of Anil Kashyap to the Financial Policy Committee Tax credits, fraud and error inquiry The work of the Chancellor of the Exchequer inquiry Bank of England Inflation Report Hearing August 2016 Prudential Regulation Authority inquiry Sir Charles Bean appointment to Budget Responsibility Committee UK tax policy and the tax base inquiry Government Internal Audit Agency inquiry HM Treasury Annual Report and Accounts 2014-15 inquiry Valuation Office Agency inquiry Independent review of report into failure of HBOS inquiry Review of the Office for National Statistics inquiry Appointment of Angela Knight as Chair of the Office for Tax Simplification Appointment of Tim Parkes as Chair of Regulatory Decisions Committee Budget 2016 inquiry Financial Policy Committee re-appointment hearings Bank of England Inflation Report Hearing May 2016 Work of the Court of the Bank of England inquiry Bank of England Inflation Report Hearing February 2017 Appointment of the Deputy Governor for Markets and Banking Budget 2017 inquiry Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster inquiry Capital inquiry Work of the Payment Systems Regulator inquiry Effectiveness and impact of post-2008 UK monetary policy Access to basic retail financial services inquiry Financial Conduct Authority inquiry Bank of England Inflation Report Hearing November 2016 UK Financial Investments annual reports and accounts 2015-16 Housing Policy inquiry Autumn Statement 2016 Household finances: income, saving and debt inquiry Bank of England Inflation Reports inquiry Budget Autumn 2017 inquiry Student Loans inquiry The UK's economic relationship with the European Union inquiry The work of the Bank of England inquiry The work of the Financial Conduct Authority The work of the National Infrastructure Commission inquiry Women in finance inquiry Appointment of Professor Silvana Tenreyro to the Monetary Policy Committee Appointment of Sir Dave Ramsden as Deputy Governor for Markets and Banking, Bank of England The work of the Chancellor of the Exchequer EU Insurance Regulation inquiry HMRC Annual Report and Accounts inquiry Re-appointment of Professor Anil Kashyap to the Financial Policy Committee inquiry Re-appointment of Ben Broadbent as Deputy Governor for Monetary Policy, Bank of England inquiry The effectiveness of gender pay gap reporting inquiry Decarbonisation of the UK Economy and Green Finance inquiry Regional Imbalances in the UK Economy inquiry Work of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme inquiry Spending Round 2019 inquiry Access to Cash Review inquiry Appointment of Kathryn Cearns as Chair of the Office of Tax Simplification inquiry The future of the UK’s financial services inquiry The impact of Business Rates on business inquiry Spring Statement 2019 inquiry The work of the Adjudicator’s Office inquiry The work of the Debt Management Office inquiry Independent Review of the Co-Operative Bank inquiry Work of the Court of the Bank of England inquiry Tax enquiries and resolution of tax disputes inquiry IT failures in the financial services sector inquiry Work of the Banking Standards Board inquiry Independent Review of the Financial Ombudsman Service Appointment of Bradley Fried as Chair of Court, Bank of England Appointment of Professor Jonathan Haskel to the Monetary Policy Committee Andy King, Nominated Member of the Budget Responsibility Committee Re-appointment of Dr Gertjan Vlieghe to the Monetary Policy Committee Maxwellisation inquiry Work of the Valuation Office Agency inquiry Appointment of Julia Black as external member of the Prudential Regulation Committee Appointment of Jill May as an external member of the Prudential Regulation Committee Consumers’ Access to Financial Services inquiry The re-appointment of Sir Jon Cunliffe as Deputy Governor for Financial Stability at the Bank of England inquiry Budget 2018 inquiry The Work of the Treasury inquiry Service Disruption at TSB inquiry Economic Crime inquiry Re-appointment of Alex Brazier to the Financial Policy Committee Re-appointment of Donald Kohn to the Financial Policy Committee Re-appointment of Martin Taylor to the Financial Policy Committee VAT inquiry Spring Statement 2018 Digital Currencies inquiry Appointment of Charles Randell as Chair of the Financial Conduct Authority SME Finance inquiry Appointment of Elisabeth Stheeman to the Bank of England Financial Policy Committee The work of the Prudential Regulation Authority inquiry Bank of England Financial Stability Reports RBS's Global Restructuring Group and its treatment of SMEs inquiry Childcare inquiry The work of the Payment Systems Regulator inquiry HM Treasury Annual Report and Accounts inquiry Women in the City Crown Estate Cheques, the end of? Mortgage Arrears and Access to Mortgage Finance: Follow up Financial Institutions - Too Important To Fail? Budget 2010 Credit Searches European Macro and Micro Prudential Financial Regulation Presbyterian Mutual Society Pre-Budget Report 2009 Budget 2009 Pre-Budget Report 2008 Budget 2008 Pre-Budget Report 2007 Mortgage Arrears and Access to Mortgage Finance Evaluating the Efficiency Programme Administration and expenditure of the Chancellor’s Departments, 2008-09 Banking Crisis Banking Crisis: International Dimensions Banking Reform Run on the Rock Budget June 2010 Competition and choice in the banking sector Office for Budget Responsibility Financial Regulation Spending Review 2010 Administration and effectiveness of HMRC The principles of tax policy Retail Distribution Review European financial regulation Autumn forecast 2010 Accountability of the