Written questions by Wood.

With reference to paragraph 14 of the policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit: Common Understanding, published on 19 May 2025, what is the estimated change in financial payments from the UK to the EU and its agencies in each of the next four years.

We have agreed to work towards the association of the UK to the EU Erasmus+ programme. The specific terms of this association, including mutually agreed financial terms, should be determined as part of that process in order to ensure a fair balance as regards the contributions of and benefits to the United Kingdom.The government has been clear that the UK will only associate to Erasmus+ on significantly improved financial terms which take into account the UK’s financial contribution and the number of UK participants who receive funding from the programme.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 December 2024 to Question 20489 on Treasury: Media, on what basis Freuds Communication was given the contract for Ministerial media training; and whether there was a competitive tendering process.

The award of the contract complied with HM Treasury’s standard procurement procedure for requirements of this value and was awarded following a competitive process. Guidance for the award of below-threshold contracts is publicly available on gov.uk: Guidance: Below-Threshold Contracts (HTML) - GOV.UK

With reference to the Financial Conduct Authority's press release entitled Update on the FCA’s enforcement transparency proposals, published on 12 March 2025, whether she has had discussions with the (a) FCA and (b) PRA on their decision not to introduce rules to improve diversity and inclusion; and what are the expected legislative developments in this area mentioned in the press release.

Treasury Ministers and officials regularly meet with both the FCA and the PRA to discuss their work. As set out in the King’s Speech last July, the government is committed to making the right to equal pay effective for ethnic minority and disabled people and introducing mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting for large employers. These measures will be part of the upcoming Equality (Race and Disability) Bill.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16606 on Arden Strategies, if she will list each of the businesses that (a) attended the roundabout on 17 September 2024 and (b) have not been listed as attending that event in the transparency returns for the (i) Permanent Secretary and (ii) Director General.

A meeting was organised by the Chancellor’s International Investment Summit (IIS) Adviser on 17 September to gather business views on the Summit. Arden Strategies was one of several firms to attend. The Government engaged with a number of different businesses and trade bodies in the run up to the International Investment Summit to help coordinate meetings with key investors as part of the usual course of business. It also has an ongoing business engagement programme run by officials.The Chancellor’s IIS Adviser left HM Treasury on 30 October 2024. The government does not routinely provide commentary on attendees at individual meetings, except where required as part of each department’s quarterly transparency returns for meetings held by senior officials at Permanent Secretary and Director General levels, as published on gov.uk.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 December 2024 to Question 20833 on 10 Downing Street: Art Works, whether she plans for the portrait of Queen Elizabeth I to be permanently installed in 11 Downing Street.

The Government Art Collection is a working collection, used across government buildings in the UK and the global estate, which means that artworks may change their display location from time to time in response to new display steers and requests.

With reference to the Prime Ministers' press release entitled, Regulator axed as red tape is slashed to boost growth, published on 11 March 2025, whether (a) services and (b) offices are shared between the Payment Services Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority.

The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has carried out important work to support the UK’s world leading payments sector. However, moving forward, the Government wishes to see a more streamlined regulatory environment with minimal overlap between regulators’ responsibilities. That is why the Government has announced its intentions to consolidate the PSR and its functions primarily within the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The Government will consult on the detail of this proposal in the summer and legislate as soon as possible. These questions are matters for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is independent from Government. The FCA will respond to the Honourable Member by letter, and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

Whether her Department has received representations from TheCityUk on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme since June 2022.

Since June 2022, the government has received representations from various organisations on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, including TheCityUk.

Whether (a) her Department and (b) HMRC have produced a Tax Information and Impact Note for the changes to the Treatment of double cab pick up vehicles outlined in paragraph 5.91 of the Autumn Budget 2024 Red Book.

Following recent case law from 2020, double cab pick up vehicles (DCPU) with a payload of one tonne or more must be treated as cars, based on primary use. In the light of this judgement, the government would have to legislate to treat DCPUs as goods vehicles. The government has made clear it does not intend to do so as this would depart from the principles underpinning the Court of Appeal’s judgement and would incur significant fiscal cost, which is not affordable, given the state of the public finances inherited by this Government. In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note is only published when legislative changes are made.

Whether mitie will be compensated through higher payments for the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions.

