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Written Question
Further Education: Business Rates
Tuesday 3rd February 2026

Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies on Further Education Colleges of (a) business rates revaluation and (b) the new multiplier bands from April 2026.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in UIN 104727.


Written Question
Further Education: Business Rates
Tuesday 20th January 2026

Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) business rates revaluation and (b) the new multiplier bands from April 2026 on Further Education colleges.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. Government support also means that most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.


Written Question
Warehouses: Business Rates
Tuesday 20th January 2026

Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her reference to warehouses in the Budget statement, Hansard 26 November 2025, Col 395, in relation to Business Rates was referring to Valuation Office Agency Special Category Code 151.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The reference to warehouses in the Chancellor's Budget speech relates to all warehouses with rateable values of £500k and above, including those in the Valuation Office Agency Special Category Code 151.


Written Question
Business Rates: Valuation
Monday 19th January 2026

Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential of business rates revaluation and the new multiplier bands from April 2026 on (a) hotels, (b) Sports & Leisure Centres, (c) theatres, (d) live music venues and (e) other sectors.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base


At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest


The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.


Written Question
Educational Institutions: Council Tax
Thursday 8th January 2026

Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of premises that will be in the new, higher multiplier bracket for properties with a Rateable Value of £500,000, that will be in SIC code Sector P (85) [Education]; and what proportion of the total number of premises in the new, higher multiplier bracket these will form.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Valuation Office Agency has published official statistics around the change in the rateable value of non-domestic properties in England and Wales for the 2026 revaluation on GOV.UK.

These statistics include the number of properties with a Rateable Value of £500,000 and over (Table RVL_3.1, Row 13), and the number of properties within the education sub-sector in this category (Table RVL_SCAT_1_1 Row 1471).


Written Question
Public Houses: Business Rates
Friday 19th December 2025

Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) tenanted or leased pubs (b) pubs owned and managed by a pub company and (c) standalone pubs are expected to see their business rates bill (i) go up (ii) stay the same and (iii) decrease from April 2026 as a result of the measures announced in the Autumn Budget 2025.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

Without our support, the pub sector as a whole would have faced a 45% increase in the total bills they pay next year. Because of the support we’ve put in place, this has fallen to just 4%.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

The National Insurance Contributions (NICs) Employment Allowance has been more than doubled to £10,500, ensuring that over half of businesses with National Insurance liabilities, including those in the hospitality sector, will either gain or see no change this year. A Tax Information and Impact Note was published alongside changes to employer NICs.


Written Question
Leisure: Business Rates
Friday 19th December 2025

Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) theatres, (b) cinemas, (c) live music venues, (d) comedy venues and (e) multi purpose and other entertainment venues that from next year see their business rates (i) increase, (ii) decrease and (iii) stay the same.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

Without our support, the pub sector as a whole would have faced a 45% increase in the total bills they pay next year. Because of the support we’ve put in place, this has fallen to just 4%.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

The National Insurance Contributions (NICs) Employment Allowance has been more than doubled to £10,500, ensuring that over half of businesses with National Insurance liabilities, including those in the hospitality sector, will either gain or see no change this year. A Tax Information and Impact Note was published alongside changes to employer NICs.


Written Question
Leisure and Retail Trade: Business Rates
Friday 19th December 2025

Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many retail, hospitality and leisure sector businesses in (a) England and (b) Hampshire are expected to see their business rates bill (i) go up (ii) stay the same and (iii) decrease from April 2026 as a result of the measures announced in the Autumn Budget 2025.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

Without our support, the pub sector as a whole would have faced a 45% increase in the total bills they pay next year. Because of the support we’ve put in place, this has fallen to just 4%.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

The National Insurance Contributions (NICs) Employment Allowance has been more than doubled to £10,500, ensuring that over half of businesses with National Insurance liabilities, including those in the hospitality sector, will either gain or see no change this year. A Tax Information and Impact Note was published alongside changes to employer NICs.


Written Question
Hotels: Business Rates and Employers' Contributions
Friday 19th December 2025

Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions and business rates in Budgets 2024 and 2025 on the price competitiveness of UK hotels for inbound international travel.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

Without our support, the pub sector as a whole would have faced a 45% increase in the total bills they pay next year. Because of the support we’ve put in place, this has fallen to just 4%.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

The National Insurance Contributions (NICs) Employment Allowance has been more than doubled to £10,500, ensuring that over half of businesses with National Insurance liabilities, including those in the hospitality sector, will either gain or see no change this year. A Tax Information and Impact Note was published alongside changes to employer NICs.


Written Question
Business Rates
Friday 19th December 2025

Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the proportion of premises that will be subject to higher-multiple business rates which are solely or primarily classed within Standard Industrial Classification code (a) 47910, (b) 47990 and (c) all other SIC codes.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

We are delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. We are doing this by introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

We are paying for this sustainably through higher rates on the top one per cent of most expensive properties. Large distribution warehouses, such as those used by online giants, will contribute more as a result – large distribution warehouses will pay around £100 million more in 2026/27, with this going directly to lower bills for in-person retail.