To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the farming community on the prospect of higher inheritance tax bills if a farm invests in a new farm reservoir or an irrigation system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the farming community on the prospect of higher inheritance tax bills if a farm invests in a new farm reservoir or an irrigation system.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of inheritance tax and Stamp Duty Land Tax rules on families seeking to establish long-term multigenerational households; and whether he has considered introducing targeted tax reliefs to support families who choose to share a...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of inheritance tax and Stamp Duty Land Tax rules on families seeking to establish long-term multigenerational households; and whether he has considered introducing targeted tax reliefs to support families who choose to share a...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to the Inheritance Tax treatment of pension savings on household saving and investment before announcing the policy.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to the Inheritance Tax treatment of pension savings on household saving and investment before announcing the policy.

I thank the deputy shadow Leader of the House for his remarks. Before I turn to his specific questions, may I remind the House that today is World Suicide Prevention Day? When someone takes their own life, the impact on family and friends is devastating and widespread. Today is an...

I thank the deputy shadow Leader of the House for his remarks. Before I turn to his specific questions, may I remind the House that today is World Suicide Prevention Day? When someone takes their own life, the impact on family and friends is devastating and widespread. Today is an...

I am grateful to the Leader of the House for outlining the business and, of course, the recess dates. It is always good to look forward to the next recess.

Tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of the appalling terrorist attacks on the United States. We remember the thousands of innocent people...

I am grateful to the Leader of the House for outlining the business and, of course, the recess dates. It is always good to look forward to the next recess.

Tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of the appalling terrorist attacks on the United States. We remember the thousands of innocent people...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed changes to Inheritance Tax on the number of pensioners who will increase the rate at which they draw down their pension funds.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed changes to Inheritance Tax on the number of pensioners who will increase the rate at which they draw down their pension funds.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is still his Department's policy to keep the Agricultural and Business Property Reliefs threshold at £2.5m.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is still his Department's policy to keep the Agricultural and Business Property Reliefs threshold at £2.5m.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of charging interest on unpaid Inheritance Tax where an estate’s principal asset cannot be sold because of delays by HM Courts and Tribunals Service in issuing probate and letters of administration on those estates;...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of charging interest on unpaid Inheritance Tax where an estate’s principal asset cannot be sold because of delays by HM Courts and Tribunals Service in issuing probate and letters of administration on those estates;...

To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they plan to reduce taxation on rural businesses.

To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they plan to reduce taxation on rural businesses.

My Lords, in begging leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper, I declare an interest as an executor who is currently trying to sell our family farm.

My Lords, in begging leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper, I declare an interest as an executor who is currently trying to sell our family farm.

My Lords, the Government keep all taxes under review, with decisions being for the Chancellor at fiscal events. We recognise the vital contribution of rural communities and businesses to the UK economy and the need for policies that actually work for rural areas. Support available includes rural rate relief, small business rates relief, a high VAT registration threshold and the small profits corporation tax rate. We are also supporting farmers through reduced red diesel duty rates until the end of this year, and through measures to promote sustainable farming and food production.

My Lords, the Government keep all taxes under review, with decisions being for the Chancellor at fiscal events. We recognise the vital contribution of rural communities and businesses to the UK economy and the need for policies that actually work for rural areas. Support available includes rural rate relief, small business rates relief, a high VAT registration threshold and the small profits corporation tax rate. We are also supporting farmers through reduced red diesel duty rates until the end of this year, and through measures to promote sustainable farming and food production.

My Lords, the family farm tax is both hated and feared. It taxes a business asset as if it is personal wealth. I know that the Minister was not consulted—nor was her department—before the tax was put in place. Will she reassure the House, which I know appreciates all that she does for us, that she will personally make representations to this Chancellor before this Budget, as those of us who care about the countryside and the NFU are currently doing, to make sure that this hated tax can be removed?

My Lords, the family farm tax is both hated and feared. It taxes a business asset as if it is personal wealth. I know that the Minister was not consulted—nor was her department—before the tax was put in place. Will she reassure the House, which I know appreciates all that she does for us, that she will personally make representations to this Chancellor before this Budget, as those of us who care about the countryside and the NFU are currently doing, to make sure that this hated tax can be removed?

I am sure that the noble and learned Baroness is aware that, absolutely, I support the importance of farming to the rural economy and the importance of the work that farmers do through food security to the wider economy of the country. She will also be aware that we have discussed this matter on a number of occasions and that the Treasury has made it quite clear that it is not intending to revisit the issue of inheritance tax. I am aware that the Prime Minister was asked about this during the by-election in Makerfield. However, as I said in my original Answer, the Government always keep taxes under review. I will ensure that the new Chancellor is aware of the strength of feeling on this matter.

