Written questions by Glen.

With reference to the UK Government Green Financing Framework, published in June 2021, whether it remains her Department's policy that funding should not be provided for the development of green technologies in the defence industry.

The principles of the Green Financing Programme are set out in the Green Financing Framework, published in June 2021. The Framework explains how proceeds from green gilts and NS&I’s retail Green Savings Bonds will finance green expenditures to help tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and other environmental challenges, while creating green jobs across the UK. It also includes guidelines on the types of expenditures that can be included in the Programme. The previous Government decided to exclude financing weapons in its Green Financing Framework, alongside other named exclusions. The international convention is to exclude weapons for green bond frameworks. In line with other sovereign green bond issuers and international best practices, the UK Government Green Financing Framework was designed to align with the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA) Green Bond Principles. This approach enables the UK’s green gilts to be accessible to the greatest possible pool of investors, improving value-for-money. Green gilts and Green Savings Bonds finance public expenditures that can demonstrate a direct and positive environmental impact. Eligible expenditures are drawn from departments’ confirmed settlements in the Spending Review and assessed on the basis of their contribution to the Government’s climate and environmental objectives. The Green Financing Framework does not underpin how Government expenditure decisions are made. As the PM has announced to Parliament on Tuesday 25 February, we will reach 2.5% of GDP expenditure on defence in 27-28.

What meetings representatives from Shein have had with her Department since the 4 July 2024; on what dates these meetings took place; and what was discussed.

All meetings held by departments senior civil servants and Ministers are published to Gov.uk in line with Cabinet Office reporting and timetable guidance. Please follow the link below for visibility of HMT’s publications: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

What discussions Ministers in her Department had on government business at Labour Party Conference; whether such meetings and engagement will be recorded in government transparency returns; and whether these discussions were reported back to civil servants.

All Ministers' meetings in an official capacity are recorded and published on gov.uk as part of the department’s quarterly transparency return. The guidance acknowledges that meetings with external organisations at party conferences will generally be in a political capacity. As a result, they do not expect these meetings to be declared, unless a senior media figure was also present.

How much was claimed for trade union subscriptions under section 344 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 in each of the last five years.

The requested information is not available. Claims for Professional Membership Fees and Annual Subscriptions, (under s343 and s344 ITEPA 2003) are reported on HMRC returns under the ‘Fees and Subscriptions’ category and cannot therefore be separately identified.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 20947 on First Time Buyers: Stamp Duties, what the average stamp duty paid was by people who claimed first time buyers’ relief in the 2023-24 tax year; how many such payments were made in the same period; and what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) value of those payments in the 2025-26 tax year.

In 2023 to 2024, there were 113,100 transactions above the nil-rate band threshold of £250,000 that claimed First-Time Buyers’ Relief (FTBR) in the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) return. These transactions paid an average of £900 in SDLT. Estimates for 2025 to 2026 for claimants of FTBR and for the average SDLT paid by FTBR claimants are not available.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025, to Question 21295 on Employers’ Contributions: Equality, whether a longer Impact Assessment or screening document was produced internally by her Department on the changes to National Insurance contributions that subsequently informed the content in the Tax Information and Impact Note.

The Government carefully considers the impact of all decisions on those sharing protected characteristics in line with both our legal obligations and with our commitment to greater fairness and opportunity.The Government is committed to meeting its obligation to the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) and Treasury ministers are confident the Government has met the obligation for the changes to National Insurance.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, civil society organisations and an overview of the equality impacts. The Office for Budget Responsibility also published the Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO), which sets out a detailed forecast of the economy and public finances.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2025 to Question 25682 on Motor vehicles: taxation, whether any impact assessment has been produced on changes to tax on double cab pick-up vehicles in the Autumn Budget 2024.

The change in treatment for Double Cab Pick-ups (DCPUs) as announced at Autumn Budget 2024 was to align treatment with recent case law to treat them as cars, and not a change in policy requiring legislation. As mentioned in my answer of 28 January 2025, given this was not a policy change, it sits outside the Tax Consultation Framework. Under that framework, Tax Information and Impacting Notes (TIINs) are only published alongside legislation at fiscal events. More information on the Tax Consultation Framework can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a79567ee5274a3864fd622b/tax-consultation-framework.pdf

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to the non-domiciled tax regime on (a) philanthropic giving and (b) the charitable sector.

