Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Livermore on 9 December 2025 (HL12629) and 27 January (HL13469), whether any special advisers briefed Budget 2025 policy announcements to the media (1) prior to formal ministerial statements made to Parliaments, and (2) without an accompanying official government announcement.

The Treasury, its Ministers and Special Advisers place the utmost importance on Budget information security. As set out in the Budget Information Security Review, Ministers, officials and Special Advisers act in line with the Macpherson Principles, the Civil Service Code and the Special Advisers’ Code.

Consistent with these principles, there are occasions where the Government will trail and/or announce policy ahead of a Budget to provide context and help the public understand major fiscal events.

Any such communications are tightly controlled, respect Parliament, and protect market-sensitive information.

For Budget 2025, Special Advisers acted in accordance with these rules and principles.