Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC has provided (a) advice and (b) guidance on whether the payment of non-monetary donations crystallises capital gains tax liability for donors.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Capital gains tax is charged for a tax year on chargeable gains accruing in the year to a person on the disposal of assets.

Donating an asset is classed as being a disposal of it and a gain may accrue at that time.

Whether a capital gains tax liability arises depends on various factors, such as whether the donation is made to a spouse or civil partner, or to a charity; and whether losses in the tax year can be set against any chargeable gains.

Further information can be found at: www.gov.uk/capital-gains-tax/gifts and within HMRC’s Capital Gains Manual at: www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/capital-gains-manual starting at page CG66450.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on whether the former Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister backed up official Government information on his personal phones through the Apple iCloud service.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Department does not hold information about individuals’ use of personal devices.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's statement entitled Latest statement in response to small boat crossings, published on 6 February 2026, what is the (a) source material and (b) evidential basis for the illegal migrants statistic; what period of time does the statistics cover; and whether it is a statistics produced by the (a) UK Government and (b) French Government.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Statistics relating to the number of illegal migrants prevented from attempting to cross the channel is published on GOV.UK at -

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats

As explained in the notes to the dataset: data on preventions are operational estimates collected and provided to the Home Office by French authorities. The prevention data includes: individuals who are prevented from departing France, or those who return to France, finds of general maritime equipment, and arrests of facilitators linked to small boats crossings. Preventions data has been routinely captured since May 2024.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of immigration from people who do not have visa-free access to the UK in their home country but use golden visa arrangements to enter through a third-party country which does have visa-free agreements with the UK.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

‘Golden visas’ do not in themselves confer nationality, and thus do not automatically grant visa-free access to the UK. They grant residence in the issuing country only. While such schemes do carry risk as they can lead to the granting of citizenship over time, this typically requires a sustained period of lawful residence.

The UK’s visa system, including the Visa National List, is kept under regular review to ensure it operates in the national interest. Decisions on visa requirements, including which nationalities may travel visa-free or instead require permission (such as an Electronic Travel Authorisation), are based on a range of factors. These include security, compliance, returns cooperation and wider prosperity considerations.

Citizenship by Investment (CBI), or so-called “golden passport”, programmes differ from residence-based investment routes in that they offer a direct pathway to a new nationality, in some cases offering visa free access to the UK. The Government keeps the risks associated with such programmes under close review. Where appropriate, action is taken through the visa system. This has included the introduction of visit visa requirements for countries operating CBI programmes: Nauru (2025) and Saint Lucia (2026, principally for asylum abuse, with CBI a supporting factor).

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the policy of the Home Office on (a) awarding and (b) extending visas to foreign citizens who have been elected in the United Kingdom as an elected representative to a local authority or devolved legislature, but who otherwise do not have a basis for remaining in the United Kingdom.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office does not operate a specific immigration route or policy for foreign nationals elected to public office in the United Kingdom.

Individuals must qualify for permission to enter or remain under the Immigration Rules in their own right, and there is no exemption for those elected to local authorities or devolved legislatures.

Applications to extend permission to stay must meet the requirements of an appropriate immigration route under the Immigration Rules. Individuals who do not have a lawful basis to remain in the UK are expected to leave the UK.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the immigration status of Q Manivannan MSP, and what type of visa does Q Manivannan currently hold.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases or disclose personal immigration details.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in what circumstances does HMRC suspend a penalty for carelessly paying second homes stamp duty.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC’s approach to charging and suspending penalties is set out in its compliance handbook at the links below:

Compliance Handbook “Charging Penalties”

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/compliance-handbook/ch400000

Compliance Handbook “Charging Penalties: suspending penalties”

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/compliance-handbook/ch405000

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the National Crime Agency has received any Suspicious Activity Reports relating to (a) cryptocurrency donations to UK politicians or (b) donations to UK politicians from individuals with cryptocurrency assets.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Secretary of State for Defence

For confidentiality and operational security reasons, the National Crime Agency does not comment on individual Suspicious Activity Reports.

On 25 March the Government published the Rycroft Review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics. The Government has accepted the recommendation from the Review for a moratorium on the use of cryptoassets as political donations, and plans to table amendments to the Representation of the People Bill so that any political donations made via cryptoassets from 25 March 2026 must be returned.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the answer of 3 March 2026 to Question 114892 on Public Houses: Rural Areas, whether lower drink driving thresholds would constitute a material change of circumstances in relation to the valuation of pubs and restaurants.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Drink driving thresholds would not constitute a material change of circumstances (MCC) in relation to the valuation of pubs and restaurants, because such a change in legislation would not meet the requirements set out in the Local Government Finance Act 1988 Schedule 6 para 2 (7) of an MCC.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the average amount of time for HMRC to consider whether to levy a penalty charge against an individual taxpayer for incorrect payment of residential stamp duty.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Where HMRC identifies an inaccuracy during a compliance check into a Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) return or claim, it is standard practice to also consider whether a penalty is due.

