Written questions by Darling.

If she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of promoting the National Insurance Credits buy-back scheme for each year since 2015.

All costs involved in promoting the National Insurance (NI) Credits buy-back scheme campaign will be published once it has concluded, as part of the regular transparency reports on GOV.UK. HMRC and DWP are not able to confirm levels of staffing back to 2015 as this work and resource has not been ringfenced. An estimate of the resource currently deployed to voluntary NI contributions across both Departments (as at February 2025) is c.480 frontline civil servants. The majority of customers can check for gaps in their NI record and make payment online. HMRC does not record how many people have made use of the National Insurance Credit buy-back scheme each year since 2015. However, I can confirm that since the enhanced online State Pension forecast service was launched on 29 April 2024, 60,000 people have topped up £62 million.

How many people have made use of the National Insurance Credit buy-back scheme in each year since 2015.

All costs involved in promoting the National Insurance (NI) Credits buy-back scheme campaign will be published once it has concluded, as part of the regular transparency reports on GOV.UK. HMRC and DWP are not able to confirm levels of staffing back to 2015 as this work and resource has not been ringfenced. An estimate of the resource currently deployed to voluntary NI contributions across both Departments (as at February 2025) is c.480 frontline civil servants. The majority of customers can check for gaps in their NI record and make payment online. HMRC does not record how many people have made use of the National Insurance Credit buy-back scheme each year since 2015. However, I can confirm that since the enhanced online State Pension forecast service was launched on 29 April 2024, 60,000 people have topped up £62 million.

How many full time equivalent civil servants have worked on the National Insurance Credits buy-back scheme in each year since 2015.

All costs involved in promoting the National Insurance (NI) Credits buy-back scheme campaign will be published once it has concluded, as part of the regular transparency reports on GOV.UK. HMRC and DWP are not able to confirm levels of staffing back to 2015 as this work and resource has not been ringfenced. An estimate of the resource currently deployed to voluntary NI contributions across both Departments (as at February 2025) is c.480 frontline civil servants. The majority of customers can check for gaps in their NI record and make payment online. HMRC does not record how many people have made use of the National Insurance Credit buy-back scheme each year since 2015. However, I can confirm that since the enhanced online State Pension forecast service was launched on 29 April 2024, 60,000 people have topped up £62 million.

What steps the Government is taking to (a) investigate and (b) raise awareness of (i) unethical and (ii) potentially corrupt practices within the insurance industry.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the independent body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry, including insurance firms. Insurers must treat customers fairly under the FCA’s rules. The FCA monitors firms to ensure compliance with its rules and has robust powers to take action where necessary.

What steps the Government is taking to raise awareness of the opportunity for people to buy back missing National Insurance years.

Since April 2024, approximately 37,000 customers have topped up more than 68,000 years and £35 million has been paid via HMRC’s digital services. From October 2024 we have been running a significant communications campaign to raise awareness of the opportunity for customers to buy back missing National Insurance years, ahead of the 5 April 2025 deadline. Activity has included a wide range of direct communications, messages on our telephony lines, digital platforms, stakeholder engagement, and press/social media to reach our target audience in a fully integrated way. There have been over 20,000 views of HMRC’s YouTube video in 5 months. Stakeholder resource packs have been sent out via FCDO and British Embassies to support customers who may have lived and worked abroad and through Pension providers. HMRC has also provided information bulletins directly to more than 2 million employers and other representative organisations. Ahead of the deadline we will step this up further to remind customers that there are only 2 months left to make any additional contributions. During this period and where appropriate we will supplement this extensive activity with strategic and targeted paid-for activity to speak to elements of the audience who may not have been reached. It is not yet possible to provide a final cost for this activity, but all costs involved in the campaign will be published as part of the regular transparency reports on gov.uk

How much the Government is spending on public awareness campaigns to inform people about the opportunity to buy back missing National Insurance years before the 5 April 2025 deadline.

