Written questions by Griffith.

What private businesses she has consulted on the business rates system.

The Government published a Discussion Paper at Autumn Budget 2024 setting out priority areas for business rates reform. This paper invited industry to help co-design a fairer business rates system that supports investment and is fit for the 21st century. The Treasury received over 160 written responses to that Discussion Paper and met with over 250 stakeholders from a range of different sectors. On 17 February, the Government published a ‘forward look’ of the expected timeline for reforms announced at Autumn Budget 2024, and how stakeholders should engage with the Government on business rates reform going forwards. In the summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Budget 2025.

Pursuant to the answer of 23 June to Question 61021 on Taxation: Domicil, how many P85 forms have been submitted in each month in the last five years.

The table below shows the number of P85 forms submitted to HMRC electronically each month between May 2020 and May 2025. P85 forms are submitted by taxpayers who are not intending to submit a self-assessment tax return. Individuals who file through Self-Assessment (e.g. those with other sources of income such as self-employment or those claiming non-domiciled status) do not need to submit a P85 form. Counts of submitted P85 forms in March 2024 and September 2024 are labelled as [x] due to incomplete data. MonthP85 iFormsMay 20202,900Jun 20202,800Jul 20203,200Aug 20204,100Sep 20205,300Oct 20204,400Nov 20204,600Dec 20204,100Jan 20214,000Feb 20212,800Mar 20213,200Apr 20213,000May 20212,500Jun 20212,300Jul 20212,600Aug 20212,800Sep 20213,300Oct 20213,300Nov 20212,900Dec 20212,400Jan 20223,200Feb 20222,300Mar 20222,500Apr 20222,200May 20222,000Jun 20221,900Jul 20222,200Aug 20222,700Sep 20222,900Oct 20223,000Nov 20222,800Dec 20222,300Jan 20233,700Feb 20232,800Mar 20233,200Apr 20233,100May 20232,900Jun 20232,800Jul 20233,400Aug 20233,400Sep 20233,800Oct 20234,100Nov 20233,700Dec 20233,200Jan 20244,500Feb 20243,400Mar 2024[x]Apr 20244,100May 20243,400Jun 20243,400Jul 20243,900Aug 20244,300Sep 2024[x]Oct 20245,800Nov 20243,400Dec 20245,000Jan 20256,400Feb 20254,900Mar 20255,500Apr 20255,300May 20254,500 Individuals can either use the online system to submit a P85 iForm or fill in a paper form and submit it by post. Postal form data for the last five years is not available. The data provided in the table above contains only customers who have submitted iForms.

What estimate she has made of the number of (a) higher rate and (b) additional rate taxpayers that have left the United Kingdom in the period from 4 July 2024 to 31 May 2025.

Taxpayers are not always required to inform HM Revenue and Customs when they leave the UK. Some taxpayers outside of Self Assessment might file a P85 form after leaving the UK, but only where they are seeking to claim a repayment of income tax. Taxpayers in Self Assessment can indicate that they have become non-resident after leaving the UK, but tax returns for the 2024 to 2025 and the 2025 to 2026 tax years are not due to be received by HMRC until 31 January of 2026 and 2027 respectively.

What representations her Department has made to the Office for National Statistics on the economic classification assessment of British Steel.

HM Treasury officials work with the independent Office for National Statistics (ONS) to discuss their forward workplan for economic statistics classifications and the priorities for HM Treasury within that workplan (as set out in the ONS’ website). These discussions have included the review of the classification of British Steel, which the ONS' forward work plan notes they expect to complete in Quarter 2 (April-June) of 2025.

What the net inflow of (a) portfolio and (b) other investment from non-resident investors to the UK was in each quarter since Q1 2019 for which data is available.

As part of their Balance of Payments release, the Office for National Statistics produce statistics on cross-border transactions and positions. This includes information on the aggregate market value of UK quoted equities held by non-resident investors, net inflows of portfolio and other investment from non-resident investors, as well as the total stock of UK corporate bonds held by non-resident investors. The ONS published their most recent Balance of Payments release on 28 March 2025, which is available on their website at Balance of Payments, UK - Office for National Statistics. The statistics on inflows and stocks/market values can be found in Table J and in Table K respectively.

