Written questions by Wilkinson.

If she will make an assessment of the potential (a) merits of reducing taxes on developers of brownfield sites and (b) impact of doing so on the regeneration of town centres.

The government has announced reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework that will deliver key steps to get Britain building, and the reforms introduced through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will streamline the delivery of new housing and regeneration projects.The government has also committed to deliver 1.5 million new homes as part of our mission to achieve economic growth across the country. At Autumn Budget, the government announced over £5 billion total housing investment in 2025-2026 to boost supply.Tax stability is important for investment in regeneration, and the government has committed through the Corporate Tax Roadmap to provide the stability needed for businesses to make investments that are critical to boosting growth in the UK.

What assessment she has made of the potential cumulative impact of her Department's (a) economic forecasting and (b) fiscal rules on economic policy.

The Treasury does not produce economic forecasts. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is the Government’s independent official economic and fiscal forecaster. The Government uses the forecasts and analysis it produces to inform policy decisions. The OBR will publish its next Economic and Fiscal Outlook on 26 March alongside The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Spring Statement.The fiscal rules demonstrate the Government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and help underpin economic stability. The stability and investment rules put the public finances on a sustainable path and prioritise investment to support long term growth.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a lower rate of VAT for the hospitality sector.

To support hospitality businesses, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with Rateable Values below £500,000, from 2026-27. Ahead of these changes being made, the Government recognises that businesses will need support in 2025-26. As such, the Government has prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and we have frozen the small business multiplier. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £171 billion in 2024/25. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of establishing a customs union with the EU on retail prices of consumer goods.

No. The Government is working with the EU to identify areas where we can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit, such as the economy, energy, security and resilience. But we have been clear that there will be no return to the customs union.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of establishing a customs union with the EU on the cyber security sector in Cheltenham.

No. The Government is working with the EU to identify areas where we can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit, such as the economy, energy, security and resilience. But we have been clear that there will be no return to the customs union.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of establishing a customs union with the EU on town centre businesses in Cheltenham.

No. The Government is working with the EU to identify areas where we can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit, such as the economy, energy, security and resilience. But we have been clear that there will be no return to the customs union.

If she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of IR35 regulations for UK businesses working together in foreign markets.

The off-payroll working reforms have proved effective in reducing non-compliance. As well as preventing tax non-compliance, keeping the reforms in place also protects around £1.5 billion a year of government revenue, which supports strong public finances ...

If she will bring forward legislative proposals to require insurance companies to set industry-wide definitions for claims classifications.

The Government has no plans to propose legislation requiring insurance companies to set industry-wide definitions for claims classifications.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of removing VAT from defibrillators in the forthcoming Budget.

The Government currently provides VAT reliefs to aid the purchase of defibrillators. This means that charities pay no VAT if they purchase a defibrillator and then donate it to an eligible body. VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and exceptions to t...