In the vast majority of cases any penalty will be issued at the conclusion of the compliance check, at the same time as when the tax position is decided.

The length of a compliance check depends on multiple factors such as the technical complexity of the issue and whether a customer appeals a decision. HMRC does not record separately the amount of time within compliance checks spent considering whether penalties are due.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she plans to have with the debt advice sector on the 5-year statutory review of the scheme.

Answered by Rachel Blake - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Debt Respite Scheme (‘the Breathing Space scheme’) was launched in May 2021 to give those in problem debt the space to engage with professional debt advice by providing a temporary relief from creditor enforcement action. Given the link between mental health and problem debt, the scheme also offers a separate entry route for eligible individuals receiving treatment for a mental health crisis.

As is standard for schemes of this nature, HM Treasury will carry out a five-year post implementation review of the scheme to consider its objectives and impact. As part of this, HM Treasury is engaging closely with a range of stakeholders, including debt advice providers.

The Government continues to monitor the Breathing Space scheme to ensure it remains an effective tool for individuals and has regular engagement with organisations closely involved in its operation.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, with reference to the Answer of 19 March 2026 to Question 117776, on All-party Parliamentary Group: Finance, if the Commission will place in the Library a copy of the Income and Expenditure Statement relating to the disbandment of the APPGs on (a) Bermuda, (b) British Overseas Territories, (c) Central America, (d) Faroe Islands, (e ) Iceland, (f) Liechtenstein, (g) Switzerland, (h) Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022 and (i) Tunisia.

Answered by Nick Smith

The House of Commons Commission does not have responsibility for the APPG Rules.

The Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards does not hold Income and Expenditure Statements agreed to by APPGs. They are either published on a group’s website (if the group has one) or made available on request.

When an APPG has been dissolved, it is the responsibility of the Chair to keep Income and Expenditure Statements for at least five years from the end of the period to which they refer. This is consistent with the Paragraph 8 of Appendix 4 of the Guide to the APPG rules which sets out the requirements for APPGs when they are dissolved at a General Election.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether financial institutions handling Tether cryptocurrency are regulated in the UK.

Answered by Rachel Blake - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government legislated in February of this year to establish a financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets, requiring firms to be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority for providing relevant cryptoasset services in or to the UK. This built on previous regulatory interventions on cryptoasset money laundering and financial promotions. The Government’s approach is ensuring cryptoasset users are protected against detriment, whilst giving firms the certainty needed to invest and grow in the UK.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether lobbyists who provide the secretariat for APPGs can accept funding from overseas sources, and what is the interaction with the registration requirements under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

Answered by Nick Smith

The House of Commons Commission does not have responsibility for the APPG Rules. However, page 11 of the Guide to the APPG Rules sets out the following rule relating to secretariats and foreign governments:

Rules relating to foreign governments
A Group must not accept the provision of a secretariat by a foreign government, nor may they accept the services of a secretariat funded by a foreign government. A Group’s officers must undertake due diligence as to whether a foreign government is the eventual funder of a secretariat or other benefit.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 20 March 2026 to Question 119948 on Cryptocurrencies, whether any assessment has been made by (a) HM Government and (b) regulators of whether the Tether cryptocurrency is being used to make political donations into the United Kingdom from abroad.

Answered by Rachel Blake - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not collect or hold information on the use of specific cryptoassets in political donations. Oversight of political donations rests with the Electoral Commission.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any (a) civil servant and (b) Minister (i) has occupied and (ii) is occupying any of the official Ministerial residences in Admiralty House since September 2025.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

Admiralty House is not currently allocated to any member of the Government. Admiralty House is occasionally used overnight by Civil Servants where there is operational need. A record of this information is not held. This is in-line with the usage of Admiralty House across successive governments.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what role the Pensions Regulator plays in overseeing decisions where discretionary increases are declined despite scheme affordability; and whether that role will be expanded.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the concerns of members of defined benefit pension schemes whose benefits accrued before 1997 are not subject to indexation.

