Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that people (a) in Ashfield constituency and (b) nationwide have access to face to face banking services.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government recognises the importance of face-to-face banking to communities, businesses and high streets in Ashfield and across the UK. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament.
Over 220 hubs have been announced so far, and over 160 are already open.
Banking hubs offer everyday counter services provided by Post Office staff, allowing people and businesses to withdraw and deposit cash, deposit cheques, pay bills and make balance enquiries. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out wider banking services.
Where a branch closure is announced or a community has submitted a cash access assessment request, LINK, the independent industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments, assesses a community’s access to cash needs, and will recommend appropriate solutions where it considers that a community requires additional cash services, such as a banking hub or deposit service.
Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many referrals has HMRC received from local enforcement authorities in relation to the penalty regime introduced through the Tobacco Products (Traceability and Security Features) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has received 312 referrals from local enforcement authorities in relation to the penalty regime introduced through the Tobacco Products (Traceability and Security Features) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.
These regulations extended powers to enable Trading Standards to tackle non-compliance with the UK’s Tobacco Track and Trace system, which regulates tobacco at all stages of the supply chain, from manufacture through to retail. Trading Standards can make referrals to HMRC on potential breaches of the law, for HMRC to impose penalties.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help ensure access to cash in Ashfield constituency.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Its rules require the reasonable provision of free cash withdrawal and deposit facilities for personal current accounts. Data from LINK (the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network) identifies 66 ATMs in Ashfield, including 47 free-to-use ATMs. The UK’s largest banks and building societies are required to assess the impact of a closure or material alteration of a relevant cash withdrawal or deposit facility and put in place a new service if necessary.
Assessments are undertaken by LINK, the industry designated coordinating body responsible for conducting cash access assessments. LINK take into account a number of factors including those unique to each location, such as the size and vulnerability of the population and whether it is reasonable for people to travel to nearby facilities, factoring in geographic barriers such as hills, rivers and major roads.
Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. Further information about submitting a cash access request can be found on LINK’s website.
The Government is also working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. These hubs will provide small businesses and individuals with critical cash and in-person banking services. Over 225 banking hubs have been recommended to date and over 150 are already open.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) calls and (b) online submissions have been made to HMRC fraud hotline in relation to (i) illegal tobacco and (ii) illegal alcohol in each of the last five years.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The tables below show the number of contacts received by HMRC Fraud Reporting Gateway in relation to Alcohol and Tobacco:
Alcohol:
Year | Online Submission | Telephone Submission | Total |
24/25 | 31,728 | 7,857 | 39,585 |
23/24 | 27,443 | 9,045 | 36,488 |
22/23 | 30,688 | 8,184 | 38,872 |
21/22 | 21,107 | 10,674 | 31,781 |
20/21 | 27,296 | 8,152 | 35,448 |
Tobacco:
Year | Online Submission | Telephone Submission | Total |
24/25 | 7,605 | 2,094 | 9,699 |
23/24 | 5,416 | 1,873 | 7,289 |
22/23 | 5,625 | 2,060 | 7,685 |
21/22 | 1,558 | 2,424 | 3,982 |
20/21 | 1,988 | 1,535 | 3,523 |
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential cost to the public purse of abolishing the (a) High Income Child Benefit Charge and (b) reductions in the level of Personal Allowance for people earning over (i) £100,00 and (ii) £125,000.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Government is committed to managing the public finances responsibly. The High Income Child Benefit Charge ensures that the Government supports the majority of families while keeping welfare expenditure sustainable.
Data showing tax revenue raised by the High Income Child Benefit Charge in each financial year is published within Table 1 of HMRC’s Child Benefit statistics.
For individuals with income above £100,000, the Personal Allowance is withdrawn gradually, with £1 of allowance lost for every £2 of income above the income limit of £100,000. This reduction continues until the Personal Allowance is completely withdrawn for those with incomes above £125,140.
The total income tax liability for those earning above £100,000 is published online in Table 2.5 of HMRC’s income tax liabilities statistics. For the 2024-25 tax year, this is estimated at £145 billion, almost half of the estimated income tax revenue for this year.
As with all aspects of the tax system, the Government keeps the withdrawal of the Personal Allowance and the High Income Child Benefit Charge under review and any decisions on future changes will be taken by the Chancellor in the context of the wider public finances.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy not to increase employee National Insurance contributions in the Spring Statement 2025.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The OBR’s spring forecast will take place on 26th March and be accompanied by a statement to Parliament from the Chancellor.
Ahead of the statement responding to the forecast, the Government will not give a running commentary on economic developments.
The Government is committed to not increasing the basic, higher or additional rates of Income Tax, Employee National Insurance contributions or VAT.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy not to implement a wealth tax on assets above a certain threshold in the Spring Statement 2025.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The UK does not have a standalone wealth tax, though there are several long-standing taxes on assets and wealth that generate substantial revenue for the government.
In addition to collecting substantial revenue from existing taxes on wealth and assets, the UK also has a progressive income tax system.
The Government is committed to making sure the wealthiest in our society pay their fair share of tax. That is why the Chancellor announced a series of reforms at Autumn Budget 2024 to help fix the public finances in as fair a way as possible. These and other decisions announced at the Budget will help repair the public finances and fund public services such as the NHS and education.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy not to (a) lower inheritance tax thresholds and (b) increase inheritance tax rates in the Spring Statement 2025.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has been commissioned for an Economic and Fiscal Forecast, which will be published on 26 March 2025. This is in line with the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011 which requires the OBR to produce two forecasts each financial year. This will be accompanied by a statement to Parliament from the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The Government set out its plans for inheritance tax at Autumn Budget 2024, including fixing the nil-rate band and residence nil-rate band at their current levels for a further two years in 2028-29 and 2029-30.
The Government remains committed to one major fiscal event a year to give families and businesses stability and certainty on upcoming tax and spending changes and, in turn, to support the Government’s growth mission.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish detailed impact assessments for future tax increases.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
As it does with all tax policy changes, the government has published Tax Information and Impact Notes for the tax policy changes announced at Budget, which give a clear explanation of the policy objective together with details of the tax impact on the Exchequer, the economy, individuals, businesses, civil society organisations and any equality or other specific area of impact.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the potential reduction in tax revenues from non-UK domiciled individuals leaving the UK.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Government’s priority is improving the UK’s competitiveness internationally and securing economic growth. The non-dom reforms have been specifically designed to make the UK competitive with a modern, simple tax regime that is also fair. The reforms establish a tax regime for new residents, which is more attractive to new arrivals than the current rules.
The Government published a Tax Information and Impact Note for this policy on 30 October. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tax-changes-for-non-uk-domiciled-individuals/reforming-the-taxation-of-non-uk-domiciled-individuals.
There have always been relatively large flows of non-doms in and out of the UK every year. For example. in the latest HMRC statistics for tax year 2022/23, 8,000 non-doms left and 13,000 arrived.
We anticipate that some non-doms ineligible for the new regime will exit the UK in response to the changes. Taking this migration response into account, the OBR expects the non-dom reforms to raise £33.8 billion over the next five years to help fund the public services and investment projects needed to drive growth.