Bank of England Private Finance Initiative Budget 2011 Future of Cheques Independent Commission on Banking: Interim Report Closing the tax gap: HMRC's record at ensuring tax compliance Budget Measures and Low-income Households Financial Conduct Authority Inherited Estates Counting the population Administration and expenditure of the Chancellor's Departments, 2006-07 Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 Administration and expenditure of the Chancellor's Departments, 2007-08 Independent Commission on Banking: Final Report Global Imbalances Autumn Statement 2011 Budget 2012 Corporate governance and remuneration Money Advice Service LIBOR FSA's report into HBOS Spending Round 2013 Project Verde Macroprudential tools Disposal of Government Stakes in RBS and Lloyds Credit Rating Agencies Autumn Statement 2012 Appointment of Dr Mark Carney as Governor of the Bank of England Budget 2013 Quantitative easing Private Finance 2 Autumn Statement 2013 Bank of England Financial Stability Report hearings: Session 2014-15 Appointment hearings, Session 2013-14 Bank of England Inflation Report Hearings: Session 2013-14 EU Financial Regulation Monetary Policy: Forward Guidance UK Financial Investments Ltd 2013 The economics of HS2 SME Lending Financial Conduct Authority hearings The costing of pre-election policy proposals Performance of the Royal Mint Budget 2014 The economics of currency unions OBR: July 2013 Fiscal Sustainability Report Banks' Lending Practices: Treatment of Businesses in Distress RBS Independent Lending Review Prudential Regulation Authority Hearings: Session 2014-15 HM Treasury Annual Report and Accounts 2013-14 Treatment of Financial Services Consumers Bank of England Inflation Report Hearings: Session 2014-15 HMRC Business Plan 2014-16 Manipulation of Benchmarks Appointment hearings, Session 2014-15 Co-op Governance Review Cost effectiveness of economic and financial sanctions Bank of England Financial Stability Report Hearings 2015-16 Bank of England Inflation Report Hearings 2015-16 Summer Budget 2015 inquiry UK Financial Investments Ltd Annual Report and Accounts 14-15 Review of scope and performance of Office for Budget Responsibility Bank of England Bill inquiry Chair of Office for Budget Responsibility reappointment hearing HMRC Annual Report and Accounts 2014-15 inquiry Prudential Regulation Authority inquiry Comprehensive Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015 inquiry Review of CMA work on Retail Banking Market one-off session Financial Conduct Authority Practitioner Panels one-off session Appointment of Gertjan Vlieghe to the Monetary Policy Committee hearing Reappointment of Ian McCafferty to the Monetary Policy Committee hearing Financial Conduct Authority Economic and financial costs and benefits of UK's EU membership Crown Estate Annual Report and Accounts 2013/14 Bank of England Foreign Exchange Market Investigation HM Revenue and Customs and HSBC Budget 2015 The UK's EU Budget Contributions Press briefing of information in the Financial Conduct Authority’s 2014/15 Business Plan Fair and Effective Markets Review The Payment Systems Regulator Implementing the recommendations on the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards Autumn Statement 2014 Work of the Tax Assurance Commissioner UK Financial Investments Ltd Proposals for further Fiscal and Economic Devolution to Scotland Debt Management Office Annual Report and Accounts 2013-14 UK Customs Policy Infrastructure The cost of living The venture capital market The crypto-asset industry Tax Reliefs September 2022 Fiscal Event The Financial Services and Markets Bill The mortgage market The Edinburgh Reforms Quantitative tightening Retail Banks Appointment of Andrew Bailey as Governor of the Bank of England Work of Government Actuary’s Department Work of the Financial Ombudsman Service Work of HM Treasury Future of Financial Services Spending Review 2020 HMRC Annual Report and Accounts Bank of England Financial Stability Reports The appointment of John Taylor to the Prudential Regulation Committee UK’s economic and trading relationship with the EU The appointment of Antony Jenkins to the Prudential Regulation Committee Access to Cash Review Bank of England Financial Stability Reports Bank of England Inflation Reports Consumers’ Access to Financial Services Decarbonisation of the UK Economy and Green Finance Economic Crime The effectiveness of gender pay gap reporting HMRC Annual Report and Accounts inquiry Tax enquiries and resolution of tax disputes IT failures in the financial services sector Appointment of Dame Colette Bowe to the Financial Policy Committee Re-appointment of Professor Anil Kashyap to the Financial Policy Committee Work of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme Spending Round 2019 The impact of Business Rates on business Work of the Court of the Bank of England Independent Review of the Co-Operative Bank Regional Imbalances in the UK Economy Re-appointment of Michael Saunders to the Monetary Policy Committee Re-appointment of Ben Broadbent as Deputy Governor for Monetary Policy, Bank of England Maxwellisation RBS's Global Restructuring Group and its treatment of SMEs SME Finance Spring Statement 2019 The future of the UK’s financial services HM Treasury Annual Report and Accounts Service Disruption at TSB The UK's economic relationship with the European Union VAT The work of the Bank of England The work of the Chancellor of the Exchequer The work of the Financial Conduct Authority The Work of the Treasury The work of the Prudential Regulation Authority

