Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of business premises in (a) Witham constituency, (b) Essex and (c) in England who have had their business rates liabilities increase by (A) up to 10%; (B) between 10% and 20%; (C) between 20% and 30%; (D) between 30% and 40%; (E) between 40% and 50%; (F) between 50% and 60%; (G) between 60% and 70%; (H) between 70% and 80%; (I) between 80% and 90%; (J) between 90% and 100%; (K) between 100% and 125%; (L) between 125% and 150%; (M) between 150% and 175%; (N) between 175% and 200%; (O) over 200%.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 101363.
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made a comparative assessment of the financial impact of business rates increases on (a) pubs and (b) retail businesses.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 101363.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many public sector workers have received an above-inflation pay rise in Washington and Gateshead South constituency since 5 July 2024.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
We value all our public sector workers, and pay awards reflect the important work that our nurses, teachers, doctors, prison officers and soldiers do to keep the country running.
The overwhelming majority of awards announced in 2025/26, including for all of the above workforces, announced are above the OBR’s forecast for CPI inflation over the 2025/26 pay year.
Whilst I cannot confirm the number of public sector workers in the Washington and Gateshead South constituency in receipt of those pay awards, all those workers set out above will benefit from the above inflation pay uplift.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has determined the source of the leak of the policies within the Autumn Budget 2025 to the media.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
As the Chancellor set out to the Treasury Select Committee on 10/12/25, a leak inquiry is underway. In addition, the Permanent Secretary of the Treasury is conducting a wider review of Budget security, which he aims to conclude in advance of the Spring Statement.
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Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Business appointment rules return - September 2025, published on 16 December 2025, for what reason the former Director of Financial Services was given a six month lobbying ban.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Business Appointment rules are designed to uphold the core values in the Civil Service Code. The aim of the rules is that when a civil servant takes up an outside appointment or employment there should be no cause for justified public concern, criticism, or misinterpretation. These aims were considered in this case, and appropriate mitigations were put in place in line with standard HM Treasury practice and in accordance with the Business Appointment rules.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of pensioners who will pay tax on their (a) basic state pension (b) second state pension and (c) new state pension from April 2026.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Those whose sole income is the basic and full new State Pension without any increments will not pay any income tax in 2026/27.
The Chancellor has said that those whose only income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments will not have to pay income tax over this Parliament. At the Budget, the Government announced that it will achieve this by easing the administrative burden for pensioners so that they do not have to pay small amounts of tax via Simple Assessment from 2027/28. The Government will set out more details in due course.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to confirm how many state pensioners will be exempted from the proposed freeze on personal tax allowances from April 2026.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Those whose sole income is the basic and full new State Pension without any increments will not pay any income tax in 2026/27.
The Chancellor has said that those whose only income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments will not have to pay income tax over this Parliament. At the Budget, the Government announced that it will achieve this by easing the administrative burden for pensioners so that they do not have to pay small amounts of tax via Simple Assessment from 2027/28. The Government will set out more details in due course.
Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the adequacy of the VAT exemption on mobility devices.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government recognises the importance of ensuring disabled people are supported in meeting the additional costs of disability, which is why VAT is relieved on certain equipment and appliances designed solely for their use, including wheelchairs, certain motorised wheelchairs and mobility scooters, and other mobility aids.
VAT Notice 701/7 - Reliefs from VAT for disabled and older people sets out which goods and services for disabled people are zero-rated for VAT, and which mobility aids for people aged 60 or over are reduced-rated (subject to VAT at a rate of 5%).
While all taxes are kept under review, there are no current plans to change the VAT treatment of these goods.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of VAT on the cost of pilot training in the UK; and whether she has considered extending VAT exemption to all commercial pilot training regardless of provider status.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Pilot training may be exempt from VAT when provided by an eligible body which meets certain conditions (for example, when provided by a government institution or certain regulated organisations), but otherwise will be subject to the standard rate. VAT-registered businesses paying for training will be able to recover any VAT they pay.
The Government currently has no plans to remove VAT on pilot flight training courses more broadly.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish the names of the members of the Council of Economic Advisers, and state whether they are (a) civil servants, (b) special advisers or (c) direct ministerial appointments; and which are (i) paid and (ii) unpaid.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor’s Council of Economic Advisers consists of three paid Special Advisers — Neil Amin-Smith, Spencer Thompson and Emily Fry — and one paid direct ministerial appointee, David Sturrock.