Written questions by Hayes.

If she will meet with private sector cash machine operator Link to discuss additional face to face banking services for rural areas.

Banking has changed significantly in recent years with many customers benefitting from the ease and convenience of digital banking. The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 220 hubs have been announced so far, and over 160 are already open.Where a branch closure is announced or a community has submitted a cash access assessment request, LINK, the independent industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments, assesses a community’s access to cash needs, and will recommend appropriate solutions where it considers that a community requires additional cash services, such as a banking hub or deposit service.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules require designated firms to consider a range of factors in their assessments which will account for challenges in cash access faced in rural areas. For example, firms are required to consider the actual travel times and costs to reach cash access facilities and identify gaps in provision where these are unreasonable, which may be particularly the case in rural areas.Whilst the Government meets with LINK to discuss a variety of matters, any decisions on changes to LINK’s independent assessment criteria are a matter for LINK and the financial services sector. The Government works closely with the FCA, the independent regulator of the UK’s financial services sector, to ensure that all customers get the right support with their financial products and services. The FCA requires firms to provide a prompt, efficient, and fair service to all of their customers. This includes special considerations for vulnerable customers, including the elderly and disabled customers. Furthermore, under the Equality Act 2010, banks must make reasonable adjustments to ensure their services are accessible to all. Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.

What fiscal steps her Department is taking to support pensioners with the cost of living in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

This Government remains committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. On 9 June the Government announced that, from this winter 2025-26, Winter Fuel Payment eligibility will be expanded in England and Wales. Pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. This will mean that the vast majority of pensioners over three quarters, or 9 million—will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. This change ensures that the means-testing of winter fuel payments has no effect on pensioner poverty. Through our commitment to protect the Triple Lock around 26,000 pensioners in South Holland and the Deepings constituency benefitted from a 4.1% increase to their basic or new State Pension in April 2025. Over the course of this Parliament, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is expected to increase by around £1,900 based on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest forecast. Support available beyond the State Pension includes: free eye tests; NHS prescriptions; and free bus passes. Some pensioners may also qualify for means tested benefits including Pension Credit and Housing Benefit.

How the Infrastructure Strategy will support infrastructure enhancements in Lincolnshire.

The 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy will reduce uncertainty by bringing together a long-term plan for the social, economic and housing infrastructure across the UKAlongside considering the UK’s economic and social infrastructure needs, the strategy will set out how we are reforming institutions and changing the way we make decisions and deliver infrastructure, maximising the benefits of our strong fiscal and spending frameworks, breaking down regulatory and planning barriers, and resetting our relationship with the private sector.

If she will take steps to delay the implementation of changes to Inheritance Tax for farmers by 12 months.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.These reforms were announced in October 2024 and will take effect in April 2026.

What steps she is taking to increase the number of apprenticeship starts in her Department.

As of January 2025, 6.9% of staff in the department are currently on an apprenticeship, which is above our target of 5%. To maintain and build on this, we continue to take the following steps: All Administrative Officer (AO) and Executive Officer (EO) recruitment is considered for a Level 4 Business Administration apprenticeship, ensuring that new entrants have the opportunity to develop their skills through apprenticeship routes.We participate annually in the Government Economic Service Degree Apprenticeship Programme (GESDAP) and actively advertise this opportunity across the department to encourage uptake.We continue to offer a wide variety of apprenticeships in areas such as finance, management, and data science, ensuring a broad range of opportunities for staff to develop their skills and progress their careers.Subject to a new approach to Apprenticeships which we anticipate from Skills England, we plan to review our current offering to focus on how we use a range of Apprenticeships to attract candidates and develop the skills of the future. Through these measures, the department remains committed to supporting staff development and increasing apprenticeship opportunities.

What estimate she has made of the potential saving to the Exchequer of moving to a two-tier system for reserve renumeration.

The Chancellor regularly meets with the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss matters relating to economy and the Bank’s progress towards meeting its price stability targets. The government continues to support the Bank’s independence to carry out its statutory responsibilities for monetary policy and financial stability, and there are no plans to change the way reserves are remunerated at the Bank of England. The government is providing the stability required for the MPC to bring interest rates down, by managing the public finances responsibly.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Governor of the Bank of England on moving to a two-tier system for reserve remuneration.

