Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much their department spent on X and xAI since July 2024.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Treasury has not spent any money on X or xAI since July 2024.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the average annual cost to motorists of ending the temporary 5p fuel duty reduction.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
At Budget 2025, the Government announced continued support for people and businesses by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut until the end of August 2026. Rates will then gradually return to early 2022 levels. The planned increase in line with inflation for 2026-27 will not take place, with the government uprating fuel duty rates by RPI from April 2027. This will save the average car driver £49 next year compared to previous plans.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what HMRC's target timeline for paying out Construction Industry Scheme tax rebates to small businesses is; and what proportion of rebates are paid within that time.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC recognise that repayments are important for customers. They prioritise them and work hard to ensure they are processed as quickly and securely as possible.
Individuals can check when they are likely to receive a response by using HMRC’s ‘Where’s my reply’ tool which is available here:
www.gov.uk/guidance/check-when-you-can-expect-a-reply-from-hmrc
In relation to CIS repayments, HMRC are recruiting and training more colleagues to improve the service and issue CIS repayments more quickly. In cases of hardship, taxpayers can contact HMRC to look at their case and, where possible, make the repayment sooner.
HMRC’s service standard is to respond to 80% of CIS repayment claims for limited companies within 15 working days. The department has a plan in place to clear existing backlogs and return to meeting the service level agreement by January 2026.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of HMRC's Consultation on changes to HMRC statistics publications 2025, published on 16 January 2025.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) launched the consultation on changes to HMRC statistics publications on GOV.UK on 16 January 2025. The consultation will remain open until 10 April 2025 and the consultation response, setting out confirmed plans, will be published in summer 2025.
When publishing the consultation, HMRC have followed the Government Digital Service guidance on publishing accessible documents on GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/publishing-accessible-documents), including publishing the consultation document in HTML format, making it easier for users to find and navigate. Responses to this consultation are able to be submitted via email.
As well as publishing on GOV.UK, invitations to participate were sent directly to known users of HMRC statistics publications such as local authorities, business groups, academia and other government departments.
Users can find further information and advice in the accessibility statement for GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/help/accessibility-statement), as well as contact details should they wish to provide feedback on accessibility or request information in a different format.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the total revenue her Department expects to receive from property purchases in London following proposed changes to the rate of stamp duty relief.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Statistics on total revenue raised from Stamp Duty Land Tax by region of England for previous years are available within Table 3a of the ‘UK Stamp Tax statistics’ publication available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-stamp-tax-statistics. The most recent data covers the financial year 2022 to 2023.
Regional projections of total revenue from property purchases are not available.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the number of first-time buyers in London that may be subject to stamp duty from April 2025, in the context of proposed changes to the rate of stamp duty relief.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Statistics on the number of claimants of First Time Buyers’ Relief on Stamp Duty Land Tax by region of England are included within Table 9 of the ‘UK Stamp Tax statistics’ publication available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-stamp-tax-statistics. The most recent data covers the financial year 2022 to 2023.
Regional projections of the number of first-time buyers subject to Stamp Duty Land Tax are not available.