Every parliamentary written question tabled by Gregory Campbell this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 41–60 of 135 · Treasury
What was the approximate value of the 758,000 matured but unclaimed Child Trust Fund accounts as of September 2025.
The value of funds held in matured Child Trust Fund accounts that have not been claimed or transferred to an ISA can be found in the Child Trust Fund tables of the Annual Savings Statistics. The latest published data is up to 5 April 2025.https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/annual-savings-statistics-2025
If she will make an assessment of the viability over the next five years of existing banking hubs.
Banking is changing, with many customers benefitting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, the Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and is committed to ensuring sufficient access for customers. The Government recognises the role that banking hubs play in supporting communities’ access to cash and basic banking services. In addition to traditional bank branches, the financial services industry is committed to rolling out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. Banking hubs were developed by the financial services sector in the context of legislation to protect access to cash under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023. Banking hubs are delivered and funded by industry through Cash Access UK (CAUK), which oversees the rollout and operation of hubs. LINK, as the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network, assesses local access needs following a branch closure or a community request, and where additional services are required, CAUK provides a suitable shared solution, such as a deposit service or banking hub, for cash users in that community. The future viability of banking hubs depends on ongoing commercial agreements between participating banks and on consumer demand for in-person banking services. The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 gives the Financial Conduct Authority powers to ensure reasonable access to cash, and the Government continues to work closely with industry and regulators to monitor delivery.
What estimate has been made of the number of people paying (a) basic rate, (b) higher rate, and (c) additional rate of Income Tax between 2020 and 2025.
The number of individuals in each of the three main Income Tax rate bands from 2020 to 2025 is published in Table 2.1 of HMRC’s Accredited official statistics. Updated forecasts are published in Table 3.19 of the OBR’s November 2025 Economic and fiscal outlook, linked below: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685a6be4454906840a44d5bb/Table_2.1_Number_of_individual_Income_Tax_Payers.ods https://obr.uk/download/november-2025-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-detailed-forecast-tables-receipts/?tmstv=1765817494 The previous Government made the decision to maintain income tax thresholds at their current levels from April 2021 until April 2028.
If she will consider changing air passenger duty on all passengers so that higher duty is levied on those who fly more frequently.
The distance-band structure of Air Passenger Duty (APD) already ensures that those who fly furthest, in the greatest comfort, pay the most. Similarly, given APD is charged on all UK-departing flights, those who fly most often pay more.
What was the total in duty deferment accounts that HMRC received in the calendar year 2024 via customs duties collected as a result of trade between GB and NI affected by the Windsor Framework.
HMRC does not hold the information in the format requested.
How she will notify SMEs that their bank is a designated bank under any scheme set up to ensure customers that are rejected for finance approval can be matched with alternatives who will offer support.
The Bank Referral Scheme is an initiative dating back to 2014, which requires major lenders (designated banks) to refer SME customers that they reject for finance, with the SMEs’ permission, to finance platforms that can match the SME with alternative finance providers, in order to improve access to finance. In the interests of public transparency, the Treasury is required under the law to publish a list of banks designated under the Scheme. The list of currently designated banks can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/designation-of-banks-and-finance-platforms-for-finance-platforms-regulations/notice-of-designation-small-and-medium-sized-business-finance-platforms-regulations-2015 Under the existing regulations, SMEs also learn about their bank’s involvement in the Scheme as the law requires the bank to ask the SME whether they agree to their information being provided to finance platforms under the Scheme, in order to try and match the SME with alternative finance. On 27th October, the Government launched a consultation and call for evidence on the Bank Referral Scheme, inviting views on a range of issues and proposals aimed at better facilitating SME access to finance through the Scheme, including on bank designations and improving awareness of the Scheme. The consultation sets out that, at a minimum, the Government intends to improve its own information resources on the Scheme. It also explains that the Government is considering whether it would be beneficial for more information on the Scheme to be made readily available to SMEs earlier, when they are considering external finance, regardless of whether they have already applied and been rejected. The consultation is due to close on 22 December. The Government will set out its position on any changes to the Scheme in due course.