50 most recent Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department

25th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of people with Plan 2 student loans had an effective marginal deduction rate of at least (a) 51 per cent and (b) 71 per cent as a result of the combined effects of Income Tax, employee National Insurance contributions and Plan 2 student loan repayments in the 2024-25 tax year.

The Plan 2 Student Loan Scheme was introduced in 2012 under the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Coalition Government.

The student finance system is heavily subsidised by government, and lower-earning graduates will always be protected, with any outstanding loan and interest cancelled at the end of the repayment term. It is right that those who are able to repay loans do so.

We will continue to keep the terms of the system under review to ensure the system protects taxpayers and students now and in the future.

James Murray
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
23rd Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the target date is for a new chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility to be in post.

HM Treasury launched a competitive external recruitment campaign for a new Chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) on 20 February. The intention is that a new Chair is in post by the Budget later this year.

While the Chair’s post is vacant, the two current members of the Budget Responsibility Committee, Professor David Miles and Tom Josephs, will lead the OBR.

James Murray
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
23rd Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasting schedule agreed between the OBR and her Department.

HM Treasury published the Budget Information Security Review on 9 February: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/budget-information-security-review.

The review states that "The OBR will not publish the full forecast timetable ahead of the 2026 Spring Statement. The OBR will consider, ahead of Budget 2026, whether the current approach to publishing the timetable continues to contribute to transparency and stability as was intended when it was implemented in October 2022 following a recommendation by the OBR’s then non-executive directors"

James Murray
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
23rd Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of removing the wear and tear allowance on the viability of businesses owned by registered childminders; and what consultation her Department undertook with representatives of the childminding sector before implementing this change.

Childminders make a significant contribution to children’s development, learning, and wellbeing. The Government has eased rules on working from schools and community centres and increased early years funding rates above 2023 average fees. These increases reflect increased costs, and from April 2026, local authorities must pass at least 97 per cent of funding to providers.

Only a small proportion of childminders with qualifying income over £50,000 will be mandated into Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax from April 2026. Childminders moving to MTD for income tax can continue to claim tax relief for household costs, wear and tear of household items and furniture, and food and drink, by deducting actual business costs. This ensures childminders receive tax relief for all of the costs that they incur in relation to their childminding business.

HMRC engaged with stakeholders including Coram PACEY ahead of Budget 2025. The Government will monitor the impact of MTD for income tax on childminders and other home-based childcare providers in the same way as it will for all sole traders moving to MTD for income tax.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
23rd Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of delaying the application of "Making Tax Digital" to childminders.

Childminders make a significant contribution to children’s development, learning, and wellbeing. The Government has eased rules on working from schools and community centres and increased early years funding rates above 2023 average fees. These increases reflect increased costs, and from April 2026, local authorities must pass at least 97 per cent of funding to providers.

Only a small proportion of childminders with qualifying income over £50,000 will be mandated into Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax from April 2026. Childminders moving to MTD for income tax can continue to claim tax relief for household costs, wear and tear of household items and furniture, and food and drink, by deducting actual business costs. This ensures childminders receive tax relief for all of the costs that they incur in relation to their childminding business.

HMRC engaged with stakeholders including Coram PACEY ahead of Budget 2025. The Government will monitor the impact of MTD for income tax on childminders and other home-based childcare providers in the same way as it will for all sole traders moving to MTD for income tax.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
23rd Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to encourage investment in British equities by pension funds.

The government has taken forward an ambitious programme of reforms to boost UK markets, including overhauling the UK listing and prospectus rules to make it easier for firms to raise the capital they need to grow.

In addition, the government has taken steps through the measures outlined in the Pensions Investment Review to improve long-term returns to pension savers and support UK growth. These will directly support investment in UK growth markets, including firms quoted on AIM and Acquis.

Torsten Bell
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
26th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance her Department plans to issue on whether the planned elimination of the threshold-based customs duty relief applies to (a) business to business, (b) business to consumer and (c) private individual parcel movements.

The Government is aware of the EU's plans to remove its relief for low value imports from 1 July 2026.