Since April 2024, approximately 37,000 customers have topped up more than 68,000 years and £35 million has been paid via HMRC’s digital services. From October 2024 we have been running a significant communications campaign to raise awareness of the opportunity for customers to buy back missing National Insurance years, ahead of the 5 April 2025 deadline. Activity has included a wide range of direct communications, messages on our telephony lines, digital platforms, stakeholder engagement, and press/social media to reach our target audience in a fully integrated way. There have been over 20,000 views of HMRC’s YouTube video in 5 months. Stakeholder resource packs have been sent out via FCDO and British Embassies to support customers who may have lived and worked abroad and through Pension providers. HMRC has also provided information bulletins directly to more than 2 million employers and other representative organisations. Ahead of the deadline we will step this up further to remind customers that there are only 2 months left to make any additional contributions. During this period and where appropriate we will supplement this extensive activity with strategic and targeted paid-for activity to speak to elements of the audience who may not have been reached. It is not yet possible to provide a final cost for this activity, but all costs involved in the campaign will be published as part of the regular transparency reports on gov.uk

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of a tourism tax on the tourist industry.

We have no plans to introduce a tourism tax. The Government keeps all tax policy under review.

What steps her Department plans to take to ensure that touch screen card payment devices are made accessible for people with visual impairments.

The government is committed to ensuring high standards of financial inclusion across the financial services sector. The Treasury has been engaging with UK Finance, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Royal National Institute of Blind People, and other Government departments on the issue of accessibility of card payment terminals. UK Finance, the leading trade association for the banking sector, maintains voluntary standards to help ensure point-of-sale technology remains accessible for those who are visually impaired. UK Finance will soon be assessing potential initiatives to drive improvements and adoption. The Government is closely monitoring progress in this important area.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on reforms to business rates.

The government will create a fairer business rates system that protects the high-street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century. Autumn Budget 2024 announced the first steps including an intention to introduce permanently lower multipliers for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties from April 2026. To fund this sustainably the government also intends to introduce a higher multiplier on properties with Rateable Values (RV) of £500,000 or more. During the interim period, for 2025-26, RHL properties will receive a 40% relief on business rates bills up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. The small business multiplier paid by properties with RVs below £51,000 will also be frozen for a further year. The government published a discussion paper at Budget which sets out priority areas for further reform and invites stakeholders to a conversation about transforming the system over the Parliament.

What steps she is taking to ensure UK insurers and other maritime service providers verify compliance with the oil price cap for shipping contracts involving vessels potentially linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.

HM Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) supports industry in complying with the Oil Price Cap. On 16 February 2024, OFSI issued updated industry guidance (UK Maritime Services Ban and Oil Price Cap Industry Guidance). OFSI also co-authored a joint G7+ Coalition Advisory for the Maritime Oil Industry and Related Sectors, issued 12 October 2023, and a Price Cap Coalition Oil Price Cap Compliance and Enforcement Alert, issued 1 February 2024. Alongside this, OFSI has also published updated Financial Sanctions Guidance for Maritime Shipping, issued 5 March 2024.From 19 February 2024, the price cap attestation model was updated to require attestations to be shared on a per-voyage basis, as part of a relevant transaction. As well as per-voyage attestations, the new model requires itemised ancillary costs to be recorded and provided to contractual counterparties upon request. These measures were designed to make it easier for good-faith actors to reliably comply with the price cap, through providing greater transparency for UK service providers engaging in the trade and transport of Russian oil.OFSI takes a proactive enforcement approach and is currently undertaking a number of investigations into suspected breaches of the Oil Price Cap, using powers under SAMLA to request information and working closely with our international partners in the G7+ Coalition.The UK has also taken action directly targeting shadow fleet vessels and entities that seek to undermine UK sanctions and facilitate the trade and transportation of Russian oil and oil products. Since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has sanctioned 25 vessels and 18 entities and individuals linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, under its ship specification and designation powers.