Asked by: Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Labour - Suffolk Coastal)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the contribution of regional brewers on local economies and tourism.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to ensuring that the beer and pub sector remains diverse, competitive and rooted in local communities, supporting investment and growth across towns and villages. The manufacture of alcoholic beverages supports jobs across the country with over 75% of employees working outside of London and the South East in 2024.
Small Producer Relief (SPR) supports SMEs and new entrants by permitting smaller producers who make 4,500 hectolitres or fewer of alcohol per year to pay reduced duty rates on all products below 8.5% ABV. At Budget 2025, the government increased the cash discount provided to small producers, maintaining the relative value of SPR compared to the main duty rates.
In addition, the Government has conducted a review of the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries from accessing pubs, the findings from which are currently being reviewed. We will be announcing the outcome of the review in due course.
More broadly, we are keen to ensure that Britain’s coastline – including the Suffolk coast – remain an attraction to domestic and international visitors. The Government has set an ambitious goal to grow annual inbound tourism to 50 million visitors by 2030. To help achieve this, we have established a new Visitor Economy Advisory Council, which is currently helping to co-create a Visitor Economy Growth Strategy. The Strategy endeavours to share the benefits of tourism across every nation and region, including coastal and seaside areas.
Asked by: Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Labour - Suffolk Coastal)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the VAT treatment of Further Education colleges on learners from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Further Education (FE) funding is vital to ensure people are being trained in the skills they need to thrive in the modern labour market. The 2025 Spending Review provided an additional £1.2 billion per year by 2028-29 for skills and £1.7 billion of capital funding to help colleges maintain the condition of their estate. In addition, the Government is providing £375 million of capital investment to support the FE system to accommodate increasing student numbers.
For their non-business activity, FE colleges are unable to reclaim VAT incurred. We operate several VAT refund schemes for schools and academies which are designed variously to ensure that VAT is not a burden on local taxation, and that academies are not disincentivised to leave LA control. FE colleges do not meet the criteria for either scheme.
In relation to business activity, FE colleges enjoy an exemption from VAT which means that they do not have to charge VAT to students but cannot recover it either.
Asked by: Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Labour - Suffolk Coastal)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has considered extending Section 33 VAT refunds to Further Education colleges.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Further Education (FE) funding is vital to ensure people are being trained in the skills they need to thrive in the modern labour market. The 2025 Spending Review provided an additional £1.2 billion per year by 2028-29 for skills and £1.7 billion of capital funding to help colleges maintain the condition of their estate. In addition, the Government is providing £375 million of capital investment to support the FE system to accommodate increasing student numbers.
For their non-business activity, FE colleges are unable to reclaim VAT incurred. We operate several VAT refund schemes for schools and academies which are designed variously to ensure that VAT is not a burden on local taxation, and that academies are not disincentivised to leave LA control. FE colleges do not meet the criteria for either scheme.
In relation to business activity, FE colleges enjoy an exemption from VAT which means that they do not have to charge VAT to students but cannot recover it either.
Asked by: Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Labour - Suffolk Coastal)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of irrecoverable VAT on Further Education colleges’ ability to invest in teaching facilities, specialist equipment and skills provision.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Further Education (FE) funding is vital to ensure people are being trained in the skills they need to thrive in the modern labour market. The 2025 Spending Review provided an additional £1.2 billion per year by 2028-29 for skills and £1.7 billion of capital funding to help colleges maintain the condition of their estate. In addition, the Government is providing £375 million of capital investment to support the FE system to accommodate increasing student numbers.
For their non-business activity, FE colleges are unable to reclaim VAT incurred. We operate several VAT refund schemes for schools and academies which are designed variously to ensure that VAT is not a burden on local taxation, and that academies are not disincentivised to leave LA control. FE colleges do not meet the criteria for either scheme.
In relation to business activity, FE colleges enjoy an exemption from VAT which means that they do not have to charge VAT to students but cannot recover it either.
Asked by: David Reed (Conservative - Exmouth and Exeter East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
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.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
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.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
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.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
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"
Asked by: Irene Campbell (Labour - North Ayrshire and Arran)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of ensuring that the Treasury Green Book takes account of the statutory duty introduced by the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 in the appraisal of policies across government.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
HM Treasury published an updated version of the Green Book on 5th February, which acknowledges the statutory role of the ASC and includes language in paragraph 8.84 noting that appraisals should consider the effects of a proposal on the welfare of animals.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
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.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
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.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to encourage investment in British equities by pension funds.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
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.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
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.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
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.