The facilitations under the Windsor Framework are unaffected by this change, meaning goods can continue to move from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the UK Carrier Scheme and the UK Internal Market Scheme without the need to pay duty. We continue to engage closely with the EU to understand the future arrangements and ensure we can minimise any potential impact on consumers and businesses in Northern Ireland. We will issue appropriate guidance in due course.

As announced at Budget, the Government will remove its low value imports relief by March 2029 at the latest. The Government is consulting on the design of its new arrangements and there is a live consultation open which closes on 6 March.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
26th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 as regards the elimination of the threshold-based customs duty relief, whether the duty to be paid on the movement of parcels from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will be paid by the person (a) sending the parcel in Great Britain and (b) receiving the parcel in Northern Ireland.

The Government is aware of the EU's plans to remove its relief for low value imports from 1 July 2026.

The facilitations under the Windsor Framework are unaffected by this change, meaning goods can continue to move from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the UK Carrier Scheme and the UK Internal Market Scheme without the need to pay duty. We continue to engage closely with the EU to understand the future arrangements and ensure we can minimise any potential impact on consumers and businesses in Northern Ireland. We will issue appropriate guidance in due course.

As announced at Budget, the Government will remove its low value imports relief by March 2029 at the latest. The Government is consulting on the design of its new arrangements and there is a live consultation open which closes on 6 March.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
25th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has conducted modelling since July 2024 on the potential revenue that could be raised from a weight-based system of Vehicle Excise Duty for cars.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is a tax on vehicles used or kept on public roads. Different rates apply to cars, vans, motorcycles and heavy goods vehicles, and the rate for each vehicle is calculated according to a range of factors, such as its date of first registration, weight, or CO2 emissions.

The Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs at fiscal events, and in doing so considers a wide range of factors including complexity, value for money, and administrative burdens for tax payers. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the public finances.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of compensation for HMRC staff due to the late award of the Flexibility Payment.

HMRC has considered the appropriateness and potential merits of compensation and reflected on the factors set out below:

  • The new Flexibility rates required complex payroll system design, build and testing to ensure the 3,000 eligible staff would be paid correctly for their various working patterns.

  • Throughout the relevant period between June 2025 – November 2025, HMRC frequently updated staff and Departmental Trade Union representatives on progress and timings.

  • For clarity, the late award of the Flexibility Payment, refers to the new June 2025 rates. As standard practice, staff had continued to receive the pre-2025 Flexibility Payment rates to ensure they received their regular income.

  • Staff received the new June 2025 Flexibility Payment rates in December 2025, which included backdated arrears. The arrears reflected the difference between the new June 2025 rate, and the pre-June 2025 rate that individuals had continued to receive between June 2025 – November 2025.

HMRC is acutely aware of its additional role as the UK Tax Authority to ensure that public funds are managed with propriety, regularity, and value for money.

On conclusion of the assessment, HMRC does not believe that the delayed payment of the 2025 Flexibility Payment rates, while staff continued to be paid the former rates are sufficiently exceptional, sustained, or significant to require compensation.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
25th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the additional annual cost to motorists of introducing a weight-based Vehicle Excise Duty system for cars weighing over (a) 1,600kg, (b) 2,000kg, and (c) 2,400kg.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is a tax on vehicles used or kept on public roads. Different rates apply to cars, vans, motorcycles and heavy goods vehicles, and the rate for each vehicle is calculated according to a range of factors, such as its date of first registration, weight, or CO2 emissions.

The Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs at fiscal events, and in doing so considers a wide range of factors including complexity, value for money, and administrative burdens for tax payers. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the public finances.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason some hereditaments in the 2026 Draft Rating List do not have an Unique Address Reference Number listed in their entry.

There are no properties listed in the 2026 Draft Rating List download that do not have an Unique Address Reference Number assigned to them.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
|To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 23 December 2025 to Question 98157 on Customs: Digital Technology, how much has been spent on the Single Trade Window programme.

The delivery of the Single trade Window (STW) has been paused and additional funding was not provided in the Spending Review 2025. Therefore, there are currently no HMRC staff assigned to the operational delivery of the STW programme. However, policy development continues with resources from a range of teams including Customs Policy and Strategy and Customer Services and Operations.

The government’s policy development work is focussed on understanding industry needs and designing a service that delivers genuine value to businesses and strengthens the UK’s border system.

The STW programme had £180 million funding allocated at the 2021 Spending Review across three financial years - 2022/23 to 2024/25. The final spend on STW over 22/23, 23/24 and 24/25 was £111.44 million.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 23 December 2025, to Question 98157, on Customs: Digital Technology, what is the status of the Single Trade Window programme, how many HMRC staff now work on it, and whether it has been funded in the Spending Review 2025.

The delivery of the Single trade Window (STW) has been paused and additional funding was not provided in the Spending Review 2025. Therefore, there are currently no HMRC staff assigned to the operational delivery of the STW programme. However, policy development continues with resources from a range of teams including Customs Policy and Strategy and Customer Services and Operations.