The design of pension benefits, including whether discretionary increases may be awarded and whether employer consent is required, is a matter for each scheme’s trust deed and rules. Trustees in turn, must act in accordance with their fiduciary duties, trust law and scheme rules. The Pensions Regulator already expects trustees to consider whether discretionary increases would be in members’ interests, including any history of making such awards. However, the Regulator does not have the power to require discretionary increases to be paid where this is not permitted under scheme rules.

Analysis by the Pensions Regulator shows that 17 per cent of members of private sector defined benefit pension schemes do not receive any pre-1997 indexation on benefits in excess of any Guaranteed Minimum Pension rights accrued between 1988 and 1997, which must be indexed by the scheme. This information is published and available at:

https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests#indexation

The Department does not hold central data on the number of defined benefit schemes in surplus where discretionary increases have been proposed but not implemented due to a lack of employer consent. Decisions on discretionary increases are taken at scheme level, reflecting individual funding positions, scheme rules and employer covenants. The Regulator has been considering how it might strengthen its evidence base in this area, and any insights from that work may help inform future thinking.

When it comes to requirements on schemes to provide advance notification when policies on discretionary increases are changed or withdrawn, trustees must continue to comply with existing disclosure requirements.

Recent reforms will give trustees of well‑funded defined benefit schemes greater flexibility in relation to scheme surplus, subject to safeguarding members’ benefits. This may place trustees in a stronger position to negotiate benefit improvements, including discretionary increases where appropriate.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate he has made of the number of defined benefit pension schemes in surplus where discretionary increases have been proposed by trustees but not implemented due to employer refusal.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the concerns of members of defined benefit pension schemes whose benefits accrued before 1997 are not subject to indexation.

The design of pension benefits, including whether discretionary increases may be awarded and whether employer consent is required, is a matter for each scheme’s trust deed and rules. Trustees in turn, must act in accordance with their fiduciary duties, trust law and scheme rules. The Pensions Regulator already expects trustees to consider whether discretionary increases would be in members’ interests, including any history of making such awards. However, the Regulator does not have the power to require discretionary increases to be paid where this is not permitted under scheme rules.

Analysis by the Pensions Regulator shows that 17 per cent of members of private sector defined benefit pension schemes do not receive any pre-1997 indexation on benefits in excess of any Guaranteed Minimum Pension rights accrued between 1988 and 1997, which must be indexed by the scheme. This information is published and available at:

https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests#indexation

The Department does not hold central data on the number of defined benefit schemes in surplus where discretionary increases have been proposed but not implemented due to a lack of employer consent. Decisions on discretionary increases are taken at scheme level, reflecting individual funding positions, scheme rules and employer covenants. The Regulator has been considering how it might strengthen its evidence base in this area, and any insights from that work may help inform future thinking.

When it comes to requirements on schemes to provide advance notification when policies on discretionary increases are changed or withdrawn, trustees must continue to comply with existing disclosure requirements.

Recent reforms will give trustees of well‑funded defined benefit schemes greater flexibility in relation to scheme surplus, subject to safeguarding members’ benefits. This may place trustees in a stronger position to negotiate benefit improvements, including discretionary increases where appropriate.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to review the legislative framework governing employer consent requirements in relation to discretionary increases in defined benefit pension schemes.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the concerns of members of defined benefit pension schemes whose benefits accrued before 1997 are not subject to indexation.

The design of pension benefits, including whether discretionary increases may be awarded and whether employer consent is required, is a matter for each scheme’s trust deed and rules. Trustees in turn, must act in accordance with their fiduciary duties, trust law and scheme rules. The Pensions Regulator already expects trustees to consider whether discretionary increases would be in members’ interests, including any history of making such awards. However, the Regulator does not have the power to require discretionary increases to be paid where this is not permitted under scheme rules.

Analysis by the Pensions Regulator shows that 17 per cent of members of private sector defined benefit pension schemes do not receive any pre-1997 indexation on benefits in excess of any Guaranteed Minimum Pension rights accrued between 1988 and 1997, which must be indexed by the scheme. This information is published and available at:

https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests#indexation

The Department does not hold central data on the number of defined benefit schemes in surplus where discretionary increases have been proposed but not implemented due to a lack of employer consent. Decisions on discretionary increases are taken at scheme level, reflecting individual funding positions, scheme rules and employer covenants. The Regulator has been considering how it might strengthen its evidence base in this area, and any insights from that work may help inform future thinking.

When it comes to requirements on schemes to provide advance notification when policies on discretionary increases are changed or withdrawn, trustees must continue to comply with existing disclosure requirements.