The Government’s priority is improving the UK’s competitiveness internationally and securing economic growth. The non-domicile reforms have been specifically designed to make the UK competitive with a modern, simple tax regime that is also fair. The reforms establish a tax regime for new residents, which is more attractive to new arrivals than the current rules. As part of the reforms, the Government also wants to incentivise non-domiciled individuals who are not eligible for the new regime to spend and invest their foreign income and gains in the UK. That is why existing and previous users of the remittance basis will be able to take advantage of a three-year Temporary Repatriation Facility (TRF) to bring their offshore funds to the UK at a discounted tax rate. The Government published a Tax Information and Impact Note for this policy at Autumn Budget 2024. This can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tax-changes-for-non-uk-domiciled-individuals/reforming-the-taxation-of-non-uk-domiciled-individuals. Charities are a vital part of our society, and the Government continues to support them and their donors. Total charitable tax reliefs given to charities and donors was over £6bn for the tax year ending in April 2024.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 14946 on Government Departments: Communication and Consultants, what the baseline aggregate annual cash figure of government spending on consultancy was on which the estimated reductions in spending of (a) £550 million in 2024-25 and (b) £680 million in 2025-26 are based.

The baseline aggregate annual cash figure for the 24-25 savings target is based on an in-year monthly forecast outturn figure from the government’s cross central financial management system. In-year forecast outturn figures at this level of detail are not released publicly due to their security classification and sensitivity. The baseline for the £680 million 25-26 saving is based on a 50% cut to the average figure that HMG spent on consultancy across the six financial years 2017/18 to 2022/23. This figure was calculated using HM Treasury estimates from spending figures published via the annual release of data from the Online System for Central Accounting and Reporting (OSCAR) database.The government’s policy is to reduce consultancy spending by £550m in 2024-25 and to halve spending in 2025-26 against a baseline of average HMG spend on consultancy across the six financial years 2017/18 to 2022/23. This figure was calculated using HM Treasury estimates from spending figures published via the annual release of data from the Online System for Central Accounting and Reporting (OSCAR) database. This financial reduction in spending will deliver cash savings of £680m. The estimated baseline spending on consultancy in 2024-25 prior to the planned reduction of £550m is based on an in-year monthly forecast outturn figure from the government’s cross central financial management system. In-year forecast outturn figures at this level of detail are not released publicly due to their security classification and sensitivity.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 22013 on Economic Situation, whether bond yields will be included in the other metrics of financial market indicators in relation to economic stability.

As the Prime Minister set out in the Plan for Change document, the Government’s milestones for change can only be delivered on the foundations of a stable economy, secure borders, and national security. Economic stability requires concerted action to ensure macroeconomic stability, financial stability, fiscal stability, and long-term policy stability.The commitment to our tough fiscal rules is non-negotiable, and we will meet the fiscal rules at all times.HM Treasury considers a wide range of information to assess financial conditions, including a range of financial market indicators, and works with the financial sector regulators to monitor markets.

What information her Department holds on when the Financial Conduct Authority plans to respond to its consultation entitled Proposed amendments to Guidance on the treatment of politically exposed persons, published on 18 July 2024.

The Government has been working closely with the FCA to follow up on the findings of its review into the treatment of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) by financial institutions and to ensure firms improve their practices where necessary. The FCA expects that the revised guidance will be published and brought into effect in the first half of 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2024, to Question 12389 on Civil Servants and Ministers: Workplace Pensions, whether the automatic lump sum death benefits under the Civil Service Classic scheme is subject to inheritance tax.

