Written questions by Snowden.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the increased landfill tax on housebuilding in the Fylde constituency.

The government consulted on proposals for reform of Landfill Tax on 28 April following a call for evidence in 2021 under the previous government, to ensure the regime remains effective in encouraging waste diversion from landfill and to support our environmental goals. The consultation closed on 28 July and the government is considering responses and will set out next steps, including a summary of responses, in due course. As part of the consultation, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the construction sector. HM Treasury is working across government to assess potential impacts on housing delivery. This government is committed to delivering 1.5 million homes over 5 years as set out in the Plan for Change. Any final proposals will be designed to maintain the environmental effectiveness of the tax while supporting these plans.

With reference to her speech at the Regional Investment Summit on 21 October 2025, what metrics her Department used to calculate the forecast annual £6 billion in savings for businesses arising from regulatory changes.

A baseline for the administrative burden of regulation on businesses has been established at £22.4bn a year. Further to the Prime Minister’s commitment to cutting the administrative costs of regulation by 25% by the end of the Parliament, the Government’s target is to reduce the annual burden by £5.6bn. Our methodology for calculating administrative burdens, and the distribution of the savings we have identified so far, is publicly available on GOV.UK.

Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on introducing a Tailored Energy Discount for manufacturers transitioning to electrification.

The Chancellor has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on a range of topicsThe Chancellor recognises the importance of electrification for manufacturers and bringing down the cost of electricity is a key element of this government's mission to increase growth.

If she will publish a breakdown of the £1.5 billion in savings identified to date under the Regulation Action Plan, including (a) sectoral distribution and (b) methodology used for calculating those savings.

A baseline for the administrative burden of regulation on businesses has been established at £22.4bn a year. Further to the Prime Minister’s commitment to cutting the administrative costs of regulation by 25% by the end of the Parliament, the Government’s target is to reduce the annual burden by £5.6bn. Our methodology for calculating administrative burdens, and the distribution of the savings we have identified so far, is publicly available on GOV.UK.

What estimate her Department has made of the total value of landfill tax reclaimed by private landfill operators for (a) cover and (b) fluff material since 2000.

Landfill Tax was introduced in 1996 as a behavioural tax encouraging the diversion of material away from landfill to reuse and recycling. It has been a key driver behind local authority waste to landfill in England falling by 90% since 2000. HMRC refunded landfill tax reclaimed by private landfill operators following the Waste Recycling Group Limited case in 2008. £147m related to daily cover and haul roads and £133m related to base and side fluff. Refunds ceased in 2013 and since then repayment claims totaling £3.9bn have been prevented as a result of successful litigation.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of abolishing business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

Business rates are a vital source of revenue for Local Government. The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century. As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with ratable values below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure they benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

With reference to the news story entitled Chancellor takes on the blockers to get Britain building, published on 15 October 2025, what the 34 infrastructure projects are; and what the (a) outcome and (b) duration was of each judicial review case.

Last week the government announced that we will work with the judiciary to take forward further procedural changes to ensure Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) are dealt with more quickly and consistently. Lord Banner’s independent review into legal challenges against Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (published in October 2024) contains detail and links to statistics requested. It is standard practice not to comment on the specifics of discussions between ministers and the judiciary. Finally, members of public will still have the right to pursue judicial review. The Government remains committed to this important principle, and ensuring that local communities can effectively challenge the decisions which impact them. These reforms are about ensuring cases move through the courts more quickly and efficiently, not about limiting the right to challenge decisions.

With reference to the news story entitled Chancellor takes on the blockers to get Britain building, published on 15 October 2025, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of proposed judicial review reforms on rights to (a) environmental and (b) community consultation.

Last week the government announced that we will work with the judiciary to take forward further procedural changes to ensure Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) are dealt with more quickly and consistently. Lord Banner’s independent review into legal challenges against Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (published in October 2024) contains detail and links to statistics requested. It is standard practice not to comment on the specifics of discussions between ministers and the judiciary. Finally, members of public will still have the right to pursue judicial review. The Government remains committed to this important principle, and ensuring that local communities can effectively challenge the decisions which impact them. These reforms are about ensuring cases move through the courts more quickly and efficiently, not about limiting the right to challenge decisions.

With reference to the news story entitled Chancellor takes on the blockers to get Britain building, published on 15 October 2025, what discussions she has had with the Lord Chief Justice on proposed reductions in judicial review timelines.

Last week the government announced that we will work with the judiciary to take forward further procedural changes to ensure Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) are dealt with more quickly and consistently. Lord Banner’s independent review into legal challenges against Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (published in October 2024) contains detail and links to statistics requested. It is standard practice not to comment on the specifics of discussions between ministers and the judiciary. Finally, members of public will still have the right to pursue judicial review. The Government remains committed to this important principle, and ensuring that local communities can effectively challenge the decisions which impact them. These reforms are about ensuring cases move through the courts more quickly and efficiently, not about limiting the right to challenge decisions.

How many people were unable to benefit from the Residence Nil Rate Band due to not having direct descendants in the most recent year for which data is available.

The residence nil-rate band was introduced under the previous Government in April 2017. The then Government set out in a tax information and impact note at the time of its introduction that there was no evidence to suggest that this policy would have significant adverse impacts on those with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. The tax information and impact note is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/inheritance-tax-main-residence-nil-rate-band-and-the-existing-nil-rate-band/inheritance-tax-main-residence-nil-rate-band-and-the-existing-nil-rate-band. HMRC publishes annual statistics about the use of nil-rate bands, reliefs and exemptions. 30,600 estates used the residence nil-rate band in 2022-23, and £7.72 billion of chargeable estate value was removed from an inheritance tax charge as a result. HMRC does not collect comprehensive data about the reasons for an estate not using the residence nil-rate band.