The Chancellor made an announcement at the Autumn Budget setting out that the rate of employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) will increase from 13.8% to 15% from 6 April 2025. Raising revenue to fund public services and restore fiscal stability requires difficult decisions on tax, which is why the Government is asking employers to contribute more. HM Treasury has not provided additional funding to departments to compensate private companies holding public contracts. This is in line with the precedent from the last increase to employer NICs: the Health and Social Care Levy.

Whether she discussed China’s participation in the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme with the Chinese government during her visit to China.

As the government’s Security Minister has confirmed in Parliament, work is under way to identify which foreign powers will be placed on the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme enhanced tier.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 21406 on BBC: Employers’ Contribution, whether the BBC will receive government support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs.

There are no plans to provide the BBC with government support for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions. Details of the funding set aside for 2025-26, including its allocation, will be published in due course.

What assessment she has made of whether public spending plans in the (a) Autumn Budget 2024 and (b) Spending Review phase (i) one and (ii) two will require (A) compulsory and (B) voluntary redundancies in the civil service.

At Autumn Budget, this government committed to developing a long-term strategic workforce plan for a more efficient and effective Civil Service. During Spending Review phase two, departments will set out their long-term spending plans, including for their Civil Service workforces.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Plan for Change, published on 5 December 2024, CP1210, what metrics she plans to use to measure progress towards the target to deliver the highest sustained growth in the G7.

Improving economic growth is one of the core missions of the government and our Plan for Change. We aim to have the highest growth in the G7 by the end of the parliament, measured using estimates of real terms Gross Domestic Product per capita.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Plan for Change, published on 5 December 2024, CP1210, if she will make it her policy to publish an annual spending review for the milestones set out in the Plan for Change showing how much funding has been (a) allocated, (b) spent and (c) reallocated for each of the five milestones.

The Prime Minister’s Plan for Change sets out the government’s agenda and priorities for the remainder of this Parliament, to strengthen our country through a decade of national renewal. The Spending Review will deliver on this agenda. Phase 1 of the Spending Review was published alongside Autumn Budget 2024, resetting budgets for 2024-25 and setting departmental budgets for 2025-26. Phase 2 of the Spending Review will conclude later this year and the milestones announced in the PfC will be the core priorities. Phase 2 will allocate departmental budgets between 2026-27 and 2028-29, with an additional year (2029-30) for capital spending. The government has committed to regular Spending Reviews, allocating all departmental spending, every two years to provide a more stable and transparent spending framework.

With reference to the written statement entitled Plan for Change: Milestones for mission-led Government, published on 5 December 2024, HCWS285, and the policy paper entitled Plan for Change, published on 5 December 2024, CP1210, whether funding announced in the Plan for Change includes funding previously announced by the Government; and whether there will be Barnett consequential funding for devolved administrations.

The government sets out its plans for departmental expenditure at regular Spending Reviews. The current Spending Review (SR25) is split into two phases. Phase 1 of the Spending Review was published alongside Autumn Budget 2024, resetting budgets for 2024-25 and setting departmental budgets for 2025-26, including funding which will support delivery of the Plan for Change priorities. Autumn Budget confirmed the largest real-terms funding settlement for the Devolved Governments since devolution. Phase 2 of the Spending Review will conclude later this year and the milestones announced in the Plan for Change will be the core priorities. Phase 2 will allocate departmental budgets between 2026-27 and 2028-29, with an additional year (2029-30) for capital spending. The Barnett formula will continue to apply in the usual way.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Plan for Change, published on 5 December 2024, CP1210, what metrics she plans to use to measure economic stability beyond gross domestic product.

The government’s Plan for Change can only be delivered on the foundation of a stable economy. Achieving economic stability requires macroeconomic stability, which gives firms and households the certainty to plan spending and investment; financial stability, which supports the real economy and ensures we can withstand shocks; fiscal credibility, which keeps inflation expectations anchored; and long-term policy certainty, which encourages investors. The Autumn Budget took significant steps to restore stability to public finances and improve our public services. Only by achieving stability can we grow the economy and keep both taxes and inflation low.The breadth of economic stability will require the use of many metrics to track it. These may include measures of price stability and inflation; measures of policy uncertainty; and a range of financial market indicators.

With reference to the Speaker's Statement of 28 October 2024, Official Report, column 531, whether she has made an assessment of the compatibility of those fiscal policy announcements with paragraph 9.1 of the Ministerial Code.

The announcement on the changes made to the debt fiscal rules was made in the Budget statement on 30th October.