The government’s policy development work is focussed on understanding industry needs and designing a service that delivers genuine value to businesses and strengthens the UK’s border system.

The STW programme had £180 million funding allocated at the 2021 Spending Review across three financial years - 2022/23 to 2024/25. The final spend on STW over 22/23, 23/24 and 24/25 was £111.44 million.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) Valuation Office Agency and (b) HMRC staff by FTE are assigned to equality, diversity and inclusion roles.

(a) The Valuation Office Agency has 1 Full‑Time Equivalent staff assigned to equality, diversity and inclusion roles.


(b) HMRC has 23.95 Full‑Time Equivalent staff assigned to equality, diversity and inclusion roles.

Note: This reflects the PQ’s requirement for FTE only.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what each (a) value significant and (b) dwellinghouse code used by the Valuation Office Agency for council tax valuations is in (1) England and (2) Wales; and whether any other codes are used.

For Council Tax valuations, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) uses ‘Value Significant Codes’ to indicate specific features that are likely to affect the value of a property.

Dwelling house codes allow the VOA to classify dwellings by their architectural style, characteristics and physical property type. They are made up of two parts: ‘Group’ and ‘Type’.

The property data the VOA records is set out here: Property attribute data (PAD) - GOV.UK

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has the made of the potential impact of limiting extended business rates support to pubs on other hospitality, retail and leisure businesses.

Other RHL properties will continue to benefit from the wider £4.3 billion support package announced at Budget. This support package means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

The Government is also introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible RHL properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £1 billion per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

More broadly, later this year, the Government will bring forward a new High Streets Strategy to reinvigorate our communities. The Government will work with businesses and representative bodies to pull this Strategy together.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has assessed the potential merits of applying the proposed 15% business rates relief for pubs to the hospitality, retail and leisure sectors.

Other RHL properties will continue to benefit from the wider £4.3 billion support package announced at Budget. This support package means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

The Government is also introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible RHL properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £1 billion per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

More broadly, later this year, the Government will bring forward a new High Streets Strategy to reinvigorate our communities. The Government will work with businesses and representative bodies to pull this Strategy together.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
24th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many child benefit enquiries were opened as a result of data-sharing between HMRC and Student Finance England to detect changes in the young person’s further education status; over what timeframe they were opened; and what the outcomes were.

For 16–19-year-olds included on Child Benefit claims, eligibility is reliant on them being in full-time non-advanced education or approved training.

Data from Student Finance England helps HMRC identify when a young person included in a Child Benefit award may have moved into advanced education (degree level), where the claimant has not notified HMRC. In these circumstances, HMRC will conduct an enquiry with the customer to clarify their young person’s education status.

Based on operational management information, which is subject to change, HMRC conducted enquiries with around 3,000 Child Benefit claimants since late 2023/24, to clarify their child’s education status. Around 2,800 of the enquires resulted in decisions to end the Child Benefit award.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered the potential merits of introducing an income tax rebate and relief for (a) people and (b) households who self-fund their social care costs; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of doing so on (a) people with long-term degenerative conditions such as dementia and (b) their immediate families.

There are a wide range of factors to take into consideration when introducing a tax relief. These include how effective the relief would be at achieving the policy intent, how targeted support would be, whether it adds complexity to the tax system, and the cost.

Tax reliefs are typically of greatest benefit to those paying higher rates of tax. Furthermore, new reliefs also add complexity to the tax system and are likely to result in similar calls for reliefs on other forms of personal expenditure or income, which others may argue are equally deserving.

To support social care authorities to deliver key services, in light of pressures, the Government is making available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in 2025/26, which includes a £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant. This is part of an overall increase to local Government spending power of 6.8% in cash terms.

Moreover, the Government is making available around £4.6billion of additional funding for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector to improve adult social care.

The Government recognises the significant challenges facing the adult social care system and is committed to transforming the sector and supporting the care workforce. Baroness Louise Casey is leading an independent commission to build consensus on reform. The first phase will report in 2026 and will focus on how to make the most of existing resources.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HMRC is taking to investigate salons that may not be paying employer National Insurance contributions, VAT liabilities, or pension obligations through the misclassification of staff as self-employed.

HMRC’s priority is to ensure that everyone pays the tax they are legally required to pay including those in the hair and beauty sector.

HMRC’s approach focuses on preventing non‑compliance from arising in the first place by providing clear guidance and tools. In the case of salon owners and workers, additional support to get their tax obligations right has been provided in collaboration with trade bodies. To help support these customers, HMRC has worked with trade bodies for this sector to develop new educational material and has published guidance on GOV.UK to better explain the employment status and tax implications of different business models. Details can be found at: https://youtu.be/5o3au6PyXG8 and https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-employment-status-if-you-work-in-hair-and-beauty

At the same time, HMRC is actively tackling disguised employment in salons and making it harder for the minority who deliberately misclassify workers to avoid paying employer National Insurance, VAT, or pension contributions. HMRC carries out targeted compliance activity to identify cases where individuals presented as self‑employed are, in reality, working as employees.