What the aggregate market value of UK-quoted equities held by non-resident investors was in each quarter of the last five years for which data is available.

As part of their Balance of Payments release, the Office for National Statistics produce statistics on cross-border transactions and positions. This includes information on the aggregate market value of UK quoted equities held by non-resident investors, net inflows of portfolio and other investment from non-resident investors, as well as the total stock of UK corporate bonds held by non-resident investors. The ONS published their most recent Balance of Payments release on 28 March 2025, which is available on their website at Balance of Payments, UK - Office for National Statistics. The statistics on inflows and stocks/market values can be found in Table J and in Table K respectively.

What the total stock of UK corporate bonds held by non-resident investors was in each quarter of the last five years for which figures are available.

As part of their Balance of Payments release, the Office for National Statistics produce statistics on cross-border transactions and positions. This includes information on the aggregate market value of UK quoted equities held by non-resident investors, net inflows of portfolio and other investment from non-resident investors, as well as the total stock of UK corporate bonds held by non-resident investors. The ONS published their most recent Balance of Payments release on 28 March 2025, which is available on their website at Balance of Payments, UK - Office for National Statistics. The statistics on inflows and stocks/market values can be found in Table J and in Table K respectively.

With reference to the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, agreed on 6 May 2025, if she will make an estimate of the number of British Nationals that will use the Double Contribution Convention with India in each of the next 5 years.

The OBR will certify the impact of the trade deal including the Double Contributions Convention in the usual way at a fiscal event, once the deal is finalised and ratified. The agreement to negotiate a Double Contributions Convention was made in the context of the wider deal, which will bring billions into the economy.

What estimate she has made of the potential impact of making exemptions for the payment of National Insurance contributions under the Double Contribution Convention with India on receipts from (a) employee and (b) employer National Insurance contributions in each of the next five years.

The OBR will certify the impact of the trade deal including the Double Contributions Convention in the usual way at a fiscal event, once the deal is finalised and ratified. The agreement to negotiate a Double Contributions Convention was made in the context of the wider deal, which will bring billions into the economy.

When she plans to respond to the letter of 20 December 2024 from the hon. Members for Arundel and South Downs, East Surrey and Wyre Forest.

I can confirm a response was sent on 21 February 2025 to the hon. Members for Arundel and South Downs, East Surrey, and Wyre Forest.

Whether her Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

HMT staff must have worked continuously for the Civil Service for at least 26 weeks to be eligible for paternity leave. The Employment Rights Bill will remove this requirement and staff will be entitled to paternity leave from their first working day. HMT will implement this legislative change when it comes into force.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2024 to Question 13640 on Hospitality Industry and Retail Trade: Business Rates, when she plans to (a) begin and (b) complete the revaluation that is to produce the referenced r

In 2023 the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) moved to three-yearly revaluations, an outcome from the 2021 Business Rates Review. The VOA started preparing for the next business rates revaluation in April 2023, with the new rateable values coming into effect ...

With reference to paragraph 5.70 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the planned reduction of the Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure

Without intervention by this Government, Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief would have ended entirely in April 2025, creating a cliff-edge for businesses. Instead, the Government has decided to offer a 40 per cent discount to RHL properties up t...

What steps her Department takes to verify the qualifications of newly hired officials.

HM Treasury recruitment campaigns use Success Profiles which is the recruitment framework used within the Civil Service. HM Treasury consider what skills a candidate will need to demonstrate in order to be successful and advertise vacancies with a clear p...

What steps her Department takes to verify the professional experience set out in the applications of newly hired officials.

HM Treasury recruitment campaigns use Success Profiles which is the recruitment framework used within the Civil Service. HM Treasury consider what skills a candidate will need to demonstrate in order to be successful and advertise vacancies with a clear p...