Written questions by Holden.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2026 to Question 115998, if she will publish the full list of factors used to calculate the (a) rate for each vehicle and (b) rates and thresholds rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is a tax on vehicles used or kept on public roads, and as in my previous response, rates for different vehicles vary according to a range of factors. The rates payable for different vehicle types and the factors which determine them are set out in the V149 and V149/1 rates tables published by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), and which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rates-of-vehicle-tax-v149 The Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs to ensure that they are appropriate and reflect the current state of the economy. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the public finances.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2026 to Question 118908, what assessment underpins increases in rateable values of up to 295% for UK civil airports between 1 April 2021 and 1 April 2024; and what specific economic indicators were used to determine those increases.

All assessments are underpinned by statutory assumptions defined in Schedule 6 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. For the 2026 revaluation, we consider general economic circumstances and the receipts and expenditure relevant to individual airports at the valuation date 1 April 2024. As this is the first revaluation since Covid, a large number of ratepayers may see a significant increase in rateable value compared to the previous valuation date 1 April 2021, when the country was in a pandemic lockdown.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of including logistics transport infrastructure in the National Wealth Fund’s five-year strategic plan.

Transport is one of the National Wealth Fund’s priority sectors.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2026 to Question 116218, what comparative assessment she has made of the economic circumstances of UK civil airports between 1 April 2021 and 1 April 2024.

The Valuation Office Agency assessed changes to the economic circumstances of airports as part of the 2026 Revaluation exercise, where average Rateable Values for civil airports have increased at the valuation date of 1 April 2024. The VOA announced updated property values for the 2026 revaluation at the Budget. This revaluation is the first since the pandemic, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To respond to those who are seeing large increases, Government has already acted to limit increases in bills, announcing a support package worth £4.3 billion package at the Budget.

Pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2026 to Question 114105 on Tyres: Imports, what consideration her Department has given to using different codes; and whether her Department plans to implement different codes for single-use and other kinds of tyres.

The UK commodity codes are formed from the World Custom’s Organization’s (WCO) Harmonized System and, as a WCO contracting party, the UK has recently participated in WCO discussions about tyres. These are resulting in a change to code 4004, which will be introduced to cover “pneumatic tyres that have retained their original shape and are unsuitable for use as a tyre or for retreading because of wear, defects, or other reasons”, to be implemented in 2028.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2026 to Question 111451, whether her Department has undertaken a comparative assessment of changes to aviation passenger taxes in other European countries, including recent reductions in such taxes in Sweden and Germany; and what assessment she has made of the impact on the competitiveness of UK airports of (a) recent increases in Air Passenger Duty and (b) increases in business rates affecting the aviation sector.

The government is committed to the long-term future of the aviation sector in the UK and recognises the benefits of the connectivity it creates between the UK and the rest of the world. The Government is clear that APD is an appropriate tax that ensures airlines make a fair contribution to the public finances, particularly given that tickets are VAT free and aviation fuel incurs no duty. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, including with regards to the international context The government introduced a transitional relief scheme to support all businesses, which airports will benefit from. We have also published a Call for Evidence exploring concerns airports have raised around the 'Receipts and Expenditure' valuation methodology and its impact on long-term investment. To provide long term predictability and stability for the sector, the Government has published a Call for Evidence exploring concerns airports and a small number of other ratepayers have raised around the ‘Receipts & Expenditure’ valuation methodology and its impacts on long-term, high value investments. Through this call for evidence, the government will seek to address issues raised ahead of the 2029 revaluation.

With reference to the Valuation Office Agency's statistics entitled Non-domestic rating: change in rateable value of rating lists, England and Wales, 2026 Revaluation, published on 26 November 2025, for what reason the average Rateable Values of civil airports have increased by 295%.

The revaluation is required to be carried out in relation to the relevant valuation date, 01 April 2024 for the 2026 rating list. The current rating list valuation is carried out in relation to the relevant valuation date, 01 April 2021 for the 2023 rating list. The annual value at each valuation reflects the economic circumstances at each valuation date. The average Rateable Values of civil airports increase 295% reflects the different economic circumstances at each valuation date. At the Budget, the Government published a Call for Evidence seeking further evidence on the role business rates and its reliefs play in investment. Through this Call for Evidence, the Government is considering options to provide greater predictability and stability in the business rates system for long-term, high-value investments. The Call for Evidence has recently closed, and a Government response will be published in due course.

