Written questions by Hobhouse.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of including heat batteries for central heating on the list of Energy Saving Materials.

Installations of qualifying energy-saving materials (ESMs) in residential accommodation and buildings used solely for a charitable purpose benefit from a temporary VAT zero rate until March 2027, after which they will revert to the reduced rate of VAT at five per cent.The Government assesses whether to add ESMs to this relief by evaluating them against the following tests: the primary purpose of the technology must be to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions; relieving the technology of VAT must be a cost effective lever for encouraging installations; and it must be practical for business to operate and for HMRC to administer.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the reduction of ODA budget on UK (a) jobs and (b) trade income.

The overall economic impact of policy measures is set out in the OBR’s economic and fiscal forecast. The OBR’s March 2025 outlook provides details of the impacts of policy changes including the ODA reduction.

Whether she plans to take steps to enable an increase in the Official Development Assistance budget.

To enable the government to invest more on security and defence, while remaining committed to our fiscal rules, the Prime Minister has taken the difficult decision to reduce Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the equivalent of 0.3% of GNI by 2027. The Spending Review (SR) 2025 ODA settlement delivers on this. The government remains committed to returning spending on ODA to 0.7% of GNI when the fiscal circumstances allow. The OBR’s latest forecast shows that the ODA fiscal tests are not due to be met within the Parliament. The government will continue to monitor future forecasts closely, and each year will review and confirm, in accordance with the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015, whether a return to spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA is possible against the latest fiscal forecast.

What discussions her Department has had with representatives of the British racing industry on the potential impact of her Department's remote gambling tax harmonisations proposals on the sport.

The Government consultation on proposals to simplify the current gambling tax system by merging the three current taxes that cover remote (including online) gambling into one closed on 21 July 2025. Responses are now being analysed and a response to the consultation will be published at Autumn Budget 2025. The Government recognises the significant cultural and economic value of British horseracing, both as a major sporting tradition and as an important contributor to rural economies across the country and is engaging with representatives of the horseracing industry to understand the impact of any tax changes, which will be carefully considered as part of the consultation process.

What steps she has taken to ensure that the Spending Review 2025 is compatible with the UK’s (a) net zero target and (b) interim carbon budgets.

HM Treasury has established processes to assess the climate and environmental impacts of major spending bids These impacts informed, alongside other policy considerations, decisions made at Spending Review 2025. In total, the Government committed £63bn in capital funding at Spending Review 2025 for clean energy, climate, and nature, including nuclear. This will support our Clean Energy Superpower Mission and help us continue to make progress in meeting net zero and our interim Carbon Budgets. However, public spending is just one lever to support our climate targets. The Government will set out an updated whole economy plan to meet Carbon Budgets 4-6 through the publication of a refreshed Carbon Budget Delivery and Growth Plan later this year.

Whether she plans to increase taxes on oil and gas companies to help fund investment in (a) clean energy, (b) home insulation and (c) other climate measures.

The oil and gas industry is currently subject to a headline tax rate of 78%, which includes the 38% Energy Profits Levy, following reforms announced by the government at Autumn Budget 2024. At the Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced it would increase the rate of the EPL by 3 percentage points, extend the period the levy applies until 31 March 2030 and abolish an investment allowance which was not available to any other sector, helping to raise funding towards our ambitious clean energy goals. These changes were implemented from 1 November 2024 . The Office for Budget Responsibility expect the oil and gas sector will raise c£16bn in tax receipts between 2025/26 and 2029/30, inclusive of around £11bn from the EPL alone.

What steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to increase investment in renewable infrastructure projects.

The Prime Minister’s Plan for Change sets out our ambitious but achievable target of Clean Power by 2030. The Clean Power Action Plan demonstrates the significant investment requirements to reach this target, including in renewable infrastructure, and actions we will take to facilitate this. We have already taken action to remove the de-facto ban on onshore wind in England, approved major solar projects, and delivered a record-breaking renewables auction.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of Financial Conduct Authority support for victims of financial fraud.

