Speeches by Tomlinson.

“I thank the right hon. Member for giving me time to top up my glass of water—and for his intervention. The Government have been very clear in our approach since we took office. We needed to raise revenue to fund public services, and we have been consistent in our objectives in that regard. We also needed to get borrowi…”

“It is a pleasure to open this first day of Committee debate on the Finance (No. 2) Bill. This was set to be the biggest economic moment of the day, but my moment in the limelight has sadly been blown off course by the riveting news that the former Member for Stratford-on-Avon has defected to Reform UK. This star signin…”

“I will come shortly to the questions that the hon. Gentleman asked. The Liberal Democrat spokesperson, the hon. Member for Witney (Charlie Maynard), mentioned the costs of administrating the tax changes. Those costs were published in a tax impact and information note, alongside the changes: £9.2 million is the figure t…”

“As we come to the final group in today’s Committee stage on the Bill, I am pleased to open this important debate on clause 62, schedule 12 and the many associated amendments. As reiterated throughout the day, the Bill delivers on the choices made at this Government’s two Budgets. It delivers fair and necessary reforms …”

“A few weeks back, I had the pleasure of attending a Westminster Hall debate focused on farming and farmers in Northern Ireland. It was a good, productive debate, and I took away many of the points raised. The hon. Member will know that the Government have made a change to increase the threshold.”

“I am just going to respond to this point. For siblings, and for co-owners who are not spouses but who jointly own a farm—the example raised and that set out on the Government website—it is still the case that each individual has a £2.5 million allowance that they can use. That means that a farm that is jointly owned, e…”

“I note, as I am sure others in the Chamber will, just how forensic is the hon. Member’s understanding of some of the small businesses in his constituency. That is to be very much commended. If he would like to write to me on that point, I would certainly like to raise it with HMRC. Of course, it is not appropriate for …”

“It is a pleasure to speak under your chairship, Ms Furniss. I am grateful to the hon. Member for North Devon (Ian Roome) for securing this debate and speaking so passionately in support of rural communities and the people in his constituency, who I know he has much honour in representing. I thank him for securing the d…”

“I am always glad to take interventions. The hon. Member’s point is noted and I acknowledge his request. I ask Members to get in touch if they believe that an area meets the criteria. As the hon. Member has noted, there are not hard and fast rules here—there are not specific criteria within each of the categories that a…”

“I will happily do so, although I am sure that hon. Members would like me to make some progress, too.”

“That is not something that we are actively considering. That said, the details of the eVED scheme are to be consulted on in detail. We are still a number of years from its introduction, and there will be many fine decisions that need to be made in the coming months ahead of its implementation, and I note the representa…”

“Other Members, including the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon), have asked the same question; I was going to come on to it, but I will happily do so now. As a Department, HMRC requires retailers to keep records evidencing that the 5p saving is being passed on to customers, but I would be happy to look in more de…”

“A very small number of companies are affected, but yes, my understanding is that this change will mean that the decision point where the interest is applied will shift from the beginning to the end. As the right hon. Gentleman says, that will change the financial considerations for the small number of businesses that a…”

“My understanding is that the majority of companies that are affected are likely to be awarded simple rather than compound interest, but I am sure there will be some cases—I am not privy to the individual details; as the tax Minister, that would not be appropriate—where compound interest potentially could be applied. On…”

“I thank the right hon. Member for North West Hampshire for his contribution, and for sharing his knowledge and expertise on this matter and many other matters relating to tax and economic policy. There are two separate changes. The first, as he points out, is more a clarification to ensure that this provision applies o…”

“I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the Corporation Tax Act 2010 (Part 8C) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025, No. 1253). It is a pleasure to serve with you as Chair, Ms Lewell. The regulations before the Committee today amend part 8C of the Corporation Tax Act 2010. These changes are clarificatory an…”

“I thank my hon. Friend for his question, which has given me a chance to return to a question that the shadow Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Dr Hudson), asked, but that I did not quite get to—he will have to forgive me. I will put on record for the House that the number of estates claiming only b…”

“No, we will not be considering the clawback proposals put forward. Instead, the Government have come forward with the change that was announced in December, which increases the threshold from £1 million to £2.5 million. It is worth remembering that the tax rate paid above the higher threshold is half the rate that anyo…”

“I wish my hon. Friend’s constituents a happy new year. The Batters review, which was published just a few weeks ago, set out ideas that the Government can take forward to ensure that farming can be profitable and sustainable. I know that Ministers in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and across Gov…”

“If the Government had not made these changes in December, Opposition Members would have been standing here asking us to make those changes. We are coming forward with a revised position—we are increasing the threshold from £1 million to £2.5 million—and Members are criticising us for that change. We think it is the rig…”