HMRC is committed to tackling false self-employment and will investigate evidence that suggests businesses have misclassified individuals for tax purposes. To report a person or business you think is not paying enough tax please click Report tax fraud or avoidance to HMRC - GOV.UK for more information.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Valuation Office Agency’s reclassification of flexible office spaces as single properties on (a) the level of business rates and (b) small businesses; and whether this reclassification will apply in Scotland.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) does not operate in Scotland, so whether the reclassification will apply in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Government.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 105226 on Small Businesses: Business Rates, whether the relevant Transitional Relief percentage cap under Supporting Small Business Relief scheme applies to small firms which due to higher Rateable Values (a) will no longer be eligible for 100% small business rate relief but which retain a tapered amount of small business rate relief, (b) see a reduction in the tapered amount of small business rate relief but still receive some tapered relief and (c) lose all tapered rate relief.

The 2026 supporting small business (SSB) scheme will support businesses who lose some or all of their small business rates relief, rural rates relief, or retail, hospitality and leisure relief in April. SSB will therefore apply in scenarios (a), (b) and (c).

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a fixed 4% stamp duty on the purchase of properties.

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is charged using a rate structure which rises as properties get more valuable. This means that lower-value properties benefit more from the nil rate band, with the first £125,000 of any property not being charged SDLT at all. This ensures that those who can afford to pay more do so.

SDLT continues to be an important source of Government revenue, raising around £14 billion each year to help pay for the essential services the Government provides.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason the Valuation Office Agency's business rates estimator tool was taken down.

The estimator tool for England has been removed ahead of business rates bills being issued by local councils.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
24th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many officials in her Department hold a professional accountancy qualification.

53 officials in the department hold a professional accountancy qualification.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
24th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of Brexit on the economy.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has included assessments of the economic impacts of leaving the EU in its forecasts since 2016. In March 2020, the OBR estimated that GDP will be 4% lower in the long run than it would have been had the UK not withdrawn from the EU, and that imports and exports will eventually both be 15 per cent lower than had the UK stayed in the EU. As of November 2025, OBRs assumptions were unchanged from its previous assessment.

Torsten Bell
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
23rd Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will provide an itemised list of imports of (a) Crayfish and Lobster and (b) Fish products from Tristan Da Cunha.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK.

HMRC releases imports and exports information monthly, as an Accredited Official Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com).

From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria. To use the tables you will need the commodity codes for crayfish, lobster and fish products. These codes are publicly available from the UK Trade Tariff at https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff. Commodity codes for fish and seafood are classified within Chapter 03 of the Tariff.

The data on the website will, within limitations, tell you the total value of imports of these products into the UK from Saint Helena and Tristan Da Cuhna. It includes value and weight (kg) of imports. However, it will not identify individual items as this could identify individual importers. This would be in conflict with Section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (CRCA). CRCA restricts the information that HMRC may disclose publicly on persons making imports and exports.

Unfortunately, it will not be possible to distinguish between imports from Saint Helena and Tristan Da Cunha because for trade statistics purposes the territory of “St Helena” includes imports from Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha and other islands in this area.

If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
23rd Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will provide an itemised list of imports of (a) coffee, (b) fish and (c) fish products from Saint Helena.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK.

HMRC releases imports and exports information monthly, as an Accredited Official Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com).

From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria. To use the tables you will need the commodity codes for coffee, fish, and fish products. These codes are publicly available from the UK Trade Tariff at https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff. Commodity codes for fish and seafood are classified within Chapter 03 of the Tariff and coffee within Chapter 09.

The data on the website will, within limitations, tell you the total value of imports of these products into the UK from Saint Helena and Tristan Da Cuhna. It includes value and weight (kg) of imports. However, it will not identify individual items as this could identify individual importers. This would be in conflict with Section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (CRCA). CRCA restricts the information that HMRC may disclose publicly on persons making imports and exports.

Unfortunately, it will not be possible to distinguish between imports from Saint Helena and Tristan Da Cunha because for trade statistics purposes the territory of “St Helena” includes imports from Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha and other islands in this area.

If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
23rd Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will provide an itemised list of imports of exports of (a) fish and fisheries products, (b) wool and (c) meat products from the Falkland Islands.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK which includes data on imports of fish and fisheries products, wool and meat products from the Falkland Islands. HMRC releases this information monthly, as an Accredited National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com ).

From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria. To use the tables, you will need the commodity codes for fish, fisheries products, wool and meat products. These codes are publicly available from the UK Trade Tariff at https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff . Fish are classified within Chapter 03 of the Tariff, wool is found within Chapter 51 and fisheries and meat products within Chapter 16.