As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, from 6 April 2027 most unused pension funds and death benefits will be included within the value of a person’s estate for Inheritance Tax purposes.Some lump some death benefits from pension schemes are already within scope of Inheritance Tax. As with other registered schemes, lump sum death benefits under the Civil Service Classic scheme will be subject to Inheritance Tax from 6 April 2027.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21692 on Public Expenditure, over which financial years the (a) efficiencies and (b) savings target by 2029 relates to; whether the 5% target is for each year or over the whole spending review two period; and how the target interacts with the spending reductions announced at the (i) Fixing the Foundations statement in July 2024, (ii) Autumn Budget 2024 and (iii) phase one of the Spending Review.

To help drive out waste and ensure all funding is focused on the Government’s priorities, all departments are expected to find at least 5% savings and efficiencies from within existing budgets by the end of this SR period (2028/2029). Any spending reduction announced at the (i) Fixing the Foundations statement in July 2024, (ii) Autumn Budget 2024 and (iii) phase one of the Spending Review that apply to the year 2025/2026 will be captured within the savings and efficiency target of 2% set across all government departments as part of phase one of the Spending Review.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2025 to Question 22929 on Treasury: Employers' Contributions, which Strategic Suppliers to the Department have contractual terms and conditions that require a pricing review as a consequence of the higher National Insurance contributions to employers.

No such terms and conditions are included in HM Treasury’s contracts with strategic suppliers.

Whether her Department has a theory of economic growth it uses when formulating (a) fiscal and (b) economic policy.

The Government’s growth mission is its central mission. Its plan for growth is built around the three essential elements of stability, investment, and reform. The work of the growth mission can be structured into seven pillars, as set out in the Autumn Budget document. This approach is informed by economic analysis and will deliver a decade of national renewal by fixing the foundations of the economy and rebuilding Britain, making every part of the country better off.The Government's fiscal policy objective is to support sustainable economic growth and provision high-quality public services and investment across the UK, by effectively managing public finances and ensuring taxes and borrowing are sustainable.Economic and fiscal stability are prerequisites for the economy to grow, as they give UK businesses and households the confidence to make decisions on future investments and consumption. This encourages innovation and growth over the long term.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 14946 on Government Departments: Communication and Consultants, whether her Department holds data on the (a) Department and (b) programme reductions to consultancy spending that is expected to reduce spending by (i) £550 million in 2024-25 and (ii) £680 million in 2025-26.

Consultancy spending data for the current 24-25 financial year is held centrally on the cross-government financial system. In-year monthly forecast outturn data at this level of detail is not shared publicly due to its security classification and sensitivity.Final outturn figures for consultancy spending are published annually via Department’s audited Annual Reports and Accounts (ARAs) and via the annual release of data from the Online System for Central Accounting and Reporting (OSCAR) database. Individual departments control their budgets for consultancy spending and determine the ways they will reduce it in line with the aggregate savings target. HM Treasury and Cabinet Office are holding them to account for these reductions.

How many times the new Chair of the Office for Value for Money has formally met with (a) the Chancellor and (b) the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

David Goldstone CBE was appointed as the independent Chair of the Office of Value for Money on 30 October 2024. His published terms of reference state that he will have monthly regular check-ins with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and that he will provide a regular update to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Since his appointment, the Chair has provided regular updates to the Chancellor and me on his progress. As part of this, the Chair has had three meetings with me; and one meeting with the Chancellor.

Whether the Spending Review Phase 2 is zero-based.

Phase 2 of the Spending Review launched on the 10th December 2024. At launch, I asked every department to conduct a zero-based review of government spending to assess whether it is a priority for this government and represents value for money. This is the first time that a line-by-line review of government spending has taken place in 17 years, offering the opportunity to undertake a more thorough review of spending.

If she will publish the internal equality impact assessment under the Equality Act 2010 for changes to (a) agricultural and (b) business property relief.

The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms. It is expected that up to around 2,000 estates will be affected by the changes to APR and BPR in 2026-27, with around half of those being claims that involve AIM shares. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief (or those claiming agricultural property relief and business property relief together) are expected to be unaffected by these reforms. In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.

If she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's equality (a) impact assessment and (b) screening in relation to the changes to employers' National Insurance contributions in the Autumn Budget 2024.

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of 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, civil society organisations and an overview of the equality impacts. The Office for Budget Responsibility also published the Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO), which sets out a detailed forecast of the economy and public finances