Written questions by Hollinrake.

With reference to the Valuation Office Agency: May 2025 transparency data, published on 30 June 2025, what the spending on consultancy by (a) Eunoia Consulting Ltd and (b) Posterity Milestone Consortium was for.

Details of these contracts are available on Contracts Finder at the following links:Supply of Professional Services in support of VOA's Digital Transformation & Policy Reform Programme - Contracts Finder· Professional Services: Client Side Delivery Partner to Support Initial Beta Stage, NDR Reforms Programme - Contracts Finder

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 60137 on Council tax and Police: Finance, what her Department's assumption is of the amount that will be raised in council tax from police precepts in England only in each year of the Spending Review period.

As set out in the Spending Review (SR) 2025 document, published 11 June 2025, the Phase 2 settlement provides an average 1.7% real terms increase per year in police spending power. Over the SR period, police spending power is projected to increase by an average 2.3% per year in real terms.Police spending power includes projected spending from additional income, including estimated funding from the police council tax precept. However, this remains subject to final decision on precept levels and individual police and crime commissioner decisions. The final police precept level and core government funding will be set out in the annual police funding settlement in the usual way.

What estimate the Valuation Office Agency has made of the (a) percentage and (b) cash terms monetary change in average private sector rents for dwellings in (i) London and (ii) England since July 2024.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) publishes this information monthly, based on information collected by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). The latest publication was released on 18 June 2025 at: Private rent and house prices, UK - Office for National Statistics and includes the 12 months leading up to May 2025. As of May 2025:Average rents increased to £1,394 or by 7.1% in EnglandAverage rents in London increased to £2,249 or by 7.7%

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2025 to Question 60486 on Chinese Embassy, whether her discussions with the Chinese during her visit included that of the proposed Chinese Embassy in London.

As stated in my Answer of 25 June, the Chancellor discussed a range of economic and financial issues during her visit to China for the 2025 UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue. The Chancellor published a written ministerial statement about her visit on the morning of Monday 13 January (found here) and delivered an oral statement to the House of Commons on Tuesday 14 January (found here).

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 54290 on Chinese Embassy, whether the Bank of England has any role in relation to the cyber-security of financial institutions in and near the City of London.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is the UK's technical authority for cyber security, including helping to protect the UK's critical infrastructure and services from cyber-attacks. The Bank of England, through the Prudential Regulation Authority and working closely with the NCSC, requires PRA-regulated financial institutions to have rigorous cyber-security frameworks in place and requires regular assessment of financial institutions’ cyber security measures.

If she will make it her policy to increase £500,000 threshold for the new surcharge on business rates in line with the increase in aggregate rateable values from the 2026 business rates revaluation.

As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce a higher business rates multiplier for all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 or above in April 2026 to fund permanently lower multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with RVs below £500,000.The final details of the higher multiplier will be announced at Autumn Budget 2025 in light of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation, which is currently ongoing.

With reference to Table 5.8 of the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, how much of the spending line Memo: Police Core Spending is made up of (a) government grant and (b) council tax receipts in each year.

As set out in the Spending Review 2025 document, published 11 June 2025, the Phase 2 settlement provides an average 1.7% real terms increase per year in police spending power. Over the SR period, police spending power is projected to increase by an average 2.3% per year in real terms. Police core spending power includes projected spending from a mix of central government funding and local taxation through the police council tax precept. This 2.3% projection is therefore premised on the police being funded through increases to both. However, this remains subject to final decisions on precept levels and individual police and crime commissioner decisions. The government will set out spending plans for police forces in England and Wales, including the final precept level and core government funding, at the annual police funding settlement in the usual way.

If she will make it her policy to exempt film studios from the business rates surcharge for hereditaments with a rateable value over £500,000.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced an intention to introduce a higher business rates multiplier on the most valuable properties – those with Rateable Values (RVs) of £500,000 and above – from April 2026 to fund permanently lower multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties.This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with an RV of £500,000 and above – these represent less than one per cent of properties. The final details of the new higher multiplier will be set at Budget 2025.Eligible film studios in England benefit from 40 per cent business rates relief. Business rates bills are calculated by applying the relevant multiplier first, meaning film studios receive 40 per cent relief on their total liability.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 56711 on Council tax: valuation, how many complaints have been made to (a) Tier 1 complaints process, (b) Tier 2 complaints process and (c) the Adjudicator's Office in relation delays in council tax banding appeals by the Valuation Office Agency in the last 12 months.

Between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, the VOA received the following number of complaints about delays: Tier 1 – 677Tier 2 - 103Adjudicator’s Office (Council Tax complaints)– 9 For context, on average the VOA deals with around 60,000 cases each year in England and Wales where customers wish to challenge their council tax band.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54866 on Alcoholic Drinks, if she will remove the exclusion of the direct manufacture of alcoholic beverages from paragraph 2.12 of the UK Government Green Financing Framework.