The Chancellor regularly meets with the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss matters relating to economy and the Bank’s progress towards meeting its price stability targets. The government continues to support the Bank’s independence to carry out its statutory responsibilities for monetary policy and financial stability, and there are no plans to change the way reserves are remunerated at the Bank of England. The government is providing the stability required for the MPC to bring interest rates down, by managing the public finances responsibly.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing an illicit tobacco taskforce.

In the illicit tobacco strategy titled ‘Stubbing out the problem’, the Government committed to establishing a multi-agency illicit tobacco taskforce to co-ordinate enforcement activity, involving staff from HMRC, Border Force and Trading Standards and working closely with other law enforcement and intelligence partners.This team is now in place and contributing to efforts to tackle illicit tobacco across all relevant departments.

What estimate her Department has made of the number of people who will be exempt from National Insurance contributions under the UK-India trade agreement.

The OBR will certify the impact of the trade deal including the Double Contributions Convention in the usual way at a fiscal event, once the deal is finalised and ratified. The agreement to negotiate a Double Contributions Convention was made in the context of the wider deal, which will bring billions into the economy.

What estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of providing an exemption from National Insurance contributions for Indian nationals through the UK-India trade agreement.

The OBR will certify the impact of the trade deal including the Double Contributions Convention in the usual way at a fiscal event, once the deal is finalised and ratified. The agreement to negotiate a Double Contributions Convention was made in the context of the wider deal, which will bring billions into the economy.

With reference to the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025, whether her Department plans to amend its policy on the use of women-only spaces in its buildings by transgender women.

HM Treasury is working with Government People Group in the Cabinet Office to understand the revised model policies and will implement required changes accordingly.

How many people living in Switzerland claimed Guardian's Allowance in each year since 2020.

The information is only available at disproportionate cost.

How many people resident in the European Economic Area claimed Child Benefit in each year since 2020.

The information is only available at disproportionate cost.

How many people living in Switzerland claimed Child Benefit in each year since 2020.

The information is only available at disproportionate cost.

How many people resident in the European Economic Area claimed Guardian's Allowance in each year since 2020.

The information is only available at disproportionate cost.

Whether the National Infrastructure Commission has offered apprenticeships in each year since it was set up.

Since its inception, the National Infrastructure Commission has successfully trained and developed a number of apprentices. As a small organisation, the number of apprentices trained and developed has been determined by business needs, balanced against obligations. On 1st April 2025, the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) and the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) merged to become the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA). NISTA is a unit of HM Treasury, reporting to both HM Treasury and Cabinet Office.

How many apprenticeships HM Revenue and Customs has offered since 2010, by year.

HMRC has made use of apprentices since 2013. This table shows the number of apprenticeships that have been offered and started in HMRC since 2010. It equates to 13,394 apprenticeships over 15 years. Financial YearApprentices starting an Apprenticeship2010/1102011/1202012/1302013/14572014/1502015/16462016/178692017/1811882018/1935332019/2036462020/2118762021/225222022/235892023/247642024/25304 In October 2023, HMRC launched a new strategy to embed apprenticeships across the Department. Since then, outcomes have improved, with successful completions increasing from 43% in 2022 to over 74% now.

What steps her Department is taking to support small businesses impacted by a reduction in (a) local bank branches and (b) in-person banking services in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities, businesses and high streets in the South Holland and Deepings constituency and across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 220 hubs have been announced so far, and over 135 are already open. Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.

Whether her Department has banned the use of DeepSeek.

The Government has a robust set of security policies in place to oversee how information is handled, within our buildings, on our IT, and by our staff. We keep these policies under constant review to ensure they are applicable to new technologies. The AI Playbook for the UK Government outlines that only corporately assured Generative AI tools should be used to process HMG information. Everyone who works in government has a duty of confidentiality and a responsibility to safeguard any government information or data that they process, access or share, and all government departments are required to meet a range of mandatory security standards.

What steps her Department is taking to tackle cryptocurrency fraud.

Fraud is the most common crime in the UK and the Government takes this issue very seriously. That is why we are committed to updating and expanding the UK fraud strategy to tackle the full range of threats. We are working with law enforcement and industry to reduce fraud and better protect the public and businesses from this devastating crime. Further, the Financial Conduct Authority commenced enforcement of the cryptoassets financial promotion regime in October 2023. This requires firms to ensure that promotions for cryptoasset products and services are fair, clear and not misleading; meaning cryptoasset promotions are now held to the same standards financial services products with similar risk. The Government is also proceeding to introduce a comprehensive UK financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets, and intends to bring forward legislation for this as soon as possible this year.