Recent reforms will give trustees of well‑funded defined benefit schemes greater flexibility in relation to scheme surplus, subject to safeguarding members’ benefits. This may place trustees in a stronger position to negotiate benefit improvements, including discretionary increases where appropriate.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of safeguards for members of defined benefit pension schemes where trustees recommend discretionary increases and those increases are actuarially affordable but sponsoring employers withhold consent.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the concerns of members of defined benefit pension schemes whose benefits accrued before 1997 are not subject to indexation.

The design of pension benefits, including whether discretionary increases may be awarded and whether employer consent is required, is a matter for each scheme’s trust deed and rules. Trustees in turn, must act in accordance with their fiduciary duties, trust law and scheme rules. The Pensions Regulator already expects trustees to consider whether discretionary increases would be in members’ interests, including any history of making such awards. However, the Regulator does not have the power to require discretionary increases to be paid where this is not permitted under scheme rules.

Analysis by the Pensions Regulator shows that 17 per cent of members of private sector defined benefit pension schemes do not receive any pre-1997 indexation on benefits in excess of any Guaranteed Minimum Pension rights accrued between 1988 and 1997, which must be indexed by the scheme. This information is published and available at:

https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests#indexation

The Department does not hold central data on the number of defined benefit schemes in surplus where discretionary increases have been proposed but not implemented due to a lack of employer consent. Decisions on discretionary increases are taken at scheme level, reflecting individual funding positions, scheme rules and employer covenants. The Regulator has been considering how it might strengthen its evidence base in this area, and any insights from that work may help inform future thinking.

When it comes to requirements on schemes to provide advance notification when policies on discretionary increases are changed or withdrawn, trustees must continue to comply with existing disclosure requirements.

Recent reforms will give trustees of well‑funded defined benefit schemes greater flexibility in relation to scheme surplus, subject to safeguarding members’ benefits. This may place trustees in a stronger position to negotiate benefit improvements, including discretionary increases where appropriate.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to require pension schemes to provide clearer advance notification to members when established policies on discretionary increases are (a) changed and (b) withdrawn.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the concerns of members of defined benefit pension schemes whose benefits accrued before 1997 are not subject to indexation.

The design of pension benefits, including whether discretionary increases may be awarded and whether employer consent is required, is a matter for each scheme’s trust deed and rules. Trustees in turn, must act in accordance with their fiduciary duties, trust law and scheme rules. The Pensions Regulator already expects trustees to consider whether discretionary increases would be in members’ interests, including any history of making such awards. However, the Regulator does not have the power to require discretionary increases to be paid where this is not permitted under scheme rules.

Analysis by the Pensions Regulator shows that 17 per cent of members of private sector defined benefit pension schemes do not receive any pre-1997 indexation on benefits in excess of any Guaranteed Minimum Pension rights accrued between 1988 and 1997, which must be indexed by the scheme. This information is published and available at:

https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests#indexation

The Department does not hold central data on the number of defined benefit schemes in surplus where discretionary increases have been proposed but not implemented due to a lack of employer consent. Decisions on discretionary increases are taken at scheme level, reflecting individual funding positions, scheme rules and employer covenants. The Regulator has been considering how it might strengthen its evidence base in this area, and any insights from that work may help inform future thinking.

When it comes to requirements on schemes to provide advance notification when policies on discretionary increases are changed or withdrawn, trustees must continue to comply with existing disclosure requirements.

Recent reforms will give trustees of well‑funded defined benefit schemes greater flexibility in relation to scheme surplus, subject to safeguarding members’ benefits. This may place trustees in a stronger position to negotiate benefit improvements, including discretionary increases where appropriate.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 31 March 2026 to Question 113783 on Cabinet Office: Reviews, whether any staff involved with the Humble Address also undertook due diligence on Lord Mandelson.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Cabinet Secretary has asked the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, to lead on the response to the Humble Address. Staff from across the Cabinet Office are involved in compliance with the Humble Address motion as necessary. Civil Servants remain bound by the Civil Service Code at all times, and by their departmental policies on managing conflicts of interest. As the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister told the House on 19th May, the Government will publish a second tranche of material after the Whitsun recess to give the House sufficient time to review the material.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC has issued guidance on whether a donation by an individual taxpayer of a (a) non-cash donation or (b) cryptocurrency to a political party or regulated donee creates a capital gains tax liability for the donor.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC provides guidance on how inheritance tax applies to gifts in the Inheritance Tax Manual. Gifts to qualifying political parties are exempt from Inheritance Tax where certain conditions are met. Guidance on this exemption is available here: IHTM11191 - Gifts to political parties: introduction - HMRC internal manual - GOV.UK. There is no Inheritance Tax exemption for gifts to regulated donees.

