Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made and assessment of the potential merits of completing an updated assessment of the potential savings to the Exchequer from withdrawing the postponed VAT accounting process, taking into account (a) increased deferred VAT payments since implementation, (b) growth in missing trader fraud and VAT loss due to misuse or non-compliance,(c) sectoral analysis of industries contributing most to deferred VAT and (d) behavioural and enforcement trends since PVA’s introduction.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Postponed VAT accounting provides significant support for businesses, helping to manage cash flow and facilitate imports. HMRC undertakes regular operational work to ensure compliance with the rules around postponed VAT accounting.
The VAT gap has reduced from 13.8% in 2005-06 to 6.2% in 2024-25, and has remained broadly stable since 2020-21.
The Government keeps all tax policy under review as part of the policy making process
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support his Department is providing to individuals who live off grid and who are on low incomes who do not meet the eligibility criteria for the Warm Homes Discount.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Thanks to decisions in the recent Budget, an average of £150 of costs will be removed from household energy bills from April. The actions at budget also make electricity cheaper, meaning everyone will benefit and the transfer of the Renewables Obligation to public expenditure is a significant step towards rebalancing levies away from electricity.
What individual households actually save will depend on their specific energy use. Households with bigger electricity bills could save more than £150.
In addition, the Budget significantly increased the capital budget for home insulation through the Warm Homes Plan by £1.5bn to almost £15bn. This is the biggest public investment ever to upgrade homes with insulation and clean tech like solar panels and heat pumps.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what comparative assessment she has made of levels of relative spending per head on reserved matters in (a) Wales and (b) England.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Spending on reserved matters is determined by the UK Government according to UK-wide priorities.
The Country and Regional Analysis publication shows estimates for the allocation of identifiable expenditure in the nations and regions of the UK: Country and regional analysis - GOV.UK
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to HM Treasury's press release entitled Government announces support package that backs British pubs, published on 27 January 2026, what her proposed timeline is for the Barnett Formula Consequentials related to this funding to be made available to the Welsh Government, including the total sum.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Any Barnett consequentials for the Welsh Government resulting from policy changes will be confirmed at the relevant fiscal event.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of recent exemptions or carve-outs granted to large United States multinational enterprises under the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting on (a) the effectiveness of the global minimum tax, (b) UK tax revenues, and (c) the principle of equal treatment between multinational enterprises operating in the UK.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK, with more than 140 members of the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework have reached agreement on a package of reforms to the Pillar 2 Global Minimum Tax system to address how it should interact with US minimum tax rules.
As set out in my written statement to the House on 7th January, these changes bring stability and clarity for business, as well as protection from retaliatory measures. At the same time, the largest multinationals will continue to pay their fair share of tax through comprehensive systems of global minimum taxation.
This agreement underlines the continued commitment of the UK and others to tackle aggressive tax planning by multinational enterprises and preserve the level playing field.
All multinationals are subject to the 25% Corporation Tax rate on profits they make in the UK, and they remain subject to the UK’s domestic minimum tax rate of 15%.
The changes will be fully costed with the OBR in in the usual way as the UK brings forward legislation in the next Finance Bill.