Written questions by Dinenage.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the EU’s removal of the De Minimis exemption from customs duties for low-value goods on the volume of (a) print magazine (b) book exports to the EU.

Awaiting answer.

Whether she has had conversations with professional publications about the impact of the EU’s removal of the De Minimis exemption from customs duties for low-value goods.

Awaiting answer.

What steps she is taking to ensure that HMRC provides clear information about interest on delayed and forward payments.

HMRC provides guidance on the interest applied to tax that is paid late, and on the repayment interest paid when taxpayers are owed money. The rates and explanatory information are published on GOV.UK and reviewed regularly to ensure they remain accurate, accessible and up to date. Details of HMRC’s current interest rates for late and early payments are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rates-and-allowances-hmrc-interest-rates-for-late-and-early-payments/rates-and-allowances-hmrc-interest-rates For customers who need extra help, including those who are vulnerable or digitally excluded, HMRC provides dedicated tailored support through their Extra Support Team. They can offer additional assistance over the phone and help customers understand what interest applies and why. Anyone worried about meeting their tax obligations on time should contact HMRC as early as possible to discuss options, such as setting up a time to pay arrangement.

With reference to correspondence from the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury to the Chair of the Association of International Retail dated October 15th 2025, on what evidential basis the Exchequer Secretary stated that tourism receipts in 2023 were 103 per cent of 2019 levels; and whether those figures related to tourism receipts for international tourism alone.

The 103% figure for the UK’s real recovery in tourism receipts between 2019 and 2023 is based on official data. The underlying data comes from the ONS Balance of Payments (series FJPF), which tracks spending in the UK by overseas visitors. To adjust for inflation, the figures are deflated using the UK Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), also published by the ONS. The percentage is calculated by comparing 2023 receipts (in 2019 prices) to the 2019 baseline.

Whether she has made an assessment of trends in the level of multi-occupancy residential buildings insurance premiums.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the independent regulator of financial services, carried out a review into insurance for multi-occupancy buildings in 2022. The FCA had concerns about how certain elements of the market were working and in 2023 it introduced a number of regulatory changes to enhance consumer protection and improve the functioning of the market. The FCA has robust powers to take action against firms that do not comply with its rules.The government continues to engage with relevant stakeholders, including the regulators, insurers, leaseholder representatives and trade bodies, to keep the market under review.

How much VAT was refunded to international visitors as a result of the Government's Shop and Ship retail export scheme in 2019, 2023 and 2024.

Goods purchased in the UK and subsequently exported outside the UK, whether by the business or the consumer, may be eligible for VAT zero-rating, provided that the relevant conditions are met, and appropriate evidence of export is retained. However, as such transactions are accounted for at the zero rate on VAT returns, they do not generate a separate refund and are not separately identifiable in HMRC’s systems. Therefore, HMRC does not hold data on the volume or value of such exports for which VAT has been zero-rated.

What recent discussions she has had with international partners on the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the fiscal outlook.

The Chancellor regularly discusses issues that impact the economic and fiscal outlook with international partners, including at the G7, G20, and other multilateral fora. AI is set to be the most transformative technology of our time. The Government is taking decisive action to unlock its full potential across the economy, such as funding a twentyfold expansion of the UK’s AI Research Resource, establishing a new Sovereign AI Unit, and creating AI Growth Zones. The Government will continue to work closely with international partners to realise our AI ambitions, including promoting interoperability across jurisdictions to more effectively harness AI’s growth and productivity potential.

Will she make it her policy to commission the OBR to produce an AI impact assessment.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is the Government's official independent forecaster responsible for assessing the UK economic and fiscal outlook. As an independent body, the judgements underpinning these forecasts, including potential estimates of the impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI), are for the OBR and the OBR has discretion over the contents of its publications. In the OBR’s latest Fiscal Risks and Sustainability Report, published on 8 July 2025, it was noted that if productivity grows faster than expected it could significantly improve the outlook for the public finances. The OBR also note that the “rapid development and dissemination of artificial intelligence could be one driver of upside risk to future productivity growth, although the magnitude and timing of the potential boost to productivity remains highly uncertain”.

With reference to pages 134-5 of the OBR’s report entitled Fiscal risks and sustainability, published on 8 July 2025, what discussions she has had with the OBR on for what reason it categorised the rapid development and dissemination of artificial intelligence’s impact on productivity as uncertain.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is required to prepare an analysis of the sustainability of the public finances annually, known as a Fiscal Risks and Sustainability Report (FRS), as set out in the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act (BRNAA) 2011. In the OBR’s latest FRS, published on 8 July 2025, it noted that if productivity grows faster than expected it could significantly improve the outlook for the public finances.[1] The content of the FRS is determined independently by the OBR. [ 1 ]Fiscal risks and sustainability report, Office for Budget Responsibility, July 2025, p. 134.

Whether she assumes increased productivity from AI adoption in her economic modelling.