On capital gains tax, I would refer the Honourable Member to the answers I gave to UIN 129858 and UIN 1344

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC has provided guidance on whether (a) political donations and (b) gifts to regulated donees are exempt from inheritance tax.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC provides guidance on how inheritance tax applies to gifts in the Inheritance Tax Manual. Gifts to qualifying political parties are exempt from Inheritance Tax where certain conditions are met. Guidance on this exemption is available here: IHTM11191 - Gifts to political parties: introduction - HMRC internal manual - GOV.UK. There is no Inheritance Tax exemption for gifts to regulated donees.

On capital gains tax, I would refer the Honourable Member to the answers I gave to UIN 129858 and UIN 1344

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the answer of 11 March 2026, to Question 118363, on Cryptocurrencies, whether (a) the Financial Conduct Authority or (b) Bank of England have conducted a review into Tether.

Answered by Rachel Blake - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not hold any information on this matter.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the answer of 29 April 2026, to Question 129836, on Advisory Services: Fringe Benefits, and further to the HMRC Employment Income Manual EIM20020, whether HMRC has a specific policy on whether the provision of tax advice is considered a taxable fringe benefit.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

As set out in the answer of 29 April 2026 to Question 129836, the Employment Income Manual at EIM20020 explains that a benefit is taxable where it is provided by reason of the employment and confers a benefit of any kind on the employee, unless a specific exemption applies. Accordingly, where an employer provides tax advice, the tax treatment of that benefit depends on the specific facts of that case. HMRC does not have a standalone policy on the provision of tax advice as an employment-related benefit.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether (a) guidance and (b) advice has been given to hon. Members on how to report and record political donations made to them in crypto-currencies.

Answered by Nick Smith

The House of Commons Commission does not have responsibility for the registration of Members’ Financial Interests.

Guidance on the registration of donations is set out in paragraphs 14 to 20 of Chapter 1 of the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members. The Code does not make specific reference to crypto-currencies.

The Code and Guide form a House-approved document Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules. The Committee on Standards is responsible for overseeing its policy and development, and there is a quinquennial cycle of review overseen by that Committee, with recommendations for revision and re-issue being made to and approved by the House. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards advises the Committee on its review.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the House of Commons Table Office uses AI to (a) review or (b) card written Parliamentary Questions.

Answered by Nick Smith

In May 2026 a new AI feature was added to EQM, the digital system which is used by the Table Office for the editing and processing of written parliamentary questions. This AI feature assists staff in identifying duplicate questions by finding and listing questions which have been submitted previously where there is 80% or greater level of similarity. Staff are then able to review the questions to assess whether the rules of order relating to questions already answered are engaged.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance the Financial Conduct Authority provided on cryptocurrency payments to domestic Politically Exposed Persons.

Answered by Rachel Blake - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Financial Conduct Authority publishes guidance on the requirements of the Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs) with regard to politically exposed persons (PEPs). The MLRs require financial institutions, including FCA registered cryptoasset exchange providers and custodian wallet providers, to apply enhanced customer due diligence measures and enhanced ongoing monitoring to all customers who are PEPs. This includes taking adequate measures to establish the source of wealth and source of funds which are involved in the proposed business relationship or transactions with that person.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the scheduled date for the Chancellor of the Exchequer's tax return to be published by the Government on gov.uk for the 2024-25 tax year.

Answered by Rachel Blake - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Returns will be published in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether HM Courts & Tribunals Service holds a copy of the court transcript for the election court hearings, “In the matter of a local government election of the Bordesley Green Ward and Aston Ward of the Birmingham City Council held on 10 June 2004”, which concluded in April 2005.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

HMCTS is unable to answer the question as the hearing was administered by another organisation. From research conducted, it is believed that the hearings were held at the ‘Birmingham and Midland Institute’, where Judge Mawrey was sitting as an Election Commissioner rather than within a standard courtroom.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the answer of 29 April 2026, to Question 129861, on Stamp Duty Land Tax: Fines, what is the average amount of time to determine (a) a compliance check and (b) an appeal.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

There will be many factors that impact the length of time a compliance check remains open, including complexity and whether the customer wishes to appeal HMRC’s decision and enters a dispute resolution process.

Found: Parliamentary and Ministerial engagement The Adjudicator met Kevin Hollinrake MP , Minister for Enterprise