Written questions by Wood.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 65150 on Royal Mint: Committees, whether the (a) Royal Mint Advisory Committee and (b) Sub-Committee on the Selection of Themes have a policy on equality, diversity and inclusion in coin designs.

The Royal Mint Advisory Committee advises the Chancellor of the Exchequer (in her capacity as Master of the Mint) on the themes and designs of new coins. While there is no formal written policy on equality, diversity and inclusion in coin designs or themes, the Committee actively encourages that the themes and designs it recommends reflect diversity in age, race, gender and other characteristics.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 71234 on Cabinet Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution, for what reason her Department organised a training event for 70 Philippines officials in Manila; and what was the topic of the training.

The training showcased British expertise and standards in sustainable infrastructure, shared UK best practice in infrastructure planning, design, finance and delivery, demonstrating the quality and innovation of British approaches that are helping to drive growth and opportunity at home. By sharing proven UK standards, the event strengthened the UK's position as a trusted infrastructure partner whilst exploring opportunities for future collaboration that could benefit British businesses, expertise and economic interests.

How many (a) disciplinary actions and (b) dismissals of HMRC officials have there been for unauthorised access to personal data since 1 July 2024.

HMRC takes the security of customer data extremely seriously. Its Systems Audit and Data Analyst (SADA) team have robust systems in place to monitor staff use of systems and to identify any unauthorised access. When staff are inducted, HMRC gives them clear guidance and information on the use of corporate systems. There are clear processes and policies published that remind staff of their continuing obligations. HMRC also provides annual mandatory learning for all its staff on data security to remind them of their obligations. HMRC take unauthorised access and the protection of customer data very seriously. When a case of unauthorised access is identified, it is automatically investigated as potential gross misconduct, which means it could lead to the employee’s dismissal (a single offence can result in dismissal). Since 1st July 24 to 15th October 2025 there have 81 cases concluded with a case category of unauthorised access. This has resulted in: 22 resignations52 dismissals6 final written warning1 first written warning

What assessment she has made of the incidence of B-Corp status resulting in financial divestment in the defence industry.

HM Treasury is aware that, in particular, SMEs and startups operating in the defence sector face barriers to accessing finance and MOD contracts, which is why the recent Defence Industrial Strategy established a new Defence Office for Small Business Growth to improve access to finance, set up a dedicated SME Commercial Pathway, and set ambitious targets for increasing MOD spending with SMEs. The recent deal with Norway worth £10bn is testament to the UK’s global competitiveness.

If she will list (a) the members of the Budget Board and (b) its terms of reference.

At the Budget, this Government will focus on building an economy that works for working people using investment and reform as our tools for renewal. The government does not routinely comment on internal processes and meetings, including those in advance of fiscal events.

How much her Department has allocated (a) overall, (b) to the Ministry of Defence and (c) to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to fund payments under the UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia [CS Mauritius No.1/2025] in each year of the agreement.

The overall cost of the agreement can be found in the document ‘UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia’ published by the government on 22 May 2025, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukmauritius-agreement-concerning-the-chagos-archipelago-including-diego-garcia-cs-mauritius-no12025. The payments to Mauritius will be split between the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Ministry of Defence. They will be published in the normal manner alongside other departmental spend in the annual accounts.

How many times the Treasury Board has met since 4 July 2024; and on what dates she attended.

There are no plans for the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury to meet. As set out in the Annual Report and Accounts, the Treasury Board met once since July 2024 and the Chancellor of the Exchequer was in attendance.

What assessment (a) HM Treasury and (b) the Government Actuary Department has made of the accuracy of the GDP deflator forecasts by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Economic forecasts, including assessments of the impact of policy decisions, are the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The OBR are required to produce a Forecast Evaluation Report (FER) each year under the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act (2011). The OBR are required to explain reasons for divergence between its forecasts and subsequent outturns, to support future forecast improvements. The latest FER can be found here: Forecast evaluation report 2025 - Office for Budget Responsibility. This includes information about the GDP deflator on Page 29-30.

Whether her Business Engagement Lead is a (a) special adviser, (b) direct ministerial appointment, (c) civil servant appointed by open and fair competition and (d) civil servant appointed by recruitment principles exemption.

There is a business engagement team in HMT made up of civil servants recruited via fair and open competition.

Whether her Department provides an annual allowance for works on the Chancellor’s flat in Downing Street.

HMT does not provide an annual allowance for works to be undertaken on the Chancellor’s flat in Downing Street.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential costs of the Reform Party policy on the Britannia Card.

The OBR has certified that the non-dom reforms the Government have implemented will raise £33.8 billion in total revenue over the five-year forecast period. Abolishing these reforms would result in lost revenue that would need to be raised through higher taxation or cuts to spending on essential public services.As the Chancellor set out at the Spring Statement, the Government will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that the new residence-based regime is internationally competitive and focused on attracting the best talent and investment to the UK.

(a) how many and (b) what value of (i) donations and (ii) bequests have been made to the donations in general towards public expenditure fund since 4 July 2024.

HM Treasury has, as of 18 June 2025, received 40 donations, totalling £85,191.62, since 4 July 2024.

