Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total Official Development Assistance (ODA) expenditure by the Treasury was in financial year 2025/26; and if they will provide a table detailing the specific programme names, budget line items, and individual spending figures for that period.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The latest report (2025) and departmental breakdown of the UK’s official development assistance (ODA) spend can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-on-international-development-final-uk-oda-spend-2025 and https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6aa93f5c086ce7c57b8184a6/Tables_Statistics_on_International_Development_final_ODA_spend_2025.ods.
As these reports go by calendar year, data for 2026 are not yet available; however, these will be uploaded to the same webpage in spring 2027.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has considered introducing a national levy on passengers departing from UK ports on cruise ships.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The maritime sector is subject to a range of tax rules.
Qualifying shipping companies may elect into Tonnage Tax, an alternative corporation tax regime under which taxable profits are calculated by reference to the tonnage of ships operated rather than actual commercial profits. Tonnage Tax is designed to support the competitiveness of the UK maritime sector and encourage shipping activity and strategic management functions to be based in the UK.
The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and does not routinely comment on proposals.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to introduce additional taxes or levies on commercial port operators.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The maritime sector is subject to a range of tax rules.
Qualifying shipping companies may elect into Tonnage Tax, an alternative corporation tax regime under which taxable profits are calculated by reference to the tonnage of ships operated rather than actual commercial profits. Tonnage Tax is designed to support the competitiveness of the UK maritime sector and encourage shipping activity and strategic management functions to be based in the UK.
The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and does not routinely comment on proposals.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to amend the rates or qualifying conditions of the Tonnage Tax regime for shipping companies.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The maritime sector is subject to a range of tax rules.
Qualifying shipping companies may elect into Tonnage Tax, an alternative corporation tax regime under which taxable profits are calculated by reference to the tonnage of ships operated rather than actual commercial profits. Tonnage Tax is designed to support the competitiveness of the UK maritime sector and encourage shipping activity and strategic management functions to be based in the UK.
The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and does not routinely comment on proposals.
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment his Department has made of the comparative effectiveness of targeted VAT reductions versus temporary consumer stimulus schemes on employment retention in the service sector.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The government does not in general publish internal evidence relating to, or assessments of, tax changes which are not currently intended to be made.
The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and does not routinely comment on proposals.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2026 to question 30587 on Defence: Finance, how does his Department have responsibility for unlocking additional savings from improved procurement.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
HM Treasury works closely with the Ministry of Defence to ensure that increased defence investment delivers both military capability and value for taxpayers. The Defence Investment Plan is backed by around £300 billion of investment over the next four years and sets out the major investment choices the Government has made for Defence
Alongside increased investment, the Government is maximising the value of every pound spent by accelerating defence reform and cutting procurement costs, including reforming procurement under the National Armaments Director.
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the potential revenue yield from aligning capital gains tax rates with income tax bands.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government has taken significant steps to reform Capital Gains Tax (CGT), including increasing the main rates of CGT from 10% for basic rate taxpayers and 20% for higher rate taxpayers to 18% and 24% respectively.
CGT receipts are forecast to almost triple from around £14 billion at the start of this Parliament to £41 billion by 2031-32.
Asked by: Catherine Fookes (Labour - Monmouthshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps he has taken to ensure adequate HMRC phone line performance.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
Improving day-to-day performance is one of the Government’s key priorities for HMRC.
In 2025-26, HMRC met its headline telephony performance target with 85.1% of customers who wanted to speak to an adviser having their call answered.
HMRC continue to invest in new technology to improve their telephony service.
HMRC are also expanding their digital services so taxpayers can self-serve online, for example through the HMRC app. As more people self-serve online, HMRC’s advisers are able to focus on helping those who are digitally excluded, have complex queries or need extra support.
In July 2026, HMRC set out further information on its wider programme of service improvement in its Transformation Roadmap Update 2026, which can be found here:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmrc-transformation-roadmap-progress-update-2026
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing an Essential User Rebate for HGV, coach and van operators.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government recognises the pressures faced by drivers and other fuel users from price increases from the conflict in the Middle East. At Budget the Chancellor announced the Government is extending the 5 pence per litre (ppl) fuel duty cut by a further six months to July 2027 and delaying uprating until the same date, providing breathing space to motorists whilst prices are high. Therefore, fuel duty will remain at 52.95ppl for both petrol and diesel to July 2027.
The government’s decisions on fuel duty across this Parliament will save the average car driver £230, the average van driver saves £472 and the average heavy goods driver nearly £4000 compared to plans under the previous government, and means petrol and diesel will be 15p per litre cheaper from April 2027.
Recognising the importance of the haulage sector, the Government also announced a 12-month vehicle excise duty (VED) holiday for the majority of heavy goods vehicles, with hauliers and operators of fuel based refrigerated road transport also benefiting from the extension of the 5p fuel duty cut.
Rail freight is eligible for red diesel entitlement to avoid perverse environmental outcomes, namely transferring rail freight or passengers to more polluting lorries, coaches and cars if costs rose. Red diesel is taxed at 6.48ppl following the introduction of a 3.7ppl cut, which at Budget the government announced will be extended to 1 July 2027.
As with all taxes, the Government keeps fuel duty under review; and any changes are announced at fiscal events.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has considered introducing additional taxation on rail freight operations.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government recognises the pressures faced by drivers and other fuel users from price increases from the conflict in the Middle East. At Budget the Chancellor announced the Government is extending the 5 pence per litre (ppl) fuel duty cut by a further six months to July 2027 and delaying uprating until the same date, providing breathing space to motorists whilst prices are high. Therefore, fuel duty will remain at 52.95ppl for both petrol and diesel to July 2027.
The government’s decisions on fuel duty across this Parliament will save the average car driver £230, the average van driver saves £472 and the average heavy goods driver nearly £4000 compared to plans under the previous government, and means petrol and diesel will be 15p per litre cheaper from April 2027.
Recognising the importance of the haulage sector, the Government also announced a 12-month vehicle excise duty (VED) holiday for the majority of heavy goods vehicles, with hauliers and operators of fuel based refrigerated road transport also benefiting from the extension of the 5p fuel duty cut.
Rail freight is eligible for red diesel entitlement to avoid perverse environmental outcomes, namely transferring rail freight or passengers to more polluting lorries, coaches and cars if costs rose. Red diesel is taxed at 6.48ppl following the introduction of a 3.7ppl cut, which at Budget the government announced will be extended to 1 July 2027.
As with all taxes, the Government keeps fuel duty under review; and any changes are announced at fiscal events.