Written questions by Sewards.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of removing VAT from swimming lessons for children.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment the Financial Conduct Authority has made of the adequacy of its current supervisory framework for identifying Trust and Corporate Service Providers that facilitate the mass incorporation of shell com

The Government takes the abuse of UK corporate structures by criminal networks extremely seriously. We are strengthening supervision of Trust and Company Service Providers by transferring responsibility to the FCA, alongside Companies House reforms to imp...

What steps the Financial Conduct Authority is taking to address the risk of mass incorporation of shell companies linked to money laundering by Chinese organised crime networks ahead of assuming consolidated Anti Mo

The Government takes the abuse of UK corporate structures by criminal networks extremely seriously. We are strengthening supervision of Trust and Company Service Providers by transferring responsibility to the FCA, alongside Companies House reforms to imp...

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...

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...

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, van...