The government is taking steps to consolidate the UK’s position at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI), such as funding to enable a twentyfold expansion of the UK’s AI Research Resource and creating AI Growth Zones to accelerate the construction of cutting-edge AI infrastructure. With a growing evidence base pointing to the potential productivity benefits of AI, the UK is well placed to harness its potential across both the public and private sectors. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for assessing the UK’s economic and fiscal outlook. In its July 25 Fiscal Risks and Sustainability (FRS) report, the OBR noted the rapid development and dissemination of artificial intelligence could be one driver of upside risk to future productivity growth, although the magnitude and timing of the possible boost to productivity remains highly uncertain.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the fiscal outlook.

HM Treasury conducts a wide range of analysis to inform policy development. This includes working closely with the Department for Science, Technology and Innovation to understand the transformative impacts Artificial Intelligence (AI) may have across the UK economy. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is the Government's official independent forecaster, and in its latest Fiscal Risks and Sustainability Report, published on 8 July 2025, it noted that if productivity grows faster than expected it could significantly improve the outlook for the public finances. The OBR also note that the “rapid development and dissemination of artificial intelligence could be one driver of upside risk to future productivity growth, although the magnitude and timing of the potential boost to productivity remains highly uncertain”.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the (a) development and (b) dissemination of artificial intelligence on the tax base.

HM Treasury conducts a wide range of analysis to inform policy development. This includes working closely with the Department for Science, Technology and Innovation to understand the transformative impacts Artificial Intelligence (AI) may have across the UK economy. In addition, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), as the Government's official independent forecaster, is responsible for assessing the UK’s economic and fiscal outlook, which may include the potential estimates of the impacts of AI where sufficient evidence exists.

With reference to the OBR’s report entitled Fiscal risks and sustainability, published on 8 July 2025, what plans she has to commission the OBR to assess the fiscal implications of artificial intelligence.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is required to prepare an analysis of the sustainability of the public finances annually, known as a Fiscal Risks and Sustainability Report (FRS), as set out in the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act (BRNAA) 2011. The content of the FRS is determined independently by the OBR. In the OBR’s latest FRS, published on 8 July 2025, it noted that if productivity grows faster than expected it could significantly improve the outlook for the public finances.[1] The OBR also noted that the “rapid development and dissemination of artificial intelligence could be one driver of upside risk to future productivity growth, although the magnitude and timing of the potential boost to productivity remains highly uncertain”. [1]Fiscal risks and sustainability report, Office for Budget Responsibility, July 2025, p. 134.

What guidance she is providing to sweetshop businesses on VAT applied to freeze-dried products.

Guidance on which types of food are zero-rated and which are standard-rated for VAT purposes can be found in VAT Notice 701/14 Food products on GOV.UK. Confectionery is covered at paragraph 3.6. Businesses which have read the guidance and are still unsure of the correct VAT treatment of their product can contact HMRC for further support.

What assessment she has made of trends in the level of tax receipts from the hair and beauty sector.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) does not hold readily available analysis on tax receipts from the hair and beauty sector.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill on the night-time economy.

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.

How much and what proportion of funding made available through the Equitable Life Payment Scheme was returned to her Department.

The Equitable Life Payment Scheme has been fully wound down and closed since 2016, and there are no plans to reopen any decisions relating to the Payment Scheme or review the £1.5 billion funding allocation previously made to it. The remainder of the £1.5 billion has been set aside for future payments to the With-Profits Annuitants.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies on VAT of the British Hair Consortium’s report entitled Securing the future of UK hairdressing and beauty: The economic, fiscal & societal case for VAT reform, published in February 2025.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is also the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £171 billion in 2024/25. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.Changes to the VAT threshold have to be carefully balanced considering the potential benefits to small businesses, the economy as a whole and tax revenues.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the level of business rates relief for hospitality, leisure and entertainment businesses on such businesses.

Without any government intervention, Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief would have ended entirely in April 2025, creating a cliff-edge for businesses. Instead, the Government has decided to offer a 40 per cent discount to RHL properties up to a cash cap of £110,0000 per business in 2025-26 and frozen the small business multiplier. By tapering RHL relief to 40%, rather than letting it end, the government has saved the average pub, with a rateable value (RV) of £16,800, over £3,300 in 2025. At Budget, the Government also announced that from 2026-27, it intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street RHL properties. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on the most valuable properties, which includes the majority of large distribution warehouses, including warehouses used by online giants. The rates for any new business rate multipliers will be set at Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the upcoming revaluation outcomes as well as the economic and fiscal context.

With reference to Table 5.2 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, for what reason the estimated revenue from the abolition of the Furnished Holiday Lettings tax regime in the 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29 financial years is lower than was set out in her Department’s Tax Information and Impact Note published on 29 July 2024.

The estimated revenue from the abolition of the Furnished Holiday Lettings tax regime has been updated to reflect latest economic forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility and latest tax return data.