What estimate she has made of changes to business rates for the Channel Tunnel from 2025-26 to 2026-27 as a consequence of the (i) business rate revaluation and (ii) surcharge on Rateable Values above £500,000; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of those changes on rail investment in Channel Tunnel services.

The Government cannot comment on the bills of individual ratepayers.At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic.While rateable values have increased, the multipliers rates have decreased, meaning, from April, all ratepayers will face a lower multiplier than they do now, including those paying the high-value multiplier. The Government recognises that this does not necessarily mean a lower bill for everyone which is why, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation.This support package includes a redesigned transitional relief scheme, which caps bill increases over the next 3 years. Compared to the 2023 transitional relief scheme, the redesigned scheme will provide more support for properties paying higher tax rates (such as the new high-value multiplier), including airports, hotels and key Industrial Strategy properties, who are facing large increases and are important for growth in the UK.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2025 to Question 91460 on Airports: Business Rates, if she will publish the revised guidance alongside the draft rating list.

The Valuation Office Agency's guidance will be published when the Rating List is compiled on 1 April 2026.

Pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 87788, whether airport turnover and revenues were a material consideration in the determination of airports' Rateable Value in the revaluation of business rates; and what information airports are required to pass to the Valuation Office Agency.

The Rateable Value of a property is a measure of its annual rental value. The best evidence to use in undertaking such valuations is actual rental evidence. For some classes of property there is a paucity or indeed no rental evidence as these properties are rarely or never let on the open market. In such cases Valuers use other methods such as the Receipts and Expenditure method, which estimates the rental value from an analysis of the trading accounts of the business occupying them.When valuing by Receipts & Expenditure method considering accounts is a material consideration. The valuation is required to be carried out in relation to the relevant valuation date (01 April 2024 for the 2026 rating list). The accounts available for the years preceding that date should be considered to ensure that they fairly reflect the proper trading position at the valuation date. The outcomes of such valuations are then compared to the limited rental evidence available.

Whether her Department has made an estimate of the level of import of single-life budget tyres for 2026.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. However, due to the commodity codes used to identify goods being imported or exported, we are not able to distinguish between single-life budget tyres, and other kinds of tyres.Tyres are classified to several commodity codes within Heading 4011 of the UK Tariff. It is not possible to identify single-life budget tyres within any of the commodity codes found within Heading 4011.HMRC releases imports and exports information monthly, as an Accredited Official Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com) .If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk

What data her Department holds on the volumes of imported single-life budget tyres for heavy goods vehicles, including buses and lorries, for a) 2023 b) 2024, and c) the period between 1 January 2025 and 1 August 2025.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. Heavy goods vehicle tyres for buses or lorries are classified under commodity code 401120. 401190 would be used for other tyres in this subheading for example motor cars, agricultural and forestry vehicles. However, we are not able to distinguish between single-life budget tyres, and other kinds of tyres within these commodity codes.HMRC releases imports and exports information monthly, as an Accredited Official Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com). If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) the abolition of non-dom status and (b) increases in levels of taxation on the retention of international shipowners in the UK; what estimate she has made of the number of shipowning individuals or companies that (i) have relocated and (ii) are considering relocating as a result of these changes; and what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the UK remains an attractive base for global shipping and maritime businesses.

The Government’s priority is improving the UK’s competitiveness internationally and securing economic growth. The reforms to the tax treatment of non-domiciled individuals have been specifically designed to make the UK competitive, with a modern, simple tax regime that is also fair. The reforms establish a tax regime for new residents which is more attractive to new arrivals than the current rules.The introduction of a residence-based tax system is expected to raise £39.5bn by 2030-31 (as costed by the OBR last autumn), and the OBR have said that there is no firm evidence to change the estimated impact of the reforms on migration. As set out at Budget 2025, the Chancellor has been clear that she will continue to assess the regime to ensure it strikes the right balance, including on competitiveness.The Government published a Tax Information and Impact Note for this policy on 30 October 2024, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tax-changes-for-non-uk-domiciled-individuals/reforming-the-taxation-of-non-uk-domiciled-individualsRegarding global shipping and maritime businesses, the Government is maintaining the Tonnage Tax regime, introduced in 2000 to improve the competitiveness of the UK’s shipping industry. This is designed to make it easier for shipping companies to move to the UK and ensures they are not disadvantaged compared with firms operating in other countries.

Whether her Department has conducted a comparative assessment of Air Passenger Duty rates in the UK with aviation passenger taxes and equivalent charges in other European countries; and whether such analysis is used to inform decisions on Air Passenger Duty policy.

