Written questions by Law.

What assessment her Department has made of the impact of energy costs and industrial tariffs on small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK stone and quarrying industry.

The Government continually monitors the UK economy and is bearing down on business energy prices by reducing Great Britain’s reliance on volatile international gas prices, and through a new framework to scrutinise energy levies, ensuring they are affordable and value-for-money. We know that behind taxation, energy prices are the most cited barrier to growth by SMEs (50%). The Government has a variety of schemes, already in place or due to be launched soon, that either directly support businesses by reducing energy costs or support them to reduce costs by making energy efficiencies and decarbonising. Examples include:The Business Energy Advice Service pilot, which runs until March 2026, supporting SMEs in the West Midlands to reduce their energy demand, reduce their energy bills and in turn decarbonise.Providing funding to improve the UK Business Climate Hub (UKBCH), an online resource which will support SMEs to identify and implement changes to their energy use, resulting in decarbonisation and energy bill savings. The UK Global Tariff is tailored to the UK economy, and has been designed to balance the interests of consumers and producers, and our wider strategic trade objectives. As with all policy, the Government welcomes feedback and monitors these requests closely.

If she will review energy support and taxation policy for energy-intensive industries such as quarrying to ensure fair treatment compared with high-carbon sectors like steel and glass.

The government keeps all tax under review as part of the policy making process. The government is bearing down on business energy prices by reducing Great Britain’s reliance on volatile international gas prices, and through a new framework to scrutinise energy levies, ensuring they are affordable and value-for-money.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37199 on Agriculture: Seasonal Workers, how many complaints were received by HMRC for seasonal agricultural workers in each of the last five years.

The Government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) receives it. All businesses, irrespective of size or business sector, are responsible for paying the correct minimum wage to their staff.HMRC continue to crack down on employers who ignore the law, ensuring workers receive the wages to which they are entitled.HMRC continues to undertake compliance activity within the agriculture sector across the UK. However, we do not hold specific data on how many complaints we receive relating to seasonal agricultural workers.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37200 on Agriculture: Seasonal Workers, whether HMRC has made an assessment of the potential impact of productivity related pay on (a) hourly wage calculations and (b) payslips for seasonal agricultural workers.

When HMRC undertake compliance activity, evidence is gathered to determine the hourly rates of pay. We do not hold specific data on seasonal workers from our compliance activity.HMRC continues to crack down on employers who ignore the law, ensuring workers receive the wages to which they are entitled.

How many HMRC inspections of farms employing workers on the Seasonal Worker visa were conducted in each of the last five years.

The Government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) receives it. All businesses, irrespective of size or business sector, are responsible for paying the correct minimum wage to their staff. HMRC continue to crack down on employers who ignore the law, ensuring workers receive the wages to which they are entitled. HMRC continue to undertake compliance activity within the agriculture sector across the UK. However, we do not hold specific data on how many of our interventions in this sector employ seasonal workers.

What steps HMRC have taken to ensure farms employing workers on the Seasonal Worker visa are being paid the National Living Wage in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.

The Government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) receives it. All businesses, irrespective of size or business sector, are responsible for paying the correct minimum wage to their staff. HMRC continue to crack down on employers who ignore the law, ensuring workers receive the wages to which they are entitled. HMRC continue to undertake compliance activity within the agriculture sector across the UK. However, we do not hold specific data on how many of our interventions in this sector employ seasonal workers.

What (a) total amount and (b) proportion of the reduction in ODA spending has been directly re-allocated to NATO spending.

The UK will step up to safeguard continental security on an enduring basis by increasing defence investment to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. Our increase in defence spending will be funded by reducing Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 0.5% to 0.3% of GNI. Precise allocations will be determined in the round during the Spending Review.

If she take steps to increase Official Development Assistance above 0.5% of gross national income.

The government has set departmental budgets for 2024-25 and 2025-26 to enable the UK to spend 0.5% of GNI on ODA in calendar years 2024 and 2025. On current forecasts, this will mean spending £13.7bn on ODA in 2024. The government remains committed to restoring ODA spending to 0.7% of GNI as soon as fiscal circumstances allow. As set out at Budget, the OBR’s latest forecast shows that the ODA fiscal tests are not due to be met within the Parliament. The government will continue to monitor future forecasts closely, and each year will review and confirm whether a return to spending 0.7% GNI on ODA is possible against the latest fiscal forecast. These plans strike an appropriate balance between fiscal responsibility at home and our responsibility to support the most vulnerable, and ensure that the UK remains one of the most generous global donors of development assistance, using ODA resources to save lives whilst tackling key global challenges such as climate change, conflict, and epidemics.