The Green Financing Framework, published in 2021, explains how proceeds from green gilts and NS&I’s retail Green Savings Bonds will finance public expenditures that demonstrate a direct and positive environmental impact. The Framework includes guidelines on the types of expenditures that can be included in the Programme. Eligible expenditures are drawn from departments’ confirmed Spending Review settlements and assessed on the basis of their contribution to the government’s climate and environmental objectives. The Framework excludes financing of the direct manufacture of alcoholic beverages, alongside other named exclusions, in line with international convention and investor expectations for green bond frameworks. This approach enables the UK’s green gilts to be accessible to the greatest possible pool of investors, improving value-for-money.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 55222 on Film: Business Rates, how many film studios in England will be subject to the higher multiplier on Rateable Values above £500,000, from April 2026.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced an intention to introduce a higher business rates multiplier on the most valuable properties – those with Rateable Values (RVs) of £500,000 and above – from April 2026 to fund permanently lower multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with RVs below £500,000. The next revaluation will take effect from April 2026. The VOA are required to publish a draft of all properties’ new RVs this year, at which point it will be clear how many film studios will be in scope of the new higher multiplier. Eligible film studios in England benefit from 40 per cent business rates relief on their total liability. Business rates bills are calculated by applying the relevant multiplier first and so film studios will receive 40 per cent relief on their total liability.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57280 on Local Government: Reorganisation, what estimate she has made of the change in public sector net borrowing from local government reorganisation in each of the next four financial years; and whether she plans to limit the levels of that reorganisation.

HM Treasury has not undertaken an assessment of the impact of local government reorganisation on local authority borrowing nor the impact on public sector net borrowing. The OBR will continue to update its forecast for overall local government borrowing at each fiscal event, in line with standard practice. The government announced its plans for local government reorganisation in the English Devolution White Paper on 16 December 2024. The ambition is to replace two-tier authorities with suitably sized unitary councils to create simpler structures, strengthen disjointed services and help councils pursue efficiencies. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government received interim plan responses from all areas in March. Surrey councils submitted their final proposals on 9 May 2025, and all other areas invited will be submitting their final proposals later this year. The government will set out next steps in due course.

With reference to the guidance entitled Civil Service 2024/2025 External Expenditure on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, published on 30 May 2025, which suppliers were used to provide Antisemitism and Anti-Islamophobia training.

HM Treasury volunteers coordinated 3 events on Antisemitism and Anti-Islamophobia with 2 paid for speakers- TellMAMA and Antisemitism Policy Trust (APT).

What steps the Valuation Office Agency is taking to tackle delays in processing council tax valuation challenges.

The VOA is working as quickly as possible to clear cases, and moving staff to where there is the greatest customer demand. The VOA is focusing on the oldest cases first, and where customers are facing financial hardship. The VOA is replacing IT systems with modern cloud-based platforms that will deliver significant efficiencies. It is also upskilling its workforce to ensure there is flexibility in managing a wide range of cases and improving its digital services to make it easier for customers to self-serve.

Whether her Department has had recent discussions with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on council tax (a) revaluation and (b) re-banding.

The Government engages regularly and constructively with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on a range of economic issues. Property tax reform has not been discussed with the OECD since the current Government took office in July 2024, but it was discussed under the previous Government.

What guidance she has issued to local authorities on Anti-Money Laundering checks in relation to (a) working with and (b) loaning funds to developers.

Guidance for local authorities on investments is available here: Guidance_on_local_government_investments.pdf It is for local authorities to determine their own capital strategies as they are best placed to understand local needs and are accountable to the local electorate. In doing so, local authorities have a duty to comply with the Prudential Framework and must have regard to statutory guidance to ensure plans are prudent, affordable, and sustainable. Property developers are in scope of the Money Laundering Regulations if they act as estate agents (i.e. they sell their properties through a separate legal entity) or provide relevant financial services and products. Guidance on how such firms should comply with the Regulations is published online by Anti-Money Laundering supervisors, including His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the Financial Conduct Authority. The HMRC guidance on estate agents can be found here: Estate and letting agency business guidance for money laundering supervision - GOV.UK

Whether she had discussions with the Chinese Government on the proposed Chinese Embassy at the Royal Mint (a) at the 11th round of China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue and (b) on any other occasion.

The Chancellor has engaged with the Chinese Government on a number of occasions, including during her visit to China for the 2025 UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue, and has discussed a range of economic and financial issues. The Chancellor published a written ministerial statement about her visit to China on the morning of Monday 13 January (found here) and delivered an oral statement to the House of Commons on Tuesday 14 January (found here).On 10 June, the Planning Inspector responsible for the Planning Inquiry into China’s application to build a new embassy at Royal Mint Court submitted her report to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. A target decision date of 9 September has been set. As this case will come before ministers in MHCLG for determination, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

Whether she plans to respond to the consultation on Improving the effectiveness of the Money Laundering Regulations, published in March 2024.

Responses to the consultation have been invaluable in building the evidence base on potential reforms. In the coming months HM Treasury plans to respond and will bring forward a package of changes to the Regulations aimed at improving their effectiveness. This will include changes to close potential loopholes and ensure requirements are targeted at high-risk activity.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the merger of the Valuation Office Agency into HM Revenue and Customs on (a) Ministerial accountability and (b) the ability of Ministers to amend valuation practices.

Moving the VOA’s functions into HMRC will strengthen direct accountability to Ministers, helping to improve the experience of taxpayers and businesses and support the delivery of the government's commitments to reform business rates and modernise the tax system. The Valuation Office Agency has a legal responsibility to provide independent and impartial advice on property valuations based on appropriate evidence and methodology. It does this using internationally recognised valuation approaches for property taxation. It will continue to do this following the merger with HMRC.

How local government restructuring scores on public (a) spending and (b) borrowing.

Any changes to local government spending as a result of local government reorganisation will be reflected in the OBR forecast via estimates of local authority self-financed expenditure, with associated impacts on overall fiscal metrics, including public sector net borrowing (PSNB). Any central government funding for restructuring would be allocated within departmental budgets in the usual way.