Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 2 November 2026 to question 39100 on Defence: Finance, what the allocation is of the £1.7 billion from unallocated contingency in the Treasury’s capital Reserve across a) 2026/27, b) 2027/28, c) 2028/29 and d) 2029/30.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
I refer the honourable member to the answer given to PQ39100 on 2 November 2026.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the press release entitled Prime Minister to attend UK-EU summit in Brussels on 20 November, published on 12 October 2026, whether he plans for the cost to the public purse of annual payment into the EU Cohesion Fund payments to be discussed at the summit.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK is not currently contributing to EU Cohesion Funds. Whilst discussions have begun on the EU’s proposal to establish a mechanism for a UK financial contribution towards reducing economic and social disparities between the regions of the Union as part of participation in the Internal Electricity Market, any UK financial contribution would be subject to negotiations with the EU, and no contributions have yet been made or agreed upon.
Asked by: Tessa Munt (Liberal Democrat - Wells and Mendip Hills)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money his Department has received in each of the last five years from each Local Authority in England from fines resulting from enforcement against breaches of planning control.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
HM Treasury does not hold the information requested. Where such monies are ultimately paid into the Consolidated Fund, they are received through the relevant central government departments and bodies, rather than directly from Local Authorities. The information provided to HM Treasury as part of the routine surrender of receipts does not separately identify amounts arising from enforcement against breaches of planning control, either in aggregate or by individual Local Authority.Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2026 to Question 40054 on Pensioners: Self-Assessment, what estimate HMRC has made of (a) the average administrative cost of issuing a Simple Assessment from an individual over State Pension and (b) the average income tax liability collected from such individuals; and whether HMRC has assessed the point at which the administrative cost of collection exceed the tax recovered.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Simple Assessment is part of a much larger PAYE End of Year reconciliation process, and the administrative cost of collecting tax can vary depending on an individual’s circumstance. HMRC balances the cost-effective collection of tax with the fair and consistent treatment of taxpayers.
HMRC does not routinely issue tax bills where the administrative cost of collection would exceed the amount of tax due as that would not be a good use of public funds. In 2024/25, HMRC generally did not issue PAYE Tax Calculations and Simple Assessments for underpayments where the liability was below £49.99.
HMRC routinely includes planning assumptions in its long-term strategic plans for telephony calls, correspondence and staff resource requirements, reflecting overall existing and changing policy.
The government has improved HMRC and DWP communications and guidance to raise awareness and understanding of Simple Assessment, including working closely with stakeholders who represent customers of pension age. HMRC has also targeted improving general awareness of tax on pensions to older audiences through the 'Get Tax Confident' campaign, signposting those who need extra support and education to our new website https://taxconfident.campaign.gov.uk
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2026 to Question 40280 on Pensioners: Income Tax, what steps HMRC will take to identify and notify individuals over State Pension age who have not previously paid income tax but are expected to become liable; how far in advance of their first liability they will be contacted; and what provision will be made for individuals who are digitally excluded.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Simple Assessment is part of a much larger PAYE End of Year reconciliation process, and the administrative cost of collecting tax can vary depending on an individual’s circumstance. HMRC balances the cost-effective collection of tax with the fair and consistent treatment of taxpayers.
HMRC does not routinely issue tax bills where the administrative cost of collection would exceed the amount of tax due as that would not be a good use of public funds. In 2024/25, HMRC generally did not issue PAYE Tax Calculations and Simple Assessments for underpayments where the liability was below £49.99.
HMRC routinely includes planning assumptions in its long-term strategic plans for telephony calls, correspondence and staff resource requirements, reflecting overall existing and changing policy.
The government has improved HMRC and DWP communications and guidance to raise awareness and understanding of Simple Assessment, including working closely with stakeholders who represent customers of pension age. HMRC has also targeted improving general awareness of tax on pensions to older audiences through the 'Get Tax Confident' campaign, signposting those who need extra support and education to our new website https://taxconfident.campaign.gov.uk
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2026 to Question 40052 on Pensioners: Self-Assessment, what monetary thresholds or other criteria HMRC uses in determining whether collection of a small income tax liability through Simple Assessment is appropriate; and whether those criteria differ for individuals over state Pension age.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Simple Assessment is part of a much larger PAYE End of Year reconciliation process, and the administrative cost of collecting tax can vary depending on an individual’s circumstance. HMRC balances the cost-effective collection of tax with the fair and consistent treatment of taxpayers.
