Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Treasury has approved a severance payment for Lord Mandelson.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The termination of Lord Mandelson’s contract was subject to normal HR processes within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Where appropriate, severance payments for FCDO employees are reported in the departmental annual reports and accounts.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2025, to Question 89478, on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, if she will list each date that she has met representatives of the Chinese Government.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
As stated in my previous answer, the Chancellor has engaged with the Chinese Government on a number of occasions to discuss economic and financial issues. Data on ministers' overseas travel and meetings with external individuals and organisations is published every quarter. This can be found here and here.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether a second homes council tax premium has been paid for her Ministerial residence since 1 April 2025.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
All council tax due on the Chancellor’s Ministerial residence has been paid in full.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance HMRC has produced on the (a) Stamp Duty and (b) Capital Gains Tax liability of selling a stake in a dwelling to a trust.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC has published information on Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) here: http://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax.
Guidance on the transfer of ownership of land or property in different situations has also been provided: http://www.gov.uk/guidance/sdlt-transferring-ownership-of-land-or-property.
Guidance on the application of SDLT for trusts is available in HMRC’s SDLT Manual at SDLTM31700 onwards, which includes:
· bare trustees purchasing land (including dwellings) at SDLTM31710
· trustees of a settlement purchasing land (including dwellings) at SDLTM31720
HMRC has also published information on Capital Gains Tax, including on the disposal of assets to a trust, which includes selling a stake in a property to a trust. This information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/trusts-taxes/trusts-and-capital-gains-tax. Further detailed guidance can be found in the Capital Gains Manual: https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/capital-gains-manual.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 76827 on Jeffery Epstein, which public body holds the records of Ministerial meetings and correspondence for 2009-10.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Records of HM Treasury ministerial meetings are published from May 2010 onwards. Records of HM Treasury ministerial meetings and correspondence prior to this date are held within HM Treasury’s archives.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has has discussions on the proposed Chinese Embassy in London with representatives of the Chinese Government.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor has engaged with the Chinese Government on a number of occasions, including during her visit to China for the 2025 UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue, and has discussed a range of economic and financial issues. The Chancellor published a written ministerial statement about her visit to China on the morning of Monday 13 January (found here) and delivered an oral statement to the House of Commons on Tuesday 14 January (found here).
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has discussed the proposed Chinese Embassy in London with the Chinese Government.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor has engaged with the Chinese Government on a number of occasions, including during her visit to China for the 2025 UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue, and has discussed a range of economic and financial issues. The Chancellor published a written ministerial statement about her visit to China on the morning of Monday 13 January (found here) and delivered an oral statement to the House of Commons on Tuesday 14 January (found here).
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance HMRC has issued on the residual tax liability of dissolved unincorporated associations.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC has not issued specific guidance on the residual tax liability of unincorporated associations that have been dissolved.
The treatment will depend on the types of tax involved, the structure of the unincorporated association and how it was dissolved. It is a complicated legal area that will depend heavily on the facts and we would suggest that any persons affected engage with HMRC directly or seek specialist advice if appropriate.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when her Department will provide a response to the letter from the Hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton dated 18 September 2025.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
A response to the letter from the Hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton was issued on 6 November.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the hon Member for Hampstead and Highgate received a Ministerial severance payment.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Ministerial severance is payable under the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 when a Minister leaves office and meets the following statutory conditions:
Ministers who have not attained the age of 65 and are not appointed to a relevant ministerial or other paid office within 3 weeks of the last day of service, are eligible for a severance payment of one quarter of the annual ministerial salary being paid.
Details of HM Treasury ministerial severance payments, including recipients and amounts, are published in the annual report and accounts.