Written questions by Race.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of recognising the provision of dementia care to individuals as a qualifying disability service for VAT exemption.

Supplies of welfare services, including the provision of care for people with dementia, are exempt from VAT if they are supplied by eligible bodies, such as public bodies or charities. More generally, VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 November 2024 to Question 14217 on Loans: Developing Countries, how many loan commitments have been published under the Principles for Debt Transparency since June 2023; and if she will

The UK is a strong advocate for enhancing debt transparency, including for private sector debt. We have supported the Institute of International Finance (IIF) and the OECD Debt Transparency Initiative, set up in 2021, and the IIF’s Voluntary Principles fo...

If she will amend the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010 to make private sector loans to Global South countries (a) lawful and (b) transparent.

The UK is a strong advocate for sustainable lending and enhancing debt transparency, including across the private sector. In this regard, we firmly support the Principles for Debt Transparency published by the Institute for International Finance (IIF), wh...