With reference to the Financial Conduct Authority's press release entitled FCA sets out landmark package to boost UK investment culture, published on 8 December 2025, whether she plans to provide additional support for those reforms.
The Government wants to see more people benefit from the higher returns and long-term financial resilience that investing can provide. That is why the Chancellor has set out a series of bold measures to get Britain investing again, including the reforms to ISAs announced at Autumn Budget.In that context, the Government welcomes the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) publication of final rules for the new Consumer Composite Investment regime. This will deliver tailored and flexible disclosure to support investors in their decision making, and will come into force from April 2026.In addition, the Government is working closely with the FCA to launch a system of targeted support in early April 2026 to increase the support available to consumers. On 11 December, the Government confirmed it will be taking forward legislation to implement targeted support and the FCA published a policy statement setting out near-final rules for the regime.Furthermore, the Government and FCA are working closely with the industry-led initiatives to promote the benefits of investing to the public, and to reform how firms talk about the risks and benefits of investing. Combined, these measures aim to support a thriving retail investment culture.
Pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2025 to WPQ 95612, whether the (a) new style and (b) old style State Pension payable in 2027 where both categories have a gross income of £13,000 as a result of the old style pension recipient having a small personal pension will be precluded from paying income tax.
As I set out in my answer to WPQ 95612, the Chancellor has said that over this Parliament those whose only income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments will not have to pay income tax. The government will set out more details next year.
Approximately how many people have become tax payers since the £12,570 personal allowance was frozen in 2022.
The number of people forecast to pay tax by marginal rate can be found in Table 3.19 in the OBR’s November 2025 Economic and fiscal outlook – detailed forecast tables: receipts, linked below: https://obr.uk/download/november-2025-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-detailed-forecast-tables-receipts/?tmstv=1764165511
What estimate she has made of the difference in annual net income during 2027 for people whose total gross income is £13,000 composed of (a) only the new State Pension, and (b) a basic State Pension plus a personal pension.
As the Chancellor has said, over this Parliament those whose only income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments will not have to pay income tax. As announced at the Budget, the government will ease the administrative burden for pensioners whose sole income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments so that they do not have to pay small amounts of tax via Simple Assessment from 2027-28. The government will set out more detail next year.
How will the recently announced pay per mile charge for EV drivers affect those Northern Ireland based drivers whose work and residence near the border means much of their annual travel is done in the Irish Republic.
As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028, a new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, recognising that EVs (electric vehicles) contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty. As with VED, eVED will apply to UK-registered vehicles; non-UK registered vehicles will be required to register for eVED after a period of six months in the UK. The Government has ruled out charging tax based on when or where people drive to protect motorists’ privacy. This means non-UK mileage driven by UK registered cars will fall into scope of eVED, as with fuel duty, which does not vary by basis of where a car is driven. The vast majority of eVED will be paid on travel in the UK; there were an estimated 225 billion car miles in Great Britain in 2024, and over 9 billion miles travelled by car in Northern Ireland in 2023. The government has published a consultation on GOV.UK, which provides further detail on how eVED is intended to work and seeks views on its implementation, and can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69282ac1a245b0985f034197/eVED_Consultation.pdf
With reference to the Budget announcement on EV vehicle drivers and pay per mile charge, what discussions she will have with the Irish Republic authorities regarding those Irish based EV drivers who regularly use Northern Ireland roads but will not face the same charge.