The data on the website will, within limitations, tell you the total value of imports of these products into the UK from the Falklands Islands. It includes value and weight (kg) of imports. However, it will not identify individual items as this could identify individual importers. This would be in conflict with Section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (CRCA). CRCA restricts the information that HMRC may disclose publicly on persons making imports and exports.

If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
23rd Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the written answer of 11 December 2025, 971111, if she will provide an itemised table of import-export to the UK in (a) 2025, (b) 2024, (c) 2023, (d) 2022.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK which includes data on imports and exports of goods from Turks and Caicos Islands.

HMRC releases this information monthly, as an Accredited National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com)

From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria. You can build tables, using the commodity codes published in the UK Trade Tariff at https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff

If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2026 to Question 110416 on Government Departments: Publicity, whether there are plans for (a) HM Treasury or (b) HMRC to remove the HM reference in its public branding.

There are no plans for either HM Treasury or HMRC to remove the “HM” reference from their public branding.

Dan Tomlinson
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 22 November 2024 to Question 14351 on Ministerial Powers, whether any confidential Ministerial directions have been issued since July 2024.

Details of all published Ministerial Directions can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Information on confidential Ministerial Directions is not published. The process for confidential Ministerial Directions is set out in Managing Public Money: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-public-money

James Murray
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made any assessment of the potential merits of introducing a basic income for people working in the arts, similar to the Basic Income for the Arts recently introduced in Ireland.

The government recognises the important role of supporting the arts. This support is primarily delivered through Arts Council England, which invests over £440 million annually, supporting the creation and promotion of new artistic work and talent.

James Murray
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Budget Information Security Review, February 2026, paragraph 4.7, whether the new rules that media contact must be authorised by the communications team will (a) allow or (b) prohibit, the pre-Budget briefing of Budget announcements or speculation by HM Treasury special advisers to the media where that briefing has been authorised by Treasury Ministers, but not authorised by Civil Servants.

As explained by the Budget Information Security Review (BISR), the information security policies at para 4.7 are not new


The approach that applies to briefing is set out in paras 5.19 and 5.20 of the BISR, which notes that they apply to all staff including Special Advisers.

James Murray
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Trade Remedies Authority's press release entitled Anti-dumping measure on ironing boards from China maintained, published on 12 February 2026, what the anti-dumping duties on Chinese ironing boards will be spent on.

Revenue collected from this and other trade remedies measures is not ringfenced and is therefore part of how public services, including schools, police, and the NHS, are funded.

James Murray
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support young people with the cost of living.

At the Autumn Budget in 2025, the government took action to bear down on prices and target everyday expenses, including taking an average of £150 off household energy bills from this April.

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 will strengthen protections for private renters and help tenants challenge unreasonable rent increases.

Alongside this, from this April, the government is increasing the 18-20 National Minimum Wage by 8.5% and the 21+ National Living Wage by 4.1% – equivalent to a £1,500 and £900 annual pay boost respectively for a full-time worker.
James Murray
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of employer costs on recruitment freezes the private sector.

Economic growth is this government’s number one priority.

The OBR’s November forecast, which accounts for the impacts of government policy, judge that employment will increase in every year of the forecast, and will be higher in every year, than in their Spring 2025 forecast.

James Murray
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data the Financial Conduct Authority holds on the number of Covid Business Interruption claims that were reopened or reassessed by insurers following post-Test Case court judgments.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the independent regulator for financial services, sets the conduct standards required of insurance firms. The FCA has made clear its expectation that insurers carefully consider how new legal rulings affect claims they have already decided. It is for the FCA to supervise firms and, if necessary, take action against those that do not comply with its rules. The FCA has robust powers to take action where it deems appropriate.

The FCA’s 23 January letter (available online at: https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/correspondence/fca-response-insurance-open-letter.pdf) stated that the FCA stopped publishing business interruption claims data in March 2023. Questions about data held by the FCA can be addressed directly to the FCA.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the FCA's letter to Stewarts LLPs, dated 23 January 2026, what assessment her Department has made of the level of compliance of insurers with the FCA's expectations to review and revisit Covid Business Interruption claims following post-Test Case court rulings.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the independent regulator for financial services, sets the conduct standards required of insurance firms. The FCA has made clear its expectation that insurers carefully consider how new legal rulings affect claims they have already decided. It is for the FCA to supervise firms and, if necessary, take action against those that do not comply with its rules. The FCA has robust powers to take action where it deems appropriate.

The FCA’s 23 January letter (available online at: https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/correspondence/fca-response-insurance-open-letter.pdf) stated that the FCA stopped publishing business interruption claims data in March 2023. Questions about data held by the FCA can be addressed directly to the FCA.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
23rd Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many directors with responsibility for human resources are employed in her Department and its executive agencies; and how many of those directors hold professional HR qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development or equivalent professional bodies.

