Written questions by Hollinrake.

What the role of the Bank of England is in ensuring cyber-security of financial institutions and telecommunication exchanges based within the vicinity 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 (PRA) and working closely with the NCSC and other authorities, requires PRA-regulated financial institutions to have rigorous cyber security frameworks in place and requires regular assessment of financial institutions’ cyber security measures. The Bank of England does not regulate telecommunication exchanges.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 51130 on Chinese Embassy, whether the Bank of England has made representations to her Department on the potential cyber-security implications of the Chinese Embassy development.

It is not the role of the Bank of England to consider the cyber-security implications of the Chinese Embassy development. However, national security is the first duty of Government and has been HMG’s core priority throughout this process. A final decision on the application for the new Chinese embassy in Tower Hamlets will be made in due course by ministers in the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government.

Whether it is her policy that financing should not be provided for the development of green technologies relating to direct manufacture of alcoholic beverages.

The Government provides financial support for green technologies including those related to the manufacturing of alcoholic beverages. For example, £60m was provided to the Farming Innovation Programme this year, which offers R&D grant funding for innovative and green technologies across the farming, food and drink sector. It has previously funded the development of electronic weeding technology for vineyards, which helps protect the environment by reducing chemical pesticide usage.

With reference to the PCS trade union press release entitled Valuation Office to move into HMRC, published on 28 April 2025, for what reason the trade unions were not consulted over the announcement of the closure of the Valuation Office Agency.

The government is conducting a full review of all arm’s-length bodies with a presumption that they will be closed, merged, or have functions brought into departments.The decision to move the Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA) functions into its parent department (HMRC) was taken to provide greater ministerial oversight and accountability of an essential function of significant national importance.The VOA has begun consultation with its trade unions, Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and Prospect. It will continue to work closely and consult with them throughout the transition period to ensure a successful outcome.

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2025 to Question 50855 on Revenue and Customs and Valuation Office Agency, how many of those (a) HMRC and (b) VOA offices will be closed as a consequence of the abolition of the VOA as a standalone agency.

HMRC and VOA are working closely together on plans to bring VOA into HMRC by April 2026 which will deliver 5 to 10% of additional savings in VOA’s total administrative costs by 2028-29. HMRC and VOA regularly review their locations planning to identify opportunities to deliver savings. VOA are already co-located with HMRC in 13 locations.

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2025 to Question 50853 on Valuation Office Agency: Staff, whether all Valuation Office Agency staff will be transferred into HMRC.

Yes, all Valuation Office Agency employees will be transferred to HMRC.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48451 on Shops: Valuations, how the Valuation Office Agency determines whether an improved energy efficiency rating results in an enhanced valuation.

For business rates, it is unlikely that an improved Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) alone would result in an increased Rateable Value (RV). However, the extent and type of works that resulted in the improved EPC rating, would be considered when determining whether they have an impact. If the works were considered to have an impact on the rental value on the property, then the RV may be amended. For example, new installations such as heating and air conditioning are considered an improvement, and their installation may result in an increase.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48449 on Financial Services: Environment Protection, which municipal green investment (a) bonds and (b) loans being offered by local authorities in England are regulated by the (i) Financial Conduct Authority, (ii) Prudential Regulation Authority, (iii) Financial Ombudsman Service and (iv) Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 establishes a framework whereby any person, whether an individual or firm, can only carry out a regulated activity by way of business if they are authorised by the appropriate regulator or are exempt from the authorisation requirement. Under this framework, the government determines which activities are regulated activities, by specifying them in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 (RAO). Where local authorities are the issuers of bonds, or borrowers under loans, they themselves would not require authorisation from a financial services regulator to act in that capacity, and would not be subject to regulation by the financial services regulators. Financial services firms facilitating access to such funding by local authorities may, depending on the circumstances, be subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority, and investors may be eligible to refer disputes with the regulated firm to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Depending on the precise circumstances of any products offered, compensation in the case of default may be available under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, but this may not always be the case.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48452 on Housing: Valuation, where the Valuation Office Agency obtains scaled (a) plans and (b) maps to determine plot size.

In addition to plans derived from the direct measurement of the property, the VOA uses plans and maps from online digital mapping platforms, ONS surveys, planning portals, property developers, estate agents and other data within the public domain.

What data HM Revenue and Customs holds on the house prices of second homes.