As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028, a new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, recognising that EVs (electric vehicles) contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty. As with VED, eVED will apply to UK-registered vehicles; non-UK registered vehicles will be required to register for eVED after a period of six months in the UK. The Government has ruled out charging tax based on when or where people drive to protect motorists’ privacy. This means non-UK mileage driven by UK registered cars will fall into scope of eVED, as with fuel duty, which does not vary by basis of where a car is driven. The vast majority of eVED will be paid on travel in the UK; there were an estimated 225 billion car miles in Great Britain in 2024, and over 9 billion miles travelled by car in Northern Ireland in 2023. The government has published a consultation on GOV.UK, which provides further detail on how eVED is intended to work and seeks views on its implementation, and can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69282ac1a245b0985f034197/eVED_Consultation.pdf
What steps are being taken to inform young adults whose matured Child Trust Fund monies have not been claimed.
The Government is committed to reuniting all young adults with their Child Trust Funds (CTF). HMRC works with CTF providers, industry representatives and others to enable account owners to be aware of and trace their accounts. For example, HMRC has partnered with the University and Colleges Admissions Service to encourage awareness among student peer groups. HMRC issues a range of communications such as the recent press release published on Gov.uk - www.gov.uk/government/news/savings-stash-worth-thousands-waiting-for-758000-young-people. HMRC also provides a free tracing tool on Gov.uk to help people find their CTF provider (www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds/find-a-child-trust-fund) and has also provided a link to The Share Foundation’s CTF account tracing service on Gov.uk, providing an additional way for young people to trace their accounts.
Pursuant to WPQ 91913, did the dedicated director of the National Wealth Fund based in Northern Ireland meet with the Northern Ireland Executive (a) once, or (b) more than once, since December 2024.
Pursuant to WPQ 91913, in 2025 the National Wealth Fund’s Regional Director for Northern Ireland has met with the Northern Ireland Executive more than once to discuss investment opportunities.
When she expects to receive the report on Mutuals from the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority.
In line with the government’s manifesto commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutuals sector, the Chancellor announced measures to support the sector at Mansion House 2024. This included asking the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to prepare a report on the mutuals landscape, to ensure that regulation for all mutuals remains proportionate and enables growth. The report is expected to be published by the regulators before the end of 2025.
What change in the number of people paying income tax at 40% does she estimate will take place between 2023 and 2028.
The number of people forecast to pay tax by marginal rate from 2023-24 to 2028-29 can be found in Table 3.19 in the OBR’s November 2025 Economic and fiscal outlook – detailed forecast tables: receipts, linked below: https://obr.uk/download/november-2025-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-detailed-forecast-tables-receipts/?tmstv=1764165511 The previous Government made the decision to maintain income tax thresholds at their current levels from April 2021 until April 2028.
Whether the next review and report on the work of the OBR be commissioned before the end of this Parliament.
The Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011 states that the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) Non-executive committee must appoint a person or body at least once in every 5-year period to review and report on the OBR. The Chair of the OBR Oversight Board formally commissioned the third external review on 24 May 2024 which was published on 10 February 2025. The OBR’s external reviews are published on the OBR’s website. https://obr.uk/about-the-obr/external-reviews/
On how many occasions has a Director for Northern Ireland of the National Wealth Fund met with the NI Executive in the past twelve months to discuss how the fund can help promote economic growth in Northern Ireland.
The National Wealth Fund works collaboratively with the Northern Ireland Executive to identify investment opportunities in Northern Ireland. It has a dedicated director based in Northern Ireland and opened a Belfast office in December 2024.
Whether she expect to receive the Payments Forward Plan from the Payments Vision Delivery Committee before 18 December 2025.
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given on 30 October 2025 to PQ UIN 85107.
What steps she is taking to encourage people aged under 30 to (a) save and (b) invest for retirement.
The Government is committed to incentivising greater saving and investment to help people save for their future goals and build greater financial resilience and to supporting people of all incomes and at all stages of life to save. The Lifetime ISA is designed to encourage younger people to get into the habit of saving for the longer term. The Help to Save scheme also supports low-income working households to start a long-term savings habit.The government encourages pension saving through generous tax relief on pension contributions and investment income and growth. These reliefs were worth £78.2bn in 2023/24. Individuals can also save in a range of Individual Savings Accounts each year, such as cash and stocks & shares and any savings income within it is tax free.