The FCA plays a crucial role in combating fraud, working to ensure firms have robust systems to prevent fraud and protect consumers.It authorises and supervises firms offering regulated financial services, so consumers can trust firms are being held to high standards.The FCA also removes fraudulent adverts, tackles investment and authorised push-payment fraud, and raises consumer awareness.

Whether her Department has carried out analysis of the potential impact of Heathrow expansion since October 2017.

The Government supports and is inviting proposals for a third runway, to be brought forward by the summer.We will then take forward a full assessment of these proposals through the Airport National Policy Statement. This will ensure that the project delivers value for money and that it is delivered in line with legal, environmental and climate obligations.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes made to National Insurance contributions at the Autumn Budget 2024 on not-for-profit social care providers.

The Budget will provide support for government departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer NICs costs. Private sector firms or charities, including social care providers, that are contracted by central or local government will not be exempt from these changes. This is consistent with the approach to previous Employer NICs changes, as was the case with the previous government’s Health and Social Care Levy. The government considered the cost pressures facing adult social care and wider local government spending as part of the Spending Review process. The government is providing a real-terms uplift to core local government spending power of around 3.2% which includes £1.3bn of new grant funding for 2025-26 – at least £600 million of which is new grant funding to support social care. The government also provides support for charities, including hospices, via our tax regime, which is among the most generous of anywhere in the world, with tax reliefs for charities and their donors, worth just over £6 billion for the tax year to April 2024.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the withdrawal of the temporary easement for wine on SMEs in the wine industry.

In August 2023 the Government introduced reforms to alcohol duty so that products are taxed in proportion to their alcoholic strength, not volume.To help the wine industry adapt to the new duty system, the current, temporary duty easement was introduced as a transitional measure, which was intended to allow time for wine producers to adapt to calculating duty based on alcohol by volume. By the end-date of 31 January 2025, the wine industry will have had over two years to adapt to the new strength-based system. The Government publishes tax information and impact notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes. The summary of impacts from the changes to alcohol duty announced at Spring Budget 2023, including the wine easement, can be found here: Reform of Alcohol Duty Rates and Reliefs - GOV.UK

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the withdrawal of the temporary easement for wine on the supply chain for UK-based importers.

In August 2023 the Government introduced reforms to alcohol duty so that products are taxed in proportion to their alcoholic strength, not volume.To help the wine industry adapt to the new duty system, the current, temporary duty easement was introduced as a transitional measure, which was intended to allow time for wine producers to adapt to calculating duty based on alcohol by volume. By the end-date of 31 January 2025, the wine industry will have had over two years to adapt to the new strength-based system. The Government publishes tax information and impact notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes. The summary of impacts from the changes to alcohol duty announced at Spring Budget 2023, including the wine easement, can be found here: Reform of Alcohol Duty Rates and Reliefs - GOV.UK

If her Department will add heat batteries for a central heating system to the list of energy saving materials that are zero-rated.

The installation of qualifying energy-saving materials in residential accommodation and buildings used solely for a relevant charitable purpose benefits from a temporary VAT zero rate until March 2027. Last year, a Call for Evidence (CfE) seeking views on additional technologies to potentially include within this relief was run. Heat batteries were one of the technologies put forwards by respondents. As set out in the Government response to the CfE, at that time, the Government was unable to identify sufficient independent data regarding the efficiency of heat batteries, making it difficult to assess the technology’s energy-saving properties objectively. The Government currently has no plans to add further technologies to this VAT relief. Nevertheless, the Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy making process. Changes to the tax system are announced at fiscal events in the usual way.

If she will include in the forthcoming Budget proposals relating to the plastic packaging tax - chemical recycling and adoption of a mass balance approach consultation, published on 18 July 2023.

The government has confirmed its intent to publish a response to this consultation by the end of the year. Further details of the government’s response will be set out in due course.