Air Passenger Duty (APD) applies to airlines, not individual passengers, and is the principal tax on the aviation sector. It is expected to raise £4.7 billion in 2025-26. The Government is clear that APD is an appropriate tax that ensures airlines make a fair contribution to the public finances, particularly given that tickets are VAT free and aviation fuel incurs no duty. Other countries also have different forms of aviation taxes.

What discussions she has had with her G7 counterparts on (a) the potential impact of the oil price cap on the level of the Russian Federation's revenues to date and (b) the potential merits of reducing the level of the oil price cap; and what estimate she has made of the potential impact of the oil price cap on the Russian Federation's fiscal revenues in each of the last three years.

The implementation of the oil price cap has achieved its joint aims of 1) reducing Russian oil revenues by capping the price at which Russian oil can be transported using G7 maritime services (such as insurance and brokering for example), while also, 2) maintaining global oil flows and limiting market in instability. This is why the UK, alongside the EU announced our intention to lower the crude oil price cap in July 2025 with Canada, Japan and New Zealand following shortly afterwards. At 23:01 (GMT) Saturday 31 January 2026 the crude Oil Price Cap will be lowered from $47.60 to $44.10 per barrel. The UK has chosen to mirror the EU's new price to maintain regulatory alignment in targeting Russian revenues and is part of the UK’s ongoing commitment to supporting Ukraine. Remaining aligned with the EU on this matter ensures clarity and ease for UK businesses operating in Europe.Following the introduction of the oil price cap on crude oil in December 2022, and refined oil products in February 2023, Russian oil export revenues have been significantly reduced. Compared to 2022, the price cap contributed to an approximately 18% fall in Russian oil export revenues in 2023 and 2024, and a 30% decline in 2025. This success, coupled with significantly lower Urals prices, has weakened Putin’s ability to sustain his illegal war in Ukraine.

With reference to Chart 3.4 in the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook, what the annual percentage point contributions are to CPI inflation in each year by policy measure and output gap.

The contribution of each policy measure to CPI inflation in the Office for Budget Responsibility can be found in their supporting documents at the following link: https://obr.uk/download/november-2025-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-charts-and-tables-chapter-3/?tmstv=1769169856 In total, the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast that Budget measures will reduce CPI inflation by 0.4pp in 2026/27, with the most significant impact coming from the reduction in energy bills.

Whether she plans to retain the Vehicle Excise Duty exemption for vintage motorcycles.

At Budget 2014 the Government at the time announced that it would introduce a rolling 40-year exemption from Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for historic vehicles, including motorcycles. This means that currently vehicles constructed before 1 January 1985 are exempt from paying VED. From 1 April 2026 vehicles constructed before 1 January 1986 will become exempt from VED. The Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs to ensure that they are appropriate and reflect the current state of the economy.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the increase in civil service remuneration approval to £174,000 on civil service salaries.

Civil Servant pay is set within a pay framework which is reviewed annually by the Senior Salaries Review Body. The senior pay control process, including approvals required from HM Treasury, acts as an additional layer of scrutiny to Senior Civil Servant salaries.

What steps her Department is taking to improve oversight and enforcement action against the use of unregulated informal value transfer systems.

Informal transfer value systems (IVTS) is a type of Money Service Business (MSB) activity. HM Revenue & Customs is the main supervisor of MSBs and leads inter-agency work to tackle the money laundering and illicit finance risks faced by the sector. That work includes a specific focus on IVTS. Any entity engaging in IVTS without being registered with and supervised by HMRC (or another UK AML supervisor) is doing so illegally. HMRC supervision activity that identifies breaches of the MLR 2017 may result in warnings, civil sanctions, or criminal prosecution, depending on the severity and nature of the breaches. HMRC works closely with partners to ensure a joined-up approach to tackling risks in the sector, including from unregistered MSBs. In the last 2 years, HMRC issued 27 financial penalties to MSBs and cancelled the registration of 12 others (meaning they can no longer lawfully engage in MSB activity). HMRC also issued 248 warning letters to MSBs which needed to improve their AML compliance.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of VAT on the cost of pilot training in the UK; and whether she has considered extending VAT exemption to all commercial pilot training regardless of provider status.

Pilot training may be exempt from VAT when provided by an eligible body which meets certain conditions (for example, when provided by a government institution or certain regulated organisations), but otherwise will be subject to the standard rate. VAT-registered businesses paying for training will be able to recover any VAT they pay.The Government currently has no plans to remove VAT on pilot flight training courses more broadly.