Across HMT Treasury and its agencies there are two directors with responsibility for human resources, and they are both Chartered Fellows of CIPD.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
23rd Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, through which (a) companies and (b) registries HM Government holds its crypto-assets.

Neither the Treasury nor central Government hold any cryptoassets. However, the Government recognises the transformative potential of cryptoassets and blockchain technologies to drive economic growth in the UK and increase efficiencies across financial markets.

We are therefore committed to making the UK a world leading destination for cryptoassets and have taken steps to establish a new financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
23rd Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of Link’s possible responsibility for delivering access to banking services and access to cash services.

Banking is changing, with many customers benefiting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, the Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking services to communities and is committed to supporting sufficient access for customers across the country.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. LINK, the independent industry coordinating body responsible for conducting access to cash assessments, will then assess a community’s access to cash needs, and will recommend appropriate solutions, including banking hubs, where it considers a community requires additional cash services.

LINK’s assessment criteria are based on rules set by the FCA. The FCA’s rules require LINK to consider a range of factors in their assessments. This includes travel times to nearby cash facilities and local population demographics, including the levels of vulnerability and the number of elderly people within the community.

Any decisions on changes to LINK’s independent assessment criteria are a matter for LINK, the financial services sector, and for the FCA, which oversees the access to cash regime. Neither the FCA or LINK have responsibility for access to banking or in-person services.

To support communities across the UK, the financial services industry is committed to rolling out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. Over 270 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 210 are already open.

Banking hubs provide access to everyday counter services through Post Office staff, including cash withdrawals and deposits, balance enquiries and bill payments. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out other banking services.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of staff in her Department have (a) office-based, (b) hybrid and (c) remote-working contracts.

HM Treasury is an office‑based organisation. Staff are employed on office‑based contracts and may work remotely under the Department’s hybrid working policy, which expects at least 60% office attendance. Hybrid working is an informal arrangement and not contractual.

The Department does not generally offer home‑based contracts; full‑time homeworking is only agreed on a temporary basis, for example as a workplace adjustment.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has a policy on targeting levels of house price inflation.

The government does not set a target for house price inflation.

The UK has a 2% inflation target, measured by the 12 month increase in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). CPI is a broad measure of consumer prices based on a representative basket of goods and services. The independent Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England is responsible for setting monetary policy to meet this target in line with international best practice.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
25th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2026 to Questions 113526 and 113527, what stage she is at in the appointment process for the Digital Markets Champion.

I refer the member to the answer given to 113526 and 113527 on the 25 February 2026.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
23rd Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 79 of the HM Budget 2025 Policy Costings, published in November 2025, for what reason the Exchequer Impact of the Cash ISA changes fluctuate from (a) £5 million in 2028-29 to (b) £35 million in 2029-30 to (c) £15 million in 2030-31.

The figures set out on page 79 of the Budget 2025 Policy Costings document reflect the estimated Exchequer impact from a combination of savings tax changes.

The savings measures covered are:

  1. Making the Help to Save scheme permanent from April 2027,
  2. Maintaining the total ISA annual subscription limit at £20,000 with cash limit reduced to £12,000 for under-65s from April 2027,
  3. Delaying the ISA digitalisation until April 2028, and
  4. Maintaining the ISA subscription limits until 2030/31.

The profile of the Exchequer impacts reflects the different commencement dates of these changes, as well as the timing of receipts collected through Self-Assessment.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
23rd Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the potential impact of the distribution of ATMs which charge customers to withdraw money on people in (a) North East Somerset and Hanham and (b) England.

The Government 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.

Under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has responsibility and powers to protect access to cash, including free facilities for personal current account holders. The FCA’s most recent data shows that 99.2% of the urban population live within 1 miles of a free to use cash access point offering withdrawals. In rural areas, 98.5% of people live within 3 miles of a free to use cash access point offering withdrawals.

LINK, the UK’s not‑for‑profit, independently governed ATM operator, publish data on the number of ATMs across each parliamentary constituency. This includes a breakdown of the number of pay-to-use ATMs operated by the LINK network. LINK data estimates that in 2025, there were 42,403 ATMs in the UK, including 8,693 pay-to-use ATMs. In the constituency of North-East Somerset and Hanham, LINK data identifies that there are 4 pay-to-use ATMs out of 28 ATMs overall. This data can be found at https://www.link.co.uk/data-research/the-atm-network

Customers can also access everyday cash and banking services at Post Office branches. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers of participating banks are able to withdraw and deposit cash, for personal customers this service is free. Customers are also able to check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at over 10,000 Post Office branches across the UK.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data (a) her department and (b) NISTA holds on the number of PFI contracts which are due to expire in each of the next three years; and what guidance has been given to central government on PFI expiry and next steps.

HM Treasury publishes aggregate information on PFI and PF2 projects annually, including data on contract expiry dates.

NISTA has published guidance for contracting authorities on managing PFI contract expiry and next steps.

James Murray
Chief Secretary to the Treasury