The VOA has a statutory duty to maintain the Council Tax lists in England and Wales by assessing the value of a domestic property and placing them in a Council Tax band. Whether a domestic property is a taxpayer’s second home is not considered during this process. The VOA obtains sales data to assist in their functions, but this data does not distinguish between whether a purchase is of a second home or not.

Whether the Bank of England has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed Chinese Embassy on security in the City of London.

It is not the Bank of England’s role to undertake this sort of impact assessment. National security is the first duty of Government and has been HM Government’s core priority throughout this process. A final decision on the application for the new Chinese embassy in Tower Hamlets will be made in due course by ministers in the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government.

What information the Valuation Office Agency holds on the number of (a) private sector and (b) municipal public conveniences there are in each local authority in (i) England and (ii) Wales.

The VOA assess public conveniences for business rates purposes but they do not consider whether they are owned by a local authority or the private sector. The number of public conveniences is published in the VOA’s Non- Domestic Rating stock of properties. The most recent release is at 31 March 2024 and can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-domestic-rating-stock-of-properties-2024 The number of public conveniences assessed by the VOA in each local authority can be found by clicking ‘Stock SCat Tables by region, county, local authority district and rateable value band, 2024 (CSV)’ and viewing column ‘KY’ in the file named ‘SOP_SCAT_LA_counts_all’.

Whether she has considered providing Income Tax relief for party political donations.

The Government is not considering an income tax relief for party political donations.

How does the Valuation Office Agency determine the area size of a dwelling in (a) England and (b) Wales; and how does it determine the size of a non-standard plot.

I refer the hon. member to the following answer UIN 48452, tabled on 28 April 2025.

Whether her Department has had discussions with the Bank of England on the proposed Chinese Embassy in London.

Treasury officials hold regular discussions with the Bank of England across various financial and economic matters. A final decision on the application for the new Chinese embassy in Tower Hamlets will be made in due course by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government in her independent, quasi-judicial role. As such, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the case.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 15200 on Council Tax: Wales, when the Valuation Office Agency will publish this information.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) published the information on gov.uk on 31 March 2025: How model assisted valuation delivers large-scale property valuations - GOV.UK – A high level overview of how the VOA uses model assisted valuation and mass appraisal to support large-scale valuation. This links through to further information:External assurance of the VOA automated valuation model (AVM): VOA response - GOV.UK - This page sets out the VOA response to external review and assurance of the VOA AVM developed to support Wales Council Tax reform. More_information_on_mass_appraisal_and_AVM.pdf - More information on how the VOA is using mass appraisal to support Council Tax reform in Wales and on the AVM. Model_specification_document.pdf – A document setting out the data utilised in development of the AVM for a future revaluation of Council Tax in Wales, as well as the core spatial regression model specification and an overview of the comparables model.

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 45654 on Bank Services: Vetting, what her planned timetable is for issuing revised guidance on Political Exposed Persons.

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 this summer.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the absence of a cash cap on the cost of retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) rate relief in 2026-27; and what estimate she has made of the gross revenue required from the multiplier surcharge on hereditaments with a Rateable Value above £500,000 to fund the new RHL multiplier in 2026-27.

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief has been extended year-by-year by previous governments since the pandemic – creating uncertainty for businesses and an unsustainable fiscal pressure for the Government. Without any government intervention, RHL relief would have ended entirely in April 2025, creating a cliff-edge for businesses. Instead, the Government has decided to offer a 40 per cent discount to RHL properties up to a cash cap of £110,0000 per business in 2025-26, ahead of introducing permanently lower tax rates for RHL properties from 2026-27. Like all business rates multipliers, these lower RHL multipliers will not be subject to a cash cap. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support. This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to apply a higher rate from 2026-27 on the most valuable properties – those with a Rateable Value of £500,000 and above. The rates for any new business rate multipliers will be set at Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the upcoming revaluation outcomes as well as the economic and fiscal context.

How many staff the Valuation Office Agency employs; and whether she has set a target for a reduction to that number.

As of the 30 April 2025, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) employs 4,005 staff, which equates to 3,749.71 full-time employees. In addition, the VOA employs 88 contingent labour workers.The VOA has no current plans to reduce the workforce.

What the average office attendance is for (a) Valuation Office Agency and (b) HM Revenue and Customs staff, adjusting for VOA work that requires off-site visits.

For the period of March 2025, 67% of VOA people attended the office as expected, once off-site adjustments are considered. For the same period, 80% of HMRC people (excluding VOA) did so.