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.
This inquiry will examine quantitative tightening, including its impact on the economy and its fiscal costs. It will also investigate …
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: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.
HM Treasury does not have Bills currently before Parliament
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.
A Bill to make provision about secondary Class 1 contributions.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 3rd April 2025 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision about finance.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 20th March 2025 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to amend the Crown Estate Act 1961.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 11th March 2025 and was enacted into law.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Raise the income tax personal allowance from £12,570 to £20,000
Gov Responded - 20 Feb 2025 Debated on - 12 May 2025Raise 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.
Don't change inheritance tax relief for working farms
Gov Responded - 5 Dec 2024 Debated on - 10 Feb 2025We 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.
Don't apply VAT to independent school fees, or remove business rates relief.
Gov Responded - 20 Dec 2024 Debated on - 3 Mar 2025Prevent independent schools from having to pay VAT on fees and incurring business rates as a result of new legislation.
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.
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.
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.
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"
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
HMRC has considered the appropriateness and potential merits of compensation and reflected on the factors set out below:
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.
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.
There are no properties listed in the 2026 Draft Rating List download that do not have an Unique Address Reference Number assigned to them.
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.
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.
(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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
The estimator tool for England has been removed ahead of business rates bills being issued by local councils.
53 officials in the department hold a professional accountancy qualification.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
There are no plans for either HM Treasury or HMRC to remove the “HM” reference from their public branding.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Across HMT Treasury and its agencies there are two directors with responsibility for human resources, and they are both Chartered Fellows of CIPD.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I refer the member to the answer given to 113526 and 113527 on the 25 February 2026.
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:
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.
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.
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.