If her Department will conduct an equality impact assessment of the Residence Nil Rate Band in relation to inheritance tax.

The residence nil-rate band was introduced under the previous Government in April 2017. The then Government set out in a tax information and impact note at the time of its introduction that there was no evidence to suggest that this policy would have significant adverse impacts on those with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. The tax information and impact note is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/inheritance-tax-main-residence-nil-rate-band-and-the-existing-nil-rate-band/inheritance-tax-main-residence-nil-rate-band-and-the-existing-nil-rate-band. HMRC publishes annual statistics about the use of nil-rate bands, reliefs and exemptions. 30,600 estates used the residence nil-rate band in 2022-23, and £7.72 billion of chargeable estate value was removed from an inheritance tax charge as a result. HMRC does not collect comprehensive data about the reasons for an estate not using the residence nil-rate band.

If she will take steps to engage with (a) stakeholders and (b) members of the public on inheritance tax policy.

The Government published tax policy making principles on 12 June 2025. These principles underpin the Government’s approach to delivering tax policy changes, including setting out how it will engage with stakeholders during tax policy development. This is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/tax-policy-making-principles.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the ceremonies undertaken during the state visit by President Trump on economic growth.

During the state visit, we announced a record-breaking £150 billion of inward investment from US firms into the UK economy – supporting 7,600 jobs in all areas of the UK which will drive economic growth and create real opportunities for working people.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of a property tax on landlords on the availability of rental properties in the private sector.

The Government does not comment on speculation about tax changes. All tax policy is kept under review and tax decisions will be made at the Budget, in the usual way. The Government recognises that the private rented sector plays an important role in the UK housing market. Boosting the supply of housing is essential in making rent more affordable, which is why we have committed to building 1.5 million homes over the course of this Parliament.

With reference to the letter of 10 January 2025 from the then-Economic Secretary to the Treasury to Anthony Hughes of the Credit Hire Organisation, when her Department plans to meet representatives of the credit hire industry to discuss the Motor Insurance Taskforce.

The government’s Motor Insurance Taskforce, led by the Department for Transport and HM Treasury, is engaging with a range of interested stakeholders, including the Credit Hire Organisation. The taskforce plans to publish its final report in the autumn.

Whether the cross-Government Motor Insurance Taskforce is maintaining a formal record of stakeholder engagement; and whether the Credit Hire Organisation was consulted.

The government’s Motor Insurance Taskforce, led by the Department for Transport and HM Treasury, is engaging with a range of interested stakeholders, including the Credit Hire Organisation. The taskforce plans to publish its final report in the autumn.

Whether guidance has been issued to (a) banks and (b) financial services firms on (i) detecting and (ii) reporting transactions linked to sanctioned people smuggling networks.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has designated 25 individuals and entities under the new Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons Sanctions Regulations 2025, and previously published statutory guidance. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), responsible for implementing and enforcing financial sanctions, has produced an extensive suite of guidance to provide industry with further clarity and support to comply with financial sanctions, such as the OFSI general guidance, threat assessment reports and FAQs.For further information view OFSI’s general guidance here, and its full suite of guidance here.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the level of ground rents on mortgage lending decisions.

The pricing and availability of mortgages, including how ground rents factor into mortgage applications, is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. More widely, the Government remains firmly committed to its manifesto commitment to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents.

What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on increasing funding for the resilience of defence infrastructure supply chains.

The Government is committed to ensure a strong defence sector and resilient supply chains across the whole of the UK, including for defence infrastructure. The forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy, due for publication in Autumn, will set out how we will establish long-term partnerships between business and government, promote innovation, and improve resilience. Following Spending Review 2025 further detail on how the Ministry of Defence will spend its budget will be set out in the Defence Investment Plan, which is also scheduled to complete in the Autumn.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the (a) cost to the NHS of prescribing weight loss medications and (b) the projected cost savings from reduced obesity-related illness.

The Chancellor regularly discusses a wide range of policy issues with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.For medicines to be provided by the NHS they must meet strict cost-effectiveness thresholds set by NICE. For tirzepatide, a weightloss jab, evidence submitted by NHS England to NICE last year suggested a potential cost of £19.4bn for the drug, the patient management and the associated care over the first five years from launch if made available to all eligible patients. The NHS is working with partners, including supplies of medicines for weight management, to develop and evaluate innovative delivery models which may support more efficient implementationNICE recommended the NHS begin rolling out trizepatide, for people with a BMI of more than 35 and at least one weight-related illness. In total around 220,000 people are expected to benefit in the initial three year roll out period.The obesity crisis currently costs the NHS an estimated £11.4 billion per year and has significant wider economic and social costs, so tackling this will help to drive long term economic growth.That is why the 10 year health plan, published on 3rd July 2025, set out Government’s plans for decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our NHS and creating the healthiest generation of children ever.The Plan sets out a commitment to support people living with obesity, doubling the number of patients able to access the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme and brokering pioneering relationships with the biggest pharmaceutical companies to expand access to weight loss services and treatments across the NHS.The Plan also committed to fulfilling manifesto commitments to restrict junk food advertising and ban sale of high-caffeine drinks. Additionally it announced new proposals to reduce obesity including for large food businesses to report against standardised metrics on healthier food sales along with new targets to increase the healthiness of sales, and updating the Nutrient Profile Model to bring the current advertising and promotion restrictions up to date and make them more impactful.