Written questions by Easton.

What steps she is taking through the tax system to support small businesses with increases in employer National Insurance contributions.

The Government has protected the smallest businesses by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that next year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all. The government has also frozen the small business multiplier. Together with Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR), which exempts over a third of properties from business rates, this will protect 90% of properties from inflationary increases in business rates liabilities.

What steps the Government is taking to ensure (a) equivalent health funding is allocated to the devolved Administrations and (b) all UK nations benefit equitably from health service improvements.

The devolved governments are each responsible for deciding how to allocate their funding across their devolved responsibilities in their respective nations, including health. The devolved governments’ Spending Review settlements for 2025-26 are the largest in real terms of any settlements since devolution, each receiving at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK. That translates into over £8.5 billion per year for the Scottish Government, over £4 billion for the Welsh Government and £2.5 billion for the Northern Ireland Executive.

What discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on funding for public sector pay awards in Northern Ireland; and whether she has allocated funding to ensure parity in pay offers for public sector wo

As a result of decisions taken at Autumn Budget 2024 and Phase 1 of Spending Review 2025, the Northern Ireland Executive is receiving £15.6 billion block grant funding in 2024-25 and £18.2 billion in 2025-26. Funding in 2025-26 represents the largest real...

If she will make it her policy to reverse the proposed tax changes to (a) agricultural property relief and (b) business property relief on family-owned (i) farms and (ii) businesses.

The Government set out its policy at Autumn Budget 2024 and that remains the Government’s policy.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of adding a photograph to National Insurance cards issued at the age of 16 to provide photographic identification.

HMRC is responsible for issuing National Insurance Numbers (NINos) to the children of people receiving Child Benefit and Tax-Free Childcare . As a young person approaches age 16, HMRC informs them of their NINo via a letter. Cards have not been sent since...

With reference to the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief

The Government has published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms, and further explanatory inform...

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of raising the personal tax allowance to £15,000.

The previous government announced the Personal Allowance would be maintained at its current level of £12,570 until April 2028. The government must ensure the tax system supports strong public finances. Sound fiscal policy is key to economic stability and,...

If she will provide additional funding to the PSNI for training new recruits.

The Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) receives Barnett consequentials on spending on policing and justice by the UK Government in England and Wales. Any Barnett consequentials in 2024-25 are subject to a 24% needs-based uplift, to reflect the higher level ...