Asked by: James Frith (Labour - Bury North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Valuation Office Agency on the appropriate valuation of film and TV studios.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Non-Domestic Rating Act 2023 and Local Government finance (Wales) Bill legislated for three yearly business rates revaluations in England and Wales from 2023. The date of completion for the next revaluation is 1 April 2026. This is to ensure that properties are assessed fairly and reflect changes in the property market over time. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) will publish the 2026 rating lists in draft on gov.uk by 31 December 2025.
The VOA keep HMT updated on the progress of discussions they are having with stakeholders in the film and TV industry whilst preparing the 2026 rating list, and expect these updates to continue.
Asked by: James Frith (Labour - Bury North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help ensure that business rates do not impact the growth of the film production sector in the UK.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that it intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support.
The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above – these represent less than one per cent of properties. The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025.
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that it would proceed with 40 per cent relief for eligible film studios in England on their gross business rates bills until March 2034. As set out in supporting guidance, the government may review the level of relief in the event of significant changes in rateable values at future revaluations. Business rates bills are calculated by applying the relevant multiplier first and so film studios will receive 40 per cent relief on their total liability.
Asked by: James Frith (Labour - Bury North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help mitigate the potential impact of changes in the level of business rates on film studios in the UK.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that it intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support.
The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above – these represent less than one per cent of properties. The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025.
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that it would proceed with 40 per cent relief for eligible film studios in England on their gross business rates bills until March 2034. As set out in supporting guidance, the government may review the level of relief in the event of significant changes in rateable values at future revaluations. Business rates bills are calculated by applying the relevant multiplier first and so film studios will receive 40 per cent relief on their total liability.
Asked by: James Frith (Labour - Bury North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to encourage (a) investment and (b) growth in the beer and pub sector through reforming business rates.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
To deliver our manifesto pledge, from 2026-27, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including pubs and breweries, with rateable values below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support.
This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties on 2026-27 - those with Rateable Values of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but cover the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants.
The Government also published the ‘Transforming Business Rates’ Discussion Paper at Autumn Budget setting out priority areas for reform. This paper invites industry to help co-design a fairer business rates system that supports investment and is fit for the 21st century. Further information regarding the Discussion Paper can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-business-rates.
Asked by: James Frith (Labour - Bury North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason the Loan Charge review does not include the (a) role and (b) conduct of people who profited from recommending and operating disguised remuneration schemes in its scope.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The government has commissioned an independent review of the Loan Charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers.
The Government is committed to tackling promoters of tax avoidance and will consult on measures to tackle promoters of marketed tax avoidance, including new powers focused on those who own or control promoter organisations and options to tackle legal professionals behind avoidance schemes.
The Government announced action at 2024 Autumn Budget to tackle tax avoidance by umbrella companies. Legislation, effective from April 2026, will be introduced to make recruitment agencies using umbrella companies legally responsible for accounting for PAYE on workers’ pay. Where there is no agency in the supply chain, this responsibility will fall to the end client. This along with the measures on promoters will help prevent disguised remuneration in the future.
In relation to the prosecution of Loan Charge scheme promoters and operators, I refer the hon. Member for Bury North to the answer I gave on 16 October 2024 to Question UIN 7747.
Asked by: James Frith (Labour - Bury North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the role of umbrella companies in the use of disguised remuneration schemes.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The government has commissioned an independent review of the Loan Charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers.
The Government is committed to tackling promoters of tax avoidance and will consult on measures to tackle promoters of marketed tax avoidance, including new powers focused on those who own or control promoter organisations and options to tackle legal professionals behind avoidance schemes.
The Government announced action at 2024 Autumn Budget to tackle tax avoidance by umbrella companies. Legislation, effective from April 2026, will be introduced to make recruitment agencies using umbrella companies legally responsible for accounting for PAYE on workers’ pay. Where there is no agency in the supply chain, this responsibility will fall to the end client. This along with the measures on promoters will help prevent disguised remuneration in the future.
In relation to the prosecution of Loan Charge scheme promoters and operators, I refer the hon. Member for Bury North to the answer I gave on 16 October 2024 to Question UIN 7747.
Asked by: James Frith (Labour - Bury North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the role of recruitment companies in the use of disguised remuneration schemes.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The government has commissioned an independent review of the Loan Charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers.
The Government is committed to tackling promoters of tax avoidance and will consult on measures to tackle promoters of marketed tax avoidance, including new powers focused on those who own or control promoter organisations and options to tackle legal professionals behind avoidance schemes.
The Government announced action at 2024 Autumn Budget to tackle tax avoidance by umbrella companies. Legislation, effective from April 2026, will be introduced to make recruitment agencies using umbrella companies legally responsible for accounting for PAYE on workers’ pay. Where there is no agency in the supply chain, this responsibility will fall to the end client. This along with the measures on promoters will help prevent disguised remuneration in the future.
In relation to the prosecution of Loan Charge scheme promoters and operators, I refer the hon. Member for Bury North to the answer I gave on 16 October 2024 to Question UIN 7747.
Asked by: James Frith (Labour - Bury North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many promoters and operators of schemes now subject to the Loan Charge have been prosecuted for promoting and operating these schemes.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The government has commissioned an independent review of the Loan Charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers.
The Government is committed to tackling promoters of tax avoidance and will consult on measures to tackle promoters of marketed tax avoidance, including new powers focused on those who own or control promoter organisations and options to tackle legal professionals behind avoidance schemes.
The Government announced action at 2024 Autumn Budget to tackle tax avoidance by umbrella companies. Legislation, effective from April 2026, will be introduced to make recruitment agencies using umbrella companies legally responsible for accounting for PAYE on workers’ pay. Where there is no agency in the supply chain, this responsibility will fall to the end client. This along with the measures on promoters will help prevent disguised remuneration in the future.
In relation to the prosecution of Loan Charge scheme promoters and operators, I refer the hon. Member for Bury North to the answer I gave on 16 October 2024 to Question UIN 7747.
Asked by: James Frith (Labour - Bury North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the contribution of (a) accountants and (b) tax advisers to disguised remuneration schemes.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The government has commissioned an independent review of the Loan Charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers.
The Government is committed to tackling promoters of tax avoidance and will consult on measures to tackle promoters of marketed tax avoidance, including new powers focused on those who own or control promoter organisations and options to tackle legal professionals behind avoidance schemes.
The Government announced action at 2024 Autumn Budget to tackle tax avoidance by umbrella companies. Legislation, effective from April 2026, will be introduced to make recruitment agencies using umbrella companies legally responsible for accounting for PAYE on workers’ pay. Where there is no agency in the supply chain, this responsibility will fall to the end client. This along with the measures on promoters will help prevent disguised remuneration in the future.
In relation to the prosecution of Loan Charge scheme promoters and operators, I refer the hon. Member for Bury North to the answer I gave on 16 October 2024 to Question UIN 7747.