(a) how many and (b) what value of (i) donations and (ii) bequests have been made to the Donations and Bequests Account since 4 July 2024.

The UK Debt Management Office (DMO) manages the Donations and Bequests Account. It has, as of 18 June 2025, received 14 donations, totalling £585 million, since 4 July 2024. Over the same period, the DMO received fewer than five bequests, totalling £101,740.83.We withhold the total number of bequests when fewer than five, because the information could be used to identify individual bequests.The Donations and Bequests Account falls under the CRND (Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt), for which the DMO publishes annual accounts. The 2024-25 accounts have not yet been published but the 2023-24 figures can be found here: crndrep2024.pdf

With reference to Table 5.29 of the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, if he will provide a breakdown of the forecast RDEL settlements in each year of the Spending Review for each of the independent bodies listed in footnote 6 of the Table; and what efficiency requirements are assumed for each of those independent bodies.

Independent bodies are public bodies set up by, and reporting directly to, Parliament. As independent bodies are funded within Departmental Expenditure Limits, HM Treasury requests a forecast of expenditure to inform the aggregate published in Table 5.29 of the Spending Review. These forecasts are indicative - and subject to change. A breakdown of the budget for each of the independent bodies is shared with Parliament at Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates in each financial year. As independent bodies are not directly accountable to ministers, the government cannot set efficiency targets in the same way as it does for other departments. In line with the government’s ambition to maximise the value or money for the taxpayer, independent bodies are encouraged to be more efficient.

With reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, whether the assumed average annual real growth in RDEL spending includes the department efficiency savings.

All departments have committed to delivering at least 5% efficiencies and savings as part of Spending Review 2025. In the usual way, final department settlements take account of the efficiencies and savings departments have agreed. Average annual real growth rates are based on these settlements; no specific adjustment has been made for efficiencies.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 41289 on Arms Length Bodies: Parliamentary Scrutiny, through which mechanisms (a) public corporations and (b) private companies owned by the Government are accountable to Parliament.

Detail on arrangements for Parliamentary accountability and governance of government companies and public corporations are set out in Annex 7.3 of Managing Public Money. The precise arrangements will vary from body to body, but will be set out in each body’s framework document, or equivalent, which describes the governance arrangements between the body and its sponsor government department. Framework documents are published on GOV.UK, along with guidance on their use and standard templates for each type of body: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/framework-documents-collection In general, accountability to Parliament will be via the ministers of a public corporation’s sponsor department and, if that body is subject to the rules set out in Managing Public Money, through the public corporation’s accounting officer or accountable person. Private companies owned by the Government, where they do not meet the classification standards for a public corporation, are instead classified by the ONS as part of central government. They are financially consolidated into their sponsor department and accountable to Parliament in the same manner as any other non-departmental public body. Ministers of a central government company’s sponsor department are responsible for the body in the house; and the most senior executive in the company as an Accounting Officer is directly accountable to Parliament via the Public Accounts Committee for the use of public funds. Public corporation status is formally determined by the Office for National Statistics on the basis of international economic statistical standards. Public corporations are generally self-funding and do not normally receive funding voted by Parliament. This category covers a significant range of bodies with differing levels of government control and not all bodies classified as public corporations are owned by the Government. They are subject to levels of control deemed appropriate by the relevant sponsor department, agreed via their framework document, and approved by the Treasury.

With reference to the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia of 22 May 2025, CP 1334, what the estimated level of the GDP deflator is over each of the years 14 to 99 of the agreement.

The Government has applied the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) most recent long-term forecast of economic determinants, in accordance with Green Book guidance on economic appraisal. For years 14 to 99 of the agreement, the GDP deflator has been estimated at 2.30%.

With reference to paragraph 14 of the policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit: Common Understanding, published on 19 May 2025, what is the estimated change in financial payments from the UK to the EU and its agencies in each of the next four years.

We have agreed to work towards the association of the UK to the EU Erasmus+ programme. The specific terms of this association, including mutually agreed financial terms, should be determined as part of that process in order to ensure a fair balance as regards the contributions of and benefits to the United Kingdom.The government has been clear that the UK will only associate to Erasmus+ on significantly improved financial terms which take into account the UK’s financial contribution and the number of UK participants who receive funding from the programme.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 December 2024 to Question 20489 on Treasury: Media, on what basis Freuds Communication was given the contract for Ministerial media training; and whether there was a competitive tendering process.

The award of the contract complied with HM Treasury’s standard procurement procedure for requirements of this value and was awarded following a competitive process. Guidance for the award of below-threshold contracts is publicly available on gov.uk: Guidance: Below-Threshold Contracts (HTML) - GOV.UK

With reference to the Financial Conduct Authority's press release entitled Update on the FCA’s enforcement transparency proposals, published on 12 March 2025, whether she has had discussions with the (a) FCA and (b) PRA on their decision not to introduce rules to improve diversity and inclusion; and what are the expected legislative developments in this area mentioned in the press release.

Treasury Ministers and officials regularly meet with both the FCA and the PRA to discuss their work. As set out in the King’s Speech last July, the government is committed to making the right to equal pay effective for ethnic minority and disabled people and introducing mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting for large employers. These measures will be part of the upcoming Equality (Race and Disability) Bill.