Written questions by Sewards.

If her Department will conduct a review of the level of in-person banking provision.

The Government is committed to ensuring that people can continue to access in-person banking services. That is why, on 14 May, the Government commissioned an independent Review into Access to Banking Services, chaired by Richard Lloyd OBE. The Review will assess the impact of changes in the provision of in-person banking services across the United Kingdom, including the scale and nature of any detriment to consumers arising from a lack of access, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups. The evidence gathered will inform decisions on whether future action is needed. The Review will seek input from market participants and consumer representatives, and may also consult Government and regulators. The Government will consider the Review’s findings carefully and will update the House in due course. Alongside this, the Government intends to include a power in forthcoming financial services legislation to enable it to act, if necessary, to protect access to banking services.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of UK financial regulations in preventing hostile states, including Iran, from exploiting cryptocurrency platforms accessible in the United Kingdom to raise funds.

The UK has a robust anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and sanctions regime to counter hostile state activity.Cryptoassets are in scope of the UK’s Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Regulations, which require regulated firms to apply enhanced due diligence to business relationships and transactions involving high risk third countries, including Iran. This includes verifying customers’ identities and undertaking checks on source of funds and wealth. The UK has imposed financial sanctions on Iran in response to their de-stabilising and hostile behaviour. These sanctions apply to cryptoassets as well as traditional finance. HM Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) delivered a cryptoasset Threat Assessment in July 2025 to support industry their implementation and compliance efforts.

Whether she plans to introduce measures to help tackle (a) profit shifting and (b) other corporation tax avoidance methods used by multinational corporations.

The UK is tackling profit shifting and multinational tax avoidance through measures including Corporate Interest Restriction, Country by Country Reporting, and the Global Minimum Tax. The most recent Finance Bill, introduced by this Government, put legislation in place to ensure the Global Minimum Tax operates effectively.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of using (a) tax incentives and (b) other methods to encourage people to renovate older properties.

This Government is committed to improving the quality and sustainability of our housing stock, through improvements such as low carbon heating, insulation, solar panels, and batteries. As the first step of our Warm Homes Plan, at the Autumn Budget, the Government committed an initial £3.4 billion towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency between 2025-2028.A reduced rate of VAT at five per cent applies to the renovation of properties that have been empty for two years or more prior to the renovation work. This incentivises the restoration of buildings to a state in which they can be occupied, thereby supporting the property market.Any assessment of further tax incentives to encourage people to renovate older properties would require a comprehensive evaluation of a variety of factors including, but not limited to, complexity, fairness, and simplicity for the taxpayer. The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the usual tax policy making process and welcomes representations to help inform future decisions on tax policy.

Whether she plans to review the Overseas Scale Rates.

As with all taxes and allowances, the Government keeps flat rate expenses, including Overseas Scale Rates, under review.

What steps her Department is taking to support economic growth across (a) Yorkshire and (b) northern Lincolnshire.

At Autumn Budget 24 the government set out the first major steps in our approach to regional growth, through devolution, investment and reform.The Government is investing in total over £2.5 billion over 30 years in West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and York and North Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authorities to support growth and business investment.In 26/27 we will introduce integrated settlements in West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire Combined Authorities, giving mayors greater control of their budgets. We are investing in transport by securing delivery of the TransPennine Route Upgrade between York and Manchester, via Leeds and Huddersfield, and have invested £1.3 billion capital through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements to unlock growth-enhancing transport projects such as the Mass Transit system in West Yorkshire.The Government also confirmed the designation of the first customs site in the Humber Freeport, enabling the release of seed capital funding to support the Freeport to build upon the £1bn of investment it has attracted so far, with a particular focus on renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.Through the Government owned British Business Bank, we are also investing over £1billion through their regional Investment Fund programmes, including supporting growing businesses across Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.

Whether her Department plans to make electric vehicle owners eligible to pay car tax.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), also sometimes referred to as car tax, is a tax on car ownership from which electric vehicles are currently exempt. As announced by the previous Government at Autumn Statement 2022, from April 2025, electric and hybrid cars, vans and motorcycles will begin to pay VED in the same way as petrol and diesel vehicles. Revenue from motoring taxes helps ensure we can continue to fund the vital public services and infrastructure that people across the UK expect.