Asked by: Mel Stride (Conservative - Central Devon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Chancellor's written statement of 5 January 2026, UIN HCWS1219, whether she plans to respond to the OBR's Spring forecast in an oral statement.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
As set out in a written statement to Parliament last week, the Chancellor has asked the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to prepare an economic and fiscal forecast for publication on 3 March 2026. The Chancellor will deliver an oral statement to the House in response.
Asked by: Mel Stride (Conservative - Central Devon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of estates subject to paying Inheritance Tax in (a) the most recent year for which data is available and (b) each year up to 2030-31.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The statistics for the number of estates subject to paying inheritance tax (IHT) are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/inheritance-tax-liabilities-statistics.
The statistics for the number of estates forecast to pay inheritance tax are available at https://obr.uk/download/november-2025-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-detailed-forecast-tables-receipts/?tmstv=1766066728.
Asked by: Mel Stride (Conservative - Central Devon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Item 13 of Table 4.1 in the Budget Document, published 26 November 2025, if she will provide a breakdown of the fiscal impacts in each financial year for each of the operational changes included in the costing.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Government set out further details on the relevant operational changes in its press release of 18 December.
Asked by: Mel Stride (Conservative - Central Devon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the OBR's fiscal forecasts included the costs of the Erasmus scheme.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
As usual, any changes since the last forecasts will be included in a future forecast.
Asked by: Mel Stride (Conservative - Central Devon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether 2026-27 business rate transitional reliefs should be calculated using base liabilities which include the application of Retail, Hospitality and Leisure rate relief in 2025-26.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government has announced support for those losing RHL relief through an expanded Support Small Business scheme which caps bill increases at the higher of £800 or the relevant TR cap. The SSB cap applies to the ratepayers’ current bill, including the 40% RHL relief they are currently receiving, before changes in other reliefs and local supplements.
This is part of a generous support package worth £4.3 billion over the next 3 years, including support to help ratepayers to transition to their new bill.
Asked by: Mel Stride (Conservative - Central Devon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether there will be a Spring Statement in 2026 to accompany the OBR's Spring Forecast 2026; and whether the OBR's Spring Forecast 2026 will include the scoring of new measures announced since Autumn Budget 2025.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Chancellor will set out her plans for the Spring forecast in due course.