I am sure that the noble and learned Baroness is aware that, absolutely, I support the importance of farming to the rural economy and the importance of the work that farmers do through food security to the wider economy of the country. She will also be aware that we have discussed this matter on a number of occasions and that the Treasury has made it quite clear that it is not intending to revisit the issue of inheritance tax. I am aware that the Prime Minister was asked about this during the by-election in Makerfield. However, as I said in my original Answer, the Government always keep taxes under review. I will ensure that the new Chancellor is aware of the strength of feeling on this matter.

My Lords, does the Minister accept that rural businesses are hit disproportionately by the increases in petrol and diesel prices that we have seen over recent months? These add to their costs: of inputs, of getting goods to the market and of those working in rural areas travelling to work. Is there any way that the amount of taxation that is raised on petrol and diesel can somehow be frozen rather than added to every time there is an increase in international prices? This hits rural areas.

My Lords, does the Minister accept that rural businesses are hit disproportionately by the increases in petrol and diesel prices that we have seen over recent months? These add to their costs: of inputs, of getting goods to the market and of those working in rural areas travelling to work. Is there any way that the amount of taxation that is raised on petrol and diesel can somehow be frozen rather than added to every time there is an increase in international prices? This hits rural areas.

As someone who lives in a rural area and has to travel long distances to get anywhere, I completely appreciate the noble Lord’s point. We have rural fuel duty relief and are looking at the costs of that. We need to look at how we can best support rural communities and rural businesses as a whole rather than just picking at little issues. It is the cost of the whole that makes the difference and there are other ways in which rural businesses and communities are being supported financially.

As someone who lives in a rural area and has to travel long distances to get anywhere, I completely appreciate the noble Lord’s point. We have rural fuel duty relief and are looking at the costs of that. We need to look at how we can best support rural communities and rural businesses as a whole rather than just picking at little issues. It is the cost of the whole that makes the difference and there are other ways in which rural businesses and communities are being supported financially.

Even before the summer drought, failures of agricultural businesses had risen by 450% under the pressures of the energy costs that we have just heard described, with higher taxes and subsidy changes also playing a major part. Do the Government recognise that many people will be very concerned that today’s announcements by the Chancellor had so little focus on action in the rural UK? Will the Government now put themselves behind the proposed good food Bill that is being demanded by the industry to support domestic producers and provide us with greater food security?

Even before the summer drought, failures of agricultural businesses had risen by 450% under the pressures of the energy costs that we have just heard described, with higher taxes and subsidy changes also playing a major part. Do the Government recognise that many people will be very concerned that today’s announcements by the Chancellor had so little focus on action in the rural UK? Will the Government now put themselves behind the proposed good food Bill that is being demanded by the industry to support domestic producers and provide us with greater food security?

In Defra we have been working an enormous amount with farmers and other relevant stakeholders around food security. That includes biosecurity. It looks at how farmers can be supported through veterinary services and how we manage drought and climate change going forward. It is about not just drought but flooding. We have potential heavy rainfalls coming this winter. If we are to continue to support good, sustainable food production in this country, it is important that we work cross-departmentally, including with the Treasury, to ensure that we have the best possible support for farmers.

In Defra we have been working an enormous amount with farmers and other relevant stakeholders around food security. That includes biosecurity. It looks at how farmers can be supported through veterinary services and how we manage drought and climate change going forward. It is about not just drought but flooding. We have potential heavy rainfalls coming this winter. If we are to continue to support good, sustainable food production in this country, it is important that we work cross-departmentally, including with the Treasury, to ensure that we have the best possible support for farmers.

My Lords, has the Minister noticed that over the last few weeks the Opposition have been calling for more public spending at the same time as calling for lower taxes? Have they all joined the “Liz trust” of economics?

My Lords, has the Minister noticed that over the last few weeks the Opposition have been calling for more public spending at the same time as calling for lower taxes? Have they all joined the “Liz trust” of economics?

My noble friend makes a good point about how you cannot have something for nothing. If we are to have the public services that people want in this country, we have to look very carefully at how we intend to pay for them.

My noble friend makes a good point about how you cannot have something for nothing. If we are to have the public services that people want in this country, we have to look very carefully at how we intend to pay for them.

My Lords, I regret having to ask this question following the noble Lord, Lord Watts. One thing that needs to be taken extremely seriously with the inheritance tax issue is that it is stifling investment. I thought that the party opposite and the Government were supporters of growth. This is the perverse consequence of this imposition. I ask the Minister to act on behalf of Defra with the Treasury and the Government. This is acting as a contrary-to-growth tax.

My Lords, I regret having to ask this question following the noble Lord, Lord Watts. One thing that needs to be taken extremely seriously with the inheritance tax issue is that it is stifling investment. I thought that the party opposite and the Government were supporters of growth. This is the perverse consequence of this imposition. I ask the Minister to act on behalf of Defra with the Treasury and the Government. This is acting as a contrary-to-growth tax.