HMRC does not routinely issue tax bills where the administrative cost of collection would exceed the amount of tax due as that would not be a good use of public funds. In 2024/25, HMRC generally did not issue PAYE Tax Calculations and Simple Assessments for underpayments where the liability was below £49.99.
HMRC routinely includes planning assumptions in its long-term strategic plans for telephony calls, correspondence and staff resource requirements, reflecting overall existing and changing policy.
The government has improved HMRC and DWP communications and guidance to raise awareness and understanding of Simple Assessment, including working closely with stakeholders who represent customers of pension age. HMRC has also targeted improving general awareness of tax on pensions to older audiences through the 'Get Tax Confident' campaign, signposting those who need extra support and education to our new website https://taxconfident.campaign.gov.uk
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2026 to Question 40281 on Pensioner: Income Tax, whether HMRC has modelled the additional (a) telephones calls, (b) correspondence and (c) staff resource requirements arising from pensioners receiving Simple Assessments in each tax year from 2027-28 to 2030-31.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Simple Assessment is part of a much larger PAYE End of Year reconciliation process, and the administrative cost of collecting tax can vary depending on an individual’s circumstance. HMRC balances the cost-effective collection of tax with the fair and consistent treatment of taxpayers.
HMRC does not routinely issue tax bills where the administrative cost of collection would exceed the amount of tax due as that would not be a good use of public funds. In 2024/25, HMRC generally did not issue PAYE Tax Calculations and Simple Assessments for underpayments where the liability was below £49.99.
HMRC routinely includes planning assumptions in its long-term strategic plans for telephony calls, correspondence and staff resource requirements, reflecting overall existing and changing policy.
The government has improved HMRC and DWP communications and guidance to raise awareness and understanding of Simple Assessment, including working closely with stakeholders who represent customers of pension age. HMRC has also targeted improving general awareness of tax on pensions to older audiences through the 'Get Tax Confident' campaign, signposting those who need extra support and education to our new website https://taxconfident.campaign.gov.uk
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the Office for Budget Responsibility's letter to HM Treasury of 1 April 2026 requesting statements of long-term governments policy and HM Treasury's reply of 16 April 2026.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has complete discretion over the content of its Fiscal Risks and Sustainability (FRS) reports. In producing the report, where a policy has been set, the government explains its policy decisions to the OBR, as set out in the Charter for Budget Responsibility. The detail of the assumptions the OBR has made is set out in the FRS.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will commission a statutory public inquiry into a) the collapse of Hartley Pension Scheme and b) the role of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme following the collapse.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Customers affected by the administration of Hartley Pensions have suffered from unacceptable difficulties and delays.
The government wants to see the administration make progress, which is why HM Treasury officials continue to engage with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and others to support this wherever possible.
While the FCA does not have legal powers to direct the Joint Administrators’ work, it has provided advice and challenge where appropriate.
More broadly, the government keeps the regulatory framework for self-invested personal pensions (SIPP) operators under review, including in light of lessons learned from recent cases.
On the role of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), it is operationally independent of the financial services regulators and determines compensation in accordance with its rules.
The FSCS has provided funding to the Joint Administrators of Hartley Pensions to implement their exit strategy on behalf of customers, supporting the transfer of their pensions to other providers. Without this intervention, the costs of progressing the administration would have fallen to SIPP members, compounding the difficulties and uncertainties they have already experienced.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2026 to Question 39971 on State Retirement Pensions: Income Tax, what estimate HM Treasury has made of the number of individuals over State Pension age who will (a) become liable for income tax for the first time and (b) pay income tax for the first time in each year from 2027-28 to 2030-32 as a result of the freeze in the Personal Allowance.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the hon. member to the response to PQ 39971, answered on 10th Nov.